Downtown Toms River Looking Good for the Holidays

Downtown Toms River has the welcome mat out for the Holiday Season... First of all, the town looks great. The main streets have lighted snowflakes on the light poles along the streets, and in front of some businesses. There is a large, lighted "Peace on Earth" banner near Town Hall on Washington Street. Many of the shops and offices have decorated their windows, and the many houses in the district are decked with beautiful holiday lights.

Downtown also has some new retail stores, including Autumn Meadow Trading Company. This new shop on Washington Street (#11, not far from Capone's) features special candles. Every candle is painstakingly created in small, hand-crafted batches to ensure the highest level of quality. They have unique wooden wicks...stop in and see what it is all about.

The new Traco Theater at 316 Washington Street, next to the Cookie Cab, has movies, comedy shows, and special events. This is a great addition to Downtown...you can now enjoy a good dinner at one of the Downtown restaurants, and then take in a movie. Check for movie schedules and more at the Traco website: http://tracotheater.com/

Riverguy is going to spend some time Downtown during the Holiday Season... how about you?

Notes from The Edge

Riverguy is a little confused these days...I was going about my life in my usual oblivious fashion, when I ran into my old friend, Chowder. Chowder was always one of these guys living on the edge - sometimes the exciting edge of life, sometimes the dangerous, and sometimes the crazy edge.

The first thing he says is "Hey River...got enough food, water, and money stashed in a safe place?"

"Huh?"

"Come on man, you gotta be prepared. One of these days the shit is going to hit the fan, and you have to be ready." He gazed at me and made a splattering gesture with his hands.

"What are talking about, Chowder?" I scratched my head and waiting for the next wild thing to come out of his mouth.

"River -- haven't you been paying attention to what's goin' down?"

"I watch the news, if that's what you mean" I said, a little indignantly.

Chowder snorted. "So, you know all about the European Debt crisis, the possibility of global financial collapse, the Mideast about to erupt in war, and radiation from the 3 meltdowns still going on in Japan....?"

"Chowder, I know about all of that, or most of it, anyway. It's all under control. What does this have to do with water and the other stuff?"

Chowder grimaced..."When things get worse, the stores will be closed, and dudes are gonna be after your food and water. The banks are gonna close their doors so people don't rush in and get all of their money out." Chowder spun on his heels and started marching off. Probably on his way to his next crazy adventure, I thought.

He called out, without turning around... "Prepare!"

I shuddered a little, and kind of cleared my head for a few seconds, and didn't think much more about it. Ol' Chowder can get really worked up over things. Nobody's gonna steal my water...that's crazy, I thought for the second time.

An hour or so later, my phone rang. It was another friend - Tom, a guy I used to go to school with. His voice shook, and he was all excited. He told me he had gone to a Black Friday sale the other day, and stampeding people pushed him to the ground, and pulled a new blender out of his hands. He was stepped on several times, and then pinned against a display when he tried to stand up. "River...they didn't care! They trampled me for a BLENDER!" Tom kept talking, but I didn't hear the rest. I felt a little wobbly for a second, and then Chowder popped back into my mind. "Prepare!" echoed through my brain, and the ground underneath me seemed a little less solid...

Time to Get Real

Well....a couple of months ago, Riverguy wished you a good summer -- and I hope it did turn out to be a good one for you.

Now, as we get deeper into Fall, reality is beginning to creep in. The Japanese nuclear triple meltdown didn't go away -- it just seems that way, because the news media refuses to cover it. They can get away with it, because the really bad effects from it are longer term. Riverguy isn't going to dwell on the outcome for you -- you'll need to do your own research. Let's just say it isn't pretty.

Who cares anyway, right? The collapse of the world economy is getting less coverage than the collapse of Kim Kardashian's marriage. Well, you're going to care if Greece defaults on its obligations. The effects will be felt not just at the international level, but in your own finances as well. Things could spiral out of control.

And while all of this is going on, also keep an eye on the Mideast. Storm clouds are gathering around Iran...more trouble is brewing.

