When A Race Director Does Not Care
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST

When A Race Director Does Not Care

 

 

 

 

I’ve been running races for decades. I have literally been to hundreds of races from small 5K’s to Ironman triathlons.  As in any event, mistakes can happen and people adjust. However, when the mistakes are brought to the attention of the race director year after year and the same mistakes and bigger mistakes are made, it’s time for the race director to be removed before someone gets hurt.

 

This weekend was the Trenton Half Marathon. This is an annual event  where founder Chris Seiler and Race Director Jennifer Levine have again proven their inability to coordinate the basics for a race.

 

The inaugural event of this race was in 2011, right after Hurricane Sandy. Where many races were cancelled (including  the NYC marathon) the Trenton Half Marathon prevailed that year…or did it.  As a participant in the race, here is what I saw. No Gatorade at all, the race started 45 minutes late, the volunteers were not properly trained because they could not answer the simplest of questions, there was no food or water for the runners at the end of the race because the food was put in an area where the general public could feast on the pizza, pretzels and water., there was one shuttle bus for thousands of people, people were forced to walk back to Lafayette street at the end of the marathon….which is several miles away, etc. This is basic planning for a race.  

 

 

Jennifer Levine, race director, claims she has ran 26 marathons. As the Trenton Marathon race director, she is a failure. I think she has ran them in her sleep. Just because someone can race a car does not make them a mechanic.  Jennifer clearly is not a mechanic. I am not sure she is even a marathoner. There is no way she could have ever ran 26 marathons and have so poorly orchestrated this marathon three years running.  She is creating an unsafe experience for runners. At a cost of $100 for the race, we deserve better. This has got to change.

 The mistakes of an incompetent Race Director such as Ms. Levine  come in all shapes and sizes.

 

Inaccurate Course

 

I’ve run and timed numerous races that were +/- a tenth of a mile off. The difference is that 10-20 years ago, races were put on by runners, now they are often put on by non-profits, people who don’t run and have never been to a race. Now that’s fine, but if you want to raise money for your charity/non-profit you also have to be respectful to the guy who pays $30 to run your 5K, but does not care about the cause or charity. It’s even more important if you want your race to grow, your reputation is on the line.

 

If you put on a race, I’d guess that at least 10% of the runners will have a Garmin (gps watch), thus they will know if the course is short or long. You’ll also have serious runners, who can simply tell by their time if the course is short or long.  It’s my pet peeve so get it right. It’s 2014 and it’s easier than ever to have an accurate course. The other side of the coin is if you utilize a USATF certified course, know the course inside and out,  just because the course you are using is certified doesn’t mean that you will lay it out correctly or executed properly by the race director.

 

A marathoner, Tom Garvey said,”Wouldn't mind if you forgot about the 10k results since the lead pack was directed up an on-ramp and into traffic! We had a solid 11k race.”  This is quite ridiculous. An entire 1k off. Come on Jennifer, get it together.  Meagan Elly, another marathoner today said, ”That was not cool at all! I was pissed!!” Tom Garvey continued to say, There should be an 11k refund award. And just to pile on it was straight up a hill right into oncoming traffic! 

 

 

Today’s Trenton Marathon started 25 minutes late. They even closed the streets a whole 30 minutes earlier so they could get their acts together and they still failed to get the race started on time.

This is inexcusable. To ever put runners in a position where they could possibly get hurt is unacceptable. I would venture  to guess Jennifer Lavine could care less.

 

This race is supposed to bring in revenue to the city of Trenton, it’s a race for the city. The VIP dinner the night before the race was not even in Trenton it was in Lawrenceville. So no revenue to the city of Trenton.  When Jennifer was asked why she did this she was perplexed, no idea why people were annoyed, her response was ,”Really?” The Mayor of Trenton who should have been at that event could not go because it was not in his town. 

 

Let’s talk about the parking for the runners the day of the event. We were asked to park in Pennsylvania and near the city Capital and walk several miles to the start line.  This is unheard of. There are always shuttles that take runners to the start line if it’s far away. There was a single shuttle that went from one hotel in Trenton that held 20 people. There were 3500 runners at the race.

