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A cold can come off them like a shore-bound fog and you get the thrust of mental death. Holman looked up to see a large man stride onto the platform. Kick the Can and Olli Olli Oxen Free (which apparently means “All ye, all ye, outs in free,” as a way to restore hiding or “out” players back to the game) were long, long gone by the time I was on the playground. We were all about War Ball and bike stunts. The days of tree forts, white washed fences and and string wrapped school primers. Lire Akai Mpk49 Manuel: ebooks en ligne pour Kindle libre patois de vy.filerr.site.

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THE TWIN LIGHTS
Sean McGuire, Aldrich School

Have you heard of the Twin Lighthouses? You can find them on the Jersey Shore. These towers are located 200 feet above sea level and over look the Atlantic Ocean, Shrewsbury River, New York skyline, Sandy Hook and the Raritan Bay. They have been looking over the water since 1828. Their original wood structure was replaced in 1862 by brick, which is still there now.

In 1841, they discovered a “mystery cannon” near the lighthouses. This cannon is from a ship that sank in 1679. It has a point blank range of 300 yards. The cannon is still something of a mystery.

Something unique to these towers is that they had the first use of a Fresnel lens. This type of lens, which was made by French physicist Augustine Fresnel, was far superior to any navigational lighting apparatus being used in the United States at the time.

In 1898 the United States lighthouse service installed an electric lit lens in the south tower. Costly repairs led to the lamp being replaced with incandescent oil vapor in 1917. In 1924 the beacon was lit with electricity again, when commercial electric power was available.

These facts are just a small sample of the things you can learn at the Twin Lights. I recommend that you visit the Highlands, see the beautiful views and learn some very important and interesting things about the Twin Lights and the Jersey Shore.

NEWS FLASH: EVERYONE GOES TO AC!

Adriana Dika, Lincoln Park Elementary School

I can’t wait to get to AC. The beach, hotels, boardwalk, and shopping are the best in Atlantic City. I’ve been to Atlantic City more times than I can remember. Each time my family and I went, we had fun.

When you go to the beach, grab your sunscreen, bathing suit, towel, chair, and the rest of the beach items you need. At the beach, there’s surfing. You can surf at Crystal Beach and Delaware Ave. Beach. Downtown, surfing lessons are available. You can also kayak and windsurf in AC. You can play beach volleyball, go boogie boarding, fishing and grilling on the beach. In AC, there are beach chair rentals at several locations on the boardwalk. Metal detectors are allowed on the beach to hunt for treasure. Bike riding is open on the boardwalk between 6:30 A.M. and 10:00 A.M. daily for a refreshing morning ride.

There are many hotels, and they are all really beautiful. The hotels offer pools, hot tubs, spas, game rooms and gambling.

Shopping is really easy. You can shop for anything you want from shoes to hats.

If you want to go on a great vacation, Atlantic City is the place for you!

JERSEY SHORE

Anthony Pannullo, Matthew Jago Elementary School

Did you ever go to the Jersey Shore? Well, guess what? You can do many activities such as climbing lighthouses, going to the beach or walking on the boardwalks.

It is 127 miles long! It is cut into three parts. The parts are the Northern Jersey Shore, Greater Atlantic City and the Southern Jersey Shore. There are many casinos down by the shore and nine lighthouses on land. Monopoly is based on the streets in Atlantic City!

One of my favorite places to visit is Point Pleasant Beach. It was established on June 2, 1886. It was a playground for the Lanape Indians. They built a road to the beach in 1870, that is now known as Arnold Street.

In 1892, the original amusement area was in Point Pleasant. The first permanent boardwalk ran between Philadelphia and Central Avenues. Today, there are a lot of great places to go to. If you go to Little Mac’s on the boardwalk, make sure you get a burger and fries! Also, go on the rides. They have roller coasters and other cool stuff. Plus, they have arcades.

My favorite lighthouse is the Cape May Lighthouse. It was built and first lit in 1859. There are 199 steps in the lighthouse and the height is 157 feet. What is your favorite lighthouse?

In my opinion, the beach is the greatest place in the world! I hope that you have fun at the beach. All of the times I’ve been there were great! Have fun!

AMERICA’S GREATEST FAMILY RESORT

Ashley Thomas, Berlin Community School

Ocean City is known as the greatest family resort. It is a perfect vacation spot from start to finish. Finding a restaurant is no problem. From fish to pizza OC has all the foods you want. You can go on a relaxing bike ride or chill out tanning on the beach. Ocean City’s water is warm and fun to go into. On cold crisp nights you cantake a walk on the boardwalk, or laugh and play on the rides. The Ocean City Music Pier, built in 1928, is the center of activity. Enjoy concerts or making crafts. There are a thousand things that will easily keep you busy. Sports are a big thing in Ocean City. There are 20 public tennis courts, golf courses, basketball courts, baseball fields and much more. Ocean City is located along the South Jersey shore line. There is an airport and right across from it you can go bird watching. You can buy almost anything you want in Ocean City. Go down town or on the board walk, and stores surround you. A great place to go is the Ocean City library. There are hundreds of great books to pick from. These are just some of the reasons that Ocean City is an inviting, wonderful place to visit. Come to Ocean City and you won’t regret it!

OL’ BARNEY

Barbara Walker, Alice Jelley, Noah Hasko, & Andre VanDerlinde, Belmar Elementary School

Have you ever been to the second tallest lighthouse in the United States? It is the Barnegat Lighthouse, locally known as “Ol’ Barney”, the Grand Old Champion of the Tides. It is located in Barnegat Lighthouse State Park on the northern tip of Long Beach Island, in the borough of Barnegat Light, New Jersey.

The original Barnegat Lighthouse was built in 1824, but its mortar became worn away very badly from winds by 1855. The next year, the old light fell into the sea. Ol’ Barney was renovated and the present tower was first lit with a new lens in 1859. It stands 172 feet tall. The area around the lighthouse was declared a state park and dedicated in 1957. Ol’ Barney’s light flashes every 10 seconds. Its range is 20 plus miles. The tower shape is a conical tower, with color patterns of red on the top and white on the bottom. The tower was deactivated in 1944. After 65 years of retirement, Ol’ Barney recently reopened in January of 2009 for its 150^th birthday. A new state-of-the-art rotating beacon was installed and the windows that surround it were repaneled for its light to shine brighter. Ol’ Barney is working again as a navigational tool to ships passing Barnegat Inlet and the tower is open daily for climbing.

POPCORN PARK ZOO

Brianna Postorino, Aldrich Elementary

If you’re looking for something different to do, come to the unusual Popcorn Park Zoo. This one of a kind zoo is located in Forked River, New Jersey, just off the Garden State Parkway. The zoo is open everyday from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. This is unlike any zoo you have ever been to before.

Popcorn Park Zoo was established in 1977 for animals that were sick, elderly, abandoned, abused, or hurt. There are animals from all over the world at Popcorn Park Zoo. Some of them are camels, elephants, lions, and tigers, and bears. Oh my! Popcorn Park Zoo houses over two hundred animals that are now in surroundings more like their own homes. Some animals started out as house pets, but then grew too large to care for. Other animals were mistreated and near death until the humane society stepped in and found them a new home.

As you walk through the zoo you can purchase popcorn and feed some of the animals. All the money raised at the zoo goes directly back to caring for the animals. There are signs in front of each exhibit that explain how the animals ended up at Popcorn Park Zoo. The stories are heartwarming. One of my favorite stories is about the bear that started as a pet until he grew too big to stay in someone’s house.

The most popular exhibit is the tiger den. There are four tigers named Dante, Gina, Caesar, and Bengali. They all came from Texas very thin and homeless. Now they live in a compound with rocks, trees, and a waterfall. Every animal has a name and a unique story. They are lucky to have such a wonderful home!

Going to Popcorn Park Zoo is a fun and educational activity for children of all ages. While you are there you can also stop in the humane society, which rescues more traditional pets like cats and dogs. These cuddly critters are just waiting for you to adopt them.

I enjoyed learning about Popcorn Park Zoo because of all the unique animals. Helping animals was the right thing to do, and maybe I’ll do it someday too.

WONDERFUL WOLVES

Cassandra Colaizzi, Lincoln Park Elementary School

Howling wolves echoing through the mountains of the Delaware Water Gap, clicking cameras while photographers take pictures, kids’ eyes bulging at the amazing sight right in front of them! What place am I describing? The Lakota Wolf Preserve in Columbia, New Jersey, of course!

Pay a small price of $15.00 an adult and $7.00 a kid, 12 and under to see extraordinary wolves. Are you a photographer? For two hours, get three or four feet away from wolves for just $300.00

What will you see? You will see wolves as you enjoy a beautiful nature walk at the Preserve. When you arrive, you can go to the observation area. There are four packs of wolves that you can watch play and maybe even howl.

Any wolf-lovers out there? You can sponsor a wolf. The first is Lakota Bronze for $25.00. You are invited to the observation area once to see your wolf playing with other wolves. You get a picture magnet and a newsletter about the Preserve’s progress.

Lakota Silver for $45.00 is second. You get everything from Lakota Bronze, but you also get a “Sponsor only” t-shirt and two visits to the Preserve.

