Canal Walk Newsletter March 2019
From the Board of Directors I will try to make this Newsletter different from previous ones by not reporting on items which we have focused on in previous months. You can be assured that everything is under control and we are moving forward. The front entrance will be improved, approximately 40 of the new homes on Bryant Court have been sold and the first new Enclave building will be ready for occupancy by this month. Landscaping will continue, roads repaired, the outdoor pool will be open soon and our finances are in good shape, etc.
Moving forward – reorganizing our Block Captain Committee. At our last meeting on January 24 th , we informed our members that we wanted to change the focus of the Committee by making it more responsive to Community needs. I serve on this committee along with Bernie Worst and Tom Merklinger. We discuss the most recent activities of the Board, and Tom reports on our improvements and problems. Our discussions are open and frank, questions are asked and answered, but we seldom receive suggestions for improvements.
Block Captains
The purpose of a Block Captain is to: • Keep the community informed. Augment the regular communications from the Board and Management, One Call emails, and articles posted on the Canal Walk Website including the summaries from the Block Captain meetings. • Poll your block on community issues. Contact the residents in your assigned group, face to face; telephone and email to ascertain their well-being. • Report back to Management and the Board important issues that concern your block.
The Block Captain meeting is a two-way forum to provide updated community issues and discuss concerns from the residents. • Report safety and life hazard issues such as street light outages, pot holes, broken utility covers, etc. • A Block Captain will need to attend no less than 3 meetings a year. • Provide a conduit of information to/from the residents.
One very important detail is that, unlike our Clubs, you cannot join the Committees, you must be appointed by the Board. However, the current members were grandfathered in when the Committee was re- established in 2012. To assist us, we have asked one of our homeowners, Steve Orosz, to help in this reorganization. He will be working with Tom, Bernie and me to identify streets without representation and to find residents who would like to join.
On Another Matter: Several owners have inquired as to when the Board will be announcing the date of our “Maintenance Free Month.” Sorry to say, but that is not how it works. Our budget is approved in October of the previous year and is subject to change the following year depending on any unforeseen problems or external conditions such as unusually high snow expenses. Sometime in September of the current year, we review our financial condition to see if a maintenance free month can be budgeted for in the following year. This is discussed with our accounting firm, W&G. The Board strives to maintain our extremely low maintenance fees. We have worked hard to maintain these fees for 8 consecutive years,3 of which included a maintenance free month. I am sure you understand that, sooner or later, our maintenance fees will need to be increased.
Rules & Regulations:
The Canal Walk Rules & Regulations have been reviewed and updated by the Covenants Committee and the Board. You will be receiving the updated version,which will be effective April 1, 2019, in the mail.
Bob Rossomando for the Board of Directors
Jim Lyttle, Bob Rossomando, Nick Iorio and Bernie Worst
CANAL WALK’S OWN WEBSITE Canal Walk residents can check on what activities are planned and sign up for activities right from their home computer. Just type this address and you will get to our Canal Walk Website: http://www.canalwalkhoa.com. Our Website was developed by Skip Krals, who still helps us from Arizona. The Website is managed by Howard Kliger, Elaine Whelan, Mo Kim, Fred Ford and Susan Kobren.
TO SEE CLUBHOUSE ACTIVITIES ON YOUR TV: NOW ON CHANNEL 8 IF YOU DO NOT HAVE AN HD CABLE BOX OR USE CHANNEL 281 IF YOU DO HAVE AN HD CABLE BOX
Canal Walk Reservation
For activities sponsored by the Committees and the Activity Director
• Sign-ups/Reservations are required for all events and each event is first come, first served. • A reservation is only confirmed when the Event Flyer is completed, date stamped and payment in full is received (Checks Payable to C.W.H.O.A.A.F). Cash is not accepted. • Reservations are always restricted to Canal Walk residents for a period of time. This period may vary depending on the event and lead time. • Each Residence (not resident) is entitled to make a reservation for two people, one of whom may be a guest. • After the exclusive several week period for residents, the event will be open to guests. • When events are sold out, a reasonable waiting list will usually be maintained for those who have paid in full. From time to time, an additional trip for an event may be arranged at a later date. • All residents are encouraged to check the Lobby carousels and the Website regularly.
Canal Walk Refund Policy • Effective March 1, 2019, the following is a revision to the Refund Policy for any and all tickets, trips or reservations made for events arranged by the Clubhouse Activities, Cultural Arts and Trips and Travel Committees and the Activity Director. • Once you register and pay for any event or trip, you have the absolute right to admission for that event. There will be no refunds for any reason. The only exception is if there is a wait list which the office may maintain. If there is a wait list, the office will provide it to you if you wish to sell your tickets.It is your responsibility to contact persons on the list to sell your ticket. This policy is to properly manage our finances and is consistent with almost all performance venues. • If you cannot use the reservation, you may sell your ticket or right to admission, or give it to someone else. The office should be advised of any changes to the reservation so that we can account for everyone attending.
From the Enclave Board Mark your calendars for two important events: 1. Meet the Candidates Night – Thursday, March 21, 2019 at 7:00 pm in the Clubhouse Ballroom 2. Annual Meeting/Election – Thursday, April 18, 2019 at 7:00 pm in the Clubhouse Ballroom All Enclave residents should attend! Best wishes to all our neighbors and friends from your Board of Directors for a Happy St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) and Purim (March 21). Daylight Savings Time 2 A.M., March 10th. Time to turn your clocks ahead one hour and change your combination Smoke/CO Detector and Smoke Detector Batteries.The smoke and combination CO/smoke detectors in our homes are hard-wired (always connected to electricity) with a battery backup. Each is designed to operate by a battery in case of a power outage. The Franklin Township Fire Department recommends battery replacement twice a year. Typically a good time to do this is when we go to Daylight Savings Time and back to Daylight Standard Time. Replacing the batteries before their power is exhausted prevents the detectors from chirping at the worst possible time, such as in the middle of the night. Don’t forget to reset the system after the batteries have been changed. If you have misplaced the directions that came with the detector, call BKR Industries, the manufacturer of your First Alert detectors, at 1-800-323-9005 or the manufacturer of your current detector to learn how to reset the system. Do You Know…? • The detector will sound a chirp every 60 seconds when the battery needs to be replaced. • A detector that sounds three quick chirps may be defective. • Smoke detectors installed by Premier are covered under a 10-year warranty and the combination smoke/CO detectors for 5-10 years depending on the date of manufacture. BRK will replace for free any detector that fails during the warranty period. Should yours fail while under warranty, call 1-800-323-9005 to request a replacement. When calling, have the defective detector in hand. You will be asked for the serial number and date of manufacture information located on the back of the unit. • If recommended by the manufacturer of your detector, consider replacing the alkaline battery with a 10-year lithium battery. • Discuss replacing ionization smoke or smoke/CO smoke detectors that make a sound from cooking-related false alarm with a photoelectric detector, with Franklin Township Code Enforcement. This type of detector is less susceptible to false alarms attributable to a non-fire event. • Replace each detector when no longer covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. Call Fire Prevention or the Franklin Township code enforcement if you need further assistance at (732) 873-2500 Ext. 6303. Your life and the life of your neighbors may depend on detectors that are fully operational and installed per Franklin Township requirements. • When changing the detector batteries, you should also consider changing the batteries in your thermostat. Spring Reminder for Enclave Town Home Owners As the snow melts and you begin to prepare for spring, please remember that the exterior of your town home, as well as the grounds around it, are common property owned by the Enclave Condominium Association. Therefore, no modifications to this property in any manner are authorized without submitting a Property Modification Request (PMR) form to the Enclave Covenants Committee. The Covenants Committee and Enclave Board must approve the modification request prior to the commencement of any work. A few of the regulations are listed below; the Master Deed and Enclave Rules and Regulations contain a more complete listing and explanations. In general, before making any exterior modifications, ask . Submit a PMR to the Management Office. When your request is approved, the Committee will inform you of any restrictions and/or specifications applicable to your modification. Regulations include, but are not limited to: 1. No resident landscaping or plantings are permitted on common property. Potted plants may be kept on the patio and front door stoop. 2. No landscape lighting is permitted. 3. No awnings may be added or attached to the building. 4. No clothes poles or lines shall be installed or maintained. 5. No bird feeders are permitted. 6. Fences and enclosures of any type are not permitted, except for builder- installed privacy fences, or those provided by the Association. Nothing may be attached to or hung-over privacy fencing. 7. If a homeowner needs to install a hand railing or ramp for handicapped purposes or assistance, a PMR must be filed with the Covenants Committee. 8. Exterior doors can only be painted the existing color and finish. 9. A PMR must be submitted and approved prior to installation of storm doors. 10. Solar Collector Systems are not authorized. 11. Air conditioners or window fan units may not be installed through walls or windows. From the Enclave Manager’s desk With spring finally arriving, I am excited to report some of the recent work that has been completed as well as upcoming work to be performed in the community. • The Association completed a community wide winter pruning of trees to remove dead/diseased material, help maintain the proper sizing of the trees for the area, and to promote the health and long-term vitality of the trees. • The garage floors, tile entranceways, and carpets in all the original 7 low-rise buildings have been professionally cleaned. Window cleaning in each original low-rise building will take place in the coming months. • The interior of the Astor building was painted over the winter. Soon the exterior of the building will also be painted. The Essex building will be next on the rotation for painting. Soon we should be welcoming our newest residents living in the new low-rise buildings in phase two of the development. Please take a moment to welcome them to the Enclave and Canal Walk communities. We take the maintenance and upkeep of the community very seriously. Emphasis is placed on prompt and helpful customer service and maintenance of the property. If you have a concern, and you are not sure Management is aware, please contact the office. You may email [email protected] or call 732-412-7618 to report maintenance issues. Please keep in mind that the onsite office is staffed Monday through Thursday. For items that are of an urgent nature that need to be addressed when the onsite office is closed, please call Association Advisor's office at 732-294-8882. John P. LoPresti, Jr., Ben Caudo, Barbara Goldstein, Bruce Schulman Enclave Board of Directors
Sale referral incentives offered to Canal Walk homeowners.
There are less than 25 single family homes left to sell in the last phase of Canal Walk, and we are offering current Canal Walk homeowners an incentive to refer friends and family! Don't let them miss out if they have been thinking of moving into this beautiful community. Please contact our sales office at 732-356-1191 for details.
Andrew Tendler Vice President Community Development
Covenants Committee Here we are going into March…as I write this, I don’t know if I should buy a new set of thermal underwear to handle last week’s cold, or sunscreen for this week’s high temperatures. The warm weather at least turns our attention to spring, and the interest in making changes to our homes, especially on the outside. When you look at new changes, please remember the PMRs that are needed. A little forethought, and you can have all the paperwork ready to go, and the Covenants Committee can act quickly to get your projects rolling. On April 1, 2019 an updated Rules and Regulations will be coming out. While many things stay the same, there will be changes, so please make sure you are aware of these changes when you receive your copy. Changes will be highlighted for you. Dave Lyttle
BE GREEN. GO GREEN. HELP SAVE OUR ENVIRONMENT.
