http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20100315/NEWS01/100315049/Adler-to-vote-against-Senate-health-care-bill

Think Spring!

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Think Spring!

Think Spring!

Put your snow shovel away and bring out your garden trowel. The forsythia are beginning to bud and this is the perfect time to plan a new garden or get a head start on your lawn renovation project.

Sustainable Cherry Hill is partnering with McNaughton’s Garden Center to kick off the season and the first day of spring with a series of FREE gardening workshops. Many of you know that McNaughton’s has been a local garden center over 80 years, but did you know that they grow most of their own trees, shrubs, perennials and annual locally at their Cherry Hill property and two growing farms in South Jersey? They also recycle our plastic container pots and compost and chip plant materials past their prime.
Join us for one class or settle in and stay the whole day!

9:00 AM PLANNING YOUR LANDSCAPE

Landscape architect Harry Gamble teaches you the basics of creating a great garden plan. Learn the elements of good design the selection of trees and shrubs that are suitable for your growing conditions, how you can take advantage of a plants form, texture, color and seasonal interest and how you can integrate hardscaping to enhance your outdoor oasis.

10:30 PM ORGANIC LAWNCARE

One of the most important ways you can reduce your carbon footprint is to eliminate the use of chemicals on your lawn. Horticulturist Tom Measey discusses how you can achieve a healthy lawn with products that are environmentally friendly and are safer for kids and pets. Learn about the use of corn gluten to prevent weeds, proper mowing practices and the best times to water and seed to maximize the limited resources we share on this planet.

In addition, our lawn and garden experts Mike Phillips and John Lincoln will demonstrate how to make an organic compost tea brewer. Be sure to bring in a recycled plastic milk jug to get a free gallon of our home-brew. Your garden will thank you.

A representative from Espoma organic products will be on hand.

1:00 PM PLANNING A POND

From gurgling waterfalls to trickling fountains, to the tranquility of a reflecting pool, the use of water in the garden continues to be a growing trend. Pond expert, Mike Phillips discusses how you can create a water feature that complements your landscape whether it be a self-contained fountain in a pot or a large pond with a waterfall. He will take you from the planning and design stage through installation and completion. Mike will also cover proper pump, plant and fish selection, as well as care and maintenance.

3:00 PM COMPOSTING (Spring clean-up)

If you desire a healthy garden, you should consider the benefits of composting. Sometimes referred to as “black gold”, compost teems with microorganisms that help make your soil come alive. Melisa Skyrm from Sustainable Cherry Hill will teach you how you can recycle your leaves, grass clippings and kitchen scraps to create your own compost. She will also discuss how to manage the compost pile to avoid foul-odors and encourage the decomposition that will eventually turn your debris into a rich, brown garden dressing.

Mc NAUGHTON’S GARDEN CENTER

351 Kresson Rd. Cherry Hill, NJ 08034

FOR MORE INFORMATON ON WORKSHOPS AND SPECIAL EVENTS CONTACT: BETH GLENN 856-429-6745 EXT. 124

Residents should call Police Dispatch to report flood conditions during the weekend, at (856) 665-1200.  The police will dispatch Public Works crews as needed.

Jose F. Moreno/Courier-Post file

The 14th Monster-Mania Con will be at the Crowne Plaza Hotel this weekend, running today through Sunday.

Click here to read our post about the event, and check out the Courier-Post photo gallery of the 2009 convention by clicking here.

Will you be attending the event? Share your stories, photos and videos by posting to Cherry Hill InJersey! Anyone can sign up and blog!

Courier-Post file

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch advisory for Burlington, Gloucester and Camden counties, as well as much of the surrounding area, through Sunday morning.

The weather service notes rainfall of 2 to 4 inches in the area, with local amounts of 5 inches possible in some areas.

Smaller streams are likely to flood first, with larger waterways likely to come after, according to the report.

