JOURNEYC ommunityMARCH 2013 | ISSUE III13 | PUBLISHED BY: YOURCOMMUNITYINSIDER.COM | FREE FOR YOU

THETHE BEST BEST COMMUNITY PAPER IN MORRIS COUNTYCOMMUNITY PAPER IN MORRIS COUNTY

Save The FlowersSave The FlowersPick Us InsteadPick Us Instead

********ECR

WSSED

DM

****

Postal Custom

er

Welcome SpringDust Off Your RunningShoes

Help OutVolunteeringOpportunities inMorris County

Spring Cleaning?Try Replacing TheToxic Products With These NaturalAlternatives

Page 7 Page 5

Who Are You?Ponder This

Page 7

Page 4

Page 55

Can YouGuessOur Book?

PRSR

TU

.S. POSTAG

EPAID

PATERSO

N, N

JPER

MIT # 268

ECR

WSS

Now that it’s fi nally Spring, there’s tons of ways you could take advan-tage of these next couple of months.

Every Spring we’re reminded of just how exciting the world around us can be as WE come out of winter hibernation. I say “WE” because the winter months are traditionally a time we keep indoors just trying to stay warm. Especially during January and February. Now’s the time to go out and reacquaint yourself with your environment and we’ve got a couple of ideas to help you do just that!

Idea # 1: Explore One Of The Many Morris County Parks

Morris County is decorated with beautiful parks throughout. two of which that come to mind are the Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center located in Chester Township and Watnong Gardens hidden away in Morris Plains. These two gems with get you in the spirit to explore more! You could fi nd the best parks throughout Morris County by visit-ing the Morris County NJ Park Commission’s website MorrisParks.net.

Idea # 2: Take Up A Sport

Taking up a sport is one of the best ways to wash away the winter blues quick! Take up a spring sport like Tennis or Soccer or become your child’s (or grandchildren’s) greatest fan as you enroll them in a local league. The best way to learn about local activities is to go to your local towns website. Make sure you check out the websites of the towns surrounding yours also! You never know what might be just a stone’s throw away.

Idea # 3: Clean Out The House

It’s time to fi nally attack that untidy area in your humble abode or do the repairs you’ve been meaning to get too! Sunny warm Sunday’s are perfect for home projects. Just make sure you have the proper tools and safety equipment for the job.

Idea # 4: Volunteer

Stop feeling guilty about staying indoors for the winter. redeem yourself by picking a cause that’s dear to your heart and volunteer at one of your local community organizations. There’s an organization for nearly every cause!

Idea # 5: Join A Group

This is an especially great idea if you’re single and looking to mingle or if you’d just like to fl ock your feathers with similar birds. Web-site’s like Meetup.com or Facebook.com allow for easy access to groups of all special interests.

There’s 5 great idea’s to get you started on a fun spring. You have no more excuses! Get out there and enjoy yourself!

It ‘s Finally Spring!

2 COMMUNITY JOURNEY

ISSUE III13 - Montville / Boonton

ADVERTISE WITH US - REACH YOUR LOCAL MARKET AND STAY ON BUDGET - CALL TODAY 800-773-4566ADVERTISE WITH US - REACH YOUR LOCAL MARKET AND STAY ON BUDGET - CALL TODAY 800-773-4566

Things You May Have Missed!

These are some of the recent events that took place in

your community.

Did you miss them?

`Murder In Green Meadows`Great Backyard Bird Count - Family Activity

32nd Annual Black Maria Film FestivalWestin Bridal Show

Morristown CraftMarket 2013 DeadlineDe-Stress Fest

Chamber Music Series Featuring Frank Pavese and Alan Weinstein

The Minstrel Acoustic Concert Series with Butch Ross & Mandeville & Richards

Boonton Main Street Winter CarnivalSwingin’ Tern Dances

Sugarloaf Crafts FestivalChilly Cook Off!

St. Patrick’s Day ParadeNew York Voices

Beatlemania AgainMichael Smith and Anne Hills

Don`t Miss Future Events, Sign Up to Our Weekly Newsletter

atYourCommunityInsider.com

Stay `In The Loop` of What is Going on Around You!

Many Events Are Free

You Will Always Find Something Fun

For You and the

Whole Family

Do you have an upcoming localcommunity event you would liketo have appear on our calendar?

