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April 2012

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID Philadelphia, PA 191 Permit # 6438

138 OAKLAND RD, Maplewood

453 MELROSE PL, South Orange

240 S RIDGEWOOD RD, South Orange

144 WARD PL, South Orange

25 HICKORY DR, Maplewood

41 LAWRENCE AVE, West Orange

148 GARFIELD PL, Maplewood

355 SCOTLAND RD, South Orange

We are proud to welcome our newest agents

Maplewood Office

973-762-3300

Anne Lynch

Rena Spangler Gerry Nardone

Serving Maplewood, South Orange and Surrounding Areas

located at historic Pierson’s Mill 697 Valley Street, Maplewood The Sign of a Smart Move

CHERRE DOES IT AGAIN! Weichert’s #1 Agent in Maplewood & South Orange*

Cheryl ‘Cherre’ Schwartz Sales Associate

Maplewood Office, 697 Valley Street

Office: 973-762-3300 Cell: 973-951-6665 See every home for sale at www.CherreSchwartz.com

Jim Weichert, President

If your property is currently listed with another broker, please disregard this advertisement. This is not an attempt to solicit. *According to REStats Inc., 12/31/11, compiled by GardenStateMLS

Our Boots are Made for Working “Baby Jake and I just finishing this kitchen. Baene was on his break and missed the photo. We wanted to say thanks to our great customers. It’s because of you our family business continues to grow - almost as fast as Jake. We look forward to seeing you as we walk around town this spring: Jake, me and, of course, Baene.”

-Jason Levesque

Jason Levesque

Levesque Homes, LLC, Maplewood, NJ 07040 www.levesquehomes.com / [email protected] Office: 973-761-1200/Cell: 973-796-4312 Fax: 973-761-1220 License #13VH05816700

In a Market like this... Partner with a true Professional • • • • •

20 Years of Sales and Marketing Experience Committed to Customer Service and Timely Follow up Strong Passion and Knowledge of the Real Estate Industry Member of NAR ® and NCJAR ® Affiliation with Exceptional Brokerage Brand providing a Full Service Real Estate Environment

Cheryl Darmanin, Sales Associate

CNE

cell: 917-696-0802 email: [email protected] website: www.coldwellbankermoves.com/Cheryl.Darmanin

545 Millburn Avenue, Short Hills, NJ 07078 973-376-5200 © 2011 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Coldwell Banker (trademark symbol) is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Owned and Operated by NRT LLC.

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Spring 2012

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Matters M

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Mind & Body

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Featuring Local People, Places and Things that Matter Since 1990

spring 2012

Vol. 23 Issue 4 April

contents 8

45

Heart of the Matter Matchless Mary Ann

Local Matters

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Molly Matters

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Around the towns

ore

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Naming rights

On The Cover

The Mural Kings 16 Discovering Tats Cru

Laughing Matters

The Maplewood Garden Club will hold their 75th Annual Flower Sale Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 10, 11, 12. See their story on page 45.

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Funny woman Jessica Kirson

Pilates Studio

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Global Sound

Music from Stephane Wrembel

Enter Gods, Stage Right 28 What’s the worst that could happen?

Sense of Color A life in art

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Local Scene

Thespians, tots and the lot

Flower Power

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Explosions of local florals

Maplewood’s MAC

Community arts programs

COVER STORY

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Final Matters

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How their gardens grow

973.378.9000 195 Maplewood Avenue, Maplewood www.coremindandbody.com

Years of dreaming READ

then recycle

LIKE us on Facebook!

@mattersnj

Our wedding day...seems like it was yesterday...

41 years, 6 kids and 8 grandchildren later...

Oh look…Spencer’s first day at Jefferson School… and your “Big Birthday” surprise party…

If we keep this up, we’ll never get everything packed...

So hard to believe we’re leaving this wonderful home…

Time for another family to make their lasting memories…

Oh look, some things never change, you’re still as handsome as the day we met…even with that pesky cowlick…

Relax, you’re with Maggee!

Whether you’re moving across town or across the country either one can be overwhelming. Keep your stress level at a minimum. Let Maggee show you how her dynamic and seamless approach willl help you buy or sell. [email protected] | www.migginsrealestate.com Each office is independently owned and operated.

direct: 973.761.5400 cell: 973.762.5450 office: 973.376.0033x.309

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heart of the matter

Spring 2012

Matters

©

Featuring Local People, Places and Things that Matter Since 1990

PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Karen Duncan MANAGING DIRECTOR Rene Conlon SUPERVISING EDITOR Joanne DiPasquale

Matchless Mary Ann And I still count the “points” BY KAREN DUNCAN

FEATURE EDITOR Tia Swanson ADVERTISING SALES H. Leslie Gilman Mary Jo Malone Suzanne McCann Kathryn Wile GRAPHIC ARTISTS Lyman Dally Joy Markel INTERN Taylor Korsak COPY EDITOR Nick Humez CONTRIBUTORS Adrianna Donat, Elaine Cody, Anne Harris, Sean McCourt, Lonnie McGuire

Please address all correspondence to:

Visual Impact Advertising, Inc.© 9 Highland Place Maplewood, NJ 07040

973-763-4900

mattersmagazine.com Matters Magazine© is owned and published by Visual Impact Advertising, Inc., 9 Highland Place, Maplewood, NJ 07040. Published monthly, Matters Magazine is free, with editions directly mailed 6 times a year to the residents of Maplewood and South Orange and distributed to businesses and surrounding communities totaling 20,000. Subscriptions are available to non-residents for $30 (U.S.) $40 (Foreign) annually. No part of the publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission from Visual Impact Advertising, Inc. CIRCULATION VERIFIED BY U.S. POSTAL RECEIPTS. READ & RECYLE

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Mary Ann Hitchcock Mathews was a woman of exceptional taste. Once she carefully explained to me that “A scarf is a point. So is a necklace, earrings, a loud handbag, bright lipstick, any overt adornment. You want no more than eight in a single wearing.” She paused reflectively. “Perhaps 10, but only if it’s a special occasion.” This was a powerful directive for a teenager. I’ve long come to respect the advice given. Born to a distinguished Minnesota publishing family, Mary Ann was educated at Stephens College, a prominent women’s school that has been in existence since 1883. Her suitable marriage in the early ‘50s was followed by a move to Pittsburgh for her husband’s career. She gave birth to four sons in eight years. Resourceful, clever and highly organized, she was easily counted on to oversee committees, scouting, PTA luncheons, fundraisers – whatever was needed. When they sold their first home (to buy a larger one just up the street) she welcomed the new young owners with open arms, groceries in the refrigerator and an offer to see their frightened first-grader to her new classroom. It was January, snowing, and joining a class at mid-year was made all the easier for me because of Mary Ann. “This is your locker,” she explained. Hanging on the door were my tennis shoes (for gym) in a purple drawstring bag she’d made, embroidered with my name. “You won’t lose them this way.” My mother and Mary Ann became fast friends. The two couples found much in common and met often for drinks and meals. They enjoyed experimenting with Julia Child’s or Life Magazine’s glamorous recipes. We combined our holidays – Easter brunch, Christmas day open house, and always, always, Thanksgiving dinner. It was a remarkable feast that included the delicacy of

