Be sure to join me, Jumpin’ Zach Flash, for Central New York’s Greatest Hits every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Here are some things you may not know about me. My favorite musician is John Lennon (this explains my round glasses—it's NOT because I am a Harry Potter fan). My favorite John Lennon song has to be “Give Peace a Chance.” My favorite Beatles songs are “Don’t Let Me Down” and “Come Together.” My hobby is photography, and you can see a lot of my work right here on this website—search “Zach’s Weekly Snaps” to check out my photos.
Jumpin' Zach Flash
Did You Know it’s National Park Week?
That's right. This week is a time to celebrate our national parks as part of National Park Week from April 20-28, 2013. Here's something that I learned while researching National Park Week--there are 401 national parks, according to the National Park Service website. That's pretty amazing. And, after doing a little bit more research, we have a national park right in our own backyard. Do you know w
Zach’s Favorite Cute Animal Videos in Honor of National Pet Month
It's April. And, if you're a person who loves your pet, it's a very special month. The month of April is National Pet Month. It's a time to appreciate your four-legged friends and show your pet a little bit more kindness (or, extra treats). So, in honor of National Pet Month, I thought I would compile my favorite cute animal videos from the web. If you're looking for cuteness overload, you're in t
Zach’s Car Reaches Milestone
On a cold, 36 degree, spring morning, my car reached a milestone, which usually only happens once in a car's lifetime. My car's mileage has reached 123,456. Not only am I happy that I caught the moment right when it happened (I had to pullover and take the picture), I'm extremely happy my Toyota has lasted so long.
Vegan Food from Around the World – Culture Fest: A Festival of Nations
Finding food in America that is 100 percent vegan can be a bit of a challenge. There's a lot of looking at labels to make sure there is no hidden dairy, meat, eggs or fish in the food. I've been a vegan for well over 5 years, so, I have become somewhat of an expert at finding food that is vegan. In some places around the world, people eat an almost fully vegetarian diet. And, it's this food from t
The Indie Garage Sale–A Great Place to Find Unique Items
If you don't like to get your friends and family gifts from big box stores, The Indie Garage Sale is the perfect place to shop. When I go, I find the coolest stuff. For example, at the last Indie Garage Sale (the Holiday 2012 sale), I bought a fork bracelet. Yes, a bracelet made from a fork! Who knew that even existed? There are tons of unique items at great prices at the annual Indie Garage Sale.
Local Summer Farmers Market Takes Root at New Location; Begins in May
I am a huge fan of farmers markets. I have been to many farmers markets stretching from Utica to Rochester, and everywhere in between. It's always a good day when there is time to stop at a farmers market. And, speaking of a good time to go to a farmers market--mark your calendars for Sunday, May 19 because that's when the Westmorland Summer Farmers Market begins, according to the market's Facebo
This Month: Celebrate Frozen Food
The freezer...it's a wonderful invention, don't you think? You can keep food frozen for months and still be able to eat it as if you just bought it. I freeze everything from garlic cloves to fruit, to herbs and even flour. Every morning, I use a few frozen strawberries for my smoothie. So, it's safe to say that the freezer and frozen food has made our lives easier, right? Let's celebrate! All this
Remember to Check Your Batteries
Daylight Saving Time (3/10 at 2 a.m.) is fast approaching. And, in addition to changing your clocks, there is a "holiday" that coincides with Daylight Saving Time--it's Check Your Batteries Day, which happens on the second Sunday of March every year. No, it's not a day to remember to change the TV remote batteries (however, you can do that, too), it's a day to check to make sure those sm
How Much Gas is Left Until the Tank is Really Empty?
So, do you know how much gas is left in the tank when the low fuel light turns on? For those of us with older cars, we have to kind of guess how much longer we can drive before the car just stops from lack of gas. For those lucky people with a car that tells you how much you have left when the gas light comes on, you still might find this post interesting, especially if you are a passenger in an o
Vegan Recipes For St. Patrick’s Day–Our Tasty Treats For St. Patty’s Day 2013
Valentine's Day is over, and that means St. Patrick's Day is almost knocking on the door. What do you do for St. Patrick's Day? Have a party? Eat traditional Irish food? Wear your favorite green shirt? All of the above? Today, I'd like to focus on the food many people eat on St. Patrick's Day. There's corned beef and cabbage, Irish soda bread and different kinds of stews. What is a vegan to do on
Something All Food Labels Should Have
If you're someone who has a special dietary need, you know how difficult it is finding the right food. There's gluten free, vegan, dairy free, low sodium, low fat, soy free and wheat free--to name a few. I'm vegan. That means I don't eat meat, dairy products, eggs or fish. So, when I go to the grocery store, I look at almost every food label for the ingredients before I buy it. Anyone with a speci
DIY Exercise Ball Office Chair
Whether you call it an exercise ball, a fitness ball, a yoga ball or a balance ball, we have all seen it at the gym. People exercise and stretch on it. But, how many people do you know use an exercise ball as an office chair? An exercise ball office chair not only helps your posture, but it has the capability of strengthening your core muscles, all while sitting. Thanks to some help from the Inter