Use the simple Event Submission form to get your event listed.

JOURNEYC ommunityPublisherYour Community Insider1 Orient WaySuite F #153Rutherford, NJ 07070www.yourcommunityinsider.cominfo@yourcommunityindier.com800-773-4566

Local EventsIf you would like to have your community event published in an upcoming issue of Community Journey, please visit the EVENTS section on our website and com-plete the Event Submission form.

We welcome all submissions for FREE or non-profi t events in the Morris County NJ area only. If you have a paid, non-fundraising event which you would like to have appear in this paper, please contact our Advertising Department for low cost advertising options.

ContributionsIf you would like to submit an article for inclusion in an upcoming issue, please contact us directly by phone at 800-773-4566.

AdvertisingFor Advertising opportunities in upcoming issues, contact on of our Advertising Specialists.

sales@yourcommunityinsider.com 800-773-4566

DisclaimerThe views expressed in the articles presented in this paper are those of the Authors. They are not the views of the publisher. The publisher is not responsible for the opinions, statements or remarks made by the Authors.

Please forward all comment to:info@yourcommunityinsider.com

We’re Evolving!

Your Community Insider is becoming the primary central hub for Morris County. We’ve added more functionality and helpful tools on our website, which you could use right now, and we have lots more in the works!

The newest tool we have is our Local Gas Prices Map, which could be accessed by clicking the button in the right hand column on our homepage ( YourCommunityInsider.com ). The button is discreetly labeled “Find The Lowest Local Gas Prices >>” so as not to attract suspecting eyes. We’re letting you in on the secret, because... well... we kind of like you.

Another thing you’ve probably noticed is that we have started allowing merchants to buy space in our community paper and on our website. We assure you we’re staying true to our goal of providing the best content to the Morris County com-munity. Helping you fi nd the greatest deals for goods and services you’re in need of is certainly a big part of that, however, we’re not asking you to support the merchants who are looking for your business just because they support the local com-munity. We ask you to support them because we know they will treat you well and help your local economy.

By the way, if you haven’t signed up to our weekly email newsletter then you’re LATE! But that’s ok...just head over to YourCommunityInsider.com and sign up right now. With Spring fi nally here, there’s tons of fun activities and events going on throughout Morris County. We keep you ‘in the loop’ of all that’s happening in the community around you on a weekly basis so you can fi nd the best activities for you and your family to enjoy. We want to be sure you don’t miss a thing!

Until next time... All the BEST!

The YCI Team

FROM THE EDITOR COMMUNITYAMBASSADORS

WANTED

We know that no one knows this com-munity better than it’s residents. You eat at your favorite restaurants, shop your favorite local shops and have those special places and events you love to attend.

We also know that the Morris County NJ area is packed full with many talented photographers, writers and more. So we here at Community Journey would like to invite you to submit content to us as a Community Ambassador. Be it Morris-town, Boonton, Montville or any of the beautiful towns within this area, we wel-come you as a blogger, amateur reporter, or photographer to show us/tell us about the community through your eyes. Stop by the website or give us a call for info.

FACEBOOK.COM/YourCommunityInsider

3COMMUNITY JOURNEY

ISSUE III13 - Montville / Boonton

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK - FACEBOOK.COM/YOURCOMMUNITYINSIDERLIKE US ON FACEBOOK - FACEBOOK.COM/YOURCOMMUNITYINSIDER

HEROES AMONG USBoonton Teen Receives Car After Beating CancerNow a cancer survivor for 25 years, Peter Spina decided to give a gift in appreciation of his gift of life and as the owner of Lincoln of Wayne, Spina, 65, gave Boonton Township resident Tyler Schicke a 2011 Mercury Mariner on February 21st.

When Spina fi rst met Tyler a decade ago, the boy was a sick boy in a hospital bed entering leukemia remission. On that day Spina promised Tyler that when he made it to his 17th birthday; he’d give him a car.

Spina was diagnosed with leukemia when he was 39 and the doctors gave him a 30-percent chance to live. With a wife and two sons to support, those odds were not comforting. After a particularly grueling treatment, Spina’s nurse opened up to him and told him that she had survived leukemia eight years prior. She inspired him.

“If this person could do it, I could do it,” Spina said to NJ.com.

