| Author | Message | ||
     helen Citizen Username: Helen Post Number: 53 Registered: 2-2005 |
Hmmm... For some reason, I thought PB&J was there (??) I get confused with the menus because we've made minor changes for each pool. (SO, Mapl., & Orange Lawn.) I'll check into it. So far we have the chicken tenders, grilled cheese, hot dogs, fries, cheese fries, soup & yogurt which I'd imagine might appeal to smaller kids. All these things have appealed to my kids but my kids are real "chow hounds". I've been lucky, all 4 of them eat anything (& everything) so it's hard for me to tell. I'll talk it over with Billy, our SO pool manager. Thanks, Helen | ||
| composerjohn Citizen Username: Composerjohn Post Number: 847 Registered: 8-2004  |
Helen and tomp: My 3 year old son has a SEVERE peanut allergy. If he's exposed to peanut butter, it's possible for his throat to close up in a minute or two. It doesn't matter if he ate it or another kid touched him with peanut butter on his fingers - he'll still have a reaction. I realize lots of little kids like peanut butter, but it makes it very risky for my son and some others. Something to consider. Thanks! | ||
| FlyingSpaghettiMonst Citizen Username: Noodlyappendage Post Number: 182 Registered: 11-2005  |
Poor Helen, one poster asks for PBJ and the other requests it be removed. What is a vendor to do??? CJ, while I empathlize, do you think we should ban pool patrons from bringing in PB&J? What if some kid has a sandwhich and leaves the wrappings on the table? If the allergy is as serious as you say, ande I am sure it is, you need to make sure your child does not eat anything that is not prepared at home. (or have kids touch him with sticky fingers.) I am sure that PB&J was on the menu yesterday, while I did not order it personally. Perhaps being opening weekend , it wasn;t in stock yet. | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 4257 Registered: 5-2001  |
Helen - How about exploring SOY Peanut Butter? That way, kids who want it, can have it (and won't know the difference). Kids who are allergic won't be affected. Sounds fair to me. | ||
| composerjohn Citizen Username: Composerjohn Post Number: 849 Registered: 8-2004 |
No, I don't think PB&J should be banned. However, I do wonder whether it's worth the risk. Many kids these days have a severe allergy to peanut butter. I can (and do) monitor what my son eats. But I cannot check the fingers of every child who might come in contact with him. I don't mean to ruin people's pool experience. I certainly do not want to be a party pooper or a nervous nelly. But it's possible for my son to DIE in minutes from peanut butter exposure (even with the use of an epipen, if the exposure was bad). | ||
| Glock 17 Citizen Username: Glock17 Post Number: 1153 Registered: 7-2005  |
Do you send him to school? Because that sounds a little to extreme for a school and/or pool (or any) situation. What if someone had a PB&J before they came and breathed or spit and he came into contact with it? | ||
| Jersey girl Citizen Username: Critterlover Post Number: 55 Registered: 2-2004 |
PB allergies can be horrific to deal with in children. It sounds to me as if this parent is doing everything possible to avoid a life theatening event. I think most parents of PB-allergic kids already know to bring epi-pens, etc... all the precautions everywhere they go. They become quite accustomed to washing down tables before they seat their child, washing down the fingers,hands and grubby little arms and faces of their kid's playmates (right? asked with a smile) and the danger of death is NOT an idle or panicky thought. It is what can happen. That said, I would think it is the parent's job and responsibility to keep their child pb free. We can help you out with sympathy and advisories..''watch out, he has a reeces!''... but this one falls squarely on the parent's shoulders. Sorry I cannot offer any suggestions to change the situation for the better. But to ask us to take away pb&j from the pool? No way. That idea won't float. Let's face it, folks: pb&j is a fave of kids young and old. Restricting the sale of this all-the-time, but especially summertime easy meal is not going to work for the masses. Besides, lots of people pack their food at home and pb&j is a number one fave in that respect as well. It's a hard situation to face daily, but that's your life life with your child. You're going to have to suck it up and deal with it , yes, even at your town pool, I'm sorry to say. Jersey girl | ||
| Jersey girl Citizen Username: Critterlover Post Number: 56 Registered: 2-2004 |
