Somebody pinch me because I must be dreaming.
The Ridge Marching Band is doing phenomenally well right now. They are working their asses off without any serious complaining whether it's hot and sunny, cool, rainy, whatever. They are learning drill, music and basics exercises at a dizzying rate. They are getting along. They are rehearsing well. It's amazing.
Tonight we added the pit to the ensemble rehearsal and they hung in there okay. We've got 7 in the pit this year (up from 3 last year) which adds a lot to the overall sound. We decided at 7:30 to run the ballad with music and drill. They learned the drill earlier today and had never tried to play even one note on the move.
They made it all the way through and managed to play the big hit well enough to cause some emotion to stir.
This is going to be a great band...if we can keep them moving in this direction. My concern at this point is them getting bored. They are getting things done so fast that I'm concerned we'll run out of things to do in mid-October (or as some say, we'll peak too early).
I think the kids are very intelligent and understand how to do things better than most groups. We're going to keep adding more and more to maintain the focus whether that means music dynamics, visual touches during every halt, changing some drill to make it more effective/challenging, new and creative basics exercises, etc.
We ended 15 minutes early tonight. The students haven't realized (or just don't care) that we are practicing 10 hours a day (8-8 with 1 hour lunch and dinner breaks) for 5 days this year. In the past we've done 8-9 or so with 2 hours for meals and another 1-2 hours for activities. And that was only for 3.5 days.
Tomorrow we have a band bbq, but a day off from rehearsal. I really hope things continue on this path. This mix of kids has a great balance of experience levels and excellent senior leadership. I'm trying not to think too much of the future and just want to enjoy the ride from now until November 11.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Friday, August 25, 2006
More rain averted
Apparently much of NJ saw a day full of rain today; we didn't get any. Forecast has showers tomorrow all the way through the end of Ridge's camp on Tuesday.
We had another productive day today although they needed more prodding than yesterday. We finished putting the opener on the field, music and drill and it's not half bad.
I ran a mini basics block to test out the really difficult closer tempo and time signature. The kids actually handled it pretty well considering it was so challenging. The section leaders, in a separate meeting, decided they wanted to go for it. After sight reading the piece later and discussing the potential implications of trying to pull it off, we came to an agreement to change the closer of our show. The new closer is actually harder musically, but it's written in a much better way for marching. We might be able to get the music from another band which would save us a great deal of time. This means we won't get to the closer during camp, but we've never done that in the past either. In fact, I don't think we've ever performed the closer at our first competition since I've been at Ridge at all. I still think we'll have the entire show ready to go by our September 30 show.
Unless it rains all day tomorrow, we'll get the ballad on the field too. That sets us up to use all day Monday and Tuesday to clean and solidify to hopefully slow down the process of losing it all that happens between the last day of band camp and the first day of school. I really like this group of kids this year.
The seniors, during their lunch break today, used markers and pens to draw "tatoos" of a heart with Mingle in the center of it. They came up and asked for a group picture at the beginning of the afternoon rehearsal and then flashed them for the camera. It was pretty funny.
I checked mellophone and trumpet dot books as well. They were excellent! I have some complete with drill scanned in and printed out into the dotbook with the music photocopied in measure by measure and everything. I'm really impressed.
We had another productive day today although they needed more prodding than yesterday. We finished putting the opener on the field, music and drill and it's not half bad.
I ran a mini basics block to test out the really difficult closer tempo and time signature. The kids actually handled it pretty well considering it was so challenging. The section leaders, in a separate meeting, decided they wanted to go for it. After sight reading the piece later and discussing the potential implications of trying to pull it off, we came to an agreement to change the closer of our show. The new closer is actually harder musically, but it's written in a much better way for marching. We might be able to get the music from another band which would save us a great deal of time. This means we won't get to the closer during camp, but we've never done that in the past either. In fact, I don't think we've ever performed the closer at our first competition since I've been at Ridge at all. I still think we'll have the entire show ready to go by our September 30 show.
Unless it rains all day tomorrow, we'll get the ballad on the field too. That sets us up to use all day Monday and Tuesday to clean and solidify to hopefully slow down the process of losing it all that happens between the last day of band camp and the first day of school. I really like this group of kids this year.
