Two speakers in the fold...

Well now I have two confirmed yes for speakers for the Titus Farm. I will say one of the great things about coordinating an event is you can go for speakers you enjoy. So far the first two I know will hold the interest of the crowd and keep it flowing. I actually got the camps of Senator Menendez and Rep Holt to somewhat commit. Holt cannot give me the OK till 2 weeks out and he will be just back 2 days from a trip abroad. Menendez has a possible trip to Puerto Rico. If he goes I'm out, if he does not go I should be in. I now understand why organizers pull there hair out. It's not any ones fault it seems to be the nature of the political machines. This does make it hard for someone like me who wants to get it done early and stay on top of the situation. I really dislike last minute. I have already decided to compose the program and leave out the keynote speaker till I get the definitive word. I can actually see things start to take shape.

Titus starts to take shape

Slowly it turns, step by step, inch by inch... The most difficult challenge to this dedication ceremony is nailing down a speaker. It's down to Rush Holt and Robert Menendez, neither camp will make a decision so I have to call and hound, call and hound. I did get Anna from the Middlesex County Cultural Commission. She will be a fun speaker, tells good stories and has been around through a lot of various politicians. I am still working the other 2 slots. The keynote speaker hopefully will be a politician if not I will use Giles Wright if I can convince him to do it. I do not want to coordinate this and be the keynote speaker, way to much pressure. June is coming fast and I need to light a fire under these butts!

Time to breath

Well the recital is done and confirmation is completed. Only 8Th grade recognition and college graduation remain...
Speaking of confirmation my wife's uncle was here from Trinidad for my son's confirmation. He is a Catholic priest. Since his nephew was being confirmed he wanted to participate in the ceremony. Did anyone out there know there is some secret code for priests to use to positively identify themselves? Well there is and he robed up and came on out with the bishop and all to participate, really made the event extra special.

Short and to the point...

The report was short and straight to the point on NJN. Bill, Jean and myself each had a turn to speak and there were some nice pictures of the house and cemeteries. Other than being a little longer I think it went well and hopefully will keep people asking questions...

Tonight's the night...

Well the long anticipated piece on the farm will air on NJN tonight at 6:00PM, 7:30PM and 11PM est. Bill, Jean and I all contributed so I hope we all have a little time on the piece. I believe it is only 4 minutes or so and they should be talking about the Van Dyke Farm in South Brunswick NJ. Check your local programing for NJN or you may be able to see the stream at:

http://www.njn.net/television/webcast/

Keep a eye out for us!!!

"Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" And bring back pally.

President Reagan may have charged this duty to Gorbachev, but Boris Yeltsin was left to make it all work. It was never easy for Boris, he was blamed for all the financial woes that come from democracy. He was labeled an alcoholic. He could not stop looting of state industry as it went private. Some say he used his power to squash political adversaries. All of this is most likely true but I loved this guy. He steered the Soviets through an impossible task of democracy and they are still standing today. He was sick, he battled the bottle, but this was a real man in all his dorkiness. He stood on a tank and took power. He danced (terribly) during elections. He kept a smiling face while Russia almost imploded. I have always had a soft spot and much admiration for the manly men of politics. That era was gone once I reached manhood. I am a part of the sensitive, understanding, cooking, babysitting, how can I help you honey age of husbands. Yeltsin, Gorby, Reagan all real men. Bronson, Eastwood, Michum, Wayne ate nails for breakfast men. Even the Rat Pack, silly, funny real man's men. I look at our political leaders and there has been a change in the manly men landscape. President Bush, not so much. Today's Hollywood? DiCaprio, Cruise, Damon, Nicolas Cage, I think not. I am not saying that you must be a man's man to do these things, I am saying, I miss those types of guys. I grew up loving the aura and the style of those times and those men. Time marches on without a doubt but come on, wouldn't it be nice to throw on a tux or a gown, go to a show in Vegas (With cigarette smoke) only 250 people in the room, double shot of Bourbon(Guys) martini (Gals) listen to dirty jokes you need to THINK about before you get it? I know, I know in 1960 they would not even have let me in those places in Vegas. That's not the point, it was about style and class, black and white even through segregation both had it. One time ,just once I would loved to say "Hey Pally? Ain't nothing like a dame".

Once and only once....

