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Pastures, Paws, and Paddock
A magazine that strives to showcase “everything that makes our area special and unique” wouldn’t be complete without a column that features the horses, hounds, and four-legged friends that help define our region and their couldn’t be a more qualified and talented writer to highlight this area than our newest contributor, Jessica Bourgeois. 
Jessica is a freelance photojournalist whose work has appeared in national equine publications. A graduate of Rutgers University, Cook College, she created her own major that merged her love of writing and animal science, and also achieved an equine science minor and a technical writing certification. A lifelong animal lover, she’s done everything from apprenticing vets and zoo keepers at Busch Gardens to research with Standardbred horses in college. Jess lives on a farm in Chester, NJ, with her husband, cat, horse, two dogs, and a flock of chickens. She can be reached at jess.bourgeois@yahoo.com
The Main Ingredient
Nick Cusano is an award-winning architect from Mendham NJ. His firm, Cusano Associates, was founded in 1996 and specializes in historic renovations and new generational homes. 
He is a member of the Mendham Historic Preservation Commission, The Institute of Classical Architecture and Classical America, and The American Institute of Architects. Included among his many interests, Nick is an avid cyclist and gourmet. He has written architectural pieces for The BRJ, a cycling article that appeared in the Summer 2009 issue, and a recipe for Steak Florentine in Fall 2009, that still has readers mouths watering. His new column, Main Ingredient, will continue to focus on Nick’s epicurean expertise, pairing a local New Jersey food product, produce, or purveyor with succulent seasonal recipes.
Trail Guide
Since Mike began blazing trails in The BRJ two years ago, he has inspired many of our readers to explore the natural splendor of the great trails our area has to offer. 
A Warren County native and trained hike leader, Mike’s articles are a fun and exciting blend of hiking, history, and conservation that take readers on a trek through the rugged and beautiful landscapes of Northern New Jersey with the author and his intrepid band of “extreme hikers.” Each weekend Mike leads day hikes that range from 15-20 miles and traverse traditional trails as well as abandoned railroads, beaches, canals, urban city, and bushwhacking hikes. Mike, who personally logs in up to 1,000 miles a year on the trails (in rain, shine, or snow) welcomes newcomers to join his “extremely unconventional eclectic group” which includes hikers from all ages and all walks of life. In addition to The BRJ, Mike is a regular contributor to the Hunterdon Observer and NJ Skylands. www.sneezehorse.com
What’s Hatching
Since 2005, Jim Holland has been guiding readers into our area’s rivers and streams in his regular column, “What’s Hatching,” a folksy but erudite blend of fly fishing, conservation, and love of the outdoors that has become one of our most popular segments. 
Jim’s articles offer practical, technical, and contemporary advice to area anglers, but he also points out the importance of good stewardship of our rivers and streams and the impact it has on sportsmen as well as the benefit’s it can bestow on everyone’s quality of life.For Jim, who is co-owner of the renowned, Shannon’s Fly and Tackle Shop, in Califon, NJ, fishing and fly fishing in particular have been a lifelong pursuit. His friendship with the late Les Shannon led him to both the South Branch and other area rivers and of course, to the pursuit of trout and other species on the fly rod. Jim is a full time History Teacher at Villa Walsh Academy and in addition to his contributions to The Black River Journal he also makes weekly contributions to the New Jersey edition of The Fisherman and is an avid supporter of Trout Unlimited, the South Branch Watershed Association, and other local and national angling and wildlife conservation groups. www.shannonsflytackle.com
In Bloom
Local History
Starlight Creek Chronicles
Author, essayist, humorist, gentleman farmer, sportsmen, and naturalist…Bill Trego is The BRJ’s renaissance man. Whether its his irreverent “wedding announcement” of his two Romney sheep, or articles chronicling his romps on the farm with his Akabash, Hoodee, Bill’s wit, keen sense of observation, mastery of the language, and love of the area combine to create memorable reading in The BRJ. 
In addition to being a featured columnist in several publications as well as a published book author, Bill also publishes fine sporting books at Meadow Run Press in Far Hills. He has been publishing and designing books for the past twenty years or so and has won numerous design awards in New York and Philadelphia. He attended the Philadelphia College of Art and he thinks he spent too many enjoyable years as a career student in various university English Departments. Meadow Run Press has published a lengthy list of saltwater flats-fishing titles, including Sea Level, with an introduction by Jimmy Buffett. Current publications include Hoagy B. Carmichael’s panoramic Atlantic Salmon Fishing tour de force, The Grand Cascapedia River, and a fine reprint of a very rare book, The Huntsman in the South, a delightful account of Southern bird-shooting and Virginia plantation life. www.meadowrunpress.com
Illuminating Value
In her impeccably professional but highly approachable style, Martine White, of Bernards Appraisal Associates, LLC, has been exploring the world of antiques with our readers since her first “Illuminating Value” article appeared in The BRJ in 2008. As a Senior Certified Appraiser of Antiques & Decorative Arts with the American Society of Appraisers and the Appraisers Association of America, Martine has been appraising personal property in the metropolitan area since 1988.
As principal of Bernards Appraisal Associates, in Basking Ridge, NJ, she and her associates provide comprehensive certified appraisal documents for insurance scheduling, relocation, damage/loss claims, taxation, estate planning, prenuptial agreements and marital dissolution. Her clients include not only prominent families of the Somerset Hills, but major banks and trust companies, law firms and insurance providers. Martine and her associates specialize in appraising antique furniture, silver, paintings, decorative art and Oriental rugs. Martine and her husband John reside in the area and many know her as a Trustee and Program Director for the Somerset Hills Historical Society. She has been a key note speaker and guest lecturer throughout the metropolitan area and is a featured appraiser on WMTR’s “Meet the Expert” Radio Program. www.bernardsappraisal.com
Ten years ago, my husband and I gave up our careers, packed up our beach house, and traded our life on the shore in New England for a life in the country in Northwest New Jersey. We moved into the Victorian "Mill House" in Pottersville, the house I grew up in, which was built by my great great-grandfather, Robert Craig, in 1876. My ancestors, mostly farmers and millers by trade, were some of the earliest settlers in our area. They planted crops and vast orchards in the rolling fields, ground grain for flour along the rivers, and helped found some of our earliest churches and communities.
For me, our entire region has always been a very special and unique place, layered with a rich and colorful history, natural beauty, unsurpassed charm, a broad spectrum of architecture and landscapes, powerful personalities and incredible people. As we began exploring the towns and small villages, farms and grand estates, and the trails and rivers, we uncovered stories that had to be told, found places that had to be explored, and made new friends that we wanted to share our excitement with. Drawing on my husband’s talent as a writer and editor and my experience as a custom publisher and marketing representative with McGraw Hill and Holt, Rinehart, Winston, - The Black River Journal was born.
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Learn about the writers who bring you The BRJ's entertaining and enjoyable articles.