Mary Ann’s delicious Minnesota wild rice. We vacationed together, celebrated together – birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, eventual weddings – endured the heartache of tragedies. I had three brothers; she had four sons. She shared all the “girl” moments of my life and perhaps enjoyed them all the more as she’d not had a daughter of her own. She hosted my bridal luncheon. My mother considered her to be her closest friend. I considered her my second mother. Mary Ann started a printing business in the ‘80s. As she opened additional locations, her husband left corporate life to join her. As their business grew and their sons took over, the couple developed a passion for sailing and for travel. She was a role model for me as a woman business owner. No occasion in my life was complete unless she was part of it. Inherent in the culture at Stephens College is the tradition of certain ideals. Mary Ann embodied those ideals with intellectual rigor, creative expression and professional practice. In November Mary Ann died. She was 83 years old, and, having survived her husband’s passing, leaves behind three sons, 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Because of her lessons I still put a small vase of fresh flowers in guest bathrooms. I tie scarves the way she showed me. I drink nearly every day from fine mugs she gifted me when visiting my first apartment in New York. I plant geraniums, carve a ham, set a table and fold a napkin the way she instructed. And I will continue, with her whispering in my ear, to count the points. Top: At one of my bridal showers in 1979, Mary Ann carefully documents my gifts. She was there for every momentous occasion in my life. Above: I treasure the “gym” bag, handmade by Mary Ann in 1960.

localmatters

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South Orange Performing Arts Center, located at One SOPAC Way, South Orange, has a variety of upcoming events. On April 14 at 8 p.m. Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp, original cast members of RENT, will reunite for a concert. The Jazz in the Loft series continues with South Orange resident John Dukich performing jazz standards and international songs on April 15 at 5 p.m.; Seton Hall Theatre presents Arthur Miller’s penultimate play, Resurrection Blues, April 26 through 28 at 8 p.m. and April 29 at 2 p.m. The Blues in the Loft series continues on April 29 at 5 p.m. Jazz n the Hall, presented by Seton Hall Arts Council, will feature the Seton Hall University Faculty Jazz Ensemble on May 1 at 7:30 p.m. The Seton Hall University Orchestra will perform a spring concert on May 3 at 7 p.m. Bring the family on May 5 at 11 a.m. as Theatre IV presents A.A. Milne’s House at Pooh Corner. For more

information, call 973-313-ARTS (2787) or visit www.SOPACnow.org.

House at Pooh Corner, at SOPAC.

The Embroiderers’ Guild of America will host a meeting at the DeHart Community Center, 120 Burnett Avenue, Maplewood on April 15 from 1 to 4 p.m. The Guild is dedicated to promoting and sharing the joys of needlework. All levels and abilities from beginner to advanced are welcome. For information call Ginger at 732833-2504 or visit the website www. mcega.org. A b r a h a m H . Fox m a n , National Director of the Anti-

Molly Matters

mattersmagazine.com

Natalie knows: Prepping your home to sell

R A E L C the Less is truly More. Buyers find it much easier to see your home as theirs if they don’t see every thing you own. So when you find the phone, call me! Office: 973 913-8002 | Cell: 917 514-7541

[email protected] | www.nataliefarrell.com

Natalie Farrell REALTOR/Sales Associate

© Dally/Duncan 2012

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localmatters

Spring 2012

Bee & Thistle Maplewood’s First and Last Choice for Gifts Established 1973

Hostess • Housewarming • Showers: Bridal & Baby • Home Décor Accents Gift Baskets•Gift Certificates

Chair Repairs and Seat Replacements Free Gift Wrap • Open Tues. – Sat. 10 am – 5:30 pm or by appointment Eileen and John Dilley • 89 Baker Street, Maplewood, NJ 973-763-3166 www.beeandthistlegifts.com

MAPLEWOOD STATIONERS

School & Office Supplies Fax, Copier, Money Orders, UPS Service Notary Public, Hallmark, Russell Stover Snapple & Coca Cola Products Candy & Gum, Newspapers & Magazines Cigars & Cigarettes Western Union, ATM

Sweeten Mothers Day

Congrats to your Grad

Monday thru Saturday: 6:45am–5:30pm Sunday: 6:45am–1:30pm

171 Maplewood Ave. Maplewood Village 973-762-0888

email: [email protected] [email protected] www.maplewoodstationers.net www.maplewoodstationers.com

The participating clergy from the 2011 Maplewood/South Orange Interfaith Holocaust Remembrance Service are, from left to right, Fr. Lawrence Frizzell Director, Judaeo-Christian Institute Seton Hall University; Cantor Joan Finn, Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel; Msgr. Phillip Morris, former pastor, Our Lady of Sorrows; Rev. Terry Richardson, First Baptist Church of South Orange; Rabbi Francine Roston, Congregation Beth El; Rabbi Mark Cooper, Congregation Oheb Shalom; Cantor Perry Fine, formerly of Congregation Beth El; Rev. Christopher Heckert, Morrow Memorial Methodist; Rev. Sandye Wilson, St. Andrew and Holy Communion Episcopal; Fr. John Morley, Seton Hall University; Cantor Erica Lippitz, Congregation Oheb Shalom; (Seated) Rabbi Jehiel Orenstein, Rabbi Emeritus, Congregation Beth El; co-founder Maplewood/South Orange Interfaith Holocaust Remembrance Service.

Defamation League (ADL), was a toddler in Vilnius, Lithuania, when the Nazis ordered the Jews in the city – including Foxman and his parents – to assemble in its ghetto. The little boy’s nanny, a Polish Catholic woman, offered to take him with her. She had him baptized and raised him as a Catholic named Henryk Stanislas Kurpi. It saved his life. On April 22 at 7 p.m., Foxman will discuss his early years at the 35th annual South Orange/ Maplewood Interfaith Holocaust Remembrance Ser vice at St. George’s Episcopal Church, 550 Ridgewood Road, Maplewood. The Interfaith Service is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. Foxman’s parents survived the Holocaust and reclaimed their son. The story of Foxman’s return to Judaism is touching and meaningful. After living in a DP (displaced persons) camp in Austria’s American Zone, Foxman and his family moved to the United States in 1950 when he was 10 years old. According to Foxman’s biography, his father told him that he “had lived a lifetime” in those short years. Foxman is recognized as a global leader in opposing anti-Semitism, prejudice, hatred, bigotry and discrimination. Interpretive artwork depicting themes of the Holocaust and perceptions based on conversations with survivors, created by students in district, will be exhibited at St. George’s Church the evening of the Interfaith Service.

Clerg y from nearly 20 houses of worship in the South Orange/Maplewood community will offer prayers and hymns at the service during which a presentation will be made to honor the late Sister Rose Thering, a founder of the annual service. First held in 1977, the program is the inspiration of Sister Rose Thering, Rabbi Emeritus Jehiel Orenstein of Congregation Beth El, David Altholz of B’nai B’rith and the late Max Randall. In the years since, survivors, Army liberators and righteous gentiles – those who protected and saved Holocaust victims – have been honored at the Interfaith Service, held at a different synagogue or church each year. The South Orange Historical and Preservation Society will sponsor the program, “Residential Electricity, Then and Now: What’s Important to Understand and Why” on the changing face of residential wiring. Speaker Monica Merel, co-owner of CEES (Clean Energy Electric & Solar) LLC will address the dangers of old wiring, especially in these communities where gaslights and older homes have been retrofitted many times over. Learn how residential wiring should be upgraded and maintained. The event will be held on April 24 at 7 p.m. at South Orange Village Hall; 101 South Orange Avenue, in the main meeting room on the second floor. For information call Jacqueline Herships at 973-763-7555 or email

Robert Northfield’s

Spring Sale Event South Orange

Maplewood

Helping People On The Move! Call Robert Northfield 973-275-3012 to buy or sell!

