Crystal Ball Real Estate

When you lose your wallet and all our credit cards and driver's license and whatever else!

What a pain in the neck - or where ever it counts ! Lost or was stolen? not sure - but spent time on the phone with the credit card companies ( very nice -they all end the conversation with ' have a nice day" - ( dismal day when you lose your identity!) No cards to use on a business trip - coming up! The National Real Estate convention in San Diego - The  setting  up ' Fraud alert' - I cant even use the cards! Have a nice day!  Make sure you have a copy of all your credit cards and numbers to call: have a copy of your driver's license - at least you know the number on it - Label every thing you have - cameras, phones, wallets - call Experian, Equifax and TransUnion - they know more about us than we do - Have a Nice Day!

Mistakes I've made!

In my haste to tell all about this new organization I've discovered, I see I gave the wrong  web address: http://www.Corduroyclub.com- the word 'appreciation' is not part of the site - altho an important connotation. It turns out -the West Coast chapter has the word 'appreciation' in it's title - the chapter I've joined does not...that chapter, in Oakland, is having a meeting on 11/11 - and attendees are asked to wear 2 items of corduroy - not bad requirements for a group!

 

Library Walk - 41st Street, NYC

Just discovered the ' Library Walk' on 41Street in NYC- from the Public Library on 5th - for several blocks - (96 bronze plaques) go to: http://www.grandcentralpartnership.org for information and pictures of all the plaques - hard to stop and read during busy commuting time  but beautiful. There seem to be a few missing - cement blog in the place of where they had been - but check them out next time you are walking, ( make it from east to west- that's how they face)

Memorial Service for Dr. S. Marie Kuhnen

Over 300 people attended a ' Celebration of Life'  yesterday at Montclair State University's Richardson Hall to remember Maris Kuhnen. 1917 - 2009 - She taught for 41 years at MSU, was the first chair of the Montclair State's Biology Department, helped found the School of Conservation in Stokes State Forest - founding trustee of the Pocono Environmental Education Center - involved in the Valhalla Glen and many other organizations. I met Marie when she gave us  outdoor lessons to us as the Montclair Nature Center Guides - a now defunct organization - we led grade school children on the trails at Mills and at Pearl Brook park. ( now called Alonzo F. Bonsal Wildlife Preserve in honor of donations that family made) as an aside tho, Pearl Brook was named after a fresh water pearl found in an oyster in the river =that eventually was in Princess Eugenia's crown - another story.  However as a guide we led local students thru the parks - and her information was invaluable to us in learning the local history, geology and botany of the area. I also took watercolor lessons with her and others at the Montclair Adult School -( I learned to appreciate watercolors - she learned to paint beautifully.) Dr,Khunen was an avid member of the Montclair Bird Club ( meets 3rd. Wednesday of the month at Union Congregational Church on Cooper) and traveled all over the world. A Scholarship has been created in her memory - : S Marie Huhnen Scholarship Fund, MSU Foundation, 1 Normal Avenue, Montclair NJ 7043. She touched thousands of lives, and her students continue to spread the love of nature she instilled in them.

Exploritas - aka Elde Hostel!

Gone is the old name "Elder Hostel'  for the educational program that thousands have participated in all over the world. Images of Birkenstocks and back packs have been discarded - so the the ' baby boomers' not be dissuaded from participating. ( all you have to be is over 50 to be included).

 Exploritas, don't know who to pronounce it - it might have the 'i' accented, which sort of sounds like a medical situation.

We've been on over 15 programs - in the US and Paris, France - friends have done the barge trips, river rafting in the Colorado and cycled in Europe. New site is at: http://www.exploritas.org 

Degrees of activity are well described - and programs are scheduled all year long, all over the world, US and even - a few in New Jersey. Images of college dorms and shared baths have been gone for several years. We were in a first class hotel in New Orleans a few  years ago ( before Katrina) and it was great. It is still being offered in that great city.

New Site for Montclair info!

