It's Finally Friday!

"If you concentrate on finding whatever is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul." -- Rabbi Harold Kushner

from  Desktop Quotes.com

Emergency Responders

The funny thing about the "Iselin Times" is that the name implies that this should be a place you go to get the news, right?  But no, it's actually more of a joke than a real name.  This isn't the place for news.  If this was the place for news, I'd have all the details about all of the accidents and fires and break-ins and things.  I don't have that kind of stories.

Tonight, I was washing dishes and a saw the flickering lights through my kitchen window that mean there are emergency service vehicles outside.  I wondered what was going on.  I really should figure out how to work that police scanner radio thingy I got for Christmas that year.  But anyway, I went to take a walk, and this is what I saw.

Now, if this was really the Times, I would be able to tell you what was going on that brought so many fire trucks and things to my neighborhood.  But instead, I will tell you what I do know.  And that is this... Iselin has many dedicated volunteers, of all ages, who give up hours of their own time to jump and run when someone needs help.

And that's a great thing about Iselin. 

Free Low Fat Ice Cream Today! :D

Carvel is giving out a free 3.5 oz low fat ice cream and "Flavor Shot" today! 
If you're in Iselin, the nearest Carvel is on St. George Avenue, and I just called to check and yes, they are participating. If you aren't in Iselin, and don't know where Carvel is, you can check their web site HERE. 

Ice cream sounds pretty good right now, doesn't it???

Good Morning!

"You will find the key to success under the alarm clock."

 -- Benjamin Franklin
from Famous Quotes and Quotations.com

...did I ever mention how much I hate to wake up in the morning?

Happy Wednesday :)

The leadership instinct you are born with is the backbone. You develop the funny bone and the wishbone that go with it.

Elaine Agather
from Famous-Quotes-and-quotations.com

Mark your Calendar, May 3 Emergency Services Program

Don't be alarmed if you see a lot of emergency vehicles on Benjamin Avenue on Monday.

The Woodbridge Township Community Advisory Panel will be closing down Benjamin Avenue in front of Robert Mascenik Elementary school -- between North Main Street and Cherry Street -- and sponsoring an Emergency Services "Safety Day" Program. The program, which is scheduled for Monday, May 3rd, will run from 9 AM to 3:30 PM. If the weather doesn't cooperate, there is a rain date of Tuesday, May 4th.

Police, Fire, First Aid, and other Emergency Services trucks will be on hand for the program. It should be exciting - come by and take a look!!! :)

Good Morning!

“A leader leads by example, whether he intends to or not.”
Thinkexist.com

Coming Attractions

I read this book several months ago. It was highly recommended, and I definitely enjoyed it. I just saw coming attractions for the movie that they made, starring Julia Roberts... and it looks FANTASTIC!

Now, I'm someone who normally thinks that the book is better than the movie in most cases. I'm not sure, though, this time.

I'm going to have to dig out the book and re-read it before I go see the movie. Because the movie looks AWESOME! And I really like Julia Roberts, don't you?

Rainy Days and Mondays: How 'bout a Movie?

It's quite damp out, and a bit chilly, and a perfect day to go to the movies with a few friends!

So, a few friends and I just went to see "The Back-up Plan" starring Jennifer Lopez, and it was a very pleasant way to spend the afternoon. The movie was cute - definitely a chick flick, and maybe even more specifically a "mommy movie." I'm glad I didn't bring my husband to see it, he would have been bored to tears. The girls and I had a few laughs, though.

Jennifer Lopez stars as "Zoe," a girl who has decided that she wants a child, even though she isn't at all settled on the father side of that equation. So she takes matters into her own hands and has the procedure done for artificial insemination, and just happens to meet a guy... so you can basically see where this is going.

We saw the movie at the AMC Theater in Menlo Mall. They have a decent theater, especially in the afternoon when it's rather quiet. You can take a look at movie times HERE.

I'm looking forward to my next movie monday with the girls!

Have a good week!

"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people together to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea."

-- Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Thinkexist.com

A good day to go to the Mall!

On a cool, rainy and cloudy day like today, I'm thinking about shopping - especially Barnes and Noble at Menlo Mall.  I go through more books than you can imagine.

Have a nice Sunday!

Day Trip: Rutgers Day today!

Rutgers Day is a great event, and they are offering a lot of cool activities -- more than you could do in a day! Take a look at their website HERE.

According to the Rutgers Day Press Release,

Rutgers opens its campuses and classrooms to the public for the second annual Rutgers Day April 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rutgers Day offers an eclectic mix of more than 500 free programs, something for every age and interest. Rain or shine, attendees can explore the campuses and meet experts, speak with students and engage in a multitude of activities. More than 50,000 people attended the inaugural Rutgers Day last year.

Each campus will have signature anchor events:

The College Avenue Campus will celebrate the university’s history with programs surrounding the Old Queens building. Visitors can take walking tours that include the university’s first dormitory built in 1809 and a Revolutionary War battlefield; the Geology Museum to see a mastodon and a 2,400-year old mummy; participate in a trivia game and scavenger hunt where clues lie inside national and state historic landmarks like the Old Queens building and Winants Hall. For architecture-enthusiasts, there will be a presentation on architect Henry Janeway Hardenburg.

The Busch Campus will feature the School of Engineering’s open house and a number of Rutgers Athletics events. Visitors to the engineering quad can try riding a Segway, view a glass-blowing demonstration and see student designs for such innovations as a tennis ball collector, a paint machine and an automated skateboard, among others. Sports fans can get a preview of the 2010 football season at the Scarlet and White intrasquad game at Rutgers Stadium, and watch the women’s lacrosse and softball teams play in Big East competitions. They also can get an early look at the 2010 men’s and women’s soccer teams as they both play La Salle University in a spring doubleheader.

The Livingston Campus will host the “World of Work” and feature international programming provided by the Asian Cultural Center. Those looking to advance their careers, select new vocations or find employment can attend workshops on resume writing, interviewing and employee rights. Also, job seekers will have the opportunity to talk with Rutgers human resources staff to learn about university employment opportunities. Cultural groups will offer fashion shows and dances as well as demonstrate their native customs and crafts like henna tattooing.

On the Douglass Campus the 36th annual New Jersey Folk Festival will celebrate the history, heritage and traditions of the Andes through an array of music, art, food and crafts demonstrations. Performers such as Eco del Sur, an ensemble of Latin American musicians, will perform their blend of ancient Andean and contemporary music.

The George H. Cook Campus is the home to Ag Field Day, featuring student exhibitions of dairy cattle, goats, horses, pigs and sheep; the New Jersey 4-H Dog Show; plant and flower sales; student club activities; and glimpses of agricultural, marine and satellite remote sensing technologies. Rutgers Day is sponsored in part by Saint Peter's Healthcare System, Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, PSE&G WorryFree, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, and Johnson & Johnson.

Parking is free for Rutgers Day. When you park, be sure to write down the campus location and parking lot number found on lot entrance signs. OR - even better - Take the Train! Check NJ Transit's info here. New Jersey Transit's Northeast Corridor Line provides service to New Brunswick. Children up to age 11 ride free on weekends. Signs will guide you to the College Avenue Campus and bus stops.

Have fun!

It's a brand new day! Have a good one!

"To laugh, often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Have you started your garden yet?

Editor's Note:
I took down this video, because I didn't like the way it started everytime I opened up the Iselin Times site.

If you are interested in the information about being frugal by gardening, you can read more about it HERE.

Thanks!

Quote of the Day

Unemployment is capitalism's way of getting you to plant a garden.

~Orson Scott Card
from Quote Garden.com

Earth Day Fair Photos from JFK High School

Today is the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, and at JFK High School, the Eco-Friendly Environmental Club held a fair for science students at Kennedy to promote awareness of environmental issues and ideas.