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#

#1 Agent – Closed Sales 2011* 2012 Five Star Agent** Sold More Houses than any Other Individual Agent in Maplewood & South Orange Combined Since 1997.

Robert Northfield Broker/Sales Associate

973-275-3012 Maplewood Office

[email protected] www.RobertNorthfield.com www.NewJerseyUniqueHomes.com

145 Maplewood Avenue • Maplewood, NJ 07040 973-378-8300 ©2012 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Owned and Operated by NRT LLC. *According to 2011 GSMLS data – Maplewood Office – Closed Volume 2010 and may not reflect all transactions. **Selected as a Five-Star Agent by New Jersey Monthly, March 2012.

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localmatters

Spring 2012

Monica Merel, co-owner of Clean Energy Electric & Solar, will speak about residential electricity at the South Orange Historical Society Program.

need spring gifts. . . ?

MOMS &

DADS &

GRADS

OH MY! SHOP

179 Maplewood Avenue Maplewood, NJ 07040 973-763-9500 wordsbookstore.com

Jacqueline@jacquelineherships. com. The Friends of Maplewood Library’s Spring Book Sale will take place on April 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and April 29 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Maplewood Memorial Library, 51 Baker Street, Maplewood. Sunday is a bag-ofbooks sale and entrance will be from the parking lot only. An incredible selection of thousands of hardback and paperback books will be available on a variety of subjects – fiction, mystery, classics, romance, history, biography, science, business, cookbooks, sports, hobbies, nonfiction, children and tween. There are videos, CDs, DVDs and audio books. Come and help Friends support the library while you hunt for that special treasure. Call Laura at 973-762-4136 for more information.

Searching for treasures at the Friends of Maplewood Library Book Sale.

The Sister Rose Thering Fund for Education (SRTF) in Jewish-Christian Studies presents Remembering Raoul, a theatrical perfor mance commemorating the 100 th anniversary of Raoul Wallenberg’s birth. Wallenberg was a Swedish businessman who saved 100,000 Hungarian Jews from the Nazis. The program will begin at 2 p.m. on April 29 in Jubilee Hall on Seton Hall campus as part of its 19th Annual Evening of Roses. Benefit ticket packages are available. Single tickets are $75 (student admission $25). For tickets and information, contact the SRTF office at 973-7619006 or email [email protected].

maplewood village art walk Saturday, May 5 Noon to 5pm

Visit www.MaplewoodArtWalk.com for details. Sponsored by the Maplewood Village Alliance and the Maplewood Arts Council

EXPERIENCES WITH

CAROLINE: tulates

Congra r e k n a B ll e w Cold

C

“Caroline gave her all to finding us a home and kept working hard until we reached the finish line. We never imagined that a real estate agent could put this much effort into the process of buying a home. As first-time home buyers, we lucked into the ideal person to make it all come together.” -S.H., South Orange

LIN E S S O G AROLINE

lishments p m o c c a t n e on her rec ellence, Circle of Exc , 2011 rs o lt a e R f o Association y e rs Je w e N • e Year, th f o r e k a h S Mover and erce 2011 m m o C f o r e Chamb Maplewood

“Without Caroline's insight and efforts, we simply would not have sold our home. It was a tough, protracted negotiation, but Caroline’s guidance enabled us to get the terms we wanted and we ended up selling our house despite numerous houses remaining unsold!” - H.M., South Orange

•

2 Top 10, 201 er Office k n a B ll e w ld Co anking you h t t u o h it w d his day to en t t n generosity a d n w a ’t e s n ti id r e d p e x e e, "W port, guidanc p u s e th y was one of ll a a d r o T . s th n again fo o ese past few m elping us h th f s o u t r n a w p o e h s g u e h you'v nd you were a a , s y a d e n to s od those mile . C., Maplewo T ”t! in o p is get to th

"We think you are head and shoulders above the other realtors we've met or dealt with in the past and will recommend you to all our friends ... Thanks again!" - K.M., Maplewood

Call Caroline...unparalleled service & highly recommended

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GROUP

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C A R O L I N E G O S S E L I N REALTOR GosselinGroup

CarolineinSOMA

CarolineGosselin

Cell: 973-985-6117 Office: 973-376-5200

www.GosselinHomes.com 545 Millburn Avenue | Short Hills, NJ 07078

©2011 Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. Coldwell Banker is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Owned and Operated by NRT LLC.

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On May 3 at 7 p.m. the Maplewood Library, Maplewood Environment Commission and Maplewood is Green will sponsor a community discussion program, “Face to Face: Community Conversations,” to encourage dialogue on matters of individual choice and public responsibility, at Maplewood Library, 51 Baker Street, Maplewood. The evening includes a showing of the documentary film, Rescuing the River, which explores the history of industrial activity, political activism and legal action, surrounding the cleanup of contaminated sites along New Jersey’s Raritan River. A discussion to follow will be moderated by Neil Maher, Associate Professor of History at New Jersey Institute of Technology-Rutgers. For more information call 973-762-1622 x5013 or visit www.maplewoodlibrary.org. Maplewood Library and the Hilton branch have a wide range of early literacy and school age programs. This spring there will be baby, toddler and preschool story times, video book reviews, computer animation programs, Lego Club, Bingo Nights, PJ story times and Saturday story times for children with special needs. The Summer Reading club will be coming in June….read for prizes! For a schedule of events call the Main branch 973-762-1622 x5005 or Hilton branch 973-762-1688 or visit www.maplewoodlibrary.org. Stop by Maplewood Memorial library starting May 1 to view an extensive collection of original brass rubbings on display and created by Maplewood resident Nancy Bohn.

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Maplewood Libraries offer children’s programs including Lego Club.

Girls and Lifelong Strategies (GALS) will be hosting A Girl’s World, a workshop conference for girls ages 11-14 and a parent, on May 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at South Orange Middle School, 70 North Ridgewood Road. GALS is a nonprofit organization committed to educating girls and young women about teen dating abuse awareness and self-esteem issues. The conference will include topics on friendship struggles, body image, family stress, health and nutrition, bullying, peer pressure, beauty and fashion tips and loving your authentic self. Registration is $25 and includes lunch. To learn more and register, please visit www.regonline. com/agirlsworld or www.galsusa.org. The Hudson School Parents’ Association will hold its annual Spring Soiree and auction on May 7 at the Chart House in Weehawken; it will include live music and dance, a speakeasy bar and a vintage photo booth. The night will also include both a live and silent auction. The event is open to the public with all proceeds going to The Hudson School Scholarship Fund. For more infor mation and to purchase tickets and/or make a donation please visit www. thehudsonschool.org.

The 14th Annual Cougar Boosters Golf Outing will be held on May 7 at Maplewood Country Club. This popular event raises funds for Columbia High School extra-curricular (athletics and clubs) activities. Join the event as a golfer or support the Cougar Boosters by donating prizes or purchasing a tee sign. Further information (including online registration) is available at www.CHSCoug arBoosters. org, or contact Al Farah at [email protected].

