Friday, March 12, 2010
Some Cranford seniors turn to faith to keep them connected, healthy.
A little over a year ago, Cranford senior Bill McDonough lost his wife of 55 years. During his period of mourning, his Roman Catholic faith gave him solace. "Oh yes, I go to mass every day," he said. "I have a strong faith. It's very, very important to me. I couldn't live without faith." In 2008, Albert Einstein College at Yeshiva University conducted a study to determine what effect attending religious services had on seniors' health. The result confirmed prior studies that have shown a nearly 25 percent reduction in mortality risk from cardiovascular events. "Interestingly, the protection against mortality provided by religion cannot be entirely explained by expected factors that include enhanced social support of friends or family, …
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Send your letter to the editor to whitney@patch.com.
OPINION|Tuesday, March 9
As a lifelong resident of Union County, I look forward to the day when our 21 municipalities can plan for the future instead of being thwarted at every turn by the bureaucracy known as COAH. COAH – the Council on Affordable Housing - was created by state law in 1985. It's been a disaster ever since. COAH has blocked development of all kinds and run roughshod over vital community issues such as environmental quality and open space preservation. County government has an up-close close view of the problem because we administer state and federal grants that create new housing and restore blighted properties. That in turn creates new business opportunities and jobs throughout Union County. For the past 25 years COAH has slowed the process …
Friday, March 5, 2010
Keeping active and socially engaged are keys to staying mentally healthy.
It should have been the best day of my life, but I was in a deep funk. At the hospital, where I'd just delivered my son, there was an outpouring of joy--flowers and balloons, calls from friends, family streaming through, and yet I felt completely alone in the world, lower than I'd ever felt in my life. Everyone around me assumed I was crying tears of joy. Depression is the kind of illness that creeps up on you as you go about your life. You might mistake it for run-of-the-mill sadness at first, but once it takes root, it's like being inside a black hole. For the elderly, depression is a particularly challenging problem. As we age, we are expected to move more slowly and to take longer to get tasks done. It might be hard to tell if a senior…
40.653323
-74.291576
Edward K. Gill Apartments
40 Meeker Ave
/articles/cranford-seniors-keep-social-to-combat-depression
20935
/locations/301501
Saturday, February 27, 2010
But not all judge economy in monetary terms.
The recession is over. So says Alan Greenspan, former chair of the Federal Reserve. In fact, he says, it ended last year. Seniors in Cranford may find this pronouncement somewhat premature. Some tell me that this assertion simply isn't borne out by their experiences. Incremental ChangeWhile Cranford seniors Marie Mastorakis and Gus Zades notice some minor improvement, it's certainly not far-reaching. "(The economy) is stabilizing a bit, but has a long way to go," said Zades. "Retail sales continue to be low. There are many empty stores, not only in Cranford, but in the surrounding communities. Some retail businesses have closed for lack of sales." At the supermarket, Mastorakis notes, her dollar doesn't seem to go as far. "There is some …
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Are we really paying more taxes than we used to?
Here in New Jersey it has become conventional wisdom that we are grossly overtaxed—that tax cuts are the only cure for the slew of evils besetting us. After having watched my own property tax bills more than double since I moved to Maplewood in 1997, it was a sentiment I found hard to gainsay. I did wonder though, if my taxes are so high, why does there seem to be no money available to pay for anything? Our schools and municipalities, after all, have been retrenching and cutting back on programs almost continuously during my entire 13-year tenure in the state, despite vertiginous (some might say outrageous, or even confiscatory) local tax increases. I did some poking around on the internet and, much to my surprise, found that far from …
Saturday, February 20, 2010
More owners are abandoning their 'underwater' properties.
For the first time in generations, a high percentage of homes in the nation carry negative equity. A home is considered "underwater" when the home is worth less than the amount owed on it. With so many people unable to pay their mortgages, a troubling new trend has emerged: the "walk-away." "This is far too common in a lot of circumstances, but it happens much less in Cranford because most homes are owner-occupied here," said Cranford Realtor Sean Carroll. "Cranford homeowners usually have strong ties to the schools or community, thus, want to do everything they can to either stay in their home or sell it before foreclosure." Here are some terms and strategies to know for those in Cranford who are having trouble with their mortgages. …
Saturday, February 13, 2010
What to buy and where to buy it for that special gal in your life.