For $100.00, you can participate in Lakota Gold. You get everything from Lakota Silver plus a 5×7 print of your wolf and three visits to the Preserve. You can sponsor Arctic wolves, Tundra wolves, or Timber wolves.

Howling wolves, clicking cameras, eyes bulging, you want to be there!

THE HERITAGE GLASS MUSEUM IN GLASSBORO

Christopher Daukshus, Herbertsville Elementary

The Heritage Glass Museum is a place where you can learn about the history of glass. It is located in Glassboro, New Jersey. Glassboro got its name because of the glass factory in the area. In 1779, the Stanger family established the “glass works in the woods”. It was a good location for a glass factory. It had good sand to make the glass and timber to run the furnace. The factory closed down in 1781 because during the Revolutionary War money was devalued. In 1786, Thomas Heston and Thomas Carpenter purchased the factory. They called it the Heston-Carpenter Glass Works. Six other glass companies came after it. Today, the Owens Illinois Glass Company operates here. It makes closures for glass and metal containers.

The Museum has many different kinds of glass to see. You can also see glass-making tools. So if you are close by or just visiting come to the Heritage Glass Museum.

THE CAPE MAY DIAMOND

Claudia Grieder, Lincoln Elementary

Beautiful Cape May is located in the Atlantic Coastal Plain, at the southern tip of New Jersey, otherwise known as “Exit 0.” In Cape May you can find diamonds at Sunset Beach. They are about ¼” big and clear in color.

The Cape May Diamond is said to begin its life when quartz rock falls from Pennsylvania’s mountains into the Delaware River. The diamond then travels from the Delaware Water Gap to the Delaware Bay. Finally, they wash up onto the shore. When you are on Sunset Beach, you would have to look very closely at the sand to find these rare diamonds.

Cape May is also a very relaxing place to visit. I know that I love Cape May not only for the diamonds I find, but also for the lighthouse, the old Victorian houses and the beautiful soothing beaches.

If a family visits Cape May, they would love the clean and fun filled Grand Hotel, where my family stays every year. Families could also enjoy playing golf, horse and carriage rides, trolley rides, shopping, and choosing out from the many restaurants to eat at. Also, while you are at the relaxing beach, you will most likely have a chance to see friendly dolphins throughout the day. So, next time you plan a vacation, be sure to go to Cape May and go to Sunset Beach to collect those Cape May diamonds.

COWTOWN RODEO

Cooper Cowdin, Berlin Community School

Are you looking for excitement and family fun? Well, you should visit the Cowtown Rodeo. Located in Salem County, NJ, it is full of fun for your family, full of excitement, and is appropriate for all ages. It is open May 23 to September 26, every Saturday. Refreshments are available at the rodeo stands for a small fee, but parking is free. The admission to get in is $10.00 for parents, and the children’s admission is $5.00 (only for children 12 and under). It is open 7:30 to 10:00.

While you are there, you get to see Bareback Bronc Riding, Calf Roping, Saddle Bronc Riding, Steer Wrestling, Bull riding, Team Roping, and last but certainly not least, Girls Barrel Racing. You also get to keep company with the Rodeo Clown, and if you stay until the end, you will have the opportunity to watch an amazing finale of fireworks. Do you think this sounds like fun? Well go see for yourself by going there and staying until the end to watch the firework finale. I so hope to see you at the Cowtown Rodeo.

THE OLD SCHOOL STONEHOUSE

Cynthia Gerhard, Robert Morris School #18

Have you heard about the 1784 Old Stone Schoolhouse in New Jersey? The Old Stone Schoolhouse is popular because it is over 200 years old and the oldest standing school in Newark. It is said that George Washington visited the schoolhouse on his way to the Battle of Elizabeth. The schoolhouse was first built in 1728. Then the schoolhouse was burned and it was rebuilt in 1784. It was built in between Elizabeth and Newark.

In 1938 the Newark Board of Education gave the schoolhouse to the Newark Museum. The Museum had to move the school stone by stone to its gardens. The building was restored in 2007 and is open for visits.

A visit to the Newark Museum costs $7.00 for adults and $3.00 and includes the Old Stone Schoolhouse. Today, the school house looks dirty since it is old. The building has a dunce chair and a dunce cap and “transports students back to the 17^th and 18^th centuries.” What a great class trip a visit to the Newark Museum and the Old Stone Schoolhouse would be!

SCIENCE LIBERTY CENTER

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Dahiana Arenas, Heights Elementary School

Could you imagine finding yourself floating in space or perhaps experiencing what lies below the Hudson River? Well, at the Liberty Science Center there are surprises around every corner and a whole world for you to explore. Let the adventure begin!

Since the center has so much to offer, it was named New Jersey’s first major state museum. In 1993, the Liberty Science Center’s doors first opened and it is located in Liberty State Park for all to enjoy the wonders of science. It is a great place for field trips and a great place to learn about our wonderful home state NJ. Who said learning wasn’t fun? At the Liberty Science Center it is!

As any good museum, the Liberty Science Center has over 10 colossal exhibits to see, and has an extreme amount of activities. Since I have personally been there myself, one of my many favorites is Eat and Be Eaten, an exhibit that explores the food chain from the deadly viper to the amazing puffer fish. It was very satisfying to me, and my hungry tummy after we enjoyed a feast that helped us learn more about how it is like to be eaten.

There are also activities that change monthly, so there is always something new to explore. Such as, Cosmic Collisions, truly an adventure out of this world that is shown in the world’s largest IMAX dome theater. Another fun exhibit is Ask The Scientist where you can ask a real live professor about the mysteries of the world or more questions that you have about the Liberty Science Center and it’s exhibits. Learning is a very important part of life and is very important to NJ and many other states. We are very lucky to be able to have the Liberty Science Center, which is rated one of the world’s best museums. Everyday we should love and learn our state and know how fortunate we are to live in it, and thanks to the Liberty Science Center . . . we can make it possible. Celebrate NJ and enjoy what matters.

THE BATTLESHIP NEW JERSEY

Daniel Frey, F. N. Brown Elementary School

If you are looking for somewhere fun to go, the Battleship New Jersey (N. J.), located in Camden, N. J. is the right place. It is a fun and exciting place to go. Its former name is BB-62. It weighs about 45,000 tons and is 887 feet long. The great ship fought in World War II (WW2), Korea, Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf. As of October 2001, it became a museum. Student groups, like the boy scouts, can visit the ship and learn about its history. One attraction on the boat is sleeping on board, where you get to live life like a real sailor. You stow your gear in the lockers, eat in the crews’ mess hall, and sleep in sailors’ bunks. You can even get your own dog tag. There is also a special scavenger hunt. Another attraction is the flight simulator, which, in my opinion, is a lot of fun. The flight simulator makes it feel like you are actually flying a war plane. I hope I have persuaded you to go to The Battleship New Jersey located in the Camden Waterfront, New Jersey.

WATER’ YOU DOING?

Dillon, Richard, & John, Woodmere Elementary School

Hello! Welcome to Sandy Hook National Park. We are your tour guides for today! Sandy Hook is located in the Highlands of New Jersey and can be seen from the Manhattan Skyline. Sandy Hook was discovered by Sea Captain Henry Hudson in the early 1600’s. If you like surfing or surf casting, Sandy Hook has seven miles of Sandy Beach for you to enjoy.

Sandy Hook is great place to go with your family, siblings, friends, and guests. There are party boats, ferries, bike trails, and over three hundred species of birds to watch! You can fly kites and bring your dog, as long as you keep them on a leash, the dog of course!

If you get tired, you can go to the wonderful spa and get massages, manicures, mud baths, and facials. You will always feel relaxed and refreshed when you are out. Also, when you get hungry, Sandy Hook claims to have the best pizza around, plus many other great foods. After doing all of these fun activities, tell all your friends about the fun you had at the gorgeous park. Hope you enjoy your visit at the wonderful Sandy Hook National Park!

THE GREATEST BEACH OF THE CENTURY

Elizabeth Brown, John F. Kennedy School

Seaside Heights is a great place to visit during the summer or winter. Everybody in my family goes to Seaside Heights because there are beautiful beaches, cool, clean water, and many boats and planes go by. However, the main attraction is the boardwalk “It Rocks”. There are also many arcades to play in.

In the winter Seaside Heights has a calm and casual atmosphere. In the summer months, everything is open and geared for the crowds. The boardwalk has many wheels of chance where prizes range from small stuffed animals to TV’s, bicycles and scooters. There are also many aromas coming from the pizza shops, sausage stands, and cotton candy machines. These smells tempt every body’s taste buds-including the seagulls!

If you like fun, exciting and being high up in the air the Fun Town Pier is the place to be. They have water slides and a huge Ferris wheel to ride on. Seaside Heights is located in Southern New Jersey. I hope you and your family will have a great time if you decide to go to this exciting place. I am sure you won’t be disappointed!

PROPRIETARY HOUSE – HISTORY OF NEW JERSEY

Elvin Ortega & MaryMaciel, James J. Flynn School

We’re going to share some information about a very special place in my town of Perth Amboy.

