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Both sides of the New Jersey bear population issue have valid points about hunting the black bear.  I can understand why animal rights activists are anti-hunting, and I can also understand why hunters hunt the black bear.  But, has the argument become so heated between the hunters and the activist that they both have lost sight of what is right for the animal?

Will the animal rights activist only be happy when everyone is a vegan?   I know that the meat I buy at the grocery store was an animal but, I did not have to kill it, skin it, or butcher it.  Like most people I am comfortable with my distance.  A hunter is up close and personal with their quarry.  The animals can and have turned and attacked the hunter.  This is a real risk that hunters take even with high powered weapons.  Bears have been known to “rise from the dead”; attack and kill the hunter – then die.  A good hunter will be responsible in every way for their hunt; from being licensed, to a humane kill, to bringing home the meat.

Expecting an animal to not go into some ones fenced yard or not raid the garbage cans is unrealistic.  Expecting an animal not to kill another animal is not realistic.  Male black bears have been known to kill black bear cubs just like male lions have killed lion cubs when they take over a pride.  Animals have their own natures and it isn’t always sweet.

However, man has his nature too.  Yes, there are people who have an ego thing when it comes to hunting but, that same ego can be found in other places besides the hunt.

Not all hunters turn into serial killers and not all animal rights groups are Dudley-Do-Right’s.  I guess it boils down to trust and respect of one another and the animal.  To try to do what is right for both species so we can live in harmony; still does not make it an easy decision.

We need both hunters and animal rights activist to keep the rest of us aware and a little uncomfortable.

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According to the New Jersey Department of Transportation, (NJDOt), a scenic byway is a “transportation corridor that has outstanding scenic, natural, recreational, cultural, historic or archaeological significance.”  Also, quoting NJDOT, “the byways tell stories about New Jersey’ history, heritage, recreational opportunities and beauty” that is unique to the State of New Jersey.

The Palisades Interstate Parkway in New Jersey is not only a designated state scenic byway but, a national scenic byway, too.  In 1900, New York and New Jersey started a cooperative effort to preserve the palisades, which is a line of cliffs, along the Hudson River by forming the Palisades Interstate Park Commission (PIPC).  In 1933, John D. Rockefeller, an oil magnate, donated 700 acres to the PIPC.  This land was 13 miles long and was on top of the New Jersey palisades.  The Parkway was completed in 1958.  In 2005, the Palisades Interstate Parkway was designated as a New Jersey Scenic Byway.  There are three (3) lookouts along the New Jersey side of the Parkway which gives great views of the cliffs, the river, and New York skyline. 

There is a National Scenic Byways Program that is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration which “recognize, preserve, and enhance” by listing certain roads as All-American Roads or National Scenic Byways.  The public can nominate a road for this listing.  For more information pertaining to this effort check out the Byways website.

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According to Wikipedia a credit bureau, “provides detailed information on personal credit and payment history of individuals.”  A credit bureau will also have reports on businesses.

There are three (3) major credit bureaus in the United States.

• TransUnion
• Equifax
• Experian

Equifax based in Atlanta, Georgia and founded in 1899 is the oldest of the credit bureaus.  TransUnion was established in 1968 and located in Chicago, Illinois.  Experian is an Irish owned credit bureau with the corporate headquarters in Dublin and two operational headquarters; one in Nottingham, England and the other in Costa Mesa, California, United States.  All three of these credit bureaus are listed on stock exchanges. 

In 1970, when Equifax  - then known as Retail Credit Company, began computerizing its records the US Congress held hearings that resulted in the Fair Credit Reporting Act.  This Act gives the public rights to know what information is recorded about them with any credit bureau.

What the everyday citizen hears about is not only their credit history but, their credit score.  A credit score ranges from 350 – 850.  The credit score is based on a mathematical algorithm of bankruptcy filings, foreclosures, spending, etc. of a consumer. The Fair Isaac Corporation is the predominantly used company to average this credit score.  This comes about when a lender is deciding if a consumer is a good risk for a loan.

Each of the credit bureaus focuses on certain elements and will base their scores on what they have recorded.  Once a year, an individual can request a free report but, you will have to pay for the credit score. 

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The term Green Acres reminds me of the 1960’s sitcom Green Acres.  The sitcom was a comedy but, New Jersey is very serious about their Green Acres Program. 