The next Hazardous Waste day will be on March 16 at the Bernards Township Public Works Garage located at 277 South Maple Avenue, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Also, on the first Saturdays of every month at the Somerset County Recycling Center at 40 Polhemus Lane, Bridgewater (near the ball park) from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The Operation Secure Shred schedule for 2019 is not yet out as of this writing. Check this section for the 2019 calendar. Consumer Electronics recycling is on: A. 1st Saturdays of the month at the South County Public Works (8:00 AM to 2:00 PM), at 410 Roycefield Road, Hillsborough, NJ 08844 and B. Weekdays at the North County Public Works Facility (7:30 AM to 3:00 PM), 411 Chimney Rock Road (north of Rte. 22), Bridgewater, NJ 08807. Medical Waste Disposal: Expired/unused medicines and OTC drugs can be dropped off in the lobby of the Franklin Police Department, 495 DeMott Lane, Somerset, NJ 08873 (732)873-5533. This is open 24 hours a day. Be sure to scratch off or blank out your name on the bottles. Sharp needles and other similar medical waste should never be recycled. Disposal containers and information are available. Call for hours and specific locations: RWJU Hospital (Somerville) – 908-685-2200 ext. 3258 St. Peter’s Hospital – 732-742-8600 ext. 8282 Princeton Medical Center – 609-497-4266. from The CW Men’s Club
Activities and Announcements
CLUBHOUSE ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE
The new year has started off with a bang for the Activities Committee. We celebrated the Chinese New Year at the end of January with a wonderful Chinese dinner prepared by New Fortune in Manville and served by the members of the Activities Committee. Putting that event together is a lot of work, but it sure paid off! The turnout was great; the food was good, and the young performers from the Chinese School at Raritan Valley Community College really topped off the evening! Their enthusiasm in sharing the dances and songs of their culture was contagious. Next up, was a visit from THE PRESIDENT……President Lincoln that is! Robert Costello, an Abe Lincoln impersonator, amused us and educated us on the life and times of President Lincoln. It was a great way to celebrate President’s week. A light dinner, followed by (what else) cherry and apple tartlets, was the perfect ending to a memorable night. And then there’s March, the wearing of the green, perhaps the favorite event of the year! Mike Byrne and his fabulous band will be back in the Clubhouse to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, Sunday, March 17! This is always a great night, with a wonderful corned beef dinner with dancing, singing and frivolity. These tickets are sold out in a heartbeat so watch the carousels, and be ready to write your check as soon as the signup sheets come out. If you missed out on any of our winter events, don’t worry. There are many more events to come including our Night in New Orleans celebration to kick off spring. This is a first-time event, and the committee is looking forward to wowing you with special musicians performing Zydeco music and some New Orleans cuisine. Again, watch the carousels for the signup sheet. Deborah Katz
YOUNG AT HEART CALENDAR:
March 13th - Club Meeting with Speaker March 26th - Trip to Museum of Natural History/Lunch at Carmine's April 10th - Young at Heart Club Meeting April 24th - Trip to QVC/Lunch at Chadds Ford Inn May 8th - Young at Heart Club Meeting May 9th - Jitney to Villagers Theatre May 30th - Hunterdon Hills Playhouse - Over the River and Through the Woods June 12th - Young at Heart Club Meeting June 20th - Cruise aboard the River Lady with Lunch at Captain's Inn
March comes in like a Lion and goes out like a Lamb. We have chosen to bank on the Lambs end of that and venture out to the Big Apple for a trip to the Museum of Natural History. We will have a guided tour and enough time to see a 3D movie or spend some time in the Planetarium. We will gather and finish our day with lunch at Carmine's. We will go over some new additions to our programs. We continue to enjoy coffee, tea and conversation after our meeting. We continue to keep our ears and eyes open for new adventures. Hope to welcome back our Sun Birds from Florida.
JuleGraham JoannePolito
ART APPRECIATION TRIPS
As I reported last year, the results of the Arts & Crafts' survey indicated that our residents are interested in "going" places instead of "doing" crafts. With that in mind, Jodie and I are working together to plan visits to museums, galleries, and gardens. On January 23rd, a full jitney of residents visited the Zimmerli Museum, enjoyed a gourmet lunch, and heard from knowledgeable docents. Our first Art Appreciation Trip was a success, and the second trip on February 20th, to the Barnes Museum in Philadelphia, was also well received. The next trip will be in April and, as of this writing, the museum has not been determined."! So, look for the flyer in the lobby!!!
Submitted by: Betty Whalen
BOWLING With a little over three months left for bowling, our attendance has been wonderful. We even have two new bowlers joining us this month. I would like to welcome Joanne Tornambe and Dominick Tornambe to our Canal Walk Bowling Family. Now to the scores for the month of January: On January 7 th : Al Anderson bowled a 152, 200 and 181; Bill McGill had a 180 and a 169; Irv Kobren bowled a 192; Jeff Volker bowled a 180 and a 169; Joanne Perzi bowled a 156; Nina Perzi bowled a 178 and a 182. On January 14 th : Al Anderson bowled (2) 161 games; Barry Skolky bowled a 151; Bill McGill had a 188 and 166; Jeff Volker bowled a 185, 197 and a 181; Karen Liss bowled a 158 and a 170; Mike Dodd bowled a 160 and 162 Nina Perzi bowled a 161.
And finishing up the month,
On January 28 th : Al Anderson bowled (2) 164 games; Irv. Kobren bowled a 167 and a 151; Jeff Volker bowled a 180 and a 164; Mike Dodd had (2) 159 games; Mike Palmieri bowled a 166, a 201 and another 166; and Nina Perzi bowled a 177. Congratulations to all for these great scores to report. Hope to have more great scores to report in the coming months.
Joanne Perzi
NEWCOMERS BOOK GROUP
Calendar: 1st Wednesday of the month in the Library at 7:00 All new and old lovers of books and discussions of them are invited to come to any of our monthly meetings that take place on the 1st Wednesday of each month. Our upcoming calendar of books and their dates are: March 6- Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy April 3rd - Exit West by Moshin Hamikdash May 1st- Sara: The Life and Times of Sara Bernhardt by Robert Gottlieb. Our group takes turns facilitating the book discussions. We welcome all suggestions at our meetings for our book selections. For further information call Jean -908-803/2350 or Maralyn- 732-595-5050.
Submitted by Maralyn Lieberman
AN EMAIL GOOGLE GROUP HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED This is an email discussion group whereby we can share information, using our own group email address. Currently, more than 700 residents are participating in the group. It has proved to be an efficient method for sharing information pertinent to the community. While having a gmail email account is suggested, but not required, it does allow group members to view and search past postings.
The purpose of this group is: • To share and receive references or information about vendors, e.g., "I'm looking for someone to fix...;" "Does anyone know of a good dentist, dressmaker, plumber, etc." • To sell, purchase, or borrow items, e.g. "I have a ticket for.... and would like to sell it;" “Can anyone lend me a baby car seat for the weekend, etc.” • To discuss common issues with our personal property in order to seek other's opinions and share possible solutions. The Group is:
• NOT a public group ( It is for Canal Walk residents only ) • NOT for commercial or political purposes • NOT to be used as a soap box or a vehicle to "vent" about the Board, the HOA, or the builder. If you are not yet a member and would like to join the Canal Walk Google Group, send an email requesting membership to: [email protected]
For more information or questions, please call Elaine Whelan (732-560-0140 ), Julie Nixon (973-216-4077), or Evelyn Silverstein (732-650-8099 ).
Submitted by: Chickie Siegel, Evelyn Silverstein, Elaine Whelan
GREAT DECISIONS There will be two meetings during March. 'Nuclear negotiations-Back to the future' is the topic for March 6th. "The rise of populism in Europe" will be our topic on March 20. See you then. Merrill Taub
Free medical equipment! If you are in need of medical equipment or have equipment that you no longer have use for - please contact me. Here at Canal Walk, we recycle wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs, raised toilet seats, canes, and a few smaller items. I'm in touch with a faith-based organization that also houses a large supply of medical equipment. There is no fee nor time restriction for the material. Joan Klimpl 908-581-8246 Kathy Caragher 732-564-5476
PICKLEBALL With Valentine’s Day just behind us, I would like to applaud all of our loving couples who play picklelball (“PB”) together. We now have about 10 couples in CW who actively play PB (see photo of some of our couples). Dick and Marion Lloyd and Hank and I were two of the first couples at CW to play PB. Hank and I are on the PB steering committee and, as you can well imagine, many of our mealtime conversations are about PB – we discuss indoor v. outdoor balls, rules, equipment, scoring, and a myriad of other topics. Although it is wonderful having a shared interest, playing with your spouse or significant other on the court has its challenges. One partner might offer the other “helpful” criticism that might not be well received. Partners will tap paddles when a great point is scored but what happens when a mistake is made. Everyone makes mistakes and points can be lost due to unforced errors. Try to be encouraging and look for the positives during a game and share them with your loved one. Some spouses may be “tacticians” who study every point played but none of us are 5.0 players who can execute every point flawlessly. Be kind to your partner and offer encouragement when needed and praise when a good shot is made. There are many advantages in taking up a sport with your loved one and it has been proven that a shared interest can make your relationship expand and create a more engaged dynamic. The bottom line here is to have fun on the court. We all laugh when someone on the court says, “So and so will be sleeping in the garage tonight.” – but it is said in jest, and keep in mind that we’re not playing in the Olympics or for money – it’s just a game!!