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Spring 2012

The Mural Kings

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From tears to treasure, art rises from the flood waters BY ELAINE CODY

t’s not usual for a 25-year-old to bolt up the steps, grab his mother by the hand and tug on her like his toddler days. Almost breathless, he’s insistent that I come “see the artwork.” As far as I knew, all of our artwork had been removed before the basement flooded. But, he coerced me into going down those steps; boy was I was glad he did. In 1996, our rancher with basement was owned by Diamond D, a popular hip-hop music producer. Our place was the destination for performers of the growing hip-hop genre; Lauryn Hill and The Fugees and A Tribe called Quest were among those who recorded in our home. According to our neighbors and meter man, our basement was the place to be and be seen. It was undivided like a loft with concrete floors and wall-to-wall art – the perfect backdrop for music production and partying. We found a much more traditional decor upon buying the house in 2005. The basement had been divided into a large space with a closet and a bedroom suite with a bathroom. It was perfect when our 25-year old returned home. We enhanced the renovations of the seller by upgrading the carpet, painting the drywall which hung throughout and adding our furniture. The “man cave,” as we fondly called it, was the go-to place for viewing all sports. However, Hurricane Irene changed all that. The first signs of trouble begin in 2009 when periodically heavy rains would overpower the sump pumps, forcing water into the garage adjacent to the basement. But there was never any flooding. To make matters worse, our electricity usually went out in sympathy with other

Top: Elaine Cody poses at her basement walls, decorated in the art of Tats Cru.

mattersmagazine.com

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Join us in Celebration of

Mother’s Day & Graduations “May your thirst for life never run dry” Experience the best of Ireland’s Pub traditions Family Friendly • Good Cheer Raw Bar on Fridays 4–7 p.m.

LIVE, TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC Sundays 2–5

Check our website for upcoming events

Above: “Nicer”, “BG183” and “Bio”; their signatures below, that are showcased on Cody’s walls (top).

Authentic Irish Cuisine, Irish Coffee, Fine Wines and Irish Whiskey worthy of Celtic Kings

Join us fireside for lunch and dinner 167 Maplewood Avenue Maplewood Village 973-378-2222 ST. JAMES’S GATE APPAREL AND GIFT CARDS AVAILABLE NEW WEBSITE: www.stjamesgatepublickhouse.com

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Spring 2012

Decorating Store

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www.thedecoratingstore-tme.com

908-688-9416

Fabrics for Karen Duncan’s porch furniture re-do!

THE

Monday thru Saturday 9:30 AM - 6 PM Sunday Noon - 5:00 PM

Artist “Bio” of Tats Cru.

Melamine Nesting Bowl Sets $34.95

Trivet $7.95 Insulated Tote Bag $9.95

Ceramic Serving Platter $29.95

Measuring Spoons & Cups $5.99 & $9.95

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Flowers for Mom that bloom everlasting, just like your love for her! Named Best Kitchenware Store in New Jersey by NJ Monthly, 2010, 2011 and now 2012. Not too

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19 South Orange Avenue, South Orange

973 821 5145

adverse conditions. Consequently, on the evening of August 27 th, we waited with baited breath as Hurricane Irene approached our area. Anticipating the worst, we did some pre-storm damage control, putting all of our photos upstairs and foisting other important objects onto card tables in the basement. Not knowing when I might get to shower again, I stepped into the shower at midnight just as the lights started to flicker. You guessed it – I finished my shower by unromantic lantern-light. The sump pumps shut down. Torrential rain beat furiously on the roof. We could only wait. At 1:30 a.m., the creeping wetness of his blanket woke my son, who came upstairs to announce that there was an inch of water over the entire basement. Surveying the damage, I put my college yearbooks on top of a credenza and went back to bed. About 6 a.m., when I went to the bottom of the basement steps, there were six inches of water as far as the eye could see. Before that acrid smell of carpet and ground water consumed us, we called the restoration specialists. Nothing can prepare you for the total destruction of your things: sodden sofas; water-logged entertainment center; wet games; soggy books; bubbling carpet. But, my yearbooks rescued earlier were dry. There was only time

for momentary musing on the heartbreak of it all. It was time to get to work. By the time the professionals arrived, we had hauled as much as we could salvage to the garage. Shortly after explaining the process to us, they began to slit the carpet and haul it out to the dumpster parked in the driveway. Once the water was suctioned out, they cut away two feet of drywall pulling the wet insulation out as they went. At this point, my son bolts up the stairs two-at-a-time insisting that I come down and “see the artwork.” Along the two-foot high opening, we could see an artist’s rendering of a fire hydrant, a street lamp, a man’s shoes, and some brightly colored letters in graffiti style. Obviously professional, the images covered a distance of approximately 30 feet in length. A much smaller panel was uncovered next to the steps leading up to the first floor. There were three names separated by periods – “Bio. Nicer. BG183.” Underneath were the words “Tats Cru” and, a copyright symbol. I had just enough information to do a Google search. I discovered that Tats Cru is an internationally known collective of graffiti artists who reside in the Bronx. A phone call to “Bio,” born Wilfredo Feliciano, filled in the story of the murals in our home. Diamond

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Allison Ziefert is pleased to announce that she has joined Keller Williams Mid-Town Direct.

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Tats Cru rendering of the Bronx in the Cody basement.

D, “Bio”,” Nicer” and “BG183” were all friends growing up in the Bronx. So, it was no surprise that the three artistic friends came to do their buddy, Diamond D, a favor by painting the walls of the basement where music production was a nightly activity. Back in 1996, the men of Tats Cru were just beginning their fulltime careers as graffiti artists. They’d paid their dues for 10 years working full-time during the day and laying paint in public places after dark. The commissions had just started to roll in. Seventeen years ago, Tats Cru took a calculated risk that their art could support their families. Thankfully for all of us who love art, they never looked back. Today, Tats Cru is known not only in the United States but in several European

countries and Hong Kong. They are world-renowned graffiti artists with a permanent exhibition in our home in South Orange, New Jersey. This artwork only adds to our love of our home and town. We chose South Orange because it offers art and culture as an everyday experience. SOPAC is proof. Both of our sons are in the music business in different ways. We are lovers of art of all sorts. For us, the value of the house has doubled because of our in-house gallery which we never would have discovered without Hurricane Irene. Funny, usually a disaster only leaves behind devastation. But this time, there was treasure behind the veil of tears. Elaine Cody is a life coach, writer, speaker and Bible teacher. She is inspired every day by the original artwork in her home.

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K rson

Jessi ca

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Laughing Matters Stand-up comedy by a funny girl from South Orange BY TAYLOR KORSAK

Even though she was the class clown in Columbia High School, Jessica Kirson never thought she’d take her act onstage. She’d considered being a DJ before she graduated from the University of Maryland and pursued a master’s in social work at New York University. But she soon realized social work wasn’t her thing, either, and her grandmother, who passed away earlier this year, told her she should share her special comic gift professionally – a much needed spark that set her in motion. “I took a class and at the end I performed in front of, like, 300 people,” she says. “My whole family was there; it was amazing.” Now Kirson frequently performs at the Comedy Cellar, a famous Manhattan club whose regular billings include Louis C.K., Colin Quinn, Jim Norton and Dave Attell. She’s twice been featured on NBC’s Last Comic Standing as well as The Tonight Show and Last Call With Carson Daly. She also began teaching intermediate comedy classes at the New York Hysterical Society – a role that has further immersed her in the comedy world. But before the stage, the audiences and the success, Kirson was a part of the South Orange community. “I didn’t feel sheltered; I got to know so many different kinds of people.” She experienced a

culturally rich upbringing which she says has had a positive impact on her comedy. “It’s a diverse, incredible town; It’s really beautiful, too; I mean, I love the trees, the gas lamps and the beautiful old homes.” She currently lives in Montclair. During her frequent visits to her mother’s South Orange home she enjoys the shops by the train station, an area that is quite familiar to this 1987 Columbia High graduate. For Kirson, high school was an experience she says she loved. She was involved in Columbia’s sports program and played tennis, lacrosse and volleyball, but, oddly, she wasn’t involved in performing arts. In her studies, Kirson excelled in math, a trait she says might

Jessica Kirson will be appearing at the Stress Factory in New Brunswick from July 26 through July 28 at 8 p.m. You can see her at www.youtube.com/ thejessykshow

A young Jessica Kirson’s impersonation of a cowgirl.

