Acclaimed Series Returns with New Episodes on Vimeo On Demand

Creators Katja Blichfeld & Ben Sinclair / Photo by Paul Kwiatkowski

 (November 11, 2014 | New York, NY) Today, Vimeo premieres a new round of episodes of married couple Katja Blichfeld and Ben Sinclairâ€s heralded seriesHigh Maintenance. Three new episodes are available now at HighMaintenance.tv, followed by another set of three in early 2015.

High Maintenance centers around a cannabis dealer known simply as “The Guy” (Sinclair) who slips in and out of the lives of his clients – an eclectic array of Brooklynites, ranging from a harried personal assistant buying weed for her boss to a misunderstood asexual magician.

The series marks Vimeoâ€s first foray into original programming with the six episodes launching exclusively on Vimeo On Demand. High Maintenancepreviously released thirteen episodes on Vimeo to the acclaim of The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Guardian and Entertainment Weekly, among others.

“Vimeo is dedicated to inspiring creators to share, publish and sell quality content worldwide,” said Kerry Trainor, Vimeo CEO. “Ben and Katja are amazing storytellers– thatâ€s why we invested in them and weâ€re excited to celebrate the new episodes released today with fans worldwide.

“Vimeo has given us the opportunity of a lifetime, said Katja Blichfeld. “It is a truly enviable position to be in as a creative professional,” added Sinclair. “It was incredible to have such a personal project supported by such a forward-thinking entity.”

The new episodes are available globally and have subtitles translated to German, French, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Hindi, and Japanese, enablingHigh Maintenance to reach a wider audience than ever before.

Episodes are available individually for $1.99/€1.59 each or $7.99/€6.49 for the entire series (including the three launching in January).

Blichfeld and Sinclair are represented by Gregory McKnight of CAA, Russell Gregory of Regarding Entertainment, and Kim Jaime of Jackoway Tyerman.

About Vimeo

Vimeo® is the high-quality video platform for creators and their audiences. Vimeoâ€s mission is to empower and inspire people around the world to create, share, and discover videos. Vimeo enables creators to sell original films and series worldwide through Vimeo On Demand, its open self-distribution platform. Vimeo has more than 30 million registered members and reaches a global monthly audience of over 170 million people. Founded in 2004 and based in New York City, Vimeo, LLC is an operating business of IAC (NASDAQ: IACI).

The post VIMEO ORIGINAL SERIES HIGH MAINTENANCE PREMIERES GLOBALLY , NOVEMBER 11th  first appeared on River View Observer.

   PADI and NAUI Professioal Divemaster and Assistant Instructor Roger J. Muller, Jr. takes his Daughters on a Trip to Remember

 

By Sally Deering

 

 Some families vacation in the mountains, some visit Floridaâ€s Disneyworld, but Roger J. Muller, Jr. of Hoboken, New Jersey, Professional Divemaster and Assistant Instructor who holds 80 PADI, NAUI, TDI, SDI and SSI certifications decided to give his daughters Kelsey, 19, and Taylor, 15, a trip to remember.  Muller took his daughters, who are also certified divers, aboard the Nautilus Explorer to Ensenada, Mexicoâ€s Guadalupe Island where they plunged 40 feet below the waterâ€s surface to observe the behavior of the mysterious Great White Sharks.

Muller chose the Nautilus Explorer, which takes small groups of scuba divers on unique diving expeditions to give his daughters a memorable vacation away from the daily demands of their busy lifestyles. Muller, a Certified Professional Insurance Agent oversees Muller Insurance, the family business, in Hoboken, and in his spare time serves as General Manager and Captain of the Hoboken Rockets Ice Hockey team; Kelsey is a sophomore studying economics at Harvard College in Cambridge and Taylor is a high school sophomore.

“Itâ€s a wonderful bonding experience,” Muller says. “They get the opportunity to see Great White Sharks in their natural habitat and learn about shark advocacy. Itâ€s also five days on a boat with no Internet access or cell phones to text boyfriends.”

Based in British Columbia, Canada, the Nautilus Explorer takes divers to the giant mantas and dolphins of Socorro Island and adventures into Alaska, British Columbia, the Sea of Cortez, the California Channel Islands, Baja California, San Benitos Island and Clipperton Atoll. Guadalupe Island is the top destination for Great White Shark encounters, says Jason Crabb, Director of Marketing for the Nautilus Explorer, and the best way to observe Great White Sharks is by descending into their world and interacting with them on their terms in a natural way. With four submersible aluminum cages that descend to 20-foot and 40-foot depths, the Nautilus Explorer takes divers down to where the sharks naturally travel and without chum to attract them the encounters between humans and sharks are an equal exchange of curiosity and respect.