 

 

 

 

When I went to get pick up my bib  for the marathon, I quickly noticed something that I have never seen at any race. The race director posted all of the names, addresses and ages of all 3500 attendees at the exit of the hotel. Anyone from the street (which is in Trenton, NJ) could just walk in and see all of the information, there are children , 6 , 7, 9 and 11 years of age and older on the list.   I found this disturbing. I have never seen this at any marathon or race I have ran. I asked the race director to remove it she refused.  I spoke to the hotel management and hotel security and they could not make her remove it but they were equally as alarmed.  The hotel recommended that we call the Trenton police. The police came arrived and asked  Jennifer to remove it and she still refused. Her comment to me  was," it's not your kid, why do you care. If their parents have no issue why should  you care" She did not realize or even ask if any of the kids I was concerned about were related to me or mine.  I asked her to place it in the expo and not next to the exit by the street, she refused. Many years ago there was a small child that was kidnapped and murdered in my town. Her parents allowed her and her brother to run the streets to all hours of the night, unsupervised. My Father used to walk her and her brother home constantly into the wee hours of the night. My Father would have strong discussions with the parents, who seemed annoyed that my Father cared that their kids were roaming the streets unattended into the dark night. The young girl was murdered one day because no one was watching her. It was horrible for the town and became an internationally known event.

I also learned from the hotel staff that Jennifer and her staff were graphically rude to everyone. They treated the very nice staff at the hotel like garbage. This is inexcusable. This is not the type of people you want running your race. They truly do not care. Just in it for the money.

 

This marathon has been lacking safety, no Gatorade, no food at the end because they do not keep the general public away from it or the runners, you have to walk miles to get back to your car because there are no shuttles, today, runners were sent directly into oncoming traffic.

 

What Jennifer Lavine did this year, with posting all the addresses, ages and personal information of every runner was beyond outrageous. Her egregious lack of safety and care for the runners is alarming.  It is a criminals wet dream to see a list like she posted, it could cause break in’s, a child getting kidnapped and god knows what else.  I reached out to Hal Higdon (an internationally known marathoner who is very well respected in the world of running) to get a pulse check on the situation. He said,” Obviously she has an attitude. Not sure what I would advise other than staying away from that race in the future.” I highly advise everyone take Hal’s advise.

 

Since this marathon started a few years ago it has horrifically decreased in safety. Against my better judgment I signed up for it again this year. A friend guilt tripped me into signing up, to support the city. I told him, it’s a logistical mess and do not enjoy paying $100 to get annoyed. They were not even collecting waivers. I did not give one and no one asked for one from me when I picked up my bib. Another huge problem. So what happened this year. Well, another late start, 25 minutes, no Gatorade until mile 6, the incorrect course distances, sending runners into oncoming traffic, having racers walk miles pre and post race to parking areas, is a small list of what happened today, if you finished early you could not leave until the last runner was in. They closed all the streets around the race exit so no one could leave. I gathered up other runners and gave them rides back to the hotel because there were no shuttles available to do so.

 

At the end of the race there was food, a stale pretzel and a banana, and a bottle of water. I would think $100 would get me a sandwich. It does at all the other marathons and half marathons I have done where I paid $100 to run. Shame on you Jennifer. It’s all about the money for you and not the well being of the runners. Several of us over the years have given the race director, Jennifer Lavine input to make the race safe and better for all of us. She continues to ignore everyone’s input.

 

This race is supposed to help the local Trenton businesses. I learned about a pasta dinner being held at the hotel from another runner. There was no notification sent out from Jennifer to the entire 3500 participants.”  This I lost revenue to the city. This is not what is supposed to happen.

 

Logistics…Logistics…Logistics

 

I would grade the event today in this category a D-. There was a 5K, 10K and the half marathon and all the runners started at the same time. I have already explained above all of the other things that happened today.  It was also noted that right before all the runners started through the gate, the gate collapsed. The blow up deflated and this also delayed the race. They had to blow it back up.

  

Awards

Be respectful of runners time, especially faster runners who finish the race often times an hour before the awards presentation. If it’s a 5K, have awards about an hour to 1:10 after the race. When you get the awards posting from the timer, get to it, it’s not the time to talk for 10-15 minutes about the cause or organization. I understand that many races are for a charity, but if you want to grow the event, you need to attract runners and by putting on a professional event, that’s what makes runners come back to your race. At a minimum, get a decent prize for the overall male/female winners. Generally you can ask a running store and they will be happy to donate a gift card. The awards ceremony did not happen at the 10:30am time. We waited until 11:00AM and still nothing. We left.