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have contributed to her success in comedy. “I think my brain can work very fast,” she says. “I’m very aware of what’s going on in the room when I’m onstage. And often when I’m offstage, it’s hard for me to concentrate.” And she works quite a lot. In February alone, she performed nearly every day at various venues, but she’s recently been trying to take some time off to focus on her creativity. In that spare time, she’s been visiting Los Angeles, pitching a prank show, and is working on a one-woman routine that combines multimedia, crowd work and monologue-based comedy. She’s also taken to producing comedy videos for her YouTube channel, where she’ll regularly upload original street comedy sketches. The channel is called The Jessy K Show, and in the videos, which are available to everyone, Kirson often approaches people hoping to get them to react in different ways. For instance, in a mall food court she’ll take a tray of samples and pass them out, much to the chagrin of the employees, or sit down next to an unsuspecting couple and start hysterically crying. This is a form of comedy she did growing up. “I was always nuts but in a good way,” she explains. “I gained a lot of confidence making people laugh;

it’s a powerful thing.” Indeed, comedy came naturally for Kirson, who says she spent much of her youth being silly and bringing laughs to her close-knit group of friends and family – among whom is Zach Braff, her stepbrother. She’d impersonate friends, family and people she encountered. Kirson’s is a high-energy brand of comedy that she’s carried over to her stage routine. She says that during her shows – which are a mix of rehearsed material and improvisation – she aims for originality and honesty. She’ll often start a performance by telling the audience “I don’t want to be here,” and she finds that people laugh because it’s real. “There are two kinds of comics,” she says, “and if people were aware of this they’d notice: Comics who talk for their own gratification and comics who give – like, truly give.” Kirson says she loves to interact with her audiences and include them because she feels it’s a conversation rather than a monologue. “I make people laugh. But it’s not about me; it’s about a gift that you give to people. And for years I’ve felt like that’s what I’m supposed to do.” Taylor Korsak loves to laugh and will definitely catch Jessica Kirson at an upcoming show.

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Kirson’s set at the famed Gotham Comedy Club in Manhattan.

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Spring 2012

usic From M Around the World Local composer has a global sound

S

Stephane Wrembel beamed as he walked the red carpet into the Academy Awards. He was invited to the Oscars to perform the theme song he wrote for Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris. Wrembel spent two weeks in LA rehearsing and recording with the Academy Awards orchestra. “It was crazy overwhelming, but in a cool way,” he says. For the film, Woody Allen had asked Wrembel to write a song that would capture the romance of Paris. Wrembel responded with the

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enchanting “Bistro Fada,” and Allen loved it, using it throughout the movie without changing a note. The director, it seems, does not micromanage. “He just puts things together and they work,” Wrembel says. The same can be said of Stephane Wrembel. What he puts together is an astonishingly eclectic array of musical styles. Wrembel is a restless collector of new sounds, rhythms and ideas. His music, like his life, is a dynamic collage. Wrembel began studying classical piano at the age of 4 in his hometown of Fontainebleau, France. He was trained in the musical traditions of the French impressionists. In his teens, he studied ‘70s rock and roll with his customary fervor. And then he fell in love with the music of the great jazz guitarist, Django Reinhardt. “To play Django’s music, you have to study in the Gypsy camps,” Wrembel explains. For nearly a decade he made regular trips from his home in the French countryside to the Roma camps north of Paris to learn their music from its source. What attracted him most was the communal experience

Wrembel scored the theme for last year’s smash film Midnight in Paris, and he performed his irresistibly catchy original song “Bistro Fada” live during the 2012 Academy Awards as presentors Penelope Cruz and Owen Wilson came to the stage. Above: As he was interviewed on the “red carpet”.

of playing in the camps. “It’s like magic,” he says. “In the Gypsy camps, someone picks up a guitar, then someone joins him and they just play.” Wrembel moved to the United States to study guitar at Berklee, in Boston. Although his English is excellent now, he laughs at how little he knew when he arrived. “For six months I didn’t know what was going on! They told me I needed a schedule. I said, ‘What is this word, schedule?’” Despite his rising fame, Wrembel is unpretentious and remarkably laid back. But when he speaks about music, he can hardly contain himself. His Buddha necklace bounces off his chest as he gushes about the sounds of India, Japan, Cuba and the Middle East. His hands play an imaginary guitar as he compares Debussy to bluegrass, and Bach to Pink Floyd. He fears that American jazz is becoming too academic. “When you are talking, you don’t think about the grammar or the verb tense. You just tell stories. I want to tell stories.” His close association with Django Reinhardt is a blessing

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Origins, Wrembel’s fifth release, finds the multi-faceted musician corralling all of his myriad influences into a hybrid that simultaneously reflects where he’s been and points to where he’s headed.

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Spring 2012

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and a curse. The categorization has brought him acclaim, but he does not want his band to be pigeonholed. “We are not a Django cover band,” he stresses. “We belong more to the jam band circuit than the wine-drinking crowd.” The success of Midnight in Paris has definitely changed things for Wrembel. This year, he will be touring extensively through North America, Israel and Europe. But his career surge is unlikely to change his fundamental approach to music. He recently reconnected with an old teacher from the Impressionist school. They spoke intensely of the colors within music. Wrembel threw up his hands in surrender. “My training is not done!”

Wrembel still plays regularly in his beloved Brooklyn, but Maplewood has lured him away. His girlfriend, Stephanie, is a third grade teacher at Clinton Elementary School. Wrembel walks the streets of downtown Maplewood with the confidence of a native. He knows a shortcut to get to The Able Baker. And he passionately recommends the black bean burger at Village Burger on Maplewood Avenue. He flashes his infectious smile and declares, “This is my town!” Sean McCourt lives and gardens in South Orange with his wife and two daughters. He now owns all of Stephane Wrembel’s albums.

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Spring 2012

Enter Gods, Stage Right Enrichment takes to the stage

T

BY KAREN DUNCAN

The gods and goddesses of Greek mythology who roamed the earth and mingled with humans are great legends of the classroom. When enrichment teacher Denise King described her Greek mythology curriculum to parents last fall, Courtney DeVomecourt, who teaches fourth grade at South Mountain School, looked over at parents Sean and Beth McCourt and asked if they had any ideas. They did. “We suggested a play, and she was in,” laughs Beth McCourt, in her breezy, enthusiastic way.

King loved the idea, too. “Our goal is to offer all fourth and fifth graders the opportunity to explore areas of language arts. It often extends into related arts.” Like play-acting. The McCourts are a theater family, having both been in numerous stage productions, Sean most recently on Broadway in Mary Poppins and Wicked. After King sent them the stories the children would be studying, Sean got to work writing a clever piece that charted exactly what King had in mind. Rehearsals were conducted during the morning, dovetailing beautifully with the lesson plans used by DeVomecourt and her coteacher, Michelle Ducharme. Says DeVomecourt, “The curriculum we base our morning meetings on emphasizes teamwork, cooperation and listening skills.” Titled What’s The Worst That Could Happen?, the play tells the story of such characters as Zeus, Echo and Narcissus, King Midas, Apollo and Hercules. Top left: A full house at South Mountain school auditorium. “The time and energy from the McCourts was boundless and the children were on a thrilling adventure,” says Denise King, enrichment teacher, far left on stage. After the performance she and South Mountain principal Tina Lehn (print dress) joined the teachers, parents and students in thanking Beth and Sean McCourt on stage.

