http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/new-jersey/allentown/ Allentown, NJ News http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/new-jersey/allentown/content/19540937628f0d4d5dd6a839956c9671.html School will be starting in September 2010 that is http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/new-jersey/allentown/content/8d3360ddc8a43410cd704facf029c77c.html There's no way around it We have to eat to survive But rising food prices are putting a pinch on people's pocketbooks WFMZ's Joscelyn Moes has the story http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/new-jersey/allentown/content/a2b8e139a2502fb215559cdf39474d13.html If the weather and attendance for Friday's opening was any indication there will be plenty of big balloons great music and family entertainment to fill your weekend as the Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning continues today and Sunday at Solberg AirportAll signs point to a great weekendsaid event organizer Howard Freeman The Galaxy of Thrills with Galaxy Girl is drawing great crowds and the family activities and rides are having great attendance for this early on a FridayFreeman said the NASA Exploration Experience is already a favorite Walk into the NASA exhibit and help design and build a video game moon base Then move into a 360degree video screened room and take a simulated starfilled launch to the moon landing at and exploring the base you just helped designYou can touch an actual moon rock brought back by Apollo 17 and get a photo postcard of your face in a NASA spacesuit on MarsIt was cool; I liked the room with all the starssaid Melissa Sweeney 9 of HillsboroughTouching the real moon rock was absolutely incrediblesaid her brother Tim Sweeney 11 I'll probably never get to touch one againOn Friday kids got to meet astronaut Garrett Reisman the Parsippany native who just returned in June after three months aboard the International Space StationWearing his NASA blue space suit over a New York Yankees Tshirt Reisman signed autographs for kids of all agesI've never been in a hot air balloon actually I'm a little afraid of heightsReisman jokedI miss the floating and the flying aroundReisman said of his trip into space But there's so many wonderful things about being back home with my familyIf you bring your family to the festival you can't miss the amusement rides as soon as you enter the airport groundsYou'll find booths with gifts souvenirs food and all sorts of attractions and entertainment And when you need rest pull up a hay bale at one of the shady tents or enjoy the Quick Chek QC Corral's live entertainment and refreshmentsBut it is a balloon festival so let's talk balloonsBalloon rides only go up at 6:30 am and 6:30 pm when the wind is most calmBut sign up well in advance or you'll miss your chance The ride lasts about an hour weather permitting and goes as far as the wind takes youMark Moyer of Allentown Pa decided to surprise Julie Purkiss of Clinton Town by taking her to the balloon festival but he didn't mention he booked a flightI knew she always wanted to go so I surprised herMoyer saidI was tethered to a balloon at camp years ago but it didn't really countPurkiss said I'm really excitedThe popular balloons this year are the Star Wars'30th anniversary Darth Vader balloon and Arky the Noah's Ark balloon with 28 animal riders Then there's the Quick Chek Fresh Farm giant red barn balloon with silo farmer and barnyard animalsMusic is always a high note and this year is no exception This afternoon enjoy Disney's latest pop star Demi Lovato and tonight Bad Company's Paul Rodgers rocks the field complete with the annual display of glowing balloons And on Sunday there's the new Menudo and longtime favorite Kenny LogginsThe best plan is to go to the Web site at balloonfestivalcom and plan out your attack of what you want to seeFreeman said If you come out and get bored you're not trying hard enough http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/new-jersey/allentown/content/ddb0006d73920b668c0c881f03d57135.html More than two years ago Mark Kotch got the idea to put solar panels on the roof to cut the electricity costs for his large Oceanport home http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/new-jersey/allentown/content/598b26b931ddd59b170fef27d806f9df.html It took eight fire companies a little more than an hour to put out a fiery blaze inside a garage with several cans of gasoline inside fire officials said Four firefighters suffered minor injuries http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/new-jersey/allentown/content/c8de5ecb653aa996182ea78f6deb938c.html For the past two decades the Statewide Parent Advocacy Network has toiled over the serious business of improving education therapies and health care options for children with disabilities http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/new-jersey/allentown/content/0d3346bda8e7eb29890ce3cf67a41c5a.html ALLENTOWN Pa AP Two men have been ordered to stand trial in a triple homicide in Easton Pennsylvania last fall that authorities have said was gangrelated http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/new-jersey/allentown/content/da3793f805b6cc70e74007913d2d7339.html After years of stagnation recycling is regaining momentum but many people towns and others need to step up their efforts according to experts