Sweta Sukadhia, the President of the club, ran the popular "Wheel of Ecology." Students were given a chance to spin the wheel and then given a question to answer to quiz their knowledge in areas like recycling.

There were plenty of activities planned .  Here are just a few more things to do and see...

Among the animals making a special appearance was Jesse's Sugar Glider


Nupur ran a "guess how many bottle tops in the water bottle" contest


Janki is pictured here with Caramel, her pet Rabbit

Tejas and Sagar gave out sno cones.  "The sno cones are a prize, they can redeem the tickets they win at the activities for this treat.  It's to help motivate everyone to learn something that will help them become more eco-friendly."




Mr. Viteri gave a lesson on composting with worms, to demonstrate a way to recycle food scraps.



Steven tries out a bicycle-powered generator that was being demonstrated by Tiffany.

Earth Day Fair

Blood Drive Today

John F. Kennedy High School is having a blood drive all day today, and both students and local residents are welcome to participate. Giving blood is a great thing you can do... it will literally save a life... and it's actually pretty simple. The blood drive at JFK is organized by the National Honor Society, and in this photo are four of Kennedy's NHS members - from right, Emily Moss, Melinda Lin, Krishna Kashiwala, and Cristina Rojas.

When I asked how they were doing so far today, Emily Moss replied that they are doing pretty well, but that they really hope for a lot more people to come out because "some people who want to give won't be able to, like if they are under the weight requirement, or if they haven't had breakfast." She also suggested "Don't forget to bring a photo ID and know your social security number," for the forms that need to be filled out.

Happy Earth Day!

Kennedy Blood Drive Thursday!

What are you doing between 8 AM and 6 PM?
How about giving blood?
JFK High School is having a blood drive.  Everyone is welcome.
I can tell you that giving blood is important.  A few years ago, someone very close to me needed blood to survive.  I was glad that there was blood available.  Of course I was willing to give blood for him, but it takes a while to process it - and when it's an emergency, you don't always have that kind of time. 
The National Honor Society sponsors the blood drive as a service project.
Please support our students.
Do it for the kids.  (lol)

The Woodbridge Township School Budget was Defeated.

It was quite clear what the voters want... what they want is to spend less money in taxes.

Peace

In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.

--Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl [1951]

The Colonia Country Club Issue

I've been kinda avoiding this topic for a while now. I hate conflict, and I've had enough conflict in my life lately that I didn't want to add another debate. But I had to comment about the Colonia Country Club, especially now that I read on the Woodbridge InJersey | Woodbridge, NJ web site the latest update.

The story, in case you haven't been following the news, is that the Colonia Country Club has been having problems for a while now. I guess with the economy this tough, one of the first places anyone would cut back would be their country club membership, right?

So one of the members, who happens to be a developer, offered to buy the club. He promised he wouldn't develop it for the next 6 years, or as long as the club stays above 62 members. The Mayor also offered for the township to buy the club - although it wasn't exactly the same kind of deal.

The members of the club voted, and they've decided to let the developer buy it. So this afternoon, the township filed for Eminent Domain, like the Mayor said he would.

Eminent Domain is that scary legal thing that towns can do... as I understand it, the idea is that the town has the first right to decide what to do with the land in town, over and above what individual owners want. I've heard horror stories about old people losing their homes by eminent domain because a town wanted to put in an exit ramp to a highway or something.

In this case, though, the town wants to keep the golf course open space. No one is losing their homes.

In general, the words "Eminent Domain" strikes fear into my heart. But in this case, I'm not really against it.

Obviously I don't understand the complexities of the deals. And maybe you will all disagree with me. But my own personal opinion is how could I live here if the golf course became apartments or houses or anything like that? And six years is not so very long at all.

Of course, the other side of that story is how will I be able to live here if my taxes go up again? And the answer might be... I can't live here if I can't afford to.

So... well.... You know me. I think I've always got the unpopular opinion. But I'm with the Mayor on this one.

But once open space is gone, you don't get it back.

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Polls open at 2:00 PM!

Voting is one of the few things where boycotting in protest clearly makes the problem worse rather than better.