The Proprietary House is located at 149 Kearney Avenue in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. It was built from 1762 – 1764. The Proprietary House was the Royal Governor’s Mansion and home to William Franklin, the last Royal Governor of New Jersey. William Franklin is the son of Benjamin Franklin. Governor Franklin lived in the house with his wife from 1774-1776.

During the Revolutionary War the house was almost destroyed by a fire. In 1967, the State of New Jersey Restorations and Preservation Measures Non-Profit Organization took over the house and restored it.

The Proprietary House is now home to non-profit organizations, lawyers’ offices, and other professional services. Part of the building is open for tours and afternoon tea sessions. The Proprietary Members come to speak at local schools dressed in tradition clothing and bring artifacts from when the house was used by Governor Franklin.

Thanks to the hit television show, Ghost Hunters, The Proprietary House was put back on the map. Many believe the house to be haunted. Since the airing of the show, more and more visitors have toured the house.

We invite you all to come to Perth Amboy and visit a piece of history if you dare!

COCO KEY

Emma Hughes, Veterans Memorial School

The Jersey Shore is known for it’s fun in the sun, in the summer, but what is there to do in the winter? Well, now there is an answer to that question. It is called Cocokeys, the Indoor Water Park and Resort. It is located only about forty-five minutes from us in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. With its 55,000 square feet it has fun for all the family. It has a baby water park area, a spa for the mothers, a theater, restaurant and lounge, and it has three body and raft water slides. Everyone will think, “Wow, I can’t believe it has all that stuff.” But wait there is more! It also has an arcade, so when you are tired of swimming you can play games and win prizes.

What really got my attention was the name Cocokeys. It was inspired by the Key West tropical appeal. From the early days the region was known for its constant sunshine, clear seas, and welcoming environment. This wondrous resort is a range of 55,000 to 65,000 square feet in size and is New Jersey’s largest water resort. They have everything even a mascot. His name is Coco, and he comes to all the parties and plays with the kids.

Now, I know what you are thinking, “Can I stay here overnight?” Well, you can stay in the Marriott that is connected to the water park; if you stay your passes to the park are included in the price of your room. If you don’t want to stay you can buy passes just for the day you plan on going. You should definitely buy passes on-line in advance because they may be sold out at the door.

Swimming all day can really make you hungry. They have thought of everything. You don’t need to leave to get something to eat. You can grab a pizza at the Pizza Hut Express. If you don’t like Pizza Hut, but like Dominoes, you can get Dominoes instead. If you don’t like either you can eat at another restaurant they have in the same building. Just remember to wait twenty-five minutes before you go swimming again.

The resort offers many great deals on overnight packages. You can go on-line and register to receive emails about the deals they offer. If you only want to go for the day the prices are pretty reasonable. You can go on Monday or Tuesday for $29.00 a person, or buy a family four pack for $95.00. If the weekend is better for you it will cost $39.00 a person, or you can purchase a family four pack for $135.00. Children under the age of twenty-four months are free.

If you have a birthday coming up you and ten of your friends can spend it having a blast. Your party includes passes for your friends, food, and a special prize for everyone in your party. And don’t forget a special visit from Coco the parrot mascot.

If you would like to see more information about Cocokeys you can visit their website at www.cocokeys.com. You can book a party, an overnight stay, or just buy tickets for one great day of fun.

WILD WOOD BOARDWALK

Grace Williams, Richard E. Byrd School

Wild Wood Boardwalk has one big beach. Wild Wood has tons of rides for all ages. There are souvenir shops all over the place. They also have games to play while you are walking around the park. Wild Wood also has an amazing water park that kids love. Wild Wood has great hotel service and employees. Every night there is a show of fireworks to enjoy. There are always activities going on at Wild Wood Boardwalk. The whole family can participate in the events. One of the best rides Wild Wood has ever had is the Golden Nugget. The Golden Nugget is no longer at Wild Wood but every one loved it a lot. Wild Wood Boardwalk is special to New Jersey because it is where families can go have a vacation and relax. The water park has tons of waterslides to play on. The rides are the best. People could spend the whole day on them.

When everyone is bored of the water park they can go to the amazing beach! The souvenir shops have great souvenirs many are made from sea shells. While you are walking around and you need a rest you can just stop and play some games. I think everyone should go to Wild Wood Boardwalk!!!

POMPTON LAKES

Jackson Hayes, Lincoln Elementary School

What is the most interesting place to be in New Jersey? You might think Atlantic City or Ocean City. But the truth needs to be revealed. The most interesting place in New Jersey, the Garden State, the third state ever in the union, is Pompton Lakes. It’s in the Nor

th Jersey region, in Passaic County between Bergen and Morris County. In 2006 Pompton Lakes had a population of 11,243 people. It became a town in 1895.

Pompton Lakes has over 14 historic landmarks. Guess whose memorial is in Pompton Lakes? He’ll always be remembered for conquering the color barrier in boxing. He had a record of 25 title bout victories. He’s Joe Louis and he trained in Pompton Lakes and even has a memorial in Pompton Lakes. Who wrote over 65 books and is buried in Pompton Lakes? Albert Payson Turhune, that’s who.

If you go to Pompton Lakes at the end of the summer, I have two words for you- Pompton Day. It has everything for a family. For kids there’s a fire truck to explore. For teenagers there are football and soccer challenges. For kids through grandparents there are fishing and boating events and a street fair. The day ends with an awesome fireworks display.

I bet if people came here, Pompton Lakes could be as popular as Seaside or even Cape May! There are many things about Pompton Lakes that are special, but the people are the best part of Pompton Lakes.

WOLF WATCH

Jacob Bonfanti and Emily Davie, Frelinghuysen School

You can come and see wolves in their natural habitat at the Lakota Wolf Preserve located in the mountains of the Delaware Water Gap in Knowlton Township, Warren County, New Jersey. There are four packs of wolves; the guide will tell you how they raised them and how they now live. You will learn about their social structures, their eating habits, and how they interact with man. There is a guide that will bring you to the observation area and he will tell you about the wolves and other animals. He will answer your questions and if you are lucky, you may even hear them howl! When you are done watching the wolves, the guide will bring you to see foxes and bobcats. It will be good exercise walking the long trail. It is a half-mile long. If you cannot walk then they have a bus to take you to the preserve.

If you like to take pictures of the wolves you can go with a professional photographer who will help you get the best pictures.

This is a great way to see real wolves. This is not like a zoo. It is very exciting and you can learn a lot about the wolves.

WASHINGTON’S ROCK

Jake Epstein,Bedminster School

Washington Rock is the site of where George Washington stood and saw a 30 mile panoramic view of the Raritan Valley. Then he saw the Red Coats heading toward West Field and he instructed his troops to cut them off which led to the battle of Short Hills, George Washington against William Howe. It was also a lookout station for Washington’s troops in the Revolutionary War. This rock is located on Watchung Mountain in Green Brook, New Jersey. Washington Rock is one of the oldest sites in New Jersey. At an elevation of about 400 feet, it has a circumference of about 35 feet, it’s huge. Actually George Washington came in riding on his horse to Green Brook and asked Edward Fitz-Randolph if there was any good place on a mountain to look out. Randolph suggested Washington Roc. Washington Rock became a national park on March 27, 1913 and is now a place to have a picnic or just relax. Washington Rock should be celebrated because it helped us be free from Great Britain. If Washington Rock was not there, George Washington would have never known the British were coming to fight.

THE HISTORIC BATTLE OF MONMOUTH

Jake Kreppel, Asher Holmes Elementary School

Boom! The beginning of a war just began in Monmouth county, New Jersey on June 28, 1778 .It will be an epic day .The historical event was near Monmouth Court house in the town of Freehold, New Jersey. The British army, under Sir Henry Clinton, left Philadelphia on June 18^th and went from New York to New Jersey. On June 26^th the British arrived at Freehold followed by General George Washington and his American Army .Washington commanded American General Charles Lee to attack the massive, strong British forces. Lee attacked the British but after a little skirmishing, ordered a retreat. When Washington arrived at Monmouth, he came back to win. The demoralized troops checked the number of British fighters that were present. Clinton’s army fell back and during the mysterious, dark night they withdrew to beautiful Sandy Hook, New Jersey. Then, he left for New York with his troops. The Battle of Monmouth was a tie, even though the number of British that were killed far exceeded that of the Americans. The final defeat of the British in the Revolutionary war was a political achievement for the Continental Army because it boosted the morale of the troops and gained public support of the war. Because of his conduct throughout and after the battle, General Lee was court martial and suspended from command for one whole year. When he disagreed to accept his one year suspension, he was kicked out of the army. The Battle of Monmouth was a historic battle because it was a tie even though the British troops outnumbered the American troops. Since this was a historical battle you can see sights to remind you of this event in history. In June of each year you can see a reenactment of the battle at the Monmouth Battlefield State Park in Manalapan, New Jersey.

THE FORT

James McCarthy, River Plaza Elementary

Have you ever heard of Fort Hancock? Fort Hancock opened in Sandy Hook, New Jersey in1874 and stopped serving in 1974.It was named after a general from the Civil War named Scott Hancock.

Fort Hancock was an important military base. In 1874 it was used for a proving ground to test canons .It had the first concrete battery. Also it had schools, homes, activities, a post office, food stores, and a bowling alley.