Thatâ€s exactly the experience Kelsey and Taylor shared with their dad, who taught them how to dive in 2001, while training for his PADI Assistant Instructor certification. Muller trained his daughters to become certified divers in the familyâ€s backyard pool.

“They became my students,” Muller says. “Kelsey started at 6 and two days after she turned 10, she was the youngest to ever become a PADI Open Water Certified Diver.  At 12, she became the youngest Junior Master Scuba Diver, thatâ€s the highest non-professional rating that you can get. Taylor started at 5 and she now has 21 certifications including Master Scuba Diver.”

Muller says his daughters†training and his experience as a diver made it easy for him to take them on the Great White Shark diving expedition.

“My kids trust me when theyâ€re with me, they know Iâ€m looking after them,” Muller says. “We have spent years practicing. Scuba Diving is a dangerous sport. You need to respect the water and respect the things living in the water.”

At 19, Kelsey holds 38 diving certification, earning her Open Water Certification when she was 10 and her Junior Master Scuba Diver certification at 12. Witnessing the awe-inspiring presence of one of the worldâ€s greatest predators was a diving experience like no other. Kelsey says: “I felt rather small among them, as if we were the entertainment for them and not the other way around. While observing them from our cages, limited to the tiny expanse of water we could see around us, they had the vast oceans around them to explore and master.  I realized that no matter how long we observed them, we would probably never procure all the Great Whiteâ€s secrets; for they could simply disappear into the distance, nothing betraying their position but the reflection of the silver sun on the Pilot Fish that hung close to their sides.”

During their trip, Kelsey and her dad were together in one of the submersible cages with Kelsey shooting video and Muller, who is also a PADI Digital Photography Instructor, taking photographs. At one point Muller stuck his head out between the bars of the cage just as a Great White Shark passed by – his head just inches from the sharkâ€s mouth, which startled but didnâ€t surprise Kelsey one bit.

“My most exciting moment was when my dad stuck his head outside the cage and the shark came in touching distance and he didnâ€t know it was there,” Kelsey recalls. “Iâ€m pointing to dad to turn around and he turned around and made a face like ‘uh-ohâ€.”

Of course, it all turned out alright; the Great White Shark kept on passing through and both Muller and Kelsey have photos and video footage of the experience.

“The power of these creatures has frightened even the strongest of men, yet here we are looking them square in the eyes, like equals,” Kelsey says. “I learned that the Great Whites are ferocious, yet magnificent creatures, which inspires me to learn more about the world and the sea, if not myself.”

From the moment she entered the submersible cages that plunged 40 feet below the waterâ€s surface Taylor says she was filled with excitement. She has gone on many diving adventures with her dad and sister, but this experience was over the top.

“It really is a trip to talk about,” Taylor says. ““I never thought I would be able to go five days without a phone or the Internet but as each day goes by you forget more and more about the outside world, These memories will be with me forever and I plan to tell my children about my remarkable trip that brought me to Guadalupe Island to dive with Great White Sharks and the even better experience I had during my stay on the Nautilus Explorer.”

Nautilus Explorer makes 18 trips per season, from the end of July to the middle of November, which is the season of the sharks†migration to Guadalupe Islandâ€s warmer waters to feed on the massive Sea Lion colony that lives there. They also go there to mate. Very little is known about the mating rituals of the Great White Shark. Thereâ€s still a large mystery looming over these species and the Nautilus Explorer regularly takes groups of scientists to Guadalupe Island to unravel those mysteries. The Nautilus Explorerâ€s aim is to raise awareness of the beauty and peacefulness of Great White Sharks and to remove the fear factor typically associated with the mention of their name.

“Itâ€s a fantastic bonding experience for families,” Crabb says. “You have to teach children at an early age to be advocates for conservation and push their parents to help as much as they can for the plight of the sharks. Now is the time we need action. The shark population is dwindling and we need more advocates.Last year we counted over 109 unique sharks off Guadalupe Island and we see the same sharks returning. We just took pictures of a new shark, a big shark, very old. Thatâ€s exciting when a newcomer is on the block.”

Captain Mike Lever of the Nautilus Explorer and his wife Mary Anne established the Guadalupe Conservation Fund and work closely with the Mexican Navy and the Mexican Environmental Agency CONANP to help ongoing research on Great White Sharks as well as to observe and report illegal shark fishing off Guadalupe Island. The owners of the Nautilus Explorer went as far as buying a twin engine aircraft which they donate the use of to the Mexican Park service.

Shark conservationist and activist Alisa Schwartz recently returned from her third trip to Guadalupe Island. She was 11 when she began diving with her dad, a former Navy Seal, and since then she has gone on to work with Shark Angels, a non-profit advocacy group based in New York and 333 Productions, a documentary film company in Exeter, Rhode Island, which recently won an award from the Cousteau family for a 90-second film they made for Jacques Cousteauâ€s 100^th birthday.