-- Jane Auer, as quoted on the Wisdom Quotes website, which you can find HERE.

Google Search Stories

I just clicked on one of my own google ads - it was an ad for this Google "search story" thing. It was so much fun! This is the video I made.

Don't forget to vote. Vote yes, or vote no. It's up to you. We are lucky enough to live in a democracy where the common people have a right to be part of the process. And even more amazing, it's a peaceful process.

So vote, and then... give peace a chance. OK?

Tomorrow is Election Day

This is the most highly anticipated School Election Day I can ever recall.

The School Board has three seats open, and several candidates running. But (in my opinion) the even bigger issue is the School Budget question -- will it pass, or will it fail?

Please vote.

The majority voice should be heard - no matter what way that goes. This is an issue that almost everyone you talk to has a strong opinion. I know I do, and I know how I'm voting; if you want to know, read my editorial page (click on the tab above.)

Whichever way the vote goes, the voice of the people should be heard. A low voter turnout on such hotly debated topics would be... what's the word I'm looking for?... well, just plain wrong.

If you are still considering the question and the issues and the candidates, the Woodbridge.injersey website has a great page which you can find HERE. Take a look.

And make plans to get to your polling place between 2- 9 PM tomorrow.

Make sure your voice is heard.

It's Monday. Have a good week!

You can spend your time alone
redigestin' past regrets
oh
Or you can
come to terms
And realize
you're the only one
who cannot forgive
yourself
oh ho
Makes much more sense
to live
in the present tense

-- Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam), "Present Tense" from the No Code album

I'm collecting old clothes for a Crohn's & Colitis Fundraiser!

One of the teachers I work with at Kennedy High School is organizing a fundraiser for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, and for part of her fundraising activities, she's doing a clothing drive. She's asked me to help her out, and of course I'm always willing to support this charity.

So if you have any old but clean and wearable clothes, please bag them up and bring them to my house in Iselin. (If you aren't sure where I live, email me, and I'll let you know where we can meet!)

I'll be collecting them this week only, up until Thursday, April 29th. After that, I won't be taking them anymore.

So go clean out your closets, ok?

Try out YMCA at Woodbridge Community Center during free access week | Woodbridge

I just read on the Woodbridge In Jersey Website the following information, and I thought it was too good not to pass along! There's a link at the bottom to get to "Woodbridge.injersey.com" - check out the site for news about our town. (AFTER you check out this site, of course!)

The YMCA at the Woodbridge Community Center is offering its programs for free all this week.
Check out the week’s schedule of free events and classes that will be taking place for adults, seniors, families, and children during their free access week. Access the pool, indoor track, strength room and wellness center. The gym, however, is excluded from the offer.


Adult classes: Zumba, 6 to 7 p.m., Monday, April 19
Family activities: Wellness Seminar/Family Meal Planning 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., Monday, April 19
Family Melody Hounds 6:30 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, April 21, for ages 3 to 8
Family Art Lesson, 6:30 to 7 p.m., Thursday, April 22, for ages 3 to 8

Senior activities: Senior Walking Club, 10 to 11 a.m., Monday to Friday
Arthritis Foundation Tai Chi, 11 to noon, Monday, April 19
Silver Splash water exercise, 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Monday, April 19
Stop by the membership desk for more information.

Try out YMCA at Woodbridge Community Center during free access week | Woodbridge

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It's a new day dawning!

~Though the circular round-and-round of routine be the bulk of life's affairs, make an occasional jutting diversion - of fun, love, or something that will outlast you - so the shape and motion of your life shall resemble the round lifegiving sun with bright rays shining forth from all directions.  Terri Guillemets - as quoted on Quote Garden.com, which you can find HERE.

 I'm going for a walk.  I'll write more later today, OK?

Day Trip: Yard Sales!

Today is a great day to go searching for Yard Sales!


