he surrounding Mount Holly area is one of the most historic parts of the region. The town is very small, with right around 10,000 residents, but makes up for it with it’s rich history. There is so much history in Mount Holly it is easy to walk right by and not even realize what you are looking at. Below are the main historic attractions in Mount Holly, NJ.

Mount Holly was first Colonial History and European settlements

It is marked as the first settlement of Europeans in America formed in 1677 by acquiring land from the Native Americans. A dam was constructed on Rancocas Creek generating power for saw and grist mill. A hand dug mill was constructed by Edward Gaskill and his son in second decade of 1700 attracting many settlers with 250 dwellings. There are no mills today but the mill land is still conserved as Mill Dam Park.

Legacy Battle of Iron Works Hill is reenacted annually

It is also commonly known as Battle of Mount Holy and took place during American War of Independence which lasted from December 22–23 1776, resulting in tactical victory of Britain and strategic victory of Americans. It was fought between 600 American militants and 2000 Hessian and English troops. The hill was then occupied by US commander Samuel Griffin, now located at Iron Works Park and the legacy is reenacted here every year – an amazing thing to experience.

First Presbyterian Church was a Renaissances’ congregational space

Traces of Renaissance are still alive in Mount Holly and are reflected through First Presbyterian Church. It was a congregational space for the locals founded in 1839 but congregation occurred 70 years ago from the official founding. It was expanded in 1845 including office, classroom and gymnasium spaces.

Burlington County Prison was a rehab and is now haunted

It was a prison operated from 1811 through 1965 and was designed to provide rehabilitation psychological well-being to prisoners by renowned architect Robert Mills. It was known as one of the oldest operational prisons of US in 1965. It has been now converted into a museum operated by Prison Museum Association – an NPO. This prison has a legend – they say that it is haunted by a tall male dressed in a uniform and the third floor has reported paranormal activities. Exciting – Isn’t it?

Climate change is an undeniable and devastating consequence of excessive carbon emissions, and has been a hot topic in the environmental science and political realms for decades now. The rapid decline of our environment has accelerated the need to find new, sustainable forms of energy, and one of those solutions is solar energy.

Solar energy is power that is generated from the conversion of sunlight to thermal or electric energy. It is the most abundant and cleanest source of renewable energy, but it also is the most expensive. And while it’s not an immediate and definite solution to all of our energy needs, it does have some undeniably good qualities that make it superior to traditional, nonrenewable sources of energy.

Pros:

Sustainable– The most obvious upside to using solar energy is that it is the only truly renewable source of energy, and has the potential to play a large part in the future of energy production. While fossil fuels are limited, dwindling, and harmful, solar energy offers a safer, more environmentally-friendly, and more efficient alternative for harnessing energy to sustain life on earth. Integrating solar energy into our world allows us the opportunity to slow down global warming, and takes away our dependence on harvesting the limited and precious supply of naturally occurring elements of the earth.

Versatile– Solar energy is becoming more and more common, and as it gains popularity and becomes more mainstream, its applications only become more versatile and functional. Fitting seamlessly into our lives are specially-designed solar panels that can be attached to our roofs, taking a national dream to an individual reality, and empowering the public to make personal choices that better the environment. Unlike fossil fuels, sunlight cannot be monopolized. A sense of independence and stewardship is encouraged, and solar energy also provides a sense of energy security as a result.

Money saver– Solar energy is also a great money saver for the households that take advantage of it. Using solar energy as opposed to traditional forms of energy can save you tens of thousands of dollars in heating, cooling, and gas bills.

Job creation– The solar energy industry also creates more jobs for people than other forms of energy. Called a “job-creating powerhouse,” more jobs are available in the solar energy industry than in the coal or natural gas industries.

Cons:

Expensive– Although solar energy can save money in the long run, it is also the most expensive form of sustainable energy. The financial benefits of solar energy can take years to realize, and require a significant amount of initial capital.

Unpredictable– One of the most obvious drawbacks of solar energy are that by nature, it does not provide a consistent and stable production of power. Because it relies on sunlight, solar energy output can decrease during periods of cloudy skies or at night. The unpredictability of solar energy makes it difficult to for it to be used as a dependable source of energy.

Disruptive to the environment– One of the only other drawbacks of using solar energy is that it requires a large amount of space, invading and disrupting the land’s local wildlife.

The advantages of solar energy clearly outweigh the drawbacks, and they give us hope for a brighter, cleaner, more efficient future. Finding new renewable sources of sustainable energy is an evolving process, and as we look to the future of energy production, it becomes more and more obvious that the use of fossil fuels simply cannot sustain life on earth indefinitely. Solar energy is a great alternative that must be considered to have any hope of reversing the effects of global warming.

There are many things in life that can cause stress, anxiety, and even fear in our daily lives. The feeling of dread, an overwhelming feeling of helplessness, or loss of motivation can be signs that you suffer from anxiety. (Of course, consult a doctor before diagnosing yourself with any form of mental illness.) But even if you just find yourself feeling anxious or unable to escape from the pressures of everyday life, then you might be looking for ways to alleviate some stress. Luckily, there are plenty of apps out there that can help you do just that. Let’s talk about the top apps on the market right now that can help you ease your anxiety. The best part? They’re all completely free.

1. Headspace– This app is a great tool that will help you to train your brain to cope with general anxiety and stress. Guided meditation on-the-go, mindfulness techniques, and anxiety tips will help you be more aware of what triggers your anxiety and walk you through managing it. Headspace also offers tutorials that help you through problem areas of your life, teaching you to be more mindful, aware, and proactive, as you apply what you’ve learned in everyday life.
2. HelloMind– HelloMind is a great app for those who learn best by listening. This app works by providing guided meditation through audio and voice guidance. This app would function as a great stress-reliever for commuters, because it can easily be listened to while driving. The app helps you work through stress, instills a sense of calm, and even gives you advice on how to manage your stress more effectively. Listening to the app earns you points, so there’s also an incentive to stick with it.
3. Moods– This app works by using a mood tracker to gauge your feelings as they fluctuate on a daily basis. All you have to do is input your current mood, and over time, the app will learn about you in order to give you accurate, customized feedback. You can track your moods, get tips on how to lift your mood, and more!
4. Self-Help for Anxiety Management– This app takes a unique approach to anxiety management because users become a part of a community that can offer support and guidance through anxiety-related troubles. The app offers guided meditation, an anxiety tracking tool, and interactive features that can help you to refine the mental and physical reactions you have to certain life events.
5. Sleep Time– Sleep Time helps you curb your anxiety by solving one of its biggest offenders: lack of sleep. Sleep Time ensures that you get not only more sleep each night, but better quality sleep. Let your mind and body be coaxed into sleep by listening to relaxing sounds, and track your sleep to make sure you’re getting the best out of each night. The app also offers a workout schedule for those who wish to also get the most out of their day as well!
6. What’s Up?– This app will help those who wish to tackle the things that trigger their anxiety, as well as the reactions their body has during an episode of extreme anxiety. It offers anxiety management, guided rational thinking, and how to deal with fear and anxiety under stressful situations.
7. Anxiety Free– This app works by using self-hypnosis techniques to equip you with the skills necessary to overcome extreme stress or anxiety. Each 90 minute lesson will teach you about how to deal with stress, how to manage your anxiety, and how to avoid putting yourself in a scenario that is likely to cause an anxiety or panic attack. Think of the lessons like TED Talks for your mind!
8. Inner Balance– Inner Balance is another great app for understanding, reducing, and managing your anxiety. The app takes a physical health approach, recognizing that mental reactions are often highly correlated to a physical one. The app works by syncing with a sensor that monitors your heart and other vitals. It not only records this information, but suggests what you can do to improve concentration and focus, and get your body and mind back on track for a healthier life.

 

Have you tried any of these great anxiety apps? Let us know in the comments below!

In a world ruled by technology, the written word has taken a backseat when it comes to the communication and sharing of stories and information. While the benefits  of technology far outweigh its drawbacks, living in a tech-savvy world has no doubt created a culture of instant gratification, and has even directly led to shorter attention spans. It’s no surprise that as a result, traditional reading has fallen to the wayside.