Eventually Spina became a survivor himself. When he heard that young Tyler was suffering from the same disease, he felt compelled to help. The two met and before they parted Spina made his promise. Over the years Spina checked in with Tyler and his family and learned that Tyler survived.

When he fi nally reached driving age on February 16th and passed his driving test two days later, Tyler received his long-awaited present.

“I still kind of can’t believe that he actually came through with what he said he was going to do,” the 17-year-old said to NJ.com.

Spina hopes Tyler will continue the cycle of goodwill and help out another leukemia survivor in the future.

How To Spring Clean A Negative Energy...By Authentic-Woman.net

I woke up this morning to the tiny sounds of a bird whisper. Nothing grand, mind you, but, there was music in the air, just the same. When I peered out of my bedroom window, I saw a glare from an orange sun and a ground of melting snow. Spring, although quite a ways away, will be making itself known in due time. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but, I’m looking forward to doing some Spring cleaning!

Recently, I came across an article I’d writ-ten in 2006 where I shared with baby boom-ers 5 ways they could get back to enjoying the 2nd phase of their lives. Sometimes as we age, we tend to think we’re over the hill, unproductive and of very little use to soci-ety and to our families. Around the time I wrote this article, I was very hands on with my patients, many of whom were seniors. The article was a piggyback on what I’d encountered on a daily basis with people of a certain age: anger, sadness, hopelessness, dis-interest and apathy It seemed many had just given up.

In this piece, I encouraged seniors living life on their own to enjoy the remainder of their lives by doing certain positive things; exercise, establishing friendships, healthy eating habits, and travel, if physically able to do so.

I found that the article, written specifi cally for a Baby Boomer Magazine target market, had been so taken out of context and belit-tled by this writer on s/he blog that even the free image accompanying the article and provided by the magazine had not escaped the ire of this writer. Because I’m human and is vulnerable to assault verbal & writ-ten, my fi rst reaction was to retaliate! Use that comment button like a woman aban-doned at the altar by her lover!

You guys want to know what I did? Abso-lutely nothing-Nada. I didn’t use my voice to fi ght back. I didn’t use my tongue to form weapons of mass destruction to land on his parade. I simply wouldn’t invite negative energy into my positive space. As a woman and activist, believe me when I say” Words are my weapons.” They have served me well over the years as I have used my voice successfully to serve others. The journey to living an authentic life doesn’t get any eas-ier just because we’ve set out on a different path. In fact, it sometimes gets very diffi cult and feel combative when faced with oppos-ing forces of negatives. My advice to you if ever faced with such a situation is, don’t despair. It’s when someone tries to ring you down, that you know you’re on the right track! Your work is out there taking center stage and making a difference.

I hope the coming of Spring will not only make us pause to listen to the sounds of birds chirping, stop to sniff the fragrance of a gorgeous fl ower or capture the beauty of a rising sun : I hope it will motivate those of us with dark clouds of negative energy adding fuel of competitiveness, greed, inse-curities and jealousies to our souls, to take a brush of goodwill and compassion for humanity and simply wash that negative grit & grim part of you away.

Rinse yourself off with the positive energy hovering about, waiting patiently for your Spring cleansing to begin…

Original Article Featured on: www.authentic-woman.net

Get Rid of Ants Forever With 5 Powerful Natural Ant RepellentsBy Lance Pierce

Ants can be very annoying pests, they are not easy to get rid of, are pretty resilient and there are so many of them. But do not worry, there are some easy ways to get rid of them without using chemicals. Here are fi ve natural ant repellent that won’t put you in danger form using toxic products.

1. Vinegar:Vinegar is such a powerful nat-ural ant repellent, it will cause those pesky critters to run away from wherever you put it. If ants are coming inside your house, spray some around the doors or windows. They won’t ever try to go inside your house with the odor of vinegar. You can also spray some on their nests, they won’t stay there for long you can be sure about that.

2. Black pepper is another very powerful ant repellent, because they don’t like it. If you sprinkle some pepper around your house and near ant nests, they won’t come near your house and move away. Just sprin-kle some until they are completely gone from your garden or lawn.

3. Cayenne pepper is similar to black pep-per, ants just avoid it because of the strong smell. So again spray some around where you don’t want to fi nd ants and near their colonies. They will run away in no time.