There are Yard Sales scheduled for the Iselin and Colonia area, and for Metuchen, too. Yard Sales and Garage Sales can be a lot of fun, as long as you don't have any set expectation of what you might find. (I thought about having a yard sale myself, but decided not to. It takes a bit of work to drag all of your stuff out to the curb, and I wasn't really up for it this week!)

I would suggest that you wear comfortable shoes, bring cash, and have fun! :)

Good Morning!

Manifest plainness,
Embrace simplicity,
Reduce selfishness,
Have few desires.

-- Lao-tzu, "The Way of Lao-Tzu" (c. 604-531 BC)

Golf Tournament Benefit Scheduled

The 7th Annual Tom Laffey Memorial Golf tournament, sponsored by the "Keeping the Faith Foundation", is being held this year to benefit Nancy Winship-McMahon. Money raised will be donated to help offset the medical expenses associated with Nancy's battle against a serious heart condition. Nancy, formerly of Menlo Park Terrace and a graduate of JFK High School in Iselin, is in need of a heart transplant, and is awaiting a matching donor.

Details for the Golf outing:

Date: Friday, May 21,2010
8:00 AM Shotgun Start
at the Bunker Hill Golf Course
220 Bunker Hill Road, Princeton, NJ
$150.00 per player entry includes green fees, cart, prizes, buffet lunch at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Iselin. There is a scramble format. Hole sponsorships are available.

Tickets are still available for the popular event, although they are expected to go quickly. For more information, please contact Bill Laffey at (732)822-5814.

The "Keeping the Faith Foundation" was created in 2004 by the children of Tom and Virgina Laffey as a way to honor the memory of their loving parents. Each year, a memorial tournament is held and the proceeds are donated to a special cause. In previous years, the Foundation has been able to donate over $57,500.00 to families recommended by the New Jersey Army National Guard. This is the first year that the Foundation will broaden it's efforts and sponsor a non-military event.

Good Morning!

"We are
stardust,
we are
golden,
and we've
got to
get
ourselves
back to
the
garden"

- Joni Mitchell,
"Woodstock"
1969

A beautiful day in Iselin!

I hope you are enjoying your afternoon!

Federal Bailout for Teachers?

Senator Harkin is proposing a federal bailout package for teachers. HERE  is the article from Business Week yesterday. In the article, the Senator is quoted, saying:

“How can you argue that it’s OK for a kid to borrow to go to college but it’s not OK to borrow so that there’s a college for the kid to go to?” Harkin said. “If there’s one legitimate area where we can borrow from the future, it’s education, because what sort of jobs will we have for my grandkids and great grandkids in the future if we don’t have a well-educated group of young people today?”

I can already see this being a huge debate, with people screaming on both sides of the fence. I understand the arguments on both sides.

The question that I keep coming back to is this. Where are the kids of today going to be able to work tomorrow? Our manufacturing is going, going, gone, to places like Mexico and China. Building new homes has stalled; after the baby boomers, how many new homes are we really going to need? Manual labor kinds of jobs, jobs that used to support many families - say, garbage man - are being drastically cut because machinery makes the field less labor intensive. You need a good education to make it today because the global market is so competitive, and the kinds of jobs you can do WITHOUT an education are more and more limited. Add teachers to the people losing their jobs, and that is another level of people that can't afford to buy things to keep the economy rolling, right? And another category of jobs that kids won't be able to consider.

On the other hand, how is that money going to be more than a band-aid?

I feel like the economy is one big avalanche, picking up speed, rolling down hill. Any ideas how we survive an avalanche?

The Overnight Quote

This is a new idea I had.  I want people to be able to wake up and have something new to read... but I can't always write something spectacular right before bed.  So I plan on doing a quote - hopefully relevant to SOMETHING-- that you can read if you log in really early, before you start your day.