FULL TEXT OF ADVISORY

A COMPLEX STORM SYSTEM WILL BE AFFECTING THE REGION THROUGH
SUNDAY. AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE OVER THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE
NATION WILL MOVE EASTWARD THROUGH SATURDAY. A SECOND LOW PRESSURE
SYSTEM IS FORMING OFF THE SOUTH CAROLINA COAST AND WILL MOVE
SLOWLY NORTH INTO THE DELMARVA PENINSULA ON SATURDAY BEFORE
HEADING OFFSHORE.

THE COMBINATION OF ALL OF THESE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEMS WILL BRING
RAIN TO THE AREA BEGINNING ON FRIDAY. RAINFALL AMOUNTS THROUGH
THIS EVENING WILL AVERAGE FROM AROUND ONE QUARTER OF AN INCH IN
THE FAR NORTHERN AREAS TO AROUND AN INCH IN THE DELMARVA PENINSULA.
THE RAIN WILL BECOME EVEN HEAVIER LATER FRIDAY NIGHT INTO
SATURDAY AS THE SECOND LOW APPROACHES THE REGION.

WIDESPREAD RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES ARE ANTICIPATED WITH
THIS STORM. LOCAL AMOUNTS UP TO 5 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE...
ESPECIALLY IN THOSE LOCATIONS THAT RECEIVE THE HEAVIEST RAIN.

GIVEN THIS AMOUNT OF RAIN...SMALL STREAMS AND POSSIBLY MAIN STEM
RIVERS WILL REACH FLOOD STAGE. SMALLER STREAMS WILL RESPOND FIRST
TO THE RAINFALL FOLLOWED BY THE LARGER RIVERS. FLOODING COULD
BEGIN AS SOON AS LATE FRIDAY NIGHT ALONG FAST RESPONDING CREEKS...
WHILE THE LARGER... SLOWER RESPONDING RIVERS... COULD SEE FLOODING
PERSIST INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. THESE RAINFALL AMOUNTS ALSO HAVE THE
POTENTIAL TO CAUSE FLOODING OF ROADWAYS...UNDERPASSES AND POOR
DRAINAGE AREAS. IF YOU ARE TRAVELING... PLEASE ALLOW EXTRA TIME TO
REACH YOUR DESTINATION. IN ADDITION TO ANY FLOODING... HEAVY RAIN
CAN CAUSE REDUCED VISIBILITIES. PLEASE STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER
RADIO OR YOUR FAVORITE MEDIA OUTLET FOR FURTHER UPDATES AND ANY
POSSIBLE WARNINGS. PEOPLE WHO LIVE NEAR RIVERS OR STREAMS THAT ARE
PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD BE ON HEIGHTENED ALERT AND SHOULD BE
PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION IF FLOODING DEVELOPS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ON
CURRENT FORECASTS.

YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE
FLOOD WARNINGS. THOSE LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD BE
PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLOODING DEVELOP.

via Flood watch issued for much of South Jersey | courierpostonline.com | Courier-Post.

That right folks, it's time to fire up the old grill, Daylight-saving time is returning with that extra hour of sunshine after work.

The official moment is 2 a.m. local time Sunday, though most people will set their clocks ahead by one hour before they hit the sack on Saturday night.

Courier-Post file

A few will forget -- they're the ones you'll see arriving at church when everybody else is leaving.

Daylight-saving time ends Nov. 7.

via Don't forget to spring forward | courierpostonline.com | Courier-Post.

Six months in the making, the deal with a consortium of Wells Fargo and more than a dozen other banks soothes fears concerning the Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust's ability to pay its bills.

PREIT announced the package after the close of business Thursday, but before the company's widely anticipated earnings report today.

Read the rest of this article at: Mall owner receives new financing | courierpostonline.com | Courier-Post.

The cash-strapped owner of Cherry Hill Mall and other area shopping centers has closed on a secured credit facility with term loans of $520 million and a $150 million revolving line of credit with its bankers.

