2011 Princeton Landing Census Form

We've received numerous requests for the 2011 Princeton Landing census form. Princeton Landing residents must submit one to the management office to receive recreation badges for the Smith House and Parcel 1 pools. As a service to PL residents, we have attached the 2011 FVCSA census form here. When it opens in Google docs, click "File" in the upper left corner to print or download.

Martin Dempsey From Bayonne to Head Military

President Obama has chosen General Martin Dempsey, a self-described Irish Catholic kid from Bayonne, as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Click here for the Hufflington Post story.

Memorial Day 2011

Listen

with the night falling we are saying thank you

we are stopping on the bridges to bow from the railings

we are running out of the glass rooms

with our mouths full of food to look at the sky

and say thank you

— from "Thanks" by W.S. Merwin

Photographs by Dave Menke

In researching photos for Wednesday's Nature Guide post on the Bald Eagle, I learned some sad news. Wildlife photographer Dave Menke died unexpectedly at his Klamath Falls, Oregon, home on April 28, 2011. He was 64.

We know Dave Menke's work from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Digital Library. The library features his beautiful nature photographs, which he generously placed in the public domain. Dave served with the USFWS at various National Wildlife Refuges throughout the United States since 1978. His wildlife photographs spurred international interest in the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex where he spent the last 20 years as the outdoor recreation planner for the Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge.

Though we didn't know Dave personally, his great talent, love of nature, generous spirit and work with our National Wildlife Refuge System make us wish we did.

Nature Guide: Bald Eagle

As I've said in a previous post, we are fortunate to have Bald Eagles among the beautiful birds to see here at Princeton Landing. With Lake Carnegie nearby and many tall trees, our area is an excellent habitat for Bald Eagles. I saw one just recently flying low over Parcel 6. Its wide wingspan and white head were truly a majestic sight. Our Nature Guide Jon Latimer gives us some information about our national emblem, the Bald Eagle.

"The first thing you are likely to notice when you see a Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, is how large it is. They simply have a greater presence than any other local bird. The blackish-brown body and white head and tail of adult Bald Eagles are unmistakable, but it takes juveniles four or five years to reach adult plumage.

"Immature eagles have dark brown heads and bodies with white mottling on their wings and tail. The feet and lower legs of both adults and juveniles are yellow. When flying, Bald Eagles pump their long, broad wings. When they soar, they hold their wings flat. Turkey Vultures, our other large, dark soaring bird, hold their wings in a slight V-shape.

"It is estimated that there are only around 70,000 Bald Eagles in the world. About half of them live in Alaska. British Columbia has a large population, as does Florida. The remainder may be found in many parts of North America, including New Jersey—there is a pair nesting very close by near Lake Carnegie.

"Bald Eagles usually build their large nest in a tall tree near a body of water. The nest is made of sticks and lined with finer woody materials. Bald Eagles mate for life and they often reuse the same nest over many years, adding new material each breeding season.

"The female lays from one to three eggs and it takes about 35 days before the young hatch. After another 10 weeks the young are ready to leave the nest. Both males and females share parenting duties.

"Bald Eagles hunt fish but will also eat large birds, mammals and carrion. They obtain their food by direct capture and scavenging, but they are not above stealing prey from other birds and mammals.

"The Bald Eagle became our national emblem in 1782 when the Great Seal of the United States was adopted. But over the years hunting and the use of pesticides drastically reduced the number of Bald Eagles in the lower 48 states. In 1967 they were officially declared an endangered species. Under this protection, Bald Eagles gradually recovered. In 1995 their status was upgraded to "threatened." Finally, in 2007, the Bald Eagle was taken off the Endangered Species List. It is still illegal to collect eagles' nests or eggs without a permit, although federal law allows Native Americans to possess these emblems which are traditional in their culture."

