Manahawkin, NJ

It's late spring at the Jersey Shore, and that means the American Cancer Society's signature activity, Relay for Life, is fast approaching in southern Ocean County.

If you haven't heard of Relay for Life, it offers everyone in the community an opportunity to participate in the battle to end cancer. Teams of people camp out at a local high school, park or fairground and take turns walking a path or track.

Participants get friends, neighbors, relatives and businesses to sponsor their miles in this two day event!

Here in Manahawkin, (Stafford Township) New Jersey Relay for Life takes place at the Southern Regional High School, beginning Friday, May 29, 2009. If you'd like to participate, there's still time to join a team, build a team, or just donate!

More information for the Manahawkin, NJ Relay for Life is available here!

Ocean County, NJ's big Relay for Life event is scheduled in Toms River, NJ on May 30th and 31st. That's held at the Ocean County College, in Toms River.

Lacey Township, NJ will also sponsor a Relay for Life on July 18th and 19th.

And here's something I received via email reminding me why we participate!

Going green could be a double edged sword for Jersey Shore utility customers. Atlantic Electric, the company that serves most of South Jersey and customers in southern Ocean County, wants to raise its rates 3.5%.

The reason it quite surprising! Utility generation costs are too low!

Now, you say, wait shouldn't our rates being going down? Well that would be the case anywhere else but here in New Jersey.

Back in the 1980's, in an effort to encourage independent energy production (that includes the excess generated by residential wind and solar power generation and sold back to the utility), New Jersey government set policies to allow a utility company to recover above market costs on power from independent generators. This electricity is not sold to AC Electric customers, but it's delivered to the regional market.

That worked well, while utility prices continued to increase. Now prices on the regional grid system are down, and customers must make up that difference...the difference between what AC Electic pays for the power and what it ultimately sells it for on the regional market.

The proposal has been submitted to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities for approval. The increase would be effective July 1, 2009.

You might think it’s all scrub pines and sand here at the Jersey Shore. But this area has played an important role in our nation’s history, and the evidence everywhere!

Just a short 30 minute drive from Manahawkin, NJ, you can find the Weymouth Furnace Park.

This 19^th Century south Jersey iron furnace produced iron from 'Bog Ore'. The Bog Ore was mined in the swamps surrounding the Great Egg Harbor River and brought to the furnace by small barges, poled along canals.

The Weymouth Furnace cast cannons and cannon balls for the War of 1812 and the first iron pipe for the City of Philadelphia. Stoves, pots and pans were also forged.

The site originally had a furnace, forge, gristmill, Methodist Church, sawmill, large owner's mansion, store, 20 workers' houses, a blacksmith shop, and a wheelwright.

In the 1860s, the forge had become obsolete as iron production methods improved and moved to areas where hard coal was plentiful.

A paper mill was then erected on the site, after the iron furnace closed in 1862. All operations at the Atlantic County site ceased in 1887.

Pack a lunch, bring your canoe or kayak or just walk the trails. Enjoy a few hours in the cool shade of the 11 acre Weymouth Furnace Park, Weymouth Road (Route 599), just off of the Black Horse Pike (Route 322) in northwestern Atlantic County.

On May 7th, we will boldy go where no man has gone before! The new Star Trek movie (Star Trek XI) will be released, and this is what we'll see.

Kirk as an angry, wayward and headstrong young man looking for trouble. Since Kirk has always thought outside the box, he wreaks havoc on Starfleet’s rules and regs.

Mr. Spock begins his career as a tortured soul. His mixed heritage has him battling his emotions, as he decides which path to follow; a life in the Vulcan world (which views him as an outsider and 'half human') or Starfleet Academy, worlds away from everything he has ever known.

We’ll also meet Dr 'Bones' McCoy (maybe we’ll find out why he’s always so cranky) and a young linguist Uhura at the Academy.

Of course, Starfleet is mobilized to save the Federation. And Kirk and Spock, for the first time, join forces and save the day!

Believe it or not Paramount Studios has announced that AMC Theaters, National Amusements, Pacific/Arclight, and Regal Entertainment are among the chains already offering the chance to buy tickets early! Click here to buy Star Trek XI tickets in Manahawkin at the Regal on Route 72 East.

Whatever the story, I can't wait to see the original Starship Enterprise NCC 1701! The original USS Enterprise was launched in 2245 and destroyed in 2285, in Star Trek III (The Search for Spock)!

This is the original Enterprise model used in the TV show back in the 60’s. It’s on display in the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C.

LIVE LONG AND PROSPER!

Who isn't looking for new ways to save money? Here in the Garden State (New Jersey), what better way to save some cash this summer than a vegetable and/or herb garden.

While it's still a little early to get vegetable plants in the ground here at the Jersey Shore, it's not too early to prepare.

For example, this year I'm planting tomatoes (if you haven't tasted a Jersey Tomato you don't know what you're missing), oregano, basil and maybe some peppers.

The first step in starting your garden is choosing an appropriate size and site. Here's a graph to help determine what will grow best in the garden area you select. You can also sketch out your garden and select the types of plants.

No matter what you grow, the most important consideration is the amount of sunlight. A successful vegetable garden should receive at least 5 to 6 hours of sunlight daily, but more is better! Some crops such as lettuce and cucumbers benefit from partial shade in the mid afternoon during the hot summer months. But generally for most vegetables, the more sun, the better.

Also try to locate the garden away from trees and shrubs which not only block sun but rob the soil of moisture. Make sure the area has good drainage.

After selecting a site for your garden, the next step is preparing the soil. It's likely the sandy soil of the NJ Pinelands and the Jersey Shore will need some help to produce a great vegetable garden.

There are many soil additives and fertilizers you can incorporate into you garden that will not pollute our wetlands, rivers and Barnegat Bay.

Please keep in mind the delicate ecosystem of Ocean County, NJ when choosing fertilizers or pest repellents for you lawn and garden.

This is when the Rutgers University Master Gardeners can help. The Master Gardeners of Ocean County, for a small fee, will not only provide soil analysis but they can recommend eco friendly additives for your garden and lawn. They even have information on birds and bugs that are garden friendly!

Cool weather vegetables can be planted now, if you've prepared you garden plot. Those include cabbage, peas, lettuce and spinach.

If you're looking for a home with a great garden in southern Ocean County, give me a call or email me!