QUOTATION....A writer expresses himself in words that have been used before because they give his meaning better than he can give it himself, or because they are beautiful or witty, or because he expects them to touch a chord of association in his reader, or because he wishes to show that he is learned and well read.  Quotations due to the last motive are invariably ill-advised; the discerning reader detects it and is contemptuous; the undiscerning is perhaps impressed, but even then is at the same time repelled, pretentious quotations being the surest road to tedium. --Henry Watson Fowler and Francis George Fowler, A Dictionary of Modern English Usage [1926]

LOL.  Yup, to me, that is funny.  Because it's pretty darn pretentious, isn't it?  Really, though, feel free to chime in with your thoughts on the quote... you can comment below by clicking on "Comments."  Thanks!

Going to the Brook

So I ran outside to take some photos to blog, since once again it's a lovely day, and I really like to take pictures.


It's Wordless Wednesday! Yay!

Yes, I'm posting right now.

I've decided to run out and post a picture from the creek, because it's a beautiful day and the sun is just starting to set. So I'll be right back, and you can see what's going on... see ya in a minute!

Burning the Midnight Oil

Here it is, hours past my bed time, and I'm still up. And I haven't even posted anything here yet. Do you ever have nights like this?

Well, I intend to post tomorrow, at about 11:30 AM 5 PM ish. So you can check back then, OK?

Thanks!


In the meantime, I guess I'll just leave you an idea of an ad from Amazon about what has me all worked up. Take a look, and click on the Amazon link, and I'll write more later, OK?

Allergy Alert!

I don't have to tell you that the allergies are getting bad out there, do I?
Pretty much everyone around here is sniffing and sneezing. If you want to check the allergy forecast, they have that information on the Weather Channel, which you can link to HERE.

In case you aren't sure what allergies you are suffering from, right now, it's tree pollen.  It's making me crazy!

So many people are getting allergies that never had them before.  I've had allergies my whole life, so these are my suggestions for you:

1.  Shower before bed.  Sure, you can shower when you wake up, too, but pollen is in your hair and on your skin, and you'll feel better if you wash it off before you fall asleep. 

2.  If you have a dog, you might want to think about washing him, too.  Pollen is sticky, from what I hear, and it attaches itself to hair... or fur, I would think... and if you don't wash it off, it's going to make you miserable when you pet your puppy.

3.  Take allergy medicine.  You're going to need to talk to your doctor about that.  I personally take over the counter stuff, but I know what I need.  Find out from your doctor what exactly YOU need.

4.If your doctor says you can take the over the counter allergy medicine, ask him or her about taking the store brands.  I take the Shop Rite brand of allergy pills, and it's WAY cheaper. Yesterday, I brought the Target brand.  Pretty much every store has their own.  As long as it's the right ingredient, it doesn't have to be the name brand.


5.  Stay inside with the windows closed and the air conditioner on, at least until the worst of the pollen goes away.  You might feel silly, but it will definitely keep the quality of air in your house much cleaner, and make your allergies better.  Now is NOT a good time to start jogging.  Windy days are the worst.  But rainy days are actually not too bad.

6.  Don't rub your eyes!  That's always hard for me, because my eyes are so itchy.  But if your eyes are driving you crazy, get a nice cold wet wash cloth and just lay down for a while.

7.  Have a nice cup of tea.  That always makes me feel better, and I certainly don't think it can hurt! 

Feel better!

Gardening

Don't take my advice about gardening, OK?

Because I'm too excited to get started, and I'm jumping the gun.  I know that already, but I can't help myself.

Jersey and tomatoes go together like American goes with apple pie.  And I'm all excited after those last few hot days - even though the temperature has dropped down dramatically, and it's feeling more like April.

And someone told me the other day that an old italian guy told her (old italian guys really know tomatoes!) that you can put your tomatoes in as soon as you start seeing dandelions.  And yup - I'm seeing dandelions!

So even though it isn't Mother's Day yet - Mother's Day is the traditional day to put in the tomatoes - I've put a few experimental tomatoes into the garden already.