The Sandy Hook Lighthouse is another historic site in Fort Hancock, New Jersey. The Sandy Hook Lighthouse was lit in 1764. It is still lit today and is the oldest lit lighthouse in America.

In 1974 Fort Hancock closed and then reopened for the public. Now you can go there and visit the old fort for yourself and see the Sandy Hook Lighthouse. Also you can see the Battery Potter, the beach, free concerts, and a museum. Some people like to bike on the path and go fishing on the shore. I hope you go there some time because my family goes there a lot.

MOREY’S PIERS

John James Bukovec, Manito Elementary School

Are you looking for a splashtacular vacation spot for summer? Then come on down to Morey’s Piers! It is located in Wildwood, New Jersey. Morey’s Piers is on a boardwalk. It is a great place to swim near the Atlantic Ocean.

Morey’s Piers may seem exciting. Of course it is exciting to my family. But it does have an interesting history too. Morey’s Piers was established in 1969 by brothers, Bill and Will Morey. The small pier only had a slide, mini golf course, and a restaurant.

Morey’s Piers has many fun things especially for children. It is an enormous amusement park. Morey’s Piers has over one hundred rides and attractions. It has five facilities, three piers, and two waterparks.

I think everyone should go to Morey’s Piers because you can spend a lot of family time. Gateway 26 is fun for the kids. Children will enjoy the Flitzer. The beach has big waves to boogyboord. It is fun to go tubing on a tube attached to a boat.

You might think Morey’s Piers gives stuff for free huh… WRONG! People go there for vacation and they spend a lot of money too, but the memories are priceless!

THE VANDERVEER HOUSE

John Lynch, Bedminster Township School

The Vanderveer House has been in Bedminster, New Jersey for over 200 years. It is located on the southbound side of Route 202/206. The Vanderveer’s owned about 218 acres of land. This house was built in 1760. The oldest part of the house was built in the 1770’s. This is a very typical Dutch framed house. Most of the original fabrics are still intact.

In 1778 this house was serving as a headquarters to General Henry Knox. General Knox and General Washington were very good friends in the revolutionary war. Before living in the Vanderveer house General Knox was everywhere. General Knox was the first secretary of war entering the office in1785 and remained as secretary of war for a decade. Knox was the person who invented the ships for the U.S. navy. Knox even has a fort named after him called “Fort Knox.”

The Vanderveer house was enlarged in the 19^th century. Also the house was remolded in the 20^th century. This house was one of the surviving Dutch houses after the war. If you want to learn more about the Vanderveer house you can go to www.jvanderveerhouse.com. That is my report on the Vanderveer house.

THE GREATEST AMUSEMENT PARK EVER!

Joseph Lentini, Frank Defino Central School

Did you know that Charles Jenkinson found Jenkinson’s? When you visit New Jersey, go to three- hundred ocean avenue Point Pleasant beach New Jersey. That’s where Jenkinson’s is located. When you get there, you can do many great things. What is special about Jenkinson’s is that you can go to beach, the aquarium, the amusement park, and the amazing sweet shop. In the aquarium, the touch tank allows you to touch live sea animals ranging from a sea star to a juvenile shark! You can visit the new rainforest exhibit which includes pygmy marmosets, the world’s smallest monkeys!

The aquarium has two floors. The first floor hosts the different fish, sharks, stingrays. In the center of the floor, there is a huge boat where you walk up a little deck and you can check out the frogs, turtles, and alligators. Upstairs is where the educational activities take place. This is also where you can see the seals jump in and out of the tank. There are also parrots, monkeys and a cockatoo to observe. There is a little stream that leads upstairs where children can pet different sea animals. In the sweet shop, you can pick from sixteen different ice cream flavors. You can also pick from a selection of delicious candy! South of the boardwalk, there is the children’s amusement park. Some of the rides at Jenkinson’s are the monster trucks, bobbing fish, motorcycles, the carousel, swings, roller coaster, scrambler, and the Himalaya. Have Fun at Jenkinson’s, the world’s greatest amusement park!

THE AMAZING JOURNEY

Aaron Kocienski & Lueddecke, Belmar Elementary School

Have you ever seen the famous painting of George Washington crossing the Delaware River? It was painted by Emanuel Leutze and it hangs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Our class saw a reproduction of the painting which details a realistic look at the actual events which took place during the American Revolution. This historical painting is very important to New Jerseyans, because General George Washington crossed the Delaware River into New Jersey on Christmas night in the winter of 1776. Each man in the picture is wearing a different style of uniform, which represented different areas of the country where the soldiers were from. General George Washington was standing up in front of the boat, leading his army across the river.

The surprise attack took place at Trenton, New Jersey. About two thousand soldiers crossed the river with General Washington at about twelve o’clock midnight. The Hessians never thought there would be a tour of duty on Christmas day. General Washington needed to cross the river first in order to achieve his goal. It was icy cold that night, but they were able to cross the freezing river. Then, they marched toward Trenton where the Hessians were camping. Since the attack was successful, the Hessians suffered because of this loss. This was a huge accomplishment for the thirteen colonies. The tired, hungry Americans marched onward, toward Princeton, where they defeated the British a few days later. These two victories drove the British out of New Jersey. Americans could now win their independence at last.

HAUNTED PLACES OF NEW JERSEY

Julia Yanowitz, Mendham Township Elementary School

In this amazing state, there are amazing legends, haunting and strange stories.

That’s what makes New Jersey really interesting. Here are some interesting stories.

The first story deals with a place called the Union Hotel. It’s no longer a hotel probably because of the ghosts. People use the hotel for work and this is what those people see, hear, and feel. Lot’s of people claim to see shoes walking up stairs and they hear children laughing in the rooms. The manager felt someone touch her while she was all alone. At Indian Cabin Road people have seen a figure go towards their car and throw rocks at the window shield. Another time a car was seen moving forward, stopped, and moved forwards again when nobody was in the car.

Now I’ll talk about Mt. Holly Jail. People visit and while they are there they see ghosts with no legs floating from the front door to the prison door. The second floor only had two people and one ghost. The one was in the middle of all the cells and in that cell it looks all gloomy. People get stomach aces when they pass the cell all the time. Finally Shades of Death Road. Lot’s of people drive through a big fog part of the road and when they get out of the fog, there is foot prints on the car. How interesting!

New Jersey is a fantastic state to learn about. Now you learned about New Jersey. You can now understand about traveling in this state. New Jersey is so interesting and this whole report proves it.

‘SHORE’ TO PLEASE

Tiffany, Michelle, Woodmere Elementary School

“Splish, Splash!” sounded the baby duckling as he followed his mother to the edge of the Manasquan Reservoir. Why not spend a nice, peaceful day kayaking, fishing, or walking the trail at this glorious spot in the southern Monmouth County?

The Manasquan Reservoir is a great home to many plants and animals. The reservoir has 1,204 acres of land and water. With 1,204 acres, there’s a lot of room for many animals. Animals such as the Bald Eagle live there because the reservoir gives them shelter, food, and relaxation. Fish have a huge amount of space for to live, swim, and eat.

When you walk on the 1-mile nature trail, you can hear birds chirping a lovely melody, water splashing like tiny waves crashing against the shore, and wind blowing lightly against the leaves like someone blowing on their hot soup. You may also hear the leaves crunching like someone is eating a cracker and bees buzzing like a phone vibrating.

You can smell many wonderful things in the reservoir. The flowers smell as good as a lit vanilla candle, fresh water smelling as good as a new car, and trees smelling like fresh cookies right out of the oven. The Manasquan Reservoir is a fantastic place to go!

DUKE ISLAND STATE PARK IS A GREAT PARK!

Katie Stone, Milltown Primary School

Are you getting grumpy sitting indoors all the time? If so, I would like to recommend a visit to an awesome part that is not to far away from anywhere. It’s in Bridgewater, New Jersey. At this wonderful park you can choose to go bike riding, play sports, read a book, take a hike or do tons and tons of other fantastic things with your friends and families!

Duke Island State Park has 340.5 acres with two playgrounds for older and younger kids, and great swing set and two softball fields and bike trails. They also have seasonal activities for the winter, like ice skating. In the summer there are concerts outside and very tasty ice cream to keep you cool.

Duke Island Park is also a great place to go bike riding because they have a few beautiful bike paths along the Raritan River with lots of tree covered picnic areas. The bike paths are paved, which make it easy for all types of bikes and bikers. Along one of the paths is a beautiful dam where many people like to fish.

This property was formerly owned by a very wealthy woman named Doris Duke. It was turned into the park after she died. Go to Duke Island Park today, and you will be really happy you did. It is one of the most beautiful parks in New Jersey and it will help you beat the indoor blues!

OFF TO THE RACES

Kayleigh Kelly, St. Francis Cathedral School

We are off to the races here in New Jersey where horse racing can be both a family outing and a competitive sport.

Horse racing came to New Jersey when Col. John CChamberlain bough 128 acres of land to build a racetrack. When plans fell through a group called the Long Branch and Seashore Improvement Company came and rescued the project. On July 4th, 1870 the Monmouth Park racetrack was open for business. After three years of success attendance started to fail, in 1878 Monmouth was bought by a New York group. They called themselves the Monmouth Association. From 1897 till 1939 there was a ban on gambling which shut down horse racing in New Jersey. Monmouth Park reopened June 19, 1946. Since the beginning Monmouth Park has helped New Jersey to be well known.

