Aug. 2, 2008 - A Week of the people 2008

The week long festivities are underway

This is what helped to make our town Money/CNN's  #5 of the 100 Best Places to Live.  The theme for this year's Week of the People celebration is "Franklin's Cultures in Harmony" that runs from Sunday, August 3rd through Saturday, August 9th.  This year's events includes more youth events including a basketball tournament and a music festival. Here is the schedule of events:

Aug 3 - The Bridge in the Gap (B.I.G.) Basketball Tournament, Time: 11:00am – 7:00pm,  FREE ADMISSION!! BRING LAWN CHAIRS   Venue: Naaman Williams Park, Matilda Ave., Somerset, NJ

Aug 4 - Taste of the Week (formerly A Taste of Franklin) will be held at the Senior Community Center. This is the only fee based event.  Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children under age 12.  Up to 20 local restuarants are expected to participate.  Time: 6 - 9 pm, Venue: 505 Demott Lane, Somerset, NJ

Aug 5 - National Night Out and Getting to Know Franklin. Time: 6:00 – 8:00pm FREE ADMISSION!! Venue: Municipal Complex & Public Safety Building, 495 DeMott Lane, Somerset, NJ

Aug 6 - An original play, "Yesterday I Died" performed by Khristi Adams (no relation) may be seen at the Franklin Middle School auditorium.  FREE ADMISSION!!  Time: 6:30PM Venue: Franklin Middle School Auditorium, 415 Francis St., Somerset, NJ

Aug 7 - No events scheduled

Aug 8 - A diversity leadership breakfast will be held at the Community/Senior Center.  FREE FOR BUSINESSES  Time: 8:30 – 10:30am Venue: Franklin Towship Community/Senior Center, 505 DeMott Lane, Somerset, NJ

Aug 9 - New Dawn Music Fesival at Naaman Williams Park.  FREE ADMISSION!!  Time: 2:00 – 8:00pm Venue: Naaman Williams Park, Matilda Ave., Somerset, NJ BRING LAWN CHAIRS

For more information: Tel: 732-846-8888 Ex. 201, Email: idorsey@somersetcap.org

Mar. 17, 2008 - Erin Go Bragh

Everyone's Irish on St. Pat's Day

Find fun St. Patrick's Day activities, recipies, and more at kaboose.com 

With Green being the color of the day...Here are a few video guides to "going green" and becoming more energy efficient at home. National Geographic's Green Guide provides more tips on going green.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Dec. 24, 2007 - It's Christmas Eve...

                Season's Greetings

                          May this holiday bring you Peace, Health and Joy

                         All the best in 2008

Dec. 4, 2007 - Enjoy Your Holiday

Happy Chanuka

May the new year bring you joy and happiness.

Sep. 21, 2007 - A Taste Of Franklin

A week of the people

Franklin Township's "Week of the People" kicks off Sunday, September 23rd and runs until September 30th  in celebration of our town's diversity.

This year's events include a Variety Showcase of entertainment; A Taste of Franklin;  Interfaith Services; A Leadership Breakfast; A Film Festival and more.

For a comple schedule of events, click here.   To view video from last year's "A Taste of Franklin" click here.

Sep. 13, 2007 - Wishes on Ramadan

Happy Ramadan

To my friends and neighbors of the Islamic Faith...

May the Holy month of Ramadan bring you good health, happiness, prosperity and peace

Sep. 13, 2007 - Happy Rosh Hashanah

Happy New Year

To my friends and neighbors of the Jewish Faith...

I wish you a year of good healh, happiness, prosperity and peace

Jun. 26, 2007 - Free summer fun for all ages

Summer MovieCamp and more

AMC theaters is offering great kids' movies such as "Happy Feet" and "Ice Age" for free!  Shows start each Wednesday at 10:00 am from June 27 - August 15* (*Excluding July 4th). You can purchase a kid's snack pack including one drink, one popcorn and a kid's sized snack for only $3.00 during AMC's Summer MovieCamp®. Click here to print the complete movie lineup.  For more information contact: AMC Bridgewater Commons 7 - Guest Services, (908) 725-2005

Independence Day celebration 

Come join the fun at the Franklin Township Independence Day celebration; 6 to 9 p.m. on July 3rd; that includes food vendors, Kid Zone inflatable amusements, crafts, games, and the second annual Clothesline Art Exhibition. Fireworks follow at 9:15 p.m. (rain date July 6). Location: Franklin Township Municipal Complex, 475 Demott Lane.  For more information: (732) 873-1991

Seniors can beat the summer heat 

Jun. 16, 2007 - A Place for dads on the Net

Father's Day 2007

Here's to all the dads celebrating Father's Day 2007

Happy Father's Day!

Mar. 5, 2007 - Cave Man Housing

Behind the door at 1231

This is not exactly the housing you might find here in Somerset NJ!  But I already was a fan of the Geico Insurance TV commercials featuring "the cave man" (cave·man also cave man  (kâv'mân')  Pronunciation Key  n.  1. A prehistoric or primitive human living in caves.)  They just make me smile. 

Take a peek at what a modern day cave man's home might look like.  For those who don't know, apparently, the "cave man" named Joe Dyton is part of a viral marketing campaign by Geico Car Insurance. They’ve created a whole little world for him. You can read his magazines, listen to his iPod, read his blog, and even find out that he uses and electric toothbrush. It's all a little weird but also hilarious.  Take a look at this cave man's crib!  Now I am even a bigger fan.  I'm drooling over this guy's TV!