By now you're probably thinking..."Riverguy, you're being a real downer. Why should I concern myself with this stuff...its out of my hands...there's nothing I can do about it, anyway." Wrong!! You can do this: 1) Get informed about what's going on. 2) Start to care what happens - if you have kids, you should give a damn about what is happening in the world 3) Demand that the news media cover the important stories -hound them on their web site's "comments" area, and visit alternative sites. 4) Hold your elected officials accountable. Make them take address the tough issues, and make your own views known.

Hey...that Kardashian thing is really something, right?

Red Light Cameras...A Blessing or a Curse?

Red light cameras are spreading throughout the state, so it probably won't be long before we have them in Toms River. The cameras will produce both still pictures and video of drivers that go through an intersection when a light is red. Also note that, if you make a legal right-turn on red, you'd better come to a complete stop, or you may receive a ticket.

Brick is making a lot of money off of their cameras (it is $85 for a violation captured on a red light camera). It is undoubtedly good for the municipalities to get this money, and there is some evidence that the cameras help reduce accidents at intersections with the cameras.

However...there are some drawbacks. Camera angles can be misleading, and it is possible that you could be accused unjustly. You can fight the ticket, but it will be very difficult to prove that the evidence doesn't show an infraction -- note how the burden of proof is now on you to prove your innocence. And maybe you weren't even the driver -- the camera can't see who's driving, so the car owner will get the ticket in each case. Some people also object to the "big brother" aspect of all of this...we're being watched by more and more cameras everywhere we go.

We're being asked to trade some privacy and a bit of our protection under the law, in exchange for improved safety. Over time, we'll find out if this turns out to be a blessing....or a curse.

Epic Battles This Fall

It's almost that time again...big battles shaping up for the fall. Democrats vs. Republicans? Tea Party vs. Progressives? NOPE... NY Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles!!

The North / South dividing line for the fanbase of the teams cuts right through the Toms River area, so we have a volatile mix of fans dispersed through our neighborhoods. The epic rivalry cuts through our area like a knife, dividing neighbor against neighbor, and sometimes even husband and wife. Riverguy can't even imagine living in a household where the spouses are in opposite camps when these teams play. Ouch!

The first contest is Week 3 of the season (9/25), with the game in Philly. The loser of this game will get a chance at revenge in Week 11 (11/20), when the Eagles travel up to face the Giants at the New Meadowlands stadium.

This year the Eagles might look better on paper, but you can throw out the records when these teams clash...it is a grudge match and anything can happen.

The area sports bars will be jumping for the games. One thing...when you're sitting near a fan from the other team, sure, give 'em a little good-natured trash talk, but let's behave better than the Democrats and Republicans!

Believe it Or Not: Downtown TR Brings Excitement

Riverguy has to just put it out there....Downtown Toms River is doing a lot to add to the quality of life around here. Some genuinely fun and exciting events have been going on in town. Riverguy has lived other places, and believe me, you won't find a small town anywhere that tries to provide as much to do and enjoy as our own Downtown Toms River.

Don't believe me? Let's see...what has gone on lately? Here is what comes to mind: the Chili and Salsa Fest, Arts and Music Fest, the NJ State Ice Cream Festival, Crusin' Downtown vintage car nights, "Wednesdays on Washington" free concerts, and the Farmers Market (Huddy Park, every Wed.). Also add the free concerts on the lawn by the library, the Food Fest (a Chamber of Commerce event), and the Wooden Boat fest (brought to us via the Seaport Society)-- and you have a great mix of all kinds of fun things to enjoy.

This fall, you'll see a new event Downtown: Harvest Fest. It will feature a scarecrow contest, food, entertainment, and more. You shouldn't miss it!

If you want to stay informed about all the the happenings in Toms River, check the Downtown Toms River website (www.downtowntomsriver.com) -- and also follow them on Facebook. Another good source of information for the whole Toms River area is Toms River Online (www.tomsriveronline.com). They also have a Facebook page.

A Divided Public Can Still Fly the Flag

Riverguy was riding around Toms River today, and he noticed that only about 20 percent of the houses had American flags flying for the 4th of July holiday. It may even have been less. That means at least 80 percent of the homes didn't have a flag.