Monmouth Park races horses from May through September. Monmouth Park has 38 barns that can fit up to 1,600 horses. The main track is one mile long and 100 feet wide. Every Sunday is Family Fun Day at Monmouth Park. You will find face painting, pony rides and live music. People and families come from far and wide to visit and watch the races at Monmouth Park Racetrack.

The reason I know all of this amazing information is because my uncle rented an apartment right next to the beach! It’s a great place to just sit on your deck, or the beach and relax. There are great restaurants there, too! The cool part is that it’s only like fifteen minutes away from the city! I hope you liked all of my great information about Ocean City Beach!!! I hope if you there you will get a nice tan! ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!

Kenny Lucero and Hannah Glass, Wanamassa School

The New Jersey Museum is like stepping back in time. There are so many fun things to do! You can go to the Archaeology Dept. and see dinosaur bones found in NJ. You can see fossils from back in time. They also have models of New Jersey wildlife. The museum has special activities for students and families. One activity is the Family Arts Festival where kids and parents can make masks and costumes about different cultures. Another activity, held in the month of December is “Celebrate Patriots Week.” You can see The Old Barracks where the soldiers lived. You can take a bus tour or walking tour of the Trenton battlefield.

If you want more information about the New Jersey State Museum go to www.nj.gov/state/museum/index.htm. It’s free to get in. Some special attractions have a small charge. You can have so much fun with your family and spend the day learning and exploring all about New Jersey at the museum.

NEW JERSEY’S PINELANDS

Krissy Biamonte, Canfield Avenue Elementary

The New Jersey Pinelands is an awesome place! Did you know that the Pinelands has over 1,000,000 acres of land? In 1978 the Pinelands was created by Congress to protect the environment in that area. It is the first National Reserve in the nation. The Pinelands takes up 22% of New Jersey. It includes parts of seven counties and 56 towns.

The New Jersey Pinelands is home to 488 different species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish. The Pinelands protects 43 kinds of threatened or endangered animals. There are 700,000 people living in this area too.

In the summer, the Pineland’s temperature is between 70 and 80 degrees, while in the winter, temperatures are 20-40 degrees. You could go bird watching or hiking in this area. Another thing you could do there is take pictures. The New Jersey Pinelands is really cool.

SWEET TREAT OF THE JERSEY SHORE

Kristopher Kulick, St. Veronica School

There are many things to do on the boardwalk at the Jersey Shore like swimming, fishing, miniature golf, and eating all types of food. One of the well known sweet treats found on the boardwalk is saltwater taffy. Many people believe that it is made with saltwater but it is not. One legend says that a big storm flooded a candy store and soaked all the candy with saltwater. The store’s candy maker, David Bradley, joked about the flood calling his candy “salt water taffy.” Many beachgoers wanted to try the “new” candy, so they bought it.

Bradley may have been saltwater taffy’s creator, but no one really knows for sure. One of the best known candy makers though, is Joseph Fralinger, known as the “Saltwater Taffy King.” He thought that if he could sell the taffy to boardwalk visitors as a souvenir they would buy more. He packaged saltwater taffy in individual boxes and put beach pictures on the boxes. His souvenir candy sold so well he could hardly make enough.

After this, many people started their own taffy businesses, but Fralinger’s was still one of the most popular. Soon, over 450 salt water taffy companies were competing. Atlantic City is known as the saltwater taffy capital of the world. Even though it is sold in other places, the Boardwalk on the Jersey shore has always been the place to go for saltwater taffy.

CAPE MAY AND ITS LIGHTHOUSE

Kyle K., Samsel Upper Elementary School

The Cape May Lighthouse is a lighthouse. It was built in 1859 and is still there today. It takes 199 steps to get to the top of the lighthouse. The lighthouse has tours to climb the stairs. The Cape May Lighthouse is the third lighthouse built in New Jersey. The lighthouse is owned by the United States Coast Guard. The light beacon flashes every 15 seconds and can be seen from 24 miles out at sea. The coast Guard uses the light for directions and ship captains can tell the lighthouses apart. It’s pretty to visit the town where the lighthouse is in New Jersey. It is right on the New Jersey shore. Just a short drive south of Cape May will bring you to the Cape May Lighthouse. There is a park next to the lighthouse with nature trails, a museum, and the ruins of an old World War II bunker. There are a lot of things to do, like fishing and bird watching. One of the beaches, called Sunset Beach, has a wreckage of the concrete ship “Atlantis.” It has been sitting on the beach for over 80 years. The ship was built from concrete during World War II because of a shortage of steel. The ship was towed to Cape May and has been there ever since.

AN OLD WONDERFUL WORLD!
By Rylee Wernock, Emma Havens Young School

Havens Homestead is an amazing place to visit! You’ll be learning about history while having ‘buckets” of fun. It is located at its original site on Herbertsville Road in Brick, New Jersey. Here you can find out what life was like in the 1800’s.

The Havens Homestead was purchased by Curtis Havens in 1827. In 1846, an addition was added for the growing Havens family and also to serve as an inn. Joseph Havens, the youngest child, took over the Homestead in 1882. He was a farmer and also ran a dairy route. His youngest child, Oliver took over in 1937. He was a farmer and a carpenter. Oliver installed the modern convenience of plumbing in the 1950’s, along with two bathrooms and an electric stove!

Oliver continued to live in the Homestead until his death in 1986. When his son, Elmer and his family moved out, the house remained empty until 1993, when he donated it to the Brick Township Historical Society. It is now operated as a museum.

Havens Homestead is a favorite place for Brick Township’s children to visit on class trips. My school is proud to be named after a member of the large Havens family, Emma Havens Young. When you’re there, it’s fun to compare the old-fashioned toys like hoops and sticks with our new technology. We really do not miss having outhouses, water pumps and a one-room house! It is amazing to see how life has changed over the years.

NEW JERSEY CLEAN AND GREEN

Lauren Zensky, St. Francis Cathedral School

In 2003, New Jersey created the Clean Energy Program. This program was started to help people who lived in New Jersey put renewable energy on their homes. With this program, the state of New Jersey would help homeowners pay for solar power or wind power systems. The NJ program became an example to the entire country and now other states are doing the same thing.

At the beginning of the program, New Jersey would pay back seventy percent of the cost to put solar power on people’s homes. With the rising costs of energy, people quickly started to think of options. Some of the options were solar power. My dad had his own electrical contracting company and then decided to start a renewable energy company in 2003.

My Dad started NJ Solar Solutions with two partners and installed over 90 solar systems on people’s homes and then started installing larger solar systems for businesses. The new company grew bigger with all the demand of people wanted to reduce their enegery costs and also to help save the environment. They just finished a project that had over 20 thousand solar panels! That project will be the largest private solar system in the country!

I think the idea they had of starting the company was great. The idea they had helped save the environments energy. They helped our family go green. Sometime I would have to go to jobs with my dad. While I am there I ask questions, and learn interesting facts about the jobs they do.

ATLANTIC CITY

Levon Najarian, Dorchester School

Welcome to the “Best Traveling Destinations in NJ.” Today, our stop will be Atlantic City. It is one of my favorite places because I like the five piers bordering the ocean. Places of interest on the piers are art centers and shopping malls and on the mainland you can enjoy amazing seafood restaurants. Lots of people like fishing off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean because it has some of the yummiest fish in the world! Most of the people in my town like the boardwalks. They are sixty feet long and are made of wood, steel, and concrete.

As the tour guide I have been studying Atlantic City and the things it has accomplished. The world’s first seaside ocean amusement park was built in Atlantic City. It was also the largest seaside resort in the world. Many street names in the board game Monopoly are in Atlantic City. Lots of seafood is caught off the coast of Atlantic City. Most of it is shipped to other states so other people can taste the delicious seafood from the Atlantic Ocean. The best part is that other people like it and come and visit Atlantic City. Hope you enjoyed your tour. See you next time on “Best Traveling Destinations in NJ.”

THE PINELANDS NATIONAL RESERVE

Maya Lam, Dorchester School

Do you know where the Pinelands National Reserve is, what is in it, or how big it is? The Pinelands National Reserve was made by the National Parks of Recreation in 1978. The Pinelands in New Jersey is in the Atlantic Outer Coastal Plain. It has about 1.1 million acres. It is so big; it’s the largest spot of open space on the Mid-Atlantic Seaboard. There is a lot of fascinating wildlife there and a lot of trees there too. Some of them are pine and oak trees. Lots of rivers full of water are also there. The Pinelands contains lots of forests like the Bass River Forest. The Pinelands National Reserve is packed with wonderful plants and animals.

The Pinelands in New Jersey seemed to be very different a long time ago, and there are laws that protect it. The Pinelands used to be like a tundra place. It was the national first national preserve. The Pinelands Protection Program protects its natural resources. Compressive Management Plan provides the transfer of water to the Pinelands. This place has lots of protection. I would like to go to the Pinelands one day.