The seniors, during their lunch break today, used markers and pens to draw "tatoos" of a heart with Mingle in the center of it. They came up and asked for a group picture at the beginning of the afternoon rehearsal and then flashed them for the camera. It was pretty funny.
I checked mellophone and trumpet dot books as well. They were excellent! I have some complete with drill scanned in and printed out into the dotbook with the music photocopied in measure by measure and everything. I'm really impressed.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Trifecta
Well, after posting my fears of Ridge not living up to what had already occurred at Park Ridge and Bridgewater, the kids came through in a big way. We began in the gym because it was raining a little as we arrived (which in and of itself could have led to some major pessimism). The first thing we realized once we set them in their block was how big the band is now. They were 47 or so when I arrived four years ago and, including the 2 new members that joined yesterday, we're at 72. Wow!
The morning rehearsal today started well with basics (the sun came out). Then we had a lot of down time because the drill wasn't ready yet so we spoke about rehearsal etiquette. This was another opportunity for focus to disappear. Instead, the 90 minutes of learning drill we did was the best block of rehearsal time since I started teaching at Ridge. The kids were quiet, they reset relatively quickly, they got set right away and kept trying. The drill was learned rapidly (13 pages in those 90 minutes) and it flowed well and everyone seemed to get it.
I think the primary reason is that we have a big, able senior class. Coincidentally the seniors were freshmen when I started so now everyone in the band has been there with me. This year's new members are also very talented and have a great attitude. That combo is really working well so far.
We're challenging them a great deal. In fact, the closer (Appalachian Morning) is difficult rhythmically and marching to it presents some problems. We're going to attempt to march the odd patterns in basics tomorrow to see how we should design the closer. It's quite a fast piece as well which won't make it any easier.
Okay, I'm optimistic. Things are off to a great start. Now just keep the rain away the next 5 days!
The morning rehearsal today started well with basics (the sun came out). Then we had a lot of down time because the drill wasn't ready yet so we spoke about rehearsal etiquette. This was another opportunity for focus to disappear. Instead, the 90 minutes of learning drill we did was the best block of rehearsal time since I started teaching at Ridge. The kids were quiet, they reset relatively quickly, they got set right away and kept trying. The drill was learned rapidly (13 pages in those 90 minutes) and it flowed well and everyone seemed to get it.
I think the primary reason is that we have a big, able senior class. Coincidentally the seniors were freshmen when I started so now everyone in the band has been there with me. This year's new members are also very talented and have a great attitude. That combo is really working well so far.
We're challenging them a great deal. In fact, the closer (Appalachian Morning) is difficult rhythmically and marching to it presents some problems. We're going to attempt to march the odd patterns in basics tomorrow to see how we should design the closer. It's quite a fast piece as well which won't make it any easier.
Okay, I'm optimistic. Things are off to a great start. Now just keep the rain away the next 5 days!
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
3 days down, 7 or 8 to go
Three full days done (2 at PR and 3 at BR). Like I wrote on Monday night, I really enjoyed my time with Park Ridge. The kids were really receptive to me and the drill and things went well. I was the interesting, unfamiliar instructor with new ideas...and they hadn't heard all my corny marching band jokes. I acted almost as a consultant and I liked it.
Bridgewater has been going pretty well too. I've spent a lot of time working with the flutes and trumpets specifically, even to the point of pulling them out as a section and running mini visual rehearsals while the rest of the band is doing something else. It's helped to improve the 1-on-1 connection. With 130 members, I've had a lot of trouble getting to know the kids in the BR band the past two years. I still don't know nearly everybody's name there unfortunately. After running a woodwind basics block in the dark from 8:00-8:30 or so tonight, we had a little pow wow and I got a real good vibe from the members.
The thing I feel at Park Ridge and Bridgewater that I don't always feel at Ridge is appreciation. I don't often get the feeling that the kids at Ridge really appreciate the time and energy we put into the marching band on their behalf. They struggle with the real hard work and complain a lot which drives me crazy. I didn't get that sense at Park Ridge and at Bridgewater, while they are worked extremely hard, the years of success keep the complaining to a minimum.