Green Acres is all about preserving open space in the State of New Jersey.  Considering that New Jersey has always been an industrial minded place; it is a great idea for the “greening” of New Jersey for future generations.

According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJ DEP) the Green Acres Mission is:  to achieve, in partnership with others, a system of interconnected open spaces, whose protection will preserve and enhance New Jersey's natural environment and its historic, scenic, and recreational resources for public use and enjoyment.

To achieve this goal, since 1961, New Jerseyites have voted on 13 separate occasions, continued support for the greening of New Jersey.

The New Jersey Botanical Garden at Skyland, in Ringwood, NJ is an amazing place.  The Gardens fall under the protection of the Division of Parks and Forestry and the Department of Environmental Protection.  Botanical Garden is also on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. 

New Jerseyans are very serious about their Green Acres Program.  They are so serious about the Green Acres program that they have a second program called Blue Acres. Blue Acres is designed to acquire property along the ocean and/or waterways.  Many New Jerseyites have donated their property to these programs. 

Ringwood, look for more posts to come about the Botanical Garden and the Blue and Green Acres Programs.

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Ringwood’s health department has “teamed up” with Chilton Memorial Hospital to “Walk off the Weight.”  This is a great idea for many reasons but, mostly for overall health improvement. This is a free 12 week program for adults who want to share with peers with similar needs.  Mothers with children in strollers and senior citizens can benefit from the support of their group of peers.

The goal is to improve the health of the residents of Ringwood by teaching, educating, informing them of the following:

• Nutrition
• Food pyramid
• Portion control
• Calories
• Exercise
• Weigh-ins
• Body Fat Analysis

It has been proven that a 20 minute walk has a direct effect on reducing weight, heart attacks, diabetes, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and stress.  A good walk improves bone and muscle strength, sleep, and a sense of well being.  Sharing all of the above has the added benefit of a psychological boost by interaction with others.

Walking off the Weight is designed for different walking surfaces in different municipalities.  In Ringwood, the groups will meet at the Center for Family Resources, located at 12 Morris Road, on Tuesdays, 8:30am starting April 6 – June 22.  The education sessions will be held at Skylands Manor located in Ringwood State Park. Of course, a walk around the Skylands Manor garden is encouraged.

Come out and get fit Ringwood, it is a beautiful day.

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Since the 1960’s, stealing someone’s identity by whatever means is considered identity fraud but, is more commonly known as identity theft. Think of the movie, Catch Me If You Can based upon Frank Abagnale’ life story, a very famous con man. Frank Abagnale once said in an interview that it is easier in today’s society to steal someone’s identity than it was in the ‘60’s.

Wikipedia puts Identity theft into these categories:

• business/commercial
• criminal
• financial
• cloning
• medical

Recently, there is a trend toward Synthetic identity theft.  This trend uses someone’s social security number but, uses another name and birth date.

Criminals have gotten very creative and high tech in getting a person’s personal information from you, your home, social media or government sites.  Some of the things that criminal’s uses are:

• Stealing mail from your mailbox and/or dumpster diving
• Pick pocketing
• Eavesdropping
• Stealing your fingerprints
• Sending in an address change to the Post Office
• Old PC’s hard drives that weren’t destroyed
• Reading RFID chips from a remote location, i.e.; electronic device that reads credit cards, bus passes, etc.
• Public records on-line or at your local library
• Hacking into your PC
• Advertisements – on-line or in the newspaper that ask for personal information
• Phishing via computer
• On-line social networks

There are many other ways to steal your identity and it is up to you to protect yourself as much as possible

If your identity is used criminally it is especially difficult to rectify.  There are national and local criminal data bases that may or may not remove an incorrect record.  So be careful, stay aware, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

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Emergency Action Plans are a great idea, especially for older designs.  Think about how many dams, train trestles, and bridges that were built around the 1900’s and still are being used today.  How they were designed for that day and age, when the traffic wasn’t that heavy, including tonnage.  In today’s society, with the stress and strain of a hundred years of use or less, an engineer will tell you that many have outlived their designed purpose.  And to think this issue is taking place all over the United States.  It boggles the mind. 

In New Jersey, according to the Department of Environmental Protection, Dam Safety, www.state.nj.us/dep/nhr/engineering/damsafety/eapform, these 2008 revised guidelines have eight (8) chapters of information for anyone who is interested in learning or required to know what to do in an emergency.