Think back to the time right after the 9/11 attacks...those percentages were reversed. Flags were flying everywhere -- we were hurting, but we were standing strong and proud to be American.

What has happened over the last 10 years? Lots of course... and the various wars, contentious elections, and economic downturns have really hurt our relationship with each other. The public seems polarized, angry, and dug in to their political positions.

Riverguy isn't telling anyone that they're right or wrong -- we've arrived at our opinions and beliefs through bitter experience, and we claim the right to try to convince others. But...even when we're bitterly divided, can't be still show pride in being American? The flag is a symbol of our freedom, our right to confront each other (peacefully, let's hope), to express ourselves, to push for what we believe. Let's show pride in our country, our town, our way of doing things...even in our right to argue with one another....fly the flag!

Why We Need to Have a Great Summer

Hey...everybody should have an enjoyable summer during the normal course of things...that's why we live want to live along the coast -- to make the most of the beach and the ocean. This year Riverguy senses a little more urgency in most people's desire to enjoy themselves.

I think this is because a lot of us have had our head in the sand (no pun intended). I noticed a growing trend in people: they don't want to know about anything serious. They don't want to hear about the latest economic woes. Fukishima? Where was that again (reminder -- triple nuke meltdown in Japan; even the news media is glossing over it). Debt crisis? Real estate still tanked? Unemployment? Looming double-dip recession? You get the picture.

So...back to the urgency to enjoy....Most of us don't want to go around burdened with the weight of the world, but somewhere in the back of our minds, we still know things are not going so well. So the natural urge to go out and have some fun, to distract ourselves, to not focus on the world's problems. That is what helps keep us in balance.

Here's Riverguy's take on it: Go out, have the fun you crave...have the best summer you possible can. But...we will have to eventually catch up with what's going on, and face our problems. We need to especially pay attention in the fall, when it comes time to vote. Hold your elected officials accountable. Be prepared for hard times, but continue to hope for the best.

Have a great summer!

Memorial Day Parade -- Why Don't More People Show Up?

Time is passing quickly, and the American Legion - Memorial Day Parade is coming up already...Monday, May 30th. The parade kicks off at 9:30 am. It launches from the Office Lounge parking lot, and proceeds down Main Street, and then turns on to Washington Street.

Now, honestly, this isn't the biggest or best parade you'll see, but in my mind, this, along with the Veteran's Day Parade, is the most important of the year.

The parade has plenty of bands, fire trucks, old cars, and more. However,the big feature is, of course, the military vets, police, and fireman that march in the parade. These are the men and women who sacrificed their time, energy, and well-being so that we can enjoy a safe, free life.

And on Memorial Day we remember those that made the ultimate sacrifice. Many of them are in their final resting places in Europe and Asia, and some were never accounted for.

Day in and day out, we go about our business -- freely, happily, in an land of plenty. And we can do so because of the courageous people that have served for us and have kept us free. PLEASE SHOW UP AT THE PARADE -- SET ASIDE ONE HOUR TO HONOR THOSE THAT HAVE MADE YOUR GOOD LIFE POSSIBLE. At least that's my view...you may feel differently, and that's ok...you are FREE to do so.

In Defense of Bennies, Shoobies & Such

Ok...I can almost hear the chant starting now..."Bennies Go Home." Yes, it's almost that time of year again, when we "welcome" visitors from all over the tri-state area. We hate the extra traffic, the crowds, and sometimes even the looks, attitudes, and clothing of the people coming here. By mid-July, we've all lost our patience, and we can't wait to get our towns and beaches back!

Of course it's cool to be proud to be a local, but should we really tell our seasonal visitors to turn around and go back up the Parkway? First and foremost, we need their tourist dollars. Many of the businesses around here would go under if we didn't have the summer influx of visitors. And that's especially true now, with the economy being so weak. Like it or not, we need the Bennies here to keep the money flowing into our pockets.