Ridge's camp starts in the morning. Rain is in the forecast all day - 60% chance according to weather.com. That is not a good way to start camp. While it won't be a disaster to spend lots of time on music and we might be able to find somewhere inside to do basics, band camp is all about getting drill on the field. Here's to hoping we get some breaks in the weather and the members bring a positive attitude even if it is crummy outside.
Bridgewater has been going pretty well too. I've spent a lot of time working with the flutes and trumpets specifically, even to the point of pulling them out as a section and running mini visual rehearsals while the rest of the band is doing something else. It's helped to improve the 1-on-1 connection. With 130 members, I've had a lot of trouble getting to know the kids in the BR band the past two years. I still don't know nearly everybody's name there unfortunately. After running a woodwind basics block in the dark from 8:00-8:30 or so tonight, we had a little pow wow and I got a real good vibe from the members.
The thing I feel at Park Ridge and Bridgewater that I don't always feel at Ridge is appreciation. I don't often get the feeling that the kids at Ridge really appreciate the time and energy we put into the marching band on their behalf. They struggle with the real hard work and complain a lot which drives me crazy. I didn't get that sense at Park Ridge and at Bridgewater, while they are worked extremely hard, the years of success keep the complaining to a minimum.
Ridge's camp starts in the morning. Rain is in the forecast all day - 60% chance according to weather.com. That is not a good way to start camp. While it won't be a disaster to spend lots of time on music and we might be able to find somewhere inside to do basics, band camp is all about getting drill on the field. Here's to hoping we get some breaks in the weather and the members bring a positive attitude even if it is crummy outside.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Day 1 of Band Camp
I'm not sure why I haven't gone to sleep yet; perhaps I enjoy being tired in some perverse, subconscious way.
I left at 6:50 this morning and arrived at Park Ridge HS at 8:00 for some meetings and stuff. The director there basically gave me full reign to do as I pleased all day. I ran a couple basics blocks and a full day of drill rehearsal. The drill is working out fine, the kids have a great attitude especially with someone new in front of them giving them commands they aren't used to. They really did well for the first day of camp which is especially impressive considering they begin in 7th grade so the youngest members really are young.
I left Park Ridge at 4:20 and arrived at Bridgewater around 5:15 or so. On the way, I almost died.
No, really.
On 287 South, while traveling in the fast lane at 75mph during rush hour, the car in front of me hit a deer. I didn't even see the deer until th split second before impact. I moved over into the left shoulder expecting the driver of the car to slam on the breaks. The debris from the deer (it was pieces of deer due to the speed of impact) and car must have gone mostly into the center lane or I got out of the way quickly enough. The car that hit the deer continued on without even slowing down really. I was behind him another 5 miles or so before I moved over to see the damage. Basically the entire passenger side front panel was destroyed. The wheel casing was completely torn away with the entire tire exposed. I have no idea how or why he didn't pull over at least to check the damage - maybe unregistered or uninsured or transporting drugs or something.
At Bridgewater, I spent most of the evening block running a visual sectional with the trumpets. It was nice to work with 10 kids in-depth on 8 pages of drill. We worked for 1:45 of the 2 hour block. It's unusual to have that kind of time to break something down in great detail and really explain the philosophy and rationale behind how we do things so I really enjoyed it. I got to talk to the trumpets some more during dot book study hall.
I really enjoy teaching at Park Ridge and Bridgewater. Because I'm not a director or assistant director, I can show up and just focus on teaching. I don't deal with discipline or logistics or parents or anything. I just focus on giving the best I have to the kids. The kids also seem to give their all at both schools. At Ridge, I often feel like I have to work twice as hard to get half as much done for lots of reasons. I'm not sure how to fix it. Hopefully the same success will continue at PR and BR and will begin at Ridge on Thursday.
I left at 6:50 this morning and arrived at Park Ridge HS at 8:00 for some meetings and stuff. The director there basically gave me full reign to do as I pleased all day. I ran a couple basics blocks and a full day of drill rehearsal. The drill is working out fine, the kids have a great attitude especially with someone new in front of them giving them commands they aren't used to. They really did well for the first day of camp which is especially impressive considering they begin in 7th grade so the youngest members really are young.
I left Park Ridge at 4:20 and arrived at Bridgewater around 5:15 or so. On the way, I almost died.
