Whether you are new to Summit or a long-time resident, knowing the history of your community and its landmarks ties you more closely to your home town. You can start your journey into Summit’s history right on the library website. Did you know that Summit was originally called Dutchman’s Gap and its hills served as a lookout during the Revolutionary War? Colonial soldiers stationed at Hobart Gap watched the New York harbor and built a fire in a log pyramid to signal George Washington in Morristown. These facts and more are ...

PORTVILLE, NY – A whiteboard with dozens of destinations and vehicle numbers written in various colors sits inside the Portville bus garage, ready to be changed at any moment. David Youngs, the transportation supervisor of the Portville and Olean School Districts, knows that before 2 almost every afternoon, he is likely to receive an email changing the entire meticulously planned schedule . “The mental part of the job is the hardest part of all,” Youngs said. “It’s all a big chess game. You have to look a ...

Did you know you can make the simplest changes to improve your finances?  Wills and estate planning – Amazingly, many individuals and families have a spouse, children, and substantial assets but an outdated or even no will at all. There are vast dangers in ignoring estate and probate law – failure to be proactive can have catastrophic results. Skilled attorneys and financial professionals can ask you the right questions and help you avoid these potential pitfalls.  An end to debit cards – Aside from ...

If you’ve taken a drive down Morris Avenue lately, I’m sure you’ve seen the action at the former Merck site. The Township Committee and I are proud to announce that construction has finally begun for phase one of what is set to be one of the largest mixed-use developments in northern New Jersey. Phase one of the new Vermella Union will consist of 462 multi-family apartments, nearly 40,000 square feet of retail space, and amenities such as a club house. The new development sits on a premier location, adjacent to both ...

“LIVESTRONG at the YMCA made me see my power,” says cancer survivor Pam Cucco. “It was a game changer. I immediately made use of the program at the Madison Area YMCA in order to work out—not only to physically rehabilitate but to ‘work out’ all that disappointment, hesitancy and apprehension.” Pam says that the way she sees it, “LIVESTRONG helped me to get my face on—literally!” Three years ago, the Madison resident was diagnosed with a rare brain cancer that is usually ...

No surprise, the entire college process is big business.  There are testing giants with a choke hold evaluating students and the thousands of test prep companies and tutors to help you boost your scores.  A quick Amazon search will result in hundreds of books about writing your essay, and how to find the school that’s right for you.  And of course the colleges themselves spend millions marketing directly to you and hiring vendors that help them target their prey even more effectively.  Families are often unaware of ...

As soon as Small Business Saturday arrived late last month, the holiday season officially kicked off in Summit, a town which many have described as 'Norman Rockwell picturesque'. “To see locals and others from towns from around the area flock to the area to shop and dine creates such a great vibe in the town,” says Assistant General Manager Jimmy Thornton. “My favorite time of year at the hotel is when we light the fireplace. The lobby and vibe of the hotel takes on a traditional feel that only ...

I have five pictures of my daughter on my desk. Two are baby pictures, one photo is from a dance recital when she was a toddler, and the remaining two were taken in school.  This morning, I did more than just glance at the older of the two school photos. I studied it. My daughter looked so young, much younger than I expected after a few years of catching glances at that particular photo. She is growing up, but her expectations (at this point) of me is to be a good daddy and not screw up the snack situation. I am told things will change ...

The South Plainfield Police Department is accepting applications for Per-Diem Police Dispatcher.  The following are the minimum requirements for applicants: Must be at least 18 years of age Must have a High School diploma or GED Must be certified in 9-1-1, EMD and CPR Must pass a background check and a computerized Dispatch test Must be able to multi-task while using Police, Fire, and EMS Radios, telephones, and computers Must be able to work on an as needed basis to fill vacant shifts including nights, weekends, and ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — As the 2017-2018 school year comes to a close, the popular Ron Bansky and Associates Allstate Westfield Athlete of the week series highlighting student athletes at Westfield High School will pause for the summer. Located 502 East Broad St., the Ron Bansky and Associates Allstate Agency has been protecting local families and business owners for more than 15 years. Owner Ron Bansky, a Westfield resident, is known for the role he plays in the local community. He is a member of the Westfield Boosters ...

The summer gardening season is in full swing and gardeners have been harvesting their bounty - lettuces, tomatoes, zucchinis, peppers and herbs. Insect activity is also gearing up in the garden.   As the growing degree days increase, so does the damaging effects of pests in the garden. Here are a few ways to protect one of the most popular herb in the garden - BASIL.  It's loved by children and adults alike, and unfortunately, also by a few garden pests. Basil is a tender annual herb, in the mint family, that is easy to ...

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and my architectural practice located here in Clark.  I am the Principal and founder of G.B. Architect LLC.  I started my practice in 2005 and moved to Clark in the summer of 2016.  As we head into the New Year, I look forward to making and establishing new relationships with the community of Clark.  My experience in the field of architecture and construction started when I worked with my father throughout my high school years.  It was then that I worked ...

If your son or daughter is turning 18, here are a few things you need to know: If you have an UGMA/UTMA savings account for your child, did you know those assets are his/her legal property and once that instrument matures (most often 21 years old or 18, if you designated that at time of account creation), those assets are at your child’s disposal with no restrictions or limitations? What to do? We have strategies to help parents work with their children to make sure their accounts are used in the way intended - as a ...

The following homes have OPEN HOUSES presented by RE/MAX Neighborhood Properties this weekend. SATURDAY, AUGUST 25:   From 12 - 2 p.m.   16 Schneider Lane, Montville   Click HERE to see Full Listing.   Hosted by Nadine Khalil     From 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.   24 Simpson Avenue, Parsippany-Troy Hills   Click HERE to see Full Listing.   Hosted by Nadine Khalil​​​​​​​   SUNDAY, AUGUST 26:   From 1 - 4 p.m.   59 Boonton Avenue, ...

The new school year is quickly approaching us. The unofficial end of summer is Labor Day and we are back to the routine of getting up early, school assignments, sport activities (which means more driving), early breakfasts, meal planning and overall more activities. Now is a good time for us to reflect and assess how our summer was spent prior to getting involved with all our children’s activities and overall busy time of year. Was there enough downtime for your children? Will they have downtime as September ...

Dear Heidi, My mom lives home alone and a few days ago she fell while reaching for something in her hallway closet. She was able to push her emergency alert button and they called me. I live nearby so I went to check on her and she had pain in her leg and hip area. We got her to the hospital and it turns out that she broke her hip. She had surgery to repair it and now we are faced with “next steps.” What should we do? J.S. in Pine Brook   Dear J.S., As you might imagine, hip fractures are extremely ...

TOMS RIVER, NJ – The Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee met jointly with the Senate Environment and Energy Committee on Thursday at the Toms River Municipal Complex Building to discuss single-use plastics and plastic waste, the harmful effects they have on the environment and how New Jersey can minimize and eventually end our reliance on single-use plastic items.             “Each day, Americans use 500 million plastic straws, and each year, Americans use ...

Please note that the library is closed on Sundays through Labor Day weekend DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN BORROW… TELESCOPES? When we bought our first Orion StarBlast telescope in 2016, it became so popular that we had to buy another one.  The telescopes are going out at a brisk pace and usually require a reservation.  For those who have never used a telescope, there will be a program in September where you can learn how to use it. TENTS?  Our most recent acquisition (funded by Friends of the Library) is a pair of ...

On this week’s AtlantiCast, you’ll find some can’t-miss back to school tips for parents and students, learn about a new treatment for brain injury, see which Atlantic Health System medical center is the only one in New Jersey to make a new, national list, find out how to avoid “avocado hand,” and much more!  

Renowned breast surgeon, Rebecca C. Yang, M.D., has joined Atlantic Breast Associates at Overlook Medical Center and Carol G. Simon Cancer Center, part ofAtlantic Health System Cancer Care.  Dr. Yang, who is a board certified general surgeon and fellowship trained breast surgeon, joins Atlantic Breast Associates from her role as director of the Comprehensive Breast Health Center at Lahey Medical Center in Massachusetts. As a full-time breast surgeon, Dr. Yang focuses exclusively on the care of women with malignant and benign ...

BB is a lovely, intelligent Arabian mare. Life can be pretty quiet at home and she had become bored with the daily routine. She discussed this with her owner, animal communicator Anita Curtis and she decided that she would like to give advice to animals who were having problems. Due to opposable thumb problems, Curtis agreed to do the typing and computer work as long as she was allowed to give her opinion, too. BB reluctantly gave in to that demand, as long as Curtis kept her part brief.  Learn more about Anita Curtis ...

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote in my column, “Watergate analogies apply to Obama, not Trump,” that President Obama’s Justice Department planted a spy in the Trump campaign. I said I used the term “spy” because this was a counter-intelligence operation, not a criminal investigation, where the term informant would have been proper. That statement has been brought into question as unsourced except as a tweet by Trump himself. This is what happens when I try to show that the beloved Obama went Nixon, but further.