 

Race directors need to be careful about offering up multiple distances in one race, unless they are an experienced race director; I’d wait a few years and learn how to put on one event flawlessly before adding more to it.  There was a lot of advertising done to discount the runner’s fee to the event. Even with the discount it was still $90 to run today.

 

Directing a race can be a rewarding event. It is a great way to get runners or walkers together to do something they enjoy. It’s a great opportunity to raise money for your or a chosen charity or cause. It’s also a great way to raise awareness for a cause. Directing a race entails a lot of aspect and can be time consuming as much as rewarding. When a race director loses sight of the basics and safety, its time to share that experience and make sure other runners never experience it either.

 

I will take the very wise advice of Internationally known and respected, Hal Higdon, “I would advise staying away from that race in the future.”  Very wise advice.

Why Do I Run? Trenton Half 2014
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST

Why Do I Run?

 

By Tammy Duffy 

 

 

 

I have been running for 34 years, since I was in high school. I was asked recently, “Why do I run?  It’s really for personal reasons why each person dedicates themselves to running. These reasons can change through the years.

When I first started running, it was because I really enjoyed watching cross country meets as a kid. I loved watching the Summer Olympics as well. When I started running, running was not really that popular at the time. I was a real nerd in school and would run everywhere. I would disappear for hours and go for runs no matter what the weather was. I remember one summer day my parents saw me running in the pouring rain and thunder and lightening and my Dad stopped to pick me up.

I really fell in love with running, literally. In my youth I dated a fellow who drove a Green Grand Torino. This Grand Torino would just show up  on my runs. Today we would view this as stalking, but then…it was a welcomed sight. The Green Torino owner, my boyfriend, would give me kisses and send me on my way. It was quite the incentive to run every day.

My love for running intensified when my Dad decided he wanted to try running. We would run at Steinert’s track all the time and through the trails at the park. It was great quality time alone with my Dad. We would have amazing talks and share how we could better the world.

Then my father died.  I continue to run in his memory and the memory of loved ones I have lost over the years. When my father died, there were many things he never got to do. We had one of our amazing talks and he shared with me before he died that he wanted me to help him do the things he did not get to do in life. He wanted me to complete marathons and events  for him all over the world.  Many of the marathons and events I participate in are fund raisers for lung cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer and other deadly diseases. All of which I do in memory of my Dad and support of my friends.  This has become a natural way of life for me. I remember when I signed up for my first marathon many years ago I thought, “Geez what am I nuts?”  I have now completed 16 full marathons, tons of  half marathons, numerous 10K’s, 5K’s, and unique climbs up Rockefeller center in NYC. If that is not enough this past year I focused on training for triathlons and an Ironman. I did 5 sprint triathlons this year and one full Ironman. This year I have run thus far 2,758 miles training and running in events. 

I became serious in my training and have sacrificed time with family and friends to compete.  I am hooked. The healthy way of life and diet have allowed me to push my body to limits that I never thought I could possibly do.  I run because running is a positive challenge. I can control the outcome, to a point. It pushes me to do more and do what I never thought I could do. It relaxes me. Life is filled with so many things that are not positive and out of our control. Running puts it all into perspective.

Runner’s are a great group of people. I have had very positive experiences at the events I have participated in. There is a great sense of comradery with runners. People help each other out and cheer each other on then they see a runner suffering in a race. I only now run coed races. I find the “chick only” races too slow, too bitchy and lacking of sportsmanship. I do not want to hear as ladies run 4 x 4 how they cook their meatloaf. A recent Irongirl triathlon I did reminded me of a Martha Stewart convention.

One day before Hurricane Sandy two years ago I ran the Marine Corp Marathon for the first time. I highly suggest this event for all runners. The Marine Corps does an amazing job with this race. I wore my Dad’s chevrons as a good luck charm. When I was at the wall at mile 18 and I was slowing up, I heard a Marine Sergeant say, ”Soldier I did not come here to see you walk, get going!”  I got going.

I am very proud about the hundreds of thousands of dollars I have raised for charity over the years. The personal bests and accomplishments have been amazing. I continue to passionately train and will continue to run marathons until I cannot. I think about my Dad every time I do an event. When I think I cannot take another step I think about him and how he fought to the bitter end from colon cancer.  His fight inspires me to get across the finish line. We have “conversations” to get me to the finish.

