Crossroads to Rock Union County

Step aside--- Garwood's Crossroads is making its way to the 12th Annual Union County Music Fest on September 12th and 13th at Clark's Oak Ridge Park. The borough's Northside favorite for live music will be featured at the two day festival-- putting up local talent on their very own stage (sponsored by the ultra un-cool Walmart).

Danielia Cotton will be the main act. Other bands appearing on the Crossroads Stage on Saturday and Sunday include: JoBonnano, School of Rock, Matt Koziol Band, Jay Touhey, Beale Street Love, and The Embracers.

The festival, headlined by the uber-90s band Third Eye Blind, will be home to four stages of FREE live music. They Might be Giants, Uncle Kracker, Gin Blossoms and Pete Yorn will also perform.

County officials have billed the event as a time for families from Garwood and other towns to gather and enjoy each other's company. Organizers say this year's Music Fest in Clark will be a much larger venue than in previous years. This year will also include rides and games for kids of all ages-- part of the Union County Fair, which sets up shop on September 10th. Residents can also play Laser Tag!

This year's event runs from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on both days. County Officials expect thousands of residents to attend.

The Union County Fair will be open from 5 pm to 10 pm on Thursday and Friday September 10th and 11th, and from 11 am to 10 pm on Saturday,

And while entry is FREE, there will be paid on-site parking for $10.

Is there a Volunteer in the house?

First Aid squads throughout the state are struggling to keep and attract new members. The problem is even worse for Volunteer departments like Garwood's. And in an interesting development, the Garwood Volunteer Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services are pitching themselves for new members on the free website Wikipedia.

The post, seen above is part of Garwood's main Wiki page. The post explains that the borough is covered 24/7 by a volunteer fire department and a volunteer first aid squad. It then reads: Volunteers are needed, to find out more about joining please call 908-789-0300.

It seems-- not a bad way to attract new talent to the Department. A call placed to 908-789-0300 on Saturday was answered by a recorded voicemail message by a squad member prompting callers to leave a message for the volunteer department.

No Spiral Notebooks...(please!)

With another school year ready to start up-- Garwood's Public Schools are asking parents to pitch-in and buy suplies for their children to use at school. The annual "list" is not uncommon in New Jersey and has been used for years to help under -funded schools acquire supplies, and to give parents a compass for shopping.

At quick glance here are some of the more notable items requested from Education officials at 400 Second Avenue:

1st grade teachers, Mrs. Parkhill and Mrs Novello, have managed to raise taxes on borough parents-- in a very specific way. The duo asks 1st grade parents to cough up 20 pennies, 10 dimes, 5 nickels and 4 quarters (that's another $2.45! in taxes). The teachers also ask parents to put the coinage in containers and NOT ziplock bags (heaven-forbid). And, if you'd like, the 1st grader teachers would gladly accept baby wipes, but, they note, that is not required.

2nd grade teachers, Mrs. Florio and Mrs. O’Connor, want students to bring an old sock to school. Yes, an old one. Not sure why it needs to be old, but the teachers explain they will be used for erasers on those white-boards.

Mrs. Berglund and Mrs. Ristau (third grade teachers), apparently don't like spiral notebooks, and implore parents to buy 4 hardcover bounded notebooks instead. They are polite about it though and say: "No spirals...please" (a polite request). They also want old socks, but they note, they want "clean" ones, as opposed to the 2nd grader teachers who didn't make cleanliness an issue.

Mrs Elias and Mrs Murray want #2 pencils-- but they must be Ticonderoga #2 pencils-- (apparently fearing a rush on cheap, no-name brands from Canal Street in Manhattan). They want a 16 count of crayons, no larger (Golden Rod and Perriwinkle fans beware), and pencil pouches. But, for heavens sake, they ask for hard-box pencil-pouches and not the soft ones. They cap off the list with 2 packs of binder paper and a 5 subject accordion organizer.

5th grade teachers, Mrs. Dangeleit and Ms. Toth Materials, start of by saying all the supplies are recommended...(thanks). They like marble composition notebooks and have no problems with #2 pencils made by non-Ticonderoga companies. And, in an ironic twist, 5th graders should have SOFT pencil pouches, not hard ones (like the 4th graders). Odd.

And finally, Middle Schoolers should own highlighters, pens-- both blue/black and RED (aren't those just for teachers?). Pencils with erasers (duh), book socks, and of course a Spanish/ English Dictionary (sorry French students). The Middle School staff would also like Loose Leaf paper which they say is cheaper to buy in bulk for the year, rather than monthly.

The full supply lists for Garwood are availalbe in PDF format and can be printed out before a trip to Target in Clark.

High School Opens

Public high school students from Garwood headed back to school Wednesday. The 2009-2010 school year kicked-off at Arthur L. Johnson High School in Clark before Labor Day, and before Garwood Public Schools.

Garwood Public Schools open back up on Thursday September 10th.
For a full list of school supplies go to: www.garwoodschools.org/0910_Supply_List.html