Snowed in

(Dec. 7, 2009) Wow, the weatherman was right. Parts of our newspapers' coverage area were covered by snow Saturday, creating a lovely winter wonderland. Up to four inches fell in my town throughout the afternoon, so we stayed inside and enjoyed the views. Temperatures in the 20s and early 30s are keeping the snow here today, but luckily our driveway and main roads have been plowed to prevent ice buildup.

Today also is Pearl Harbor Day, the date in 1941 when Japan bombed U.S. ships in Pearl Harbor and brought this country into World War II. It is a day to remember all veterans who served in that war and to thank them for their sacrifices.

Today also is a good day to check out the Recorder Newspapers bloggers to find out what is happening in their areas. Many events are listed for the holiday season.

Any community group or individual interested in becoming a Recorder blogger is welcome to e-mail me at panderson@recordernewspapers.com to find out more about this free, easy, multi-media way of communicating or call me at (908) 832-7420. I will be happy to assist you in joining our growing list of bloggers.

Santa Claus is coming to town

(Dec. 4, 2009) December is here and Santa Claus is planning to visit many of our area towns. There also will be tree lighting ceremonies and even parades along with his appearances. Read all about these happy winter events in our Recorder Newspapers and their blogs.

Groups and organizations interested in joining our growing list of bloggers are invited to participate in this free multi-media service. To find out how to do it, e-mail me at panderson@recordernewspapers.com or call (908) 832-7420 and I will help make it happen.

Happy Thanksgiving!

(Nov. 26, 2009) I hope everyone has a very happy Thanksgiving with family and friends. This national holiday is my favorite one since all it entails is remembering all we have to be thankful for and enjoying together a traditional meal of turkey with all the trimmings and lots of visiting.

Leaves are down, winter's on its way

(Nov. 6) Well, recent winds have blown almost all the leaves off the trees out here in the country. And falling temperatures signal winter's on its way. Before the snow flies, we better get those leaves picked up and added to the compost pile.

But this weekend, I'm hoping to start the rounds of holiday boutiques sponsored by area churches and other organizations. You can find some really unusual gifts and other treasures including crafts and homemade cookies. Check out the calendar of events in your Recorder Newspaper as well as online in its various blogs.

Meantime, winter will keep us all indoors more, perhaps reading and/or writing blogs. Anyone interested in blogging right on the Recorder Community Newspapers Web site may call me at (908) 832-7420 or e-mail panderson@recordernewspapers.com. The process is very simple and there is no charge for this multimedia service.

Election Day tomorrow

(Nov. 2, 2009) Tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 3, is Election Day. Candidates are running for governor and lieutenant governor, state senate, general assembly, freeholders and local town committees. There is one state public question on bonding for land and water preservation.

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Vote for the candidate you believe will do the best job, not for the best of two political party lines because you don't think your guy can win. If all thinking citizens vote, maybe we can get New Jersey back on the right track.

Whoa ... SNOW!

(Oct. 19) Almost two weeks earlier than last year's surprise blizzard, snow started falling Thursday, Oct. 15, in northwestern New Jersey. Luckily, not as much came as in the 2008 storm and we didn't lose power. But it was really cold for several days.

However, now we're prepared. Our home generator is installed and ready to go, battery-powered LED lights are in crucial areas, the pantry is stocked and we're ready to withstand being stuck here in case of blocked roads and/or power outages. The generator will power all the necessary home services, even our office phone and computer. So, we can stay connected.

That means anyone interested in joining Recorder Community Newspapers' list of bloggers can find out all about this free offer no matter what the weather. Local individuals and groups are invited to write a blog right on their newspaper's Web site for our online readers. They even may add pictures and videos if they wish for real time communication.

The process is very simple and I will be happy to help. Just e-mail me at panderson@recordernewspapers.com or call me at (908) 832-7420 and I will outline the procedure.

Wondering ...

(Oct. 6) I'm wondering, and so are Recorder Community Newspapers' bloggers, what online readers think about our bloggers' postings: Do they read them (all or some)? Is the news helpful, entertaining, interesting? Do they wish others were available? Or, are there too many? What subjects are they interested in?

If you are reading this, you are an online reader. Please respond in the "comments" section below.

Recorder Newspapers is offering community groups and individuals the opportunity to have their blog appear right on the newspaper's Web site. The connection process is simple and there is no charge. To find out how to become a Recorder blogger, e-mail me at panderson@recordernewspapers.com or call me at (908) 832-7420.