New Jersey

July 22, 2023

New Jersey Loses a Favorite Son: Tony Bennett

“I have to say I owe my career to the master composers of the Great American Songbook who have written such high-quality songs – the best popular music ever composed.” ~ Tony Bennett Yesterday the world lost a music icon and New Jersey lost a favorite son. Of course I am talking about Tony Bennett.… Continue reading

Arts, Bergen County, Jersey Icon, Music, New Jersey

Anthony Dominick Benedetto, Englewood, Great American Songbook, New Jersey, Tony Bennett
May 29, 2023

Memorial Day: There is Nothing “Happy” About it

“Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoyforget in time that men have died to win them.” ~Franklin D. Roosevelt There are few things that bug me more than I when I hear someone say “happy Memorial Day.” I understand that people normally say things like “Merry Christmas” or “Happy New Year” for… Continue reading

Essex County, History, Jersey Icon, New Jersey

Belleville, Korean Way, Medal of Honor, Memorial Day, New Jersey, President Barack Obama, Private First Class Henry Svehla
April 2, 2023

Those Who Can, Teach

We’re all heard the ol’ saying: Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach. Those who can’t teach, teach gym. Well, I’ll leave my opinion of the last part to myself, but I certainly want to talk about the first part. My answer is this: those who can, teach! I would like to tell you… Continue reading

Arts, Essex County, Jersey Icon, Music, New Jersey

Belleville, Edwin Black, Music Education, New Jersey
March 13, 2023

River View East: End of an Era

Anyone from Jersey knows we all have our favorite places for hot dogs. Italian hot dog? For me it was Dickie Dee’s. A hot dog truck dog? I would go to JR’s on Franklin Avenue in Nutley. If you wanted something really special, it was Rutt’s Hut. For my husband, however, growing up in Elmwood… Continue reading

Bergen County, Food, Jersey Icon, Just Plain Cool, New Jersey

Elmwood Park, hot dogs, JR's Hot Dogs, New Jersey, River View East, Rutts Hut
February 25, 2023

Hercules Proposal Meeting on March 1st

I regularly post about the importance of preserving our historic spaces in New Jersey. From historic Morristown to the Battle of Trenton, we understand why we need to fight for these important locations. Well, the same can be said about our open spaces. We are lovingly known as “The Garden State.” During the 80s, however,… Continue reading

Conservation, Morris County, New Jersey, Outdoors, Preservation

Hartz Mountain Industries, Hercules, Hercules Powder, New Jersey, Roxbury
February 6, 2023

Saying Goodbye to The Manor

This week all of North Jersey was shocked to hear The Manor in West Orange will close this summer after 66 years. That magical location has been the location where many wonderful memories were made. From New Year’s Eve black-tie dinners, to weddings, to proms, almost everyone from North Jersey has a story. All those… Continue reading

Conservation, Essex County, Exploring, History, Jersey Icon, New Jersey

Joni Mitchell, Kenvil, Mayfair Farms, New Jersey, New Jersey history, Pal's Cabin, Rosebud's, Roxbury, The Manor, West Orange
January 18, 2023

Hercules and the Trees

“They paved paradise, and put up a parking lot. ~Joni Mitchell It feels like an everyday fight here in Jersey. Our remaining open spaces are constantly under assault. Paving paradise to put up a parking lot. From a decades-old fishing club space, to preserving open space in Princeton, to attempting to keep a community garden… Continue reading

Morris County, New Jersey, Outdoors, Preservation

Hartz Mountain Industries, Hercules, Kenvil, Morris Land Conservancy, New Jersey, Roxbury
October 21, 2022

The Need for Trees

We interrupt Italian Heritage Month for this important announcement from The Land Conservancy of New Jersey… Volunteers Needed for Tree Planting We had a great day planting trees at Nancy Conger West Brook Preserve. Twenty people came out to help create a young forest on the site where a dilapidated barn used to be. But… Continue reading

Conservation, Morris County, New Jersey, Non-Profits, Outdoors, Passaic County, Preservation

Nancy Conger Brook Preserve, New Jersey, South Branch Preserve, The Land Conservancy of New Jersey, Tree Planting
October 10, 2022

A Want for Italian Immigration History Education

New Jersey is home to one of the largest collection of Americans of Italian descent in the entire country. Yet, if you ask any child if they learn about this important part of history, they would know very little. Luckily, there’s a solution to the problem. A few years ago, the Italian-American Heritage Commission developed… Continue reading

History, Mercer County, New Jersey, Ocean County

Hamilton, Italian American Heritage Month, Little Egg Harbot, New Jersey, New Jersey Italian Heritage Commission, Nottingham High School, The Universality of Italian Heritage
October 1, 2022

Italian Heritage Month 2022

I always heard a saying growing up. “There are two types of people. Italians and people that wish they were Italian.” I agree completely. We grow up around three main concepts. Faith, family, and food. Sundays were extra special. We would start the day at church. Then head to the cemetery to plant flowers and… Continue reading

History, Non-Profits

Italian American Heritage Month, New Jersey