Volleyball advanced to the County final with wins over Science Park and Montclair. Unfortunately, Livingston got the better of the Bengals in the County Championship Match.    At the County Track and Field Championship Meet the Girls Team had a fine showing placing 5th overall. Leading the way was Kaela Edwards-2nd in high hurdles and Aicha Naouai- 2nd in javelin. The best Boys performance was La’Shan White- 4th in high hurdles.   Softball fell to the #1 seed Fairlawn in the NJSIAA ...

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ – The Berkeley Heights Communications Committee (BHCC) today announced the July edition of Berkeley Heights Here & Now which is available on the Township website, http://www.berkeleyheightstwpnj.gov.  The July episode was filmed at the season opening of the Berkeley Heights Free Summer Concerts. Presented by the Berkeley Heights Recreation Commission Special Events Committee, the concerts are weekly through mid-August.  The episode features onsite interviews with the concert sponsors, Township ...

Into the Water by Paula Hawkins (Riverhead Books, 2017)   I wanted to like Into the Water by Paula Hawkins because I had enjoyed her previous novel, The Girl on the Train, which was a suspenseful thriller. However, when I finished reading the first part of the Into the Water, I realized that I had not absorbed anything that was happening in the story. I blamed myself for not paying attention to what I was reading due to personal distractions, and decided to do something that I had never done with a novel before; I started reading ...

There are a number of ways to set powerful content marketing goals. The important thing is to start from where you are now and base those goals on the kind of growth that is most important to you. Online Marketing Goals There are four main online marketing goals: * Building more brand awareness * Getting more subscribers * Making more sales * Getting more social media interaction Let’s look at each of these in turn. 1. Building more brand awareness People can’t do business with you if they don’t ...

To all the parents out there, I'd like to ask you a question: What is your No. 1 fear for your children when they start to play competitive sports? I think I can guess that the answer would be: Injury. As a loving and caring parent, it's no secret that you wish your child could stay healthy while playing sports and staying active. And that's why I think it's so important to realize that the No. 1 risk factor for injury in sports is overuse. The good news: Overuse is preventable. The bad ...

Along with hundreds of parents in Westfield, my sons just graduated from high school (congratulations all!). It’s a funny thing being on the inside, being one of the moms who’s actually got kids in the flowy gowns. It’s a completely different vantage point than the one I’m used to; on many graduations past, I’ve felt deep joy while driving on Grove and seeing the seniors walk toward Kehler Field draped in blue and white. They owned the streets with their accomplishments, their promise, and their myriad ...

Cleaner Blending is all about making smarter, more transparent choices about every ingredient we add or eliminate. It’s a tradition we’re carrying forward from our founder, who began Smoothie King by blending different fruits and vegetables with high-quality supplements that made him feel better. Go on, take a look inside our blenders! We are making smarter choices every day. What's 'out'? Gluten, Trans fat, High fructose corn syrup, Hydrogenated oils, and NSF-banned substances. What's ...

The initial patent for the land that would become Bloomfield Township was granted to the English Puritan colonists of Newark, and the area assigned to Essex County in 1675, and Newark Township in 1693. From the 1690's to about the 1720's, much of the northern and eastern land was sold to descendants of New Netherland colonists who had settled Acquackanonk, and the remainder mostly to English families. Bloomfield was settled by a combination of Dutch and English families and the English and Dutch neighborhoods gradually integrated, ...

August 2, 2018 – FILM STARS DON’T DIE IN LIVERPOOL Based on Peter Turner's memoir, the film follows the playful but passionate relationship between Turner (Jamie Bell) and the eccentric Academy Award winning actress Gloria Grahame (Annette Bening) in 1978 Liverpool. What starts as a vibrant affair between a legendary femme fatale and her young lover quickly grows into a deeper relationship, with Turner being the person Gloria turns to for comfort. Their passion and lust for life is tested to the limits by events beyond their ...

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ - The South Plainfield School District is looking for applicants to serve on the Referendum Public Reporting Committee.  As a member of the committee you will attend meetings to discuss the progress of the referendum projects throughout the district and report the information to the public during a public Board of Education meeting.  All interested applicants must submit a cover letter and resume to [email protected] on or before August 31, 2018.

The names Larry Page and Sergey Brin may or may not mean anything to you. Odds are, though, you’ve heard of the company they started. The two were Ph.D students at Stanford University 22 years ago when they figured out a new and improved way to produce search results on the internet. They called it Backrub, and two years later renamed it Google. They are each worth $35 billion. The name Jeff Bezos may be a tad more familiar to you. His back story probably is not. He was born Jeffrey Jorgensen to a 16-year-old mom, who divorced her ...

NEW JERSEY - Ashley HomeStore of Central New Jersey and Staten Island joins the Global #GivingTuesday Movement in partnership with their local Habitat for Humanity organizations. They are offering an in-store promotion for a $20 donation, offering a $100 gift card off your purchase, valid for one year. #GivingTuesday is a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. Occurring this year on November 28, #GivingTuesday is ...

Michael Karu, CPA/CFF, discusses whether or not one’s Social Security counts on the FAFSA– LIVINGSTON, NJ – Michael H. Karu, CPA/CFF, Member, Levine, Jacobs & Company, LLC., a Livingston-based leading accounting firm, was featured on the digital news site of The Star-Ledger and NJadvancemedia. In the article, “Does Social Security count on the FAFSA?” Karu states, “Under the law, up to 85 percent of the recipient's Social Security benefits are ...

MILLBURN, NJ - Getting recognized as a successful, local business is more than just hanging a shingle outside your shop or office. You may have a great product or service, but so do many of your competitors. So how are potential customers and clients able to choose? Warren Buffet said, “You can't replace the relationships you build and the way you treat people with business knowledge." Subject matter expertise, top of the line products and competitive pricing are all undoubtedly important. However, nothing can ...

The Livingston Area Chamber of Commerce (LACC) is proud to spotlight its new member, Montclair Medical Associates, LLC (MMA), and owner, Dr. Renita Oglesby. Thank you, Montclair Medical Associates, for partnering with the LACC and being a part of Livingston’s thriving business community. This virtual interview was conducted by TAPintoLivingston.net in partnership with the LACC and answered by Dr. Renita Oglesby Montclair Medical Associates, established in 2017, is located at 290 South Livingston Avenue, Suite 2, in ...

Listen to talk radio on any Monday/Tuesday morning during the NFL season, and you will talk chatter about Instant Replay in the NFL, most of it critical. The NFL, a multi-billion organization, with multiple billion dollar partners in the television industry, still has not mastered instant replay, despite having used it since 1986 in a limited form, and extensively since 1999.  The NFL uses 12 to 20 cameras per game, depending on network and the television interest, including a camera on a guide wire over the field. Major League ...

February’s spotlight is on Joseph Horling , Staff Sergeant US Army 1942-1946. Joe was born in Rahway NJ on Oct 1, 1920.  He and his brother Anthony were born to Anthony Sr. and Bertha Horling .  Joe’s father was born in Munich and his mother Bertha in Austria.  Joe enlisted in the Merchant Marines in 1942.  Eight months later, in 1943, he enlisted in the US Army.  Joe’s brother Anthony enlisted in the US Air Force at the same time.    In 1943 Joe headed off to basic training; first ...

One of our SAT prep students recently gained a lot of attention for being accepted to all seven of the Ivy League schools to which she had applied, as well as to Stanford University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) She has chosen to attend M.I.T. and major in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Of course, Diana had earned stellar SAT scores and had a most impressive G.P.A.  But I was curious about her other accomplishments, and met with her recently to hear her words of wisdom as to what she believes it takes ...

Are you like so many parents eagerly awaiting your child's financial aid package hoping for a windfall only to be let down when you receive letters in the mail offering no merit aid. Just this morning, while in my car, I heard a father calling into New Jersey 101.5 radio saying that his son received no money from any NJ state college. So often, I get desperate inquiries from parents and students asking, "What did I do wrong? Can this be a mistake?"  My first question to the parent is always, "Is it a public ...

CLARK, NJ - As flu season is in full gear and the probability of catching the flu is a real concern, a majority of Americans admit to taking actions that may contribute to the spread of this highly contagious virus.  According to a recent survey, roughly three out of five Americans who have had the flu or flu-like symptoms (61%) admitted to being out and about the last time they felt sick, putting others at risk, likely without them knowing. The online survey was conducted among over 1,800 Americans ages 18 and older who have ...

Making better choices can happen as quickly as five seconds. Joan recently had the opportunity to speak with Mel Robbins, the creator of the Five Second Rule and author of The 5 Second Rule: Transform Your Life, Work and Confidence with Everyday Courage. Q. What is the 5 second rule? Joan: According to Mel, we live our lives inside a gap between what’s happening to us and our reaction to it and that gap is about five seconds long. She believes that by implementing her five second rule, which is simply counting back from five ...