4. Cinnamon is another natural ant repellent that you can use. It has a similar effect to the different peppers. You can buy it in bulk for pretty cheap and sprinkle it everywhere you don’t want ants. It is a lot cheaper than getting chemicals and very effective. It won’t kill them, but they will not bother you again.

5. Boiling water is a bit more brutal method to get rid of those ants, but usually works pretty well, if you can get the queen. Usual-ly it won’t be a problem if you put enough water down their nest. A few gallons of water should be enough.

Learn ways to get rid of ants [http://how-topreventpestsnow.com/ways-to-get-rid-of-ants.html] quickly and easily at [http://howtopreventpestsnow.com] a popular website on pest removal that provides tips and advices about natural ant repellent and other pests.

Pierce, L. (2008, July 2). Get Rid of Ants Forever With 5 Powerful Natural Ant Repellent. Retrieved March 15, 2013,

Movie ReviewIdentity ThiefBy Bri Girardot

Taking the number one position in the box offi ce during its opening weekend with a total of $34.5 million, Identity Thief has made it as the currently highest grossing domestic release of 2013. Despite the negative reviews when it comes to the critics and although this is probably not a fi lm that will win Best Comedy at the rewards, Identity Thief offers enough heart to make up for all of that.

Sandy Patterson (Jason Bateman) is unwittingly thrown into the adventure of his life-time when it is suddenly brought to his attention that his identity has been stolen by a woman in a state he has never even been to. Determined to set his life back on track in order to continue supporting his family, he makes the decision to fi nd Diana (Melissa McCarthy) himself in order to bring her back to his own state, where she would then be able to be held legally responsible for all of the damage she had caused.

Delving into outlandish adventures that will leave you thankful for having opted into identity theft protection when signing up for your benefi ts, Sandy is slowly brought to the realization that Diana is a human being herself—the two have plenty of time to de-velop some sense of humanity between the two while they are being chased by bounty hunters, taking a trip across the country, and learning what it truly means to sacrifi ce parts of yourself for the greater good.

The fourth fi lm directed by Seth Gordon (the man behind Horrible Bosses), Identity Thief only took a little over a year to fi nish since its initial development beginning in 2011. Despite the fact that if the erratic plot had been handled differently it could have entered an entirely new dimension of what it means to produce a golden comedy, the lead stars in this road fi lm do some fantastic compensation in terms of making it worth seeing. McCarthy, who practically steals away the entire fi lm, does a particularly amazing job of creating a solid foundation out of a script riddled with an undisciplined plotline. Despite the manner in which the story rises and falls, her performance is more than enough to make up for it and will leave audiences not minding that there are infre-quencies in the development.

All of that being said, the conclusion of the story is actually a heart-warmingly wrapped up into a completely believable scenario. Despite the fact that the journey there was a little weak at points in terms of plot development, the ending will surely leave audiences pleasantly surprised and glad that they were able to learn the story of what it means to fi nd yourself in the least expected places. If you are in the search for a comedy romp that has a surprising amount of heart while simultaneously offering a stellar cast, Identi-ty Thief is exactly what you are looking for.

4 COMMUNITY JOURNEY

ISSUE III13 - Montville / Boonton

ADVERTISE WITH US - REACH YOUR LOCAL MARKET AND STAY ON BUDGET - CALL TODAY 800-773-4566

Too often we underestimate the

power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an

honest compliment, or the smallest act

of caring, all of which have the

potential to turn a life around.

- Leo Buscaglia

Help Out: Volunteering in Morris CountyBy Your Community Insider

Giving back to your local community doesn’t just make you feel better. Volunteering builds a better future and creates bonds.

There are hundreds of opportunities to help out on the ground fl oor and keep the wheels of Morris County turning. Here are fi ve great local organizations that need your help to continue making a positive impact every day.

Home for Good Dog Rescue

This charitable organization funded solely by generous New Jersey residents, businesses and foundations, helps dogs avoid being euthanized in the large shelters by providing all necessary medical needs including vaccinations, so the animals can fi nd a great home.

As highlighted on our website at www.YourCommunityInsider.com Home for Good Dog Rescue held “Taste of Italy” where the non-profi t united Morris County residents in a night of food and fun to raise funds for the purpose of connecting good dogs with great families.

