Voice from long ago

(Oct. 20, 2010) Blogging has some unexpected benefits. Among them is connecting with folks from long ago in your life. That is what happened to my husband and me this week. I won't go into the details, but suffice it to say we discovered an unusual one from 1980 via blogs. You never know who is reading your posts.

Exactly 30 years ago, we hosted a young Amish school teacher who was traveling from her home in Ohio to New England. While visiting back home in the summer of 1980, we met her through mutual friends in the Burton-Middlefield area of northeastern Ohio, known as Amish country. Since that time, she has married her friend in Vermont, graduated from Smith College and written a book about her life. If you want to read more about her, click on to Saloma Furlong in my followers to the right. What a story!

Anyway, readers have an opportunity to join the growing list of bloggers at Recorder Community Newspapers. Any community group or individual interested in communicating via a blog at the newspapers' websites is invited to contact me at (908) 832-7420 or panderson@recordernewspapers.com. It is simple and free. All you need is a computer and an e-mail.

Check out the 60 some bloggers already online. Their messages are as varied as our communities, from book reviews to entertainment to chit-chat to health advice, library events, opinion and more.

Watch out for deer

(Oct. 14, 2010) Daylight is waning and deer rut (breeding season) is starting. Expecially at dawn and dusk, deer are running almost oblivious to traffic. So be extra careful when driving during the morning and evening rush hours to avoid a costly encounter with a deer.

Living out in the country, I have been extremely fortunate not to have collided with a deer. There are plenty of them around. But I know many folks who have had a run-in with one. Physical injury and car damage can be tremendous. So watch out.

Tips like this one can be found in the many blogs online here at Recorder Community Newspapers. Some five dozen bloggers are communicating at the 15 newspapers' websites.

Any community group or individual who would like to join this growing group of Recorder bloggers may contact me at (908) 832-7420 or e-mail panderson@recordernewspapers.com and I will fill you in. Participation is simple and free. All you need is a computer and an e-mail.

Rain, rain, go away

(Oct. 5, 2010) After a summer's drought we're getting all the rain that didn't fall over the past three months. Enough already! Farmers need to harvest their hay and corn, but those crops need to be dry. Folks along rivers and streams are worried about flooding.

On a personal note, my husband and I are having our annual cider squeeze this weekend. Since it's an outdoor affair, we're praying for a clear day, temperate day.

In fact, all kinds of fall events are scheduled in Recorder Newspapers' territory. Read all about them in the newspapers and online right here, plus in their 50+ blogs.

Any area individual or community group interested in joining the growing group of Recorder bloggers is invited to call me at (908) 832-7420 or e-mail panderson@recordernewspapers.com to find out about this free offer. All you need is a computer and an e-mail.

Fall is here for sure

(Sept. 28, 2010) Fall arrived last week followed by cooler autumn weather and much needed rain. Already leaves are starting to turn colors and beginning to fall.

Folks are enjoying the many harvest events scheduled in the Recorder Community Newspapers area. Read about them in the papers and right here online, including in the blogs.

Any group or individual interested in joining the 50-plus bloggers communicating via Recorders' 15 online newspapers may call me at (908) 832-7420 or e-mail panderson@recordernewspapers.com to find out more about this free offer. Blogging is a simple, 21st century, real-time Internet process that requires only a computer and an e-mail.

Ta-dah, we're up and running

Since you are reading this online, you can see Recorder Community Newspapers' great new website now online at www.newjerseyhills.com. As usual the news and more, plus the blogs, are at 15 individual newspapers. Check out the more than 50 blogs here, plus the other great new features including more photos and videos.

Any community individual or group interested in joining the growing group of Recorder bloggers is invited to call me at (908) 832-7420 or e-mail panderson@recordernewspapers.com to find out more about the simple process of blogging. Better yet it's free.

A new look is coming

(Sept. 16, 2010) Recorder Community Newspapers this month is launching a great new redesign of its online presence including the 50-plus blogs on its 15 newspapers here. Watch this space for the new look.

Any individual or organization interested in joining the growing group of Recorder bloggers is invited to contact me at (908) 832-7420 or e-mail panderson@recordernewspapers.com to find out more about this free offer.

Blogging is a simple, real-time, interactive, online 21st century communication tool using words, pictures, even videos. All you need to participate is a computer and an e-mail. Plus I am here to help.

Unofficial end of summer

(Sept. 5, 2010) Tomorrow, Sept. 6, the first Monday in September, is Labor Day, the unofficial end of summer. (The actual first day of fall this year is Wednesday, Sept. 22.) The day of rest and relaxation before the busyness of fall begins is a federal holiday honoring working men and women and their families.

So enjoy the beautiful day, especially since Hurricane Earl has passed us by and petered out in the Northeast. Backyard picnics, a swim in the pool or at the beach, visiting with friends, all are traditional low-key holiday treats.

Thus refreshed, we can get back to the hustle and bustle of everyday life spotlighted in Recorder Community Newspapers and their 50-plus blogs. Read the news and more right here online on the 15 newspaper websites.

Any community individual or organization interested in joining the growing group of Recorder bloggers is invited to call me at (908) 832-7420 or e-mail panderson@recordernewspapers.com to find out more about this free 21st century, real-time communication tool. The process is simple; only a computer and an e-mail are needed to participate.