newjerseynewsroom.com

Hike the N.J. Appalachian Trail and celebrate a milestone

BY MICHELE S. BYERS

THE STATE WE'RE IN

COMMENTARY

The Appalachian Trail, the grand-daddy of American hiking trails, turned 75 on Aug. 14. Unlike many people, you can honestly say this venerable footpath is not just getting older, it’s getting better!

Known by hikers as the “AT,” the trail runs for about 2,160 miles through 14 states: from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. The el...

Why Sen. Bob Menendez will win in November

BY LOUIS GREENWALD

COMMENTARY

When U.S. Senator Bob Menendez wins November's election, it won't be because his opponent, Joe Kyrillos, didn’t knock on enough doors, shake enough hands, go to enough county fairs, or air enough TV ads. It will be because Bob Menendez has been a tireless fighter on behalf of New Jersey's middle-class, while his opponent has sided with millionaires and billionaires ins...

Spencer stumps for N.J. pet seat belt law

BY GINA G. SCALA

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

To be a true New Jerseyan is to have a sense of humor second to none; it helps deflect being the butt of jokes. In some instances, the Garden State invites those jokes.

Almost from the time New Jersey announced it would enforce an age-old statute requiring pet owners to seat belt their furry friends under the “Click it or Ticket It” program, the jokes have been en...

New austerity creates impetus for local action

BY HEATHER TAYLOR

THE CITIZENS CAMPAIGN

COMMENTARY

The recent report issued by the State Budget Crisis Task Force forcefully concludes that our state budget difficulties are driven by long-term structural factors; these difficulties will not go away when the economy improves as austerity becomes the “new normal.”

The Task Force, co-chaired by former Federal Reserve Chairman, Paul Volker and former New...

Pay off those student loans or no social security!

BY PAM LOBLEY

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

NOW THAT’S FUNNY

A number of Social Security recipients have had their checks reduced by the government because they still owe money from their student loans.

People, if you haven’t repaid your student loans by the time you’ve retired and are receiving social security, well, maybe you borrowed too much.

According to Smartmoney.com, about 115,000 seniors have had their...

Half of reported N.J. gang members under 15 years old

BY ADELE SAMMARCO

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Police say nearly 35,000 gang members operate in the Garden State and nearly half are children under the age of 15.

Law enforcement experts say it is a growing problem and as widespread from the city streets Newark and Camden to the sandy shores of Long Branch and Seaside Heights.

The problem, police say, is that they are branching-out, recruiting younger member...

Apple iOS 6 may leave iPhone users vulnerable to hackers

BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

While a lot of people may be gearing up for the upcoming release of the iPhone 5, a technology blog is warning Apple that operating system iOS 6 may contain a flaw.

The tech blog is saying that a security problem in the iOS system may make users vulnerable to receiving texts from hackers.

According to the pod2g blog, an optional code known as User Data Header at the be...

N.J. kayaker 'Shark Tony' made big catch near Ocean City beach

BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

As Shark Week comes to a close, a kayaker known as Tony "Shark Tony" Cutugno reeled in the catch of the summer last week.

Most nights Shark Tony takes his kayak into the ocean with a bucket of chum at dusk and manages to catch a few small sand sharks.

But last Wednesday, Digital Journal  reports that Cutugno hauled in a 7-foot sand tiger shark about 200 yards off-s...

Historical novel about Sicily sponsored by Casa Belvedere breaks stereotypes

BY ADELE SAMMARCO

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Looking for positive Italian role-models in today's society, rather than turning to Snooki, the Housewives of New Jersey and the Mob Wives?

Lest we forget the contributions of Enrico Fermi, Michelangelo and Leonardo DaVinci, today we have Nicole Polizzi, a pint-size, trash-talker who has gained international fame for boozing it up and getting slovenly drunk whi...

'ParaNorman' movie review, trailer: The walking dead are real charmers

BY JOE TYRRELL

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

MOVIE REVIEW

Like many communities, Blithe Hollow happily capitalizes on its history without studying it too closely.

New England colonial witchcraft provides cute names for modern Main Street businesses, and when you’ve got legends, who needs facts?

Norman Babcock, the unintentionally Goth hero of “ParaNorman,” doesn’t have a choice. Local lore is all around him, i...