Stop! Before you go!

Doesn’t it seem that everyone on the road is in a rush to get somewhere?  Some are in such a hurry that they even disobey stop sign laws!

Recently, we have been noticing (and commuters have shared with us) that drivers are not completing full stops when approaching stop signs.  Many drivers tend to approach a stop sign, slow down, and then round off the turn without completely stopping. This is illegal and extremely dangerous!   Stop signs are put in place for everyone’s safety. Not only for the safety of the driver but for the safety of pedestrians, cyclist, and all others as well. Driving or rolling through a stop sign endangers everyone at the intersection.

Need to brush-up on stop sign laws?  Here is what you need to know:

  1. Come to a complete stop at a stop sign. The law specifies drivers need to stop “within five feet of the nearest crosswalk or stop line marked upon the pavement at the near side of the intersecting street.”
  2. Yield to the person on the right if you both arrive at the intersection at the same time.

It is everyone’s duty at the stop sign to follow the laws set in place.  Reaching your destination, despite how late you are, is not worth an accident.  Come to a complete stop at a stop sign.  For your safety and the safety of others!

What a Wonderful Picnic!

picnicImagine feeling the breeze flow through your hair and the sunshine warming your face. Being outside soaking in all the wonderful sights and smells that it has to offer. Most importantly tasting all of the wonderful homemade family treats that you and your family savor the most. August is National Picnic Month, so we should all celebrate by planning picnics with our loved ones!

Gathering family and friends together at a nearby park and bringing your favorite foods will hit the spot. For a traditional picnic cold foods can be eaten, they are easy to store and always ready to go. Another option is to bring a small grill to prepare and cook your favorite warm foods. A great way to help you make your picnic an adventurous one is to take a hike along with it. If you’re already enjoying the weather and the outdoors, exploring nature while hiking can be fun for everyone.

A perfect place to celebrate national picnic month is Cheesequake State Park, which is located in Old Bridge in Middlesex County. The 11 acre park has plenty of space for picnics on the grass, hiking on its 5 different trails and everything in between. Each of its trails leads to different sights that will make your day a memorable one. If you don’t like to hike, bicycling is a another way to add to your picnic day. Besides it being great exercise, bicycling is also a form of transportation which can get you to and from the park safely.

This August make sure you remember your blanket, picnic basket, food/drink, hiking shoes, bikes and helmets to help make celebrating picnic month a great experience!

 

School Bus Safety For Kids!

Riding a school bus can be lots of fun as long as you follow the rules.  As a fourth grader, I have been riding the bus since Kindergarten and I have learned a lot of what it means to be safe on school bus.  Here are the three most important rules:

school bus safety1. Listen to the bus driver.

2. Wear your seat belt.

3. Don’t get up when the bus is moving

It is your job to follow these rules so that your bus driver can get you to school safely and on time.  Oh, and one more thing, never ever scream on the bus either.  That can be very distracting for the bus driver.

So buckle up and enjoy the ride to school.

Guest Blogger: Michael 4th grader in NJ

Back to School Means Carpooling!

Picture Source: http://kavodelementary.org/carpools/
Picture Source: http://kavodelementary.org/carpools/

Now that children have returned to school in our area, there will be many vehicles on the roads. Beside school buses, there will be plenty of parents rushing to get their children not only to school, but to their after school activities too! This year, why not set up a carpool!

Setting up a weekly carpool for your children can help you save money, protect the environment, and provide some much-needed help to a fellow busy parent. Creating a schedule for your weekly carpool allows flexibility for the families involved all while saving time and money.  How?  It’s simple.

Carpooling kids to school, activities, games, and practices will decrease the amount of cars on the road and around the community. More carpooling equals less cars on the road which in turn means less carbon and other gasses and pollution getting into the air. This protects the environment by keeping the air, water, and land cleaner. Air pollution caused by auto emissions can significantly increase the likelihood of health issues and stress. By carpooling it becomes far less stressful than simply commuting on your own.

Ultimately carpooling is a great way to interact with friends. Children have the chance to spend more time with their friends in a non-scheduled way. They will enjoy their company, laughter, and presence. And most importantly, it gives parents the fuel (pun totally intended) to keep up with their children’s busy schedule.

So make this the year that you carpool!  We promise it will make life much easier.

Chocolate Pick-Me-Up

Picture source: listovative.com
Picture source: listovative.com

Many of us have been there; having an extremely productive day at the office that we often lose track of time.  As we hurriedly grab a bite to eat, we get back to our tasks at hand. That is – until the afternoon slumber sets in.

Your attitude completely changes and you have little to no motivation left to get through the day.

If your’re someone who’s constantly fighting the urge to nap after lunch, then have I the perfect pick-me-up snack.

Chocolate!

If you are looking to gain some energy back to get you through the rest of your day, a chocolate bar will do the trick. Besides chocolate being comfort food, chocolate is also proven to boost energy levels and memory skills. Just what you need to finish up your work day.

Today (July 7) we celebrate Chocolate Day. One of the most delightful unofficial holidays celebrated by chocolate lovers all over the world. A day where we indulge in the mouth-watering taste of all things chocolate related.

So step away from your computer and grab some chocolate to celebrate.  Not only show your appreciation for this midday snack, but importantly get through your work day!

Healthy Air, Healthy Planet

Cloud 1 Earth Day

Air pollution doesn’t just heat up things.  It can lead to fluctuations in temperatures resulting in floods, droughts or extreme cold.  Climate change threatens natural habitats destroying plants, animals, fish, birds, insects and people.  Life as we know it will look very different if we don’t stop polluting the air.

Help make a difference.

Draw a bookmark illustrating our theme- Healthy Air, Healthy Planet.

Entries must be created by a 5th grader residing in Middlesex County to enter. For contest rules, please download the form below.  Winning bookmark will receive a $100 gift card from Magyar Bank.

Healthy Air Healthy Planet Entry Form 2015

Plug-in Electric Vehicles – Tell us what you think!

PlugIn2Did you know that acccording to the US Department of Energy, as of September 2014, 250,000 plug-in electric vehicles (PEV) travel America’s roadways?  In fact, an eGallon, the cost to fuel a PEV is roughly 50% less than driving a gas powered car.  But, the financial rewards are only part of the picture.  PEVs contribute to energy security, economic growth, and environmental sustainability.

So tell us what you know?  Please take a moment to fill out this survey!

Your response is greatly appreciated!

 

 

 

 

Photo credit: www.animationoptions.com / Survey will close on 3.15.15 at 12pm.

 

 

 

Hello world!

KMM-small-1KMM is proud to launch our very new Intersections blog!  Here we will share our thoughts, ideas and information to those who are interested in alternative modes of commuting, sustainable issues and community programing geared to safety.  We hope you enjoy our blog as much as we enjoy blogging!

Happy and Safe Commuting

~CCF