CLARK, NJ – Cornerstone Physical Therapy Health and Wellness Center is now offering the latest technology in therapeutic pain relief with the introduction of the LightForce™ EXPi Deep Tissue Therapy Laser.  This therapy offers the highest level of pain relief available using a new and enhanced 25 watt Class IV Laser. Laser Therapy is a surgery-free, drug-free option for individuals suffering from both acute and chronic pain.  Treatments are fast, safe, and painless.   Most patients see results in 3 to 5 ...

I would like to thank TAPinto East Brunswick for allowing me to write a column for our residents here in our township. The goal of the column is to be informative and nonpartisan. With that said, I would like to begin by talking about an exciting partnership the town of East Brunswick is forging with HMS Host Inc.  They are looking to hire locally for all their positions, and this is a great opportunity for those currently looking for part-time or full-time work.   One of the main thoughts on everyone’s mind is ...

MORRISTOWN, NJ - Voting by Telephone is something that sounds like a 2018 initiative but in fact it was the brain child of the sole living former County Clerk's - Joseph J. Bell.  On Wednesday evening, April 18, 2018, surrounded by family and his former staff, Bell was honored at current Morris County Clerk Ann Grossi’s “Through the Ages” tribute in Morristown. Joe Bell served as County Clerk from 1983 - 1988, serving one full term then leaving to pursue a career as an attorney.  It was a ...

There are currently 2 openings in the tuition-based full day kindergarten at Walnut Avenue School for the 2018-2019 school year.   Applicants should be aware there is a tuition charge of $680 per month.    Please complete the application below and send to: The Office of the Superintendent of Schools 132 Thomas Street Cranford, New Jersey 07016 Applications can also be emailed to:  [email protected] or faxed to: 908-272-7735. For additional information or if you have any questions, you may ...

Dear Mr. Vice President,   I heard your speech last week and was inspired.  I am writing to formally enlist in the United States Space Force.    Although eager to serve, I am a little surprised to learn that this next important branch of the armed services will be formed to protect our interests in outer space and not cyberspace.  It seems to me that given the state of the world today we should be proactively trolling our accusers and hacking our enemies where it hurts them most.  On ...

The Fern Forman Memorial Golf Tournament in support of Daughters of Israel was a huge success. Attracting more than 200 participants, the tournament was held on Aug. 6 at Canoe Brook Country Club. In addition to the golf tournament, the event included a card and game party, tennis round robin, cocktail reception, and awards ceremony. Generously underwritten by First Republic Wealth Management, the event was co-chaired by Jason Halper and Dan Klinger, and Honorary Chair Michael Forman.  All proceeds went to benefit the skilled ...

SUSAN BARBAGLIA, owner of Skin Deep Salon and Spa in New Providence, offers a wealth of knowledge and expertise as a leader in the beauty industry. With over thirty years experience in skin care, Susan can answer your most challenging beauty questions. Email your questions to [email protected].   ___________________________________   Dear Susan: How do I get beautiful, thicker brows? If you’ve ever over tweezed your eyebrows, there’s a chance they didn’t grow ...

Smart ways for parents to plan for children’s expenses Children are blessings, but they’re expensive, too. Diapers, bottles, baby food, clothing, cribs, and car seats are just the beginning of the items babies need. As they grow, their needs continue to get bigger—like braces or money for after-school activities. Once they reach age 17 or 18, many leave for college, and everyone is familiar with the extraordinary cost of college tuition. These expenses you as a parent will experience throughout a child’s life mean ...

A few weeks ago, some of the girls in the office were craving fro-yo and invited me along. I think I may have had frozen yogurt in my past but it didn’t leave enough of an impression for me to actually be sure. However, they were raving about it and I’m game for trying almost anything and then of course, talking about it. After the hilarious adventure of “tasting” the flavors of the day (some of the fro-yo did make it into the miniscule little paper cups, more on our hands; all gloriously delicious) we made our picks ...

North Avenue is at the heart of the downtown and is the first perception of Plainfield that many visitors see. The architecture and history of the district, convenience of the train station and new lofts and apartments constructed nearby suggests a new renaissance for this district. Unfortunately, not many people know the area is a historic district at all since presently no signs have been posted.  We are pleased to announce that Downtown Plainfield Alliance has received full funding of the first of three phases of street signs and ...

Dear Dr. Linda, I am in second grade and have a problem about math. My teacher just keeps giving me homework and it’s driving me crazy. Because she keeps giving it to me on weekends and spring and summer breaks. And it’s only one level and it’s too hard. But the other people who have special needs get to be moved into a higher or lower group and they learn even more because it’s their level. I’m feeling very overwhelmed. Emi Dear Emi, It’s not that often that a second-grader writes to me. Thank ...

Guest Column The tragedy of the Florida school shooting is devastating leaving 17 killed and 15 injured. Our children can easily identify with what occurred yesterday. It will be the topic of conversation today in schools everywhere. School administrators are doing all they can to provide support and guidance. The shootings affect children, teachers, and school personnel. The school shooting can have an emotional, psychological and physical effect on us, our families and our children. It is important to share the facts ...

EAST BRUNSWICK—Looking for a new job? East Brunswick Public Library (2 Jean Walling Civic Center) is here to help. The library offers a special program called “Acing the Interview” on Saturday, July 21 at 10:30 am, which is designed to help jobseekers. “Acing the Interview” focuses on what many feel is the most stressful part of the job search process: the interview. The workshop shares the necessary tools to conduct successful interviews in person, on the phone or online. Learn how to think like the ...

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ - As have many of the older buildings in our township, the recently-demolished McGinnis School has fascinated residents. For a long time, this building stood dormant, piquing the curiosity of passersby, as well as Warnsdorfer students in the building next door. I, myself, was among those young minds who was interested in this old structure that stood adjacent to my elementary school. We all made up our own little fantasies that the place was either haunted or had stood abandoned since the depression. In this article, I will ...

Dana Stahl, a learning specialist and educational consultant, will address educational questions and concerns that parents may have regarding their children’s academic development and progress in school. Topics can center on such concerns as how to handle homework dilemmas or what questions to ask at a CSE meeting. Questions can range from “How best do parents advocate for their children?” to “How do parents interpret formal tests that have been administered?” to “Which schools and colleges are right for my ...

Big changes are in store for New Jersey’s workplaces, with dramatic legislation aimed at improving conditions for New Jersey’s workers. These changes include the enactment of New Jersey’s Equal Pay Act, a new law to help the unemployed, and passage of New Jersey’s Paid Sick Leave Act. Most likely one or all these laws will impact you or someone in your family. New Jersey’s Equal Pay Act Starting this month New Jersey will have the strongest pay equity law in the nation. Governor Murphy and the state ...

“What you see behind me is a life-changing project for myself that I have been working on since January 2017, nearly two years, discreetly; not sharing much about it with anybody. I've had plenty of reasons to give up on this truck; I purchased it pretty much from the ground up from Rashine Mobile, another local city entrepreneur. The truck had no steering column, no computer; it was nothing but a silver aluminum box, but I had a vision and that vision is still a manifestation.” This is how Kasi McKoy described his ...

One of the most important decisions you’ll make about your retirement is when and how to receive your Social Security benefits, but it’s crucial to understand potential tax implication prior to doing so. For many retirees that will have additional sources of income in retirement, Social Security benefits can push you into a higher tax bracket. However, with the proper proactive planning, you can create a strategy that will leave more money in your hands, and less in Uncle Sam’s. Having an idea of just how much your Social ...

June 11, 2018 1:12 am    FD responded to WALLACE ROAD for a report of wires burning in the area of Rose Lane and Canoe Brook Parkway. FD found a service wire burning in a tree behind at a Wallace Rd residence. FD notified Power Company for a response and stood by until their arrival. Investigation found that a protective sleeve that was on the wire to protect it from rubbing a tree was burning. Power company cut power to the area and FD controlled any burning debris that dropped down. FD stood by while power company replaced the ...

Honorable Mentions         Though very notable spaghetti westerns have been reviewed, there are still so many others worthy for enthusiasts. So before we get to the final spaghetti western, here are a few honorable mentions.   Texas, Adios (1966), dir. Ferdinando Baldi Released around the beginning of the spaghetti western wave, this flick plays more like a traditional American western. Its violence is not the focus, and Sheriff Burt Sullivan (played by Franco Nero) is the Italian Wyatt Earp: always willing ...

South Plainfield–The South Plainfield Community Pool has been a treasure to Borough residents since being built in the mid 60’s. The Pool, which at one time was privately owned, has been a source of recreational fun for generations. It is a source of summer relief for residents young and old.  Much like the library, prior to the addition, the pool is dated and in need of repair. Administration after Administration have tried to make small modest improvements, but the Pool is now in need of major improvements and a summer ...

In New Jersey, segregation is a cultural issue that demands the immediate attention of Christians. Nearly 87 percent of Christian churches in the U.S. are either made up of only white, or only African-American parishioners. When we worship in the comfortable bubble of segregation, we miss the opportunity for racial reconciliation, as mandated by Jesus: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John ...