Having watched this tragedy unfold at Virgina Tech I felt I should blog it out at least once. All I can do is pray for the families, students and faculty of this institution. My heart is so full of sorrow for them and the nation. I have children in and almost out of college and I can almost feel the pain and suffering they experience. President Bush and many other important people have come to express support and sorrow for the victim's and all others associated to this horrific crime. But I reserve the most sorrow for the mother, father and sister of this young man. They have the weight of South Korea on there shoulders, with families in fear to send there students to the US. They have the guilt of a lifetime for not being able to save this young man. They have shame placed upon them, even though they did nothing shameful. This could have been me, or my neighbor, or the woman at the Post Office, or the waiter at Cheeseburger in Paradise. Do not be so naive to think this cannot happen to your family. I see so many students, Elementary, Middle school, High School, College depressed, suicidal, violent and some unstoppable. Yes unstoppable. How could we have stopped him, or the young men from Columbine or countless others. There is no easy response or solution to these issues. So join me and pray for them all, the victim's, students, faculty, perpetrator's and anyone else who has experienced this type of violence. Nothing else has worked we seem not to learn from these acts, maybe if we all pray to the power you believe in, we can say this happened once.....and only once....

The Van Dyke Tango

I decided today to stop and just think about this for a few days. I have absorbed a lot of information for the past 2 weeks but much of it does not help me reach my goal of proof. So now, I stand back, Cha-Cha-Cha, try and contemplate what I have been able to find. Why am I only finding black Van Dyke's in the Western side of South Brunswick-Franklin Cha-Cha-Cha.
Why are there so many in that area Cha-Cha-Cha. All the ones in the eastern village just disappeared Cha-Cha-Cha. Have I gone mad with the Cha-Cha-Cha? Maybe I should stop watching Dancing with the Stars? Hell maybe I should just go over and start shoveling Jean's horse stalls. There is something I have not connected yet, I somehow can feel it, but what dots are missing? Well this and many other compelling revelations shall be revealed in coming episodes of the "Van Dyke Tango".

Research Hell

My dad was here from Orlando till Tuesday morning. He came up for my daughters recital at Monmouth University. The event went off beautifully with only the rain making it a tough day. Her program went off without a hitch and a crowd of around 100 came to see the performance. She sang in four languages, French, Italian, German and English. Afterwards we had a reception for family at Rooney's right on the boardwalk in Long Branch. With the Northeaster dumping 8 inches of rain traveling was tricky but we made it through. After dropping dad off at the airport I headed straight to Trenton which was a tricky adventure, I actually took a route I never have and made it into the heart of town. That's when my week went sour. First I never have tried to eat in downtown Trenton before so I rode around for over 30 minutes looking for a place and then a few more looking for parking. The state parking deck was flooded out. I decided on J's Chicken and Waffles. Awesome meal and great service, a bit pricey for lunch (at $12 for basic Chicken and Waffle) but something very new here on the east coast. They have this in Los Angeles and it's very popular. So after a great meal and some relaxation I headed to the State Archives. Nothing. I found nothing. Nothing on slaves, nothing on the black Van Dykes or Ten Broecks. What little they had I have already exhausted. So now I am left with a lot of guessing and searching for a magic bullet.

The last word...

Don Imus has been dropped from his TV show and his radio show. When the sponsors and the fellow employees stop there support there is only one thing left to do. Shut the man down.
Enough said.

New Public Service Announcement

Thank goodness Governor Corzine (New Jersey) made it out of this accident alive with no brain damage. His body has suffered a high level trauma and it seems he will take at least three months to recuperate. Of course much of this would have been avoided if he had WORN his seat belt. If ever there was an example of the cost of not wearing the belt this surely would be the most visible one. In my mind I see the healed Governor months from now on a national Public Service message explaining the great importance of seat belts. He has survived and it seems he will mend, I hope he takes it to the next level and gets the message out on seat belt safety.

A Clear and present danger....

It's 4:55 as I sit at my desk working my real job. I have been here for 7 years, don't make a lot but it's been steady work. Except for the layoffs. Every year since 9/11 we go through a round of layoffs. As I sit here and look around 3 of my co-workers have received envelopes stating there date of departure. People all over the building are receiving these envelopes and it truly is disturbing. I know companies feel they must do these things but the manner in which it is carried out needs more sensitivity training. They handed them envelopes sent them home, told them not to discuss the situation and they must work OUT there last days. In some cases that is 10 weeks. Don't get me wrong I am thankful to have my job (So far) but watching this unfold for the 7Th time is wearing my nerves thin. It is hard to watch people leave and then come back next week like all is well. The largest fear for me is uncertainty, am I next, could it be my turn, how long do I have? But worst of all that has happened today is this. We have a meeting at 9am this morning before this all starts and we see a grey haired man with a pistol side holstered walking around the building from department to department. No explanation, no word, just watch him walking all around. Then the layoffs start it seems he was here to make sure people stayed calm and not threw a fit of rage. But do you know how unnerving it is to see a man strapped with a weapon for no reason patrolling your office? There has got to be a better way of doing this, it leaves the surviving employees shaken and stirred.

Class and Poise

It was a proud moment to be a Jerseyan as I listened to the Rutgers Lady Knights and coach speak about the hurt and suffering caused by Don Imus and crew. They spoke from the heart with anger and grief, yet they showed poise beyond there years. There message was brought to the public with grace and dignity. I applaud them for the way they handled themselves, it reinforces my faith in youth.