Six months in the making, the deal with a consortium of Wells Fargo and more than a dozen other banks soothes fears concerning the Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust's ability to pay its bills.

PREIT announced the package after the close of business Thursday, but before the company's widely anticipated earnings report today.

Analysts and investors have been watching PREIT, which is more than $2.5 billion in debt and had drawn down most of its credit. The company spent $240 million on its transformation at Cherry Hill.

The new credit facility for PREIT has a term of three years and is secured by mortgages on 22 properties.

Ronald Rubin, CEO, said the deal enables PREIT to keep growing.

The money will pay down the previous $500 million unsecured revolving credit facility and a $170 million unsecured term loan that were scheduled to mature on March 20.

In addition to Cherry Hill, PREIT owns Moorestown Mall, Voorhees Town Center and more than 45 other shopping centers in the Mid-Atlantic states.

Reach Eileen Smith at (856) 486-2444 or esmith@courierpostonline.com

These sessions will continue every Tuesday and Friday through April 13.

Please note that complex returns such as those involving businesses, rental income, multiple capital gains, etc., will not be prepared at this site.

AARP will help you prepare
-- Federal Income Tax Returns
-- State Income Tax Returns
-- Homestead Rebate Forms
-- Property Tax Reimbursement (PTR) Forms

Please bring with you
-- Copy of your 2008 returns
-- All relevant tax statements, receipts & forms
-- Social Security card or SSA- 1099
-- PTR form (if one was mailed to you)

For more information, call (888) AARP-NOW or go to www.AARP.org/taxaide

If you have additional questions, you can always call the Mayor's Office at (856) 488-7878 or the Recreation Department at (856) 488-7868.

Pot holes at 50 Haddonfield Road, which had been reported two months ago, are now covered by large metal slates.

The issue had been reported by Kevin, who said:

"Crumbling pavement and potholes on haddonfield Rd. in Cherry Hill. The problem is in front of the Toyota dealership prior to the Church Rd. Intersection."

Read more about this issue, and view the photo gallery, after the jump...

One person, who commented about the issue on the SeeClickFix Web site, an application for reporting local civic problems, said:

"This area is dangerous....people slam on their brakes to avoid the potholes or drive right over them in the dark and ruin their cars. There is also another hole on the opposite side of the road near the Inquirer building complex. "

At the area today, the pot holes appeared to be completely covered by four large metal slates which are bolted to the road, and there didn't appear to be any crumbling pavement along the sidewalks in front of the former Toyota dealership.

The metal slates covering the pot holes bore the initials of the township's Department of Public Works.

If you are concerned about other local civic problems, like pot holes, litter or graffiti, in and around Cherry Hill, report the issue by using the SeeClickFix tool on Cherry Hill InJersey's "Fixer Upper" page.

Courier-Post file

The Cherry Hill Mall is offering the Bunny Fast Pass this Easter season.

The new concept saves time and adds convenience for families who plan to visit the Easter Bunny this year for their springtime photo, mall representatives say.

The program lets families pre-purchase Easter Bunny photo packages online at www.cherryhillmall.com starting on March 12 and use a Fast Pass to the Easter Bunny photo line instead of the regular customer line.

via Fast way to see Easter Bunny | courierpostonline.com | Courier-Post.

"First and foremost I want to applaud the work of the U.S. Attorney and the FBI on this case.

As for Mr. Saccomanno, this individual has broken the public’s trust and had compromised the integrity of the Code Enforcement Office. When any individual prostitutes a public office for personal profit it is a heinous crime that should receive swift justice and jail time. I believe that U.S. Judge Marie Bumb sentence fits the crime.

I believe that this former public servant still owes the taxpayers of Cherry Hill and from this point forward the Township will pursue all avenues of restitution so our residents are made whole."