There are many ways you can get involved with this organization. Home for Good Dogs holds weekend adoption events that need adoption volunteers to transport animals, ex-ercise dogs and screen potential adopters. You can also foster a dog which means taking the adoptable animal into your home for a short period of time until a suitable perma-nent family match is found. Foster families save many pets’ lives and can be a fun way for you to have a dog without the long-term commitment.

To learn more about these opportunities, email volunteer@hfgdr.org and complete your application at http://HomeForGoodDogs.org.

Family Service of Morris County

A long-standing fi xture of public good in Morris County, Family Service of Mor-ris County has been serving the community for 199 years. The non-profi t empowers individuals and families to meet life’s challenges by concentrating on prevention and early intervention in four strategic areas to make a positive impact on the Morris County community.

FSMC offers you many ways to get involved. The Senior Angels volunteer opportunity unites you with senior citizens in the community who you can help with daily tasks like grocery shopping and getting to doctor’s appointments. If you’re an organized person, you can assist the professional social work team by developing workshops and planning conferences and other events. Other opportunities include being a mentor and assisting the blind.

Find out more about volunteer opportunities at www.FSMC.org.

Jersey Cares Day May 4th

On May 4th, Jersey Cares Day unites 2,500 volunteers from all over New Jersey for a day of community services. To celebrate the 15th anniversary of Jersey Cares Day, special events including Hurricane Sandy relief projects will be available to volunteers in Morris County. In addition to offering opportunities for engaged citizens to help out, Jersey Cares Day is also a fundraiser where volunteers raise pledges for their donated time thus increasing the positive impact it makes on the community.

The following activities will be available for volunteers in Morris County on May 4th:

Volunteers are needed in Hanover to teach seniors how to Salsa dance. In Morristown volunteers will be cleaning up local hiking trails that were damaged by Hurricane San-dy. Volunteers in Morris Township will help remove invasive species and clean-up local hiking trails.

You may visit www.JerseyCaresDay.org for more information or you may direct any questions to Alexandra Perrette ( atalexandra@jerseycares.org ) or Kyle Langan ( kyle@jerseycares.org ).

Other Opportunities

There is no shortage of opportunities for the Morris County resident eager to help out the local community.

For a current list of opportunities in your community please visit http://www.volunteermatch.org and search for your town.

5COMMUNITY JOURNEY

ISSUE III13 - Montville / Boonton

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK - FACEBOOK.COM/YOURCOMMUNITYINSIDER

WHO ARE YOU?By Bri Girardot

One of the oldest and most pondered questions of life as we know it has always been Who are we? Since the dawn of time, thousands of philosophers, psychologists, scientists, and other professions have tried to shine some light on any potential answer that could silence that natural curiosity brewing inside of us. It isn’t so much that we are in a desperate need of an answer, but more-so that this is the kind of question that gnaws away in the back of our minds and no matter what happens—war or peace alike—the question remains.

In 1981, Hilary Putnam, an American philosopher and computer scientist, wrote a paper entitled “Reason, Truth, and History.” It proposed an interesting theory which tried to answer something similar—not necessarily who we are, but what we are or, rather, what we may be. Related to earlier works by Plato and Descartes, Putnam proposed what is now referred to as the brain in a vat theory.

His paper elaborates on his proposal that this reality in which we believe we live in is actually a simulation. For instance, right now you may believe that you are standing in line at a local business or you may be at home, doing what it is that you do, but, as Putnam has suggested, all of the things that you are experiencing right

now are actually the work of some giant computer, putting you under the impres-sion that all of what you are experiencing is real, but when, in reality, it is just a simulation of sorts designed to give you a false sense of reality.

This is a lot to consider, so let’s dissect it a little in order to understand what he was trying to say. The main point that he tried to suggest was, essentially, “What is keeping us from believing that we are just brains in a vat, living in a simulated uni-verse?” At this point, it may seem that the answer is simple—you have a body, right? You can sense everything that you touch and you have a reaction to everything that touches you, so how in the world could any of this not be real?

However, if we were to be a brain inside of a mad scientists’ laboratory in some other dimension, it would be easy to hook it up to some type of wires, connected to a very large computer, giving us the impression that everything around us is real to us, while, in that reality, all we are is fl oating inside of some large jar.