Next weekend I will run the Trenton Half marathon again. My parents were born and raised in East Trenton and I grew up visiting my grandmothers on Sherman Ave in East Trenton. My father when he was alive had a steel erection business. His business AHJ Inc. built the now called, Arm and Hammer stadium, the Justice Complex and other sites in the city of Trenton. I remember the topping out ceremony vividly of the Justice complex. We even adopted a wild dog that was born on the Justice complex construction site. It’s head was stuck in a can, so we took her home and named her Justy. She was nuts! She chewed my mother’s wooden picnic table in half.  I feel my Dad’s presence every step of the way during the marathon. I see the buildings and structures he built and remember walking the steel with him and the conversations we used to have.

I run for the friendships, competitiveness amongst friends and, most of all, to encourage new runners to strive for their best. Nothing makes me feel prouder than when runners improve and complete marathons. It’s magical and running really changes peoples lives for the better. To be a part of that is why I run! Oh yea, and for the medals! I love the bling!

 

Princeton Half Marathon 2014
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST

Princeton Half Marathon 2014

 

 

 I was one of the volunteer cyclists that helped show the runners the way through the course.  Our job to ensure everyone was safe, and if someone needed help to help them.

At the beginning of the race Sergeant Tom Murray of the Princeton Police Department personally came up to all of us  who were volunteer cyclists and shook our hands and thanked us for being there to help with the race. I was pleasantly shocked by this.  You would never see this in my home town. The Princeton Police Department did a stellar job at this race.  Their professionalism is something to be recognized.  

HiTOPS, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is New Jersey’s only adolescent-focused health and education center. They coordinated this years half marathon. For 25 years, HiTOPS has been a proud member of the Princeton community, helping children and families achieve healthy lifestyles and behaviors through risk-prevention education and intervention at their Princeton-based health center.

HiTOPS’ ultimate goal is healthy, empowered youth who make health enhancing choices and avoid long-term negative health outcomes. HiTOPS is located at 21 Wiggins Street in Princeton, NJ. 

The Princeton Half Marathon is a 13.1 mile, USATF-certified, road and trail run featuring Princeton’s cultural and historic landmarks.

There was one runner who really stood out, Marshall Gardner of Richboro, PA. All runners are given 3 hours to finish the 13.1 mile course. At the six mile mark Marshall was told he was going too slow and he was told to step off the course. They were worried he would not finish in time for the roads would reopen to traffic.   He refused.  He not only ran the rest of the way, he finished.. He finished safely.  His finishing time was three hours and fifteen minutes.

I take my volunteer responsibilities very seriously and when the course started to reopen  to traffic and the police said, “He has to forfeit and leave the course.”, I was heartbroken for him. I knew he was from out of town and would not find his way back to the finish line.  He would have gotten lost.  There were not clear markings on the course to guide him to the finish. I decided it was my duty to help him as a fellow marathoner. Never leave your teammate when they need your help.  Marshall kept going so I stayed with him. It was just Marshall and I on the course, everyone else had moved on. They used comments like,”He is on his own.”  I could not leave him.  I  kept riding in circles ahead of him so he could see me and which way to go. I stayed by his side on my bike and walked with my bike until I got him safely to the finish line where he got his medal.

I learned that Marshall has done 59 full marathons in his lifetime and numerous half marathons as well. He was listening to the Beatles the entire course today. I felt honored to get him safely to the finish line today.  He gave me a big hug and said, “See you next weekend at the Trenton Half Marathon.”Marshall was a true inspiration for me today.

A new course record of 1:18:29, was made by the first runner who crossed the finish line! Congratulations Laurent White!

 

 

 

 

 

Arlington Cemetery: An Education
Topic: REEALY?

