Jim Willis

Ride home, the long way

On account of it being the first sunny day in a long time, I left work a little early yesterday so that I could ride my bicycle home the long way. Ended up doing a great 23 mile ride going through some of my favorite areas of Colts Neck (where I took the picture below).

Confused about Action Day and Ozone

So today is an Action Day because the Air Quality Index has reached an unhealthy level. Specifically, Ozone appears to be very high.

I am confused about the following:

• on Action Days people are advised to limit their out of doors activities.
• However, on Action Days, people are also advised to :

• • Conserve electricity and set your air conditioner at a higher temperature.
  • Choose a cleaner commute—share a ride to work or use public transportation. Bicycle or walk to errands when possible.
  • Refuel cars and trucks after dusk.
  • Combine errands and reduce trips.
  • Limit engine idling.

It seems contradictory to advise limiting outdoor activity and to suggest bicycling/walking in the same set of guidelines, no? Since I bicycled to work today, does this mean I should just ride home very slowly?

cleanup at Red Bank Primary School

My neighbor Carrie sent me this email with some details about doing a cleanup of one of the gardens at the Red Bank Primary School:

I am organizing a rather impromptu clean up of the Primary School’s butterfly garden this Saturday, June 27th.  I have toured this area with Rosemary Kopka, the chairperson of the Board of Education’s Facility Committee and have permission to proceed with this project.  There will be grounds and facility work done on the primary school grounds in the coming weeks, thus the reason for the rapid schedule.  We will begin at 10 AM and if there are enough hands working I don’t think this project will take very long at all.  Bring the whole family out, our two children (2 and 4) will be joining us.  There is a new playground just around the corner from this garden so some of us can garden while others play with kids.  I am planning to bring a lunch for my family and, therefore, I am calling this one “Pick it and Picnic”.  There will be limited to no access to the school building so plan accordingly.  We will need to bring our own tools, I will bring all that I have, but more will be needed.  Please pass this on to any other people that you think may be interested in spending a hour or so to improve this site.  This will be a great way for some of you to meet neighbors, parents and staff from the school district.  Fingers crossed that the weather will be as beautiful as predicted.

If this sounds like something you’d be interested in giving a hand with, drop me an email at sjwillis@willisbros.net. Thanks.