The 64th annual Art Association of Rutherford Open Juried Exhibition will be on display at the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission Flyway Gallery in the Meadowlands Environment Center in DeKorte Park during October and November.

The show, which focuses on environmental art and photography, runs from today to Friday, Nov 25. An awards reception is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 16, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The photo above was taken yesterday as the artists prepare to hang their works in the gallery.

The group show features professional and amateur artists, many of whom come from Meadowlands District towns including Rutherford, Lyndhurst and North Bergen.

In addition to photography, the show includes sketches, oils, watercolors and acrylics of local wildlife and landscapes.

 The Flyway Gallery is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, excluding holidays.

John Workman posted a comment about the mystery object that might go a long way toward a solution.

He advised checking out the following Website:

http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/calvatia2.html

After a little exploring, I found a Spanish website that has a variation that looks a lot like our guy. Link is here. (Not a lot of info, but very similar looking puffball.)

Thank you, John, and all the (somewhat vaguer) fungi proponents… !

This past weekend was definitely a great time to see Bald Eagles in the Meadowlands.

Jana Brusich  this shot on Saturday by Mill Creek Point, and reports: "I witnessed a Bald Eagle chase an Osprey, then glide over the river.  It was there for quite some time perched in a near by tree.  I saw plenty of Raptors here; Northern Harrier getting escorted, Bald Eagle, Osprey, and a Red-tail. …  Lots going on at this location."

On Sunday at Laurel Hill County Park, folks on the the First Sunday of the Month Walk were treated to six Bald Eagles riding thermals. We had three more at Harrier Meadow while successfully looking for the American Avocet. (That's nine in one day — all appeared to be migrating.)

(Thanks, Jana!)

The William D. McDowell Observatory in DeKorte Park begins a new month of programming tonight with free public access from 8 to 10 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday nights — weather permitting, of course.

Dress for the weather; with the dome open, you are basically outside.

Each evening at least two major objects in the night sky will be viewed, plus one or two other celestial objects or events depending on the observing conditions.

For more information about free public viewing nights and to check out the observatory's new website, click here.

For a South Bergenite column by the NJMC's Jim Wright about the observatory, click here.