ARLINGTON CEMETERY Jeopardy  Question:  On  Jeopardy the other night, the final question was  "How many steps does the guard take during his  walk across the tomb of the Unknowns?"  All three contestants missed it!  This  is really an awesome sight to watch if you've  never had the chance .  Fascinating.  Tomb  of the Unknown Soldier 1.  How many steps does the guard take during his  walk across the tomb of the Unknowns  and why? 21  steps:  It  alludes to the twenty-one gun salute which  is the highest honor given anymilitary or foreign dignitary.  2.  How long does he hesitate after his about face  to begin his return  walk and why? 21  seconds for the same reason as answer number  1 3.  Why are his gloves wet? His  gloves are moistened to prevent his losing his  grip on the rifle. 4.  Does he carry his rifle on the same shoulder all  the time  and, if  not, why not?  He carries the rifle on the shoulder away from the tomb. After his march across the path, he executes an about face and moves the rifle to the outside shoulder.  5.  How often are the guards changed? Guards  are changed every thirty minutes,  twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a  year. 6.  What are the physical traits of the guard  limited to?  For  a person to apply for guard duty at the tomb, he  must be  between 5' 10' and 6' 2' tall and  his waist size cannot exceed 30.  They  must commit 2 years of life to guard the tomb,  live in a barracks under the tomb, and cannot  drink any alcohol on or off duty for the rest of  their lives. They cannot swear in public for the  rest of their lives and cannot disgrace the  uniform or the tomb in any way.  After  two years, the guard is given a wreath pin that  is worn on  their lapel signifying they  served as guard of the tomb. There are only  400 presently worn. The guard must obey  these rules for the rest of their  lives or  give up the wreath pin.  The  shoes are specially made with very thick soles  to keep the heat and cold from their feet.  There are metal heel plates that extend to  the top  of the shoe in order to make the loud click as  they come to a halt.  There are no  wrinkles, folds or lint on the uniform. Guards  dress for duty  in front of a full-length  mirror.  The first six months of duty a  guard cannot talk to anyone nor  watch TV.  All off duty time is spent studying the 175  notable people laid  to rest in  Arlington National Cemetery . A guard must memorize who they are and where  they are interred. Among the notables are:  President Taft, Joe Lewis {the boxer} Medal of Honor winner Audie L. Murphy, the most  decorated soldier of WWII and of Hollywood fame.

Every guard spends five hours a day getting his uniforms ready for guard duty.. 
ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.

In 
2003 as Hurricane Isabelle was 
approaching Washington , 
DC , our 
US Senate/House took 2 days 
off with anticipation of the storm. On the ABC 
evening news, it was reported that because of 
the dangers from the 
hurricane, the military 
members assigned the duty of guarding the Tomb 
of 
the Unknown Soldier were given permission 
to suspend the assignment. They 

respectfully declined the offer, "No way, 
Sir!" Soaked to the skin, 
marching in the 
pelting rain of a tropical storm, they said that 
guarding 
the Tomb was not just an assignment,


it was the highest honor that can be 
afforded 
to a service person. The tomb has been patrolled 
continuously, 
24/7, since 1930. 



God 
Bless and keep them. 


We can be very proud of our men
and women in the service no matter where they serve.

God Bless America

 

I thank the friend who sent this to me....quite lovely! 

 

Barista's Duke It Out
Topic: REEALY?

Baristas Duke It Out

 

 

 

Café culture is bigger than ever and so are the attitudes of some coffee connoisseurs. As I waited in line to acquire my morning coffee, a sudden eruption of female shouting filled the coffee shop. A patron, who evidently was a barista, was yelling at the barista behind the counter accusing her of touching the inside of her cup. When the barista behind the counter handed the patron her coffee the patron said,” I will NOT drink that, you touched the inside of my cup. Make me a new one.” 

 

The barista was very annoyed and challenged the patron saying, “I did not, you are nuts.” The patron stood her ground and demanded a fresh cup.  The barista complied but not without additional glaring looks and comments.

 

Does the patron have a valid concern? Is she valid to have said,"Don’t touch the inside of the cup or give me a new one."

 

How many of us, as a matter of habit, actually pay any attention to a coffee shop's espresso machine of the staff each time we patronize? I'm guessing not many.

Even though every coffee  outlet has a legal obligation to observe certain hygiene regulations and standards of practice (which include the maintenance and cleaning of coffee machines), the ugly truth is there are operators out there who simply do not care about them - or worse, are ignorant of them. They allow their espresso machine to be caked in old milk and coffee residue - forgetting that, apart from its visual appeal, a clean machine also improves the taste of the coffee that comes out of it. Do you watch to see how they are handling the cups. Are they sticking their fingers inside the cups?

So, to help minimize your chances of getting served a bad-tasting, or bacteria-infested cup of coffee the next time you pop into a coffee shop, I'm going to share with you a few things you should look out for before placing your order.

