AboutNewJersey.com Blog

As some people know, in addition to the founder of AboutNewJersey.com, I am also the VP of the Princeton Battlefield Society - the official friends group of Princeton Battlefield State Park and I also do the website for the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area. I am very involved with educating non-New Jerseyans as well as my fellow New Jerseyans on the importance of New Jersey on American history. Sadly when people say - “Revolutionary War” they generally think Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia and to some extent New York - New Jersey seems to not fall much in the picture. Yet, New Jersey played a much larger role from start to finish than any other state in the nation, Washington spent more than 50% of his time fighting on New Jersey soil, the Turning Point of the Revolution took place in New Jersey, Washington had his first victories right HERE in New Jersey, the first American Flag was sewn by a New Jerseyan - Betsy Ross. 4th of July is just as much New Jersey celebration as it is an American celebration!

Continue reading “4th of July and New Jersey” » » » »

Well on Friday June 20th I took a ride up to Newark for my first ever NJ Devils Draft Party at the Prudential Center. This was the first draft party to be hosted at the Devils new arena and I have to say it was fantastic and it was really made into a family event. Being the first draft party at the Prudential Center, the Devils were expecting possibly 1500 people, instead they played host to around FOUR THOUSAND! To all the nay sayers out there who said people wouldn’t come to Newark to the new arena, I have to say - I am very happy you were wrong.

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Last night I decided to go to the BlueClaws game. I’m not sure how many games I have attended this year, but I do really enjoy going to the games. In 2006, the year they won the South Atlantic League Championship against the Augusta GreenJackets, I attended nearly all the games. My cousin said i was their good luck charm, because the games I didn’t attend, they generally lost This year the BlueClaws started out the season slow, but they have improved a lot. They are now in third place in the South Atlantic League (northern). Last night they played the Lake County Captains who are in first place with 41 wins, versus the Lakewood BlueClaws with 39 wins. The BlueClaws won - 5 - 0 and hopefully the BlueClaws will move up into first place this week.

Continue reading “Lakewood BlueClaws Soccer Night with the New Jersey Ironmen” » » » »

Well the legislature is considering severe cuts in the funding for NJ arts, history and tourism. Some people may on the face of it it say that these are frivolous expenditures anyway when we have so many other pressing issues in this state. The thing is - these investments, and yes they ARE investments, actually bring back more money than what is spent. The money is then used to fund the many things that new Jerseyans find so necessary. Without this money coming into the state from visitors, New Jerseyans would be paying $1500 more in taxes a year! For every dollar spend on promoting tourism, the state receives back $36. Now you tell me - what investment do you have in your stock portfolio, IRA, mutual fund - that has a $36 return on investment?
Continue reading “Funding Cuts to NJ Arts, History and Tourism - 2008″ » » » »

My friend Trish came out May 1st to 5th. We’ve known each other since college and she’s been out to NJ many times. I like to take her to things that she hasn’t been to before. Well this time had a special reason, because I was attending the New Jersey Hall of Fame 2007 Induction ceremony at New Jersey Performing Art Center (NJPAC) in Newark.

Continue reading “Beach, History and Celebrities - only in NJ” » » » »

I wanted to add a forward to this blog post before people think that they have found proof that New Jersey beaches are littered with garbage. This is NOT the case - but vacationers often don’t care about what they do with their garbage. This is NOT strictly a New Jersey problem, but you will find it in any beach community throughout the US. I have done a search and the same complaints are made about Gulf Shores, Florida, California and the Carolina beaches. However, people seem to expect New Jersey to be better than everyone else and when they encounter trash on our beaches - it just seems to confirm their ignorant stereotypical view of our beaches as if no one else has this problem. The sole purpose of this article is to ask vacationers who come to OUR beaches, to please respect them and pick up your trash! It isn’t that much to ask. If you want to trash a place - then stay home and trash your own house and town. If you have come here to look for confirmation that New Jersey beaches are filled with litter, please go someplace else - because that is not the case.
Continue reading “Keep Our Beaches Clean!” » » » »

I thought it would be great to open up the new AboutNewJersey.com Blog at the start of the New Jersey tourism season - Memorial Day weekend. I know, I know, many New Jerseyans do not see the benefit of tourism to the state’s economy and many actually complain and wish that people would go home. But in actuality - it benefits the average citizen immensely.
Continue reading “NJ Tourism and You - Perfect Together” » » » »