Photos (click for a larger image): Ken Thomas; Steve Hillebrand, USFWS; Ken Thomas; Mike Jacobson, USFWS; Dave Menke, USFWS; Dave Menke, USFWS; Ken Thomas

National Neuropathy Week

Pain – has an Element of Blank –

It cannot recollect

When it begun – or if there were

A time when it was not –

It has no Future – but itself –

Its Infinite contain

Its Past – enlightened to perceive

New Periods – of Pain.

— Emily Dickinson

May 16–20, 2011, is Neuropathy Awareness Week. You can learn about peripheral neuropathy by visiting The Neuropathy Association at www.neuropathy.org.

Father's Day Brunch Cooking Class for Kids

2 Moms & a Mixer Cooking Classes & Parties—the baking team comprised of Jen Carson of Jen's Cakes & Pastries and Nicole Bergman of Simply Nic's Artisanal Shortbread—is happy to announce its latest cooking class Funtastic Father's Day Brunch on Sunday, June 12, 2011, from 10 am to 12 pm.

Nic (left) and Jen (right) will teach kids 8 to 12 years old how to make a delicious brunch for dad using all-natural, organic and local ingredients. The menu includes homemade pancakes, fresh strawberry syrup, whipped cream and wildflower honey butter, maple-baked bacon from Cherry Grove Farm and freshly squeezed juice drinks.

The class will be held at The Cooperative Kitchen, which is located in the Princeton North Shopping Center, 1225 State Road 206, Suite 16A. Click here for a map. The cost for the class is $29 per child. To register, you may contact either Nic Bergman at 609-423-8633 or info@simplynics.com; or Jen Carson at 609-240-7738 or lillipies@yahoo.com.

National Neuropathy Week

May 16–20, 2011, is Neuropathy Awareness Week.

Peripheral neuropathy is one of the most common chronic diseases in the US—over 20 million Americans, or 1 in 15 people, have it.

Peripheral neuropathy or "nerve damage" disrupts the body's ability to communicate with its muscles, skin, joints or internal organs. Peripheral neuropathy can be compared to the body's electrical wiring system breaking down, causing numbness, pain, weakness and poor coordination. Neuropathy is a 24/7/365 battle for those who have it. Increasing awareness and understanding of neuropathy—and its impact—will drive the allocation of more funding for neuropathy research and, ultimately, the discovery of more therapies and cures.

You can learn more about neuropathy and helpful resources by visiting The Neuropathy Association at www.neuropathy.org.

Princeton Landing Pool Schedules

We're already getting requests for Princeton Landing's 2011 pool schedules (as well as inquiries about homes for sale by owner—maybe the real estate market isn't dead after all!).

The Smith House pool will open on Saturday, May 28, for the Memorial Day weekend. It will be open on weekends until Wednesday, June 22, when it will open daily. Hours are from 10 am to 8 pm.

The Parcel 1 pool will be open daily from Saturday, July 2, through Monday, September 5. Hours are Monday through Friday from 2 pm to 8 pm. On weekends and holidays hours are 1 pm to 7 pm.

Recreation badges for 2011 are required for admission to the pools. Starting May 9 badges can be picked up at The Smith House during office hours or when a monitor is on duty. A 2011 FVCSA census form must be submitted to the office prior to picking up badges.

Cinco de Mayo

Photos of San Miguel de Allende by Patricia Zur

Maureen Dowd's "Cool Hand Barack"

Fans of columnist Maureen Dowd, don't miss her op-ed piece "Cool Hand Barack" in The New York Times today. She likens President Obama's coolness under pressure while attending the 2011 White House Correspondents' Dinner to Michael Corleone calmly acting as godfather at his nephew's baptism at church, even as his lieutenants carry out the gory hits he has ordered on rival mobsters. Maureen suggests substituting "Leave the copter, take the corpse" for "Leave the gun, take the cannoli." Touché, Maureen! And there's more—check it out.

Update: The Ill-Considered Sign

In a previous post we noted the installation of an unattractive sign in the common area between Parcels 11 and 12. We're happy to report that the ill-considered sign has now been removed.