Did You Know?
High school music students score higher on SATs in both verbal and math than their peers. In 2001, SAT takers with coursework/experience in music performance scored 57 points higher on the verbal portion of the test and 41 points higher on the math portion than students with no coursework/experience in the arts.

Source: Profile of SAT and Achievement Test Takers, The College Board, compiled by Music Educators National Conference, 2001.

Did You Know?

College-age musicians are emotionally healthier than their non-musician counterparts. A study conducted at the University of Texas looked at 362 students who were in their first semester of college. They were given three tests, measuring performance anxiety, emotional concerns and alcohol related problems. In addition to having fewer battles with the bottle, researchers also noted that the college-aged music students seemed to have surer footing when facing tests.

Source: Houston Chronicle, January 11, 1998

NJ School of Music 1200 Haddonfield Rd. CherryHill  856.910.0060

www.njschoolofmusic.com

New Jersey’s Changing Climate:  What Lies Ahead?

Dr. David Robinson, NJ State Climatologist, will talk about New Jersey’s diverse climate and how it is likely to change. He will discuss what scientists know about  predicting the climate and will be available to answer your questions.

Monday, April 12, 2010, 7 – 9 pm

Cherry Hill Public Library

1100 Kings Highway North, Cherry Hill

This workshop is free, but registration is required. Register anytime online by visiting www.chplnj.org and click on Library Events or call Robyn Bland at 856-903-1202. Direct link to register here.

Dr. Robinson, an expert in snow cover,

is well equipped to answer any questions about our recent “snowpocalypse”!

Dr. David Robinson is the State Climatologist of NJ and the Chairman of the Geography department at Rutgers University.  He is also a member of the United Nation’s IPCC, which shared the Nobel Prize with Al Gore in 2007.  Dr. Robinson recently received a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Environmental Hero Award, as well as the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Association of American Geographer’s Climate Specialty Group.

Presented by Sustainable Cherry Hill & The Cherry Hill Public Library

Information collected from the U.S. Census becomes a factor in many government decisions, such as the number of seats New Jersey has in Congress, in addition to how more than $400 billion in federal money is allocated each year to fund infrastructure additions, improvements and services in communities such as Cherry Hill.

Please join Township and U.S. Census Bureau officials as the 2010 Census begins!

The Cherry Hill Health & Racquet Club recently finished converting one of its tennis courts into what will become a Parisi Speed School.

The approximately 7,800 square foot space has a turf area that replicates a football field with yard markers and there are four lanes of straight track for sprinting.

"The program itself is targeted at 7 to 19-year-olds as well as college and pro athletes," said the club's general manager Brian Kosa. "The whole concept is working on speed."

The renovated space will be available for club members and non-members to register for a month or session-based options. Individuals, schools, teams or sports leagues will be able to register for sessions at the facility or to host sessions at their own school, park or field.

"If you play field hockey, lacrosse, soccer or football, you need speed, quickness and agility, and we can teach those things to kids to translate into the sports that they play," said Kosa. "We want to build their confidence."

The club is currently hiring staff for the speed school and developing the program, and the club hopes to launch the program in coming months, said Kosa.

Cherry Hill Health & Racquet Club is located at 1820 Old Cuthbert Road in Cherry Hill.

Saccomanno will also be on probation for three years and have to pay a $20,000 fine.

Citing his cooperation in a bribery investigation that also snared an executive of a government contractor, Judge Marie Bumb of the U.S. District Court in Camden had earlier reduced sentencing guidelines for Saccomanno from 24 to 30 months to 18 to 23 months.

During arguments this morning, Saccomanno's attorneys pleaded for leniency, citing his cooperation as a government witness, his bout with lung cancer, and what they called his largely unblemished record as a public servant in Cherry Hill.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Scahill agreed that Saccomanno's cooperation should be considered. But Bumb questioned Saccomanno's health pleas, noting that he already suffered from his ailments when he accepted bribes from Pennsylvania-based Building Inspections Underwriters Inc.