No, really.
On 287 South, while traveling in the fast lane at 75mph during rush hour, the car in front of me hit a deer. I didn't even see the deer until th split second before impact. I moved over into the left shoulder expecting the driver of the car to slam on the breaks. The debris from the deer (it was pieces of deer due to the speed of impact) and car must have gone mostly into the center lane or I got out of the way quickly enough. The car that hit the deer continued on without even slowing down really. I was behind him another 5 miles or so before I moved over to see the damage. Basically the entire passenger side front panel was destroyed. The wheel casing was completely torn away with the entire tire exposed. I have no idea how or why he didn't pull over at least to check the damage - maybe unregistered or uninsured or transporting drugs or something.
At Bridgewater, I spent most of the evening block running a visual sectional with the trumpets. It was nice to work with 10 kids in-depth on 8 pages of drill. We worked for 1:45 of the 2 hour block. It's unusual to have that kind of time to break something down in great detail and really explain the philosophy and rationale behind how we do things so I really enjoyed it. I got to talk to the trumpets some more during dot book study hall.
I really enjoy teaching at Park Ridge and Bridgewater. Because I'm not a director or assistant director, I can show up and just focus on teaching. I don't deal with discipline or logistics or parents or anything. I just focus on giving the best I have to the kids. The kids also seem to give their all at both schools. At Ridge, I often feel like I have to work twice as hard to get half as much done for lots of reasons. I'm not sure how to fix it. Hopefully the same success will continue at PR and BR and will begin at Ridge on Thursday.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
8/21-9/1 = Woah!
Monday 8/21
- 6:45am: Drive to Park Ridge
- 8:15am: Park Ridge band camp
- 4:00pm: Grab some food for the ride
- 4:30pm: Drive to Bridgewater
- 6:00pm: Bridgewater band camp
- 9:30pm: Home - eat, shower, sleep
Tuesday 8/22
- 7:00am: Drive to Park Ridge
- 8:30am: Park Ridge band camp
- 4:00pm: Grab some food for the ridge
- 4:30pm: Drive to Bridgewater
- 6:00pm: Bridgewater band camp
- 9:30pm: Home - eat, shower, sleep
Wednesday 8/23
- 7:15am: Drive to Bridgewater
- 7:45am: Bridgewater band camp
- 3:30pm: Afternoon break - home to sleep?
- 5:15pm: Drive to Bridgewater
- 5:45pm: Bridgewater band camp
- 9:30pm: Home - eat, shower, sleep
Thursday 8/24
- 7:00am: Drive to Ridge
- 7:45am: Ridge band camp
- 9:00pm: Home - eat, shower, sleep
Friday 8/25
- 7:00am: Drive to Ridge
- 7:45am: Ridge band camp
- 9:00pm: Home - eat, shower, sleep
Saturday 8/26
- 7:00am: Drive to Ridge
- 7:45am: Ridge band camp
- 9:00pm: Home - eat, shower, sleep
Sunday 8/27
- Sleep all day if possible, catch up on newspaper stuff, school work, etc unless...
- 9:30am: Drive to Ridge
- 10:00am: Ridge Marching Band bbq
- 2:30pm: Home - then sleep, etc.
Monday 8/28
- 7:00am: Drive to Ridge
- 7:45am: Ridge band camp
- 9:00pm: Home - eat, shower, sleep
Tuesday 8/29
- 7:00am: Drive to Ridge
- 7:45am: Ridge band camp
- 9:00pm: Home - eat, shower, sleep
Wednesday 8/30
- 7:15am: Drive to Bridgewater
- 7:45am: Bridgewater band camp
- 3:30pm: Afternoon break - home to sleep?
- 5:15pm: Drive to Bridgewater
- 5:45pm: Bridgewater band camp
- 9:30pm: Home - eat, shower, sleep
Thursday 8/31
- 7:15am: Drive to Bridgewater
- 7:45am: Bridgewater band camp
- 3:30pm: Afternoon break - home to sleep?
