This weekend marks the beginning of the Cherry Blossomfest in Newark & Belleville's Branch Brook Park. So we take a look back at some of last years sights below. We also have a link with all this year's festivities. It is a must see event for the whole family so take a look at this year's happenings and take a look back at last year's magnificent trees!
Spring is here and appropriately enough Newark's Branch Brook Park & Belleville are bursting into spring with their beautiful displays of some America's most cherished and largest arrangements of Cherry Blossoms.
With over 3,000 Cherry Blossoms it is one of the most beautiful sights to see with whites to light pink and bright spectacular eye popping pink it is a sight to behold.
Branch Brook Park has the largest variety
of Cherry Blossom trees while Washington D.C. may have a bigger festival.
Please take note as we captured the First opening buds on this Holy Easter Sunday to present day.
Their spectacular display will begin opening more each day and culminating near the last week of April depending on the weather.
By Steve Sacco Newark, N.J. They say it takes a village, but at one Newark, New Jersey School they know it takes a school. First Avenue School that is, where they are bringing their peace artwork to life in preparation for the Dalai Lama visit. The school has been transformed with peace signs, mandalas and students very own creative pieces portraying peace and unity.
So, I thought it was the perfect time to sit down with the School’s Art teacher, Ms. Marisol Caraballo
who worked tirelessly on helping craft and perfect the theme of unity and peace with her students.
Q: Ms. Caraballo, what is the aesthetic aim of the students artwork?
A: The Aesthetic aim of the students World Peace Project is to create an understanding of the message that the Dalai Lama is bringing to the city of Newark. We want students to embrace and own a feeling of
Unity and Peace.
Q: Do you feel that artwork can help capture the essence of what the Dalai Lama’s message of Peace will about?
A: I absolutely feel that the artwork captures the essence of his Holiness’s message.
Students went above and beyond to reach and incorporate a multitude of symbolic images that culminate the message of Peace.
Q:It seems like the students spent endless hours creating their own masterpieces of Peace artwork, just how much time was spent?
A: Well most students began their peace posters in art class a couple of weeks prior to spring break. The students then completed their projects at home with the support of parents and family members over the spring break.
Q: What is it that you want the students to take with them from this special artwork theme?
A: The main values I want the students of First Avenue School to take with them from the theme of World Peace is a sense of Cultural Enlightenment, a feeling of inner tranquility and peace and unity toward themselves and each other.
Q: One Special piece obviously is the altar that was built and decorated and comes with a message?
What is that message?
A: The message is cultural enlightenment into the belief system that the Tibetan culture encompasses an understanding of beauty, balance and a great, positive flow of energy.
Q: First Avenue School has done some really extravagant pieces of artwork through the years and the school has become an open gallery or art exhibit at times where students display their work. Where do you rate this one?
A: Well I work hard on giving student insight into the lives and artistic styles of many artists. We become immersed in their story which allows the students the ability to produce such great reflective and strong pieces that emulate those artistic styles. Some of the many artist we study are Frida Kahlo, Gergia O’ Keeffe, Wassily Kandinsky.
There you have it First Avenue School is certainly making an impression on the minds of many with their artwork about Peace and Unity that may in fact help transform the city to unite with acts of kindness, respect and caring for one another. Perhaps the Dalai Lama will be moved and touched by their work and may want to pay a visit to the school or may be their Karma they are sending out that helps bring him in.
Abused and neglected dog, Sammy is still showing continued signs of improvement.
Red Bank Veterinary Hospital says he is tolerating more food and trying to hold his head up more each day.
Also support from all over has come in for Sammy and if you wish to make a donation you can so by sending it
to Donations may be sent to Red Bank Veterinary Hospital, 197 Hance Avenue, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724. Be sure to note that your donation is for the Morgan
/ Samurai Fund
I also want to thank the supporters right here on our page who have been following all details and keeping Sammy in your prayers. Please continue to do so and you can also leave words of support and love for Sammy in the comments section below.
You can also see Sammy here in the video on this link:
Tinton Falls, N.J. Abused and neglected Cocker Spaniel being called Sammy now is continuing to show signs of improvement.
Red Bank Veterinary Hospital said, "Sammy continues to make slow progress. He is tolerating his syringe feedings and antibiotic therapy, and is now able to hold his head up for short periods of time! The doctors and technicians are monitoring him very closely to make sure that he receives pain medication if he shows even the smallest
sign of discomfort."
This is great news and many of you continue to send your prayers and well wishes via People Paws for Patrick, a Facebook site dedicated to animal abuse awareness and prevention.
Wall Township-New Jersey SPCA is investigating the latest abuse after Keith Morgan and his wife found a Cocker Spaniel dog in a trash bag on Belmar Avenue matted and lifeless. The couple we were calling caring turns out to to be the one who has done this animal abuse.
Keith Morgan and his wife, Shauna have been arrested.
We also have taken notice of the black garbage bag the same as Patrick's abuser did. Did he copy her?
The Associated Humane Society said the dog was completely matted and covered in waste.
The dog was scene at the hospital. The dog is in critical condition. We are praying for the dog's complete recovery.
We ask that you go to our Facebook site People Paws for Patrick for abused animals and from there, there is a link to Governor Chris Christie's Facebook site let him know Trenton must toughen animal abuse laws.
Piscataway NJ- On Thursday night Cara Jones was walking her 2 year old Pit Bull, Creature.
When all of sudden Creature kept Barking and looking at Cara as to tell her you have to come see what I see. Creature was very adamant about Cara seeing what was over in the brush.
To Cara's amazement when she went over there she saw an elderly lady trying to get up out of the mud with no shoes on.
Cara immediatlely got on the phone and called police, but she was unaware that earlier in the day police had been looking for Carmen Mitchell 89 who suffers from
Alzheimer's.
Authorities noted that Mitchell already had a slight case of hypothermia.
We are thankful to Cara and her friendly pit who was just in time and saved Ms. Carmen Mitchell. We think these two need to be recognized.
Cara though wants the message that Pit Bulls are good dogs and do some really great things!
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