So the next time you play PB (or any other shared sport) together, have fun and be nice to each other so you can play footsies under the table at your next meal. For those who don’t play but have a loved one who does or couples new to the game who would like to learn and join the growing number of PB couples here at CW, please contact Stan Spector ( [email protected] ) or Hank Goldenberg ( [email protected] ) for information. Happy Couples Play Pickleball!!! Leslie Goldenberg732-369-6136
CANAL WALK WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY
Some may feel intimidated attending our Bible Study group because of their lack of knowledge of the Bible. We can assure you that even though some may be more familiar with this book than others, each week we all glean something new from the Bible and from our life experiences. The beauty of the Bible is that is a ‘living’ book that can impact each of us in different ways. This month we are studying the life of Job. He was a man who had everything and lost it all in a heartbeat. He had many questions and received much advice from his well- meaning friends. Join us as we can sympathize with his doubts and then see how God was at work in his life through it all. We meet weekly in the Club Room on Tuesdays from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm. If you want more information, please contact Gail Tornquist at 908-625-0526 or [email protected] ; or Susan Pohli at 732-412-7223 or [email protected] . Gail Tornquist
TAP FOR FUN & FITNESS CALENDAR: • TECHNIQUE CLASS – Wednesdays 3:30 – 5:00 PM – A&C Room • PERFORMANCE CLASS – Fridays 9:00 – 10:30 AM – A&C Room On January 13, 2019, a group of Canal Walk Tap Dancers and Tap Enthusiasts took a short trip to Kean University in Union, NJ to attend a wonderful show calledHOMECOMING 25 presented by the New Jersey Tap Ensemble (NJTAP.) The performance was held in the University’s Wilkins Theatre which is a comfortable, modern auditorium with wonderful visibility from every seat. The show was dedicated to the late J. Leonard Oxley, a renowned Broadway conductor who was the NJTAP Music Director 1994-2016. The show was introduced by the Founder and Artistic Director of NJTAP, Deborah Mitchell. Miss Mitchell has been devoted to preserving and promoting the wonderful art form of rhythm tap dancing for 25 years. She is the protégé of Leslie “Bubba” Gaines of the Copasetics and student of many tap masters including Broadway Choreographer Henry LeTang. She herself has many movie and Broadway credits and has won some of tap dancing’s most prestigious awards. The show consisted of performances by current members of NJTAP and its alumni members including, but not limited to, Karen Callaway Williams, Jeffry Foote, and Maurice Chestnut. To put it concisely, all were fantastic. The original advertisement of this show mentioned that there would be special guest performers. We were excited and pleased to find out that some of these guests included Brenda Bufalino (creator of The American Tap Dance Orchestra) and Tony Waag (Artistic Director/Teacher of the American Tap Dance Foundation and Brenda’s co- creator of Woodpeckers Tap Dance Center in Soho.) They performed one of my favorite routines…the slow soft shoe standard “Taking a Chance on Love” adapted from the original performance by Honi Coles and Cholly Atkins. There were many other wonderful and talented performers, but the highlight of the show was the surprise appearance made by none other than Savion Glover. He was very charming as he danced to an improv routine from “Jelly’s Last Jam” called “In My Day.” Everyone attending said they really enjoyed the entire show. Please join us when you see our show trips advertised. They are always open to the entire community. Also I am proud to announce that in February 2019,the U.S. Postal Service unveiled its 42nd stamp in the Black Heritage series honoring famed tap dancer and actor Gregory Hines.A ceremony to unveil the stamp took place at Peter Norton Symphony Space in Manhattan. Guests at the event included Hines’ brother, Maurice, and tap dancers Savion Glover and Jason Samuels Smith.Hines promoted the entertainment traditions of tap dancing for a younger generation and is credited with renewing interest in tap during the 1990s. “Tap for Fun & Fitness” meets every Wednesday, 3:30-5:00 PM (technique class) and every Friday 9-10:30 AM (performance class) in the Canal Walk Clubhouse Arts and Crafts Room. No experience is needed. Wear comfortable, workout clothes and hard soled shoes or tap shoes (no sneakers, please.) If you have any questions, please call Angela Horan 732-412-7266 or Marsha Shpiner 973-584-1688. Remember, performing is not required. Our goal is to “Tap for Fun & Fitness.” Please consider joining us. Tapping is good for you! And we would love to have you. Angela Horan
SUNDAY CINEMA SEASON SIX - COMING ATTRACTIONS: • MARCH 24, 2019 - Nebraska - 2014 AFI Movie of the Year Award • APRIL 14, 2019 - The Big Sick - 2018 Academy Award Best Original Screenplay • MAY 5, 2019 - The Imitation Game - 2015 BAFTA Best Leading Actor Award • JUNE 9, 2019 - Doubt - 2009 Screen Actors Guild Best Actress Award
Canal Walk movie lovers braved January 13 cold winter’s day to watch the 1994 film, Eat Drink Man Woman, powerful drama about family, tradition, and most of all love. A lively discussion, superbly led by Marion, involved the story of three sisters and their father that centers on the weekly Sunday meal. Mary Ann Ratzman provided Asian themed decorations and sweets that morphed the Card Room into a Chinese New Year celebration of the Year of the Pig. Added to that were the abundant gourmet appetizers that residents enjoyed while socializing with their neighbors. January birthdays were celebrated with ‘kisses,’ while Arthur Bransdorfer won the movie quiz ‘sushi’ prize and Margo Person ‘dished’ it out to win another Asian prize. Join us on March 24 as the award winning film, Nebraska , is presented. The movie tells the story of a cantankerous old buzzard Woody Grant (Bruce Dern) as he receives a sweepstakes notice in the mail and mistakenly believing it to be a winner, insists on making a 750-mile trip to Lincoln, Nebraska to collect his prize.His son David (Will Forte) accompanies him and during a stop in their Nebraska hometown, word gets out about Woody's ‘fortune,’ first making him a hero, then later, the target of predatory people. LATE BREAKING NEWS: March film aficionados will be enjoying even better listening enhancements as audio/microphones are being added for the film discussions. On behalf of Sunday Cinema viewers, thank you to Jim Lyttle and all the Board of Directors for providing equipment and support services for Canal Walk movie lovers. A large factor in the success and continued growth of Sunday Cinema is due to the cooperation and generosity of the Board since the group’s inception six years ago. ALL CANAL WALK RESIDENTS ARE WELCOME TO COME TO SUNDAY CINEMA to relax, view, socialize and discuss award winning classic, documentary and independent films. Sunday Cinema meets each month in the fall, winter and spring. We gather in the Ladies Card Room at 1:30 PM for a 2 PM film start. Please check the calendar in the Canal Walk Newsletter, on the Website and Cable Station, along with the Clubhouse Lobby poster, for the entire schedule of all the FREE upcoming film events. To receive email notices with current information, email Marion at [email protected] . See you at the movies! Marion Yudow and Judy Gottlieb
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS The Franklin Township Environmental Commission and the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership have teamed up to clean up the Mile Run Brook on April 13, from 9:30 to 12. All supplies (gloves, garbage bags, pickers) will be provided. Parking at St. Peter & Paul Church, 285 Hamilton St. Somerset. Volunteers welcome. Bring your own water bottles. For more information contact Stan Jaracz at [email protected] A Developer proposes to construct about a 973,000 square feet warehouse. (entrance on Veronica Avenue). The warehouse would encompass part of the Tara Golf complex. In this application, no variances are required. This is a manufacturing zone. Paul Walitsky
CANAL WALK IRISH AMERICAN CLUB
Here we are already in the third month of the year, which includes the first day of spring – officially. Since we have had some samples during February, it is good to look forward to warmer days not that far off. This month there is no official Irish American Club event, but we hope many of you will enjoy the Community celebration of St. Patrick’s Day on March 17 in the Clubhouse. Here are the projected Club events for 2019: MARCH 17 Community Clubhouse St. Patrick’s Day Party APRIL11 Trip to Ellis Island MAY 16 Clubhouse Meeting: Return visit of Henry McNally JUNE 11 Luncheon outing to Spring Lake/Ocean Grove SEPTEMBER 27 Possible trip to Celtic Fest in Bethlehem, PA, details later OCTOBER 17 Luncheon outing, (via jitney) details available later NOVEMBER 14 Clubhouse Meeting: a speaker on the History of the development of Irish Cuisine. (More details later in the year) DECEMBER 5 Annual Pot Luck Dinner As we have mentioned before, should anyone have a suggestion for either an event or a guest speaker, please contact Sally Zacharczyk, our busy Cultural/Events Coordinator. Flyers are distributed at a meeting and then put into the carousel afterwards for those who could not make it. Hope to see many of our members on March 17 In the Clubhouse.
Brigid Murphy Brown
Vance Gilbert Performs at Freedom Club House
Sunday, April 7, from 2-4 pm Presented by the CW Activities Committee/Michael Veitch. The cost is $15 paid in advance. Please see Jodi at the Clubhouse for tickets. Light refreshments will be served.
“Vance is one of the funniest songwriters I know. And his voice is truly amazing! He opened for Jay Leno in New Brunswick not that long ago-that’s how funny he is. He is constantly touring and also teaching at music festivals and retreats. He is a dear friend who puts on a great show.”
Michael Veitch
CANAL WALK QUILTERS The next meeting of the Canal Walk Quilters will be Monday, March 25 th at 1:00 in the Freedom Clubhouse. We will be finishing up quilts which we hope to deliver to Quilts for Kids in April. As of February 1 st , we have completed over 24 quilts; you can see a sampling of them in the photo taken during our retreat in January.
This month we will continue to work on quilts and will be sorting fabrics and planning the next group of quilts to be made. New quilters of all abilities are always welcome to join us. Happy Stitching – Sue Watt
ITCH'N' TO STITCH Calendar: Every Thursday from 1 to 3 in the Craft Room. In the month of March, we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. So who was St. Patrick? Was there really a St. Patrick. Definitely. Did he really drive the snakes out of Ireland? Probably not, since snakes weren’t native to Ireland. St. Patrick was born in Britain as Maewyn Succat. At age 16 (around AD 400), he was kidnapped from his home on the west coast and carried off to Ireland to become a slave who worked as a shepherd. After six years, he escaped; upon returning home, he received his call (in a dream) to preach the Gospel. He spent the next 15 years in a monastery, preparing for his missionary work. When he became a priest, his name was changed to Patricius. Although, some Christians lived in Ireland at the time, it was Patrick who spread Christianity throughout the land and brought an organized church into existence. (From the Old Farmer’s Almanac) So what has this to do with stitching? Absolutely nothing, but I like the story. We continue to collect yarn (and related items: needles, crochet hooks, craft items, etc.) to make bears and scarves. Please call Gloria if you have anything to donate to this cause. Gloria Sipos 732 535 9160
SHUTTERBUGS
by Rich DeBella by Jay Wald
by Renee Howard by Julie Nixon
by Betty Witt by David DesRochers On January 10, Jim DelGuidice, a New Jersey resident, photographer, and historian, gave a talkcalled “Gotcha!” in which he presented iconic images over the history of photography andexplained the unusual techniques and circumstances that led to each image. It was veryinteresting to learn that even the earliest photographers were post processing their pictures, insome cases using a sharp knife and glue to literally cut and paste parts of their prints. TheShutterbugs have initiated a new project called Famous Photos and Photographers. A memberwill volunteer to research a renowned photographer and a few photographs, then make a shortpresentation to the whole group. The point is to learn why some photographs are considered“great”. Some selected photos from the Recent Photos and January Monthly Challengecollections accompany this article. The challenge for January was “Shades of Any One Color”and there were some very creative submissions.
by Phil Witt The Shutterbugs monthly meetings arescheduled for 7:00PM on the third Monday of each month (except for December 2019 whenthere is no meeting) in the Ballroom of the CW Clubhouse. Non-member CW residents arewelcome to attend and listen in at each meeting. Shutterbugs membership forms are availablefrom Julie Nixon [email protected] Hank Goldenberg
Spanish Tertulia
The Canal Walk Spanish Tertulia gathered in February and enjoyed a pleasant meeting which focused on Mexico . For refreshments, we were served “Churros y Chocolate,” a typical Mexican treat. If you like churros and don’t have a churros machine, you can buy fresh churros at Costco. To make authentic Mexican chocolate, buy a box of “Abuelita” in the supermarket.