Also, be honest....even though we complain about them, isn't it kind of fun to see all of the interesting characters that hit the beaches and boardwalk? Just sit on a bench on the Seaside boardwalk for awhile, and you'll have a great time people-watching. Remember, these "Bennies" come here because they like what we have...the beaches, the bars, the food, the boardwalk. And like it or not, they are part of what makes the whole thing work.

Atomic Dreams

Riverguy is in a bad state of mind about what's going on in Japan. It is basically now confirmed that the nuclear reactors there are impossible to control, and that radiation will be spewing into the air and water for...well, who knows how long. Even though the talking heads on TV continue to tell us that we have nothing to worry about, I'm worried.

I come from the generation that grew up with atomic energy. I remember the fear that we had as "Cold War" kids -- there would be a nuclear exchange between "us" and "them" -- and radiation would spread around the globe and eventually snuff out all life. We even practiced for such events; air raid drills, "duck and cover" drills, and stockpiling canned goods in basements all over America. Farmers were taught how to grow food even with nuclear fallout poisoning the soil.

And yet...we learned to conquer our fear of the atom, and dream of a time when we'd harness it for unlimited energy. Our technological society and growing population needed abundant power, and the nuclear plants could deliver. It was like magic -- swirling atoms giving us the power to reach for an incredible dream of unlimited advancement. And now...suddenly, the old dreams are coming back...fallout...don't drink the milk...it has radiation...keep the doors and windows closed...and now, I know that it's not just a dream, but a nightmare.

A Wave of Petty Crimes

I guess the bad economy has now pushed people into committing small crimes to get by. Have you noticed that, in the last couple of weeks we've had a bunch of thefts? $3K stolen from WaWa, gas station robberies, vinyl siding stolen, even a couple of kegs of beer heisted from a local bar/restaurant.

It's distressing, but not really surprising. Every time the economy gets bad, these sorts of crimes seem to escalate. The police can't do too much to stop it...a lot of these are "crimes of opportunity," where somebody sees something that's easy to swipe and goes for it.

The real fix for this (beyond teaching people basic values -- but that's another story) is to get this economy going again. Let's get people employed.....give 'em a paycheck so that they can dig out of debt and pay their bills. A good thing we can all do to help is to support our local businesses. Instead of buying online, go to a local store and buy what you need. Money going into our local economy will stimulate jobs, create tax revenue, and take some of the pressure off people that are living on the edge.

Below 40? Anybody Home?

Ok...this is an "age-related" post, so for some disclosure...Riverguy is older than 40.

Now, here goes: Riverguy is worried about the future. Look at what's going on: war and unrest in the Mid-East; natural disaster and reactor meltdowns in a perfect toxic storm...and the likelihood of hyper-inflation, double-dip recession, and potential financial collapse.

The sad truth is that the future is looking dim for young people growing up in this country. Their good times are about to crash and burn. And what it their reaction? Are they marching in the streets (NO..ironically that's left to the "old people" of the Tea Party). Are they politically active? Forget it...the truth is....they don't know what's happening, because they aren't paying attention. They're spending their time watching Comedy Central, Jersey Shore, playing video games, texting their friends etc.

When I go to the gym to run on the treadmill (which has a TV screen), I notice I'm the only one watching the news. I see all the younger members watching all of the mass-market fluff TV. Yeah kids, news is "boring" -- but important.

Wake up and smell the coffee....pay attention! What you don't know, can hurt you. Your future is at stake...its time for you to realize what's going on, and take part in trying to fix it. After all, for us older folks, our best years are behind us....for you under-40 people, the quality of your lives is in serious jeopardy!

Nuke Plant in Our Backyard - Should We Worry?

Riverguy can't help but think about Oyster Creek, in light of the continuing nuclear crisis now happening in Japan. Our local plant is the oldest in the country, and many folks think that fact alone is cause for worry. And here we sit, a scant 8 to 10 miles away.

I know we need to power and the jobs that the plant brings, but this would be a great time to take a second look at the safety issues of the plant. The problems in Japan will heighten public awareness, and that is a good thing. We need to hold plant officials and workers to a high degree of accountability, since our homes and very lives depend on the safe operation of the plant.

