Those of us who are native New Jerseyians and have traveled throughout the country have heard all of the jokes about our state. What exit off the Turnpike do you live? We, who are lucky to call the northwestern part of the state home, are fully aware of the natural beauty that surrounds us, and we are nowhere near the Turnpike! Even lifetime residents of the area can stumble upon, hidden treasures, special and unique businesses that can only be found in this great state of New Jersey. Here are two of my favorites.

· Well Sweep Herb Farm – Tucked away on a rural residential road in Warren County is a family-owned business that has been around for over 50 years! They have one of the largest collections of herbs and perennials in the country with close to 2,000 varieties. If they don’t have it, it probably does not exist

· Orchard View Lavender Farm -Think you have to go to the south of France or New Mexico to see amazing fields of lavender? Think again! Down the road from Well Sweep Herb Farm is another family- owned business, they grow both English and French lavender.

So go out there and explore, maybe you too will find some hidden treasures right here in the great state of New Jersey! Please share in the comments section below.

Did you know that June is National Great Outdoors month. It began as a week in 1998 and later expanded to the whole month in 2004. It’s meant to remind us to connect with nature and visit and appreciate all of the beautiful public lands and its resources. Many National Forests and Parks will offer free admission during this time. To help support this month, the second Saturday in June is known as National Get Outdoors Day. Want more of a reason to go outside? Below is a list of benefits of spending time in nature.

· It encourages physical activity which can contribute to weight management and general health including lowering blood pressure and improving circulation

· Provides exposure to Vitamin D which is known to help with bone health, immune function and mood

· Speaking of mood, being outside can boost one’s endorphins which are associated with feelings of well-being and happiness

· Being outside helps promote social interactions with friends, family and maybe even people you don’t know but meet on a trail or in a park.

So, go outside, breathe some fresh air and enjoy the warm, long days of June!

For many Memorial Day has become a marker for the unofficial beginning of the summer season, when many public beaches and parks open and people start “going down the shore” here in New Jersey. But let’s not forget that Memorial Day is a day of honoring and mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving our country in the United States Armed Forces. Here are some facts regarding this holiday.

· It was formerly known as Decoration Day, named that because mourners decorated the graves of those who died with flowers and flags

· The first Decoration Day was held at Arlington National Cemetery on May 30th , 1868

· Initially it was a day to honor soldiers who died during the Civil War. After the first World War the holiday was extended to include all members of the armed forces who died while serving

· Memorial Day was held on May 30th until 1971. Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act in 1968 and the change went into effect three years later

So, while you may be enjoying the day as the start of the summer season, although many Memorial Days are quite cold and raw, remember the original and true reason why the day is observed.

Have you ever heard of a perfect square year? Me, either. Well, 2025 is in fact a perfect square year! Perfect square years are defined as the square of a whole number, times tables anyone? Forty-five times forty-five or forty-five squared is 2025! I know what you are thinking…so what? Well the last time we had a square year was 1936 and the next one won’t be until 2116. Other square years were 1849, 1600 and 1225. Some believe that square years hold some kind of spiritual significance.

Here’s a list of some notable events in past square years.

· In 1936 (44 x 44), included the Bay Bridge opening in San Francisco, President Franklin Roosevelt’s reelection, and the birth of Pope Francis.

· In 1849 (43 x 43): included the California Gold Rush, the ratification of the California Constitution, and Zachary Taylor becoming the 12th U.S. president.

Time will tell what 2025 will be known for, let’s try to make it a great year since the next perfect square will occur past our lifetimes.

Since 1949, May is known as Mental Health Awareness month meant to promote mental health and reduce stigma. The color associated with mental health is green which happens to be my favorite color. This color represents hope, renewal and support.

There are three C’s of mental health used mostly in cognitive therapy

· Catching: identifying the thoughts most associated with negative emotions

· Checking: questioning the validity of the thought and considering an alternative

· Changing: replacing one’s negative emotion with a more balanced and positive one

How can you change your negative emotions?

· Reframe the thought

· Practice affirmations

· Focus on solutions

Remember to be kind to yourself and to others, this month and throughout the year.

In recent years, cold water plunging has increased in popularity. We’ve gone beyond the “Polar Bear Club”, where you’d see on the news a group of people running into the ocean for a good cause. What is it exactly? The activity is defined as submerging yourself in water that is below 60 degrees for a short period of time. It’s touted for helping to reduce stress and inflammation as well as improve circulation and better sleep. However, it is not for everybody, and you should consult with a doctor before giving it a try. Some other basic safety tips: start slowly at 30 seconds to a minute, never do it alone and always listen to your body.

