2026 Blog Posts

New Jersey is now the 5th most expensive place to rent in the country, it previously was ranked 7th…thus heading in the wrong direction. This is according to the 2026 Out of Reach data report (published by the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey (the Network). The report also states that, “Full-time workers need to earn $43.89 per hour to afford a modest, two-bedroom home at Fair Market Rent in New Jersey. The average renter in the Garden State earns $24.92 per hour.”

This of course does not include utilities, food, clothing and other basic necessities and we all know those costs have gone up in recent years. That is why we need to stand together as a community to empower those experiencing a housing crisis. It could be any one of us that unexpectedly has an illness, death of a partner, loss of job, or loss of home from fire, flooding or other natural disasters. These unpredictable and unplanned life events often are the reasons people in our community reach out asking for help.

We’ve seen an uptick in people looking for assistance. As quickly as we fill our food shelf with non-perishables and cabinet with basic toiletries like toothpaste and deodorant…it needs to be replenished. I recently placed two stuffed teddy bears in the cabinet within the hour a little girl came in and asked if she could have one…of course she could. It’s a tiny gesture but meant so much to her and was unexpected to her in a good way.

We always gladly accept donations of non-perishable foods and full size toiletries. Won’t you help?

Recently, I was reading the Manager’s Blog on the Newton, NJ website. I noticed a pattern of Town Manager, Tom Russo, talking about Morris Lake and how many inches it is below the top of the spillway?! Why is Morris Lake so important, he doesn’t mention any other lake. Is it at risk of flooding? So, I searched Morris Lake and discovered that it is the Newton Reservoir…who knew.

The lake is located about 10 miles away off of Glen Road in Sparta, NJ. It has served as the primary drinking water source for the Town of Newton since 1895! I’m always amazed to think how the water travels all the way from the reservoir to the municipality(ies) it serves. I was remembering how the reservoir on the border of Parsippany and Boonton supplies Jersey City and even parts of Hoboken. You can see the dam on Route 46 in Parsippany.

While on my “reservoir online search” it prompted me for, “what is the largest reservoir in New Jersey”. Well, of course I was interested and the largest reservoir is Round Valley in Hunterdon County. At capacity it can hold 55 billion gallons of water! With that much water Round Valley is the water source for millions of residents in Central New Jersey.

I also learned that some say Round Valley is cursed…which I’ll save for another day and another blog. Stay tuned and who knew…

I was recently on a webinar about donor cultivation and when the subject of how to communicate with different segments of the population came up one of the moderators said, “Gen X is the forgotten generation.” Say what?! As a Gen X myself and admittingly I quickly searched the ages for Gen X…because I too, momentarily forgot that I was Gen X!

Gen X is defined as being born between 1965-1980, sandwiched between the Baby Boomers and Millennials…whose populations are greater…thus forgotten. Often advertisers and the media when discussing trends will focus on Baby Boomers and Millennials – skipping over the “middle child” generation.

Others have a different take on the forgotten generation. Speaking directly to Gen Xers from an online site called Upworthy.

1. “You are the most independent and self-sufficient generation…there is literally nothing I can teach you.” Well, we are also known as the “latch-key” kids, who had to figure “stuff out”, entertain ourselves without social media, etc. Cell phones didn’t even exist!

2. “Even if I did have something to tell you, you wouldn’t care.” Also, known as the “whatever” generation. Well, I care now but as a child my mom bought me a collection of books with one being about a little boy Pierre who said I don’t care about everything…until he got eaten by a lion!

3. “The rest of us are all terrified of you if the apocalypse ever happens…some how you’ll know what to do.” True that!

Now that I got your attention, let me explain. You know how many sellers use the term previously owned vs. used cars…it just sounds nicer. Well pre-loved is another way to say clothes that someone else has owned. While I’ve been an avid thrifter for decades, retailers are now getting into the game. In addition to selling new merchandise, they are also selling pre-loved clothing. Major retailers like H&M, Banana Republic, Nordstrom and Patagonia to name a few.

Unlike traditional retail, the secondhand market is booming. According to an NBC News post, transactions are up 22% over last year adding that secondhand apparel in the U.S. has grown into an approximately $56 billion market, doubling from 2020 to 2025!

Why? You may ask…well it appears to be a win-win-win proposition.

· It’s better for the environment, it cuts down on carbon emissions and landfill waste

· It offers better value and variety to consumers

· It helps drive the much coveted (for their potential longevity) younger customers who have embraced the thrifting trend

So if you have not already…go out and get some pre-loved!