Since there is no scientifi c way to prove whether or not we are merely a brain fl oating somewhere out in the galaxy, this argument clearly specifi es that there is no way for us to determine the validity of the statement. The conclusion suggested here, that there is no way for us to know which conclusion is true, may seem pointless, but it brings to light an important factor that we often forget.

Although there will be hundreds, maybe thousands, of suggestions concerning who and what we are, even when we propose that we have found an answer, we are perpetually left searching. It is in fi nding a comfort within this cluelessness in which we will fi nd a thread of peace.

Mystery Book ReviewBy Your Community Insider

On December 26, 2004, there was an earthquake in the Indi-an Ocean. Scientists have said it was an undersea mega thrust earthquake with a magnitude of 9.1-9.3. Believed to be the third largest earthquake ever recorded on a seismograph...

It had the longest duration of faulting ever observed, between 8.3 and 10 minutes. An quake so powerful, it caused the entire planet to vibrate as much as 1 centimeter and triggered other earthquakes as far as Alaska.

The world witnessed the aftermath, but the events that happened that day can only be explained by someone from within... someone that was there...

Many people perished. Many lost loved ones. The damage was immeasurable...

The Author of this riveting chronicle of the aftermath of the tsunami lost her parents, husband, and two beautiful young sons... She miraculously survived. Recounting the events that went on that day and for the days, weeks, months, and years that followed in an unblinking act of storytelling.

This memoir is frank, powerful, thought provoking, fi erce, and furious. A testament of the strength of humanity seen through the eyes of a surviving hero - not victim.

“... indelible and unique story of loss and resolution written with breathtaking refi nement and courage” -- Booklist

“... a haunting chronicle of love and horrifying loss” -- Abraham Verghese, author of Cutting for Stone

“... unfl inching as it charts the depths of grief, but it’s also, miraculously, a beautifully detailed meditation on the essence of happiness” -- Will Schwalbe, author of The End of Your Life Book Club

“A devastating but ultimately redemptive memoir . . .” -- Kirkus Reviews (starred)“Rarely are we given a story of such narrative force and poetic simplicity . . .” -- Mary Karr, author of Lit

Uncover the mystery at http://yourcommunityinsider.com/mysteryreview/

6 COMMUNITY JOURNEY

ISSUE III13 - Montville / Boonton

ADVERTISE WITH US - REACH YOUR LOCAL MARKET AND STAY ON BUDGET - CALL TODAY 800-773-4566ADVERTISE WITH US - REACH YOUR LOCAL MARKET AND STAY ON BUDGET - CALL TODAY 800-773-4566

THREE-CUP CHICKENRecipe Coutesy of Foodista.com

Ingredients

1 fresh chicken (chopped into iden cal-sized parts)1 rice bowl black sesame oil (see note in About sec on)1 rice bowl soy sauce1 rice bowl Hua Tiao Chinese rice wine (or COGNAC!)1 bulb garlic, separated into individual cloves, skins on3 slices old ginger1 tablespoon thumb size rock sugar (or 2 fi ne sugar - a li le more or less won’t hurt)3 inches large bunches of spring onions, cut into 1 inch lengths2-3 leaves of basil, julienned

Direc ons

1 - Marinate chicken with soy, sesame oil and rice wine. At least for 6 hours, although overnight is best.

2 - Take the chill off the meat. Heat up some sesame oil in a wok or claypot un l it is sizzling hot.

3 - Throw in garlic, ginger and spring onions. Fry briefl y ll fragrant. Add in chicken and sear.

4 - Keep s r-frying. Pour in the marinade liquid and the sugar. Con n-ue to cook on medium.

5 - Once you have a rolling boil, cover the wok/claypot and let it sim-mer over a small fl ame, un l all the liquid has disappeared and the chicken is on the cusp of burning.

6 - There should hardly be any gravy le . The chicken should be cara-melised (charred at parts, even) and sizzling when served.

CALLING ALL LOCAL TALENT ARTISTS, BANDS, COMEDIANS, SINGERS - GET INTO OUR NEXT

SPOTLIGHT ON LOCAL TALENTVisit YourCommunityInsider.com/local-artist-spotlight/

On a Mission to Bring Technology to Charities in NeedBy Your Community Insider

Keeping up with technology is expensive yet essential for non-profi ts if they want to make a positive impact on the community. Cited as the primary functional challenge for charities, 88% of 501(c)3 organizations surveyed admitted to their tech support weakness, Miriam Young said to her audience of 60.

