Men at The Current share their Valentine’s Day gift picks

Shopping for Valentine’s Day gifts can be a daunting task if you don’t have a plan. For men especially, the pressure is on to come up with a gift that sends the right message.

So we went in search of some Valentine’s Day gift ideas for most price ranges and situations. While our list is not the last word on where and how to shop for your special someone, it should give you some ideas about where to begin your quest for the perfect Valentine’s Day gift.

What girl doesn't love a trip to the jewelry store and Diamonds on Valentine's Day?!

Julie and Bob Hazard of Mays Landing have made that trip a few times, along with the Current!

Men at The Current share their Valentine's Day gift picks

Publisher Rick Travers holds a ceramic Valentine’s Day picture frame he made at Glazed Over Pottery.

Valentine’s Day gift-giving is not a job for the amateur. It’s not like Christmas, where you can wait until the last minute. It is never too early to look at cards, roses, or to sample chocolate. You’re looking for whatever works best for your favorite valentine.

Choosing the right gift requires a lot of thought and research, but a word of advice: Try to steer away from looking at too many Victoria’s Secret catalogs under the excuse that you are searching for gift ideas.

Want to know how love works? Ask these bestselling romance writers

  Bestselling romance writer Diana Cosby discusses the craft of fiction writing at the Brigantine branch of the Atlantic County Library.

BRIGANTINE – In the opening pages of “His Conquest,” the 2010 romance novel by Brigantine author Diana Cosby, gentlewoman Lady Linet Dancourt dares to free her brother’s captive, the Scottish rebel Seathan MacGruder, on one condition: the kilted warrior must escort her safely to the highlands, where she can escape an arranged marriage.

Our request for reader suggestions for men’s and boys’ Valentine’s Day gifts yielded just a couple of responses, but we’re grateful to those women who took the time to write.

Paula Madison of Galloway said a good gift for gradeschool kids starts with a trail of hearts from their school bus stop to their home.

“At the end of the trail they find a gift,” Madison said. “It could be a gift card to McDonald’s or for iTunes, or maybe for bowling, just a little something special. The cost would depend on you.”

For your husband or the man in your life, she suggests $2 Kisses and Cash New Jersey scratch-off lottery tickets, as many as you wish to buy.

“Hide them in places your husband will find,” she said. “For example, I hid them in his empty coffee cup, taped one inside the refrigerator, under the remote control, on his car seat, in the medicine cabinet, just to name a few places. Throughout the day he finds them unsuspectingly. And who knows, he might even win big.”

Hanna Sinderbrand of Margate, who runs Scout Clothing and Decor, 5301 Atlantic Ave., Ventnor, came up with seven gift ideas from her store ranging from the “truly unique to the cool and the quirky,” all under $50.

For your sweetheart she suggests vintage sunglasses at $12-$20, out-of-print classic book cover T-shirts for $30 or an Alternative Apparel color block hoodie for $50.

For Dad, there are vintage neckties at $20 or a Jonathan Adler match strike for $42, if he likes to light up.

And for your spouse, there’s a Jonathan Adler Big Sur candle for $30 or vintage cufflinks priced at $42.

Thank you, ladies, for your contributions. Happy shopping, everyone.

For your sweetheart you can get vintage sunglasses for $12-$20 at Scout Clothing and Décor in Ventnor. For your spouse, there’s a Jonathan Adler Big Sur candle for $30 available at Scout Clothing and Décor in Ventnor.

My Love

For all those fairytales,

They read to me all those years.

Not once do I recall,

Hearing the Princess left in tears.

The Knight in Shining Armour,

Always came to save the day.

And a thousand times or more,

They said it would happen to me one day.

Well, much like those stories once written,

I’ve had my share of kissing “toads”.

Never ending in true happiness,

And traveling down, far too many dead-end roads.

So, just when I got settled,

Within the comfort of being alone

My Knight came walking in,

A certain someone, which I had known.

Never did I think,

Beyond my wildest dreams

Our paths would come to cross,

For I had believed, my chance was lost.

And all those magic butterflies,

Those for so long, have been asleep.

Finally began to spread their wings,

How I had forgotten, the feeling, to be so sweet.

So whatever comes what may?

I guess the lesson to be learned,

If you don’t give up on love,

Sometimes, you may get another turn.

And I know I’ll always be

Forever grateful to have been given

The love I’ve always longed for

And the happiness in life for which I now live in.

Dina Gold

Christine Dahlen of Cape May Court House doesn't mind being called a turkey when she is dressed up as one to help raise money to benefit local charities. She took part in the Turkey Trot at the Cape May County Park last fall. Dahlen loves The Gazette for its great coverage of our local events.

Barbara Cresse of Cape May Court House loves to read The Gazette not only  the current issues, which feature charity running events she organizes as shown in the issue pictured, but also editions from the past (available in the Court House Library) which feature articles on her ancestors, some of the original founding families.

More of You

The more I see you,

The more we grow.

The more I love you,

I can't let go.

The more we talk,

The more we hug,

The more we listen,

The more we love.

The more we touch,

The more we feel

The more we know,

Our love is real.

The more I love,

The more I care,

The more I know,

I want you always there.

Poem by Adele Workman
To Gregory Robert Workman

The love of my life, of course is my husband, John. But that special love of my life is my 10 year old niece Emily Magee.

At the age of 4 she would call me every night and we would talk for an hour about anything. It lasted for 4 years. Every
holiday she draws me pictures to hang on my refrigerator. Let's not forget mischief night when Em and her mom come to
my house and frightful things appear.

And then there's the " I Love You" you say to me when we see each other shopping or at any time.
So Emily,I want you to know you are very special to me.I love you and I love my weekly Galloway Current,too.

Love, Aunt Paula

Perhaps more than any other holiday, Valentine's Day poses a challenge for gift givers. The Valentine's Day gift is analyzed, parsed and interpreted, especially gifts between romantic partners whose relationship is evolving.

Your gift makes a statement about your expectations, intentions, and how you feel. The right choice can mean the difference between making your special someone happy or sending them running for the exit.

For men especially, Valentine’s Day is a real pressure cooker.

"We Love the Current" Contest.

"The Current" is for now, We are living in the now, I told my wife "Forever'; No question about now,

And no question about "Forever."

We have shared our life together Six-hundred-ninety months.

We hope for many more,

And I ask God each day

To add to the "Forever" score.

Meanwhile we share our interests

And The Current brings us news that stages, We read of all the happenings,

And sometimes even we are among the pages.

Can The Current keep up with us?

We hope they really can,

"Forever" is my love for my Sweetheart, The Current has love for fellow man,

And I hope The Current "Forever" stays around.

Keep up the great journalism!

By Albert Schollenberger

Middle Township School District Superintendent Michael J. Kopakowski shows his love for The Middle Township Gazette by holding an edition that includes a front-page story on the 2011 high-school graduation ceremony.

Mike, Owner/Operator of ‘Dreamline Gold & Silver’, loves advertising in The Current.

The staff at McNaughtons Garden Center read The Current of Somers Point, Linwood, Northfield as they look forward to the Spring.

Dan, Owner/Operator of ‘Dreamline Ink’, loves advertising in The Current.

The Bootleggers crew enjoy The Current.

The helpful folks at Shore True Value Hardware love The Current.

Fred and Carol Dodd, The Hub, Work & Leisure Clothing, Somers Point and Mays Landing.

Pat Fornarotto, Manager, Bargain Brakes and Muffler, 331 Tilton Road, Northfield, NJ.