Tuesday, April 24, 2012
A New York Times article explores the era of the $250 baseball bat.
Have you bought a baseball glove for your Little Leaguer lately? Did you pay more than $100 for it? How about a $250 bat? A New York Times story headlined "Big Price Tags Attached to Even the Littlest Leagues," looks at the big business of equipping youngsters for participation in youth baseball and softball leagues, quoting those costs and more. "A batting helmet protects tiny heads for $39.99," the Times reports. "A pair of Nike Jordan Black Cat cleats will make your child fast and fashionable at $51.99 until he or she outgrows them." So what do you think? Has the cost of bats and gloves taken our kids too far from the simpler days of sandlot and playground ballgames? Or have you had better luck finding more modestly priced equipment …
Thursday, April 19, 2012
The program offers fugitives wanted for non-violent crimes a chance to surrender in a neutral location. Those who do will receive more favorable consideration from the court.
- OPINION
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Thursday, April 19
To the Editor: Fugitives hiding from the law will soon have the opportunity to surrender safely at a neutral location in Atlantic City, take responsibility for their offenses and receive favorable consideration from the court. Fugitive Safe Surrender–New Jersey Southern Region offers those wanted on New Jersey warrants for non-violent offenses a final opportunity to resolve their matters. The previous Fugitive Safe Surrenders events in New Jersey allowed more than 10,000 people to stop running from the law. Fugitive Safe Surrender will operate on Saturday, April 21 and Monday, April 23 through Wednesday, April 25 at Grace Assembly of God Church, 201 Atlantic Ave., Atlantic City. Individuals can turn themselves in at the church from 9:00 …
Thursday, April 5, 2012
The Fightin' Phils return to Philadelphia today for their home opener. Can the Phillies win the World Series? Vote in our poll.
- OPINION
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Thursday, April 5
Yes, folks, Phillies baseball is back. The Fightin' Phils play their home opener today against the Miami Marlins. It's shaping up to be an interesting start. Charlie Manuel shook up the batting order for the preseason—something many fans wished he had tried during last year's playoffs. Chase Utley starts on the disabled list for the second year, and this time he's joined by Ryan Howard. Prognosticators are mixed: Some say the Phillies, who have been atop the National League East for years, are the team to beat in the division. Others take a less rosy view of the season. But we want to know what you think. Will the Phillies go all the way and recapture World Series glory this year? Vote in our poll and leave your season predictions in the …
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
An editor's personal journey.
This story is not mine to own. It could belong to you. It could belong to your sister, your friend, your neighbor, the waitress at Jersey Boys, the bank president, the school principal, the police officer directing traffic. In New Jersey, the story belongs to all of us. The findings of a federal study released last week show that one in 49 children, and one in 29 boys, are diagnosed with autism in New Jersey. Nationally, one in 88 children are diagnosed annually. Autism is a disease that gives itself freely and without prejudice. There is no way to protect your child from it; no diet or vaccine that will prevent it. It is, as experts will tell you, pervasive. Autism has been an unwanted guest in my house for 11 years. It has attached …
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Facing the biggest "wrecking ball" of his life, my brother believes faith will be rewarded. Bruce Springsteen told him so.
“For the ones who had a notion, A notion deep inside, That it ain't no sin to be glad you're alive.” I remember a time, when I was a little girl, that my brother Mark was very sick. Mark was my first brother, and at the time the youngest in the family. We were born one-two-three, the tag team of myself and Gina born a year apart, and Mark coming a few years later. So at the time I’m remembering, he was about three or four, and I was in first or second grade. I don’t remember the details, or maybe I never knew them. I just remember getting off the bus from St. Patrick’s and rushing into the house to share my day. My mom, in a sharp voice, told me to hush. My brother was in her bedroom, sick, and Gina and I would have to be quiet that day. I…
Saturday, March 24, 2012
A rabbit can mean a 10-year commitment, and shouldn't be a hastily decided Easter gift.
- OPINION
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Saturday, March 24
With Easter quickly approaching, many families seek the perfect gift to give their loved ones and children. An appealing option always seems to be a pet rabbit—what better way to celebrate the Easter Bunny than a fluffy friend of your very own? Unfortunately, many times the decision to purchase a rabbit is done in haste and new owners realize quickly these animals (whose lifespan is generally six to ten years) take more care and attention than most new owners are willing to give. It is estimated that the amount of rabbits abandoned at shelters greatly increases following the Easter holiday. This ends up leading to an influx of rabbits being neglected, improperly cared for, left at animal shelters, or, worst of all—let out into the wild, an…
Monday, March 19, 2012
A survey praises the state's laws on open records, campaign finance disclosures and public integrity.
A new study ranks New Jersey tops in the nation for its procedures for uncovering corruption. In a report released Monday, the Center for Public Integrity rated all 50 states in terms of their laws for public records access, requiring reports of campaign donations, accountability of all three branches of government, state budget transparency, civil service procedures, purchasing procedures, lobbyist disclosure, audits, pension fund management, ethics bodies, insurance regulation and redistricting. "Keep in mind we're not measuring cases of corruption, but the systems in place to prevent it, and encourage openness and transparency in government," said Gordon Witkin, CPI's managing editor. The report is likely a surprise for many state …
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Women approve of President Obama in greater numbers than men. What do you think?
- GOVERNMENT
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Wednesday, March 14
The president is feeling the love in New Jersey with a 51 percent approval rating, according to Fairleigh Dickinson University’s latest PublicMind poll. Women in the state are among Obama’s biggest supporters, according to the poll. Read the full release here, and take our poll to tell us what you think of Obama. The president’s approval is up in New Jersey, and the “wrong direction” number is down. According the latest poll by Fairleigh Dickinson University’s PublicMind, 51% of New Jersey voters say they approve of the way the president is handling his job, while 42% percent disapprove, a significant improvement from the president’s lukewarm 46%-45% approval in January. Men, in fact, are more likely to disapprove of the president (49%) …
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Dreams deferred don't have to die. They just might need a new coat of paint—just ask any third-grader .... or Abraham Lincoln.
On Presidents Day, we took my daughter Libby and her best friend Katie to do a whirlwind Lincoln tour of Washington, D.C. The girls are both third-graders at Green-Fields, and Libby has recently become enamored of our 16th president. Apparently she and her classmates in Mrs. Elliot’s class have been studying Honest Abe, who has now been deemed as “the greatest president who ever lived” by my daughter. “Were you alive when Lincoln was president?” she asked me, excited about the possibility. She seemed a bit disappointed when I pointed out Lincoln was president in the 1800s and I didn’t show up until a century later. But her question depressed me just as much as my answer did her. My birthday was fast approaching, and I was feeling pretty …
Monday, February 27, 2012
Just when you thought it was safe to return to business as usual, February throws another holiday at you.
I know the holiday season officially ended sometime back in January. By now it should be business as usual. So, if that’s the case, why does it seem like this month has brought one offbeat holiday after another? Honestly, I don’t think I’ll ever get the confetti out of my hair. We started off this February with Groundhog Day, the only holiday dedicated to a rodent. (You would think lab mice would be protesting, but I guess with all the experimental testing of mascara and such, they have more important things on their mind.) Punxsutawney Phil apparently saw his shadow this year, meaning we'll have six more months of winter. Which, in 2012, looks an awful lot like spring. The following weekend brought Super Bowl Sunday, with the cheering of …
Tim Zatzariny Jr.
8:58 am on Thursday, April 26, 2012
I recently spent $45 for baseball cleats for my 7-year-old son, which he'll probably outgrow by next season. more ›