Remember some years ago when the iodine pills were passed out? I imagine most of us have lost them by now, or even if we have them, they're probably expired by now and wouldn't work anyway. Its time to once again look at our "emergency kits." Do you have one? Riverguy only know one or two people that do. This is foolish. Think about it -- with the weather patterns becoming more extreme, the continuing threat of terrorism, and god-forbid a problem at the plant -- we really should have some supplies on standby.

So...Riverguy is going to worry a little bit about all of this, and gather some emergency items. Better to be prepared. How about you?

Toms River Now

More and more, people just don't want to read "news" -- news is about what happened in the recent past-- but most often we want to know what is going on right NOW. Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking programs have made this possible, and we're getting used to real-time information.

That's why you should check out "Toms River Now, " a single web page that lists "Tweets" (Twitter messages) that contain info about Toms River, Ocean County, and the Jersey Shore. You don't have to have a Twitter account to view these messages...everything is on a regular web page: Toms River Now.

You never know what you're going to find. You see messages about current traffic tie-ups, accidents, weather, jobs, real estate, personal snippets. Note that you may see some foul language -- whatever Twitter allows can be shown here. The Jersey Shore messages are especially snarky and sexy, because many of them are about MTV's "Jersey Shore" show. So...yes, you will see some junk messages, or messages that don't make sense, but will also see the occasional post of something happening at the moment that is important. And it is fun to see what is on people's mind, even when its not ready for prime-time.

SuperMarket Thoughts....

Once a week, Riverguy and RiverLady go to do our grocery shopping at Stop and Shop on Rt. 37. Now, I'm not writing this as a commercial for S & S, but I do want to mention something that I see as a real positive there. Every time we go in, we see the same folks working there...at the bakery, the deli, the fish counter, meats, check out, customer service...etc. A lot of them have worked there for many years. Over time you get to know them, and if you are a regular customer, they get to know you. It feels good to be helped by someone you've come to know and trust. This is what helps make up a community -- knowing and trusting who you are dealing with as you go about your daily life.

Daily life has changed drastically for many of us --- we relate to each other more often by tweets, texts, and Facebook posts. In this age of instant electronic communication, its worth remembering that face-to-face interaction adds positive value, both in ways you can measure, and in some ways that you can't.

Spring Returns Soon - and So Do the Potholes

Have you noticed how bad the potholes are already this year? Looks like the rough winter has set us up for a really bad spring for potholes. Riverguy has seen a bunch of them around town, and the "patch patrols" won't be get to them for a while yet. Once the ground really starts to thaw, we're going to see a lot more potholes. Not only that...they're going to be really big...I mean some real tank traps that can rip up the front end of you car.

Drivers are going to be swerving all over the road, trying to avoid them...as if driving isn't already an adventure around here.

People need to get proactive and let each other know about potholes they see...especially those "tank traps" that can cost you thousands of dollars to get fixed. If you have a chance, you can even report the potholes using the Facebook Group called "NJ Potholes are Out of Control." Maybe by keeping our eyes out for each other we can ride out the pothole season without too much trouble.

A Year Later....

Riverguy has returned to this blog after a full year hiatus. With all kinds of other social media demanding my time, I've let the blogging lapse. Well, I intend to get going with the blog again...we'll see how I do!

The last post -- from January 2010, was about the Jersey Shore. And here we are, a year later, and the JS crew is bigger than ever. Some folks like it, and others can't stand it. Enough said.

Looking forward, there is something interesting on the horizon coming up in Toms River. The usual "Founders Day" (which takes place every June) is going away this year, and a Food Festival will take its place. This festival will happen on May 14th. Not too many details are available yet, but its hard to go wrong with a food fest...it is almost certain to be a success. Riverguy will have fun there sampling various foods, but I will also miss Founders Day. I know...it was a bit stodgy, and not super-exciting, but it did remind us of our history, and also allowed non-profit groups to give out information about their programs. I hope they still have a corner for some of these groups, and maybe have the historical society showcase a bit of local history. Its good to know about the past...and sometimes its fun, too (well, a little bit, anyway....)