- 5:15pm: Drive to Bridgewater
- 5:45pm: Bridgewater band camp
- 9:30pm: Home - eat, shower, sleep
Friday 9/1
- 6:45am: Drive to Park Ridge
- 8:15am: Park Ridge band camp
- 4:00pm: Drive home
- 5:30pm: Sleep through Labor Day weekend
Friday, August 18, 2006
Yukuhashi, Fukuoka
I received notification of my local prefecture assignment for my Japan trip.
November 14-18 is in Tokyo. Then November 19-28, I'll be in Yukuhashi in the Fukuoka prefecture (like a state in the US). From some basic research, it looks like Yikuhashi is a city of 65,000 residents (relatively small by Japan standards), located on the southernmost island of Japan (Kyushu), roughly halfways between Nagasaki and Hiroshima and across the Korea Strait from South Korea. It does seem to be a coastal area. It's a 6 hour trip from Tokyo by train or 2 hour if we're flying.
The local area seems to be big for oyster farming which begins in mid-November when I'll be there. There are local seafood markets with the catch of the day (literally), which should be pretty good.
This does seem to be pretty far removed from the major Japanese cities, which likely will mean less English-speaking families. That should prove interesting as I speak no Japanese.
November 14-18 is in Tokyo. Then November 19-28, I'll be in Yukuhashi in the Fukuoka prefecture (like a state in the US). From some basic research, it looks like Yikuhashi is a city of 65,000 residents (relatively small by Japan standards), located on the southernmost island of Japan (Kyushu), roughly halfways between Nagasaki and Hiroshima and across the Korea Strait from South Korea. It does seem to be a coastal area. It's a 6 hour trip from Tokyo by train or 2 hour if we're flying.
The local area seems to be big for oyster farming which begins in mid-November when I'll be there. There are local seafood markets with the catch of the day (literally), which should be pretty good.
This does seem to be pretty far removed from the major Japanese cities, which likely will mean less English-speaking families. That should prove interesting as I speak no Japanese.
Monday, August 14, 2006
Basking Ridge - Murder Capital?
From nj.com:
Man, 75, shoots wife, kills himself
Basking Ridge woman listed in critical condition
A 75-year-old man killed himself after shooting his wife several times in their Basking Ridge condominium yesterday afternoon, authorities said.
The shooting led to a nearly five-hour standoff, which ended when a SWAT team stormed the Crabtree Court dwelling and found the man had turned the gun on himself, Somserset County Prosecutor Wayne J. Forrest said.
The husband was identified by neighbors as Horace Wiggins, a retiree who had moved to Basking Ridge, a section of Bernards Township, from East Orange in 1992, according to mortgage records. His wife, Karla Wiggins, 74, was listed in critical condition at Morristown Memorial Hospital suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. She underwent surgery late last night, officials said.
Police said neighbors told them the couple was divorcing, but could not say what sparked yesterday's violence. Authorities would also not identify the couple, though Forrest said he'd received "similar information" about their identities from neighbors in the complex.
"The circumstances that took place today are very sad for this town and for this community," said Somerset County Chief of Detectives Ronald Thornburg.
The 4 p.m. shooting and subse quent stand-off forced the evacua tion of dozens of residents of The Cedars at Basking Ridge, an upscale, 526-unit condominium complex near Lyons Veterans Hospital.
According to preliminary reports, the shooting occurred when Karla Wiggins went with a female friend to her Crabtree Court home to collect some belongings. Inside, she was confronted by Horace Wig gins, who allegedly shot her several times. Karla Wiggins then fell from the condo's second-story balcony.
"Whether she fell off the bal cony, whether being shot propelled her off the balcony, or whether she jumped off for her safety, we just don't know that," Forrest said.
Karla Wiggins' friend called police, while Horace Wiggins barri caded himself inside the home. Police negotiators attempted to talk to Horace Wiggins for more than four hours by bullhorn and over the phone. At one point, negotiators tossed a remote "throw line" into the home, but were still unable to make contact, Forrest said.
At 8:45 p.m., police went into the house and found Horace Wig gins' body.
"The SWAT team entered the residence, went through room by room, and discovered him dead. It appears to be a self-inflicted wound," said Forrest.
Police did not hear any gunshots during the standoff. A handgun was found inside the home, but Forrest said police were not certain it was the one used in the shooting.
The shooting shocked neighbors in the quiet development with its winding cul-de-sacs and carefully landscaped courtyards.
