New Jersey

Volunteers will distribute energy-efficient light bulbs next weekend to remind residents that making small changes matter when it comes to environmental protection.

Organized by the township's Environmental Commission and Project Porchlight, volunteers will hand out compact fluorescent light bulbs door to door starting at 9:15 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 11.

The township seeks volunteers to help distribute compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs to Wyckoff residents.

The annual Italian Festival in Ocean, New Jersey, sponsored by the Italian American Association of the Township of Ocean (IAATO), features delicious food, rides, games, a petting zoo, and a pasta-eating contest. This year’s event, held on August 11-15, also featured a strolling Italian street band and, of course, a Frank Sinatra tribute concert

The Caribbean Festival held on August 15 in Monte Irvin Orange Park in Orange, New Jersey, made for a wonderful afternoon. The event featured Caribbean food, festival rides for children, and music provided by Trinidadian deejay Groove.

Project Porchlight was also on hand to educate folks about the energy savings offered by compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs

Sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, National Night Out (NNO) is an annual crime-prevention event that takes place in thousands of communities across the United States. This year’s NNO took place on August 3, as groups of people in all 50 states gathered for a night of community building by promoting neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships

The Jersey City India Day Parade held on August 14 in Jersey City, New Jersey, celebrated the 63rd anniversary of India’s independence from British rule and its birth as a sovereign nation in 1947. The parade featured floats, traditional Indian classical dance as well as Bollywood-style performances, and free food for absolutely everybody who came to the event.

Jenkinson’s Aquarium in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, is a fun place to visit during the summer. Along with its state-of-the-art aquarium, the complex features children’s shows and amusement park rides. Jenkinson’s also presents a fireworks display on Thursday evenings.

Paresh Trivedi (pictured here, left) , a resident of Randolph, New Jersey, emigrated to the United States 17 years ago from Gujarat, India, in search of a better life.

It is not extraordinary that Paresh has indeed found a better life--millions of immigrants have shared that experience. What’s remarkable about Paresh is how much he has, in turn, given back to his community here.