On the topic of the SO Pool: What, if anything, can we do about the foul, rude and profane language we are exposed to at our SO Pool? I found it so disturbing that young adults, tweens and teens, were using such language right in front of children and adults alike, without a care as to how they sounded, how they were presenting themselves, and never giving a second thought to what they were putting out there in front of young children. I was sufficiently disgusted to not renew my pool badge the past two years. Same goes for the spitting in the pool, and other similar disrespectful, unwanted behavior, and I am talking about the same age group. These are kids old enough to be at the pool alone, but truthfully not proving themselves up to the privilege of being unsupervised. I understand that in today's world, it is not a privilege but a necessity that sometimes kids are unsupervised, but I do not enjoy the task of correcting someone else's child (teen) for inappropriate behavior / language at a public setting. When it happens, as it will again this summer... to whom do we go? the parents are not available. is this the pool manager's responsibility now? or the lifeguards? I don't think it should be their job to monitor behavior of rude kids. I want the lifeguards focused on guarding! so.. ? suggestions? Saying.."Hey! Cut that out!" or ''Watch your mouth!" only gets them going more... I previously enjoyed our pool for many summer seasons until recently, and it was mainly because of the rudeness I had to endure that I stopped going, and I sure do miss my swim time! I want very much to go back to enjoying my time at the SO Pool! Others must have encountered this problem. What do you do to stop it? Or has the situation improved? Like I said, I quit after several fruitless attempts to reduce the incidence of bad language, spitting and such. Thanks for your help! Jersey girl | ||
| Crazy_quilter Citizen Username: Crazy_quilter Post Number: 335 Registered: 2-2005 |
I never noticed rude behavior at the pool. but i'm not very sensitive to "bad" language either. | ||
| Glock 17 Citizen Username: Glock17 Post Number: 1168 Registered: 7-2005 |
Yeah college level swim practices kind of tuned me out to anything. If you think the spitting and cussing is bad at our pool...golly. Yeah. But cursing in front of children is unacceptable. | ||
| helen Citizen Username: Helen Post Number: 54 Registered: 2-2005 |
Hi - it's Helen again from Freeman's. I'm so glad see the discussion about the peanut butter here on line. I thought I was going crazy because I really didn't know what to do when we opened our first pool concession this year at the Orange Lawn Tennis Club. One of the members warned me about her child's allergy. We ended up carrying it but I have specified that the peanut butter can be categoried as a "dangerous substance" and must be handled carefully, cannot touch anything else and we keep it in a separate location. We also have people with seafood allergies so everything must be kept separate for that as well. The seafood, however, doesn't seem to have the same serious reaction as the peanut butter. Now - I will say that since the club has been set up, and run by 2 very capable young ladies I haven't spent much time there, but now I will make a note of it to re-inforce my "dangerous substance" procedures. I haven't enforced the procedures yet in the other pools because we never came up with the problem last year and because I'm not totally familiar with this allergy, I tend not to think about it. Thanks for bringing this up. As far as the rude talk, I had a situation here in town that I think I cut short: a teenage girl who was very fashionably dressed was spewing out all sorts of profanities in front of Kings one evening. I was with my 11 year old and turned to her and said "you think I should say something?". Once she said "yes", I had to. So I went over to the girl and told her that she was so pretty and her outfit was so nice - but everything that was coming out of her mouth was totally disgusting and ugly and it was really making her look ugly as well. She stopped - and I went home shaking, because I generally don't do stuff like that. It might work for the girls but I don't know about the boys. I must be getting old because I don't remember being as sensitive to it as I have been in the last year or two?? Thanks for listening and I'll try to enforce the peanut butter thing. Please don't hesitate to bring it up at the snack bar while you're there. Specifically ask to talk to Billy and tell them that "Helen sent you"! | ||
| Peter J. Watts Citizen Username: Peter_watts Post Number: 43 Registered: 3-2006  |