I bought a pack of seeds that I started in the house.  I got heirloom seeds from a mail order company.  Heirloom seeds are seeds that have been collected by old gardeners, and handed down over the generations, and then collected by this company to sell.  They are old fashioned and original varieties.  The way I hear it, seeds today in regular seed packets are bred to be able to grow veggies, but not to produce viable seeds.  Because if you could save one or two tomatoes and get your own seeds out of it, you don't really need to buy seeds again, do you?  So my idea is to try out these seeds, and if I like them, I'll save a few old tomatoes at the end of the season and put aside some more seeds for next year.  I wonder if that will work?  We shall see.

Well, I have a bunch of little tomato seedlings started in the house - way more than I need, actually.  I'm thinking that if I do have a garage sale at the town sale next week, I'll sell some tomato plants too!  And since I had more seedlings than pots, I put three of them into the garden already.

I'm going to talk sweetly to them and hope that they get over their shock quickly, and maybe I'll have some fine tomatoes very early in the season this year!

But I'll put the rest of them into the ground when I'm supposed to... on the weekend of Mother's Day.  They'll probably have a better chance, and one way or  another, I want nice fresh tomato salads this summer.

Good Morning, Dear!

Have you had your cup of coffee yet?  I'll have some tea. 
I'm going to put a post up here in a little while, but I'm sleeping in this morning, since after all, it is a Sunday!

So check back in a little while, OK?

Thanks!

Kennedy High School Gift Auction Tonight!

 MaryAlice Jacko and Debbie Buongiovanni put the finishing touches on tonight's Gift Auction

A limited number of tickets will be available at the door today for the John F. Kennedy Memorial High School Gift Auction, to benefit Project Graduation.   Tickets cost $10.00 each, and you must be at least 18 years old to attend this event.  The doors open at 4:00 PM, and tickets are expected to go quickly.   The Gift Auction is the result of months of hard work by parents of Kennedy High School students.  A wide variety of exciting prizes are offered.  The Auction takes place in the school's gymnasium, located at 200 Washington Avenue in Iselin.

Day Trip - Roosevelt Park Sculpture

I was trying to think of a good day trip for today, but I don't feel like going too far. And I'm in a kinda "artsy" mood... so how about a nice walk in the park?

Roosevelt Park in Edison is a great place, with a lot of different kinds of attractions. For one thing, there are plenty of places to walk or bike or picnic, and there are the swings and ball fields of course. But being in an artsy mood, I decided to take a closer look at the public works statue near the "Plays in the Park" stage.

There are some signs posted to explain the statue itself, which is also a fountain, although there is no water running right now. The signs went over some of the symbolism, and the effort to restore it in the last few years.

The fountain, named "Light Dispelling Darkness," was designed by sculptor Waylande Gregory and erected in the park in 1938.  The upright pillar represents the good things in society holding up the world, as the evils -  death, war, famine, pestilence, greed and materialism - are dispelled.  There is a lot of interesting detail and use of color, and it's great that the county decided to restore the work rather than get rid of it.


View Larger Map

So, anyway, it's supposed to be a nice day... although I did hear that the temperatures are going to be much cooler than they were earlier this week.  But maybe it would be a nice day for a picnic lunch?
You could bring some charcoal, cook up a few burgers, and take a little hike around.


Have fun!

Garage Sale Weekends

I was thinking about retail, and I started thinking about the kinds of sales going on here in Iselin, and it occurred to me that this weekend and next weekend are the designated weekends for Garage Sales here in town.  The township has set specific streets to have garage sales this weekend, and specific streets to have garage sales next weekend.  

I know some people will be having their garage sales tomorrow, at least one family I know on North Lincoln in Colonia, so go visit and buy something and say Hi!  (You can mapquest exactly where North Lincoln Avenue is in Colonia, right?)

I am still thinking about it... should I have a garage sale next weekend?  I'm not sure how much stuff I have to get rid of... but I have no other plans anyway, right?  So maybe... I'll let you know.  When I was a kid, my mom had garage sales here every once in a while.  It was fun, but we never made much money.  I, personally, prefer SHOPPING at the sales.  You never know what kind of a bargain you can get.  A few weeks ago, I went to a yard sale and bought a bag of pearl necklaces for $10.  Sure, they probably aren't real, but I actually do like a few of them... I think that was a serious bargain, and it was so much fun!