There's no doubt that February 14 is the most high-pressure holiday of the year. Most, if not all, women have pretty high expectations for the entire day, and the bar is set the minute they open their eyes in the morning. There is the gift to consider, as well as the dinner. Many a valentine have stumbled foolishly with kitchen appliances, drugstore chocolates and lingerie (which is really a gift for the gifter, not the recipient). On behalf of women everywhere, don't do it! There are lots of romantic Valentine's Day gift options out there that are sure to make her swoon and fall in love with you all over again. Some of the more traditional options are… Chocolates There's nothing more classic for Valentine's Day than a box of gourmet …
What to buy and where to buy it for that special man in your life.
Stuck on what to get your guy this Valentine's Day? Most women will agree that men have it easy on February 14. All they have to do is make dinner reservations, grab some flowers, and—if they're really splurging—buy a piece of jewelry. Any jewelry will do. Really. Shopping for men, though, can often be much more challenging. Clothes are boring, sports cars are too expensive, and the male species doesn't typically appreciate a box of chocolates. But, fear not! There are a lot of unique Valentine's Day gifts perfect for your guy just steps away from your home. Why not try… Sports Equipment & Accessories If golf is your guy's thing, nab a gift certificate for a private lesson or a round of golf (or mini golf!) at the Scotch Hills Country Club…
40.65694
-74.303439
Cranford Bike Shop
109 N Union Ave
/articles/local-valentines-gifts-for-him
21088
/locations/272696
40.647572
-74.292162
Racquets & Strings
375 Centennial Ave
/articles/local-valentines-gifts-for-him
21094
/locations/272697
40.656608
-74.303455
Rogue Comics & Collectibles
102 N Union Ave
/articles/local-valentines-gifts-for-him
20770
/locations/272698
40.65471
-74.30326
THE C.A.L.M. APPROACH Therapeutic Massage Center
126 South Ave E
/articles/local-valentines-gifts-for-him
20588
/locations/272699
40.655778
-74.292815
Auto Spa of Cranford
550 South Avenue E
/articles/local-valentines-gifts-for-him
20609
/locations/272700
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Step-by-step instructions for making chicken wings at home with a number of flavor variations to try.
It took me a long time to find the perfect chicken wings. I'll give you a hint: I didn't find them at a restaurant or a take-out joint. As it turns out, the best chicken wings I had came out of my own kitchen. And I'm confident that they can come out of yours as well. Making them yourself is not only by far the cheapest option, but also produces superior chicken wings. And it's really not as difficult as you might think.To start with, go get yourself some fresh chicken wings. There's no need to go frozen unless you have to. You can buy them pre-cut, but you'll end up spending more and not getting an equal amount of drumettes and wings. Just buy the wings whole and cut them at the joints into three pieces. Throw the tips away or save them …
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Ten ideas for better, cheaper, semi-homemade Super Bowl fare that will leave jaws dropped.
Sure, football is exciting and the commercials are certainly entertaining, but to me, the Super Bowl is all about the food. I'm a sucker for dishes that are unabashedly game-day fare. They're not overly dressed up, they're comforting, they're delicious, and they get washed down with beer. What's not to love? Will I have to subsist on a diet of salads for the next week to make up for all the carbs and fat? Yeah, but I can live with that.Here are 10 do-it-yourself ideas to spice up your Super Bowl fare. Get inspired and have fun!1. Make-your-own sub: Why spend the money buying subs when you can easily create your own? Make it special and grab some loafs of French bread at least a couple feet in length. Slice them in half lengthwise and fill …
Mayor Smith might be thinking along the same lines as Jeff Tittel of the Sierra Club. Here is an excerpt from an article found on Newjerseynewsroom.com: "Jeff Tittel, New Jersey Sierra Club director, said the bill gives power to developers to determine how towns will meet their affordable housing obligations. He said it will encourage sprawl and overdevelopment and put natural resources. "In the … more ›