Wendy Braunstein, who lives in the same condo "cluster" as the Wiggins couple, said she'd often see Horace Wiggins in the driveway washing his black Mercedes-Benz, though she hadn't seen Karla Wig gins around the complex in quite some time
"They really did keep to themselves," Braunstein said.
Gale Braunstein, Wendy Braun stein's sister-in-law and president of the condominium association, also remembered seeing Horace Wiggins at different functions, including a recent complex garage sale.
"He was always fine, nothing out of the ordinary," she said.
Several residents reported hear ing loud booms while enjoying the afternoon in the nearby community pool, but said they had no idea they were gunshots until officers rushed everyone into the clubhouse.
"The police came down and said 'Everybody out. This is not a movie. This is not a movie,'" said Gale Braunstein.
For the next several hours, the frightened residents nervously waited in the clubhouse for the standoff to end.
"We were this close watching," said Randy Amick, as she described SWAT team members run ning past the clubhouse windows. "We were terrified at the begin ning."
The shooting is the second violent tragedy to hit Bernards Township in as many weeks. On Aug. 4, 44-year-old Denise Volpicelli alle gedy suffocated her 12-year-old son in their Basking Ridge home before slashing her wrists, ankles and bi ceps in an attempt to kill herself.
Man, 75, shoots wife, kills himself
Basking Ridge woman listed in critical condition
A 75-year-old man killed himself after shooting his wife several times in their Basking Ridge condominium yesterday afternoon, authorities said.
The shooting led to a nearly five-hour standoff, which ended when a SWAT team stormed the Crabtree Court dwelling and found the man had turned the gun on himself, Somserset County Prosecutor Wayne J. Forrest said.
The husband was identified by neighbors as Horace Wiggins, a retiree who had moved to Basking Ridge, a section of Bernards Township, from East Orange in 1992, according to mortgage records. His wife, Karla Wiggins, 74, was listed in critical condition at Morristown Memorial Hospital suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. She underwent surgery late last night, officials said.
Police said neighbors told them the couple was divorcing, but could not say what sparked yesterday's violence. Authorities would also not identify the couple, though Forrest said he'd received "similar information" about their identities from neighbors in the complex.
"The circumstances that took place today are very sad for this town and for this community," said Somerset County Chief of Detectives Ronald Thornburg.
The 4 p.m. shooting and subse quent stand-off forced the evacua tion of dozens of residents of The Cedars at Basking Ridge, an upscale, 526-unit condominium complex near Lyons Veterans Hospital.
According to preliminary reports, the shooting occurred when Karla Wiggins went with a female friend to her Crabtree Court home to collect some belongings. Inside, she was confronted by Horace Wig gins, who allegedly shot her several times. Karla Wiggins then fell from the condo's second-story balcony.
"Whether she fell off the bal cony, whether being shot propelled her off the balcony, or whether she jumped off for her safety, we just don't know that," Forrest said.
Karla Wiggins' friend called police, while Horace Wiggins barri caded himself inside the home. Police negotiators attempted to talk to Horace Wiggins for more than four hours by bullhorn and over the phone. At one point, negotiators tossed a remote "throw line" into the home, but were still unable to make contact, Forrest said.
At 8:45 p.m., police went into the house and found Horace Wig gins' body.
"The SWAT team entered the residence, went through room by room, and discovered him dead. It appears to be a self-inflicted wound," said Forrest.
Police did not hear any gunshots during the standoff. A handgun was found inside the home, but Forrest said police were not certain it was the one used in the shooting.
The shooting shocked neighbors in the quiet development with its winding cul-de-sacs and carefully landscaped courtyards.
Wendy Braunstein, who lives in the same condo "cluster" as the Wiggins couple, said she'd often see Horace Wiggins in the driveway washing his black Mercedes-Benz, though she hadn't seen Karla Wig gins around the complex in quite some time
"They really did keep to themselves," Braunstein said.
Gale Braunstein, Wendy Braun stein's sister-in-law and president of the condominium association, also remembered seeing Horace Wiggins at different functions, including a recent complex garage sale.
"He was always fine, nothing out of the ordinary," she said.