Olean, NY - For those interested in the Royal Wedding. Here is a TAPinto special. In their May 18 podcast, Giles Bootheway, a British citizen who teaches at St. Bonaventure University, shares his thoughts on the Royal Wedding with TAPinto Greater Olean Co-editor Richard Lee. PLAY   Download the TAPinto App!   Click here for Android.  Click here for iOS.  

Facebook recently announced it will be changing its feed and algorithms so that news from publishers and posts from businesses will be relegated in favor of posts about your neighbor’s cat.  Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that Facebook is making these changes because he is concerned about his legacy and that of the company he founded. If Mark Zuckerberg is truly worried about his legacy and that of Facebook, casting legitimate news publishers and businesses into the abyss will only further tarnish ...

Research published this week in the journal Circulation, reported findings of a 34 year study on over 100,000 people found five modifiable lifestyle       behaviors associated with a 14 year longer life expectancy in women and a 12 year long life expectancy in men at age 50. The health behaviors related to longer life included never smoking, eating a healthy diet, maintaining a normal weight, drinking alcohol in moderation or not at all, and getting more than 3.5 hours a week of moderate to vigorous activity. The ...

We have all seen the advertisement. An ex-ballplayer, a Hall of Famer, is approached by a couple of pretty women in the gym. They comment on how muscular the player is, that he hasn’t changed a bit since his playing days. They inquire, “How do you do it?” The player then launches into his pitch. His supplement keeps him fit and virile due to its “man-boosting” properties. What are these “man- boosting” properties? Can it help boost the heart muscle as well? The “man-booster” is the male ...

 Rescue Squad Cadet Receives a 911-Themed Promposal

Idaho is not the only place to grow potatoes. Any backyard can supply a bounty harvest, done properly. The most important part of growing potatoes is picking the right variety of potato to grow. Some potatoes grow better in different areas of the country than others. For New Jersey, The best potatoes to grow are the Purple Peruvian, Yukon Gold,  Red Bliss, Sweet, and the Fingerling Potatoes. These potatoes are hearty to the cold and immune certain diseases.  The other thing to take into ...

In late June, I was asked to give a short talk, introducing myself to a community organization I had recently joined, one that does philanthropic work here and around the world.  I spoke about growing up in the Bronx and described some of the most interesting jobs I’d had before serving in the infantry and playing baseball for the Army, while stationed in Panama during the Vietnam War. I also spoke about meeting my wife while attending City College on the GI Bill; raising my kids and enjoying time with my grandkids, and my career ...

As a digital marketer I am on social media quite a bit, but on a day like today I get a hole in my heart and a pit in my stomach.  Everyone with best wishes in mind, is wishing a Happy Mother's Day and posting pictures of their kids and gifts and breakfasts in bed.  But my first thoughts are always my friends, who lost their mom or even worse, friends that lost their kids.  At my age you have the unfortunate occurrences of attending wakes and funerals of both.  And it is heart and gut wrenching ...

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ – The students and staff at Holy Savior Academy, a pre-K3 through eighth grade AdvancedED accredited Middlebrook Deanery Catholic School located in South Plainfield, have been busy gearing up for two widely anticipated spring events. In May, the drama club will present its 4th annual Spring Spectacular Musical and a school wide art show will also take place.  This year, Holy Savior Academy will present The Sound of Music at 7 p.m. on both Thursday, May 3 and Friday, May 4. Tickets are ...

Is it time to take hold of a plan for the new year?   You can start by organizing and setting goals for 2018. Financial Goals: Take a look at your financial goals for the new year. Organize your budget and make a plan to eliminate debt and to save for short and long term goals. Maybe 2018 will be the right time to buy a home or sell and downsize.  Household Goals: Getting organized. Donate, sell or discard any items that are cluttering your home which you do not put to use. Set up goals for remodeling or doing small ...

Events are listed for New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. To have your event listed e-mail [email protected]. For premium event listings enter them online at https://www.tapinto.net/events/new?premium=true Aug. 1-5 — Adequan/FEI North American Youth Championships for Jumping and Dressage at Old Salem Farm (North Salem, N.Y.) Aug. 2 —Thurs. Morning Horse Show, Hunter/Jumper, Bucks County Horse Park, Revere, Pa. http://buckscountyhorsepark.org/ Aug. 4 — Horses in Hunterdon, Delaware Valley Horsemen’s ...

As if driving during nasty, cold conditions is not enough of a challenge, having 'car trouble' in the wintertime can be about as much fun as the farcical examples used in a satellite television provider commercial that pokes fun at the cable companies... you know, like getting paper cuts on your tongue, getting your arm caught in a vending  machine, spilling hot coffee on yourself, getting caught in a turnstile that doesn't turn and using wet grocery bags that rip apart at the bottom. Fun as in, not ...

Big changes are in store for New Jersey’s workplaces, with dramatic legislation aimed at improving conditions for New Jersey’s workers. These changes include the enactment of New Jersey’s Equal Pay Act, a new law to help the unemployed, and passage of New Jersey’s Paid Sick Leave Act. Most likely one or all these laws will impact you or someone in your family. New Jersey’s Equal Pay Act Starting this month New Jersey will have the strongest pay equity law in the nation. Governor Murphy and the state ...

Fifth grade students and their family members recently attended Café Cultural, an annual event designed to showcase the elementary World Language program in Westfield Public Schools. For a seventh year, attendees of the open house-style event viewed colorful student projects on display while sampling foods of different cultures brought in by the families, including Irish soda bread, crepes, Lo Mein, and Papa a la Huancaina, a Peruvian creamy potato appetizer. Café Cultural was “originally created to give us a ...

On a patch of parkland at High and Culver Streets in Somerville, a four-sided monument stands for those who served our country in WWI. Each side contains a plaque, which lists the names of the town’s contribution of soldiers, sailors and marines. The southward facing plaque is reserved for the eighteen men “who made the supreme sacrifice.” Young lives cut short 100 years ago. The first name among them stands out for its uniqueness:  Warrenzelo J. Bickert. Who was he and what can we learn about his service? Documents from ...

Many customers ask my advice for ways to add more years of life to their vehicles. Here are a few pointers from my 35 years of experience in the auto repair industry, as well as some tips to keep you safer on the road.   1.    Pull Through a Parking Spot.  Pull through to the other side of a parking space so your vehicle faces forward out of the space.  When you avoid backing out of a space you greatly reduce the chance of accidentally hitting another vehicle or a pedestrian ...

When Nutley Historian John Demmer wanted to get some help identifying local homes, he went to the best source possible…social media. He is interested in identifying as many Lambert built houses as possible in Nutley. Lambert, who was a prominent builder and influential Nutleyite, lived and worked in town. It is believed that there are more than 500 homes and buildings that were designed and built by Lambert and his ‘Nutley Realty company’. “Lambert is sort of an unsung hero in ...

Welcome to Sage & Ali’s RE411 where we assist with ALL of your Real Estate needs.  Today’s topic:  How to fit in when you move to a new home. Does this sound familiar? You’ve moved into your new home.   You’ve unpacked, organized closets ( Call AH Solutions https://www.facebook.com/ahsolutionsllc/ if you need assistance with that...) you feel at home… except, you don’t know anyone in your new town.  You don’t know how to go about meeting “your ...

This saying works with just about anything in the world that is actually worth doing, including the sale of your own home. But, the act of “pursuit” is a tricky one.. What is your goal? How will you reach it?  What is your End Game?   These are the questions you need to ask yourself when your are in the act of pursuit. Your goal?  That’s an easy question to answer.  Right?  Well.. lets see Your goal is to sell your home..   Is that all?  Probably not… ...

The FirstEnergy Foundation has presented surprise Gifts of the Season of $1,000 each to 12 non-profit agencies working to make lives better in communities across its Jersey Central Power & Light service areas. “We’re pleased to provide this surprise support to so many agencies throughout New Jersey, particularly during the holidays, when the services they provide to the least fortunate are often most vital,” said Dee Lowery, president of the FirstEnergy Foundation.  “The winners were chosen secretly by ...

The Jaffe Briefing is (finally) on Vacation Monday, Aug. 27, returning Tuesday, Sept. 4 TRENTON - Well, kudos for trying. In a wild Hail Mary, New Jersey officials tried to dodge Trump's controversial tax plan, suggesting that towns set up their own charities so that property taxes exceeding $10,000 can be deductible with the IRS. After the feds stopped belly laughing at the idea, wiped the tears from their eyes and pulled themselves off the floor, someone, somewhere dashed off a quick note to New ...

The weather cooperated this weekend, so I went for more than one hike. After all, there are only just over fifty days before my walk to Maine commences, so why not. This Saturday, some friends dragged me away from housecleaning (thank you!) for a quick jaunt through Watchung Reservation.  While we were there, we ran into two individuals from Westfield; the cosplayers introduced themselves as Will Scarlett and Robin Hood! My friends and I took a different route on this day, not venturing near Lake Surprise like I had on my last trip ...