The Canal Walk Tertulia (ter -tu-li-a) is a group of interested residents who enjoy socializing and learning about Spanish speaking countries, their people and culture. It is an outgrowth or extension of the original Beginning Spanish class, which attempted to study and learn the basics of the Spanish language. The group evolved and gradually became the Spanish Tertulia. The original Spanish students went from a Beginning level to an Intermediate level. However, as they realized that some practice and study was needed, it became easier to meet to socialize, and learn without much effort or study. The Canal Walk Spanish Tertulia bega n in August 2017, and has continued to meet for 18 consecutive months up until the present February, 2019. The Tertulia offered an opportunity to learn from a guest speaker who had experienced life in a Spanish speaking country. We enjoyed reports and di scussions on Spain, Mexico, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Ecuador, Panama, Cuba, and Argentina, which are countries of Central and South America. We were fortunate to have guest speakers who were well informed and able to share their experiences with us. In o ur multiethnic Canal Walk community, Spanish should be represented. Although only few CW residents are of Spanish/ Hispanic heritage, we are interested in furthering our appreciation of the large population represented from 20 Spanish speaking countries. In the US, we currently have more than 12 million immigrants from these countries. Many have assimilated and are making a contribution to our great country. Currently we are concerned about the large number of people coming from Central America, seeking w ork for a new and better life in the US. We are challenged to find solutions to many problems created by illegal immigration and must hope for a fair and just solution to these problems. As the winter months are before us, many CW residents travel to war mer climates. Several of the Spanish Tertulia members (about 20), come and go. Therefore, we will have a “Winter Hiatus.” In springtime, if there is sufficient interest and participation, the Spanish Tertulia may reconvene and organize to continue meeting s and activities. For now, ¡Adiós! ¡Hasta la vista ! ¡Qué les vaya bien! y ¡BUENA SUERTE! Claire Biagini 732 -564-5518
TRIPS
• March 20 th - Dear Evan Hansen @ Music Box Theatre • March 23 rd -Finding Neverland @ State Theatre • April 4 th - Tootsie @Marquis Theatre • April 17 th - Ain’t too Proud @ Imperial Theatre • April 18th- Benny &Joon @Paper Mill Playhouse • April 27 th - The Sound of Music @ MPAC • May 1 st - Shen Yun @ NJPAC • May 8 th -Beetlejuice @ Winter Garden Theatre • May 15 th - To Kill A Mocking Bird @ Shubert Theatre • May 29 th - Happy Together Tour @ State Theatre • May 31 st - Yankees vs Red Sox @ Yankee Stadium • June 10 th - Yankees vs Mets @ Yankee Stadium • June 13 th - My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m in Therapy @ MPAC • June 20 th - Beauty & the Beast @ Paper Mill Playhouse • June 26 th - Lion King @ Minskoff Theatre • July 17 th -The Prom @ Longacre’s Theatre • Aug 8 th -Moulin Rouge @ Al Hirschfeld Theatre • Sept. 9-13 th - Niagara Falls Trip
Note:
The following are trips, concerts, shows and places we are considering: *Bernadette Peters *Ms. Doubtfire * Derek Hough Dance Show
We are also considering long trips to Branson Missouri (June), Vanderbilt/ FDR Culinary Institute (Spring/May).
Reminder to all residents: The first 2 weeks for ALL trips are open to residents only , Guests may then be invited unless otherwise noted on the flyer. All Flyers must be timestamped. Please fill out the flyer entirely and legibly. If your flyer is not entirely written out, it will be added to the bottom of the list until we can find the time to find the information within the day. Thank you. Please look for flyers for our trips and events in the Clubhouse. Jodie Nolasco
ACTING UP CALENDAR: First Tuesday, 7:30 PM – Freedom Clubhouse Acting UP-- where characters are welcome. Canal Walk residents gather the first Tuesday of each month to read short scripts from plays, radio/TV shows and melodramas. We have a few laughs and contemplate the wonders of the amateur acting world. No previous stage experience is needed to join, just an open mind and a wish to have fun. In fact, most of us had never been on a formal performance stage before joining Acting UP but have overcome great fears to entertain our Canal Walk neighbors. Join us in Freedom Clubhouse the first Tuesday of each month @ 7:30 PM For information contact: Bruce Davidson or Marion Yudow. Submitted by Bruce Davidson
Talk of the Walk
We accept short entries regarding significant/unusual accomplishments, milestone anniversaries and birthdays, births, deaths and acknowledgements.Because most of us have children and grandchildren who make us proud of their accomplishments, we will only include submissions about them that are extremely significant or unusual.
The Spanish Class said good-bye to their treasured instructor, Leonor Conzevoy, on Wednesday, January 23. She has sold her home in Canal Walk and has moved to Florida for the next chapter in her life. Leonor has been a dedicated volunteer as the leader of this class for almost three years and introduced an exciting method of teaching by utilizing a simple story book in Spanish, with short chapters, for the students to read and discuss. Rather than utilizing traditional language instruction, this was a fun way to gain new vocabulary with incidental learning of rules of grammar. On the 23d, after the class read and discussed the weekly chapter, a small reception was held to honor Leonor and to send her off with a big Muchas Gracias! Bueno Suerte! Hasta la Vista! We will all miss her! Submitted by Ellen Roth
Cultural Arts COME CELEBRATE WITH US! APRIL 13TH IS OUR 80TH CONCERT!
To mark this unbelievable milestone, the concert features Broadway star, Jeremy Stolle. He called to say he is very excited to be coming back to Canal Walk after the fabulous reception he received here last year. This concert will show off his talent of reaching the audience with his witty remarks and stories, and his gorgeous voice. It will be an intimate evening with Jeremy and his fine accompanist on the grand piano doing the songs he has performed on stage, and the newest songs from current Broadway musicals.
JUNE 8- THE EVERLY BROTHERS EXPERIENCE- STARRING THE ZMED BROTHERS
They started as country singers, but are credited as the founders of the new style of music called Rock and Roll. Zachary and Dylan Zmed, sons of Broadway star Adrian Zmed, bring the close harmony of the Everly Brothers to life with the songs that rocked the music world and remain famous today. Praised by Chet Atkins, famed country singer, Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, and Art Garfunkel, the partner of Paul Simon, for their pioneering in the new musical revolution, their music will be sung here by these other brothers, backed by their trio. You will remember and hum along to songs such as Dream,Wake Up Little Suzie, Bye Bye Love and When Will I Be Loved plus dozens more. The Beatles credit the EVERLY BROTHERS for inspiring their budding careers. The Zmed Brothers will be coming here from their home base in California, but you only have to walk or drive part of a mile to see them. Hurry to buy your tickets.
JULY 13- SWING INTO SUMMER
Cool sounds on a cornet, hot notes on the piano, soft beats on the bass, sweet and sassy songs by the singer, ice cream and iced tea; the signs of a summer night. This quartet led by world famous Warren Vache' on cornet and Tomoko Ohno on our Yamaha, promises to relax you yet sweep you up in their embrace of swing and soft jazz on a summer's eve. You will hum along with the familiar tunes and move your body in time with the rhythm. What a pleasant way to enjoy the season's lazy nights of summer.
SEPTEMBER 7- THE JERSEY TENORS
Founded by BRIAN NOONAN, another former star of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, The Tenors are on a whirlwind tour of the United States. Their repertoire boasts a huge array of songs crossing over from musical theater to Italian love songs and arias. The blend of voices in perfect harmony and the choices of music have become legend performed by Il Divo, the European quartet. Singing tunes from JERSEY BOYS and other pop hits, and reaching the high notes of O Solo Mio, make this New Jersey quartet outstanding as well. With their backup band helping to create a total professional performance, we are certain they will make our fall season get off to a wonderful start. After each concert our reception committee prepares dessert platters filled with delectable pastries and trays of fruit and cheese. They are placed on buffet tables decorated with unusual and creative centerpieces. Our goal is to give you a complete and most enjoyable evening out. With so many new homes being built, we urge you to purchase tickets for these shows when the fliers are first put in the racks because seating in the ballroom is limited.
Lucille Taub
Hadassah CALENDAR: • March 12 : Monthly meeting, 7:30 PM will include a program on “Spring Cleaning” presented by Jamie Novak, an Organizing Humorist. Jamie is returning after an entertaining visit last year. If anyone would like to bring a gently worn pair of shoes we will be donating them to a Women’s Shelter. This event is open to non-members for $5 .• March 13: “The Immigrant”, 8:30 PM at George Street Playhouse. The story of a Russian-Jewish emigrant seeking refuge in Galveston, Texas in 1909. Sue Nacson can answer your questions on theater parties. • April 9: We are pleased to have Rabbi Arnold Gluck from Temple Beth-El in Hillsborough address us, as well as our Passover Desert Tasting. Please let us know if you would like to contribute a Passover Dessert for all to enjoy. .• June 9, 2PM, The Villagers, “Shrek” will be presented.
Some of the highlights of 2018 accomplishments, done with your generous donations, include bringing humanitarian spinal surgery to Ethiopian children during a week-long medical mission and providing life-saving surgery to Syrian children suffering from congenital heart conditions at Hadassah Hospital as part of the Good Neighbor Program. We celebrate the participation of an Israeli team from a Hadassah youth Village, mostly young immigrants from the former Soviet Union and Ukraine, in the First Robotics Competition in Houston, making it all the way to the semifinals. ShopRite certificates for $25, $50 and $100 are available from Janet Kliger and Evelyn Lasky. The certificates can be used at any time and at any ShopRite. It is a “no cost to you” way to raise money for our many medical and educational projects. We generally meet on the second Tuesday evening of the month in the Canal Walk Clubhouse. We enjoy theater parties, trips to places of interest in the area, a book club and a Lunch ‘n Learn activity. Join us. Membership chairwomen are Marlene Glickman and Fran Musler. Edna Stone, Communications Committee
Women's Club March 14 - Souper Bowl Luncheon 20 - General Meeting in Ball Room & “History of the Movie Musicals” 28 - Souper Bowl Luncheon April 17 - TBA May 15 - Karaoke Night June 19 - Annual Pot Luck & Trip Down Memory Lane
Gloria Sipos taking a break at Bingo Night Enjoying a night at BINGO We enjoyed two Souper Bowls in February but still have two more to look forward to in blustery March (see dates above and flyers in the lobby.) Beat the winter blues with homemade soups, salads, desserts and pasta dishes from local restaurants, all for $10.00. Don’t forget to bring your bowl . As always, we thank the local restaurants who donate to these lunches and ask you to support them. There will be a complete list of these restaurants in next month’s Newsletter. Don’t forget to tell them you are from Canal Walk when you patronize them. NOTE: Souper Bowl Luncheons are held on Thursdays instead of Wednesdays. Join us for a special program in March. We will be presenting “The History of the Movie Musicals.” More great original film musicals were made during the 1950 than any other time period. Join us as we celebrate the likes of Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly and more. We promise you will leave with a song in your heart and your toes tapping. This event is open to the community. Look for flyers in the lobby. Looking ahead to May, our very own Dave and Joni Schlesinger will present a fun filled evening of karaoke. Join us for laughs, music and of course dessert. REMINDER : Dues for the year are $10 and are due in January. There will be a late fee for dues paid after May 1. Make check payable to CWHOAAF and earmark it WC dues/2019. Your dues pay for desserts at our meetings, paper goods, entertainment, etc. If you have not paid dues for 2 years you may be dropped from our roll. Only members in good standing will be able to attend certain events. Please pay by check only to assure an accurate accounting of payment , write “dues” in the memo space and do not staple checks to anything. Checks can be brought to any meeting or dropped off in the Women’s Club mail box in the office. If you have any question regarding your membership status, please call Karen Anderson at 732 595 5890 . Submitted by Gloria Sipos
Grandparents’ Group On Sunday, April 7, from 1:00 – 3:00 pm, in the Ballroom, we present “Springtime Celebration!” Come one and all grandchildren for a fun two hours. There will be egg rolling, ring toss, Bingo, crafts and a snack for all. The price is $7 for children 4 years and up. All others come along for free. Flyers are on the carousel. Sign up for this fun day to welcome back spring. Nina Pesce
Veterans’ Club I was very pleased to hear about the strong turnout of our membership at the January meeting who were able to sample authentic U.S. Army MRE’s (Meals Ready to eat). For those members who can remember eating “C and K” rations, I’m sure the quality of this food surpassed what you likely ate in the field. I tried an MRE several months ago and, although I never ate food from a tin can, I really thought the variety and tastiness of the packaged food speaks to how far we’ve come to help sustain our troops under combat conditions. A special “thank you” to Chet Trechock for making arrangements to have a supply of MRE’s available for our meeting. My understanding is that you all had a good time (once you got the hang of opening and heating the food under directions of 2 nd Lt. Anderson), which was as important as the sampling and sharing of food together. Before you know it, our Annual Memorial Day Service and Picnic will be upon us. Stay tuned for more details.