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Spring 2012

The children were coached by Beth during numerous readthroughs every morning from 8:15 to 8:45 am. That got most of them up to speed pretty fast. Some of them memorized the entire play out of sheer excitement. The rehearsal sessions challenged the children to work on reading fluency as well as their speaking skills. And they all memorized their lines in just four weeks. “They had to learn a very different kind of discipline,” says Beth. “Every single one of them came out doing something different than they started with.” Originally cast by King and DeVomecourt putting the stronger readers in certain roles, Beth made changes once she got to know the children, based on their individual sensibilities. Proving her instincts for staging, the children rose to the occasion and delighted the capacity audience, which included parents and all the children from South Mountain. Wide-eyed students applauded joyously at the colorful, lively and very funny play acted by these youngsters. “It let every child shine,” said DeVomecourt, with a proud tear in her eye. It was such a success that the production went on the road to Jefferson School, where it was received with equally high praise. “It was a really meaningful experience,” says Tina Lehn, principal at South Mountain School. “They will never forget this experience or these myths.” “Curiosity, insight, reflection and cross-curricular connections are a strong focus in the enrichment program,” says King. “The McCourts’ production was a grand example of this.” And the McCourts themselves reveled in the experience. “They are extraordinary kids,” says Beth, “and it was a privilege to have worked with them.”

“The more they understood their character, the more expressive they became during rehearsals,” says Beth McCourt, here adjusting one student’s headdress.

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Beautiful things for spring...

Judy Targan’s life in art

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A num ber of years a g o, i n anticipation of her 50 th college reunion, Judy Targan was asked to write an autobiographical sketch. She might have written, as so many of her classmates did, that she had been happily married for years, and that she had grown children and a passel of grandchildren – all of which would have been true. Instead, she sat down and wrote that she had spent the last half century, had in fact devoted her life, to “creating art, exhibiting art, studying art, looking at art, talking about art, advising on art, collecting art, supporting art, (and) living with art.” All of this is immediately apparent to any visitor to her sprawling, secluded house at the tip

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of a little-known dead end street in South Orange. A walk up her long bluestone walk reveals several large sculptures swaying in the breeze. A bronze horse greets visitors in a large open foyer that looks into every downstairs room save the kitchen; and every perfectly white wall in view is covered in art. The family can no longer use any of the house’s three fireplaces: Targan has put sculptures inside each hearth. And her husband must make do with a television that sits in a credenza below a window, for Targan was unwilling to give up either the view or a wall for it. And that’s just other people’s art. Targan, a pixie with a shock of white hair, large glasses and a way

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Spring 2012

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of moving that expresses boundless energy, is a self-described workaholic who has been producing art for as long as she can remember. And she’s 80 years old. A studio on one wing of the house is filled with her latest paintings: bright, static landscapes on wood that owe their palette to two trips Targan took to India. The process of producing the paintings is painstaking; Targan prepares the wood with gesso before applying paint and then slowly scraping and picking it away again. In testament to her industry, the walls are covered in the paintings, while several more wait for wall space on shelves around the room. Upstairs, in a room given over to her art, there are stacks of prints. She spent 25 years as a prolific printmaker, starting a printmaking cooperative with two other female artists and then representing herself at art shows across the region, as well as working with several art dealers in New York. She did prints for corporate offices

A true modernist, Targan has always been more interested in shape and pattern than in form.

Below during her earlier years as a papermaker.

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and hotel rooms, posters for dealers and institutions. The prints cover a range as wide as her interests: a series very reminiscent of Japanese art, another devoted to the beach, another of food. An eBay art dealer recently had a print for sale for $125; these days Targan lets her dwindling supply go for $50 apiece at her annual open houses. In a far corner of the room is a painting of a small girl, sitting at a table, butterflies floating around her. It looks very reminiscent of its era; there’s a 1950s Golden Books sweetness and flatness to it. “I did literally thousands of those,” Targan says. They were her first commissions, done for the young couples she and her husband knew when they were just starting out. She thought she might be a children’s book illustrator, but then she looked around at all her pregnant friends outfitting nurseries and decided there was a greater need for art for children’s walls. And so her paintings were born. Even in its sweetness and simplicity, of course, you can sense Targan’s eye. Flatness is deliberate. A true modernist, she has always been more interested in shape and pattern than in form. Her prints too are two-dimensional, and yet most are embossed as well as printed, so the print is three-dimensional, even if the things within it are not. And the same goes for the wood paintings. Her scenes are painted without perspective and far more fanciful than realistic, yet they jut into our three-dimensional world. Right next to the door of her upstairs art room, there is a painting

of two young girls, smiling at some grand event, a circus perhaps, or a fair. It is Targan’s earliest saved work: a painting of her and her sister in New York. It must have been painted nearly 70 years ago. Targan grew up in the city and went to a progressive school that allowed her to do all kinds of art, however she chose. She was at the Museum of Modern Art so frequently she knew where every painting in its collection hung. But then she went to college at Smith, which had only four studio art courses; she took one a year. She majored in political science, but was only ever interested in doing art. When she married, the year after graduating, she and her husband, Ronald, settled in Essex County. He was a freshly-minted Rutgers Law grad from Atlantic City. Essex was a nice compromise, close enough for her to get into the city, and still in his home state. Before long they had a nice Tudor house on South Orange Avenue, where they stayed for 12 years. But as they watched the street grow noisier and more crowded, her husband one day announced he wanted to decamp for points farther west. Desperate to stay in town, Targan confided in a friend; the friend said she knew a house that almost no one knew of, and drove her down the dead-end street to the house at its tip. They bought it, almost sight unseen, before it ever went on the market. It was, she said, “like moving from 42nd Street and Broadway, to Vermont.” That was 45 years ago. These days its two acres are

Open Studio and Sale: May 4, 5, 6 and then again May 18, 19, 20, from 1-8 p.m.: wine and cheese each evening. Targan also participates in the local Artist Studio Tour event in June. Also at Montclair Art Museum: ‘“Look Now: Modern and Contemporary Art from Private Collections,” running through June 17.

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Spring 2012

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home to a huge herd of deer, who parade around like unwanted pets. One, a buck with a fine rack of antlers, stepped up to the window of her studio while she was giving a tour. Who could blame him? Besides being a born artist, Targan is a natural hostess. It doesn’t take much to get an invitation to her digs: selling Girl Scout cookies, strolling the neighborhood, making a welltimed call. She has two groups of docents on the schedule: one from Newark Museum, where she herself has been a docent for more than 20 years, and one from the Montclair Art Museum, which has included several of her collected works in its current show. And on two weekends a year she invites all who want to come to her Art Open Houses. This year’s dates are the weekend of May 4 and the weekend of May 18. Targan is a lover of art, not an investor in it. Over the years, she has bought what she likes; it turns out, of course, that she has a very

good eye. And yet, despite all that art, the house remains eminently comfortable and gracious. Maybe it’s the rafts of family pictures. Maybe it’s the purple couches. Maybe it’s the hand-hooked rugs in several strategic places in the house: they were made years ago by her thenelderly parents. The rugs are based on some of Targan’s prints; she bought the supplies and designed the rugs. Her parents, sitting side-by-side on their couch in Florida, hooked them for her. They, like she, were very prolific. Every member of the family has one of their rugs; Targan has several. Each is a statement in its own right, but they are even more stunning as representatives of the intertwining love of art and family that had defined, and continues to define, Judy Targan. Tia Swanson and her daughter met Judy Targan when they were peddling Girl Scout cookies. Targan bought four boxes and offered a tour of her house in return.