If you are going to have a sale at your house, feel free to comment below and let us know where!

Retail, Part 2

There are certainly vacant retail spaces in Iselin, but there are plenty of people doing business, too.

Iselin is a whole city full of exotic shopping possibilities.

So come visit Iselin for some really exciting shopping....

or maybe come see if you have what it takes to start a business around here?

Retail - Part 1

I'm rather upset. I went to buy a new canvas and paints, because I wanted to paint a new painting. So I went to Pearl, over next to Toys R Us, across from Woodbridge Center.

As I walked up, it seemed... wrong. I wasn't sure what the problem was. I couldn't tell at first.

But then, as I walked closer, I saw that Pearl is closed. Pearl has been there since I was in High School. That's a lot of years.
So today, for my post about Retail in Iselin, is just simply the comment that retail is certainly having trouble. Who could ever imagine that Pearl would close? Or, even more strange, that Woodbridge Center would lose an anchor store like Fortunoff? I still miss Fortunoff. And I'm definitely going to miss Pearl.
But stay tuned for tomorrow's post, where I'll talk about Retail, part 2...

Wordless Wednesday - Merrill Park Animals

People often ask me if they still have animals at Merrill Park. Yup, even the horse.

Geocaching in Iselin?

Have you heard about Geocaching?

The best definition I've seen is this:

Geocaching (pronounced geo-cashing) is a worldwide game of hiding and seeking treasure. A geocacher can place a geocache in the world, pinpoint its location using GPS technology and then share the geocache's existence and location online. Anyone with a GPS device can then try to locate the geocache.

Geocaching is a treasure hunt game done with a GPS, and there are plenty of people playing! I've wanted to try, and I think I'm going to, tomorrow. It's a great activity for a day outside.

You can find the official Geocaching website HERE. All the details are available on the website, including the locations of the "treasures," and the information you need to get started... including the locations for caches right here in Iselin!

Have fun treasure hunting!

The Iselin Pharmacy

If you are interested in starting a small business, check out an online business degree

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The Iselin Pharmacy has been a fixture on Green Street for ages.  In fact, it opened in 1959.  Gerry Weiner has been there since the beginning, and he’s seen plenty of changes over the years… like the traffic on Green Street!   But one thing that hasn’t changed?   The Iselin Pharmacy is still our neighborhood drug store, and you can still see Gerry’s smiling face behind the counter when you stop in to pick up your prescriptions; he’s there three times a week.

 In the photo (from left),

Jim Higgins, Sanjay Shah, and Gerald Wiener, behind the counter at the Iselin Pharmacy.

Sanjay Shah likes to stay out of the limelight, but he’s been the driving force behind the Iselin Pharmacy since 1995.  He is a good businessman, and he’s also very community-minded.  He often supports local activities and looks for opportunities to help make Iselin an even nicer place to live.  I stopped in to talk to him about an article I’d read, which you can read HERE.

The article talked about the Oak Tree Road/Green Street underpass, which is full of litter and overgrown plants, and very unattractive.  Mr. Shah’s idea is to clean it up – but since the area is owned by Amtrak, he must wait for permission before his idea can happen.

“It’s not really that I want the publicity,” he said, “I just want it to look nice in town.  On the one side, it looks nice with the new bushes.  If we can do something on the other side, it would create a better look.  The area is messy, the trestle is peeling, and I’d like to get something done with it.  I wasn’t trying to get any publicity because of this.” 

When asked what other kinds of things he’d like to see done around town, Mr. Shah said he is also interested in anything that will improve community safety.  “For example, I’d love to see lights to help people cross better, especially some of our seniors who have trouble getting across because of the traffic on Green Street.  The traffic can be really heavy, and people go too fast.” 

Signs in the Pharmacy reinforce what we already know – the Iselin Pharmacy is a “Good Neighbor Pharmacy,” even after all these years.