In June, the New York Jets announced their training camp schedule for 2018. Rookies reported on July 24th and veteran players reported July 26th. PSL/Club Holders were able to attend training camp on Saturday, July 28th at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center (AHJTC). Absent from training camp, as all Jets fan know, was Sam Darnold, who had yet to sign his rookie contract. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports it's not unusual for rookies to have last minute contract hassles. Let's take a look at who's the winners and losers in ...

CALABASH, NC – The Four Finger man was on vacation last week and somehow my picks didn’t make it so the TAP Coaching Staff called an audible. My ghost writing backup submitted the Week 16 picks. He is no Garoppolo, but he didn’t do too bad. Anyway, he wanted the Saints, but called a push, and lost the Jets by ½. He called the Seahawk win, but blew everything else. I’m still holding to my preseason Super Bowl pick. The Chiefs Win. Happy New Year’s everyone. Here are my picks for week #17. WEEK #17 NFL ...

Women have special financial needs that advisors overlook in two ways: 1) advisors don’t always acknowledge the different planning needs women have and 2) advisors don’t always communicate well with female clients – especially if the client comes to a meeting with her husband. It’s very common for a male advisor to spend much or most of the face time in meetings talking to the husband and ignoring the wife. For these two reasons, women may be given the short end of the stick when it comes to financial planning and ...

Let’s see who wins and who may lose. We have all heard a lot about the new tax plan. Depending on your individual financial situation, you may have a positive or negative take on the tax bill. But how does it impact real estate? That also depends on a few things, like where you are buying a house, how much money you have, and what you intend to do with it. The new tax plan has had a negative response to the American dream by some real estate professionals & groups. But are these fears surrounding the new, lower cap ...

The David Brearley High School Student of the Month for December is a conscientious and energetic senior who has found success in many areas of the David Brearley community. Phoebe Kotch is an excellent student who, according to her teachers, consistently goes above and beyond the minimum requirements of a class. Phoebe is president of the senior class, and she has also participated in the planning of every event and activity sponsored by the Student Council. She is an active member of the DBHS Competition Cheerleading team, as well.

As the summer temperatures rise, home cooling costs rise as well. But there are ways to help save money without sweating the heat: To increase your cooling system’s efficiency by as much as 20%, get it checked out for summer.  A technician will clean the condenser, make sure you have the optimal amount of refrigerant, and ensure the airflow over the coil is adequate.  Have your duct system looked at as well, to ensure that up to 30% of the cooled air isn’t leaking out from unsealed ducts before it ever ...

Over the next five years, home prices are expected to appreciate, on average, by 3.6% per year and to grow by 18.2% cumulatively, according to Pulsenomics’ most recent Home Price Expectation Survey. Team Nest Builder wants you to understand what that means for homeowners and their equity positions. As an example, let’s assume a young couple purchased and closed on a $250,000 home this January. If we only look at the projected increase in the price of that home, how much equity will they earn over the next 5 years? Since ...

Livingston Television has announced its programming schedule from December 28, 2017 - January 3, 2018. In addition to its normal schedule, LTV will also go live on January 1st at 11AM to present the annual Township Reorganization Meeting and Mayor Swearing In.  LTV THIS WEEK Comcast Ch. 34 / FiOS Ch. 26     December 28, 2017 - January 3, 2018   TOWNSHIP/COMMUNITY EVENTS Town Council Reorganizational Meeting & Mayor Swearing-in Ceremony: Mon, 11:00A  (*LIVE ...

As far back as 1924, President Calvin Coolidge recommended that “Father’s Day” become a national holiday   ̶  but it wasn’t until 1966 that President Lyndon B. Johnson, through an executive order, designated the third Sunday in June as the official day to celebrate fathers everywhere. As with many of our holidays, Father’s Day has become highly commercialized with marketers pushing snappy ties, car accessories and grilling equipment. But the true spirit of Father’s Day – thankfully ...

It was our first day in the country. The smell of fish'n chips filled the air, and the Wig and Pen was the place to be as England prepared to take on Sweden in the quarterfinals of the 2018 World Cup on Saturday.  Wearing blue and yellow was a death sentence. The streets were lined with fans dressed in red who stood in pub lines extending for blocks. We had one goal: Convince the locals that we were one of them. The time was 13 :30, which meant that we had less than two hours to rummage through every souvenir shop in downtown ...

Did you watch “Roseanne” last week? The reboot of the popular show from the ‘90s opened to huge ratings. So huge, in fact, it earned the highest ratings of any network program in the last six years. More than 18 million people tuned in to watch both of the first two half-hour episodes. That’s quite an accomplishment for a show that had a terrible final year and then took a 20-year hiatus.  I am just going to put it right out front. The reason for this huge opening is that both the character of Roseanne Connor ...

I feel confident in predicting that 2018 is not going to be a drought year. Don’t laugh, dear reader. At the moment, that’s barely a stretch. But I admit to having had a few predictions of the weather sort go ludicrously wrong this year.  In mid-winter, I thought the mild weather we were enjoying at that point presaged a mildish spring. On that particular occasion, the weather turned before the week was out, before my article even made it into print. The winter immediately ceased being mild.  Then it felt like spring ...

Trump. He doesn’t just use an-in-your face, combative style that immediately takes people aback, but he regularly operates under the rule of behavior known officially as Opposite Day. Only in Trump’s case, most days are Opposite Day.    Opposite Day is a slang term that came into use based on an episode of the TV show “Seinfeld.” In this particular episode, George Costanza had the huge realization that all of his straightforward gambits always ended in failure. So, he decided to act exactly the ...

Westfield attorney Greg K. Vitali, of the law firm Lindabury, McCormick, Estabrook & Cooper, P.C., has been selected as a Fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America (“CLSA”). Vitali is a partner in the firm’s construction litigation group with an emphasis in the areas of commercial and construction law. A 1994 graduate of Franklin & Marshall College, Vitali received his Juris Doctor degree from Seton Hall University School of Law in 1997. Vitali regularly appears in the New Jersey Superior Court, the ...

MONTVILLE, NJ - Following are open houses for Century 21 The Crossing this weekend: Sunday, July 22 from 1 - 4 p.m. 20 Henning Drive, Fairfield 18 Renshaw Drive, Montville  Sunday, July 22 from 2 - 4 p.m. 3 Louis Drive, Montville  

Glimmerglass Opera offers range of shimmering productions, traditional to innovative By Liz Keill COOPERSTOWN, NY – Whether it’s rain or shine, high humidity or a downpour, the world is magical on the stage of Glimmerglass Opera, near Otsego Lake, just north of Cooperstown, NY. Yes, the village is mostly known for the Baseball Hall of Fame, but over the years, the opera has built its own following of opera buffs. This year’s offerings include “The Cunning Little Vixen” by Leos Janacek, “The Barber ...

Did you know…. there was a time when Chatham kids could ice skate from downtown Chatham all the way to Florham Park? And that a toboggan ride could last from the top of Fairmount Avenue down to Main Street and beyond? Those were the days! This was back in the early to mid-1900s. The Passaic River meandered through grassy meadows and woods on the north side of Chatham. The marshy flood basin surrounding the Passaic, the freshet, provided acres and acres of open space to skate on. Reportedly half the town could be found skating on ...

UPDATE: Found! ORIGINAL POST: Tiny, 3-month-old kitten got out this morning Monday, Aug. 20, on 547 Shackamaxon Drive in Westfield. If you see him, please call Tom or Gail Cassidy  at 908-654-5216. He has on a collar but with no name. His name is "Little Guy."

One of the things I do actually love about the suburbs is the quiet. Of course, the quiet mostly happens in short spurts between clamorous bouts of home construction, lawn mowers, garbage trucks, cicadas, and dogs barking. But when I do get it, it’s glorious. So, naturally, as I was having one of those brief, late afternoon quiet moments on my deck, a bird suddenly landed on my deck railing and started to yell at me. It wasn’t a nice little bird tweet like the helpful birdies in a Disney movie. It was a large bird caw like ...

On The Gridiron: Olean was the only local team to win its playoff game, beating Burgard-Math Science Tech 36-24. The Huskies jumped out to an early 29-0 lead in the first half. Senior quarterback Luke Chapman went 9-for-14, throwing for 112 yards with a pair of touchdowns. Olean managed to hold off a fierce Bulldog comeback for the victory. The Huskies will play Medina in the Funke Bowl Class B final Thursday. Portville’s season came to an end last week as they suffered a blowout loss to top-seeded Franklinville/ ...

Yesterday evening I worked up quite a thirst and had a hankering to visit the local watering hole. There’s a saloon right up Route 22 that has a country feel to it, so I saddled up and went on over. The first thing I do when I walk into a place like that is look up and check out the chandeliers. Oddly enough, this place has several, but the kind I’m looking for is a large, metal one about four to six feet in diameter. That way, if a bunch of rustlers waltz in and start a brawl, I shoot the chandelier down with my six-gun and it ...

