National NJ Day: Check Out Patch Picks For The 'Jersiest' Stories

NEW JERSEY - Monday is National New Jersey Day, an epic event with long-standing implications that dates back to 2017 when National Day Calendar established the day with no significance to its date.

But we here at Patch think it is an excellent idea to celebrate the place that we call home, so we asked our local editors to share their stories, literally and figuratively, about the Garden State.

Name: Russ Crespolini
Position: Field Editor
Time Spent Covering NJ: 18 years

Favorite thing about covering the Garden State

The wildly diverse coverage that not only varies town by town but day by day. No day covering New Jersey is ever, ever the same.

Least favorite thing about covering the Garden State

There is always a story that slips by you because there is so much to write about. And people are not shy in letting you know.

Most "Jersey story" you've ever covered.

I recently wrote a story about Taylor Ham Ice Cream being made here. And yes, it is Taylor Ham, not pork roll.

What story from New Jersey's history did you wish you covered?

The Lindburgh kidnapping. Hands down. Just for the fedoras alone.

In your professional opinion, does Central Jersey exist?

It does not. New Jersey is split north and south by the radio and television markets. Those who receive both Philadelphia and New York stations must choose a side.

Name: Anthony Bellano
Position: Field Editor
Time Spent Covering NJ: 17 years

Favorite thing about covering the Garden State

It feels like New Jersey has a special fighting spirit that makes the people interesting to talk to and the news fascinating to cover. You can also go town-to-town and no two groups of people are ever alike.

Least favorite thing about covering the Garden State

The runaround you sometimes get from government officials, which again varies from town-to-town. You can file a request in one town that gets filled with no problem, but the same type of request in a nearby town can be met with questions and resistance due to technicalities in NJ law. State law can be too complicated at times.

Most "Jersey story" you've ever covered.

When Glenny the Wild Turkey was rescued by a Mays Landing sanctuary after he escaped, only to be seized by the state and euthanized. The action drew outrage from people across the region, and showed how much South Jersey people love animals. I have several stories that show this, but this one hit home for a lot of people.

What story from New Jersey's history did you wish you covered?

Washington crossing the Delaware River. I tell my kids about it all the time, almost like I actually was there anyway.

In your professional opinion, does Central Jersey exist?

Oh yeah, and it should include Camden and Burlington counties.

Name: Josh Bakan
Position: field editor
Time spent covering NJ: two years (six years if you count sports)

Favorite thing about covering the Garden State

New Jersey is a microcosm of America. I grew up in the Boston area. Anyone who has spent a significant amount of time there knows it's belligerent but tight-knit community. That's not just Boston but its entire metro area.

But New Jersey's culture feels less homogenous, and that's what makes it fascinating. You can go to different parts of New Jersey and feel like you left the state. It covers a lot of culture for such a small area.

Least favorite thing about covering the Garden State

New Jersey passed legislation in March that loosens the requirements for public officials to respond to Open Public Records Act requests. Before the legislation, public agencies had seven business days to respond to OPRA requests. The new law effectively eliminates that deadline during a governor-declared state of emergency.

Reporters file OPRA requests frequently, but the public can do the same. This law gives public agencies greater opportunity to delay the release of urgent information that's of public interest. It hurts journalism, but more importantly, it hurts the public.

Most "Jersey story" you've ever covered

The Jersey Shore, in its most tourist-filled areas, is gluttonous, tacky, and still a lot of fun. Few things represent the first two categories (but not necessarily the third) better than when an Ocean City french fry eatery filled up a good portion of a beach with their chairs and umbrellas. The Jersey Shore, like any area, has had its share of serious issues even before the pandemic. But stories like the fry controversy are so charmingly "Jersey Shore."

What story from New Jersey's history did you wish you covered?

I wish I had the opportunity to do a sit-down interview with Ulysses S. Grant at his cottage in Long Branch.

In your professional opinion, does Central Jersey exist?

When you say does or doesn't exist, I think of western Massachusetts. You cannot convince me that anything west of Springfield physically exists. It's largely Mysteryland to anyone who grew up in the Boston area.

But there is no doubt that the geographic area some refer to as Central Jersey does, in fact, exist. Whether that area should be labeled "Central Jersey" is a different question. In my professional estimation, Central Jersey merits its own label. The area offered my first experiences in the state as a Rutgers-New Brunswick student. It felt largely like a centralized area where all of New Jersey mixed. I know that's not what this question means by "central," but I do believe the middle of the state offers enough centrality to earn the name of Central Jersey.

Name: Karen Wall
Position: Field Editor
Time Spent Covering NJ: 30 years

Favorite thing about covering the Garden State

You can count on something crazy happening somewhere almost every day.

Least favorite thing about covering the Garden State

That I can't sit at the beach because sand does bad things to laptops.

Most "Jersey story" you've ever covered.

In 2007, I wrote about a potential world-record summer flounder that was caught off Asbury Park -- and the mayhem that ensued as people accused the angler of fraud and then got mad when the potential record was pulled from a cooler by a raccoon and destroyed. The record application was turned down on a technicality.

What story from New Jersey's history did you wish you covered?

The Baby M surrogate case. So many issues and yet it opened a lot of conversations about infertility and adoption.

In your professional opinion, does Central Jersey exist?

Absolutely. And if Russ lived in Central Jersey, he'd know that.

Name: Carly Baldwin
Position: Field Editor
Time Spent Covering NJ: 10 years

Favorite thing about covering the Garden State

The diversity of stories and the diversity of New Jersey residents. Everyone who lives here has a unique point of view. It's also a little-known fact that New Jersey has some great wild animal stories! Everyone thinks we are all highways and shopping malls, but this state has bears, coyotes, seals frolicking on our beaches, dolphins swimming up to people's homes, sharks (and shark attacks) and more! My favorite stories to report are stories about animals because they make people stop and think about how connected we are to nature.

Least favorite thing about covering the Garden State

Probably just traffic trying to get to a press conference or breaking news.

Most "Jersey story" you've ever covered.

It just doesn't get any more Jersey than shoppers at the mall saying aChristmas display looks like a strip club .

What story from New Jersey's history did you wish you covered?

It sounds odd to say, but I wish I had been in New Jersey when 9/11 happened. It was such a historic time in our nation's history. I wish I had been here to see how New Jersey responded that day, and in the months afterwards. Many towns Patch covers, such as Middletown and Hoboken, are still mourning the hundreds of residents who died that day. When you walk through a place like the Middletown 9/11 Memorial Garden, you see that 9/11 is still very much on the forefront of New Jersey residents' minds, day in and day out.

In your professional opinion, does Central Jersey exist?

Absolutely!

So how do you plan on celebrating National New Jersey Day? Let us know in the comments below.

Thanks for reading! Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Have a news tip you'd like to share? Or maybe you have a press release you would like to submit or a correction you'd like to request? Send an email to russ.crespolini@patch.com

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