Wednesday, February 4, 2026, 7-8pm Verona Community Center, 2nd floor, Fireman’s Room Hilltoppers: this is short notice, sorry (lots going on). We will be conducting our annual Conservancy Business Meeting in about 10 days, on Wednesday February 4, 2026, from 7-8pm.  Location is the Verona Community Center, 880 Bloomfield Avenue (western edge of town).  The […]

Hi again Hilltoppers. Essex County is sponsoring us / the Conservancy for another Green Acres grant this year, to make further improvements in the Hilltop Reservation. To that end, they are conducting a survey of Hilltop usage and proposed improvements. Please click on the link below, follow the survey prompts, and provide your feedback by […]

Hello Hilltoppers. Sorry I’ve been incommunicado the past few months — recovering from surgery. All is well, and now I’m tackling quite a backlog of Hilltop-related items. I’ll be sending multiple emails to you over the next few days; hoping that the additional inbox traffic will be helpful. Thank you, and wishing you all a […]

Geordie Smith recently resigned as a trustee with the Hilltop Conservancy to relocate to North Carolina. Geordie became a trustee when the Hilltop Conservancy was created in December, 2003 and served as Vice President of Trails for the next 21 years. When the reservation was formed Geordie and other volunteers began the long process to […]

Hello Hilltoppers.  I hope you’re enjoying the Spring?  This is just a quick note to pass on some links to various nature-based organizations / groups, that you might want to check out when you have time. See list below — enjoy, and see you in the Hilltop!  TMT NJ Butterfly Club — great photos, butterflying locations […]

The Rotary Club of the Caldwells recently gifted a beautiful replacement panel for the interpretive history sign at the southern edge of our 15-acre grassland, which is traversed by the Meadow Trail. The original panel had been in place for 12 years and had degraded badly. As many of you know, the sign tells the story […]