NPower is a national nonprofi t that unites the tech community in an eff ort to help other charities solve their technology problems and thus make more of a socially conscious impact on the New Jersey community. Young is the Nonprofi t Outreach and Engagement Manager for NPower. It is her job to spread awareness of the services off ered and unite organizations for good. NPower also off ers a scholarship for students in IT programs.

In the last four years, 18 charities have been granted over $400,000 in aid. Among the recipients are national nonprofi ts like the Susan G. Komen as well as local NJ charities like the Somerset Hills Learning Institute and the Market Street Mission in Morristown, reports Patch.com.

NPower mobilizes skilled tech volunteers to meet the unique needs of each charity through its Th e Community Corps program. Th is all-vol-unteer corps of techies are together make NPower’s mission a reality and increase the infl uential scope of the important work these nonprofi ts do day to day and touch more lives for those in need.

7COMMUNITY JOURNEY

ISSUE III13 - Montville / Boonton

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK - FACEBOOK.COM/YOURCOMMUNITYINSIDERLIKE US ON FACEBOOK - FACEBOOK.COM/YOURCOMMUNITYINSIDER

Welcome Spring! Dust Off Your Running ShoesBy Your Community Insider

Now that the offi cial fi rst day of spring is here, we’re running low on excuses not to get outdoors and exercise. With many beautiful roads and trails, Morris County is a great place to put on your running shoes and hit the pavement (or dirt) run-ning.

There are a number of ways you can get involved and stayin shape with your two feet and a pair of shoes.

Morris County Running Clubs

What better way to motivate yourself to stay healthy and fi t than enjoying an activity with other like-minded people? If you fi nd yourself generating excuses and your running shoes are still in your closet, consider joining a local running group. You’ll have more fun, make friends, and be more motivated to go running!This sampling of running clubs is by no means exhaustive. If these don’t work for you, search Meetup.com to fi nd other people in your local community who share your interest in running or start your own group.

Morristown Running Club Inspired by their mission to promote good health and fi tness in the Lakeway area, this club offers members organized races, group runs and even discounts on goods at local merchants! Races organized by MRC include the Panther Creek 8K, Jackie Long Memorial 5K, and a Summer Park Race Series. The club offers mentoring programs for beginning runners and leads charity drives for local schools.

Morris County StridersWelcoming runners of all abilities, from marathoners to those who just fi nd joy in running, this long standing club offers group runs every day of the week and var-ious other running activities. The club or-ganizes teams for road races so you don’t have to compete alone and each summer the club holds a picnic where members can mingle and get acquainted.

April and May Road Races in Morris County

For those who perform best with a little competition or if you really like to win, running a road race is a great way to push yourself to do your best.

There are many road races in Morris County in the months of April and May. The following is only a selection, so do a search on www.RunningInTheUSA.com to fi nd a more complete list of available races.

Bizzie Lizzie 5k Run Held on April 6thin Parsippany, NJ, this 5 kilometer race costs $27.50 to register and proceeds go to The Cure Starts Now Can-cer Research Foundation. The New Jersey chapter of this non-profi t was formed in honor of Elizabeth “Bizzie” Stein who passed away from pediatric cancer at the age of three.

Morris County Indoor Triathlon 2013On April 7th in Mountain Lakes, NJ par-ticipants will compete in this three leg race by swimming an indoor pool, riding on stationary bikes and fi nish the fi nal stretch on a treadmill. This unique fi tness event offers individual and group relay registra-tion options for $45 and $65 respectively.

NJ Trail Cross Country Summer Series Beginning on May 1st and continuing every Wednesday night until the 28th of August, racers will experience the fun of cross-county racing. At the affordable price of $10 for adults and $8 for high-school -age teens or younger for each race (discounts available for the whole series), racers can compete in an accurately timed race. Go more than once andwatch as your times improve throughout the summer.

The weekly race is located at the old Greystone complex now known as Central Park.