Sam Pesce, Commander
OPERATION SHOEBOX NJ
The first Operation Shoebox packing of 2019 took place on Saturday, February 16 th at the VFW Hall on Washington Avenue in Manville. This packing is near and dear to the Veterans’ Club because it is dedicated to our deceased Commander, Linn Smith. He would be proud of the continued support that the Canal Walk community has shown to Operation Shoebox NJ and in their commitment to bring “a touch of home” to our military.
Sam Pesce for Operation Shoebox
Men’s Club
MEN’S CLUB CALENDAR
Jan Holmsteup of Habitat for Humanity being appreciated by Vince Renzulli and David Gelfand
March 11: The speaker for the March meeting will be Vincent Bruno. He is a Beatles historian and sixties rock historian. His topic will be on the early history of the Beatles. As a Beatles scholar and storyteller, he looks to both embrace not just their legacy but to present an entertaining, interactive and informative session for both the casual listener as well as the hard core Beatles fan.
March 18 & 19: Nighttime AARP Driver Safety Class will be held at the Arts & Crafts room. Details and sign-up sheets to follow.
March 28: Board meeting at 7:00 PM at the Boardroom. Members are welcome to join us and get involved if you want to.
April 8: Franklin Township’s assemblyman, Mr. Joe Danielson, will be talking to us about the subject of marijuana legislation in New Jersey, its medical applications, etc. You may have some questions. Join us for this very important meeting.
April 8 & 9: Daytime AARP Driver Safety Class will be held. More details will be posted as the date nears.
WE WANT YOUR IDEAS AND SUGGESTIONS: The Men’s Club Board is asking for your suggestions on future speakers and topics of interest, whether for the members only and/or for the Canal Walk community. Please contact any one of the board members with your ideas. Your help will make our club even better. Better yet come join our monthly board members meeting held every last Thursday of the month in the boardroom at 7:00 pm.
TEE TIME:
June 11 – 12: The Atlantic City golf outing. We will be at the Tropicana. The trip will be for a one-night stay with two rounds of golf. Cost for golf only - $155; with room - $220. Courses will include McCullogh’s Emerald Links and Blue Heron Pines. $100 deposit required by 2/28.
July 8 – 12: The Canal Walk Ryder Cup (men and women). A rematch between the Pinstripers and the Over the Hill Gang, both teams subject to additions and deletions based on availability. Format to be a two-person scramble. Pizza party at Freedom Clubhouse on Friday night, July 12, at $10 per person.
July 24: The Canal Walk Memorial Outing to remember those friends who have gone on to the 19 th hole. This year’s event will be at Heron Glen – a modified shotgun start, “A,” “B” and “C” flights, scramble format and Italian buffet lunch at about $100.
August 20, 21 and 22: The Fifth Annual Somerset Walkers Cup (men and women). Course to be determined. Format to include singles, scramble and best ball. Entry fee of $10 for the party.
September 25: The Fall Outing will again be held at the Royce Brook on the East Course with a modified shotgun start, “A,” “B” and “C” flights, scramble format and Italian buffet lunch. Cost to be about $100.
Ron Lerner
SOFTBALL WANTED: all able-bodied men. We need you to join our Men’s Club Softball team as we continue to aspire for the championship or simply just to go out there and have some fun. Call me if you have any questions.
Frank Spataro 732-319-2114
FRANKLIN FOOD BANK The Canal Walk Men’s Club conducts two drives each year to benefit the Franklin Food Bank, one in July and the other in December. Our participation, however, is ongoing throughout the year. We have stationed a box in the cloakroom in the Clubhouse to receive donations throughout the year. When enough items have accumulated they are delivered to the Food Bank.
Pasta, cereal, canned goods of any kind – fruits, vegetables, and meats are all needed. Baby food and formula are also in demand.Please do not donate food which has passed the expiration date or food packed in glass containers. Let’s try to make life a little easier for families and individuals who depend on the Food Bank for support.
John Tighe & Paul Walitsky
EYES FOR THE NEEDY If you have prescription or even non-prescription glasses you no longer need or use, please bring these to the cloakroom where you can drop these in a container specified for this purpose. We will find new life for these otherwise discarded items. From the onset of this program, 176 pairs of eyeglasses have already been collected and donated. Keep them coming.
Bob Cohen
RETIRED SMOKE ALARMS The Men’s Club has started a collection program for expired, broken, replaced smoke detectors and alarms for their proper disposal. Due to the materials that make up these detectors, these require proper and responsible disposal. Please drop your “retired” detectors in the box in the cloakroom in the Clubhouse.
Bob Morris
CARE COMMITTEE
We are all aging and there will be life-related changes, events, etc. that we will experience and which should be acknowledged. We CARE about what you want to share with us. Let us know how we can be there for you. We ask also that, if you have not already done so, please provide us with your birth month at the next meeting. Your birthday is important too. Stan Schneider DUES AND MEMBERSHIP Dues are important. It keeps us going and doing all the good things we do for the club and for others. Please bring your $25 check (pay to CWHOAAF) in the next meeting or bring it to the Men’s Club mailbox at the Clubhouse at anytime. If you’re not yet a member, what are you waiting for? Enrollment is open all year round for new members. Call John Tarantino at (908-400-1014) for more information. Come join us at our next meeting (every second Monday of the month) and bring a neighbor who’s also thinking of joining. If your “recruit” joins, you will be entitled to five 50/50 tickets during that meeting. You can also find out more about us by going to our website at http://canalwalkhoa.com/ . Jay del Prado
Italian American Club CALENDAR
March 4 Business Meeting March 19 St. Joseph’s Pastry Night
On Tuesday, January 22 we made a jitney trip to Destination Dogs in New Brunswick, and all who attended enjoyed a variety of hot dogs including wild boar and alligator.
We have several events planned for March and April and more to come in the following months. Be sure to check your email, and the Clubhouse, for flyers. Our membership has grown in the last couple of years, so please act quickly if there is something you want to attend. Members who attend our monthly meeting will get preference on all jitney trips. Please remember that all our profits from activities go to our Annual Scholarship Fund for girls and boys from local high schools. Without support from our membership the number of scholarships will be reduced.
NOTICE :Due to our increasing membership, effective January 2018, all of our future events will be MEMBERS ONLY to allow all members to participate. Annual dues is $15 if paid by May 1and $20 thereafter. NEW MEMBERSHIP IS $25 PER PERSON AND WE EXPECT BOTH FAMILY MEMBERS TO JOIN. ONLY PAID MEMBERS WILL BE ALLOWED TO ATTEND MEMBERS ONLY EVENTS. Please fill out a Membership form found in the office at the Clubhouse. Please include your email address and phone number with your check payable to CWHOAAF and write membership in the memo line and place in the Italian American mailbox. Ciao, Mike Palmieri
NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE The Canal Walk Newsletter is published monthly to keep the residents informed about events at Canal Walk. We accept articles submitted by Canal Walk Residents subject to the following guidelines: We do not accept any articles expressing political or religious opinions. We do not accept any articles that resemble an editorial. We do not accept any articles that advertise for profit. Paid advertising is available through our Publisher, About Our Town. The deadline for all material is the 9 th of the previous month by 6 PM. Please submit your articles on time. All submissions must be emailed with the author clearly stated. The deadline for theAprilNewsletter will March9th by 6 PM. LATE ARTICLES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Please send us articles about past events as well as future plans for your group or club. In addition, send photos to Jay del Prado to go with your articles.
Items for Talk of the Walk and Recipes should be sent to Ellen Catalina at [email protected]
Home Hints sent to Jeff Shpiner at [email protected]
Club Activities and Announcements and Poetry sent to Susan Smith at [email protected] .
Staying Healthy sent to Nina Pesce at [email protected].
Meet Your Resident Artist/Neighbor sent to Frank Catalina [email protected]
Photos sent to Jay del Prado at [email protected]
All articles received by any member of the Committee are acknowledged either by email or phone. Please note : If you didn't get a confirmation, it means that we didn't get it. Carry-overs will not be included. You must submit a new article each month. We reserve the right to edit, condense, or reject submitted material. Do NOT submit serious looking material from the Internet unless it has first been checked as authentic with Snopes.com or a similar web-checking site. Susan, Ellen, Nina, Frank, Jay, Jeff, Anil
Computer Corner The computer help group is Art Hoffman, Bob Fisher, Sue Kobren, Dave Reissman, and me. When a call comes in for computer help, Art, Bob or I handle the PC’s and I refer the caller to Dave or Sue if it’s an Apple product. Sometimes the caller wants help with an android or an interface issue with a smart TV or hooking up a blue ray player or some combination thereof. We really don’t have that expertise, so if there is someone out there who can volunteer their time for those type of issues, let me know and I will gladly add your name to our help group. Karen Price Mueller writes about scams for the Star Ledger. Last month she talked extensively about cell phone scams, IRS phishing scams, and Medicare card scams. Bottom line – (1) if you don’t recognize the incoming phone number on your cell screen, don’t answer it, and (2) the IRS and Medicare will never initiate a call to you (but they may call you responding to your call). Karen did identify one type of phone scam that I really think we at Canal Walk will never have to worry about. It’s called a sextortion scam. The threat usually consists of a cybercriminal telling a user that he’s been infected with malware and the crook has managed to obtain evidence of the victim performing sexual acts or having illegal sexual- related files on his computer. They threaten to expose the victim to friends and family if a ransom demand is not paid in cryptocurrency in a given time. Well, they came to the wrong community if they think we’re going to pay them off with cryptocurrency. Hell, we don’t even know what cryptocurrency is. Finally, here’s one that came in the regular mail. It’s not a scam, but it’s awfully close to being one. It’s a “clean energy sign & switch” opportunity. It says “If you would prefer your electricity come from clean renewable sources like solar and wind, please return the enclosed form”. It goes on to say “PSE&G will then switch the supply of your electricity to 100% wind and solar energy, with no enrollment or conversion fees”. Wait a minute…how do I get clean electricity and my neighbor gets dirty coal based electricity if we’re on the same wire. You need to read the fine print where it says your energy comes through the purchase of “renewable energy certificates”. And if you read the projected rates, you will be paying a 20% premium for those clean paper certificates. It’s not quite a scam. Howard Kliger
Staying Healthy You Just Can’t Make Stories Like This Up!
