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OPEN HOUSE of our finest Local Realtors
Summer 2011
The Sign of a Smart Move
143 Glenview Rd, South Orange
6 Lenox Terrace, South Orange
185 Underhill Rd, South Orange
128 Blanchard Rd, South Orange
311 Redmond Rd, South Orange
303 Montrose Ave, South Orange
403 Elmwood Ave, Maplewood
383 Elmwood Ave, Maplewood
235 Mayhew Dr, South Orange
25 S Kingman Rd, South Orange
17 May Terrace, Union
8 Oberlin St, Maplewood
Weichert Maplewood Office
Serving Maplewood, South Orange and Surrounding Towns
Located at the Historic Pierson Mill 697 Valley Street Maplewood, NJ 07040 973-762-3300
www.weichert.com/maplewood
Continually “We are busy making wonderful changes to beautiful homes in our area. It’s what we do, and we love it. From bathrooms to basements, let us come take a look at your newest project. Baene and I are ready to help you create the home of your dreams.”
-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
Home Design Studios
Under one glorious roof is everything you need for your next home project! Visit our South Orange showroom featuring a huge selection of tile, porcelain and natural stone, countertops & sinks, cabinetry & hardware and all styles of faucets. Our on-site general contractor and designer are ready to help you realize your design dream. All our work done by our on-staff experts. · · · · · ·
A full Kitchen or Bathroom Remodel Updating countertops from Granite to Silestone Tile Design Installation Partial restoration projects—working with your insurance company Roofing Carpentry
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Showroom Hours: Tues. - Thurs.: 10 AM to 6 PM Fri. - 10 AM to 4 PM Sat. - 9 AM to 1PM or Anytime, by appt.
215 Valley Street South Orange, NJ 973-762-7603
www.drfixitstudios.com Call for a free on-site estimate
Since 1989 a National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) Member, State of New Jersey Fully Licensed Contractor #13VH00038400
Dr. Fix-it Home Services Your One-Stop Shop for Home Repairs New Jersey Licensed Contractor # 13VH000384000
“We are not happy until you are”
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Dr. Fix-it Services are part of
Home Design Studios
Showroom 215 Valley Street South Orange, NJ 973-762-7603 www.drfixitstudios.com Call for free estimate
Fran Kurtis 201.704.3434
Stephanie Mallios 201.404.1972
Robert & Beverly Meaux 201.925.8199
Jennifer ‘Jen’ Lieberman 973.477.2301
Marcia Hicks 908.656.1444
Diane Young 973.714.8895
Carol Gilligan 973.951.2772
Carolee Jones 973.202.2368
Donna Shaw 973.879.3128
Elaine Ehrenkranz 973.220.3040
Cathy Knapp 201.259.7102
Sindee Buchalter 973.202.7260
Carol Greenberg 973.216.6666
Jane Holder 201.396.3808
Bernadette ‘Bernie’ Sperduto 201.264.8475
Jane Cebula 973.477.4604
Karen Bigos-201.417.1600 Daniel Cannizzo-973.865.4144 Sharon Preston - 201.618.0853
Independently Owned & Operated, Towne Realty Group, LLC. Licensed Realtors
Andrea Fine-201.874.2400 Tanya Herlth-908.377.2554
511 Millburn Avenue • Short Hills, NJ 07078
Wendy Drucker 973.204.0100
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Matters
Job 25601 - Robert Northfield Matters Magazine Ad Size:4.675w x 11.75h Summer 2011
Robert Northfield’s Spring Collection
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Featuring Local People, Places and Things that Matter Since 1990 On the COVER
Thinking About Buying or Selling? Call Robert TodAy (973) 275-3012
Carrie and Dave Wells sometimes joke that she is the brains and he’s the brawn behind their stunning garden on DeHart Road in Maplewood. Fifteen years ago, Dave tried to convince Carrie to remove a small patch of their front yard for a garden. She thought it was a terrible idea but he won out and now their perennial garden has grown, patch by patch. Carrie loves the planning, weeding and pruning, and Dave enjoys the heavy work. They both feel like old friends return season after season and share their beauty for several months. Now retired, they can often be found in their front yard or appreciating the view from their cozy front porch. Photos by Karen Duncan. See more of the Wells’ garden at www.mattersmagazine.com