What if we told you that putting down the smartphone and picking up the paperback could actually make you a smarter, more creative, and happier version of you? That’s exactly what can happen when you give your brain a break from its usual bombardment of technology, and relax with a good book. Here are some of the best benefits of reading and why it’s so important.

1. Increase your attention span. If the last piece of literature you can remember reading was a 140-character tweet, then listen up. Reading can actually improve your concentration and ability to focus, as well as sharpen your ability to comprehend what you’re reading. If you’ve ever found yourself feeling distracted or bored while reading even the smallest of magazine articles, jumping to bolded text, or skipping to the end for a summary, then you probably suffer from a shorter attention span as a result of technology. While getting just the most crucial parts out of whatever information you’re given can be a useful skill to possess, you face missing all the interesting things in between. Reading can help you power through that feeling and resist the urge to rush through the words.
2. Reduce stress. Reading can be a great way to wind down at the end of the day and reduce any stress that may have been building. If anything, getting lost in a good book can remove you from the stresses of life, and temporarily provide an escape from the many responsibilities of life.
3. Expand your vocabulary. Of course, we all remember those treacherous high school years that were filled with studying outlandish vocab words in hopes of acing the SAT’s, but expanding your vocabulary naturally through reading can be an even more effective way to expose yourself to new words. Encountering new words “in the wild,” so to speak, is a challenging yet more effective way to broaden your mind. Because you get to experience them in context, they are more memorable and powerful than simply memorizing the dictionary. The point is, learning new words doesn’t have to be a boring process; it can actually be extremely empowering and exciting. Incorporating new words into your speech throughout the day will not only make you sound smarter, but it will garner you more respect among your peers as well.
4. Connect with others. Readers who consider themselves to be “loners” often describe a feeling of inclusion through sharing a favorite book with someone else. You don’t have to part of a traditional or literal book club to experience this, either. Just discussing a new book with a stranger can be a weirdly comforting feeling, and can make you feel closer to others. If anything, a good book (or an equally as memorable dreadful one) can be a great conversation starter!
5. Encourage your imagination and be more creative. Reading has the ability to make you feel more creative, and it can even make you feel like a child again. Submerging your mind into a compelling and engaging read can feel a lot like being transported to another world. Experiencing the plot of the book and empathizing with others can be a huge source of inspiration and can make you more in tune to others’ feelings.

There are plenty of mental and health benefits to reading that can help you actually become a better version of yourself. What are your favorite things about reading?

Whether you’re a serial nail biter, cigarette smoker, knuckle-cracker, or chronic procrastinator, you’ve probably realized that your bad habit has a negative impact on your life. Breaking a bad habit can feel like an impossible task that only gets harder the more that you focus on it, but it doesn’t have to be. If you’ve tried breaking your habit in the past and found it difficult to follow through, try these helpful tips!

Before you can begin to change your behavior, ask yourself why it happens. Why do you bite your nails? Is there an event that triggers this behavior? Does it happen under stress or when you’re bored? Finding out what causes your bad habit will allow you to change or eliminate the triggers or environments that allow for them to happen.

The next thing you want to do is make a physical written list all the reasons why you want to change your behavior. Pinpointing exactly why you want to make these changes can help to solidify in your mind why you’re doing this and how getting rid of the habit can improve the quality of your life. These can be as general or as specific as you want, as long as you remain honest with yourself. For example, while fixing your tendencies of procrastination could cut down on anxiety, ultimately, it may also improve your attendance at work. Hone in on what exactly is most important to you so that you can keep your goals personal and relevant to you.

Now that you’ve identified what triggers your bad habit and why you want to improve your behavior, start a journal that will log your progress for the course of your journey. This journal should log all of the days you successfully abandoned the old habit, but it should also include all the little setbacks and hiccups along the way. The important thing is to not get frustrated with your progress—changing a habit is a process that may take some time. Check in with yourself every week and take note of what you need to work on in the future to make it easier to find out what has helped you be successful or kept you from doing so.