As senior citizens now and having the ability to become snowbirds, Sam and I look back in time when this was not an option. We do remember vacations we took with our two daughters to California and Florida when they were young. Dina, our oldest, would nestle down in her seat with her teddy bear and Lia, our youngest, perhaps her favorite Barbie doll to comfort them and allay their fear of flying. But, after reading an article from the Naples News last month, I just needed to allow you all to know how our own personal health and comfort has come a long way. The headline reads: “Pennsylvania man says emotional support alligator helps his depression.” Yup…you read that right. Really? It seems that Joie Henney, aged 65 said, his emotional support alligator helps with his depression. “My emotional support animal, named Wally, likes to snuggle and give hugs, despite being a 5 foot long alligator.” The York Haven man said he received approval from his doctor to use Wally as his emotional support animal after not wanting to go on medication for depression. “I had Wally and when I came home and was around him, it was all OK,” said Mr. Henney. Wally was rescued from outside Orlando at 14 months old and is still growing. Henney proudly said that Wally could be 16 feet long one day. He says Wally eats chicken wings and shares an indoor plastic pond with a smaller rescue alligator named Scrappy.
“The alligator has never bitten anyone and is even afraid of cats,” according to Henney. He acknowledges that “Wally is a wild animal and could probably tear my arm off,” but says he’s never been afraid of him. The article goes on to say that Henney frequently takes Wally out for meet-and- greets at places like senior centers and minor league baseball games. “He’s just like a dog. He wants to be loved and petted.” Well, Sam and I will be returning to New Jersey this month and,while here in Florida, if anyone would like us to meet up with a baby alligator, I could call UPS and see if it can be shipped to you, though I don’t know what the shipping charges would be. After all, your mental health is uppermost to me. However, I’ll tell you now, that if Mr. Henney is coming up on our Jet Blue flight, there’s no way I’m going to share my Fritos with Wally!
Nina Pesce
The following article was submitted for the February Newsletter. We made a mistake and reprinted the article For December in the February Newsletter. We sincerely apologize to Judy Gottlieb and all pet lovers.
The Animal Corner PETS ON PLANES. Emotional support or sham? More and more folks are flying with pets they say are necessary for emotional support with airlines reporting people are calling them emotional-support animals. Such animals don’t have to perform any tasks or services for their owners, as service animals do. Instead a licensed therapist may write a letter certifying that the person traveling with the animal has a mental illness – like PTSD or anxiety – that the animal soothes by its presence. There are abuses with a letter from any medical practitioner saying a person needs the emotional-support animal can get the owner a mail order certificate over the web for $50 to $200. Some websites promise a doctor’s note with no need to actually see the doctor. As of 2017, only 21 states have laws against the fraudulent use of service animals. In 2015, one major airline carried more than 24,000 emotional-support animals, compared with about 14,000 service animals. Under a federal law, emotional-support animals are allowed to board a flight at no extra charge. But there is a surge in passenger complaint statistics kept by the U.S. Department of Transportation about these animals - a surge of 500% in the last 5 years, increasing from 411 in 2012 to 2,041 in 2016. In contrast, complaints related to service animals have remained relatively steady, about 13 each year for U.S. airlines. Emotional- support animal complaints range from annoyances (defecating in the aisles) to bite injuries to both humans and other animals, or passenger allergic reactions. So are the animals, ranging from dogs and cats, to pigs, ducks, turkeys, peacocks and horses (yes, horses), providing comfort or is the owner abusing the system? Learn more at www.webmd.com . BUT IF YOU DO TRAVEL WITH FIDO, WHERE DO YOU STAY? There’s no need to leave your best friend behind. Finding a hotel that will accept Fido continues to get easier – rising 60% over the last few years. In fact, hotels are now adding pet-friendly services, from walking Fido or Fluffy to arranging pet sitters. One website, PetFriendlyTravel.com, lists activities you can do with the pet, including attending professional baseball games, dining at restaurants, and visiting outdoor historic sites and national parks. There are restrictions, such as what your pet can and cannot do, so it’s good to know before you plan a trip. Read more at www.CostcoConnection.com . LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO LOCALLY ON FEBRUARY 8 TO 10? How about the Super Pet Expo at the NJ Convention and Expo Center in Edison? Pets are welcome – no charge, but all pets must be leashed, although retractable leashes are not permitted. There are 150 exhibitors offering education information on food and care, toys and clothing to purchase, pet demonstrations, entertainment, training tips and more. Check out www.superpetexpo.com for additional info. WEB PURCHASES FOR PET MEDS - HOW SAFE IS IT? You can save with online pet med purchases but beware of meds sold that are fake, expired or sold without an Rx. What to do? Ask your vet to recommend a reliable site or look for one that ends in ‘ pharmacy .’ Do not use a website that does not require an Rx for Rx drugs. Compiled from www.pets.webmd.com . MORE WAYS TO SHOW YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT FOR HOMELESS ANIMALS. 1. LEARN HOW WAS YOUR MONETARY SHELTER DONATION IS SPENT.You sent a heartfelt check to the Shelter so here’s the spending breakdown: $8,162 for food; $5,785 for cat litter; $15,945 for spay/neuter services; and $22,204 for vet treatments, preventatives and special sick animal care. Your generosity goes a long way – thank you! Compiled from www.secondchanceforanimals.org. 2. UPDATE ON BOOK DONATION. Early last year, animal lover, Chickie Siegel, facilitated cases of an animal themed book to the Shelter written by her late friend, Sonia Cohen. Happy to report that the bookshave been a huge success given to local school children as an educational tool. Thank you, Chickie! THE FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP ANIMAL SHELTER (a no-kill shelter) provides food and care for the animals waiting for their forever homes. Want to help? The Shelter is always in need of dry/wet dog/puppy/cat/kitten food, KMR kitten milk replacer, clean and worn towels/blankets/sheets, paper towels/sponges, flea medications, Q-Tips, catnip, laundry detergent/dish soap/bleach, heating pads w/o auto shutoff, pet toys and of course, monetary donations for a tax contribution receipt are warmly welcomed. NO DONATION IS TOO SMALL. The Shelter is open: Tuesday – Friday, noon to 3 PM and Saturday noon - 6 PM, and is located at the Municipal Complex on Demott Lane (732-873-2500, ext. 6255). The outside donation bin is always available when the Shelter is closed. There’s also a donation box inside the Franklin Township Library - feed your mind and an animal at the same time! If you cannot get to the Shelter, please contact me for help in getting your donated items to the Shelter at (732) 356-0023 or at [email protected] . The Shelter appreciates Canal Walk residents’ consistent generous contributions and so do the animals. Thank you for caring and sharing. Judy Gottlieb
ANIMAL CORNER ARTICLE FOR MARCH
THE MEN’S CLUB CARING IS BOUNDLESS! We’re all aware howthe Men’s Club supports not only our Canal Walk community but also the surrounding township. One of the ways they show their unselfish volunteer efforts is with the Franklin Township Animal Shelter. Members volunteer there, contribute food and supplies, and through the generosity of its Club members, donate a large monetary amount to help care for the dogs and cats waiting for a home. Thank you, Canal Walk Men’s Club, for your continued caring and support. TOXOPLASMOSIS - SAY WHAT? Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a parasite (toxoplasma gondii), which is found in the intestines of some animals, including cats. The infection can cause cysts to form in your body, usually in your brain and muscles, including your heart. But if your immune system is healthy, it isn’t likely to cause you any trouble. You can have toxoplasmosis without knowing it. It’s more likely to cause problems in people whose immune systems aren’t at full strength because of a health problem like some types of cancer or cancer treatments or if you have been exposed to it if you’re an organ donor or have had a blood transfusion. You might come into contact with the parasite if you clean out a litter box. If you have a cat, here are few tips to make sure you and your family are safe around Fluffy: keep her indoors so she doesn’t pick up the parasite; keep her off the counters where food is prepared; don’t feed her raw or undercooked meat; don’t touch stray cats or kittens; wear gloves when you clean the litter box/scoop and wash your hands after with soap and warm water; clean the litter box at least once a day; and common sense, only people who are healthy (and not pregnant) should clean the litter box. See the entire article at www.webmd.com . DRIVING MASTER FIDO. A pet owner is concerned that after driving a long period of time, his dog ‘tossed his cookies.’ While this was an unusual occurrence since the dog does well on short rides, he doesn’t want a repeat of his white dog turning green again. Dr. Tricia Earley, DVM, writing in www.countryliving.com , recommends short but increasing time travel in the car, offering treats containing ground ginger or a few drops of ginger extract 30 minutes before travel to help settle his stomach. Allow the dog to sit as close to the front of the car as possible (doggie seat belt) and make sure vents are blowing on him. If the dog still has issues, consult the vet about getting an anti-nausea medication. THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT! Lots of pet info on the Internet with some of the best ones for IOS and Android cell phones for FREE . Check out www.PetCoach.com for vet advice and lists of animal care experts. If you want to keep track of Fido’s meds, vaccinations and his care appointments, click on www.PetDesk.com . One of the most highly rated apps for Fluffy and Fido is www.11pets.com that not only keeps a record of their appointments, needs, records but also has a central place for their adorable pix. THE PURRING CAN BE INTENSE.It’s a perfect time to help Fluffy not only look good but feel good during the winter. Brushing her not only removes dirt, grease and dead hair from her coat, but it helps to remove skin flakes and stimulates blood circulation, improving the overall condition of her skin. One or two brushings per week will help kitty to keep her healthy glow - and you’ll find that regular sessions are especially beneficial when your cat ages and is no longer able to groom so meticulously on her own (from www.aspca.org ). Don’t spend a fortune when you can buy lots of soft bristle (no metal) brushes like Vibrant Life Plastic Slicker Brush 4 pack $7, or grooming gloves $6, locally at Walmart, or a $4 pink plastic tine bristle cat brush at the ShopRite pet food aisle. Mysenior cat Sarah loves that pink brush, with an Ace plastic comb ($1 anywhere) follow up, and then a soft and slow once over with a lint roller ($5 for 5 rollers at Costco). Be prepared for heaps of fur,lots of purring, and some of the best ‘quality’ time.