How To Make Your Own Non Toxic Cleaning KitSubmitted by Annie Berthold-Bond, Care2.com

Most modern synthetic cleaning prod-ucts are based on age-old formulas using natural ingredients that were passed down through the generations because the chemistry was right. Going back to the original naturally-derived ingredients is a way to make cleaning products that work, don’t pollute, and save you money. Most are found in your kitchen cupboards. Mix and match with well-chosen and environ-mentally-friendly green cleaning products found in health food stores, and you can easily and simply transform your home into a nontoxic and healthy haven.

Nontoxic cleaning can give you a deep feeling of gratifi cation in knowing that your family’s health is protected, and that your home is a place for your bodies to rest and recuperate.

Making your own nontoxic cleaning kit will take you no time at all with these sim-ple, straightforward directions, and with this kit you will be supplied with enough cleaning product for months of cleaning.

As an added bonus, ounce for ounce homemade cleaning formulas cost about one-tenth the price of their commercial counterparts -- and that includes costly, but worthwhile essential oils and concen-trated, all-purpose detergents for home-made recipes.

Suppliesbaking sodawashing sodawhite distilled vinegara good liquid soap or detergenttea tree oil6 clean spray bottles2 glass jars

Note: Make sure to label all your home-made cleaning products, and keep them away from pets and children.

CREAMY SOFT SCRUBBERSimply pour about 1/2 cup of baking soda into a bowl, and add enough liquid detergent to make a texture like frosting. Scoop the mixture onto a sponge, and wash the surface. This is the perfect recipe for cleaning the bathtub because it rinses easily and doesn’t leave grit.

Note: Add 1 teaspoon of vegetable glycerin to the mixture and store in a sealed glass jar, to keep the product moist. Otherwise just make as much as you need at a time.

WINDOW CLEANER1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon liquid detergent3 tablespoons vinegar2 cups waterspray bottle

Put all the ingredients into a spray bottle, shake it up a bit, and use as you would a commercial brand. The soap in this recipe is important. It cuts the wax residue from the commercial brands you might have used in the past.

OVEN CLEANER1 cup or more baking sodawatera squirt or two of liquid detergent

Sprinkle water generously over the bottom of the oven, then cover the grime with enough baking soda that the surface it totally white. Sprinkle some more water over the top. Let the mixture set overnight. You can easily wipe up the grease the next morning because the grime will have loosened. When you have cleaned up the worst of the mess, dab a bit of liquid de-tergent or soap on a sponge, and wash the remaining residue from the oven. If this recipe doesn’t work for you it is probably because you didn’t use enough baking soda and/or water.

ALL-PURPOSE SPRAY CLEANER1/2 tsp. washing sodaa dab of liquid soap2 cups hot tap waterCombine the ingredients in a spray bottle and shake until the washing soda has dis-solved. Apply and wipe off with a sponge or rag.

FURNITURE POLISH1/2 teaspoon oil, such as olive (or jojoba, a liquid wax)1/4 cup vinegar or fresh lemon juiceMix the ingredients in a glass jar. Dab a soft rag into the solution and wipe onto wood surfaces. Cover the glass jar and store indefi nitely.

VINEGAR DEODORIZERKeep a clean spray bottle fi lled with straight 5 percent vinegar in your kitch-en near your cutting board, and in your bathroom, and use them for cleaning. I often spray the vinegar on our cutting board before going to bed at night, and don’t even rinse, but let it set overnight. The smell of vinegar dissipates within a few hours. Straight vinegar is also great for cleaning the toilet rim. Just spray it on and wipe off.

MOLD KILLERSTea Tree TreaureNothing natural works for mold and mildew as well as this spray. I’ve used it successfully on a moldy ceiling from a leaking roof, on a musty bureau, a musty rug, and a moldy shower curtain. Tea tree oil is expensive, but a little goes a very long way. Note that the smell of tea tree oil is very strong, but it will dissipate in a few days.2 teaspoons tea tree oil2 cups waterCombine in a spray bottle, shake to blend, and spray on problem areas. Do not rinse.Makes 2 cupsPreparation Time: Under a minuteShelf Life: Indefi niteStorage: Leave in the spray bottle

VINEGAR SPRAYStraight vinegar reportedly kills 82 percent of mold. Pour some white distilled vinegar straight into a spray bottle, spray on the moldy area, and let set without rinsing if you can put up with the smell. It will dissipate in a few hours.