Patrick in goal as Fordham Prep beats Xavier

Patrick is the backup goalkeeper on the Fordham Prep varsity soccer team this fall. During this week's game against Xavier, his team pulled out to a 3-0 lead and the coach put Pat in goal for most of the second half.

Pat made two saves as his team completed a 4-0 shutout. It got him a mention in the Journal-News article about the game.

Brian on track to become NJ Transit locomotive engineer

Brian has been hired by NJ Transit into its Locomotive Engineer Training Program.

After taking a preparatory course at Mercer County College earlier this year and doing very well, Brian was accepted into the program and his class began this week.

"As you can imagine we're very, very happy," writes Marie.

"Brian started work on Tuesday and it's been great. He likes the group of guys he's in class with. The first few days have just been administrative and union stuff; they don't start the training program in full until Monday (10/19). He's expecting to have a lot of homework over the weekend -- there's a ton of reading involved."

The program takes about 20 months, leading to an exam for a federal locomotive engineer's license and then assignment to one of NJ Transit's 11 rail lines.

More photos from Xander's California birthday

Xander and his parents are back in New Jersey now and have sent along some more pictures from their visit to California.

Balloons at Grandma's house

Pumpkins!

Here's a nice photo of the trio during a visit to Natural Bridges state park on the coast near Santa Cruz.

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Click this little picture to see more!

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Memory Walk 2009 team reaches its goal - but more help is always welcome

Shanna is very happy to announce that her family's Memory Walk 2009 team has officially reached its goal of raising $500 for the Alzheimer's Association. "Thank you to all that have donated and given support. It is really appreciated."

Of course there's still time to join the team for the Oct. 25 walk in Manhattan's Riverside Park, and/or to make a donation. To find out more, go to their team page at the Memory Walk web site.


This is the second year that Shanna and her brother and parents have formed a team to participate in the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk in New York's Riverside Park on Oct. 25. The Memory Walk is the nation's largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer care, support and research. Since 1989, Memory Walk has raised more than $260 million for the cause.

Read Shanna's report from last year's event

Hearth and home

As their wedding date approaches, Genevieve and John have been setting up their new home in California.

Here are a few photos from Moving Day.









Setting up the kitchen

First meal in the new home

Starting to look comfy

Photos from marching band season

Christine is midway through her third season in the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School marching band. Dan has served as chaperone on a couple of the trips to competitions, giving him a chance to get some behind-the-scenes photos. Above is a shot of the band warming up before a competition on a rainy September night in Piscataway.

Click here or on the photo to go to an album of Dan's photos. (There's one shot that zooms in on Christine playing flute during the Hillsborough competition.)

Ending a great run as chair of annual art show

Dolores has “officially” retired as chair of the Rehoboth Art League Outdoor Show, after 16 years. "We have raised many hundreds of thousands of dollars each year, resulting in many additions, improvements and benefits for the grounds, as well as for the artists," Dolores said.
A view of the show, from the RAL web site.

"I received many awards and thanks during August from the board and members alike. It’s hard to give it up, but I’ll enjoy being just another artist at the show from now on."

Here's a photo of Dolores listening to (and waiting to pay) the musicians of Bitter Creek, a bluegrass group that entertained the shoppers at this year's show.

Xander celebrates 3rd birthday California style

Marie, Brian and Xander are spending a week visiting family and friends in California, where they celebrated Xander's third birthday on Sunday. More details as we get them, but meantime here are a couple of photos via Marie's facebook page.

Go speed racer!

Walking with Dad at Gilroy Gardens

Girl Scout Stephanie bridges to Juniors

Stephanie started her fifth year in Girl Scouts by moving up from Brownies to Juniors.

The "bridging" ceremony was held at a local park where there was an actual bridge for the girls to walk across.

With the move to Ohio last year, Stephanie joined a Brownie troop that had nearly 30 girls.

Most of the girls in that troop are still in 2nd or 3rd grade this year but 4th-grader Stephanie and one other member bridged to Juniors and joined Troop 348 in the Ohio's Heartland council.

The troop meets at Stephanie's school, Hilliard Crossing Elementary.

It's a smaller troop, 8-9 girls, but busy.

"So far they have planned a Halloween party and a sleepover at COSI (a local science museum) and possibly a mother/daughter camping trip," Cathy writes.

"The girls already earned their first badge together."





Topping off the bridging ceremony - cake!

Recommended reading: Story of the Nez Perce

Hugh has written us a review of "The Last Indian War — The Nez Perce Story," by Elliot West, published earlier this year by Oxford University Press.

The nation that called themselves Nimiipuu (“the real people”) were named Nez Perce by the French traders that first encountered them. Their homeland encompassed what today is northeastern Oregon, southeastern Washington and most of north central Idaho. West describes the circumstances that triggered confrontations with white settlers and the U.S. Army, the migration of the Nez Perce, their battles with the U.S. Army and the plight of the Nez Perce after the surrender of Chief Joseph in October 1877.

Read Hugh's full review and find out more about the book.

Last days of summer 2009 in Noyac

Brien has shared a selection of his photos from the last few weeks of summer in Noyac. Click to see the slideshow, or double-click to see larger versions on our Picasa photos page.

Rocking in New Jersey with U2

U2 put on a magnificent concert at Giants Stadium Sept. 23-24 and Dan, Julie, Christine and Andy were there for the second night's show - along with some 80,000 other fans.