Sharks are critical to healthy marine eco-systems,” Schwartz says. “Iâ€ve been diving since Iâ€m 11 and Iâ€m 51 now and I can see first-hand what weâ€re doing to our oceans – pollution, over-fishing, climate change and the killing of sharks for their fins for shark fin soup. Sharks protect the coral reefs, they eat the weak and the sick and it keeps the reefs healthy. We have other problems with the oceans, sharks are not the be all, but if you take the shark, an apex predator, out of that equation, we donâ€t know what the effects will be and we donâ€t want to know. This will be a scary thing.”

Educating children about the importance of sharks and the survival of our oceans is critical, Schwartz says.

“I work with Project Aware doing beach clean ups and library programs for kids. Iâ€m always emphasizing the importance of the ocean, its majesty and my main focus is to try to dispel the scariness about sharks,” Schwartz says. “Children are the future. They need to learn early on to take charge of their world and when they learn of the sharks’ plight, they’re all over it. I have been diving with them since I was 11 and I’m still here to tell the tales.”

Mullerâ€s vacation with Kelsey and Taylor is the perfect example of parents educating their children about shark conservancy that inspires them to become advocates. Schwartz says: “Instead of taking his daughters to Disneyworld or a mountain retreat, he took them to see endangered species in their natural habitat no holds barred.”

Kelsey and Taylor say they had a thrilling time diving with the Great White Sharks and for both girls, it is an event they will remember the rest of their lives – although itâ€s very likely the girls and their dad will be taking more exciting diving trips in the future.

“My dad is a real adventurer,” Kelsey says, “and thatâ€s rubbed off on me. Heâ€s inspired me to want to go out there and see the world and not be afraid to do things other people wonâ€t do.”

Sally Deering is an arts and culture writer. She resides in Weehawken, New Jersey.

She can be reached at:

201-667-3636

SallyDeer@aol.com

www.SallyDeering.com

 

Roger J. Muller, Jr. can be reached in Hoboken, New Jersey at:

 201-803-9091

Roger@MullerInsurance.com

www.mullerinsurance.com

 

 

Three photos attached

 

 

 

 

The post Dad and Daughters take Family Vacation Diving with Great White Sharks first appeared on River View Observer.

A River View Observer best pick” Ebook”

about –A girl’s life in a Brooklyn Orphanage and the journey she takes  to find her way home.

To read this book go to www.amazon.com/dp/BOO4QOAY7K

 or http://www.bn.com and download your copy for $2.99

The post Award Wining Writer Sally Deering’s First Novella, “The Apple that fell from the Orange Tree” Now Available on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com first appeared on River View Observer.

“River View Observer Best Pick Developers for Jersey City.” 

Brothers Eric Silverman and Paul Silverman have been developing real estate in Jersey City since 1981, but they are not ordinary developers. While others are making a splash building modern skyscrapers and luxury condos on the waterfront, the Silverman brothers have spent the last three decades quietly transforming former warehouses into mixed-use buildings, schools into residences and abandoned storefronts into fashionable shops throughout Jersey City.

The brothers founded SILVERMAN, now the foremost developer of mixed-use residential buildings, historic landmarks and creative retail destinations in Jersey City, and today serve as a major engine behind the city’s revitalization. The company provides affordable and market-rate housing options to the greater community of Jersey City while building family oriented neighborhoods and supporting local retailers.

 “We are very proud to have witnessed the growth of Jersey City through our residential, commercial and retail developments,” said Paul Silverman, a principal at SILVERMAN. “We are committed to further restoring and advancing Jersey City while preserving its history and unique charm.”

A prime example of SILVERMAN’s development style is Hamilton Square (www.livingonthepark.com), a 124-unit premier adaptive reuse and new construction loft and condo development in the historic Hamilton Park neighborhood.  Hamilton Square is designed to combine a modern and industrial aesthetic, while offering luxurious loft living spaces with exquisite views of the Manhattan skyline and greenery of Hamilton Park. 

 To accommodate the needs of Hamilton Square residents, SILVERMAN sought out a strong balance of retailers to occupy the commercial spaces. SILVERMAN takes pride in addressing the wants and needs of buyers today and builds amenity-oriented neighborhoods to fit their residents’ lifestyles.

RETAIL AT HAMILTON SQUARE INCLUDES:

• Antheia Floral Design (www.antheia.net) provides beautiful floral design for weddings, events and parties of all budgets and tastes.

 Art House Productions (www.arthouseproductions.org) inspires, nurtures, and promotes the arts in Jersey City’s community through events and programming.

 Downtown Coop (www.downtowncoop.com) is a supermarket that will feature affordable, high-quality, sustainable, locally sourced food products. It is slated to open in 2011.

