Park Golf…have you heard of it? Me either. Well, the Japanese have been doing park golf since the early 1980’s! They even have their own Japan Park Golf Association overseeing this sport. Last May, the Great Gorge Golf Club in Vernon, NJ opened its own park golf course called 1Club. It’s the first and may still be the only official park golf course in the state.

What is park golf? Some call it the “pickleball of golf”. It is a simplified version of golf with only one club, one ball and a larger cup. The club is shorter than a traditional golf club, some say similar to a croquet mallet. It’s suitable for all ages and no skills or experience is required, they even have music playing in the background! 1Club provides you with the equipment, so just book a tee time and have fun.

This year Great Gorge has graciously donated a 1Club foursome for our Casino Night. It will be one of many prizes that attendees will have the chance to win, last year over $9,000 of prizes were handed out. It’s not too late to join us, please visit https://familypromisesussex.org/index.php/casino-night/ for more information and to buy tickets.

Well May typically is supposed to be a month of nice days and warmer temperatures (we’ll see) when people spend more time outdoors. To coincide with this the American Health Association in 2007 introduced May as National Walking Month.

Those who are avid readers of this blog (you know who you are), are aware that I have written several blogs on the topic of walking. I am an avid walker, if the weather is tolerable, I will use my lunch break to take a 30 minute walk. Not a walker? As part of national walking month there is a #Try20 Challenge, the goal being to promote a 20 minute daily walk to see health benefits. Some of the benefits are: helps lower blood pressure, aids in weight management, strengthens muscles and increases mental well being.

I also enjoy a good list of fun facts. National Today had a list of walking facts here a few that caught my attention.

· Walking is the most popular exercise in the United States

· The average person walks 65,000 miles in their lifetime. This is equivalent to three times around the world!

· Walking engages 200 muscles

So, get out there and take a walk or two this month.

Previously, veteran services in our state were part of the NJ Department of Military and Veteran Affairs (DMAVA). Starting in January 2026, the Department of Veteran Affairs officially separated from DMAVA, forming the NJ Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA).  Its mission is to deliver exceptional services, support and advocacy for Garden State veterans, families, care givers and survivors.  DVA honors those who have served and the people who love them by delivering access to earned benefits, programs and resources. 

Sen. Joe Vitale, D-19^th District who was a prime bill sponsor which established this new standalone department stated, “New Jersey’s veterans deserve nothing less than a government fully committed to their well-being because of all that they sacrificed serving our nation. Veterans need to know their voices are being heard and their needs prioritized, (this separation) reflects that commitment by giving them a dedicated seat at the table and a department that works only for them.” 

We at Family Promise of Sussex County could not agree more.  Last year our agency served 46 local veteran households.  On July 18^th we will be holding our third annual Service Strong, veteran resources and job fair.  Please call our office if you are interested in participating.
Contact Vicki at vsadiwnyk@familypromisesussex.org or call 973-579-1180 ext. 1034

In 2025, Newton became one of 191 New Jersey towns with the distinction of being deemed Sustainable Jersey certified. The town was classified as bronze level in sustainability. So, what does this all mean? Well, there is a non-profit called Sustainable Jersey, who received their 501(c3) status in 2011. Sustainable Jersey’s mission is to: empower New Jersey communities to build a better world for future generations with the tools, training and financial incentives necessary to pursue critical sustainability initiatives.

So what makes a sustainable community? As their website states, “A sustainable community is one that can continue to provide what people need and value—now and for generations to come. That means caring for the natural environment that sustains us, supporting strong and resilient local economies, and making thoughtful choices about priorities, trade-offs, and impacts rather than allowing decisions to be shaped only by power or circumstance.”

Sustainable Jersey also defines three pillars of sustainability.

· Environment – protecting our natural resources, most of what we think of when we talk about sustainability

· Economy – allows for long term growth in a community / town

· Equity – equitable access to resources and everyone having a voice in the decision making

All of these pillars and actions result in a long term healthy community for many generations to come. Let’s all do our part in maintaining and growing Newton’s sustainability status as well as other communities we call home.