Jeff Deminski

3 weeks ago | nj1015.com | Jeff Deminski

Do me a favor? Next time you get some snarky person like my ex who claims New Jersey sucks, it’s nothing but smokestacks, and there’s absolutely nothing to do here, print out this list and tape it to their smug forehead. I grew up in Union County and I’ve heard a lifetime of putdowns. Being in the shadow of New York City in the north and Philadelphia in the south, and Central Jersey fighting just to prove it exists, it’s tiring. We have a great state.

3 weeks ago | nj1015.com | Jeff Deminski

We think we’re so “woke” here in blue state New Jersey. We do things like use the term “unhoused” instead of “homeless” because it sounds more caring somehow. Yet we’re No. 12 in the nation for having the most homeless. Oh I'm sorry, the most unhoused. We talk a big game about diversity and inclusion. Yet we are among the nation’s most segregated public school states. So much so that there’s a lawsuit happening right now over it.

3 weeks ago | nj1015.com | Jeff Deminski

As the parent of not one but two special needs kids, I’m not afraid to die. Maybe it’s because us special needs parents have died a thousand mini deaths along the way? Dying in and of itself is not what scares us. It stopped being about us a long time ago. What scares us special needs parents is the part about not being around anymore to take care of our grown children. In my case, my boys, 8 and almost 10, have autism. In addition, one of them has ADHD along with apraxia of speech.

3 weeks ago | nj1015.com | Jeff Deminski

Here’s a cheesy question. What do you guess is New Jersey’s favorite cheese? Wednesday, June 4 was National Cheese Day. So, happy belated? Or happy be grated? A study by SpinBlitz determined the favorite cheese in each state. The study analyzed search interest for nearly 20 popular cheeses. By comparing how disproportionately a cheese was searched in each state versus the rest of the country, the researchers picked a winner for all 50 states.

3 weeks ago | nj1015.com | Jeff Deminski

You might not want to read this. It might just make you give up. Young couples trying to buy a home in New Jersey today have so much going against them. The low inventory of homes for sale is still wreaking havoc for buyers. Bids are outbid, prospective homes are lost, home inspections are waived, and it's all been enough to make a couple feel like they're never going to be able to start their lives here. And that's all once they're finally ready to start looking.