Just found this neat site: http://www.DestinationMontclair.com for local events, restaurants and shopping and a good tour of the town - an NJ supported item,

New Jersey Urban Youth Researach Initiative

Went to an interesting program today at St Peter's College in Jersey City,called "The New Jersey Urban Youth Research Initiative' - a report on the statewide survey on new graduation Requirements. High school students from Paterson, Newark and Jersey City were the researchers - They collected data from within their schools and across cities. Conducted interviews and assessed science equipment and course offerings throughout three major urban communities to determine schools' capacity to satisfy graduation requirements and to document state-wide perceptions and evaluations of the new graduation requirements.  Very impressive presentation - film, power point and discussion - dedicated teachers present - president of the St Peter's was present - E Cornachia, Dr. David Surrey, Professor, Saint Peter's College,    Michelle Fine,Distinguished professor,  (CUNY Graduate Center,) Stan Karp, Education Law Center, and many others. This site might have information too: http://www.spc.edu/NJUTRD

It was great to see such confident students - proud parents there too  - and a very supportive academic environment. My brother had taught at the Urban Studies Program and a Memorial Fund set up in his name to benefit the Urban Studies department was the reason for my interest. Thom Mansheim was also instrumental in that aspect of the program.

It is hoped that the concerns of the students are recognized and accommodated. The state requirements have been changed, but not the resources and facilities needed to help students reach the new goal - they are not opposed to the higher standards, rather the lack of student involvement in the decision making, and plans to enhance programs seen as inadequate.

Long Lines on Grove Street-and dancing on the street

Quite a few Grove Street residents showed up at the Parking Advisory committee meeting to discuss the proposed 'no parking on one side of Grove Street' to accommodate bike lanes. Well, plans changed and instead there will be lines - a la Ridgewood Avenue in Glen Ridge, to help 'calm' traffic. Everyone seemed to be satisfied - and all hope that this will reduce the speed that is traveled - the Police were able to get a few new sites to ' sit' and watch traffic flow.

Leaving that meeting - I stopped in at the Board of Adjustment meeting, and it turns out that an Arthur Murray Dance studio will be allowed on the first floor of the old Phoenix building - that's where the Elevation Hamburger will be. Only ballroom dancing...........that required a variance because the zoning had been changed - tra la!

800 Meatballs!

A day in the life of a NJ Realtor? Office meeting first - avocado and tu rkey sandwich from deli, and working with 10 others to prepare 800 meatballs for the event that will be hosted by Montclair UNICO, at the M t. Carmel Feast this weekend. The: sauce, gravy, sugo or ra gu - whatever you call it has been made by Don D., and the sandwiches will be sold at the feast. Will they sell out the first day? will we have to make more? Recipe a combination of every-bodies grandmothers - garlic, no garlic, parsley, fry, bake, with cheese, no cheese, lots of eggs, no eggs,breadcrumb etc - Then to a Friends of Barnet Hot dot party and a concert by the Mont clair community band at the High School amphitheater - with Barbara Rudy and a flute solo -

Real estate? a few oil tanks to deal with - deposits to check out - photos to look at for a new listing - and maybe a church  building to help  sell.

Economics, 100 and learning!

NJBIZ  - a publication  devoted to business in NJ - has an interesting chart, ranking by numbers the largest employers in the state. ( for all the information, go to: http://www.njbiz.com/lists ) The State of NJ, ( established in 1776) has 66,166 employees: http://www.state.nj.us  Number 2 is Wakefern Food Corp, 32,856, http://www.shoprite.com:Number 3 is The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co, 21,277, http-//www.aptea.com; Number 4, Saint Barnabas Health  Care system, 20,000 , http://www.saintbarnabas.com   ...and on it goes - including Johnson and Johnson, Harrah's, Rutgers , Home Depot down to number 25, Bristol-Meyers - check the NJ Biz site - http://www.njbiz.comThe article also has a ranking of the top NJ Public companies  - with Johnsons and Johnson as number 1: 2008 fiscal year revenue at $63,70 billion  to number 25,Hovanian Enterprizes, at $ 3.31 billion - again, for full lists go to: http://www.njbiz.com/lists  Fun to read!!!!