Charles van Heck's Woodhull Journal

Oakland New Jersey

  • Reading and the Mastication of Words

    There are books that, like fast food, we gobble up to satisfy our appetite. Other books are snack food to be nibbled on to gratify a craving, And then, there are those books that are served like a three course… Continue reading

  • To be “resilient optimists” in a Time of Crisis

    In my hometown of Oakland, New Jersey, there are two lakes: Mirror Lake and Crystal Lake. My family home was on Mirror Lake, which was commonly known as “Little Lake.” I recall the summer days when we neighborhood children gathered… Continue reading

  • About Food and Friendship

    A friend, Eszter, invited my wife and I to breakfast at the Dexter Brunch House this past Sunday. The ambiance is comfortable and modern, and the cuisine is good. The restaurant has undergone numerous changes to its name and interior… Continue reading