Now you’re ready to take some action towards breaking that habit. The best way to make this as easy as possible is to find a new, nondestructive behavior to put in its place. This “replacement habit” will help to make you conscious of every instance the behavior happens and make it easier for you to overcome it. By replacing the old habit, you can trick yourself into redirecting your energy from a negative behavior into a positive one.

Having something to do in its place will help keep your mind off the old behavior, as well as give you the benefit of creating an entirely new activity or task in its place. For example, what if every time you were about to smoke a cigarette, you ate a piece of fruit? It seems silly, but replacing the behavior altogether with a healthier alternative will make you more inclined to stick with it. Once you’ve chosen a good replacement behavior, make it easier to follow through with your new habit by setting yourself up for success. One way you might do this is by keeping a bag of grapes on hand so that it’s easier to reach for the fruit and you have no other excuses!

Another thing you can do is penalize yourself every time you revert back to the old behavior. Find something small that causes you mild discomfort and take that action each time you have a slip-up. Some people recommend keeping a rubber band around your wrist throughout the day and snapping it gently when you find yourself violating your goal of breaking the habit. Find something that works for you, and as long as it’s something you truly dislike, it will discourage the negative behavior from continuing.

The most important part of bouncing back from a slip-up is identifying what caused you to revert back to your old ways. Penalizing yourself only goes so far, but the key is to figure what you can do to eliminate it from happening in the future. Remember to log these in your progress journal so that you can keep track of your journey more closely and use it to your advantage. All of these things are ways that have been proven to break just about any bad behavior, and as long as you’re serious about the process, you will see results.

Located just east of Mount Holly, NJ, Eastampton Township is a quiet place that holds a lot of history. But that doesn’t mean the exciting hustle and bustle of the town is long in the past—in fact, there are plenty of things to do in and around the Eastampton Township area that can turn any mundane afternoon into a memorable one.

Planned Events

Eastampton Township’s Recreation Committee has planned and scheduled events for the community for years—but they’ve recently stepped up their game. They’ve got every season jam-packed with fun activities for any adventurous group or friends, family, or simply a spontaneous solo outing. In the Spring, the town has an Easter Magic Show that is sure to widen eyes and impress young minds. Summertime is complete with a fishing tournament and a Movies in the Park night that brings the community together. Last fall, people of all ages enjoyed a skating party, a seasonally-appropriate hayride and bonfire night, trunk-or-treat for the kids, karate for youth and adults, and of course, Eastampton Day. Got the winter blues? The township also has a day of pictures with Santa and a Holiday Tree Lighting at the Manor House for the whole family.

Eastampton Day

Eastampton Day is an all-day event complete with food, games, arts and crafts, face painting, moon bounce fun, an obstacle course, and live DJ music! Formerly known as “Fun Day,” the event takes place every fall and draws a crowd from all over town, ready to end the summer with a bang!

Places to Visit

Apart from the many planned activities and events that are held throughout the year, there’s also many places to go for good food, interesting sights, or a day out shopping.

1. Spellbound Brewing- Of course they have great beer, but we hear they also give free tours on the fly! Bring a group of friends and enjoy a night of some unique and tasty craft beers sure to liven things up.
2. Village Idiot Brewing Company- This brewery is another great stop if you’re looking for good drinks and a good time! Located in Mount Holly, this popular hot-spot is known for its friendly crowd and good service.
3. Mill Race Village Shops- The Mill Race Village Shops is a family-friendly destination that offers unique gift ideas and some fun seasonal events as well. January’s “Fire and Ice Festival” and a Halloween-themed “Witch’s Ball” are both big this!
4. Burlington County Prison Museum- This historic site gives an interesting look into the past as you’re free to roam the grounds of what was once a fully-functioning prison. Admission is affordable, tours are self-guided, and you can walk at your own pace through the spooky halls of the abandoned penitentiary.
5. The Village Quilter- This quaint shop has a huge selection of high quality fabrics, quilts, supplies, and classes to satisfy any quilter or crafter’s needs! Whether you’re looking for a new hobby, just starting out, or are a seasoned pro, this quilt shop has everything you need to create a wonderfully personal masterpiece or gift for friends and family.