Came Here To Vote. Stayed Here to Play…read more We came here to participate in the 2016 Primary Elections. The Hall was large and provided a comfortable voting experience. In terms of the facility it was easily 4 star level. But you can't leave out Location, Location, Location. The Morris Plains Community Center is in the middle of the Morris Plains Community Park! That means it is next to 5 baseball fields, 2 batting cages, 2 basketball courts, 2 tennis courts, 1 playground, 1 gated sand box, a covered picnic area, a pond, and a community pool. This place gets the 5 star rating because it is surrounded by so many options to have a good time outside. No voters were harmed during the writing of this review. And if there were, FUGETABOUTIT!!!

I love this location and the church. I love that the church can reach the community in a tangible…read moreway.

Title: Close, Clean, and Gets the Job Done…read more Bethany Community Center is my go-to gym because it's conveniently close, which makes it easy to actually get in a workout--my main goal. With a lot of local gyms closing or moving, having one nearby that's clean and functional is a big plus. The setup is straightforward: free weights, machines, and a handful of cardio options. The treadmills are amusingly off-calibrated--you can set it to 4 mph and the belt will only go 2. It's a good reminder to double-check your speed (and maybe a mini leg workout in disguise). The TVs often freeze, but I just put on my own music and focus on my routine. You don't need to be part of the church to join, and they offer different membership options--gym, classes, or pool. I mostly stick to the gym. The pool seems nice, though it's usually crowded, so snagging a lane can be tricky. The staff is friendly, check-in is smooth, and I've never felt pressured to attend services, which is appreciated. Some minor frustrations: it can get crowded, especially right after school lets out, and locker space is minimal--just cubbies--so changing can be awkward unless you go across the hall to the bathroom. Membership rates recently went up, which stung a bit, but at least they were upfront with signs. Overall, Bethany Community Center does exactly what I need: it's clean enough to focus, convenient to reach, and helps me stay consistent with workouts. If you're looking for a nearby, functional gym, it's worth checking out--just maybe avoid the peak after-school rush unless you enjoy a bit of teenage chaos.

Burroughs is a great asset to the community. They offer meeting spaces, activities for children, a…read morecommunity garden, citizenship classes and English language learning opportunities, among other services. I'm a big fan of the "Our Woven Community" program. It supports refugee women with opportunities to make and sell beautiful handbags, scarves and other items. I recently bought two tote bags as gifts for friends. The bags were lovely, unique, and each one included a biography of the woman who created it. My friends loved them! Our Woven Community doesn't have an official shop space in the Burroughs building, so I called ahead and when I got there the receptionist showed me bins full of items for sale. They also sell the products online and at craft fairs, farmers markets, etc. Half the proceeds go to the women directly, and the other half pays for supplies, equipment, and entrepreneurial skills training.

I attend groups meetings here regularly and it's an amazing building. Not too far from the highway…read moreand there's plenty of parking. The building is beautiful, always clean and has an attendant in the front when you enter. The meeting space in each room is perfect. The quality of the sitting and space to do presentations are great. Everywhere I've been in the building is always clean, including the bathroom. Definitely a great value to utilize space here.

retired IRS tax preparers who come out to help seniors with their tax preparation free of charge.read more

The Baird is the fourth "part" of Meadowlands park (See my review of Meadowlands park). The Baird…read moreis like the central hub for the park serving as the community center for not just the park, but really the town, handling pretty much all recreational affairs and park usage. For my job for example, if we wanted to use the field we had to select a time to reserve it for practice with whatever sport we'd be preparing for. I like this because it's organized and fair. The Baird is also where you purchase and renew your badge for the pool which convenient. The building hosts other things such a book drives and classes for kids but also houses the Pierro Gallery where many exhibits and events take place on the second floor and are too well organized. Surrounding the Baird are basketball courts and tennis courts making feel very much a part of Meadowlands park.