Oftentimes you are asked whether you are a morning or a night person. I usually comment that I am a 2-3 in the afternoon kind of person as I don’t like waking up early or staying up late into the night. Recently the idea of permanent daylight savings time has entered our national conversation. It’s not the first time it has come up and in fact in the 1970’s it was unsuccessfully trialed as a way to save energy.

The House recently passed the Sunshine Protection Act to make daylight savings time permanent. The legislation would still need Senate approval to become law and currently Hawaii and Arizona don’t change their clocks twice a year anyway! Proponents of the act say that the extension of daylight after school would benefit outdoor activities and businesses while others have concerns with children going to school in utter darkness. As someone who left for work in the dark and came home in the dark – it was not fun.

Others say if you are going to make such a drastic change then make standard time permanent. There is increasing evidence that being exposed to daylight first thing in the morning is very beneficial to your physical and mental wellbeing.

So, where do you stand on this issue? Let us know in the comments section below.

Even though I could never watch horror films…even the commercials on TV can scare me, I knew about The Blairstown Diner being featured in the original Friday the 13th Movie back in 1979.

But have you heard that a Friday the 13th prequel called Crystal Lake just finished wrapping up in Warren County last year. When released, it will be an 8-episode series that will premiere on Peacock on October 15, 2026. The series will focus on the mother of Jason Voorhees. Wonder if the creators were inspired by a town in New Jersey not in Warren but in Camden County with the name Voorhees? There’s also Voorhees High School in the adjoining county of Hunterdon.

If you dare enough to binge watch this scary series…keep on eye out for familiar scenes as this prequel came back to film in Warren County including at a Boy Scout camp called Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco located in Hardwick Township.

Recently a bi-partisan bill, 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, passed and was made into law. It contains over 40 provisions to help increase the overall supply of housing in the country in an attempt to help make it more affordable. Below from, Bi-Partisan Policy Center, are some key categories that this landmark bill addresses.

Investor Restrictions: Restricts large institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes, with limited exceptions for build-to-rent properties

Supply & Innovation: Creates competitive grant programs for local governments to implement zoning reforms and pre-approved housing designs

While this new law is a huge step forward in housing reform, there are still some key factors that are up to state and local government to implement around land use and zoning, also how these national provisions are applied will determine their ultimate impact.

Supporters of the law have touted it as the most comprehensive housing reform in at least three decades and see it as a possible beginning of a national focus by our legislators to try to tackle the issue of housing affordability. Let’s hope so.

The Newton Theatre has had a long and varied history. Starting out in 1924 the stadium type design was capable of seating 1,000 patrons. From History of Newton, the “Colonial Style” design by Reilly & Hall of New York used load-bearing columns consisting of 50 tons of steel supplied by the Submarine Boat Corporation of Newark, making the building of “the safest type known to modern engineering science.”

I remember going to The Newton Theatre in the early 2000’s to see Slumdog Millionaire. Instead of seeing the typical movie previews before the showing, there was an individual playing the piano in the very front of the theatre which I thought was very cool and far more interesting.

Today it is a performing arts theater with 600 seats. It is part of the Skyland Performing Arts Center (SkyPAC) a 501(c) (3) corporation dedicated to providing programs that educate, entertain and inspire all audiences regardless of ethnicity, age or income level.

What are some of your memories of The Newton Theatre, please tell us in the comments section below.

Did you know every year on July 27th National New Jersey Day is celebrated?! Me either…The day is meant to commemorate New Jersey as the third state to ratify the U.S. Constitution and join the Union. While on a state level, June 24th marks the date in 1664 when the first royal grant established the English Colony according to Calendar.com.

So, whether you celebrate on June 24th or July 27th below are some uniquely “Jersey” things to do from Visit NJ.org:

· Tour a 65-Foot Pachyderm! A National Historic Landmark, Lucy the Elephant in Margate welcomes you inside for this one-of-a-kind tour. Fun Fact: July 2021 marked Lucy’s 140th birthday!

· Visit the Doo-Wop Experience Museum in The Wildwoods and stroll the streets to check out all the fabulously funky mid-century architecture.

· Cruise the Camden Waterfront! Its pretty promenade along the Delaware River invites a leisurely stroll. While there check out the Adventure Aquarium or board the Battleship New Jersey.

What do you like to do that is uniquely “Jersey” tell us in the comments section below.