1. The steam wand. This is that part of the espresso machine used to steam milk.  Steam wands should be shiny and clean at all times. Observe; does the barista immediately and properly wipe/clean the wand after each use? He or she should, before the milk dries up and hardens. The build-up of caked milk quickly harbors bacteria which will in turn infect the milk used to make subsequent beverages which, in all likelihood, could well be yours.  In making coffee beverages, milk is usually heated to 65°C-70°C which isn't hot enough to kill bacteria; so beware.

 

Another thing to note with regards steam wands is this: has its steel coating worn off, exposing the copper underneath? If so, best go elsewhere for your caffeine fix because ingesting copper - bacteria or not - is a health risk in itself.

 

2. The cloth used to wipe/clean the steam wand should be dedicated solely for this purpose and nothing else. A good barista will always wash, rinse and change the cloth regularly during the course of the day to ensure that it stays clean and doesn't smell. When you walk into a coffee shop, spend a fleeting moment - for instance, when you're browsing through the menu or checking out the cakes on display - to give the cloth a once-over (it's invariably placed next to the espresso machine). If it's dirty or soiled, it shows that the barista hasn't been washing or changing it as regularly as they should, if at all. Just like a dirty steam wand, an unclean piece of cloth soaked with old milk and coffee residue can harbor bacteria. Likewise, a ragged piece of cloth is a sure-fire sign of lackadaisical housekeeping. Time to decide if you should stay or take your leave.

3. The portafilter(or coffee basket; see next picture) refers to that part of an espresso machine that holds a tamped puck of coffee grounds through which hot water is injected to produce an espresso. Now, I know it's not always easy to try and catch a glimpse of the portafilters from your vantage point in front of the counter. But try to move around it and watch the barista in action; they should be cleaning the coffee baskets by either flushing or wiping them after each use to remove the coffee residue left over from preparing the previous cup. Failure to do this will almost certainly result in rancid espressos. It also reflects poorly on the barista.

Having shared with you the things to look out for the next time you visit a coffee shop, I should also add that there's really no need for anyone to become paranoid about coffee shop hygiene after reading this. If the place is busy, some degree of untidiness can be expected as the barista rushes through the orders.

But tidiness is one thing and hygiene quite another. Generally speaking, so long as both the steam wand and the cloth used to wipe it are kept clean, and the barista cleans out the coffee baskets after each espresso shot, there's really no reason for you to fear being served a bad cup - unless of course the coffee is of poor quality and the barista so unskilled. The good news is most operators do observe these standards of practice; it's just those few bad apples who do not that give the decent ones a bad name. But, hey, who's to say you won't innocently find yourself in one of these bad-apple shops one day?

Great Adventure Celebrates Birth of Female Giraffe Calf
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST

Things Are Looking Up at Six Flags Safari

 

Great Adventure Celebrates Birth of Female Giraffe Calf

 

 

 

Six Flags Great Adventure’s animal care team is celebrating the birth of an adorable giraffe calf at the Safari. Mika, a female reticulated giraffe, was born to first-time mom Noel Oct. 11 inside the giraffe barn. Mika is the Safari’s ninth giraffe.

 

“Noel is a great mom,” said Jason Holloway, a safari supervisor who oversees the giraffe herd. “She began nursing right away. Mika is healthy and doing very well.” Holloway said that Mika stood within an hour of her birth and measured 5 feet 10 inches tall.

 

Mika’s mother Noel was born December 2001. The calf’s grandmother, named Georgia, has been one of the Safari’s most beloved residents since 1993.

 

Mika ventured outside the giraffe barn for the first time Oct. 21 under Noel’s watchful eye, and Holloway was there to capture the first moments on video. Guests will be able to see Mika on the Safari Off Road Adventure during the park’s closing weekend Nov. 1 and 2, and during the Grape Adventure Wine Festival’s Safari tours Nov. 8 and 9, weather permitting.

 

Reticulated giraffes, also known as Somali giraffes, are native to northeastern Kenya, southern Ethiopia and Somalia. They possess a distinctive coat pattern featuring red-brown polygonal patches divided by thin white lines. Full-grown female giraffes stand approximately 16 feet tall and weigh approximately 1,800 lbs.

 

Giraffe gestation lasts approximately 13 to 15 months, with typically one calf born. Mothers give birth standing up. Newborn calves typically stand approximately 6 feet tall.

 

Topic: REEALY?

REEALY?

Staying Safe As We Age

By Tammy Duffy 

In many communities there are many people who live alone. In Hamilton Township. NJ, the Police Department instituted a program known as “Operation Reassurance”.