Township solicitor Sherri Schweitzer offered witness testimony urging the judge against leniency and toward restitution. She said Saccomanno's pattern of lies and deceit robbed taxpayers, whom she said were owed more than $368,260 in salary and benefits Saccomanno was paid after he committed his crimes.

Saccomanno pleaded guilty last summer to accepting bribes from BIU. Bumb handed down her sentence this afternoon.

via Former Cherry Hill building official sentenced to 22 months in jail on bribery charges | courierpostonline.com | Courier-Post.

John Ziomek/Courier-Post

The International Council of Shopping Centers, Inc. has awarded Cherry Hill Mall a Silver U.S. MAXI Award, which recognizes premier marketing, community outreach, sales promotions and visual merchandising programs.

Cherry Hill Mall won in the visual merchandising category for its renovation of the mall's common areas during Cherry Hill's $240-million renovation.

via Cherry Hill Mall gets national recognition | courierpostonline.com | Courier-Post.

Al Schell/Courier-Post

Chef Mark Smith of Collingswood's Tortilla Press restaurant and Pennsauken's Tortilla Press Cantina will be hosting his third "South Jersey Tweet-Up" this evening.

The event, which on Twitter uses the hashtag #SJTweetUp, welcomes South Jersey area Twitter users to meet and discuss the popular social networking Web site and other technological issues.

Click here to RSVP.

The event, which is open to the public, will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. tonight at Tortilla Press Cantina, located at 7716 Maple Avenue in Pennsauken.

Al Schell/Courier-Post

By Jane Roh, Courier-Post Staff

Council members approved a revised budget Monday night for fiscal year 2010 of $63.9 million, reflecting a $600,000 increase.

Also at Monday's meeting, officials lauded the township's snow-removal efforts and Mayor Bernie Platt said a top aide who was caught in a lie "deserves an opportunity to redeem himself."
The depressed economy was the main reason behind the budget change, officials said. Historically low interest rates forced the township to halve $500,000 in anticipated investments and deposit revenue. Fees tied to the sluggish construction industry also are down, from nearly $1.3 million to $900,000.

The amount to be raised by taxes was revised slightly upward to almost $39 million.

Debra Campbell, the town's chief financial officer, said she did not yet know if a previously forecast three-cent tax cut is still in effect.

She blamed this winter's massive snowstorms for the largest budget increase. In the "Public Safety Functions" section, a line item for "other expenses" more than doubled, from $225,630 to $560,630.

Business administrator Maris Kukainis congratulated municipal employees for their handling of the severe storms, which closed schools and local government offices. Kukainis was acting mayor during the back-to-back storms that hit the township in February.

Platt was in Florida for his annual monthlong vacation in February. The mayor's top aide, Dan Keashen, lied when asked about Platt's whereabouts during the storm and said he was in Cherry Hill. Keashen later said he misspoke.

Faye Murman/Courier-Post

Accompanied by huge charts that outlined the chain of command of municipal operations during the storms, Platt took the podium to address the matter.

"First and foremost, good governing depends on a skilled and competent team," Platt said. "In this day and age, it is important for any mayor to surround themselves with competent individuals."

Platt said he maintained constant contact throughout the storms, during which crews here removed 7.4 million cubic yards of snow and cleared more than 100 downed trees.

"The bottom line is Cherry Hill services were operating at a high level because of the system I put in place as mayor," he said, before moving on to the center of the PR storm.

Keashen "told a reporter I was in Cherry Hill when I was not," Platt observed. "We have discussed this issue in great detail. I have decided he deserves an opportunity to redeem himself."

Councilman N. John Amato said, "Our support is with Dan because Dan is the voice of Cherry Hill.

"If you want to be political, call it a lie," Amato said. "I have to agree he misspoke."

Platt announced that from now on, a notice on the township Web site will announce when the mayor leaves the state for longer than a week. The notice also will identify the acting mayor.