The Irish superstars of rock performed for nearly two hours on a circular stage under an array of lights, speakers and video screens that looked like it had landed from space and could take off again at any moment.

The show included mostly material from the late '80s and beyond, from "With or Without You" and "Where the Streets Have No Name" to recent hits like "Vertigo" "Get On Your Boots."

Some of Dan's photos of the show:
Click twice to see larger versions

The oldest number was 1983's "Sunday Bloody Sunday." During that anti-violence anthem, originally written about the Troubles in Northern Ireland, the stage was bathed in green in honor of Iranian dissidents.

The Star-Ledger's review by Jay Lustig described it well: "Spotlights above the tower pointed straight up, reaching toward the sky, during "I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight," and Bono wore a jacket with built-in lasers during "Ultraviolet (Light My Way)." But as dazzling as the special effects and the stage were, musically it was a no-nonsense show. The Edge (guitar), Clayton (bass) and Mullen (drums) played their parts with power and precision, and no wasted notes, and Bono, at 49, still came across like an rambunctious kid, ready to change the world." (See The Star-Ledger's photos)

Our roster of scholars (Updated)

Among all the scholars in our family, most have resumed classes and the rest will soon. We thought we'd put together an update of our family's educational activity.

Some of this is based on guesses or assumptions, so we apologize for any errors... So please fill us in on whatever we've missed or gotten wrong. (Thanks to Aunt Pat for updating us on Brennan and Shannon!)

Shanna - Graduate studies at Mercy College
Dan - San Jose State University
Vivien - third year at Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration
Kevin - third year at Manhattan College
Liz - third year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rebecca - first year at Rochester Institute of Technology
Christine - junior at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School
Patrick - junior at Fordham Prep
Brennan - senior at Saratoga High School
Shannon - sixth grade at Maple Ave. Middle School
Lizzie - freshman at Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School
Andy - 8th grade, Park Middle School, Scotch Plains-Fanwood
Christopher - 7th grade, Heritage Middle School
Stephanie - 4th grade, Hilliard Crossing Elementary School

A summer of music

Cathy writes: With the kids in Maryland for the summer I had a lot more free time on my hands. I managed to fill it up quite frequently by attending some concerts.

I saw Kenny Chesney three times and Keith Urban twice.

Additionally I saw Rascal Flatts, Josh Turner, Creed, and the American Idols just to name a few.

At right: Kenny Chesney in Philadelphia in late June.

Keith Urban in Philadelphia Aug. 1

Taylor Swift in Philadelphia Aug. 1

Creed in Bristow, Va., Aug. 22

When I wasn’t traveling I managed to squeeze in some volunteer work at a local camp and at church. Plus I was training on some new functions at work.

Now that school is back in session we’re back in the groove with plenty of Scout and church activities. No rest for the weary!

Musical weekend in Jersey

A two-day free festival of rock and pop bands drew thousands of people to a Union County park on the weekend of Sept. 12-13. Dan and Andy attended Saturday and ignored an on-and-off drizzle while listening to The Alarm, a reunited '80s British band; The Minus 5, led by Scott McCaughey and featuring R.E.M.'s Peter Buck on bass; blues guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd and that night's headliner, Third Eye Blind, which just released its first album in six years.

Julie and Christine joined Dan and Andy on Sunday - a beautiful sunny day - and saw Glenn Tilbrook, formerly of Squeeze, with his current band the Fluffers; the Gin Blossoms; those nutty geek-rockers They Might Be Giants; and Pete Yorn, a Jersey-born singer-songwriter.


(Click the slideshow screen to go to the photo album on Picasa.)

Wrapping up summer on Cape Cod

Tish writes:
"Since our return from Charleston, we have been enjoying a Cape Cod summer. Here's a photo from Dennis Summerfest. What could be better than a warm summer evening on a Cape Cod beach complete with a bonfire, fireworks and music by 28!"



Gerrit and his bandmates in 28 have been playing a lot of shows on the Cape this year, including a Labor Day weekend gig at BBC Hyannis where they were recording for a new album.

Tish adds:
"This Martha's Vineyard sunset completed our wonderful day on the Vineyard."

WHAT DID YOU DO ON YOUR SUMMER VACATION?
Your reports are now due!
Send them to birchstreetweb@gmail.com

Nevada's great outdoors

Doug and Lisa are settling into their new surroundings near Las Vegas... and they've been out and about exploring Nevada's great outdoors. Here are a few photos by Lisa from their visit to Cathedral Gorge and Kershaw Ryan state parks, a few hours drive out of the city.





Look closely at this next one: Where's Doug?

Memory Walk 2009 - Please join the team!

Shanna writes that she and her brother and parents have formed a team again this year to participate in the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk in New York's Riverside Park, to be held Oct. 25.

The Memory Walk is the nation's largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer care, support and research. Since 1989, Memory Walk has raised more than $260 million for the cause.

"Last year was a great success and we raised over $300 with the help of our family and friends," Shanna writes. "Thank you to all of those who donated last year. This year, we have set a goal of raising at least $500 for the Alzheimer's Association. We hope to not only meet, but to exceed this goal. In order to do that...we need your help!"

To find out more, join their walking team and/or make a donation toward their goal, go to their team page at the Memory Walk web site.

Read Shanna's report from last year's event