The last Twitter post from Columbia High School principal Elizabeth Aaron is very telling.  The four-year CHS schools chief, who was recently, surprisingly, reassigned to a vague “Principal on Special Assignment” post by the school district, was a Twitter regular on her @CougarPrincipal account. There she would often promote the school’s successes and notable staff and students. From pushing summer reading lists to showing off CHS prom pics, Aaron is school spirit incarnate. But her last tweet, posted on June ...

Name: Anna Mastroianni Years in Westfield: 16 Work: Owner Sole Fine Italian Shoes, 201 East Broad Street, 908-654-7800 Anna Mastoianni has filled some pretty big shoes in her day and not just because she’s the owner of the exquisite Italian shoe store Sole in Downtown Westfield. Turns out the Hollywood stunt double has a resume that would make your head spin, literally. “One of my first jobs was racing a cherry red ’57 Chevy and stopping just inches away from a mailbox for the daytime drama Another World,” ...

In our last article, we broached the subject of debt and the township’s reliance – or over-reliance – on debt to fund our yearly expenditures for items such as roads. So, ok, we want to reduce our reliance on debt moving forward, especially as the cost of borrowing is rising. What’s the solution? Well, there’s no magic wand we can wave to suddenly end our reliance on bonding.  We are not going to add $6 million to the township’s operating budget in one year because that would result in a ...

For millennia, scientists and philosophers have attempted to discover the furniture of the universe. How did it all begin? Can we really know anything? What exactly does the universe consist of? Through the ages, wise men and women have found the courage to examine and even challenge established belief systems. And this has often resulted in dire personal consequences. Socrates (469-399 B.C.), a former member of the Greek army, spent most of his adult life asking questions that many dare not to ask. Eventually, he was brought to trial for ...

As a Last Official Act Gov. Christie Declares December 23rd State Festivus Day Early this morning, Gov. Christie signed a resolution declaring December 23, 2017, State Festivus Day in New Jersey. The press release noted that “Since 2009, Gov. Christie has been airing his grievances on a regular basis since he took office. This is really nothing new for him.” Festivus is a secular holiday celebrated on December 23 as an alternative to the pressures and commercialism of the Christmas season. Originally a family tradition of ...

New Providence High School Pioneer Football program held a fundraiser at the Paca Club in New Providence. Mayor Al Morgan, born and raised in New Providence, is a lifelong Pioneer and a New Providence High School Football team supporter and fan.  “Looking forward to a very successful season! GO PIONEERS!” -Mayor Al Morgan

NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ - New Providence PAL Baseball has been hot this past week, and is closing out the month in a big way. NP PAL's 14U team finished in second place in the NJ North Cal Ripken State Tournament. With this performance, the team has qualified for the Cal Ripken Northeast Regional Tournament and will start the regional play on Tuesday, July 24th in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. This is the first time a New Providence team has qualified for the regional tournament. Congratulations and best of luck in the regions. In ...

Tuesday, December 19, 2017 (Chester, N.J.) -  Couture Traders: Buy, Sell, Trade, is embracing re-commerce in a big way. The one-stop shop located on Main Street in historic Chester Township, N.J. specializes in buying back ‘pre-loved’ authentic designer handbags, and other couture items, and reselling them to new owners. Couture Traders will be celebrating the holidays tonight with their Champagne and Couture Wishlist Party from 5-7pm., They are inviting the public to come to the store and finish up their holiday shopping with ...

The 33% Approval Rating of this Administration Illustrates One Thing: The Electoral College Failed Jeff Sessions-  “Why would be bring somebody into the country who is illiterate in their own language?”  -To Tucker Carlson on FOX. The most frustrating thing about the television is the one sided conversations that take place.  When the Attorney General, Jeffrey B. Sessions goes on television, and makes statements that are laced with vitriol to the state sponsored Tucker Carlson network; the American people are ...

Monday, August 6, 20 - 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm - Women helping Women - Share your strengths and challenges while receiving support in a safe and compassionate environment. Please join our group exclusively for women to gain support and share feelings common to women in the middle years of life. Nutley Family Service Bureau, 155 Chestnut Street, Nutley, NJ 07110. Please call NFSB at (973)-667-1884 to register. This group is FREE and will be facilitated by Staela Keegan, LCSW, LCADC. DOWNLOAD ...

Commissioner Mauro G. Tucci and the Department of Parks and Recreation are pleased to offer a new program for senior citizens “Gleeful Wellness”.    This program is open to Nutley residents and will consist of stretching and balancing exercises in a fun and friendly atmosphere.  Participants are required to wear loose clothing and comfortable footwear. Classes will be held on Wednesday mornings beginning September 19, 2018.  The fee for this 10 week program is $50.00 per participant.  For further ...

 Enjoy an exhibit of new works by members of The Women Artists of Nutley in the gallery and display case of the Nutley Public Library during the months of March and April. Acrylic, gouache and watercolor paintings as well photography, pastels and drawings by these talented women will be featured. Women’s History Month is celebrated in the United States in March every year. This art display by Nutley women is one of many ways that the library recognizes Women’s History Month. Stop by the library to learn more about ...

Harry, despite all the recent cold weather, cannot for the life of him understand why anyone wouldn’t like winter. Nothing is biting or stinging, your underwear doesn’t stick, poison ivy and the immortal deer tick lay buried in the snow. Sleep is better. There’s the electric blanket to warm the sheets or a dark cavern of covers under which to hibernate for eight hours. And how can anyone compare the romantic glow of evening by the fireplace to…air conditioning? But the best thing about winter, at least in ...

Do one hard thing every day. Somedays that may just mean getting up from the couch without using your arms! Other days you may be ready for a bigger challenge, something you may define as “hard” like cleaning out a closet or weeding out your filing cabinet. Researcher Angela Duckworth writes about this in her book “Grit.” Her research reveals that “that the secret to outstanding achievement is not talent, but a special blend of passion and persistence.”  At the end of the book, she shares what she ...

To me, pizza is the perfect food. It contains all your major food groups: dairy, vegetables, bread and meat. It needs no alterations, no improvements, no changes. It is perfect in its pristine, glorious incarnation—unless you are in Chicago. I don’t know what the hell that thing is. But like any good meal, the key to stellar pizza is the recipe and the quality of the ingredients. And like everything in life, there must be balance—the cheese-to-sauce ratio has to be just right. The pizza should have an orange-y ...

From birth to age 3, how much language children hear can make all the difference in their school readiness and their future. Doctors and famed literacy researchers Betty Hart and Todd R. Risley identified a 30 million word gap among children based on socioeconomic differences. These findings also magnified the importance of vocabulary spoken in the home as well as the back-and-forth dialogue exchange known as the “conversational turn,” which helps form the critical thinking processes invaluable in later life. Deceptively simple, ...

We are pleased to announce a brand new volunteer program, Super Friends! Fairview Lake YMCA Camps and Pass It Along have teamed up to deliver Super Friends, a program for people with different abilities. This program will run on the first and third Friday of the month from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at Fairview Lake YMCA Camps, located in Stillwater, N.J., and is open to all who wish to participate or volunteer. “We are thrilled to bring Super Friends program to our beautiful camp facility”, said Marc Koch, senior program ...

Hi, Summit families! My name is Betsy Stoeber and I’ve been the owner and director at the specialized learning center Brain Balance of Summit since 2011. I first encountered Brain Balance the year before we opened as a parent. My own son participated in our innovative program at the center in Norwalk, CT, to address a number of learning challenges. Traveling there three times per week for three months, I met other families making the trek across the GWB from NJ and together we celebrated our kids’ successes. Over 7+ years, my ...

MORRISTOWN, NJ - Do you have questions about grooming your dog? The Morris Animal Inn is hosting a Live Question and Answer Session on Wednesday February 28 at 11:30am. Tune in to have all your questions answered by Morris Animal Inn's Grooming Manager, Jayanne. Morris Animal Inn offers: Bath, brush out, ear cleaning and nail trim package Haircut to your specifications Healthy Skin & Coat Treatment Scented Shampoos & Spritzers Shed-Less Treatment Nail Trims Blueberry Facial and much more To make an ...

The Piscataway Public Library is helping the Central Jersey Diaper Bank collect diaper donations through the month of July.  New or open packs of disposable baby diapers (all sizes) and wipes are needed. Look for the blue bins at either Kennedy or Westergard to donate!

The latest Star Wars movie was a flop relative to expectations, but the epic drama of Global Trade Wars lives on.  Tariffs are terrible for you and me. If a tariff is placed on goods and services within a certain industry, companies will try to pass on the cost to the consumer by increasing prices. If unsuccessful, profit margins will be squeezed. A government’s attempt to be protectionist in the short term, ultimately becomes a tax and impedes consumer spending in the long run. How Did We Get Here? Attempting to forecast the ...

Mobile phones not only contain our personal details and information about everyone we know; they are used to verify our identities and unlock access to our financial accounts. Now scammers are using a process called a “port-out” to hack into our phones to change our passwords, steal our personal data and even empty our bank accounts. Basics of the port-out scam A port-out scam starts by manipulating the legitimate process you can use to move your mobile phone number from one carrier to another. A scammer calls a carrier ...