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35

Thespians, Tots and the Lot

I

The blended lives of performer-parents. BY ANNE HARRIS

If you’re drenched in the juice of crushed grapes, romping dizzily in a vat, chances are you’re in Padua for some Dionysian distraction. But what if this euphoric Italian countryside lies 18 miles from Maplewood and South Orange? Well, it would be time to throw back your head, laugh and sing, because, by Jove, you’d be on Broadway! For resident performerparents Liz Mills Smith, Casey Hushion and Marc Kessler, this life of wonder has been a daily reality made zanier by the introduction of kids. Envision power-nursing, slippery suburban driveways and madcap schedules, and you get a peek into the lives of three parents who have found a balance, however precarious. Mills Smith, who began dancing during high school, remembers her breakthrough at

cheerleading tryouts. “You had to audition in front of the whole school,” she says. “Can you imagine!? I accidentally fell into a split in the first second because I was so nervous. The whole school was silent, then cheered!” After working herself up the human pyramid, Mills Smith began dancing eight hours a day. And she loved it: “I could express myself physically; I was ‘cool’ because I danced well; it was incredibly validating.” What she calls this “guerrilla prep for the Broadway audition” served its purpose. She would later perform in six Broadway shows, including Kiss Me Kate and its Paduan wine vat; and she would dance with the Rockettes in the 1992 Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Now a Maplewood mother and teacher who works with kids like Hushion’s and Kessler’s, Mills

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mattersmagazine.com National Tour of Sunset Boulevard with Jessica Leigh Brown and Elizabeth Mills Smith. Baby Kessler in a hotel suitcase. Casey Hushion and Marc Kessler at the Tony Awards.

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Serving the Maplewood Area since 1987 Smith appreciates both sides of life. She reminisces about the original performer-to-parent craziness in Manhattan, where she was straddling both lifestyles. “I had one foot in show biz and one in motherhood,” she recalls. “I had wanted to be a mom so badly and was thrilled: Three sitters in rotation would bring my baby through the subway so I could nurse at lunch. Friends rallied and said ‘Borrow my nanny! No, borrow mine!’ I felt like a million bucks.” But finally, she was ready to settle into parenting and teaching, still a command performance lifestyle. Similarly, Casey Hushion and Marc Kessler, who live in Maplewood with their two small children, have enjoyed both Broadway and actor-cum-spit-up lifestyles. Hushion concedes that the runny nose is a fact of life that holds its own charm against the Broadway buzz. And as Kessler recounts, “Our son has seen so many hotels, he knows which ones offer Belgian waffles with breakfast!” Kessler, who conceived the lauded off-Broadway musical Altar Boyz, has been dancing and singing for years. His roles have ranged from tap-dancing gorilla, juvenile and sailor to non-tapping Hasid. Most recently in the ensemble of

Elf in 2010-2011, which Hushion associate-directed, Kessler also loves writing for the stage. Hushion, who began as a self-professed “alto stagebelter,” now mainly directs. Both feel that “the payoff of the dual lifestyle is that you can have it all: the resources of the city and the beauty of home.” In other words, “You can have the Broadway opening high one night and your kid’s puke on your shoulder the next morning!” To this colorful local trio, the most treasured elements of the theater include the dynamism, creativity and especially the “Gypsy Robe,” a wild patchwork mantle of honor given ritualistically to the cast member with the most Broadway credits. As Hushion and Kessler put it, “There is a struggle to do what we do, but it doesn’t feel like it because we’re passionate about it. If there’s a problem, it’s the problem of abundance with so many moments that make it worthwhile. It’s a joy to do what you love for a living!” Anne Harris is a freelance writer whose family recently relocated to New Jersey.  An English teacher by trade and a theater lover by habit, she appreciates living in a community so energized by the arts. But in general, it’s safer to keep her in the audience than on the stage.

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Spring 2012

Maplewood’s

MAC

I

Dating Neanderthals, and other artistic endeavors BY ADRIANNA DONAT

In the middle of a standing-roomonly crowd, in a darkened room full of laughing friends and neighbors, Dave Boerger reads his wildly funny five-minute piece describing the fictional details of the first mingling of Neanderthals and early humans. He is one of 12 people lucky enough to have their names pulled from the hat to read for the audience at Studio B’s Story Slam. At the end of the evening, the three judges (all local authors) decide that Dave’s piece wins. He receives an envelope with a gift certificate to Highland Place, and has bragging rights until the next Slam. The crowd mingles, hugs, then disperses. Noteworthy is how

everyone here knows each other and cheers each other on. Maplewood has a large community of writers. Indeed, Maplewood has a large community of artists of all types; it’s part of our town culture and one of the reasons that despite the economic downturn, our real estate market stays vibrant. Above: A performance classroom on musical theater - part of The Theatre Project/What Exit taught by Jane Keitel and assistant Arthur Hunking. Left: The Strollers presented Agatha Christie’s, Unexpected Guests, featuring Chris Farrow (Michael Starkwedder) and Dena Daniel (Laura Warwick). Right: The Burgdorff Cultural Center.

mattersmagazine.com

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During Thompson’s tenure, MAC has fostered resident groups such as the Strollers, the Theatre Project, and Lydia Johnson Dance. She also works to accommodate emerging non-profit art-focused groups like Inter-Act, Atticus Theatre Workshop and Studio B (which Jenny Turner Hall co-founded with Thompson). Using Maplewood properties such as the Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts, MAC is able to provide these groups with something they desperately need and often can’t afford on their own: space. If a group meets MAC criteria, and is willing to pay a modest sum, it can have access to town space.

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In an effort to support that community, Maplewood Township last year created the Maplewood Arts Council. MAC is a group of nine residents who meet to make recommendations to the township on how best to support the arts. Director of Cultural Affairs Marcy Thompson is creative and enterprising in her job as the liaison between MAC and the Township Committee. She speaks passionately about supporting the arts in Maplewood and works to stretch the resources it has, since MAC is unfunded. “Our mission is to make people aware of the arts in Maplewood, and to promote and help artists here,” she says.

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Lydia Johnson Dance instructors Camille Mireku and Lauren Wasserman.

By allowing f ledgling groups to put more resources into growing their art and less into rent, MAC is an artist’s best friend. “The Burgdorff Center should be used every day – morning, noon and night,” says Thompson, pointing to an increase of 30 percent over last year’s use of the building. “Space is valuable. We can provide it.” This is particularly important for organizations working with children. “We want to engage kids in the arts,” says MAC board member Felice Ecker. This includes outreach whose effect is felt halfway around the world: Last year MAC co-sponsored Music For Japan: a Benefit for Students by Students, with hundreds of kids from 6 to 18 performing music and dance pieces. The event raised $12,000, which

was sent to Japan to help rebuild an earthquake-affected school. Just as important, it gave our young artists space, time and a reason to practice their craft. But MAC is more than a provider of space. It also promotes the arts by acting as a cultural hub. MAC connects artistic groups both within and beyond the borders of Maplewood. “Do you want to have a concert? Call me!” Thompson declares. “I can put you in touch with people who can help whether they are in Maplewood, West Orange or Livingston. I’m here to make it happen and smooth the way.” As MAC board member Tricia Tunstall explains, “One of our major reasons for being here is to create synergy by getting different arts organizations to know about each other.”