DID YOU KNOW? 65 million companion animals enter shelters each year in need of a home. THE FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP ANIMAL SHELTER (a no-kill shelter ) provides food and care for the animals waiting for their forever homes. Want to help? The Shelter is always in need of dry/wet dog/puppy/cat/kitten food, KMR kitten milk replacer, clean and worn towels/blankets/sheets, paper towels/sponges, flea medications, Q-Tips, catnip, laundry detergent/dish soap/bleach, heating pads w/o auto shutoff, pet toys and of course, monetary donations for a tax contribution receipt are warmly welcomed. NO DONATION IS TOO SMALL. The Shelter is open: Tuesday – Friday, noon to 3 PM and Saturday noon - 6 PM, and is located at the Municipal Complex on Demott Lane (732-873-2500, ext. 6255). The outside donation bin is always available when the Shelter is closed. There’s also a donation box inside the Franklin Township Library - feed your mind and an animal at the same time! If you cannot get to the Shelter, please contact me for help in getting your donated items to the Shelter at (732) 356-0023 or at [email protected] . The Shelter appreciates Canal Walk residents’ consistent generous contributions and so do the animals. Thank you for caring and sharing. Judy Gottlieb
Home Hints Last month I saw a red light on our thermostat. It was a signal to replace the batteries, and do it quickly, so you don't lose the programming. After I replaced the two AA batteries I thought of all the things we have that are battery powered and decided to check each one. I didn't realize how many there were till then. Outside the house there's a battery in the garage door keypad. There's also a remote opener in each car as well as the one that opens the gates at the community entrance. Don't forget the fob for the car that locks and unlocks the doors and powers the remote starter. Inside there's the cordless phones, the old fashioned flashlights, the remotes for the TV's, the DVD player, and of course the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. I thought I had found them all but when I was packing for a trip I had to change the little AAA battery in my travel clock. If only there was a little more uniformity in the types of batteries, life would be easier. The good news is that every size battery we need seems to be available in Shop Rite. Now if it were only a little easier to get the covers off. Jeff Shpiner
Potpourri, Jokes, Food for Thought
Carpe Diem
Hardly the day started and ... it is already six o'clock in the evening. > Barely arrived on Monday and it's already Friday. ....and the month is already over. …and the year is almost up. ... and we realize that we lost our parents, friends. …and we realize that it is too late to go back... So ... Let's try, however, to take full advantage of the time we have left Let's not stop looking for activities that we like Let's put color in our greyness Let's smile at the little things in life that put balm in our hearts. And yet, we must continue to enjoy serenely the time that remains. Let's try to eliminate the "after" I do it after I will say after I will think about it after We leave everything for later as if "after" was ours. Because what we do not understand is that: After, the coffee cools After, priorities change… After, the charm is broken... After, health passes ... after, the children grow up... After, the parents get older... After, the promises are forgotten ... after, the day becomes the night... After, life ends... And after that it's often too late So ... leave nothing for later Because always waiting for later, we can lose the best moments, the best experiences, the best friends, the best family... The day is today ... The moment is now
We are no longer at the age where we can afford to postpone until tomorrow what needs to be done right away …from the internet
Did They Really Say These Things? Yes!
These are real responses to prompts on Family Feud. Ludicrous but true.
Q. Name a place where it’s smart to know where the exits are. A. Church. Q. Name something you hope your dog doesn’t do before he licks your face. A. Burp. Q. Name a room in the house where a family gathers. A. Bathroom Q. Name a farm animal that the farmer may go so fond of, he may not want to eat it. A. Dog. Q. Name an expensive holiday, besides Christmas. A. Wedding. Q. Name one of the three bears. A. Yogi. Q. Name something with claws. A. Christmas. Q. Name a word that begins with the letter Q. A. Cute. Q. Name something a duck and a chicken have in common. A. They both quack. Q. Name something a husband and a wife should have separate of. A. Parents. Q. What October holiday celebrates the discovery of America? A. Thanksgiving. Q. Name something you put in tea? A. Tea bag. Submitted by Anil Nirody
JOKES THAT CAN BE & SHOULD BE TOLD IN CHURCH; OF COURSE THAT LIMITS THE CIRCULATION
Two boys were walking home from Sunday school after hearing a strong preaching on the devil. One said to the other, 'What do you think about all this Satan stuff?' The other boy replied, 'Well, you know how Santa Claus turned out. It's probably just your Dad.'
Attending a wedding for the first time, a little girl whispered to her mother, 'Why is the bride dressed in white?'' The mother replied, 'Because white is the color of happiness, and today is the happiest day of her life.' The child thought about this for a moment then said, 'So why is the groom wearing black?'
Three boys are in the schoolyard bragging about their fathers. The first boy says, 'My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a poem, they give him $50.' The second boy says, 'That's nothing. My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a song, they give him $100.' The third boy says, 'I got you both beat. My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a sermon, and it takes eight people to collect all the money!'
An elderly woman died last month. Having never married, she requested no male pallbearers. In her handwritten instructions for her memorial service, she wrote, 'They wouldn't take me out while I was alive, I don't want them to take me out when I'm dead.'
A Sunday school teacher asked her class why Joseph and Mary took Jesus with them to Jerusalem. A small child replied, 'They couldn't get a babysitter.'
Submitted by Frank Catalina
Recipes Roasted Chicken, Potatoes, Tomatoes and Olives
Preheat oven to 425 degrees
Ingredients:
6 Tbs. of olive oil 6 cloves of garlic (smashed) Salt & pepper Juice from one lemon (optional) 1/2 tsp. of cayenne pepper (optional) 8 drumsticks or chicken thighs or 4 chicken breasts 8 small Yukon gold potatoes (quartered) 10 Roma tomatoes cut in half 1 Tbs. Rosemary About 20 Kalamata olives
Pour 3 Tbs. of olive oil into roasting pan. Add the smashed garlic, salt, pepper to taste. Add lemon juice and/or cayenne pepper. Add the chicken and turn to coat. In a bowl toss the potatoes with 1 Tbs. of oil, salt and pepper. Arrange the potatoes around the chicken Roast chicken until done. (25 minutes for drumsticks, 30 minutes for thighs & 40 minutes for breasts)
Toss tomatoes, rosemary & olives with 1 Tbs. of olive oil and add to pan for the last 10 minutes of roasting. Let cool for up to 10 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with additional olive oil and rosemary. Ellen Catalina
I made this cake for the Sunday Cinema group recently and it got rave reviews so I made it again for another function a week later and again it was a hit. It occurs to me that folks who can't tolerate gluten might like to try it. It is a very simple recipe. Helen Hoch
Torta Caprese Published November 2018 Cook’s Illustrated WATCH EVERY STEP INGREDIENTS
12 tablespoons unsalted butter , cut into 12 pieces 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate , chopped 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 4 large eggs, separated 1 cup (7 ounces) granulated sugar, divided 2 cups (7 ounces) almond flour 2 tablespoons Dutch -processed cocoa powder ½ teaspoon salt Confectioners' sugar (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS SERVES 12 TO 14
Total Time: 1¼ hours, plus 2½ hours cooling
1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly spray 9-inch springform pan with vegetable oil spray.
2. Microwave butter and chocolate in medium bowl at 50 percent power, stirring often, until melted, 1½ to 2 minutes. Stir in vanilla and set aside.
3. Using stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, whip egg whites on medium-low speed until foamy, about 1 minute. Increase speed to medium-high and continue to whip, slowly adding ½ cup granulated sugar, until whites are glossy and thick and hold stiff peaks, about 4 minutes longer. Transfer whites to large bowl.
4. Add egg yolks and remaining ½ cup granulated sugar to now-empty mixer bowl and whip on medium-high speed until thick and pale yellow, about 3 minutes, scraping down bowl as necessary. Add chocolate mixture and mix on medium speed until incorporated, about 15 seconds. Add almond flour, cocoa, and salt and mix until incorporated, about 30 seconds.
5. Remove bowl from mixer and stir few times with large rubber spatula, scraping bottom of bowl to ensure almond flour is fully incorporated. Add one-third of whipped whites to bowl, return bowl to mixer, and mix on medium speed until no streaks of white remain, about 30 seconds, scraping down bowl halfway through mixing. Transfer batter to bowl with remaining whites. Using large rubber spatula, gently fold whites into batter until no streaks of white remain. Pour batter into prepared pan, smooth top with spatula, and place pan on rimmed baking sheet.
6. Bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out with few moist crumbs attached, about 50 minutes, rotating pan halfway through baking. Let cake cool in pan on wire rack for 20 minutes. Remove side of pan and let cake cool completely, about 2 hours. (Cake can be wrapped in plastic wrap and stored at room temperature for up to 3 days.) 7. Dust top of cake with confectioners' sugar, if using. Using offset spatula, transfer cake to serving platter. Cut into wedges and serve.
Notes : Almond flour is readily available in supermarkets. Shoprite keeps it in stock. While it is important to have absolutely clean beaters and bowl when whipping egg whites, there is no need to wash the beaters or bowl for the egg yolks. Use the beaters and bowl as is after beating the whites.
Theatrical Reviews If I had to guess I'd imagine that quite a few of our Canal Walk residents spent a considerable part of their younger years watching Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy perform their magic zaniness on the screen and later on television. And going further, I'd also guess that many of them, as were my wife and I, were delighted and highly amused to spend those hours that way. It has never ceased to amaze us that so little of their work is seen on contemporary TV, even on nostalgia film channels. I suppose that much can be found on YouTube and, after viewing the film, Stan & Ollie , I predict a surge in streaming of their works will occur on that venue. My advice to any who loved the comic antics of this pair is to run, not walk, to see this delightful film which we enjoyed enormously. Laurel and Hardy had both a unique comic genius and a unique personal chemistry that rendered them impossible to duplicate. In that respect they remind me of another pair of comic geniuses of a later age, Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding, masters of unique radio humor, who, for a time, had a Broadway show, entitled "The Two and Only." That phrase perfectly describes Laurel and Hardy. As with so many films about successful cinema stars, I half expected the film to portray how Stan and Ollie met, what their pre-film careers were like, how they made it big and, as seems so inevitable in films of this kind, how their careers nosedived and everything ended in sadness and personal animosity, with maybe some personal destruction through alcohol and drugs thrown in. This is not that film,and, I was delighted to discover, this is not how things went. Surprisingly, the film begins in 1937, when they were already hugely successful movie stars. It then takes up 16 years later, in 1953, after they had been separated during those years and not working together. Most of the film takes place during that year when they decided to give their career as a team a rebirth by conducting a stage show tour in post war England and Ireland. The idea was to demonstrate they could still generate audience enthusiasm and fill seats, to impress movie moguls whom they hoped would finance a Robin Hood film, largely written by Laurel (he did most of the comedy writing for the pair). The film demonstrates that then, as now, the movie business was a tough one, a factor largely responsible for their 16 year split up. They both had severe money problems, notwithstanding their top star status. These were exacerbated by alimony obligations and Ollie's fondness for playing the horses. Laurel and Hardy simply weren't on the same page when it came to getting more money out of Hal Roach, who owned their studio and who is portrayed as a grouchy, manipulative skinflint. I, for one, was shocked to learn that they received no royalties at all for all the films they made in the '30s which continued to be shown on TV for years. The unfortunate disagreement that led to their temporary split did not aid their careers, but the English tour was approached by them with optimism and their personal relationship was portrayed as warm and affectionate throughout most of the movie, and believably so. What is really incredible about this film are the tremendous acting performances of John C. Reilly as Ollie and Steve Coogan as Stan. There's no doubt in my mind that both these men deserved consideration for an Oscar and I'm disappointed they didn't get any.Then there is the absolutely uncanny physical resemblance they bear to the actual Stan and Ollie. This came about, it has been reported, after 4 hours of makeup before each day of shooting. Both of these terrific actors also recreated many personal idiosyncrasies and mannerisms so well recognized by loyal Laurel and Hardy fans. Parts of a number of the duo's most well-known bits are reproduced impeccably and still generate laughs. Many aspects of the film can also only be described as warmhearted and uplifting, particularly those demonstrating the personal affection and loyalty shown by each of them to each other. This was one of the most enjoyable films we've seen in the last year.