Feb. 28, 2007 - Senior Center's March Schedule

QUAIL BROOK SENIOR CENTER
625 New Brunswick Rd., Somerset, NJ
(732) 563-4213

Line Dancing - Every Monday at 10:00, and Friday at 9:30

Healthy Bones - Monday and Thursday, 1:00

Country Western Dance Lessons w/Ann Gant – Wednesday, 1:30

Chair Exercise – Every Tuesday, 11:00

Rummikub – Monday and Thursday

Crochet Group – Every Friday

Bingo – Every Thursday, 11:00

Senior Fitness (Video) – Every Tuesday & Wednesday

March 8 – Blawenburg Dixieland Band

March 13 – “Marching to the Beat” – Nutrition & Exercise with Adrianne Hill

March 15 – St. Patrick’s Day Celebration

March 19 – Visit from the Environmental Education Center Naturalist

March 23 – Popcorn & a Movie: “Houseboat”

Feb. 17, 2007 - From Probarginhunter.com

I discovered a link to the 30 most subscribed personal finance blogs as seen by Yan, the chief of ProbargainHunter.com  He evaluated all of the Feedburner subscriber counts to tally who was the most popular based on feed readers. 

Are you are in the mood for saving money, learning how to invest or simply looking for new ways to reinforce being frugal?  Then...give these sites a shot.

Jan. 29, 2007 - Wacky Uses

And Weird Facts

Boy oh boy...This Joey Green website is just too much fun and I guarantee you will learn something new. You will find wacky uses for everyday products, weird histories, facts behind common products, experiments, links to other wacky sites and much more.  

I can't wait for the next rainy/snowy day when everyone is homebound!

Jan. 29, 2007 - Free Grove Street Art Exhibit

Cultural & Heritage Gallery at 20 Grove St.

The public is invited to view a contemporary art exhibit in the Cultural & Heritage Gallery, located in the county Administration Building at 20 Grove St, Somerville.

Fourteen artists from the Contemporary Art Group, affiliated with the Watchung Art Center, are displaying their artwork in the Cultural & Heritage Gallery through March 2.     

The gallery is open to the public from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.  Free parking is available in the Bernie Field Parking Deck directly adjacent to the county Administration Building on High Street.

For more information, call Program Coordinator Sallie de Barcza, Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission, at (908) 231-7000, ext. 7246.

Jan. 28, 2007 - Move out and Move Up

Check out ING Direct's fun site

ING Direct.com has created a fun site called moveoutmoveup.com to playfully prod apartment dwellers to well, move out and move up.
It points out life changes that might cause you to consider homeownership.  Oh, did I mention…it’s fun?

Jan. 23, 2007 - Passports Required for Air Travel to US today

Passports required for all international air travel 

Effective today, the Departments of State and Homeland Security requires citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda to present a passport to enter the United States when arriving by air from any part of the Western Hemisphere.

This change in travel document requirements is the result of recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission, which Congress subsequently passed into law in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. These new travel document requirements make up the Departments' Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI).

The first phase involves travel by air and requires all citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda to have a passport or other accepted document that establishes the bearer's identity and nationality to enter or re-enter the United States from within the Western Hemisphere. The final rule for the air phase of the WHTI rule was published in the Federal Register on November 24, where it can be viewed at www.regulations.gov . That rule is also available on the Department's consular web site, travel.state.gov and on the Department of Homeland Security's web site, www.dhs.gov.

U.S. citizens can find information about how to apply for a passport at travel.state.gov or by calling 1-877-487-2778.

Dec. 19, 2006 - Holiday Break

Well....barring any earth shattering news, I will be away from the blog until after the Christmas holiday. 

May you, your loved ones and friends enjoy this holiday season. 

May the New Year bring to you, Peace, Health and Happiness.

Sincerely,

Michael

Dec. 2, 2006 - Senior Center's December Schedule

QUAIL BROOK SENIOR CENTER
625 New Brunswick Rd., Somerset, NJ
(732) 563-4213

Nov. 26, 2006 - Cyber Monday

Missed Black Friday?  Don't Despair

If you are at all like me, you equated “Black Friday” to the Plague and stayed as far away from the crazed mall shoppers as humanly possible.  Well…here is your chance to get in on the savings from the comfort of your home or office, on what has become known as "Cyber Monday".

 There are a few cautions, however.  Last year Time magazine offered a few tips on how to navigate the sites and compare prices.  Get the information you need to know here.

Nov. 19, 2006 - TSA Carry-On Baggage Reminder

As the Thanksgiving Day travel week begins, if you plan to fly, be certain to review Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations before you go. 

Check your airline for possible delays:

EWR Departures           JFK Departures          LGA Departures

Safety and Security  - 17 Nov 2006

The Transportation Security Administration released the following as a reminder for travelers unfamiliar with new TSA carry-on baggage requirements:

1. Please remove all coats, jackets and outer most garments.

2. Please remove your shoes for x-ray screening.

3. Please take out all metal objects, cell phones, keys, etc. and place them in a bin for x-ray inspection.

4. Please remove your laptop computers from your bags and place them in a bun for x-ray inspection.

5. Please keep your quart size bags with liquids and gels out for x-ray inspection. 

Additionally, TSA reminds travelers to think "3-1-1" when carrying baggage aboard any flight. 

Fly Safe and have a Happy Thanksgiving!