LL, what version of Crash are we talking about? The one with James Spader? http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115964/ | ||
| Nancy - LibraryLady Supporter Username: Librarylady Post Number: 3591 Registered: 5-2001  |
Not exactly  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0375679/ | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 5415 Registered: 1-2004  |
Tom- I don't think any of the venders who ran the snack bar at South Orange offered PBJ sandwhiches. That's a great ideas! It can't be that hard to have a couple of jars (plain and chunky) of peanut butter and a jar of grape jelly with a loaf of bread onhand. | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 5416 Registered: 1-2004 |
CJ While I feel for you and your child there are plenty of children whose mom's pack lunches and snacks to eat at the pool. What happens if one of those mom's makes their child a bpj sandwich? My nephews love peanut butter and cheese crackers, a niece likes those peanut butter sandwich type cookies. My nephews like peanut butter cups. Not that they will go grabbing the hands of three year olds... It sounds like Helen has come up with some great precautions for Orange Lawn that I'm sure will be followed at South Orange Pool. I hope that brings some comfort to you. Maybe Paul can make a 'peanut free area? a the pool somewhere where you don't have to worry about coming in contact with it. | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 5417 Registered: 1-2004 |
I agree with Jersey Girl about the behavior of some of the teenagers at the pool. If you say something to Paul, he will handle it. We use to go to the pool almost every day, until about 5 or 6 years ago. Now we usually go to East Hanover or my brother's or sister's. | ||
| Jersey girl Citizen Username: Critterlover Post Number: 62 Registered: 2-2004 |
I know my tone of post sounds more than a bit put-off by the rude behavior and cursing at our pool. I hope I do not give offense myself, in sounding off some. I must be ''getting old'' too, as one of our members described herself; I, too, have become sensitive to rudeness and foul language that I may have used myself, on occasion. (note: I am not admitting to it, only saying there is a chance, LOL!) But when I was young, my friends and I made sure we were not doing this stuff in front of children, in front of mothers and older folks... seriously, we showed some respect. That's all I ask, really. Can our teenagers show respect for us please, in public places and situations? I am not accusing all teens here. I enjoy HS age young people. We all see the ones I refer to. so I ask those pool-goers: if you cannot give it up entirely, can you look around first and check the scene before indulging in your chosen expletives? and keep the volume down? That would go a long way towards solving the problem. Helen, I commend you on speaking up to the young lady who looked so lovely but was spewing garbage from her mouth. <applause!!> Thank you for telling her so nicely to rethink her speech. I am sure you made an impression on her. I know the shakey feeling ,too, because I also hate to tell someone they are behaving badly. But you did her a service, really. A kindness. Let's hope she learned a btter way to express herself. I look back and see how many I needed correction and fine-tuning as a young adult. Thankfully, the adults in my life were not afraid to step up and speak out. I learned many lessons the hard way, through my own embarrassing mistakes.I'd much rather have someone take me aside and help me before I get too deep in the muck. The So Orange Pool was one of my favorite places for years. I want to go back and enjoy it again. Based on my tsk-tsk'ing here, I may have to change my moniker to "Jersey old hag" instead of Jersey girl... LOL! But for today, I am still Jersey girl | ||
| Amie Brockway-Metcalf Citizen Username: Amie Post Number: 547 Registered: 6-2004 |
We live right behind the high school, and when the kids walk home there's always a couple new colorful additions to my three-year-old's vocabulary. But, EVERY SINGLE TIME, if I say "Hey, guys? The kid's got a great memory, can you tone it down a bit?" they ALWAYS apologize and knock it off. Try it--many of them are older siblings and probably don't speak that way at home. If you speak to them with respect they will give it right back to you. If you attack them, the same will be returned. | ||
| susan1014 Supporter Username: Susan1014 Post Number: 1613 Registered: 3-2002 |