During a series of interviews following Keashen's admission that he lied, township officials failed to disclose that township attorney Sherri Schweitzer had also been tapped as acting mayor for at least three days in February.

Platt said he hoped to turn the conversation back to the most pressing issue Cherry Hill faces, the economy. The mayor said he will host an April 6 town hall meeting on municipal finances at the Cherry Hill Public Library.

He then went on to issue proclamations praising the Department of Public Works and the township's first responders for their work during the storms.

Also honored was township resident Jamie Schmidt Sr., 36, who with his son rescued two teenagers who fell through the ice on Columbia Lake on Feb. 20.

Platt wasn't entirely successful in changing the topic.

Phil Guerrieri, a Republican who has run unsuccessfully for public office here several times, stood up to lambaste the handling of Keashen's comments.

"His statement was not a misstatement. It was a lie, and when you're in public service, lies cost you your job," he said.

Guerrieri also addressed council member.

"You all ran in different directions because we had a chief of staff that lied, and that lie should perhaps cost him his job," Guerrieri said.

Reach Jane Roh at (856) 486-2919 or jroh@gannett.com.

via Platt: Aide who lied deserves 2nd chance | courierpostonline.com | Courier-Post.

By Eileen Stilwell, Courier-Post Staff

Judy Spires, a Cherry Hill native who rose from grocery clerk to president of Acme Markets, announced her resignation Monday, effective Friday.

Spires is leaving for another company, but will not disclose where until next week, said a spokeswoman for SUPERVALU, the parent company of Acme.
Pete Van Helden, executive vice president of retail operations for the parent company, will assume her duties until a replacement is named.

The daughter of an Acme bread truck driver, Spires began her career with the company as a clerk in 1970.

She was named 2008 "Person of the Year" by the Mid-Atlantic Food Trades Organization and one of the Top 50 Women in Grocery by Progressive Grocer magazine. Spires also received the prestigious 2009 Paradigm Award from the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

"I will miss working with the many dedicated and talented people at Acme and wish the team the very best as they continue to work hard to grow the business," said Spires in a printed statement.

Based in Malvern, Pa., Acme operates 124 stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland, employing more than 16,000 people.

via Acme president announces departure | courierpostonline.com | Courier-Post.

Edward Demski, 44, was charged with driving while intoxicated, assault with auto and other offenses after an incident that allegedly began around 1 a.m. Monday.

Police said Demski, who had stopped to allow a man to enter his car on Walnut Avenue, backed up toward an officer who was approaching on foot. The officer was not injured.

Police then pursued Demski's vehicle to Lawrence, Mercer County, where it crashed and its occupants were arrested, authorities said. The passenger, Richard Collins, 24, of Trenton, was charged with resisting arrest.

via Cherry Hill man faces auto-related charges | courierpostonline.com | Courier-Post.

Lunch & a Movie for Seniors featuring the film "Pocketful of Miracles"
March 19, 2010 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Croft Farm Arts Center, 100 Borton's Mill Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034

Pocketful of Miracles is the story of Apple Annie (Bette Davis), a poor, New York City street vendor whose daughter (Ann Margret) only knows her through letters. When Annie's daughter announces her engagemnet to the son of a Spanish Count, Annie knows she must conceal her true identity. With the help of bootlegging mobster (Glenn Ford), Annie becomes a New York socialite worthy of audience with a count.

This lovely afternoon includes lunch, coffee and dessert before the film.

Tickets cost just $3 in advance or $5 at the door.

Coffee is donated by Melitta.

To purchase tickets, please download a form or contact the Cherry Hill Arts Board at 856-661-4810 or email Arts@CHTownship.com.

Cherry Hill High School Eat held a Wing Bowl in February to raise money for Haitian relief efforts.

The school also welcomed guest Bill "El Wingador" Simmons to the event.

The high school's student newspaper, Eastside Online, recently posted these videos from the event.