Shop of the morning to you! It’s that time of year when everyone’s color is green! Stop by Sadie's to get your St. Patty’s shirt before the big day. While your here and feeling lucky check out our latest Spring styles for Men and Women. You may make your friends green with envy. Horoscope: Have a birthday between 3/13 and 3/24? If you stumble into a pot of gold, your year will feel a little less old.

What does it mean to be a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)? I recently spoke with future DPT intern Timothy O’Connor from Seton Hall University and asked him this question. He said that “it means that I have the knowledge and skills to gather all the information needed to treat each patient, regardless of what systems in the body are involved. A doctorate in physical therapy will also allow me to be competent in treating patients without reliance on other healthcare professionals.” Timothy continued, remarking that the ...

Tick troubles can be particularly pesky for dogs during the warmer months. Since summertime happens to be the height of tick season, it behooves dog owners to be informed about these ticks and health implications for their pooches.   Ticks’ schtick: Ticks suck. Literally. Because these external parasites feed by drinking blood from animals who subsequently become infected with diseases ticks carry. That means these diminutive creatures pose dangers for dogs.

I like the natural environmentally friendly approach to gardening. No need for pesticides or exhaust-spewing machines when a spritz of cayenne pepper or the sweep of a broom will do. So, I was very interested to hear that Montpelier, Vt., was using goats to remove poison ivy. The noxious weeds posed a problem for pedestrians and cyclists by encroaching along a local walking/bicycle path. The city wanted to look for an alternative to harsh chemical treatments since the path is also frequented by young children and dogs and runs next to a ...

There were 20 homes sold between Aug. 12-19 in Westfield, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Mountainside. TOWN     ADDRESS                          STYLE                   RMS       BRS        BTH        ...

Reunion on October 27, 2018 at the Pines Manor in Edison, NJ starting at 6:00 pm. Cost is $80.00 per person, buffet dinner and cash bar. Hotel accommodations with special group rate are available at the Crown Plaza Edison which is located across the street from the Pines Manor. There will be a shuttle service for the hotel guests. For more information regarding the hotel call 732-287-3500. Please make checks payable to SPHS Reunion and mail them to: Sue Romeri 2300 Selene Avenue South Plainfield, NJ 07080 Questions regarding ...

The 2019 New Jersey budget that Governor Phil Murphy recently agreed to contains changes and tax increases for businesses. The reforms are quite complex. A few key highlights: An increase in the income tax rate to 10.75 percent for taxpayers with income of $5 million and above Significant corporate business tax changes, including: A surcharge of 2.5 percent for the next two years (2018 and 2019) and 1.5 percent for the following two years (2020 and 2021) for corporations with income of $1 million or more A complicated ...

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ - Rutgers football has decided to go with a freshman over a red-shirt senior for the quarterback job.  Artur Sitkowski will start as quarterback for the 2018 season opener against Texas State on Saturday, Sept. 1, before heading out to Ohio State to compete against one of the most talented defenses in college football. As expected, Sitkowski beat out fifth-year senior quarterback Gio Rescigno, who is one of six captains on this year's team. Sitkowski is set to become the first Rutgers ...

The South Plainfield Boys’ Spring Track has continued to be one of the most successful programs for the Spring Athletic Season.  The Boys’ have been dominate in the Greater Middlesex Conference Blue Division for the last few years.  After being decimated by graduation, the Tigers were not sure what the season would hold.  South Plainfield once again won the Blue Division Championship.  A lot of this success is due to the consistency of senior captain, Alejandro Garcia. Last week marked a big week in the ...

I certainly have not been a supporter or a friend of President Donald J. Trump. But even though I publicly called him “a liar, a louse, a crook and a bum,” I have never accused him of being a coward, but now I see that Trump has backed down on his proposal to limit gun sales to people 21 years of age or older. Wayne LaPierre, the leader of the National Rifle Association, objected to any limitations on gun sales even for the deadly war weapon, the AR-15 assault rifle. Mr. Trump obeyed Mr. LaPierre and withdrew his proposal. Trump ...

The North Salem News on Aug. 2 carried a big story about Peter Harckham (“Harckham’s late entrance forces Democratic primary”) stating why he was a candidate for the New York State Senate.  Very interesting, but unless I was mistaken, wasn’t there another guy running, Robert Kesten who has been the Democratic candidate for the New York State for the past eight months? I thought it had been confirmed that Robert Kesten was our district’s choice for the Democratic nomination to run for the state senate. I ...

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ  – Senator Patrick Diegnan today hailed the start of an $881,550 New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) funded project for improvements and paving work along Hadley Road in South Plainfield. “Improved roads in South Plainfield will benefit residents and businesses”, said Senator Diegnan (D-Middlesex). “I want to thank the Governor Murphy administration for acting quickly earlier in the year and providing this NJDOT grant to promote public safety, create jobs, enhance New ...

September Line Up at the Senior Center September 4th  - 9:30 Coloring September 5 – Resorts Casino – Atlantic City    $25.00 p/p September 6 – Book Club 11:00 a.m. September 10th Medicare Program 11:30 a.m. September 10 – Woodloch Pines Trip September 15 – Super Saturday  8:00 a.m. – 12:00 September 17 – Tuscany,  Italy Trip Presentation  10:45 a.m. September 17 – ...

(SHAMELESS PLUG #54)  Supplemental benefit options range and and can provide necessary and needed income for those that chose to take advantage. Supplemental insurance can take the form of life insurance, accident insurance, critical illness, dental or a host of other benefits. Some will supplement a gap in certain forms of insurance (EX. Medicare Supplements), while others can acts as an indemnity plan that provides cash benefits to the policy beneficiary (EX. AFLAC). Small company's, HR directors and managers, non-profit ...

Shop LOCAL this holiday season and find the perfect “something” for everyone on your list with this holiday gift guide. Some businesses are even offering special deals for TAPinto readers. Give the Gift of Pampering, Accessorizing and Affordable Luxury: Hairport —Wrap up a gift certificate for beauty and pampering this holiday season.   Hairport is a full service salon for the entire family.   Get a free conditioning with any hair service through the holiday season.   Check them out ...

On August 1, 2018, Sobel & Co. employees participated in their eighth annual Day of Community Service – the culmination of months of hard work, preparation and fundraising at the firm. Each year the firm selects a nonprofit organization from the tri-state area, focusing on raising awareness and raising revenue in support of the organization and its mission. The 2018 effort is led by the firm’s summer audit interns and was coordinated with our Human Resource professionals. Emily Sobel-Grise and Molly Lockwood offered guidance ...

The South Plainfield Junior Baseball Club (SPJBC) will be having In Person Registration Signups on Friday January 19th from 6-9pm and Saturday January 20st from 9am to 1pm at the SPJBC Clubhouse on Lorraine Ave You can also sign your kids up online at the SPJBC Website:  http://www.leaguelineup.com/spjbc (online forms tab) or you can mail the form to SPJBC, PO Box 166, South Plainfield NJ 07080 Children 6 – 18 can sign up to play next season.  Your child must be 6 years old before September 30th or be in 1st Grade to be ...

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ - The South Plainfield Knights of Columbus and 4th Degree Bishop Charles P Greco Assembly #2147 members held their annual Veterans luncheon on August 11th for over 20 Veterans from the Menlo Park Veterans Home who served in World War II, the Korean and Vietnam War’s. Every year the Knights celebrate all that the Veterans have given back to the United States for our undying freedom. The Veterans were served a gourmet Lunch that included Fresh Salmon, New York Strip Steaks, Baked Potatoes, Fresh ...

Did you miss a movie that you wanted to see in the theaters and don’t want to pay to rent it or for the DVD? Come to “Monday Night Movies” at the library.  It’s all the fun of a movie theater but none of the cost.  We are showing brand new releases every Monday night and we will be providing popcorn for all who attend. This week’s movie stars Margot Robbie and Best Supporting Actress Winner Allison Janney. A real-life portrayal of Tonya Harding (Robbie), an Olympic figure skater who rose to fame not only ...

PISCATAWAY, NJ - Letters to the Editor are a time-honored tradition in the newspaper industry and now that so much of news has moved online, the letters explaining a personal point of view have moved with it. While many of our letters come during election time, TapInto invites letters year round. The main rules are to include a full name, phone number, email and snail mail address. TapInto prints the name of the author and the town of residence for the author. The additional information is merely for contact and a way for the editor to ...

The Suburban Woman’s Club of South Plainfield is welcoming new members. Enjoy creative fund raisers, interesting activities while participating on standing committees, informative monthly programs, and the camaraderie of women whose efforts enhance the community. The club meets at 1:00 PM on the first Thursday of each month, September through June, at the American Legion Hall, 243 Oak Tree Ave. The club is open to any woman who resides in South Plainfield or the surrounding area. If you would like to ...