To take advantage of this program you must live alone and have a telephone.   Upon signing up for this program, you are then required to call the Hamilton Police Division at a special phone number to inform them that all is well. You must make this phone call to them each day Monday thru Sunday, between 8:00am and 9:00am. If your call is not received by 9:30am, the police will call you. If there is no answer, the desk officer will dispatch a police car to your residence to see if everything is alright.  The intention of this program is to make sure that people living alone will have personal contact each day with someone to make sure all is well. We are interested in your welfare and are here to help.

This always seemed like a great program  to me, until this evening.  I attended a neighborhood watch meeting and we were all reminded of the existence of this program.  They were looking for volunteers to make the phone calls. 

There was an older gentleman who attended the meeting and said,” This could be a great way to find a single older woman to date.  How can I sign up to make the phone calls to check up on them and find a date.”

At first some of us giggled at his outburst for he was an older gentleman. However, after a few moments I no longer found it funny and thought, “Wait a minute, this could be a perfect avenue for some nut job to find where are all the helpless older people and people living alone in a town are and target them.”  These volunteers are given the personal home numbers of these people living alone who sign up for the program.  I wondered what kind of background check the township does on the volunteers making the phone.

We live in a very different world today. One cannot be too careful or too aware of their surroundings and those we interact with. As your family members and friends  age and they consider signing up for these “alert” services, one must be  sure to thoroughly investigate the program. Understand who has control of your data, is the database on a secure network that cannot be hacked, have the people  at the companies selling the services had extensive background checks to ensure that they are appropriate to have your data or if its an organization using volunteers, have all of the volunteers had background checks.

Don’t assume it’s a safe program because it’s being run by a police department. Sometimes the simplest things can be overlooked, opening a door for a criminal to know you are alone. Do your own background check on these services and stay safe. 

Paul Strand Retrospective at PMA
Topic: ART NEWS

 

Paul Strand Retrospective at PMA

 

By Tammy Duffy 

 

 

 

 

Paul Strand was an American photographer and filmmaker who, along with fellow modernist photographers like Alfred Stieglitz and Edward Weston, helped establish photography as an art form in the 20th century. His diverse body of work, spanning six decades, covers numerous genres and subjects throughout the Americas, Europe, and Africa.

 

The Philadlelphia Museum of Art is hosting a major retrospective of this critical figure in the history of modern art, American photographer and filmmaker Paul Strand (1890–1976), whose archive of nearly 4,000 prints stands as a cornerstone of the Museum’s collection. Emphasizing the influential artist’s most important projects from the 1910s through the 1960s, the exhibition surveys Strand’s entire life’s work, including his breakthrough trials in abstraction and candid street portraits, close-ups of natural and machine forms, and extended explorations of the American Southwest, Mexico, New England, France, Italy, Scotland, Egypt, Morocco, Ghana, and Romania.

This exhibition includes approximately 250 of Strand’s finest prints, selected primarily from the Museum’s holdings, with important early prints from public and private collections. The wide range of imagery highlights how Strand radically changed his work at several key moments in an effort to identify photography's pivotal role as a means of understanding and describing the modern world. The exhibition also features works by fellow artists from the Alfred Stieglitz circle (Georgia O’Keeffe, John Marin, and Arthur Dove), screenings of Strand’s films, and a selection of archival material.

 

This exhibition explores the remarkable evolution of Strand’s work, from the breakthrough moment in the second decade of the twentieth century when he brought his art to the brink of abstraction to his broader vision of the place of photography in the modern world, which he would develop over the course of a career that spanned six decades. The exhibition examines every aspect of Strand’s work, from his early efforts to establish photography as a major independent art form and his embrace of filmmaking as a powerful medium capable of broad public impact to his masterful extended portraits of people and places that would often take compelling shape in the form of printed books and must be considered among his greatest achievements. Paul Strand: Master of Modern Photography  celebrates the recent acquisition of more than 3,000 prints from the Paul Strand Archive, which has made the Philadelphia Museum of Art the world’s largest and most comprehensive repository of Strand’s work.

Dragonfly Farms Pumpkin Playground
Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST

Dragonfly Farms Pumpkin Playground

 

By Tammy Duffy

 

 

 

When fall rolls around, something spectacular happens at Dragonfly Farms. Brilliant autumn leaves emerge and bring all sorts of exciting activities for the entire family. The activities are designed to be educational and fun for children of all ages.