Several residents reported hear ing loud booms while enjoying the afternoon in the nearby community pool, but said they had no idea they were gunshots until officers rushed everyone into the clubhouse.
"The police came down and said 'Everybody out. This is not a movie. This is not a movie,'" said Gale Braunstein.
For the next several hours, the frightened residents nervously waited in the clubhouse for the standoff to end.
"We were this close watching," said Randy Amick, as she described SWAT team members run ning past the clubhouse windows. "We were terrified at the begin ning."
The shooting is the second violent tragedy to hit Bernards Township in as many weeks. On Aug. 4, 44-year-old Denise Volpicelli alle gedy suffocated her 12-year-old son in their Basking Ridge home before slashing her wrists, ankles and bi ceps in an attempt to kill herself.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
The Rise and Fall of E-mail
From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell:
"I remember when I first got e-mail, back in the mid-1990s. I would rush home with great anticipation and dial in on my 4800-baud modem and I would have...four messages from four very good friends. And what would I do? I would immediately compose long, elegant responses. Now, of course, I get up in the morning and go to my computer and I have sixty-four messages, and the anticipation I once felt has been replaced by dread. I receive unwanted spam e-mail and forwarded stories and jokes that I have no interest in, and people I don't particularly care about e-mail me to ask me to do things I don't want to do. So how do I respond? I compose very, very short e-mails - seldom more than two lines long - and I often take two or three days to get back to people; and lots of e-mail I don't answer at all. I suspect that the same thing is happening with other e-mail users around the world: the more e-mail we get, the shorter and more selective and more delayed our responses become. These are the symptoms of immunity."
This resonates.
I love using e-mail and AIM because they are fast, efficient ways to communicate, messages can be sent any time day or night and there's no need for small talk. But now when something extremely important needs to be communicated, it's often more effective to call or, in the case of getting a message to a colleague at school, to leave a note in his/her mailbox the old-fashioned way.
When I wanted to make an impression on some particularly strong art students I was hoping to lure onto the newspaper staff, I could have obtained their e-mail addresses through their friends already on the staff. Instead, I typed up an official looking memo on newspaper letterhead and had it hand-delivered to them in class. The impact of actually receiving something in print attracted better than 75% of those invited to an interest meeting.
It's an interesting pendulum. As technology grows ever more advanced and immediate, direct human contact, especially when it seems to be dwindling, becomes even more powerful.
"I remember when I first got e-mail, back in the mid-1990s. I would rush home with great anticipation and dial in on my 4800-baud modem and I would have...four messages from four very good friends. And what would I do? I would immediately compose long, elegant responses. Now, of course, I get up in the morning and go to my computer and I have sixty-four messages, and the anticipation I once felt has been replaced by dread. I receive unwanted spam e-mail and forwarded stories and jokes that I have no interest in, and people I don't particularly care about e-mail me to ask me to do things I don't want to do. So how do I respond? I compose very, very short e-mails - seldom more than two lines long - and I often take two or three days to get back to people; and lots of e-mail I don't answer at all. I suspect that the same thing is happening with other e-mail users around the world: the more e-mail we get, the shorter and more selective and more delayed our responses become. These are the symptoms of immunity."
This resonates.
I love using e-mail and AIM because they are fast, efficient ways to communicate, messages can be sent any time day or night and there's no need for small talk. But now when something extremely important needs to be communicated, it's often more effective to call or, in the case of getting a message to a colleague at school, to leave a note in his/her mailbox the old-fashioned way.
When I wanted to make an impression on some particularly strong art students I was hoping to lure onto the newspaper staff, I could have obtained their e-mail addresses through their friends already on the staff. Instead, I typed up an official looking memo on newspaper letterhead and had it hand-delivered to them in class. The impact of actually receiving something in print attracted better than 75% of those invited to an interest meeting.
It's an interesting pendulum. As technology grows ever more advanced and immediate, direct human contact, especially when it seems to be dwindling, becomes even more powerful.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Even in Basking Ridge
From NJ.com:
Bernards woman held in son's death
Sunday, August 06, 2006
BY JOE RYAN AND PAOLA LORIGGIO Star-Ledger Staff
A Somerset County woman, described as a "typical soccer mom," has been charged with murder after she allegedly suffocated her 12-year-old son in their Bernards Township home, then slashed her wrists in a failed suicide attempt, authorities said yesterday.