The Hilarious Saga For The Civic City Kids Continues...

NEWTON, NJ - Sussex County Board of Chosen Freeholders August 8, 2018 meeting video. .  

This week's feature will focus on TAPinto Paterson's franchisee, Steve Lenox. Find out how the current owner of a public affairs firm went from a former State Director for Senator Frank Lautenberg to a proud TAPinto franchisee for New Jersey's third largest city.   Q. When did you join TAPinto.net? I joined TAPinto.net in September, 2017.  Because TAPinto Paterson existed under previous owners the site was already live, allowing me to get more comfortable with content creation and ...

If you are facing your first holiday after an important person in your life has died, it’s not too early to come up with a plan. Watching others who are feeling thankful and are celebrating when we feel overwhelmed, lonely or sad can be very painful. Holidays force us to realize how much our lives have been changed by the loss of our loved one.    The first step in coping with grief at the holidays is to acknowledge that the first holiday season is difficult and then to prepare for it in advance by making specific plans ...

NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ - Assemblyman Jon Bramnick helped the kids at the New Providence Middle School answer the age-old question - What do you want to be when you grow up?  The Assembly Leader spent the day with the students talking about what it's like to be a NJ State Legislaturor and an attorney during their annual Career Day.  The kids were interested and inquisitive and humored too. Colleen Cortese, a teacher at the school, had this to say, "I never knew Assemblyman Bramnick was so funny!  The ...

The last week of January marks Catholic Schools Week across the country.  It is a time to celebrate the unique traditions and academic excellence of Catholic schools.   Catholic schools allow parents to educate their children in a faith- based environment.   At Saint Joseph High School, the administration practices a holistic approach to education, nurturing not only the academic side of the scholastic experience, but tending to the spiritual, physical and emotional requirements of each young man. “We ...

Combine durable vinyl with the realistic look of wood in a plank format and you have a surface that offers the best of all worlds, one that is the perfect flooring solution for any room in your home. Luxury Vinyl Plank -- or 'LVP' flooring is: Water Resistant Durable Soft Underfoot Easy Care Budget Friendly Unlike natural woods, LVP can be used in areas where moisture can be an issue, like kitchens, basements and bathrooms. It is also tougher and can better handle kid- and pet-play and other ...

Source: Samuel K. Burlum defines the differences in the types of senior care options and the level of care that is associated with each.  Before an individual can make a decision on which type of senior health care they need or which type of facility to choose, one must understand the differences that nursing homes, assisted living campuses, or a rehabilitation center offers. Do you need short term care, or long term care? Is your loved one near their end days and therefore would require hospice care? Each type of care has its own ...

Facebook recently announced it will be changing its feed and algorithms so that news from publishers and posts from businesses will be relegated in favor of posts about your neighbor’s cat.  Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that Facebook is making these changes because he is concerned about his legacy and that of the company he founded. If Mark Zuckerberg is truly worried about his legacy and that of Facebook, casting legitimate news publishers and businesses into the abyss will only further tarnish ...

Now that college acceptances are rolling in, how do I decide which to attend? Your hard work in high school has paid off. You took your SAT/ACT exams, got the best grades you could, and filled out as many applications as you needed to. Acceptance letters are starting to come in and you need to make a decision on where you will go in the fall. It's hard to decide!! Here are some tips and things to consider to help you make your decision: Ask the right questions Call the schools and speak to an admissions advisor, current students ...

Corre, no camines (that’s “run, don’t walk!”) to see Coco, the newest animated feature film from Pixar Animation Studios/Disney. This beautiful movie is something that families will cherish seeing together. Like Moana last year, I took my family (ages 7 to 70+) to see Coco over Thanksgiving weekend, and everyone was delighted by the splendor of this wonderful cinematic experience. Coco tells the story of a young boy named Miguel who yearns to be a musician, although he comes from a long line of shoemakers who not ...

MORRISTOWN, NJ - The Peck School in Morristown fielded three teams at last weekend’s FIRST Lego League Regional Robotics Competition in Clifton, NJ. All three teams were great ambassadors for Peck and one team – Peck’s first ever all-girl robotics team - won a Core Values award and will progress to the state-level tournament on December 9. Judges rate teams in three categories at FIRST Lego League competitions. They are rated on the overall concept of their project, on the design of their robot, and on “Core ...

Why do certain moments stay in your memory forever, especially when you can’t find a reason for remembering them?   I see myself sitting in Jason’s room at his mother’s house. I’m wearing a beautiful peau de soie black coat dress and Jay is buttoning his shirt.  We were engaged then and still learning about each other.  But what was so memorable about that particular moment?  I don’t know. I see us, years later, early one morning taking a long walk near Untermyer Park in Yonkers.  I ...

Enjoy the story, linked here, written by Sparta High School student Fiona Sipple for the school newspaper The Oracle

Parents and students rejoice! School is out and everyone can now experience a great sense of freedom. Kids want to be outside enjoying summer weather and; although it’s the most wonderful season for non-academic activities involving swimming, traveling, and hiking to name a few, let us not forget that summer loss is a serious long-term result of not opening a book or writing for eight weeks. What can you do to prevent this? Create a Drop Everything and Read Time on your comfy living room couch or on a blanket under a shade tree.

What is the difference between spirituality and spiritualism? Spirituality is an awareness of the spirit, of the soul; it is a sensitivity to things beyond the immediate and the material. That’s why some describe the study of spirituality as metaphysics — the study of that which lies beyond the physical. Spiritualism, on the other hand, is how we describe the practices of dabbling in the occult, Is the Torah encouraging us to be fools?such as trying to communicate with the dead. In ancient times these ...

TRYON, N.C. — Volunteer applications continue to be accepted for the FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018 (WEG) to fill more than 9,000 positions, one-third of which are still available. The Games are held every four years in the middle of the Olympic cycle, and are the major international championship for all eight disciplines administered by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the worldwide governing body of equestrian sport. Volunteers will have the opportunity to experience this global sporting event ...

The West Orange PAL Spring Travel Baseball season started with a cold front. Practices began indoors in January with teams practicing two nights a week working on conditioning and baseball fundamentals. Once the snow had melted teams began battling the cold and working outdoors, with three or four practices a week in addition to their games.  And the hard work and dedication paid off! All 6 of our West Orange PAL Travel Baseball teams represented West Orange in the United States Amateur Baseball League (USABL) playoffs. This is not an ...

The Westfield Area YMCA is proud to announce that Pamela Gedman, Chief Instructor of Gedman’s Black Belt Academy, has become the 2018 World Champion in Sparring in the Woman’s 40-49 year old 4th and 5th degree black belt division. ATA Martial Arts, the world’s largest organization dedicated to teaching martial arts to all ages, held its World Expo July 9-15 in Little Rock, Arkansas. During the Tournament of Champions held July 12-13, the Top Ten competitors in each division competed for the prestigious title ...

By definition: to laugh is “to show mirth, joy or scorn with a chuckle or explosive sound.” I can think of the many times I’ve laughed so hard that my stomach hurt and tears flowed down my cheeks.  And, yes, laughter can be cathartic:  at a wake when someone remembers a funny story about the deceased and for a moment our mood lightens.   When we were kids, our parents took us to the movies on Sunday afternoons.  Jack and I remember going to see “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein.” ...

There is a glaring hole in recent Game of Thrones seasons that needs to be addressed: the ability of Valyrian steel to destroy White Walkers has not been acknowledged since before Jon Snow’s death. In fact, it hasn’t been mentioned since the Season Five finale when Jon Snow reveals this discovery to Sam Tarly. Jon has cared about little more than the war between the living and the dead since long before his death, but after being killed later that same episode, he never mentions Valyrian steel’s power again. Since ...

On a warm sunny day, back in 2008, at Southern Boulevard Elementary School stood a very tall man (6.5” to be exact!), soft-spoken, warm and friendly as he was surrounded by a whole group of children running around him (at his knees). His name was Mike Czech and he was teaching the kids how to play a game on the open court.   I introduced myself to help assist him as a fellow volunteer, but he clearly had everything under control, which I found fascinating! My 3 children have me feeling outnumbered on occasion! The ...

If you are battling gum disease, gingivitis or periodontitis – you are not alone. Come join us at Roselle Park Dental in the fight against gum disease! Inflammation caused by this disease puts patients at a greater risk of stroke, cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Gum disease can also worsen conditions such as COPD and may play a role in the contraction of pneumonia, bronchitis, and emphysema. Gum disease is very common, yet moderately preventable. Prevention starts here! Prevention starts now! Routine professional cleanings and ...

Overparenting.  It’s the new buzzword for helicopter parenting, enabling and micromanaging.  I did them all. I’m happy to say that I’ve (mostly) grown out of it.  The truth is that there are still moments when I have the urge to step in and take over.  It’s normal to feel that way; however, I know I’ve made progress when I feel the urge and don’t act on it. When children are very young, it’s not so bad.  After all, they need to be guided, nurtured and protected.  As ...