Around the JerSey Shore Atlantic Shore Woodturners Runs Workshop For Big Brothers Big Sisters

New Jersey American Water Offers Outdoor Conservation Tips

NEW JERSEY – With temperatures steadily increasing and the first day of summer today, New Jersey American Water is offering tips to help customers reduce their water usage this season. These small but impactful actions are designed to help customers save money while alleviating stress on water supplies and infrastructure as we head into the summer months.

“Summer is officially here, and with it comes gardening, pool openings, car washing, outdoor cleaning, and many other activities that require lots of water,” said Thomas Shroba, vice president of operations at New Jersey American Water. “Unfortunately, the US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that about half of the water use outdoors gets wasted. We want to protect our precious water resources and avoid this, while also helping customers save money on their water bill.”

Here are some wise water tips for saving water outdoors: retention. Established plants need much less water.

Reuse it. Use water from rain barrels and kiddie pools for watering lawns and gardens.

Be a leak detective. Find and fix leaks and breaks in hoses, sprinkler systems and pipes. For help, download New Jersey American Water’s Leak Detection Kit at newjerseyamwater.com under Water Information.

Raise the blade. Raise the level of your lawnmower blade to avoid lawn burnout and the need for watering.

Keep an eye out. Watch your sprinkler’s “sweep” to make sure all the water is reaching vegetation that needs it and not the pavement! Check this frequently in case a person or animal has accidentally redirected your sprinkler.

Get the little ones involved. Include your children when implementing water-wise practices around your home so that they can feel like they are making an impact too. Visit the company’s Water Learning Center for activities that teach the value of water.

HOWELL – Gnomes, gnomes, gnomes. Atlantic Shore Woodturners (ASWT) ran an extremely successful workshop for Big Brothers Big Sisters where the woodturners taught the bigs and littles how to make one-of-a-kind gnomes.

“We were looking for a project we could do with them where they could go home with two of something to remember the day,” said Jesse Abraham, ASWT Secretary. “Gnomes seemed like a great idea because they could try to make a matched set.”

Once the bigs and littles arrived, after some initial safety instruction on using a lathe, the wood chips began to fly. The bigs and littles, guided by trained ASWT instructors, produced some very original and unique gnome characters. After some

Photo courtesy Atlantic Shore Woodturners final sanding it was on to decorating. Faux fur beards were added, some were given glittered noses, yet others were left natural.

“Everyone had a great time and we now have a workshop that is transferrable to other youth organizations we work with,” said Bill Stewart, ASWT President. “M&T Bank provided lunch for all in attendance making for a great, enjoyable day of fun!”

The Atlantic Shore Woodturners has members from Monmouth and Ocean County and meets the second Tuesday of the month at the Howell Community Church, Howell. Club meetings are also streamed virtually for those unable to attend in person. New members, regardless of woodturning experience, are always welcome. More can be learned at their website, atlanticshorewoodturners.com

Embrace the bucket! Instead of using a running hose, use water contained in a bucket for washing cars and pets, and rinsing sandy/grassy feet.

Sweep, don’t Spray. Use a broom instead of a hose or pressure washer for clearing debris from sidewalks or pavement.

Timing is everything. Only water during the coolest parts of the day (early morning or evening) to minimize evaporation. Also, be aware of which plants don’t need to be watered every day.

Water only when needed. Watering your lawn is a highly consumptive water use. It is not necessary to water your lawn every day. Generally, lawns only require one inch of water per week, most coming from rainfall and dew.

Use drip irrigation hoses to water your gardens and flower beds.

Rain delay. Watch the weather forecast to avoid watering and then having “Mother Nature” re-water your lawn or garden. Excess water can damage plants.

Pick your plants wisely. Purchase native varieties that require less water and remain hearty in drier weather. And don’t forget to mulch (only 2-3”) to help with water

“We are asking the public to be especially mindful of water usage and proactively moderate consumption at this time,” said Commissioner of Environmental Protection Shawn M. LaTourette. “Although the state is not declaring a water supply drought watch now, simple steps, such as reducing lawn and landscape watering, go a long way in preserving our water supplies and avoiding the necessity of restrictive measures in the future.”

In addition, the company offers a free Irrigation Efficiency Webinar for irrigation contractors and customers to help minimize their outdoor water waste. The presentation, which debunks common irrigation misconceptions and provides practical solutions to optimize water usage, has also been approved for 1.5 Continuing Education Credits (CEC) in Water Conservation by the Landscape Irrigation Contractor Examining Board.

New Jersey American Water customers can monitor their water usage and find ways to use water more wisely online through their MyWater account. More indoor and outdoor water-saving tips can be found on New Jersey American Water’s website at newjerseyamwater.com and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Water Conservation Website.

Annual Craft And Vendor Fair

Prospect Road, Jackson.

If interested in being a vendor, contact sta55events@gmail.com with what types of products you want to sell!

2023 Spray Park Dates

to turn on. To review spray park rules and regulations visit: jacksontwpnj.net/DocumentCenter/View/220/Spray-Park-Rulesand-Regulations-PDF.

By Michael Vandenberg

Most of the time, getting treatment is simple. Something hurts or you feel ill, so you go to the doctor. He or she describes what the problem is and then gives you advice or medication. But sometimes answers aren’t so simple. That’s when rheumatologists like Dr. Shahzad Hussain step in. With his innate ability to read between the lines, along with years of education and first-hand experience, Dr. Hussain stands ready to solve the problem and make a difference.

The challenging nature of rheumatology is part of what originally appealed to him back in residency. It was a field where he could do more than write prescriptions; he really wanted to get to know his patients, and that comes with the territory when you’re asking them a lot of questions for a diagnosis and treatment. So he did fellowships in both rheumatology and immunology, making his level of knowledge on the former’s top villains (like lupus) among the highest.

He happened to finish his residency in San Francisco at the same time and city as Dr. Usmani, who would go on to start his own practice in Lakewood in 1999. Meanwhile, Dr. Hussain had gone home to care for his ailing brother. A few months went by, and Dr. Usmani started to get busy and looked to hire a partner. He heard about Dr. Hussain and gave him a call. “It would be at least another six months before I can come back,” Dr. Hussain warned