Recently there was a survey of the best places in the United States to do a cold water plunge. One made it on the list and it is right in our backyard! The Delaware Water Gap, Icy River Experience in Warren County was #13 out of 100! Number 1 on the list is not very far at Brighton Beach in Brooklyn, New York. Also, #100 on the list is Lake Wallenpaupack, Deep Chill Reservoir Plunge in Pike and Wayne Counties, Pennsylvania.

Cold water plunging is definitely not for me but many swear by it. Early Spring, is the time of the year where if you want to take the plunge there are a few options nearby that are the best in the United States!

People often wonder how they can make a difference in the world; some decide to work for a non-profit organization for a cause that they are passionate about, others volunteer their time often times, to these same organizations.  Wikipedia defines volunteering as a “voluntary act of an individual or group freely giving time and labor for community service.”  By performing such acts, volunteering allows you to have a better understanding of the community that you work or live in. Exposing you to new experiences, cultures and points of view.

National Volunteer Week will be this year from April 20^th to April 26^th.  April is also known as Global Volunteer Month.  This year’s theme for National Volunteer Week is “Connecting Communities”, with the intent to show the power of volunteering in not only creating lasting relationships but in doing so strengthening the community we are a part of.

We at Family Promise of Sussex County love our volunteers and they help us in so many ways so that we can better serve our community and our mission, to secure housing stability and sustainability for those in crisis. In 2024, volunteers assisted us in carrying out our mission in many ways, such as filling dozens of backpacks with cold weather supplies for our clients, organizing the resource room which houses the many generous donations of coats, hats, socks, etc. that we receive.  As well as, enhancing the garden and landscape around our office and assisting with fundraising efforts. Their dedication and diverse contributions have greatly strengthened our community support initiatives.

Interested in becoming a volunteer?  We’ve had groups from local businesses as well as individuals wanting to serve.  Please contact us through the volunteer tab under Get Involved on our website and thank you!

As spring is my favorite season, I love April.  Yes, you can still have snow…I remember as a young child being out with my mom and seeing those large pancake like snowflakes falling from the sky, but for the most part the cold of winter is over and everything seems to be blooming.  April is typically when Easter is celebrated that talks all about rebirth…warming temperatures, flowers blooming, birds chirping…all positive right?  Well, I discovered a lot of negative, tragic occurrences which all happened in April.  Here’s a list of what I found…much of which surprised me.

• The first shots of the Revolutionary War were heard on April 19^th, 1775.  Also, The Civil War, Spanish War and WWII all started in April!
  
• The unsinkable Titanic did just that sank on April 15^th, 1912.  It just took 2 hours and 40 minutes to do so.  I believe the movie Titanic was longer than that!
  
• Lastly on April 11^th, 1970, Apollo 13 launched from Cape Kennedy in Florida only to have a catastrophic explosion 56 hours later.  Thankfully no lives were lost.
  
  

So, although I discovered quite a few negative, oftentimes tragic moments in our history that have April as its date…I still love April and all of the positive vibes and newness it brings for the rest of the year.  Hopefully I did not depress you too much…did I mention that taxes are also due in April!

Save the date, our largest fundraiser of the year Casino Night is coming up! It will be held on May 22nd starting at 5:00pm in The Conservatory at The Sussex County Fairgrounds. Since it was such a huge hit with everyone last year, we’re doing it again! To prepare everyone for the night, I thought I would go over some details on the games we will offer.

Blackjack – players compete against the dealer with the goal to try to have a hand that beats the dealer without going over 21 which is called “busting”.

Craps – is a dice game which is essentially about how you wager or bet. The Pass Line Strategy offers the best odds of winning. You place your chips on the pass line area and if the shooter rolls a 7 or 11 you win!

3 Card Poker – some say is the easiest to learn among all variations of poker. After reviewing the rules I’m unsure of that. Luckily at Casino Night, the dealers are very helpful for those who are unsure of how to play. A popular strategy for this game is to bet all hands better than Queen, Six and Four, fold with lesser value.

Texas Hold’em – aim is to have the best 5 card poker hand from any combination of the seven cards. First the players are dealt 2 cards known as “hole”, at that point you can bet or hold. Then the dealer draws 3 cards known as the “flop” and players can bet, hold or fold. Once this is completed the dealer will draw two more times with the final draw known as the “river”. The player who remains with the best hand wins!

For those, like me, who are slightly intimidated by these games, we will have Roulette as well as Slot Machines. DJ Ray Sikora will be back with karaoke (for those brave enough) and who knows…last year the festivities ended with an impromptu conga line so you never know! Come and enjoy the fun for tickets or more information look for the Casino Night tab under Get Involved on our website. Hope to see you there!