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MAC also focuses on fostering a mutually beneficial relationship with the business community. For example, MAC is working with the Maplewood Village Alliance to sponsor Art Walk on May 5th, an event that will give artists a chance to showcase their work and drive traffic into stores on Maplewood Avenue – a win-win scenario for all concerned. One enthusiastic supporter is town councilman Jerry Ryan. “I’m very excited by all the energy and excitement around the Maplewood Art’s Council,” says Ryan. “There are a lot of creative ideas around promoting the arts in our community, including ways to connect with the business community, and to

explore ways to cooperate with other surrounding communities. It’s great to see it all happening!” What’s next on the agenda for MAC? A website, says Thompson, because “promotion is integral to our mission. The site, a joint effort with Patch, “will include a summary of events, class descriptions, contact information, and a bulletin board for discussion,” says Thompson. We all live here because of that wonderful cultural and artistic stew whose flavor is uniquely Maplewood. MAC is working to keep it spicy. Adrianna Donat is a freelance writer and curator of wild boys. She lives in Maplewood.

mattersmagazine.com

How Does Their Garden Grow? B”H

45

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Shopping in Maplewood Village just got more delicious

The Maplewood Garden Club’s annual plant sale has some deep roots.

A

BY KAREN DUNCAN

Award-winning journalist Valerie Sudol, a prominent voice for New Jersey’s gardening community, calls the Maplewood Garden Club’s annual sale “the big mama of all plant sales.” Those of us who garden on local soil cherish it as the launch of the season. And this year marks the club’s 75th event. The annual plant sale is the Maplewood Garden Club’s only fundraiser. It takes place each May, on the Thursday through Sunday before Mother’s Day. Plants are grown from seeds, cuttings, division and bare root. Wholesale orders and member-grown items round out the offerings, which include annuals, perennials, vegetables, trees, shrubs and container plants. continued on pages 46, 48-49.

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Spring 2012

Youngsters garden

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1939.

The greenhouse benches, 1975.

Dr. David L ewis’s illus trated lectu rhododend re on azale rons. Octo as and ber, 1976.

, 1974

Finishing the greenhouse

mattersmagazine.com

MORE and MORE Matters

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Shakti Yoga & living arts Drop in to explore a multitude of Yoga styles and a whole range of other healing arts All Fitness Levels • Kids • Teens • Pre and Postnatal 1861 Springfield Avenue | Maplewood | 973-763-2288 | www.shaktinj.com

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But it started much more modestly. The Maplewood Garden Club was founded in 1931, with a mission, reprinted in the club’s annual yearbook, “to stimulate interest in good gardening and artistic use of plant materials.” In 1937, when the club was just a few years old, the first sale was hosted in Maplewood village. By the 1940s the event was moved to Memorial Park and vegetables were added to the offerings. Proceeds have been used for many town-wide efforts, including the building of the greenhouse behind town hall. Donated to the township by the Maplewood Garden Club in 1974, the greenhouse contains 160 benches that are rented to residents from October through May. The club’s contributions to the town don’t stop there. They include the DurandHedden herb garden, decorations at the Maplewood Train Station, a conservatory as part of Dickens Village, scholarships and dozens of other community horticultural activities.

49

mattersmagazine.com

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Now, the annual sale includes a variety of specimen plants grown by members from cuttings, seedlings and plugs. Each spring, an army of members descend on the gardens behind the greenhouse to dig up and pot up these plants for the sale. Leftover perennials as well as the newly propagated seedlings are planted in these raised beds so they can grow for another year. This year’s sale begins at noon on May 10 and runs through the 12th at the Maplewood Pool parking lot, where the sales have been located since 1977. The selection is extraordinary, as is the quality and the superb service from the knowledgeable and friendly members of the Maplewood Garden Club, now with more than a hundred members. Come early, mingle, marvel at the variety and launch your best garden season ever. When not battling the deer, Karen Duncan attributes her garden’s prettiest features to the outstanding selections from the Maplewood Garden Club’s annual sale.

Exciting classes for ages 3-18 Stage & TV Acting, Voice, Hip Hop, Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Comedy & Improv, Piano, Guitar, Shows, Broadway Showcases and more! Spring 2012 . Summer 2012

cleanenergyelectric&solar

468 Irvington Avenue, South Orange T:(973) 763-5509 M/Text (973) 202-7935 www.cees.us.com

Spring 2012

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finalmatters

Years of Dreaming

Fate, luck and hard work put this late-blooming actress just where she wants to be. BY LONNIE MCGUIRE

Last October Barbi McGuire, a call center operator for L’Oreal hair products, was at work when she received a call that changed everything. She was offered the role of “Yenta” in the North American tour of Fiddler on the Roof. It was a dream decades in the making, one that, when seemingly in reach, had been put on hold again by the 9/11 disaster. But thanks to her perseverance, McGuire is once again on track for a promising acting career. It’s a calling that came late. In the 1980s, when McGuire was in her 30s, a church choir director noticed her singing talents and encouraged her to take voice lessons. She gave her first recital at age 38, and then became active in community theater musicals in Seattle, where she then was living. When her marriage broke up she adopted a “now or never” attitude and decided to move to New York City. She got an appointment for an audition, lined up an office job interview and bought a one-way ticket. Checking into the Pennsylvania Hotel, McGuire arranged for an early wake-up call and went to bed, exhausted but enthusiastic about her interview the next morning. It was the night of September 10, 2001. And her interview was to be on the 96th floor of the World Trade Center. “I had arranged to meet a friend for breakfast at 8:30, before the interview,” she remembers. “We were going to meet at Windows on the World, the restaurant at the top of the North Tower.” Her first panic of the day occurred at about 8:00 am when she realized that her wake-up call had not come through. Her friend was sick and hadn’t gotten out of bed, but reassured

her, “Don’t worry; you can still make your appointment, just go get on the subway as soon as you can.” With her heart racing, McGuire ran to the nearest station and headed downtown. She was cursing her luck, when it was actually the first lucky break in her new life. “I was thinking about the divorce, moving, giving up my home. Now I was late and all I could think was, ‘Why are so many bad things happening to me?’” Just after Chambers street, the last stop before the World Trade Center, the subway train stopped. “Does this happen often?” she anxiously asked a man reading a newspaper. “Oh yeah, all the time,” he responded. But a few minutes later, when the train began to go in reverse, he looked up with a quizzical expression and said, “This never happened before.” The calamitous events of that day ended her one-day residency in New York. Shows closed, auditions withered and many tours were canceled. She took a pet-sitting job in New Jersey. In the next ten years she remarried, appeared on many New Jersey amateur community theater programs, honed her craft, and settled in Maplewood. Life seemed to fall into a routine. That is, until the day ten years after she moved east, when she received that phone call. She quit her job that day and within 48 hours flew to Anchorage to prepare to take on the role of the matchmaker. Born in 1955, this baby boomer was just entering the lists when most might be setting their sights on retirement. And she believes her dream career is just getting started. Lonnie McGuire had the good sense to move to Maplewood in 2000 and marry Barbi McGuire five years later. He is a teacher and her number one fan.

2011, Tony Ray Hicks PHOTO CREDIT

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WHAT IS THE VALUE OF A HOME?

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In the Village 145 Maplewood Avenue—Maplewood, NJ 07040 (973)-378-8300 www.CBMoves.com www.Facebook.com/CBMaplewood

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