 

 

The 9th Annual Fall Festival & Pumpkin Playground began on Oct 1 and will continue until 31^st at Dragonfly Farms in Hamilton, NJ on 966 Kuser Road.  The festival hours are 11am – 6pm Monday through Sunday and is wheelchair accessible.

 

 

There is a nominal admission, $6 per person on weekdays and  $10 per person on weekends.  Children under 3 are free.  Each paid admission receives a small carvable patch pumpkin, hay rides, access to the petting zoo, arts and craft and more!   There are additional activities available for additional cost on weekends. These include: pony rides, face painting, sand art and much more. There is a food tent to refresh your little goblins as well.

 

Antonia Jones, Manager of Dragonfly Farms states,” We came to Hamilton from NY with our business and quickly noticed that Hamilton is a family oriented town. We felt the need to give back to the community and create this Fall wonderland for the families of Hamilton. Each year we add to the festival based on the communities input. Our employees work very hard building the entire festival and trails for the hayrides.”

 

On Friday, Oct  31, Dragonfly Farms will have their first Trunk or Treat: -Halloween Round up event.  This event will start at 4pm and go until 7pm.  It will create a safe place for children to go trick or treating. Patrons will have their treats in the trunks of their cars to distribute to the little goblins who attend.  You must register in advance to participate. There will be a  costume contest, parade at 5pm, live music and much more!!\

 

There will also be a dog Halloween costume contest on Oct 25^th from 12 to 2pm as well

 

 

Ai WeiWei @ Large At Alcatraz
Topic: ART NEWS

 

Ai WeiWei @ Large At Alcatraz

 

By Tammy Duffy 

 

 

 

Ai Weiwei, the prominent Chinese activist-artist, who is forbidden from leaving China, has been commissioned by the For-Site Foundation to create an exhibition. This exhibition entitled,   At Large: Ai Weiwei on Alcatraz," touches on the history of imprisonment on the island, and runs through April 26, 2015.  The installations are only accessible to Alcatraz ticket holders.

 

 

The FOR-SITE Foundation, in partnership with the National Park Service and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei brings his works to Alcatraz Island until spring of 2015. Ai is internationally celebrated for his extraordinary ability to communicate complex political and creative concepts in his sculptures and installations. His works raise urgent questions about human rights and the freedom of expression. His art and ideas find a compelling new context in this exhibition of works created specifically for Alcatraz--a 19th-century military fortress, a notorious federal penitentiary, a site of Native American heritage and protest, and now one of America's most visited national parks. 

 

 

Revealing unexpected perspectives on Alcatraz and its layered legacy, @Large prompts visitors to consider the implications of incarceration and the possibilities of art as an act of conscience. For Ai, these are not just artist themes; they are fact of life. A vocal critic of the Chinese government, Ai was secretly detained by Chinese authorities for 81 days in 2011 on charges of tax evasion, and is still not permitted to leave China. @Large: Ai Weiwei on Alcatraz reveals unexpected perspectives on Alcatraz and its layered legacy and prompts visitors to consider the implications of incarceration and the possibilities as art as an act of conscience. @Large: Ai Weiwei on Alcatraz launches a dialogue that incorporates these themes of communication, individual responsibility, and freedom on a global level, exploring prisons, and prisoners around the world.

 

 

A limited number of Early Bird Exhibition tickets are available on the 8:45 am departure. Please note, this ticket is not for a guided tour. This ticket includes the round-trip ferry service from Pier 33 to Alcatraz, a greeting and orientation on the Island, a commemorative @Large gift, regular Alcatraz admission and the Cellhouse Audio Tour:

 

A limited number of Special Guided Tours of the exhibit are available on Mondays, Thursdays, and Sundays on the 8:45 am departure. This ticket includes the round-trip ferry service from Pier 33 to Alcatraz, a special orientation on the island, a docent led tour of the @Large exhibit, a copy of the @Large: Ai Weiwei on Alcatraz full-color exhibit catalogue, a commemorative @Large gift, regular Alcatraz admission and the Cellhouse Audio Tour:

 

 

To purchase regular admission tickets to Alcatraz (which includes full access to the @Large exhibit), please visit Alcatraz Cruises at

 

http://www.alcatrazcruises.com/website/buy-tickets.aspx