There are reasons why the Pinelands are important and fun to go to. The Pinelands have lots of trees and plants to let off oxygen for us to breath. It has tons of natural resources that are good for the environment. You can also go sightseeing through the forests. The Pinelands National Reserve is a cool place to visit.

WATER PARKS IN NEW JERSEY

Megha Patel, Wanamassa School

Are you a water person? Do you like splashing in the water on a summer day? New Jersey’s beautiful water parks are what you are looking for. One of my favorite water parks is Hurricane Harbor. Hurricane Harbor is located on Monmouth Road Route 537 Jackson, NJ 08527. Six Flags Hurricane Harbor is one of the largest water parks in New Jersey! It is a great place for water fun and thrill rides for your entire family. There are a lot of water slides for you and your family. One of my favorite water slides is called “Speed Slides”. There are two slides that are just too much fun! The blue slide is fully covered half way down so you are in the dark and the green one is opened all the way. The Lazy River is fun for you and your family. You just relax while you float in 700,000 gallons of water! Hurricane Harbor is a great place for family fun. So, go get your swimming suit, your goggles and your towel and make a splash in Hurricane Harbor!

THE HOOK’S ACHIEVEMENT

Natalie Pugliese, River Plaza Elementary

Have you ever heard of a place that is a park, beach, museum, hiking trail, and an old army barrack in one? Sandy Hook is just that kind of place! It’s more than just a place to visit. To some people, it’s a school, a favorite summer camp, and to some army soldiers still live there. There is also a high school there called MAST.

Sandy Hook has an old army barrack called Battery Potter. Battery Potter was obsolete before it was finished being built. There was an elevator shaft in it that lifted the cannons up all the way to the roof. The soldiers then fired the cannons. The sound of the cannons being fired could blow out your eardrums. Today, they give tours of Battery Potter.

Sandy Hook also has a lighthouse. The lighthouse was purchased May 16, 1762. Throughout the years, Sandy Hook’s sand has shifted. In 1764, the lighthouse was just 500 ft. from the tip of sandy Hook. By 1864, the lighthouse stood about 4,000 ft. from the tip of Sandy Hook. Now the lighthouse is about 1 and a half miles from the tip of Sandy Hook.

Over the years, there have been battles at Sandy Hook, like the American Revolution in 1776. The British loyalists captured New York. They then guarded the Sandy Hook lighthouse from attack by American Patriots. They built a Nike Missile Site at Sandy Hook. To this day, there are still bullet shells buried under the sand of Sandy Hook.

Sandy Hook is also home to many beaches. One of their most famous beaches is Gunnison Beach. Gunnison beach is the only clothes optional beach in NJ. Sandy Hook has a beautiful view of the NY skyline. Some other activities include surfing, swimming, building sand castles, and just relaxing. Its beaches are a great place to go. To me, Sandy Hook is a great place to visit. Now, do you want to visit Sandy Hook?

BERGEN COUNTY ZOO IS A DREAM COME TRUE

Nikita Dsouza, B.F. Gibbs School

Are you bored of sitting around? Do you need some excitement? Well, you should visit the Bergen County Zoo! It’s a great zoo in New Jersey! It’s located at 216 Forest Avenue in Paramus, NJ. It’s not just a zoo, but also a park! The zoo is open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It has different species of birds; some are exotic and rare!

The Andean Condor, Red Footed Tortoise, Green Iguana, Boa Constrictor, American Alligator, Arctic Fox, and even the Mountain Lion can be found here, as well as other great animals. It’s super for birthdays and school programs! Plus, there are bike trails, eight picnic areas, a pond, pony rides, train rides, a soccer field, carousel rides, animals from both North and South America, and more! Wow! When you come here, you can do a lot! If you’re an adult you can look at the beautiful ponds! The park includes three playgrounds: one for big kids, one for little kids, and one for kids of all ages! At most parts, even handicapped kids can join the fun!

To me, it’s the best zoo ever! My favorite animals there are the peacock, starfish, elephant, and monkey. My family usually visits the zoo whenever we have free time! Did you know when you ride by on the train ride they have there that you might be able to see some of the animals? I once saw a bull! I think Bergen County Zoo is a dream come true!

THE EASTERN GOLDFINCH

Paige Lemieux, Richard E. Byrd School

The Eastern Goldfinch is New Jersey’s state bird. Goldfinches aren’t just found from coast to coast, they are also found in parts of Canada! But if you go there, they may be hard to find. If you are a bird watcher and you want to find a male or female goldfinch, here’s the difference. Males are bright yellow with a black head. Females have an olive/brown color on their head. Female goldfinch’s tails are dull brown.

If you don’t care if they are a male or female, here are some characteristics of goldfinches. Their favorite food is the thistle seed. Goldfinches are about 4-5 inches long and their wingspan is 7-9 inches. They weigh about 11-20 grams.

You can usually find goldfinches in Cape May, New Jersey. Cape May has a very active bird watching organization; they keep a count of Eastern Goldfinches as well as many other kinds of birds. The best thing about Eastern Goldfinches is that you can attract them to your backyard or garden. I hope my article inspires you to go outside and look for an Eastern Goldfinch!

THE USS INDIANAPOLIS

Parker Omslaer, St.Veronica School

The USS Indianapolis was built in Camden, New Jersey on March 31, 1931. She was launched on November 7, 1934. She was assigned a secret mission to deliver parts for the atomic bomb. She succeeded.

On February 20, 1942, she was attacked for the first time. But there was worse to come. Some of the crewmates said that her luck ran out. On the night of February 19, 1943, while the Indianapolis and two destroyers went southwest they contacted a Japanese cargo ship. The cargo ship challenged it but the Indianapolis shelled it.

The Indianapolis went to Hawaii, where it became the flagship of Vice Admiral Raymond Spruance of the 5^th Fleet. She returned to Tarawa. She acted as a fire support ship for the landing troops. She shot down two planes in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. One was a torpedo plane.

But on June 29, 1945, while on her secret mission, she was hit by a torpedo. She sank in fourteen minutes. She was able to complete her mission before she sank. Almost three-quarters of the crew went down with her. The crew that was still alive did not know what was going to happen. Then they saw sharks and sailors went missing. Fewer than 170 men survived. The crew was in the water for four days.

I picked this topic because the ship delivered parts for the atomic bomb which ended World War II. The crew knew it would save a lot of United States lives.

VISITED THE NEW JERSYE NAVAL MUSEUM YET?

Patricia Cenit, Berkley Street Elementary School

Have you ever heard of the New Jersey Naval Museum? Well, it’s a museum in the Gateway region located at 78 River Street, Hackensack, New Jersey. They house the Patrol Boat Riverine, Japanese Kaiten 2’s, German Seahund, and USS Ling 297. In a few months NJNM is going to house pieces of the USS Arizona.

Did you know the Patrol Boat Riverine was used in the Vietnam War and the movie Apocalypse Now? Also, German Seahund means “sea-dog” and Japanese Kaiten 2’s means “turned towards Heaven”. The Japanese Kaiten was used in the Second World War by the Imperial Japanese Navy. As for the Ling, this was put into service on June 8, 1945 and has twenty four torpedoes inside it.

NJNM’s purpose is to show New Jersey residents and visitors our state’s heritage in the Navy. One great reason to visit this naval museum is that the trip could be a learning experience and a fun trip for the whole family! If it’s a family birthday, NJNM holds birthday parties. There are also tours of the Ling. So, why don’t you have the NJNM experience today?

OCEAN CITY NEW JERSEY

Payton Elling, Bloomsbury Elementary School

Would you want to visit America’s favorite family vacation spot? It was rated #1 in 2005. I would want to visit there. In fact I go there ever summer with my family. Ocean city New Jersey was first know as Peck’s Beach. It was originally owned by the Somers family. Then in 1879, four Methodist ministers chose the island as a suitable spot to establish a Christian retreat and camp.

Originally Ocean City was a 7- mile stretch of sand dunes, meadows, and cedar swamps, on the South east cost of New Jersey. The island had served as a summer fishing camp for local Native Americans, a grazing land for cattle driven out from the main land, and an occasional hunting or picnic spot for main land residents who would come out by boat. The first school began in 1881. The first bridge was built to the island in 1883. The board walk grew and was relocated several times. A large fire in 1927 changed the town significantly.

To sum up, Ocean City is now 2 ½ miles of board walk along the beach. Activities often accrue throughout the day. Examples are amusement parks, water parks, and tons of food and shopping. There are public beaches and local life guards. Very clean beaches stretch miles with beautiful water and big and little waves for many great different activities like surfing, boating, water skiing, sand castle computations, shell collecting, or just plain relaxing in the sun.

MORRISTOWN NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK

Regina Beet, Hamilton Primary School

Are you interested in the Revolutionary War? If you are, New Jersey is the place to be. It has the most Revolutionary War historic sites of any of the states. My favorite is the Morristown National Historic Park located in Morristown, NJ. This includes Washington’s Headquarters and Jockey Hollow. General George Washington and his 10,000 troops spent the winter of 1779-1780 camped there.

When you visit Washington’s Headquarters there is a museum and the Ford Mansion to tour. The museum is undergoing renovations and right now there are only two exhibit rooms open, but it is still interesting to visit. In the Ford house, they preserved the house so well, it’s like you are going back in time and you’re in the middle of it all. They kept all the furniture and added some things to make it look like the house is still in use.