I know that I've bought my little one fluffernutter (PB and marshmellow fluff) sandwiches at the pool at sometime in the last couple of years, so they have had peanut butter in the past. | ||
| wnb Citizen Username: Wnb Post Number: 428 Registered: 8-2001 |
Here's another pool related question. My wife did not take my last name. The process required at Baird for her to prove her betrothedness to me seems nothing short of draconian and I'm wondering how people handle this. Any advice? Do we really need to dig out our marriage certificate for a $15 pool pass? | ||
| mjc Citizen Username: Mjc Post Number: 1202 Registered: 10-2004 |
wnb, same situation here, and I have not had to drag out the historical documents. If she has her driver's license, and her name is on the property tax bill, shouldn't that be about enough? caveat: I have not renewed my badge in the past couple of years. Amie, way to go. This has always worked for me too (except for that one "adult" on a plane, who just got worse). | ||
| Lucy Smith Citizen Username: Lucy123 Post Number: 223 Registered: 6-2005 |
wnb-my name (I also did not take my husband's name) is on all of our utilities and hubby does not drive (therefore no insurance card/registration). All he had was his non-driver NJ ID and a joint bank account statement (current). I was able to prove that I lived at our address with our utility bills and the joint account indicated he lived at the address with me. Call the Baird and let them know what you have and you should be fine-it appears very strict but if you honestly do not have the specific items they will work with you | ||
| Tuxedo Citizen Username: Tuxedo Post Number: 52 Registered: 7-2004 |
Anyone have info on swimming lessons? | ||
| tomp Citizen Username: Tomp Post Number: 68 Registered: 5-2001 |
wnb: She just has to prove she's a resident. Doesn't she have a driver's license? Tuxedo: Swimming lesson registration was last Saturday, though it's possible there are still classes that aren't full yet. The available classes and times are summarized on the registration form. | ||
| Jersey girl Citizen Username: Critterlover Post Number: 63 Registered: 2-2004 |
Amy.. thanks for the reminder to us all that we must show the same respect to our young people as we want shown to us. That has always been my MO as well. It's nice to know others are successfully dealing with this issue. I suppose the overwhelmed feeling I get at the pool is because it seems to be every place I turn... no matter where I sit, or what end of the pool I am in... there it is. however, maybe this summer will prove me wrong. I am hopeful things have improved. Jersey girl | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 5426 Registered: 1-2004 |
We were online last year to get Guest Badges and were amazed some young ladies in front of us were given pool badges when they said they were 'visiting student' doing an internship at Kessler. They had been told by SH students if they went to the Baird Center they'd be allowed pool passes. If THEY can get badges, I don't see why married couples with different last names are put through the ringer. Maybe you can just bring some offical looking mail, like a credit card statement or utility bill as proof? Reminds me maybe I should renew my pool badge tomorrow or Friday. | ||
| Paper Bag Bandit Citizen Username: Glock17 Post Number: 1195 Registered: 7-2005 |
Jeez this sounds like its gonna' be worse than a trip to the DMV | ||
| kriss Citizen Username: Kriss Post Number: 312 Registered: 6-2001 |
Question about guest passes - do all my guests need them, or just the adults? Just wondering if my son's 3-year old friend will need one. Thanks. | ||
| Nancy - LibraryLady Supporter Username: Librarylady Post Number: 3609 Registered: 5-2001 |
Yup, everyone from birth on up. Same as a pool pass for residents. | ||
| kriss Citizen Username: Kriss Post Number: 313 Registered: 6-2001 |
Thanks Nancy! | ||
| Shanabana Citizen Username: Shanabana Post Number: 641 Registered: 10-2005  |
The pool would be overcrowded if they were lax about the passes or the badges. You have to go to get your picture taken anyway, so it shouldn't matter what your name is as long as you have an ID and some bills in your name. | ||
| connied76 Citizen Username: Connied76 Post Number: 39 Registered: 1-2004 |
Why would you have to prove marriage to get a pool pass? It costs $15 for each person. Each person needs to bring a driver's license and a bill in his/her name. What's up with proving you are married? | ||
| susan1014 Supporter Username: Susan1014 Post Number: 1627 Registered: 3-2002 |
We've never had to prove marriage, in spite of last names that don't match. Just bring in bills with both of our names on them. | ||
| Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 5497 Registered: 1-2004 |
I went to renew my pool badge last week. Went in with my driver's license, a bank statement, and a piece of mail from my health insurance compay with my name and address on them. No problem. Was even able to have my friend's little one (well she's ten, so she might not like being called a 'little one') badge renewed. You have the option of having a new picture taken, or not -she wanted a new picture. However, if your picture from last year is not on the computer the Baird Center uses for the badges, you are SOL andhave to have a new picture taken. Either way, it costs $15. | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 4346 Registered: 5-2001 |
On a positive note, spent the day at the South Orange Pool today & had a great day. Weather was great, water was nice & food from Freeman's was a great improvement over years past. Certainly, the pool is one of the real jewels of our town. ...and even managed to get some more signatures against the spending of taxes for Tau from people who approached me | ||
| helen Citizen Username: Helen Post Number: 59 Registered: 2-2005 |
Thanks for the compliment on the food!! Our manager, Billy, was in the hospital for 3 days. (Doing fine now.) In the meantime, his incredible staff rose to the occassion, even though they had no experience with ordering the inventory and all the background stuff that goes on. In the meantime, we even got compliments with what was going on at the SO Pool in the Maplewood Pool "thread"!! Please keep us posted if you have any additional comments or suggestions. Thanks, Helen (from Freeman's) | ||
| Amateur Night Citizen Username: Deborahg Post Number: 1881 Registered: 5-2001  |
Hey Helen, We tried to come yesterday for dinner, but heard the announcement that the snack shop was closing because they had run out of inventory by 6pm. This is the third timeI have tried to eat there and found that either a) they were out of inventory on just about everything or b) they were actually closed. I was part of a conversation between about five families yesterday to the effect that, much as they would like to support Freeman's, they all plan to bring their own food from now on because there's no knowing if there will be anything to eat at the snackbar! Are there any plans to remedy this problem? Surely you can get a freezer and freeze things like hot dogs, chicken nuggests etc. even if the fresh lobster rolls run out? We were so looking forward to Freeman's at the pool, and now we are so disappointed! | ||
| tomp Citizen Username: Tomp Post Number: 69 Registered: 5-2001 |
I was at the pool with my daughter on Saturday, and when we ordered lunch around 1pm, I was told that they couldn't serve PB&J; no reason was given, but it sounded like they had run out of something, because they took my order and only later came back to say that they wouldn't be able to serve it. It sounded, from others' comments, like they had run out of bread for grilled-cheese sandwiches, too, so perhaps the inventory problems were more severe than just running out of food by dinnertime. The hot dog and crab cake we ended up eating were very good, and the staff was quite pleasant and helpful, but they did seem to be a little overwhelmed. I just mention this as a data point. I'm still very happy Freeman's is here now and I'm looking forward to sampling the rest of the menu. | ||
| Crazy_quilter Citizen Username: Crazy_quilter Post Number: 351 Registered: 2-2005 |
uh, Amateur Night? did you read Helen's post above yours? I think it explains it all. A sick manager and new staff doing the best they could? | ||
| Annie Modesitt Citizen Username: Modeknit Post Number: 30 Registered: 9-2002  |
I also posted on Pool Property - but is anyone as upset as I am by the new lack of shade at the pool this year? I do appreciate that they've planted many trees, and I always see one or two folks huddled under the scant shade they provide, moving their chairs over bit by bit as the sun goes down. However, there just isn't enough shade for those of us who like to swim a bit, then like to sit and watch the kids swim, visit with friends, but can't take too much sun. I wonder if a shade similar to one at this website could be put up by the back chain link fence? http://www.shadesails.com/ Perhaps the folks who are developing the Beifus site could cover a (substantial) portion of the cost as they were the reason that the existing shade trees were removed. That fence is big, and I swear it looks like it's moving closer to the diving boards every day! |