I get by with a little help from my friends...

Last week while at Rutgers I was put in touch with Dorothy who had done extensive research on slavery in Franklin. She is 80 plus and has been working on this for 50 years. She seemed very pleased to have someone trying to research the subject asking for help from her research. I know that feeling of doing research and finding someone who can put it to a use. That makes all those days of tough research feel well worth while, she found seven African American Van Dyke's whom I will try and track to ours in Fresh Ponds. Complicating matters is the lack of maiden names. In the 18Th century everything was so male driven. Once women married in many case that maiden name just vanished. I have a connection between Ten Broeck(Brook)-Van Dyke-Titus which may allow me to work through families to maybe find out more about burials in the families. Problem is I show two sisters, Bertha Ten Broeck and Hattie Van Dyke, and I don't know the maiden names. Van Dyke could be it but they don't show under the name. If they were sisters at some point they would have lived together. Well no one ever said this would be easy. I'll just keep shaking that tree till something falls out.

Happy Easter days...

I hope everyone had a great Easter. I spent my day at my sister in laws which is very nice because we did not have to do it at home. Calm and quiet with some good conversation then it was back home. Spoke to my parents a while and checked with my dad who is coming into New Jersey on Friday. I really enjoy holidays that run so smooth makes for a better meal. Last night I watched he Sopranos in real time for the first time, I have never had HBO at home till Saturday...Poor Bobby Bacala...On good holidays it is nice to watch a fictional family mess than having one of your own. OOH yea I bite ear top off my son's chocolate Easter bunny..These are the days...

Hey Don Imus, you have a nappy head too....

"Bunch of nappy headed Ho's" That is the term Don Imus used on the radio last week and he is now in some very hot water. This is truly "a black thing". I very rarely use that phrase because I feel it is a bit divisive but when a term like this is used it has to be addressed that way. I feel I have a right to address Donald, my grandmother, my mother, my wife and my daughters are all black. I know a little bit about nappy and Ho's and next to being addressed as a "bitch" there are not many other terms more insulting to a black women or girl. First you have to understand the difficulty in hair care when you have hair that may become nappy, it is a nightmare. Basically chemicals, hot combs (iron comb heated over a flame and ran through your hair, just imagine that!) and flat irons are the only things that can help this problem and you cannot use them every day. Imagine whenever you wash your hair, BOING, it gets nappy. My daughter has suffered with this for years and it is a issue that can bring her to tears. (Makes a dad feel exceptionally useless) Being called a whore (ho) or prostitute needs no explanation. Put those words into a old white man who has no idea the years of suffrage about looks and perception in the black community, that's quite a recipe for disaster. It's no help that Imus has no taste either. Apparently no compassion as well. The black community will ask for his head and we should get it, this has been a sore subject back to slavery. Not only is humans in slavery a hideous idea, think about the hygiene issues and the fact that you could not take care of yourself properly. Even the owners had issues but also had resources to deal with it. What I heard in his words and my fellow blacks heard was, "nappy little niggers, good for only one thing". Think about it and repeat his words. "Bunch of nappy headed Ho's". Imus may not have meant to insult the community but he did, and did it in such a way I find inexcusable.

Such tiny bits...

I spent Good Friday with my head in the books at Rutgers. I have discovered a Poor Book that may yield some more information on the Van Dyke-Ten Broeck connection. Problem is, it is from Franklin and to take the time to go through the two books on a hunch is very time consuming. So I will try the old fashioned ways first. I spent almost 8 research hours this week and hardly a thing to show. It would be nice if we had one from South Brunswick. And imagine this: there was a physical Poor farm and a Poor House. It really did exist, as many times as I used the term I never imagined looking through a book with people registered to it WOW! I'll keep digging though, I'll be damned if they will tear down that farmhouse without better than my best! Had digital cable and phone service added today so my whole package is in the hands of Comcast. Keep my fingers crossed on that decision.

What a week...

I am supposed to be on vacation. My wife's car got a screw in the the tire. Off to Burlington (Mt. Holly NJ) to pick up the only one I could find. Then groceries (Hi Mrs K :-) ) Shannon brought us down to Monmouth University to see the room for her recital. Beautiful it sits in Wilson hall (Woodrow's summer house) hand painted walls spots for puppets shows very nice. Took the wife to Cheeseburger in Paradise in Langhorne Pa. Spent 3 days researching and I got nothing. I am so frustrated. I did however find two African American Van Dyke's. My only hope may be to find those ancestors. Tomorrow I'm off to Governor Corzine's office to plead for him to come to the Titus dedication in person. On a good note the township is providing the stage podium some trees from the Shade Tree Commission and seemed to have taken a interest in this thing, NY Times pressure never hurts either..HEHEEH And I have to go to the State Archives and BACK to Rutgers. WHAT A WEEK!!!!!