The Mineola Community Center is 5 stars all the way. This building is an old school and The…read moreVillage of Mineola bought it many year's ago to house the village offices as well as the small auditorium that is used for the monthly board meetings and hearings. They have also set up video to be able to broadcast from this room. The best part is the large multi-purpose room that can be used as a gym or meeting center. Our senior clubs hold their meetings there as well as our many civic groups taking advantage of the large room and stage. The Kiwanis Club of County Seat Mineola held their annual pancake breakfast there for many years until moving to the High School. There is ample room to house hundreds as well as the stage the could be used for entertainment. There is also a small kitchen in the building. The kitchen is small but is a good staging area. Large events will need to be catered in. There was also a recent lobby and entrance renovation. Hanging on the lobby wall is the John S. DaVanzo "wall of honor" saluting the many past people who did a wonderful job shaping Mineola into the great village and community it is today. Its great to be part of a community that is so community minded.

The volunteer department is so poorly run by inept and unprofessional staff, that they should be…read moreembarrassed. It's like dealing with a bunch of teenagers who do not want to be held accountable and not want to own up to their mistakes. They do not stand by advertised requirements and will arbitrarily dismiss volunteers when they have exceeded their quota but only after volunteers (and families) have committed time and good faith to the event. There is a serious lack of transparency with capturing hours and someone really needs to conduct a thorough audit of their system. Save yourselves the grief and trouble and volunteer with another organization that is worthier and willing to treat volunteers with respect and not like disposable garbage.

We were a vender for an event there! Great place. Very clean bathrooms. Only complaint was ac was…read morenot working well and it was extremely hot and humid.

This is the brand new SGI-USA Buddhist community center for NJ opened Summer 2016. After decades of…read morethe East Orange center operating as the sole center for NJ, this expanded facility truly shines as its successor. There are daily activities going on in the center and every Tuesday evening there is an introduction to Buddhism open to anyone. This practice has saved my life in so many ways, enriches it daily and helps me to be the best person I can be while recognizing the goodness in others. Nam Myoho Renge Kyo It's the chant of the Sokka Gakki Buddhist. It's meaning: to embody the mystic law of cause and effect through our voice. A brief introduction below from the website. www.sgi-usa.org The essence of Buddhism is the conviction that we have within us at each moment the ability to overcome any problem or difficulty that we may encounter in life; a capacity to transform any suffering. Our lives possess this power because they are inseparable from the fundamental law that underlies the workings of all life and the universe. Nichiren, the 13th-century Buddhist monk upon whose teachings the SGI is based, awakened to this law, or principle, and named it "Nam-myoho-renge-kyo." Through the Buddhist practice he developed, he provided a way for all people to activate it within their own lives. Shakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, first awoke to this law some 2,500 years ago. Discovering that the capacity to transform suffering was innate within his own life, he saw too that it is innate within all beings. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo could be described as a vow, an expression of determination, to embrace and manifest our Buddha nature. It is a pledge to oneself to never yield to difficulties and to win over one's suffering. At the same time, it is a vow to help others reveal this law in their own lives and achieve happiness. Nam comes from the Sanskrit namas, meaning to devote or dedicate oneself. Myo can be translated as mystic or wonderful, and ho means law. This law is called mystic because it is difficult to comprehend. What exactly makes it difficult to comprehend? It is the wonder of ordinary people, beset by delusion and suffering, awakening to the fundamental law in their own lives and realizing that they are inherently Buddhas able to solve their own problems and those of others. Renge means lotus blossom. The lotus flower is pure and fragrant, unsullied by the muddy water in which it grows. Similarly, the beauty and dignity of our humanity is brought forth amidst the sufferings of daily reality. Further, unlike other plants, the lotus puts forth flowers and fruit at the same time. This illustrates the principle of the simultaneity of cause and effect; we do not have to wait to become someone perfect in the future, we can bring forth the power of the Mystic Law from within our lives at any time. Kyo literally means sutra and here indicates the Mystic Law likened to a lotus flower, the fundamental law that permeates life and the universe, the eternal truth. To chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is an act of faith in the Mystic Law and in the magnitude of life's inherent possibilities. Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is not a mystical phrase that brings forth supernatural power, nor is it an entity transcending ourselves that we rely upon. It is the principle that those who live normal lives and make consistent efforts will duly triumph.

This is a great place added to the community. Plus the people are friendly. They do not…read morediscriminate. In fact they make you feel so welcome. The place is clean and spacious. The room temperature is just right! I love the fact that they always have free small refreshments and they make sure that you take some snacks to go home. I definitely want to come back here for the activities. Thank you Yalp and thank you Facebook for keeping us informed!!