View the YouTube videos of the the event (above) and click here to read more about the event on the Eastside Online Web site.

via YouTube - MTV's Jersey Shore Cast member J Woww Party in Cherry Hill New Jersey.

DENISE HENHOEFFER/Courier-Post

While the region's public school districts struggle with cuts in state aid that could affect programs and property taxes, the Camden Diocese has been changing how its schools operate to retain current students and attract new ones despite a bleak economy.

With the source of funding shifting from parishes to parents, community members are creating policy that can help schools grow. As parishes continue to merge throughout the diocese since Bishop Joseph Galante's 2008 call for fewer, more vibrant Catholic communities, schools are following suit.

Read the rest of this article at: Catholic schools work to boost enrollment | courierpostonline.com | Courier-Post.

Food, Energy, and Mood Swings
Men generally use up more energy than women because they're more active. Food is something they consume in large quantities because it gives them the energy they need to get through the day. It allows them to play sports, perform house chores, play with the kids, and do their job.

Eating the wrong food, however, wouldn't be able to give them the energy they need. Rather, they'll get the opposite: foods high in fats and oils, for instance, will give them a weaker heart. They're also prone to anxiety and irritability and definitely more liable to suffer from mood swings.

Diagnosing Mood Swings in Men
Although there are more women overall who suffer from mood swings, the pendulum actually swings to the other direction upon reaching middle age. By that time, only 25% of females suffer from mood swings compared to 40% with men. One reason for this, perhaps, is due to the absence of professional diagnosis. Mood swings and consequently depression in men are rarely detected early; statistically speaking, it takes about a decade and 3 health professionals before a proper diagnosis is achieved.

There are three good reasons why mood swings in men aren't detected early.

Firstly, the symptoms of mood swings and depression in men are quite different from the symptoms suffered by women with the same condition. Secondly, men are less inclined to speak of their condition and their male colleagues are equally unlikely to ask for explanations. Last but not the least, sexual problems may be one of the common reasons for depression and mood swings but men rarely acknowledge its existence, much less admitting it to be a cause of their condition.

Symptoms of Mood Swings in Men
When men suffer from mood swings, they're likely to display one or more of the symptoms listed below.

Unreasonable Censure
Men could consider their mood swings inexplicable but because of their nature, they will do their best to find a reason for it. Unless theyíve been properly diagnosed, they're liable to blame others for their mood swings. Now, if there's absolutely no other person to blame for their condition then men would usually resort to blaming themselves.

Anger and Irritability
Mood swings also make people more irritable and quicker to anger than usual. Mood swings are exhausting because it requires you to feel more than usual. One moment youíre happy, the next moment you're down, and feeling like this several times a day certainly wonít make anyone feel good.

Creating and Avoiding Conflict
Mood swings make men feel unbalanced and unable to control their emotions. Because of this, they are more prone to create or avoid conflict, depending on the situation. If they feel they're unable to cope with a problem then they're likely to sweep it under the rug rather than face it head on. Then again, they can choose to alleviate their frustrations by creating conflicts instead.

Poor Sleeping Habits
Last but not the least, sleep is also affected by mood swings. Men could seek sleep excessively in order to avoid mood swings. On the other hand, men could also suffer from sleep deprivation because of mood swings.

Go to www.moodswingsremedy.com to get a FREE copy of The 3 Worst Mood Escalating Foods eBook!

In the ongoing battle between Verizon and Comcast for customers, Verizon rolled out a new incentive Monday that trades qualified orders for cash gifts to nonprofit organizations.

Under the program, called Verizon Velocity, new customers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware may earn donations of up to $65 to their favorite nonprofit group that enrolls in the program.

Verizon will double the donation up to a maximum of $130 for new orders prior to May 31.

To qualify, orders must consist of new sales -- not upgrades -- that remain in the billing system for at least 30 days from the date of purchase.

For more information, visit www.verizon.com/velocity.