The Friends of the Woods at the Nature Center at Highland Woods Environmental Education Reserve invite you to visit the facility and trail head, located at 115 Sylvania Place, off South Clinton Avenue.

The nature center located at the nature reserve houses permanent and temporary exhibits relating to the local flora and fauna, and things of special interest, such as fossils.

Exhibits include a collection of animal skulls and bones, some of which are common to the nature reserve. Visitors are encouraged to play the ‘Who Am I’ game to discover facts about the animals whose skulls are on display. Children will enjoy investigating the bones under a magnifying glass, or discovering what evidence the animal may have left behind, such as a track or scat, fur or skin.

Venture back into local history to discover the first inhabitants of the region. The exhibit on Woodland Indians includes authentic projectile points, lithic scrapers and knives and stone axes. Learn how the Native Americans used the nature reserve’s kaolin clay deposits or marvel at a fourth grader’s interpretation of a native campsite along the steam terrace.

Bird watching is possibly the most popular activity at Highland Woods, and can be done from inside the Nature Center. Three observation windows look out upon strategically-placed seed and suet feeders. Field guides and birdsong books are at each observation window to enhance the experience of the viewer. Not only can one identify the bird, but with a touch of a button, hear its call as well. Five audio/visual study booths cover subjects such as birds, reptiles, amphibians and botany. Listen to the calls of New Jersey’s frogs, watch a video on birds, count the rings of an old tree or investigate a box of preserved leaves.

The Geology of New Jersey presents samples from around the state that can be examined under a magnifying glass. Rock and mineral samples from around the world accompany this display. The new fossil exhibit contains examples from New Jersey to Algeria and beyond. Included are a rhinoceros jaw fragment from South Dakota, fossil fish from Wyoming, petrified wood from Arizona and dinosaur bone fragments from out west. A collection of many interesting under-the-sea creatures completes the exhibit.

Exhibits on recycling, water pollution and weather events are found in the 30-seat classroom, which also houses a non-circulating library of natural history resources.

Preservation of the nature reserve began in 1991 when the borough set aside 26 acres, designating it as open space for its educational resources and passive recreational opportunities.

Over 80 bird species have been documented. Mammals found there include white-tailed deer, raccoon, cottontail rabbit, short-tailed shrew, mole, white-footed mouse, woodchuck, gray and northern flying squirrel, muskrat and bats (red, little brown and big brown species).

The building is ADA compliant. The trails are open to the public seven days a week from dawn to dusk. A free self-guiding booklet with map and species list is available at the environmental specialist’s office at borough hall.

For more information, contact the Friends of the Woods at spnaturetrails@verizon.net or call Dorothy Miele at (908) 754-3073.

To the Ranger Family of South Plainfield:
From The South Plainfield Observer, Vol. 12, No. 4, September 19, 2008

In July 2005 my girlfriend, Bea Jacobs, adopted the grave of Private Donald G. Ranger of New Jersey, located in The American Cemetery in Margraten,
The Netherlands.

We both know the history of World War II and pay our respect for those men and women who lost their lives for our freedom by taking care of his grave. We visit his grave several times a year on special days or just when our heart is telling us it's time to visit the memorial. We don't know the people who took care for his grave in the years between, this is confidential.

Soon afterwards I started researching the soldier whose grave I adopted as well as Donald G. Ranger. I started the research on the Internet addressing American archives. The 1930 census information revealed that the Ranger family living in South Plainfield, Middlesex, New Jersey had five members: father, Alfred H., mother, Margruitte; sons, Donald G., Alfred H. and James B. I learned that Alfred H. was married to Audrey J. Knott Ranger. They had three children: Janet A. Ranger of Rahway, Linda C. Ranger and Ronald W. Ranger, both of South Plainfield, and three grandchildren.

In this article, Donald G. Ranger is mentioned and the other brother, James B. Ranger of Fripp Island, S.C. Alfred passed away on December 15, 1997, but his wife Audrey and his brother, James B. Ranger, could still be alive. Alfreds children are mentioned in area telephone books and I am trying to contact them as well.

I sent a letter to the National Personnel Records Center to request information about the military records. Nothing could be retrieved due to a fire in the department. I sent a letter to the Department of the Army to request a Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF). In August 2008, I received a 50-page photocopy of the IDPF and learned that Donald was married at the time he died. A handwritten letter by his widow Bernice revealed that she remarried with Mr. Anthony Franchino.

With that information I went on. On the Internet I found recent information of a Bernice Franchino (85), a resident in Arbor Glen, Somerville, and of a Bernice Franchino, who was a principal of a school in Bridgewater back in 1964.
That is why I am writing the Observer because I believe Donald Ranger could be related to the Ranger Family of South Plainfield.

For my research I am looking for: a photo of Donald G. Ranger, a short story about his life and circumstances of his death, the names and addresses of
known relatives for further research and the names and addresses of people
who took care of the grave before 2005. Any more information would be appreciated as well.

On behalf of my girlfriend and myself, many thanks for reading this letter. I hope to hear from you soon.

Kind regards,
Bea Jacobs and Jac Engels
Gelrestraat 79
5951 JE Belfeld
The Netherlands, Europe
E-mail: jacenbea@gelrestraat79.com

Editor's Note: The following information is from various Web sites regarding The American Cemetery in The Netherlands: ''The American Cemetery in The Netherlands lies along the Maastricht-Vaals motorway in the municipality of Margraten. One of the largest cemeteries in the world, it contains the graves of no less than 8,301 liberators, nearly all of them Americans. The white marble crosses and stars of David are memorials to the often young soldiers who paid the ultimate price in World War II so that we could live in freedom today. All of the graves are adopted by civilians. The idea of adopting the graves of American liberators originated in February of 1945. A person adopting a grave was expected to regularly visit the grave adopted, to lay flowers, and, if that person so desired, to maintain contacts with the surviving relatives in the U.S.''

---

---