New Jersey

October 6, 2020

Italian Heritage in New Jersey: Msgr. Joseph Granato

If there is anyone who should be the first individual I highlight for Italian Heritage Month, it must be Msgr. Joseph Granato. Msgr. Granato borders on rock star status at St. Lucy’s Church in Newark, home to the National Shrine of St. Gerard. He served St. Lucy’s for 54 years. It was the only parish… Continue reading

Essex County, History, Jersey Icon, New Jersey

Feast of St. Gerard, Italian American Heritage Month, Italian Culture Medal, Monsignor Granato, Newark, Seton Hall University, St. Lucy’s Church
October 1, 2020

National Italian Heritage Month

October of each year is National Italian Heritage Month. While my married last name is no longer Italian, I am proud of my heritage. It helped mold the adult I am today. I come from a line of truck drivers, beauticians, stay-at-home mothers, and police officers. The generations before me made sacrifices so I could… Continue reading

History, New Jersey

Italian American Heritage Month
September 30, 2020

Going Old School in Jersey

My entire career has been focused on high tech. From prepress to IT to SEO, everything I’ve done has involved the latest in technology. I think that’s why people are so surprised to hear I have analog hobbies. I fly fish, as well as tie my own flies. I do yoga, hike, crochet, felt, weave,… Continue reading

Bergen County, Just Plain Cool, Music, New Jersey, Passaic County, Photography

Film Photography Podcast, Film Photography Project, photography, Singer Sewing, The Sopranos, William Paterson University
September 27, 2020

Class Action Park

“Shake it off…” That was the phrase I heard regularly growing up. Whenever I came home with a scraped knee, a bruise on my arm, or even if I was upset about something, I regularly heard that phrase. What is now often referred to “free range parenting,” was just called “playing outside” when I was… Continue reading

Essex County, History, Jersey Icon, Just Plain Cool, New Jersey, Sussex County

Action Park, Hamburg, Skiing, Vernon Valley
September 24, 2020

Belleville Loses a Favorite Son: Tommy DeVito

Music is a huge part of the history of New Jersey. The Boss. Bon Jovi. Southside Johnny. There is another part of music history that goes back a little further. Those greats include Francis Albert Sinatra, Bucky Pizzarelli, Connie Francis, and The Four Seasons. Straight from Essex County, and more specifically, my hometown of Belleville,… Continue reading

Essex County, Jersey Icon, Music, New Jersey

Belleville, Jersey Boys, The Four Seasons, Tommy DeVito
September 11, 2020

Remembering September 12th

Tomorrow is the 19th anniversary of the most horrific attack on United States soil. Like many, I remember every minute of the day. The report on the radio that there was “some kind of accident” at the Twin Towers. Searching feverishly for the flight information for two of my colleagues that were flying out of… Continue reading

Essex County, History, New Jersey

9-11, Belleville, NYC, World Trade Center
August 23, 2020

Protecting Our Parks

We’ve all had to make alternate plans this year due to COVID-19 and the following lockdown. As a result, many had to cancel vacation plans and stay local. And that means lots of people in town, county, and state parks. Unfortunately, not everyone values our park systems. Just a few weeks ago, Hedden Park in… Continue reading

Conservation, Exploring, Morris County, New Jersey, Outdoors, Preservation, Warren County
July 3, 2020

Heritage

heritage noun her·i·tage | \ ˈher-ə-tij , ˈhe-rə- \ Definition of heritage 1: property that descends to an heir 2a: something transmitted by or acquired from a predecessor : LEGACY, INHERITANCE proud of her Italian heritage a rich heritage of folklore The battlefields are part of our heritage and should be preserved. b: TRADITION the… Continue reading

Conservation, Essex County, Festivals, History, New Jersey, Preservation

Amerigo Vespucci, Christopher Columbus, Giovanni da Verrazzano, heritage, Monsignor Joseph Perotti, Mother Cabrini, Newark, St. Lucy’s Church
May 24, 2020

The Official Jersey Bucket List

As we all continue to wait to be paroled from Coronavirus jail, many of us are making plans of what we would like to do once we are free to go anywhere and do anything. Well, this had me start to make a “Jersey bucket list;” all the things Jersey-related someone should do at some… Continue reading

Atlantic County, Burlington County, Camden County, Cape May County, Conservation, Cumberland County, Exploring, Food, History, Morris County, New Jersey, Ocean County, Outdoors, Pine Barrens, Preservation, Shopping, Sussex County

Appalachian Trail, Atlantic City, Brook Trout, Cape May, cape may diamond, Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, fly fishing, High Point, Hirams, Hot Grill, Morristown, Morristown National Historical Park, Rutts Hut, Seaside Heights, The Belmont, The Midway, The Pine Barrens
May 21, 2020

The Jersey Shore, the Red Knot, and the Horseshoe Crab

While we have all been under lock and key for the last two months, something amazing has been happening outside. Nature has taken over. Air pollution has decreased dramatically in the Northeast. Nests of the Leatherback Turtles in Thailand are at their highest levels for 20 years. Ocean life has increased due to the lack… Continue reading

Cape May County, Conservation, New Jersey, Outdoors

horseshoe crab, Jersey coast, Jersey Shore, red knot