A Raritan Icon Passes Away

This week, one of the best and most varied of legal minds, and a person of great personal integrity left his family and friends behind.

Although I knew Dan Soriano only professionally while I served on the Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education, it was there that I became acquainted not merely with his all-encompassing skills as one of the most expert of legal minds in the field of education law, but also the integrity with which he exhibited and practiced those skills.

May the Spirit of the Christmas Season be Always With You

'Twas the night before Christmas . . . (Credit/Bergeron Image.)

The celebration of Christmas which began as a practice by early Christians in memory of the birth of Jesus has become a tradition observed throughout most of the world, even in those nations where Christians are but a minority and still persecuted.

Yet nothing will dampen the magnificent spirit of this time, regardless of whether people stress its religious or secular aspects – or both.

It is an occasion where families and friends gather to demonstrate their love and concern for one another with the exchange of gifts and the breaking of bread.

Despite the endemic conflicts of this world, the American spirit remains steadfastly indomitable in its refusal to give in to nihilism, a way of thinking that can only contribute to a downward slope of despair. That concept has never taken firm root in the American Republic.

The religious festivals of Chanukah and Christmas observed this time of the year contain messages based upon spreading light throughout the world, not with dwelling upon the darkness of hopelessness.

 

If, over the millennia, the Judeo-Christian message of hope has spilled over and infused itself into the secular world to be enjoyed by all in the form of gift-giving, lights, joy, optimism, and hope, that’s just fine.

 

It’s a great result, isn’t it?

(Note:  The photograph above is from a Williams Sonoma window display at the Bridgewater Commons Mall.)

The many who never came home for Christmas.

A Cub Scout kneels reverently and in deep respect. 

A week ago today, early on a sunny, crisp Saturday morning, Pris and I found ourselves on the Washington D.C. metro with our hosts from Potomac, Maryland.  We were bound for the nation’s capital to participate in Wreaths Across America, a ceremony that has become an annual event to honor America’s fallen stalwarts at Arlington National Cemetery.

Under seemingly endless acres of cemetery plots, men and women from past and current wartime conflicts and from all branches of the United States Armed Forces quietly lie, buried below endless rows of ivory-white tombstones – boots once standing on the ground but now resting beneath the earth after perishing in the service of their country.

A Precious Holiday Tradition Returns to the Bridgewater Commons Mall

Santa greets all of his kids this season!  (Photo/Bergeron Image.)

It’s back!  Once more this year, the management of the Bridgewater Commons Mall is hosting the presence of two Salvation Army Angel Trees.  On each of these modestly decorated trees are removable tags bearing the wishes of area children, ages about 3 to 12.

I especially like what appears to be a policy change this time around:  No toys!  No electronic stuff!  That may sound like Bah, Humbug, but consider this:  The emphasis is on what these under-privileged kids really need – the basics:  articles of clothing.

Reading the tags, I came across names such as Marc, Shaniya, Meyah, Maria, Carter, Angelina, Jeramyah and dozens of other kids – all of them in need.  Those are just a few of the name tags that I spotted on November 20^th.

Committee’s Attempt to Impale Christie Fails

How many more times do we have to hear from the functionally neutered New Jersey Legislative Select Committee on Investigation that its job is not yet over?
   

Christie listens intently at Jan. 2014 press conference.(Bergeron Screen Shot.)

This group of head-hunting politicians directed by Assembly Deputy Speaker John Wisniewski and Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, issued a press release yesterday which added nothing new to what already has been reported ad nauseam by the press in hundreds, if not thousands of newspaper columns, as well as in the digital media concerning the Bridgegate “scandal.”

The committee’s report, which will be officially released on Monday, reluctantly clears Governor Chris Christie of any premeditated actions, prior knowledge of, or complicity in those now infamous four-day lane closings leading to the George Washington Bridge.

“Bridgegate” and Christie’s Aspirations to National Office

In June of 2013, in the midst of his battle with Barbara Buono to capture a second term as New Jersey governor, one poll had Chris Christie leading by 30 points (61 to 31).  It looked like nothing could slow him down, let alone that anything negative could be pinned on him – surely not a scandal. 
 