•  Emergency Notification
• Statement of Purpose
• Project Description
• Emergency Detection, Evaluation, and Classification
• General Responsibilities Under the EAP
• Preparedness
• Inundation Maps
• Appendices

Chapters four (IV), five (V), and six (VI) are very informative and, as with all government documents, detailed.  But, overall it is an easy read.

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Sometimes it is strange how a nickname will be the opposite of the factual reality.  Like Shorty being 6’4” tall.  It is the same with New Jersey being called the Garden State.  New Jersey has an agricultural history but, since 1791 New Jersey has primarily been an industrial state.

However, New Jersey does have New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) which was established in 1880 and now is a part of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.  And you ask, “What does this have to do with Ringwood?”  Well, each county has a Cooperative Extension program which is supported by the NJAES and other organizations.  And this in turn is where you will find the Master Gardeners Program.

And you ask, “What is a Master Gardener?”  Well, a Master Gardener is a volunteer with 60 hours of classroom and field instructions from Rutgers.  The curriculum consists of:

Rutgers Cooperative Extension and RCE Master Gardener Program Introduction

• Botany
• Plant Identification
• Soils and Fertilizers
• Basic Entomology
• Plant Pathology
• Integrated Pest Management
• Tree and Small Fruits
• Vegetable and Flower Gardening
• Turf and Weed Management
• Shade Trees and Woody Ornamentals
• Conifers and Broadleaf Evergreens
• Household and Structural Pests
• Interior and Houseplants
• Introduction to Horticultural Therapy
• Composting
• Principles of Pruning and Maintenance
• Birds and Wildlife in The Landscape
• Pesticide Safety and Use
• Volunteerism - Successfully Serving the Public and RCE

So what do Master Gardeners do for Ringwood?   Master Gardeners rehabilitated the Hermitage Victorian gardens to assisting a homeowner’s landscaping effort to providing information in a public forum. 

So Ringwood … it is spring and time to think about planning your garden; and if you need help just call your local Rutgers Cooperative Extension office and asks for a Master Gardener.

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The Ringwood Farmers Market, located at the Cannici Drive off of Skyline Drive Ringwood Park & Ride location will be open on the third Saturday of each Month from 10 am-12 pm.  The Winter Market is open from November to April. The last day for the winter market produce is April 17, 2010.  Then the regular season begins on Saturday, May 29, 2010 and will be open until October 30, 2010 with the produce and flowers of the spring, summer and fall.

The concept behind the Ringwood Farmers Market is to promote locally grown seasonal produce and give small businesses and artist an outlet to sell their wares. This concept is a great idea for a variety of reasons. 

• Supports local economy – a study done in London by the New Economic Foundation determine that twice as much income is generated for every dollar spent locally
• Fresher produce – usually picked within the last 24 hours before arriving at a local market will have greater nutritional value
• Taste better – do taste test between local and shipped produce.  Prove it to yourself!
• Riper – the produce will be at its peak of nutritional value and taste
• Seasonal – produce will have variety, be cheaper, and a lot of it
• Environmental footprint – local foods have less travel time to market
• Contamination – less spoilage and waste

So Ringwood come out to support your local Farmers Market and give a treat to your taste buds, listen to great music, and see what local artist are creating.

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In just eight days, April 18 – May 16, Ringwood Manor Association of the Arts will hold the 31^st Annual Young Artists’ Expo.  The Expo is an art show, showcasing young Ringwood artists working in mixed or same media.  The artist, from 3^rd grade to 12^th grade can show two pieces of their art.  Special education students are also included in the art show.  The funding for the project comes from the Passaic County Cultural and Heritage Council and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State an agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. 

In 1966, Ringwood Manor Association of the Arts (RMAA) became chartered as a non-profit organization.  RMAA “is dedicated to providing visual arts opportunities for interested persons of all ages.”  At a time when school boards are cutting budgets, art education is usually a victim.  Having the Ringwood Manor Association of the Arts sponsor a Young Artist Expo is vital to the encouragement of young artist and the art world.

The Barn Gallery in Ringwood State Park will collect the artwork to be shown in the Young Artists’ Expo on April 16, 3pm to 7pm and April 17, 10am to 1pm.   There is an artist reception and awards ceremony May 16, 1:30pm to 3:30pm, which the public is encouraged to attend.

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