Hey Clark – Was your New Years Resolution to join a Gym?

Of the 45% of Americans who made resolutions this year, the top New Year’s Resolution was, in 2013, the same as it has been for years – to lose weight, amounting to 37% of all of the resolution makers. Historically, less than half of all resolution makers actually keep their resolution after 6 months. Are you one of them?

If you are, here are 2 gyms in Clark you might want to check out:

Bally Fitness is located at 140 Central Ave in Clark and is open the following hours:

Monday through Friday – 5:30am to 10:00pm

Saturday and Sunday – 8:00am to 6:00pm

Bally’s has cardio equipment such as stationary bikes, treadmills, stair machines, etc,  group classes, a boxing ring, a pilates studio, yoga, and personal training available. They also have strength training equipment such as machines and free weights. Want to check it out? Click here for a free guest pass to Bally Fitness!

Retro Fitness is located at 225 Terminal Ave in Clark and is open the following hours:

Monday through Friday – 5:00am to 10:00pm

Saturday and Sunday – 7:00am to 7:00pm

Retro is currently offering a promotional monthly fee of $19.99 and an online fitness tracker with lifestyle menus and exercise plans.

Click here for a free guest pass to Retro Fitness!

There is certainly no excuse now, Clark, so get out there and make your New Year’s Resolution happen!

 

 

First Day of School, Union County!

It’s time to buy new notebooks and sneakers – schools all over Union County will be opening soon!

Opening day for all of Clark Public Schools in Thursday, September 6. School supply information and summer reading information can be found here.

Opening day for all schools in Cranford is Thursday, September 6th. Information on summer assignments and school supply lists can be found here.

All Rahway schools are opening on Wednesday, September 5th. Rahway’s Grover Cleveland School is holding their Open House on Tuesday, August 28, from 10am to 12pm. Rahway High School will hold its Freshman Orientation from 11am to 1pm on Tuesday, September 4th. For information on school supplies for Rahway students, click here.

The first day of school is Roselle Park is Wednesday, September 5th. Have you done your summer assignments yet? Click here  and here to see the assignments. Info on school supplies and school forms is available here.

Linden public schools open for all students on Thursday, September 6th. For information on your summer assignments, click here.

The first day of school for all students in Scotch Plains-Fanwood is Wednesday, September 5th. Freshman Orientation will be held on August 24th from 10am to 11:30 am, followed by a mini golf and pizza lunch. Orientation for Freshman parents will be at 7pm on August 28th. Summer Reading information can be found by clicking here.

Make it a great school year!

Fourth of July Fireworks in Union County!

Where can you go to see Fourth of July Fireworks in Union County?

Clark – Arthur L. Johnson Regional High School, 365 Westfield Ave – DJ and vendors in front of town hall beginning at 7:30.

Cranford – Nomahegan Park

Elizabeth – Veteran’s Memorial Waterfront at the intersection of Front Street and Elizabeth Avenue.

Mountainside – Fields behind Our Lady of Lourdes and Deerfield School. Free ice cream for the kids!

Roselle Park – Herm Shaw Field at Roselle Park High School on West Colfax.

Springfield – 5:00 pm rides, petting zoo, pony rides, trackless train ride at Meisel Field; 7:30 concert; fireworks at dusk.

Summit – rides and amusements all day, concert at 7:45, fireworks at 9:15.

Union – Biertuempfel Park concert followed by fireworks at 9:00.

Happy Fourth of July!

Dear TZ – What’s a good price to offer on a house in Union County?

DEAR TZ – HOW MUCH SHOULD I OFFER ON THIS HOUSE IN UNION COUNTY?

Dear TZ,

We’ve been looking all over Union County and finally found a house in Clark that we love! How much should we offer on it?

Bob and Bernice Buyer

Dear Bob and Bernice,

Congratulations and welcome to Clark! You’re going to love it here!

When you put an offer in on an house, your agent will show you some comps which are comparable homes that have sold in the area.

You’ll also want to look at the ratio of sale price to list price for similar homes. In Clark for example, the average home sells for 95% of list price.

So what do you offer?  Well, you really need to make an offer that you can afford and one that you think is a fair offer to the homeowner.  So if their list price is accurate, you may want to come in close or at list price.  If they’re priced competitively you may even want to come in above list price.

