Laura Giannotta Keller Williams Atlantic

This Friday, June 20, is Take Your Dog to Work Day. It's annual event, first organized by Pet Sitters International ten years ago, and aims to recognize the great companions that dogs make.

Did you know that roughly 1 out of every 5 businesses allows pets at work, that's according to a survey by the American Pet Product Manufacturers Association.

There are some guidelines that the ASPCA has come up with to make your office more pet friendly. So if you're taking pooch to the office tomorrow, today you might want to try taping up loose electrical cords and wires, putting markers and other toxic-but-tempting office supplies away in drawers, and removing plants, rugs and breakables.

Try to pack a doggie bag with treats, food and water bowls, a leash, pick up bags and maybe a blanket or toy your dog is fond of. Don't forget the paper towels and a pet oder remover, just in case. Take out your trash, so the tempting smell of that empty lunch bag doesn't get your puppy into trouble.

If you'd like to be better prepared for your dog at the office, check out good manners for dogs at the office from the ASPCA.

For the first time since 1957, Barnegat Township High School seniors graduated in their own high school. This week marked graduation day for seniors at the new Barnegat High School, which opened in 2004!

Prior to 1957, the old Barnegat Township High School served much of southern Ocean County. It closed in '57 after Southern Regional High School in Manahawkin opened its doors. There were 264 graduates this year from Barnegat Township High School School (pictured here).

BEST OF LUCK TO ALL 2008 GRADS!

If your interested in moving to southern Ocean County, or have questions about the real estate market here, contact me.

You can take a look at what Barnegat Township has to offer right here! Take a tour!

BARNEGAT TOWNSHIP, OCEAN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY. MAY, 2008 MARKET REPORT

There were 84 new listings in May, that compared to 74 new lisitings in May, 2007. That's a 20 unit increase in inventory over April 2008, but that's the way of the housing market at the Jersey Shore.

Total inventory in Barnegat in May, 2008 was 377 residential housing units. That's 10 more than we had in our April 2008 report.

New listing prices ranged between $153,900 and $1.2 million for a beautiful home on the Bay.

21 units sold in May 2008, with prices ranging from $136,200 to $362,000. This compared to May 2007 sales of 30 units ranging in price from $105,000 to $463,000.

If you would like to recieve a comprehensive market report via e-mail for Barnegat or any other community in southern Ocean or northern Atlantic counties, please contact me.

I just recieved this from a member of the local chapter of the Women's Council of Realtors. Ocean County Realtors please take note:

This just occurred last weekend Toms River Agents

- Please Be Advised -

An incident occurred at my open house at 15 Webster Rd. Toms River this past Sunday.

A man came in alone driving a small tan, gray, or golden color pick up truck. He had a shaved head, was about 5'11" tall, and on the lean side. He was wearing a royal blue jacket that had the name of a paint ball company on it.

He signed in at the open house as Brian Alcon, 421 New Jersey Ave. Toms River.

# 732 830-4215.

However, all of this information was fictitious. Please be aware that this man stole my client's bras and also her daughter's thongs and boy shorts underwear.

We filed a police report with Officer Chris McDowell of the Toms River Police Dept. He suggested I advise all area Realtors if possible. He said the man may have just been a pervert but could also be a registered sex offender and authorities would like to be notified if anyone came across him again.

Please be careful!

Ocean County's Photographic History

Nineteenth century photography in New Jersey is the topic of a presentation April 8^th at the Barnegat Branch of the Ocean County Library. Sponsored by the Friends of the Barnegat Library in conjunction with the New Jersey Council for the Humanities (NJCH), the program will focus on Ocean County photographers active before 1900.

In a slide lecture, Gary Saretzky, an archivist and photographer, will profile these pioneers and discuss their achievements and contributions in the context of NJ photography in the 19^th Century.

Saretzky has worked as an archivist for nearly 40 years. He currently serves as the Monmouth County Archivist and has since 1994. He's been an instructor of the History of Photography at Mercer County College and has also coordinated the Public History Internship Program at Rutgers University.

Under the auspices of the Horizons Speakers Bureau of the NJCH he lectures around the state on topics related to the history of photography. Saretzky has published more than 100 articles and reviews on the history of photography and photographic conservation.

The program is free and open to the public. It begins at 2:15pm, on April 8th at the Barnegat Branch of the Ocean County Library located at W. Bay and Burr Street in Barnegat. For further information call 609-384-6121.

THIS PROGRAM IS OFFERED THROUGH THE HORIZONS SPEAKERS BUREAU OF THE NEW JERSEY COUNCIL FOR THE HUMANITIES, A STATE PARTNER OF THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES.