Landscape and wildlife art exhibited during open house at Wallkill River Refuge

Vernon — The culmination of a year’s artwork will be displayed at the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters. “This past year the Friends of Wallkill River held drawing classes at the refuge and the popularity of this program has far exceeded my expectations,” said Marie Springer, president of the Friends of Wallkill River. The public is invited to attend this open house at 1547 Route 565, Sussex, NJ on Saturday, Dec. 5, from 2 until 7 p.m. Admission is free and refreshments will be served. The artwork will remain on display throughout the month of December and may be viewed during business hours 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge is one of more than 540 refuges in the country. The National Wildlife Refuge System’s mission is “to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management, and where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.” President Theodore Roosevelt founded the National Wildlife Refuge System in 1903. Wallkill River NWR was established in 1990. Units of the National Wildlife Refuge System are symbolized by a blue goose.