Police discovered Denise Volpicelli, 44, Friday night in a basement bathroom inside the family's stately two-story brick house on Linden Drive. She was "bleeding profusely from what is believed to be self-inflicted knife wounds" to her wrists, ankles and biceps, Somerset County Prosecutor Wayne Forrest said.
Her 12-year-old son lay dead a few feet away. He had apparently been suffocated, Forrest said.
Forrest did not identify the boy, but neighbors said his name was Jack.
"It's difficult to wrap your head around this as a parent," said Doug Burcin, a neighbor whose daughter would have been a seventh-grade classmate of Jack's next month at the William Annin Middle School in the township's exclusive Basking Ridge section. "He was a great kid."
Volpicelli's husband, William Kimzey, 45, called 911 around 8:45 p.m. Friday after he arrived home and found an "apparent suicide note/confession," in the couple's bedroom, indicating his wife had harmed their son and killed herself, Forrest said.
Police arrived a few minutes later, searched the house and discovered the bleeding Volpicelli and the lifeless boy in the basement, a finished den, Forrest said.
First-aid squad members treated Volpicelli at the scene, then transported her to Morristown Memorial Hospital, where she remained under a police guard last night in serious condition, authorities said. She has been charged with first-degree murder, Forrest said.
Detectives seized a computer and other items from the family's home, Forrest said. He would not elaborate, nor would he comment on a possible motive.
The family did not have a history with the state Division of Youth and Family Services, said DYFS spokeswoman Kate Bernyk.
Neighbors in Basking Ridge described the boy as a lanky and athletic child who loved playing soccer and frolicking on the front lawn with his black Labrador, Cali, a gift from his mother about two years ago.
"She is typical soccer mom, always on the go," Burcin said. "She fit right into Basking Ridge."
An autopsy conducted yesterday by the New Jersey State Regional Medical Examiner's Office in Newark ruled that suffocation was the preliminary cause of the boy's death. Authorities are awaiting results of a toxicology test to make a final determination, Forrest said.
Crime is rare in Bernards Township, a community of 24,000 that lies near the Morris County border, east of the rolling horse farms of Peapack and Gladstone. The last murder in the township occurred in 2000.
"This is obviously a terrible tragedy, not just for this family, but for this community," Forrest said.
The couple also have a 19-year-old daughter, whom neighbors identified as Libby, a student at Brown University. She apparently was not home Friday evening, Forrest said.
Neighbors described Volpicelli as tall and slender, with curly brown hair. They say she was bright, social and regularly drove Jack to school.
"She was a really nice woman and a very involved parent," said Marieke Kester, a friend of the family.
No one answered the door at the family's home yesterday afternoon, and calls to the home were not answered. The family dog sat on the front steps, barking at strangers who approached.
Schools are social hubs for Bernards Township parents, Mayor John Malay said. News of the crime, he said, would travel quickly and cut deeply.
"The mothers all know one another," Malay said.
Property records indicate Volpicelli and Kimzey purchased their house, located on a half-acre lot on Linden Drive, in 2002. The curving lane is not far from the Lyons Campus of the Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System and is lined with elegant homes and sweeping, manicured lawns.
"It is beyond comprehension" that something so brutal could happen, Burcin said. "Not in a town like Basking Ridge. Not in this community."
Staff writers Nyier Abdou and Cathy Bugman contributed to this report.
Friday, August 04, 2006
More Australia Fun
An e-mail we received from a parent a day or so after we got back:
"Just a heads up, we did have one unexpected and very disappointing surprise from J upon her return. She explained that a few of the children had some body piercing done during their free time. She had her tongue pierced (Argh!!!!) which she knew we were totally against, but did it anyway. She said several others had their ear ridges done and some other's, their belly buttons. Don't know who though. After a few deep breaths, we got over it, but as mentioned we were very disappointed that this happened and I'm sure without the leaders knowing about it . Just a heads up in case you are interested/care about this kind of thing."
We had bad kids. It's pretty annoying that they complained about things like curfew time, wearing their PTP lanyards, etc. when they were doing this stuff behind our backs anyway.
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