Mrs. Ford and her four children lived upstairs in just two rooms and George Washington lived downstairs in the house. The army built little huts outside. Their stay at Mrs. Ford’s was the coldest winter of the century, even colder than Valley Forge!

A few miles south of Morristown is Jockey Hollow, where the troops built log huts. Here you can see the soldiers’ life exhibit. In this exhibit you see the inside of the hut and what soldiers did in their free time. They would huddle by the fire to try to keep warm, play games, and write letters to their families. The soldiers didn’t get much free time because they were training and drilling.

Sound interesting? Then you should check it out. It’s close by, and it’s a really great part of New Jersey history.

TICE’S SHOAL

Renee Viviano, St.Bartholomew Academy

Right in the middle of the Barnegat Bay is a place called Tice’s shoal, an awesome place to experience with family and friends.

Because Tice’s shoal is in the middle of the bay you can only get there by boat. Luckily my grandfather owns a boat so my family and I go there to visit. From where my grandfathers boat is docked it takes an hour and 15 minutes to get there but that doesn’t bother me. When you arrive many boats surround you. Everybody has floats around their boats. After our anchor is down I jump in the cool refreshing water. If you want to do something different you can swim to shore and walk over a sand dune and you’ll be at [Island Beach State park]. You can choose to hang for awhile. If you went by car you would have to pay, but the way I came I go for free. The sand is hot and warm. It’s like paradise.

When my family goes to Tice’s shoal we blow up an inflatable row boat. Sometimes I start drifting away. The people around us have barbecues and rave runners by their boats. There are so many boats I can’t even count them.

I hope you enjoyed learning about this special place. Maybe you could take a ride someday to Tice’s shoal. If you go I know you’ll love Tice’s shoal that vou won’t even want to leave.

BELMAR SAND CASTLE CONTEST

Robert Machiaverna, E. Raymond Appleby School

Do you like to make sand castles? Well if you do you should go to the Belmar Sand Castle Contest. You will see many different kinds of sandcastles and sculptures.

Every year thousands of people come to Belmar to make sand sculptures. They don’t just make castles. They make all kinds of things like cartoon characters, superheroes, city skylines, and cars. One year someone even made a roller coaster that actually moved! It was called “Coaster Kingdom.”

The contest starts at 8:00 A.M. and the contestants sculpt until noon. The competition runs rain or shine. The winners are selected at 1:30.

There are three groups of awards: a 16-and-over group, a family group, and a day camp group. They give a 1^st, 2^nd , and 3^rd place trophy to each group. You can also win prizes such as bicycles, gift cards, and tickets to movies and baseball games.

The contest is a true success! It is growing more and more popular year by year. This year, 2009, will be the 22^nd year for the contest.

There are delicious refreshments to buy and music to listen to. They also have a dance contest on the beach.

The Belmar Sand Castle Contest is very exciting! It is a fun day on the beach. Why don’t you go with your family and friends?

THE STATUE OF LIBERTY

Sadie Hildebrandt, Dogwood Elementary School

Have you ever wanted to learn more about the Statue of Liberty? Well now you can! The Statue of Liberty is on Liberty Island New Jersey. The French gave the Statue to the United States to try to settle differences. The copper statue of a robbed woman with a torch was made to look like Isabella Eugenie Boyer. Since it stands in the harbor is exposed to the air, the copper started to turn a greenish color. The Statue of Liberty is a great place to visit!

People can climb inside the Statue of Liberty. There are 354 steps to get to the top. I’d be exhausted by the time I got to 80! Once you get to the top, inside the crown, you can see the New York Harbor and the ocean through 25 windows.

The Statue was built to withstand winds. Winds of 50 miles per hour cause the Statue to sway three inches and the torch to sway five inches. The Statue of Liberty is very interesting!

JENKINSON’S AQUARIUM

Samantha Barbara, Dorchester School

For many years people have been visiting Jenkinson’s Aquarium. It has become a favorite stop for families visiting the Jersey Shore. In 1928, Charles Jenkinson’s Pavilion opened for business totally transforming the sleepy park in Point Pleasant, NJ. The Pavilion was a large open air building on the beach which featured a candy shop, soda fountain, and a refreshment stand. Later on a dance hall and a miniature golf course was built.

Over the years it grew to include a boardwalk, amusement park, and in 1991 Mr. Jenkinson’s biggest hit, the Jenkinson’s Aquarium. The aquarium has proven to be a valuable educational resource for people of all ages. The aquarium is dedicated to educating the public on all aspects of marine life. During December you can walk through different holiday themed areas while viewing the exhibits. At the aquarium, there is an interesting attraction called “Touch the Tank” which allows the public to touch live animals from a juvenile shark to a sea star. In addition to all the educational exhibits, the aquarium has workshops for children.

Jenkinson’s is a unique facility for families, schools, scouts, camps, and more. Remember next time you go to the Jersey Shore make sure to check out Jenkinson’s Aquarium!

NEW JERSEY DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR

Sarah Marbach, Crim Primary School

I have some exciting news for you! George Washington and his troops could have cut through your backyard, or even battled in it during the Revolutionary War!

The Revolutionary War was fought between the British and the thirteen American colonies between 1775 and 1783. New Jersey was one of the thirteen original colonies, and because New Jersey had many major battles fought on its grounds, the state was named “The Crossroads of the Revolution”. Almost half of the Revolutionary War was fought in New Jersey! Did you know that during this time, Princeton was our Nation’s capital for four months?

Many sea battles were also fought on New Jersey’s coast. Plus, there were 296 battles in all that took place in New Jersey. That’s more fights than any other colony during the Revolutionary War!

George Washington passed through Middlebrook, N.J., between Somerville and Bound Brook in the winter of 1778-1779 N.J. He, along with his wife, lived at what today is known as Washington’s Headquarters. We are lucky enough to have this amazing structure still standing in Morristown, N.J. Mr. Washington and his troops used this building as their headquarters from 1779-1780.

We as a free nation, still remember President George Washington, as we look back on the fascinating history of New Jersey during the Revolutionary War.

Rolling Hills Country Day Camp

Shannon Reng, Wanamassa School

Is your child looking for fun? Then Rolling Hills is right for you! Rolling Hills Country Day Camp is located in Freehold, New Jersey and has been in business for 45 years! Campers between the ages of 3-14 years old are welcome to join in the fun!

Summer fun begins with the many exciting activities the camp provides. Some activities include soccer, camp plays, and gymnastics, cooking, and swimming. Rolling Hills has two swimming sections. First is instructional swim and the second is free swim. The kiddie pool has a frog slide, while the larger pool has 2 bigger slides. Wacky Water Day is a camper favorite!

The fun never stops on rainy days either! On rainy days your child will follow the rainy day schedule. The activities in this schedule include bingo and sometimes a trip to the movies. There are so many things for your child to do.

Concerned about food allergies? No problem! If your child has allergies you can send them lunch. If not, the cafeteria has a salad bar and a daily menu for food. At the end of the day, and after lunch, there are always ice-pops. Rolling Hills Country Day Camp is money well-spent on summer fun! See you there!

DREAM PARK

Shelby Monaghan, Broad Street School

Do you have a horse? If you do, you might have heard of Dream Park. Dream Park is a horse park in Logan Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey.

Dream Park is very big. It can fit two-hundred thirty eight horses in the two big barns. They have five horse arenas. They have horse shows in the summer. They have about twelve shows. The shows run from June to September. When you have a horse, you may get lots of money from horse shows.

Dream Park has about two hundred acres. But with two barns they have fifty five thousand square feet. The barns were built in 2001.

If you have a horse you might want to think about boarding it there. That means to let your horse stay there. If people board their horses there, it is very expensive to afford a bag of feed. It costs about $50.00. Plus you have to pay to board your horse there. The barn was built in 2001.

When you have horses you can use them to travel around the parks but not on the busy roads.

LUCY THE ELEPHANT

Sierra Lopez, Alex Alacan & Eric Keosseian, Belmar Elementary School

Did you know that Lucy is the tallest elephant in the world? Lucy is an elephant-shaped building located in Margate, New Jersey. She is a national historic site, sitting next to a beach in South Jersey and represents unique architecture from the Victorian age.

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Lucy stands 65 feet high, 60 feet long, 18 feet wide and weighs 90 tons! This amazing elephant was built in 1881 by James V. Lafferty at the age of 25 years old. He designed it because he wanted to create an impressive landmark to get people’s attention and bring tourists to Southern Atlantic City. Lucy was constructed in 1881 from wood and tin sheeting. This structure’s original name was ‘Elephant Bazaar’, but was later named ‘Lucy the Elephant’ in 1900. Lucy is more sculpture than carpentry. The building of Lucy involved hand-shaping nearly one million pieces of wood to create the collection of curves and load supports for a 90-ton structure. It was finished in 1882 with an outer sheath of hammered tin. On the inside walls, Lucy’s curves are plastered pink. This color gives visitors the feeling that they are actually standing inside a large, living creature. The entrance is located in her large right back foot. There is a museum in her stomach and two stories are souvenir shops. On the sides, between Lucy’s legs, are the stairwells leading up to the howdah. A howdah was a riding carriage used by the royalty of India. For Lucy, the howdah is an observation deck allowing a wonderful view of the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic City, Margate and the surrounding area. An ‘I Love Lucy’ sandwich shop is located at the beachfront. Lucy has survived a bomb attack and a fire. Lucy can be seen from eight miles out at sea, making New Jersey, the only coastline in the world marked by a six-story-high elephant-shaped navigational aid.