Your REALTOR(R) can offer advice, but ultimately the decision is YOURS.  Put yourself in the seller’s shoes and think how you would feel if someone offered what you’re going to offer on the house.

Lastly, you may want to take a few minutes time to pen a handwritten letter telling the sellers about you and your family and how you’re looking to forward to making their home yours.   Make it personal, tell your story.   It may make the difference if a similar offer comes in.

Best of luck!

- Wayne and Jean

Clark Spa offers a wide variety of Experiences

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Happy Memorial Day, Clark!

 

Clark will host a Memorial Day Parade on Monday, stepping off at 9:30 am.
Following the parade will be services at the Arthur L. Johnson High School.

This year’s parade will dedicated to the memory of Clark native Sergeant James W. Harvey II who was killed in action in Afghanistan on June 20, 2011.

Egg-Citing Hunts in Union County

‘Tis the Season for Spring Festivities in Union County! Here are some great adventures for children this weekend:

• New Providence Lions Club will hold its Easter Egg Hunt at Oakwood Park Easter on Saturday, March 31, at 9:30 am with the Easter Bunny arriving at 9:15 am. Balloons, lollipops, and viewing of EMS vehicles will start at 9:00. All age groups are invited but the egg hunt is limited to Pre-K to grade 2.

• Garwood’s annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held on Saturday, March 31^st, and 12 pm, with a rain date of Sunday, April 1^st at 1:00 pm. The Hunt, along with prizes and a visit by the Easter Bunny, will be at the Garwood Little League Field at the East end of Myrtle Avenue. Garwood residents only.
• Scotch Plains annual Egg Hunt is March 31^st at 11 AM at Park Middle School. The first hunt will be for 0-2 year olds. Kids ages 3-8 will follow.  Baked goods will be for sale and children can get tattoos and their face painted, as well as guess the number of jelly beans and pick lollipops to win a prize. The Easter Bunny will be there, too. Please bring a non-perishable food item (no glass, please) to donate to the Scotch Plains Food Pantry.

The fun’s not over yet! Here are some Easter Egg Hunts especially for Union County kids next weekend:

• Summit PAL is sponsoring an Easter Egg Hunt with the Easter Bunny on April 7^th at 10 AM at the Family Aquatic Center at 100 Ashwood Avenue. This event is open to all Summit residents.
• Cranford Chamber of Commerce hosts breakfast with the Easter Bunny at the Garlic Rose, 28 North Avenue, on April 7^th at 9AM. Cost is $10 for children and $15 for adults, and photos are an additional $3. Email gina.tipton@gmail.com for more info.
• Fanwood’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt will be at Forest Road Park on April 7^th at 10 AM. All children 10 and under are invited to help find over 1000 eggs filled with goodies and prize tickets hidden around the park. The Easter Bunny will be there along with contests to guess the number of jelly beans and chocolate eggs. Bring your own decorated egg and bunny drawing to enter the drawing contests.
• Mountainside is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt at Oasis Church, 1180 Spruce Drive, On April 8^th, right after Easter Sunday’s 10AM Church Service and Kids’ program with a Bible lesson and craft under the Big Top Tent. Live bunnies will be there, along with the Easter Bunny.

And, one more event for the weekend after that!

• Clark will hold its sixth annual Easter Egg Hunt at the Clark Recreation Center at 430 Westfield Avenue on Saturday, April 16^th from 12 to 2 pm. Bring a camera and take pictures with the Easter Bunny. Decorate your own basket, hunt for eggs filled with prizes, participate in a coloring contest, have snacks, enter the jelly bean contest, and enter the grand prize drawing. This event is open to Clark children up to and including 5^th grade. Al children must be accompanied by an adult.

 

Bistro 1051 in Clark

We ventured out a week or two ago to Bistro 1051 on Raritan Road in Clark. This BYO restaurant features a unique mix of Italian cuisine and sushi. Service was fantastic and food was great and portions were very large (doggie bags all around). Their Brick oven flat bread with vodka sauce, prosciutto and fresh mozzarella was delicious.  The Dynamite Shrimp was exactly as described – dynamite, and the Kobe burger was juicy and served with fantastic sweet potato fries.

Next time, we’re trying the Pear Endive salad and the sushi rolls.

Have you tried it yet? Tell us what you thought!