Friday, May 11, 2012
Pier Village, Sandy Hook and Jenkinson's were right up there as well
Congratulations to Cape May, which emerged as the Patch favorite in this week's Reader's Choice survey of favorite "staycation" spots. Three runners-up, Pier Village in Long Branch, Sandy Hook and Jenkinson's Boardwalk in Point Pleasant Beach, came so close that we're declaring them Patch favorites as well. What do you get when you combine the summer vacation season with a tight economy? The "staycation." And in this part of the Garden State, the drive-to family fun spots abound, from Woodbridge and all the way down the Jersey Shore. This week's Readers' Choice survey asked you to vote for your Patch favorites, the places to bring the boyfriend or girlfriend, or the family and grandparents - when cash and time are too short for the plane …
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
A NY Times article explores the era of the $250 baseball bat
Have you bought a baseball glove for your Little Leaguer lately? Did you pay more than $100 for it? How about a $250 bat? A New York Times story headlined "Big Price Tags Attached to Even the Littlest Leagues," looks at the big business of equipping youngsters for participation in youth baseball and softball leagues, quoting those costs and more. "A batting helmet protects tiny heads for $39.99," the Times reports. "A pair of Nike Jordan Black Cat cleats will make your child fast and fashionable at $51.99 until he or she outgrows them." So what do you think? Has the cost of bats and gloves taken our kids too far from the simpler days of sandlot and playground ballgames? Or have you had better luck finding more modestly-priced equipment for…
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Bunnies, colored eggs, and bouquets of flowers adorn your home for the holiday of Easter, but why?
When thinking about decorating your home for the Easter holiday the mind goes to bright pastels, fresh flowers, baskets full of colorful eggs, chicks and bunnies. Ever wonder how baby animals, eggs, and a mythical bunny became a part of this Christian holiday? While Easter is a celebration of Jesus Christ's resurrection, it has also evolved over centuries to include pagan traditions. The name Easter is derived from the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring, Eostre. The month of April was dedicated to Eostre, and the festival of Eostre was celebrated on the vernal equinox, the one day of the year when the hours of sunlight equal the hours of darkness. When English Christians were trying to convert others to their religion, they kept the name of …
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
An editor's personal journey.
This story is not mine to own. It could belong to you. It could belong to your sister, your friend, your neighbor, the waitress at Jersey Boys, the bank president, the school principal, the police officer directing traffic. In New Jersey, the story belongs to all of us. The findings of a federal study released last week show that one in 49 children, and one in 29 boys, are diagnosed with autism in New Jersey. Nationally, one in 88 children are diagnosed annually. Autism is a disease that gives itself freely and without prejudice. There is no way to protect your child from it; no diet or vaccine that will prevent it. It is, as experts will tell you, pervasive. Autism has been an unwanted guest in my house for 11 years. It has attached …
Monday, April 2, 2012
A weekly roundup of the best blog posts on Patch.
Each week Patch will be taking a look at the best Local Voices posts by our area bloggers. Kim McCafferty reminds us that April is Autism Awareness month. Career coach and professional resume writer Michelle A. Riklan gives you some tips for making sure your resume doesn't land in the circular file. College consultant Arlene Matthews thinks admission wait lists are too large and delay closure for applicants. St. Peter's University Hospital shared an informative post about the symptoms of and treatments for lactose intolerance by nurse Kaytie Olshefski. Have a favorite blog this week that we forgot to mention? Tell us in the comments. Want to blog on your local Patch site? Email your local editor or Associate Regional Editor Jacklyn Corley…
A West Deptford Patch columnist's story of how her brother, facing the biggest "wrecking ball" of his life, believes faith will be rewarded. Bruce Springsteen told him so.
“For the ones who had a notion, A notion deep inside, That it ain't no sin to be glad you're alive.” I remember a time, when I was a little girl, that my brother Mark was very sick. Mark was my first brother, and at the time the youngest in the family. We were born one-two-three, the tag team of myself and Gina born a year apart, and Mark coming a few years later. So at the time I’m remembering, he was about three or four, and I was in first or second grade. I don’t remember the details, or maybe I never knew them. I just remember getting off the bus from St. Patrick’s and rushing into the house to share my day. My mom, in a sharp voice, told me to hush. My brother was in her bedroom, sick, and Gina and I would have to be quiet that day. …
Monday, March 26, 2012
A weekly roundup of the best blog posts on Patch.
Each week Patch will be taking a look at the best Local Voices posts by our area bloggers. Career coach Michelle A. Riklan offers tips on how you can make sure your Facebook account doesn't sabotage your job search. Jerry Turning Jr. turned over the keys to his Autism Dad blog to his 10-year-old daughter, Anna. Anna tells us what she loves about her little brother, Eric. Our resident foodie Lindsay Griesbach lets you in on her favorite sushi deals at Fusha in Freehold. Monmouth County surgeon Dr. Ayotunde Adeyeri launches his Patch blog with tips on making a fast recovery after surgery. Herb Lazar latest hilarious tale from suburbia details how he's managed to be the last adult he knows without a cell phone. Have a favorite blog post this …
Sunday, March 25, 2012
A rabbit can mean a 10-year commitment, and shouldn't be a hastily-decided Easter gift.
With Easter quickly approaching, many families seek the perfect gift to give their loved ones and children. An appealing option always seems to be a pet rabbit—what better way to celebrate the Easter Bunny than a fluffy friend of your very own? Unfortunately, many times the decision to purchase a rabbit is done in haste and new owners realize quickly these animals (whose lifespan is generally six to ten years) take more care and attention than most new owners are willing to give. It is estimated that the amount of rabbits abandoned at shelters greatly increases following the Easter holiday. This ends up leading to an influx of rabbits being neglected, improperly cared for, left at animal shelters, or, worst of all—let out into the wild, …
Thursday, March 22, 2012
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Thursday, March 22
Let the Tebowmania begin! The highly-praised but heavily-scrutinized quarterback will be suiting up in green and white next season after being traded Wednesday to the New York Jets for two draft picks. The announcement Tuesday that former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning had officially signed with the Denver Broncos not only made the Broncos an immediate playoff contender, it also meant media darling Tim Tebow was out of a starting job. No longer the starter, rumors began to fly Tuesday night that Tebow would be traded, with the Jets considered a possible destination. On Wednesday, FOXSports' Jay Glazer broke the news on Twitter that Tebow had in fact been traded to the New York Jets for a fourth-round pick in this year's …
Monday, March 19, 2012
Survey praises state's laws on open records, campaign finance disclosures, public integrity. Over the years, though, Woodbridge pols have had their issues.
A new study ranks New Jersey tops in the nation for its procedures for uncovering corruption. In a report released Monday, the Center for Public Integrity rated all 50 states in terms of their laws for public records access, requiring reports of campaign donations, accountability of all three branches of government, state budget transparency, civil service procedures, purchasing procedures, lobbyist disclosure, audits, pension fund management, ethics bodies, insurance regulation and redistricting. "Keep in mind we're not measuring cases of corruption, but the systems in place to prevent it, and encourage openness and transparency in government," said Gordon Witkin, CPI's managing editor. The report is likely a surprise for many state …
olga bocchiaro
10:20 am on Saturday, May 12, 2012
We love Cape May, already booked up for summer vacation. We're staying across from ocean, Couldn't get any better. more ›