Christie at a Town Meeting, Raritan Valley Community College, April 2013

Yet, for a long time, his foes – including some within the press – had been looking for ways to knock him off his game:  Their opportunity would come when, in the fall of 2013, the so-called “Bridgegate” affair would provide Christie’s opponents with the impetus to begin pummeling him for months on end.

ONSET OF THE INVESTIGATIONS:
 
Paul Fishman, U.S. Attorney for the State of New Jersey, headed up one of the key investigative agencies that entered the fray.  Yet, as of this writing, his office has yet to produce any evidentiary reports that Governor Christie acted in an unlawful manner, or even knew anything about the oblique “Bridgegate” incident.

Bridgewater’s Terry O’Shea Advances in Competition

O'Shea looks at Jeopardy board (Bergeron TV Screen shot.)

On Thursday evening, Terry O’Shea, a graduate of Bridgewater-Raritan High School, and currently a student at Princeton University won $17,200 on Alex Trebek’s popular TV show, Jeopardy.

O’Shea outscored two other competitors in the Jeopardy Tournament of Champions this week, where her winning score qualified her to advance to the semifinals in which she will compete again next Tuesday at 7:00 p.m., on ABC TV.

Last winter, I remember observing Terry O’Shea at the John F. Kennedy Primary School on the evening of March 11, 2014.  There, she appeared informally as a guest of the Bridgewater-Raritan school board shortly after she had won $100,000 in February on Jeopardy.

Answer:  " What is Hokkaido and Honshu?"

She was every bit as genuine and unassuming that evening in Raritan as she is when she competes in Jeopardy, the very popular TV show beamed into the homes of millions
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It was a treat to have seen her in person.

The Last Leaf of Autumn

At NATIRAR, a lonely leaf clings to the top of a sapling.

Yesterday, in mid-afternoon, Pris and I took full advantage of the glorious weekend weather – quite unusual for this time of the year.  We decided to visit the grounds at NATIRAR, one of the best places in the Somerset County Park System for individuals, couples, and families to take a healthy stroll in the midst of a quiet, very expansive setting.

There you will find serenity whether you go alone, are accompanied by a friend or loved ones.  The park offers a perfect ambiance to simply walk, talk and enjoy the beauty, as well as the compelling presence of nature.  If you have one of man’s best friends as part of your household, bring your dog along.

From the parking lot, follow the path to your right, counterclockwise on the circular walkway that goes around the expansive lawn before you.  Look for the green on white sign that reads “Nature Trail,” and you are on your way.

A Routine Pre-Election BR-BOE Meeting runs amuck

Most meetings of the Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education are relatively tame.  Many of them, especially those having to do with issues near and dear to the hearts of one or more board members will, from time to time, result in very spirited debate in which clear cut views are made plain.  However in the end, opinions are clarified, discussion is closed, a direction is given or a vote is taken, and matters move ahead.

It is very rare that an issue gets as red-hot as a branding iron, but that is what happened on Monday evening, at the John F. Kennedy school in Raritan.  At the beginning and, towards its end, the agenda of that meeting and the ensuing discussions were routine, nothing unusual.  But that would not last.

On Monday, the first row of seats was occupied by students, parents and their supporters on an issue of importance to them.  Proponents stepped to the podium and engaged in easy conversation with members of the board.  This happens often; everything went smoothly.

Several other rows that were occupied in the gym included at least three non-incumbent candidates:  Barry Walker, Lisa Weinstock and Ali Ali, each hoping to lasso one of two open seats on the board.  A fourth, non-incumbent candidate is Christopher Larson.

 

Of the two available seats for Bridgewater, the first is currently held by incumbent Evan Lerner, while the second, now held by Arvind Mathur will be vacated due to his decision not to seek another term after eleven years of service.

A Superb Public Servant Decides to Step Down

Elected officials are a variegated lot.  Some do well. Some do poorly.  I have seen them come.  I have seen them go.  And then, there are those who seem to want to hang onto their posts as if for dear life.

 

Dr. Mathur at last night's Board of Education meeting.