Today, Lucy is 123 years old and is in excellent condition, thanks to the efforts of the Save Lucy Committee. There are many other interesting facts about Lucy, but if you want to learn more, you will have to go to 9200 Atlantic Avenue, Margate, New Jersey to visit her attraction.

CHATSWORTH IS CHATTY FOR CRANBERRIES

Sophia Mastandrea, McKinley Avenue Elementary School

The New Jersey Cranberry Festival celebrates NJ’s great cranberry harvest. There are delicious cranberry sauces to buy, enormous bounce houses with pony rides, knickknacks for your home, and wonderful bands for you to hear. At the Cranberry Festival, there’s something for everyone! Chatsworth’s Cranberry Festival is definitely worth the trip for your family and friends. You just need to see a lake full of the little lobster red blimps (cranberries) and you’ll be breathless. This festival is always packed with families and friends.

If you go there, you can buy knickknacks like totem poles, baskets, puppets, dolls, and more. They even have a real live wolves for you to see. You can buy handmade cranberry wreaths and taste the delicious cranberry jams, jellies, chutneys, salsas, breads and much, much more. All day, you will listen to the great music performed by Jersey Bound. Be sure to taste cranberry wine at Valenzo Winery, you don’t want to miss it! There are so many reasons why I want you to visit the Cranberry Festival this October. See you there!

THE SUSSEX COUNTY FARM AND HORSE SHOW

Sy LaBrunda, Bedminster Public School

Have you ever wanted to see animals, tractors, cheesecake, and a demolition derby all in one place? If you’re looking for all of these things and more, the New Jersey State Fair is the place to go! The New Jersey State Fair is held over ten days beginning Friday, July 31^st (Opening Day) and ending August 9^th (closing day). The local people of Sussex County know the fair as The Sussex County Farm and Horse Show. It is held on one hundred twenty five acres of land at the Sussex County Fair Grounds.

The purpose of the fair is to show off New Jersey’s crops and provide a safe family environment with lots of educational activities. The fair also gives money that it makes to some of the local charities. In order to enter the fair, you need to buy tickets which are five dollars for kids that are between the ages of six and twelve. If a parent or guardian wants to come to the fair with you, they need to buy a ticket which is eleven dollars each.

Some of the animals that can be found at the fair are cows, donkeys, pot-bellied pigs, Nigerian dwarf goats, sheep, and oxen. When you’re at the fair, you can watch these animals being judged and become excited when they win!

If you’re looking for a fun, exciting time that you’re whole family can enjoy, The Sussex County Farm and Horse Show is the place for you to go!

ROCKS THAT GLOW?!

Tara Zanfino, Lincoln Park Elementary School

What place in Ogdensburg, New Jersey is not the warmest place ever but has great exhibits? Sterling Hill Mining Museum, of course!

There is a lot to see in the Zoebel Exhibit Hall, but the best is a small room that has a fluorescent mineral display in it. When you take a mineral into this room and the lights are off, your mineral could glow blue, yellow, green, orange or red! When my class went there, we were amazed by the sight! Also in the Hall, they have mining equipment on display.

The part I loved the most is the astonishing Underground Mine! There is a tour guide who will guide you all around the mine. You’ll be walking on a hard gravel floor, so beware! The guide will take you to a lot of rooms. I think the best room is the Rainbow Room which has pieces of zinc that glow bright neon colors.

Another fun part is the Rock Discovery Center. The guide will take you outside and give you a box. Inside the box, there are little cubby holes for you to find certain types of rocks/minerals.. The box and the rocks/minerals are yours to keep.

As you can see, the Zoebel Exhibit Hall, the Underground Mine, and the Rock Discovery Center are all a part of Sterling Hill Mining Museum. If that’s not awesome, I don’t know what is!

THE LAND OF MAKE BELIEVE

Tyshon Bradley, Mount Arlington Public School

The Land of Make Believe is a “hot spot” in New Jersey tourism. This park has been entertaining families for approximately 52 years. The amusement park is 30 acres of non-stop family fun. Families from New York City travel 60 Miles west to Hope, NJ to enjoy the entertainment that the Land of Make Believe provides. The most popular ride is the great “Pirate Plunge.” You will find some other awesome rides in the water park, which includes water slides, the Buccaneer Wading Pool and Blackbeard’s Action River Ride

The Land of Make Believe is considered to have exciting rises, shows and attractions, games, a water park, and picnic areas. The Lan of Make Believe and Pirate’s Cove has been designed exclusively for an action-packed day of special family fun for parents and their children. The Land of Make Believe will also let you travel back in time on the Civil War train which loops around most of the park. Whether you are cooling off in the water park or enjoying the games and attractions, The Land of Make Believe is a fun-filled family getaway close to home.

DUKE FARMS

Victoria Gainey, St. James the Apostle School

My favorite garden in New Jersey is called Duke Farms. Duke Farms is in Hillsborough, New Jersey in Somerset County. Many people go there to learn about all different kinds of plants and maybe a little about Doris Duke, the woman who opened Duke Farms.

Duke Farms is important to some people because Doris Duke’s father died when she was only 12 years old but she still continued to own the property until she became an adult.

Doris Duke adopted her father’s greenhouses to create a huge garden that she opened to the public in 1964. It is interesting because there might be 10 or more types of gardens at Duke Farms such as French, Italian, English, Chinese, Japanese and some weird desert plants.

In 1958, Doris Duke began a six-year process of designing and creating the gardens. In the Chinese garden you can find out what the meaning is of the garden carp, the color red, and the black bamboo. Doris Duke traveled around the world to find plants and some statues to complete the gardens.

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Doris Duke made a great success but unfortunately the gardens closed in May 2008 to be rebuilt. The beautiful gardens will reopen in 2010.

SCENIC SMITHVILLE
by Taylor Roth, Emma Havens Young School

Have you ever heard of Smithville Historic Park? It’s a quaint village made up of little antique shops, a puppet theater, candy shops and more! For a great Sunday drive, with your family, where you can learn and have fun, it’s just fifteen miles from Atlantic City.

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What makes Smithville historic is that during the American Revolution near the fork of Little Egg Harbor River, smugglers would “run goods” when the British ruled America. That didn’t last very long because shortly after privateers discovered the river, it became a favorite spot to land with their cargo. The British became curious why so many people were hanging around an old hut on this site. When they discovered the storehouse, they burned it to the ground and the people were forced to leave or would suffer greatly.

This was where James Baremore built the original Smithville Inn in 1787, which makes what used to be a little 1 room hut 222 years old! This now historic park was named after its founder, Hezekiah Smith after it was abandoned in 1875.

People say it is a fun place to go, and when I say “people”, I mean me and my family. Take it from me, I’ve been to Smithville a few times and I never get tired of learning about historic New Jersey!

GO FISH!

Victoria Vazquez, McKinley Avenue Elementary School

If you love seafood, then Barnegat Light is the place to be! It is famous for its fishing opportunities for locals and tourists to enjoy. You can fish all day on a head boat or if you are real fishermen, you can go out for a few days or weeks. If you want to do a day of fishing, you should go to Viking Village and schedule a boat trip with a captain. They will teach you everything you need to know to have a wonderful fishing experience. Be ready to fish between April to December to catch some amazing fish. Some of the fish you may catch are Flounder, Striped Bass, Fluke, and Bluefish. Local fishermen go out on scallop boats and sell the scallops to local restaurants on Long Beach Island and the famous seafood markets in New York City and Philadelphia. Next time you visit Long Beach Island, be sure to turn left on the boulevard and go to Barnegat Light- Go Fish!

ON THE REVOLUTIONARY WARPATH
By Alexandra Campbell, Princeton Charter School

When you think of the Revolutionary War, you probably think of Pennsylvania,Virginia, Massachusetts, and New York. Yet, New Jersey played an even bigger part. In fact, New Jersey was called the “Crossroads of the American Revolution” because it was at the center of the new nation and troops were crossing it during the the time of the war.

Many battles were fought in New Jersey. Why, Washington even won his first battle right in Trenton! That was the Battle of Trenton. The longest battle went on for two days in June of 1778. Many soldiers died then but not because of guns! They died because of heat stroke. What a shame!

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One of the Royal Governors of New Jersey was William Franklin, Benjamin Franklin’s son. He was the last Royal Governor and was arrested after New Jersey defeated the British in 1776. The last Royal Governor’s house is in New Jersey. It is called the Proprietary House, and is located in Perth Amboy.

During the war, Washington spent most of his time in New Jersey. That’s more than any other state! Thus, you can ask whoever might be around, “What was the most important state during the American Revolution?” They might say “New York,” and if they do, you might say, “Wrong! New Jersey was!” After all, Washington might have walked through your backyard. Who knew?!