The movie was rated PG
By: Frank Catalina
WANTED: Reviews of all kinds are wanted from the residents of Canal Walk! Please send your submission withyour selection, your opinion of it, and any other information you feel is pertinent. Send to [email protected]
Restaurant Reviews Papparich Edison 1711 Lincoln Highway, Edison, NJ 08817. (732)339-8024
Papparich is a well-known Malaysian restaurant chain that has recently expanded into the U.S. It opened at its Edison location eight months ago but we only got to it last month. When we arrived at the restaurant at 6:30 on a Friday evening, it was barely half full; an hour later as we were finishing our meal it was jam-packed. Every table in the shallow U-shaped dining room was taken, the semi-open kitchen was a hive of activity and the place was humming. Malaysian food is a blend of Malay, Chinese and Indian cuisines and Papparich’s menu reflects these influences. We were glad for the handsome menus in which every item is numbered and illustrated with gorgeous color photographs. It made it a little easier to choose among the 125+ items which included satays, biryanis and other rice dishes, noodle varieties, curries, soup-stews and other specialties. Our party of four started off with the mixed satay (six skewers, three each of chicken and beef) served with peanut sauce. Excellent. We then shared four entrees: Nasi Lemak with shrimp curry and curried chicken, Hainan Chicken, Curried Lamb and KangKung (water spinach sautéed with fermented shrimp paste and garlic). We finished off by sharing two orders of a pandan- flavored coconut custard. In ordering our entrees, we decided to stay away from biryanis which we thought would be better at an Indian restaurant, and soup-stews which are difficult to share family style. Nasi Lemak (coconut flavored rice) was, in this case, served as a combination platter with chicken curry, shrimp curry, two sauces and a vegetable salad. Very good. Lamb Curry, the spiciest of the dishes we ordered, was excellent. The meat was al dente , the way I like it, and the spice mixture was refreshingly different from the Indian curries I’m used to. The Hainan Chicken too was succulent but a bit of a disappointment. Hainan is a large island off the coast of China whose inhabitants have been migrating to Singapore and Malaysia for many generations. Hainan Chicken Rice is a dish which they popularized in their new home. Essentially, it consists of poached chicken served on a bed of aromatic rice which has been cooked in the gingery poaching liquid and served with a sweetish green sauce and a fiery sambal. That is what I had expected; what we got was half a steamed chicken served in a pool of soy sauce. Oh, and the rice had to be purchased separately. Not what I’d expected but perfectly fine for those who haven’t tasted the real thing. The Water Spinach was the best of the items we ordered, fragrant with garlic and pleasingly enlivened by a touch of shrimp paste. I’d gladly order it again when we go to Papparich’s again. I don’t say that lightly because there are a lot of other things on the menu I’d like to try. One of those items is the Asam Laksa, a spicy soup- stew of fish soured with tamarind which is not usually found on Malaysian restaurant menus. Another is the sweet-sour mango salad with cuttlefish. The noodle dishes and the soups also looked mighty inviting. My choice among the noodle dishes would probably be the Char Kway Teow (stir fried flat rice noodles). And, somehow, I’d try to make place for the kaya toast made with coconut jam that the manager told us about as we were leaving. I’ve never had it before and it sounds delicious. The desserts at Papparich are amazing and deserve a separate mention. The menu photographs are so colorful and scrumptious looking that I feel like ordering two of each, just for myself. Many of them, like the three layer teas or the cendol made with shaved ice or the iced coffee made with evaporated milk and sweetened with Stevia are better suited for summer but the custards can be had year round. The pandan flavored custard we had was delicious, delicately flavored and distinctive. A winner. As with most ethnic restaurants, the décor is functional rather than opulent, but the tables are widely spaced and the atmosphere congenial. The service is very good. Our waitress was pleasant, knowledgeable and very helpful when we were deciding on our order. Compared to other Malaysian restaurants in the area, Papparich is slightly pricier though not excessive. I can’t remember the prices of individual dishes, but entrees are generally about $ 15. For a shared appetizer, an entrée each and dessert, expect to pay about $ 25-$30 (inc. tax and tip). If you want to try something different in the way of Malaysian food, you can’t go wrong with Papparich. No reservations taken. BYOB. Hours: Tues-Thurs. 11:30 – 3:00 & 5:00 – 9:30. Fri. & Sat. 11:30 – 10:30. Sun. 11:30 – 9:30. Closed Mondays. Submitted by Anil Nirody
We so enjoy sharing restaurant reviews with our Canal Walk community. Most of us enjoy reading them and getting to learn about some new and interesting restaurants to explore. Just give us the name, location and phone number of the restaurant and delight us with some of your favorite entrees along with some prices. It doesn't have to be long. So, hurry to your computers and become a restaurant reviewer. Please send them to [email protected]. Ellen Catalina
What's Happening
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP PUBLIC LIBRARY Main Branch, 485 DeMott Lane, Somerset – 732-873-8700 x 3 Some programs require registration. Please call or visit www.franklintwp.org to inquire/register. Free In-Person Tax Preparation is provided at the library by AARP by appointment. To schedule an appointment, contact AARP at 908-541-5710.
March Special Events at Franklin Township Public Library
485 DeMott Lane, Somerset, NJ 08873 732-873-8700x110 www.franklintwp.org
Adult Programs Some programs require registration. Please call or visit www.franklintwp.org to inquire/register. AARP Tax Assistance The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide will be providing Free In-Person Tax Preparation to individuals at the Library during the months of February, March & April. Assistance is by appointment only. The contact number for appointments is (908) 541-5710.
Movie Matinee: Fridays, 3/1, 3/15 2PM (3/1) First Man (2018) Rated PG-13, 2 hours 21 minutes. A look at the life of astronaut, Neil Armstrong, and the legendary space mission that led him to become the first man to walk on the moon. (from IMDB) (3/15) The Wife (2018) Rated R, 1 hour 40 minutes. A wife questions her life choices as she travels to Stockholm with her husband, where he is slated to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature. (from IMDB)
Bollywood Dancing for Beginners: Monday, 3/4 7PM Put on your favorite dancing shoes and get ready to move and groove Bollywood style! Please register.
Tai Chi for Beginners: Tuesday, 3/5 7PM Dr. Gang Huang will be teaching Tai Chi classes for those who have little or no Tai Chi experience. Please register.
Concert: Classical Guitar with Nick Cutroneo: Wednesday, 3/6 PM Franklin High School graduate and professional musician, Nick Cutroneo, is back after wowing audiences last year. Please register.
Second Saturday Book Club: Saturday, 3/9 11-12PM Join us for a discussion of Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann. Limited number of copies at the Reference Desk.
Celtic Storytelling - David MacCaffrey: The Shannachie of GlenndunbunBallybeg: Sunday, 3/10 2PM Compelling storyteller David Emerson retells (and embroiders) the colorful and ancient tales of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and Cornwall in a presentation that will “warm, tickle, or chill the heart.” Please register. This program is made possible by a grant from New Jersey Council for the Humanities.
Chair Yoga: Wednesdays, 3/11, 3/20 11AM-12PM This gentle class focuses on an exploration of basic yoga poses in a chair. Please register.
Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group: Second Tuesdays, 3/12 1-2:30PM This support group offers a safe place for caregivers, family and friends of persons with dementia to meet and develop a support system.
A Proud Heritage: African American Presence in the Sourland Mountains and Surrounding Areas—Monday, 3/18 7PM Join authors Beverly Mills and Elaine Buck as they present the research that led to the publication of their book, If These Stones Could Talk: African American Presence in the Sourland Mountains and Surrounding Areas of New Jersey.
Caregiver Series: Family and Relationships—3/19 10:30AM Adalin Ball from the Somerset County Office on Aging and Disability Services will discuss the rewards and challenges that can provide insight on handling family dynamics.
How to Write and Publish your First Book: Wednesday, 3/20 7PM Join Amazon bestselling author, Charles Levin, to learn how to write, publish, sell and market your first book.
Meditation for Beginners: Thursday, 3/21 7PM Come try a guided mindfulness meditation session. Please register
New Jersey Makers Day: Saturday, 3/23—10AM-noon (Franklin Park Branch) 1:30-4PM (Main Library) This year, activities will involve programming robots, making dog and cat toys, quilting, building with straws and connectors, and more!
Uncle Jack World Champion: Monday, 3/25 7PM Come hear the Irish success story of World Lightweight Champion Jack McAuliffe from his great-grand-nephew and author JE McAuliffe.
Chair Zumba/Chair Pilates: 3/27 2PM Join instructor Laura Fechter for this fun combo exercise class in a chair! Please register.
SOMERSET COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM OF NEW JERSEY Manville Library Branch, 100 South 10 th Avenue, Manville – (908) 722-9722 x 8426 Please call for Adult Programs and Events
Film Discussion Series: “Always Make the Audience Suffer as Much as Possible” - The Films of Alfred Hitchcock Hitchcock is widely considered one of the greatest directors of 20th Century world cinema. Presented by Joseph Geddes, this series takes you through the highlights of Hitchcock's long career. A Century of Hitchcock: March 7, 7-8:30 p.m. "The 39 Steps" and the Complications of an Innocent Man: March 14, 7-8:30 p.m. "Rear Window" and the Problem of Seeing Too Much: March 21, 7-8:30 p.m. "We all go a little mad sometimes": "Psycho" and On-Screen Madness: March 28, 7-8:30 p.m.
Monday Matinee at Manville: “Operation Finale”: March 11, 1-3:30 p.m. “Unbroken: Path to Redemption”: March 25, 1-3:30 p.m.
Let’s Get Crafty! Soy Wax Jar Candles: March 12, 11 a.m. – noon
How-To Festival: March 23, 1-3 p.m. Flex your DIY muscles, explore new techniques, or learn something new. Demonstrations include candle making, faux finish painting, the proper way to iron clothing, and more.
The Secret Identity of Rosie The Riveter: March 27, 7-8 p.m. Drawing on recent research projects, Seton Hall University’s Dr. James J. Kimble explores the myths around the famous “We Can Do It!” poster and relates his quest to find the woman behind the image.
Passport Services: March 27, 6-8 p.m. SCLSNJ offers passport services with hours set for your convenience. No appointment necessary. For more information visit www.SCLSNJ.org/passports or call (908) 458- 8400 ext. 1161
IT’S WINTER!
by David Reissman
by Debbie Stuart by Debbie Stuart by Debbie Stuart
by Angela Johns by Marianne Prodoehl
by Angela Johns
BUMPER STICKERS