However, there are other types, some, who, with a large dose of common sense and wisdom, choose to exercise what I term “walkaway power.”

It’s what a person will do when the recognition sets in that it is time to move on.  You have made your contribution, you have accomplished your job, you are satisfied with your achievements.  In the end, you realize that your energies need to be focused in another direction.

Such, in my opinion, is the rationale behind the decision that Arvind Mathur employed when, after eleven years in office, he decided not to seek another three-year term to the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District.

I’ve known Dr. Mathur from the time that he first called me years ago to comment upon a blog post that I wrote concerning American values.  Something about his reading of that short essay resonated with him and, during our conversation, a bond set in.

New Jersey Color

Along the Delaware River, near Stockton, New Jersey.

Weather conditions this year seem to have prepared the way for one of the best seasonal viewing conditions in memory.

Within the last week, a metamorphosis of autumnal color from the trees and shrubs of northern New Jersey has resulted in living scenes of brilliant change for everyone to enjoy.

 

When prompted by such beauty, I’m unable to resist the urge to pick up a camera.  Both photos in this post were taken during the latter part of the afternoon when the sun’s light grows softer and makes it much easier to obtain a good shot.

 

Subsequent software processing of digitized images significantly helps to correct exposure mistakes made while shooting.  As most of you may already know, it’s almost impossible to record an image as accurately as the human eye sees it.

A Touch of Stealth

Against an uncamouflaged background, this mantis soaks in the sun.

Pretty-looking things are not always what they seem to be:  In this case, nature’s innocent-looking praying mantis fits the bill.
 
With a long and slender body, twig-like legs, a triangular head that can rotate 180° with its two large compound eyes; the beguiling appearance of this bug-eating little monster is very deceptive to humans
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The mantis gets its name from the way that it can place its forelegs together in a mock-praying position.  Even its formal name, Mantis Religiosa, attests to that.
 
But the mantis does not pray.  Au contraire, it preys, and it is very good at it.  When the mantis assumes its professed “praying” stance, it remains perfectly still, with no movements at all for what can amount to tens of minutes at a time, shifting its posture ever slightly to a different stealth position so that it can strike out, hold, and disable its target.

A Fictional Tale as Authentic as Reality

Richard North Patterson is one of my favorite writers.  Although he is technically a fictional novelist, some of his books are so close to reality that they nearly cancel out the imaginary nature of his tales.

One of Patterson's best, a real thriller.

“The Devil’s Light,” written in 2011, three years after one of America’s greatest crises, is a story of intrigue, deception and terrorism – a tale of cunning and espionage so realistic in its depiction of events that it becomes credible:  a nuclear attack upon . . . . Well, I don’t want to give away Patterson’s very intricate, can’t-put-down-the-book, spider web of a plot.

Patterson is not a mere weaver of stories.  Like many of his other books, this one is suffused with the result of in-depth research and prior consultation with prominent persons who have walked the talk.  His writing resonates with reality.

In some ways, he is a prophet – but then again, who listens to prophets?

Here are a few quotations from “The Devil’s Light,” thoughts ascribed to the book’s characters as the story swiftly progresses:

“As a nation we’re addicted to wishful thinking, staggering from crisis to crisis with the foresight of a two-year old.

Summer's End

The autumnal equinox, the last day of summer, marks the sun’s passage directly overhead at the equator, an event that will occur at precisely 10:29 p.m. eastern daylight time this evening, September 22.
 
Since warm, vacation-type weather in New Jersey usually ends around the end of August and, because Labor Day signals the onset of school, most people consider the summer to have come to an end by that time.

Don't come any closer!

But this year the warm temps persisted beyond that time, even way up north in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire where Pris and I vacationed and where, as late as the weekend of September 5^th, it was warm enough to swim comfortably in the waters of Lake Winnipesaukee – an occasion which I did not miss to take advantage of.

Even up there, nearly 400 miles from The Garden State, the warm weather persisted and rain stayed away except for one day during our stay.  As most of my faithful readers have come to know, I never miss the chance to shoot photos of opportunity, and will take advantage of any serendipitous occasion to put one of my cameras to work.