By GSWA’s Dan Ross
Interested in learning more about the fascinating Passaic River? Then you won’t want to miss author Mary Bruno when she comes to our area for a series of talks and selected readings from her novel “An American River: From Paradise to Superfund, Afloat on New Jersey’s Passaic River.” Join Mary as she tells her story about her adventure kayaking along the Passaic River from its headwaters in Mendham all the way to where it empties out in the Newark Bay. Part natural history, and partially an introspective look into her personal past, Mary’s riveting memoir invites readers to lose themselves in the Passaic’s storied and troubled past.
About Mary:
Mary Bruno is an American writer and editor. She earned her master’s degree in aquatic ecology and researched stream systems in South Carolina for several years before shifting into the world of journalism. She worked as a staff writer, contributing editor or editorial director for a variety of print and online publications, including Newsweek and New York Woman magazines, ABCNEWS.com, and Seattle Weekly. Her essays and fiction have appeared in the collections, A Road of Her Own: Women’s Journeys in the West (2002) and Green Time (2003). Bruno grew up in the Passaic River Watershed in North Arlington, New Jersey. She now lives on Vashon Island in Washington State.
Anyone interested in learning about Mary’s experiences as well as some of the challenges that the Passaic River faces can come to her series of talks which will run the first week of March.
On Thursday March 3rd join Mary at Washington Headquarters at 7pm (register online at www.greatswamp.org) to hear all about her journey down the Passaic. While you are there make sure and check out the mansion that George Washington and members of his army called home during the winter of 1779-1780. The house, which was donated to the National Park service in 1933 is furnished to appear exactly as it would have during the Revolutionary War! Make sure to tour the museum as well, which doubles also acts as a library and is home to a number of exhibits showing furniture, weapons, documents and other objects from the 18th century. This event is sponsored by Investors Bank, Madison Branch.
Mary will also be reading her novel on Tuesday March 8th at the Mendham Township Library beginning at 7pm. The community based library hosts special programs for all ages and is always looking for volunteers looking to become more involved with the library. If you haven’t been there before, they are located in the Brookside section of Mendham Township on the lower level of the municipal building, located at 2. West Main Street, Brookside.
Don’t miss the chance to come and hear Mary tell her tale on Thursday March 10th at Lambert Castle Library and Museum at 7pm. The Museum, which is open to the public for self guided tours, was once home to Catholina Lambert, one of the nineteenth century’s leading silk textile manufactures. The rooms of the museum display some of her possessions as well as other historical items from the Passaic County Historical Society’s collections.
All of the talks are open to the public and sure to be a exciting experience you won’t want to miss!