 Hamilton Health and Fitness (www.hamiltonhealthandfitness.com) features an indoor lap pool, the newest in cardio and weight training equipment, diverse group classes ranging from yoga to spinning, sauna and steam rooms, a children’s center, and a fully equipped Pilates studio. The fitness club has also been designed and constructed to be as environmentally responsible as possible by using bamboo flooring, high efficiency heating and cooling, low water usage plumbing design, LED and CFL efficient lighting, and recycled materials and furnishings.

 

• Hamilton Park Montessori (www.hamiltonparkmontessorischool.com) is a school that was founded by a team of educators interested in creating a positive learning community where the best practices in Montessori and early childhood education are implemented.

 Hound About Town is a boutique focusing on a wholesome life for pets.  It will include organic foods and treats as well as sustainable toys and accessories and is slated to open in 2011.

 

• Madame Claude Wine (www.madameclaudewine.com) is a European styled wine shop owned by a local Jersey City husband and wife couple of French origin. The focus is on French wines and spirits, with a selection of French food products including pate, cheese, dried sausages, pickles, Dijon mustard and baguettes.

 

• Newport Pharmacy (www.newportpharmacy.com) is an independently owned local pharmacy that has been serving the neighborhood since 1986 and has found a new home at Hamilton Square.

 Next Step Broadway (www.nextstepbroadway.com) is a dance studio owned and operated by Amy Burnette, a former Radio City Rockette, which provides kids and adults with the skills they need to get to Broadway including dance, singing, acting, music and more.

 Provident Bank (www.providentnj.com) has a convenient ATM branch location at the development.

 Smith & Chang General Goods (www.smithchang.com) is a general store with an eco- twist and vintage vibe featuring quality goods that are essential to everyday life.

 Sophie Sophia (www.sophiesophia.com/) a cake studio and bakery that produces the highest quality wedding cakes, specialty cakes and baked goods in New Jersey. 

 Tribeca Pediatrics (www.tribecapediatrics.com) has been helping New York families raise happy, healthy babies and kids since 1994, and is opening their first New Jersey office next year at Hamilton Square.  

 “It’s not just about building top-quality housing in Jersey City,” said Eric Silverman, principal at SILVERMAN. “We’ve enhanced the community by creating retail components, allowing for affordable, convenient and dynamic living in Jersey City.”

 Other prominent developments in Jersey City by SILVERMAN include: Schroeder Lofts (http://www.schroederlofts.com/), Majestic Theatre Condominiums (http://www.majesticjerseycity.com/), and Park Foundry (http://www.parkfoundry.com/).

SILVERMAN also focuses on creating a sustainable community by supporting a number of local charities and organizing neighborhood events.

 SILVERMAN supports Hudson County Child Abuse Prevention Center, Hudson County Community College Foundation, Hudson County Chamber of Commerce, Hamilton Park Conservancy, City Kids Church, City Sail, as well as Art House Productions, Jersey City Museum, Garden Preschool Cooperative, Women Rising, Jersey City Boys and Girls Club and Hudson Perinatal Consortium.

 The company organized the Hamilton Park BBQ Festival, which drew more than 3,000 attendees and benefited the Hamilton Park Conservancy; the Fifth Annual Cinco de Mayo Parade and Fiesta, the Fifth Annual Oktoberfest Parade and Festival; and a Pumpkin Patch for area schoolchildren.

For more information regarding the on-site sales office at Hamilton Square or to schedule an appointment please contact Sawyer Smith at sawyer@livingonthepark.com or 201-434-1000.

For more information on SILVERMAN, please visit: www.silvermanbuilding.com.

 

Follow us on Twitter: @LivingOnThePark

Facebook link: http://www.facebook.com/hamiltonsquare -or- Search for us on Facebook: Hamilton Square Jersey City

The post Eric Silverman and Paul Silverman, Founders and Principals of SILVERMAN first appeared on River View Observer.

10 Reasons To Buy a Home

Enough with the doom and gloom

Home Ownership is a good thing explains writer Brett Arends

Go out anywhere to a restauarnt, kids little league game, cocktail party and we are all taking about the same things: Jobs, Economy, Recession, and the Housing Market.   If you aren’t working your certainly not thinking about buying a home. If you are secure in your job, and want to buy a home there is so much negative press out there telling you why you shouldn’t .

The Wall Street Journal article by Brett Arends says “Enough is Enough” because there are some good reasons to buy and own your own home.

1. You Can Get a Good Deal – This is a Buyers Market

2. Mortgages Are Cheap  -  30 Year loan for around  4.3%.

Read the full ten reasons: HERE  

Source: Newser, Source: Wall Street Journal

More on Home Ownership in New Jersey

 

The post Wall Street Journal Article “Tells It Like It Is” About Positive Reasons for Home Ownership first appeared on River View Observer.