Contents In Every Issue 12 MAPLEWOOD COUNTRY CLUB TURNS 100 YEARS Growing up together
16 21 33 35 40
BRIGHT GREEN
The Edison greenhouse
Robert Northfield Broker/Sales Associate
(973) 275-3012
[email protected] www.RobertNorthfield.com www.NewJerseyUniqueHomes.com www.MaplewoodHouses.com
Maplewood Office 145 Maplewood Avenue (973) 378-8300
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heart of the matter
Summer 2011
Matters
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PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Karen Duncan MANAGING DIRECTOR Rene Conlon SUPERVISING EDITOR Joanne DiPasquale ADVERTISING SALES H. Leslie Gilman Mary Jo Malone Suzanne McCann Kathryn Wile GRAPHIC ARTISTS Lyman Dally Joy Markel ONLINE CONTENT EDITOR Jennifer Griola COPY EDITORS Nick Humez Tia Swanson CONTRIBUTORS Yasmeen Anderson, Adrianna Donat, Kara Romanski, Kristen Ryan, Lauri Blinder Rothstein, Edie Sachs
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mattersmagazine.com Matters Magazine© is owned and published by Visual Impact Advertising, Inc., 9 Highland Place, Maplewood, NJ 07040. Published 6 times a year, Matters Magazine is free, with editions directly mailed to the residents of Maplewood and South Orange and distributed to businesses and surrounding communities totally 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
Summer Job
Legal adventures at the beach
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BY KAREN DUNCAN
While in college, a group of us took a bus to Ocean University of Maryland. They were studying for the City, Maryland, in search of summer jobs. After three bar and interning for the city as what they called “rentweeks behind the counter at Wockenfuss Candies, we a-lawyers.” We outlined our issues and they excitedly determined the better jobs involved getting tips, so assessed there was indeed a “case.” Paperwork was filed we successfully moved on to the boardwalk’s popular and we paid a modest fee for filing. They charged us Dayton Chicken House. Free chicken was a better nothing. And we waited. They’d come by the restaurant staple than free caramels. That was the good news. The every few days, not with news of our case but to say bad news was that our rooming house, The Ponderosa hi, and we rapidly became friends. At week three, they announced we’d heard – so named by the self-righteous, evil Mrs. Cartwright – from Mrs. Cartwright’s lawyer (our expectations of a was dreadful. The building was cramped and dingy. She refused to give us keys and would arbitrarily lock the dramatic court case dwindling) and that she’d like to doors when it suited her, often forcing us to find beds settle – though it required we come to his office, in elsewhere when we did not get out of the restaurant Salisbury, Maryland, which for three college waitresses and two guys on bicycles would be difficult. But our before 11 p.m. resourceful almost-attorneys borrowed a One night we stayed up late, Volkswagen Beetle, with stick shift, and talking in the dark, about options for we piled in like clowns from the circus. moving. In the morning our suitcases were None of us had “nice clothes.” We wore in the hallway with stern Mrs. Cartwright, the best jeans we had, and the boys found arms crossed, telling us to pack and get shirts with collars. Mr. Big Shot lawyer’s out. We were dumbfounded. What had office was grand – at least that is my we done? “You want to leave, so go,” she memory – and we were politely ushered shouted, confirming our suspicions that into his office. The boys hung in the back she had been listening at the doors of our while we girls sat in chairs arranged near rooms. It was mid-month and she refused the lawyer’s mahogany desk. I spotted my to refund the remainder of the month’s Ocean City, 1973 iron on a credenza. rent or give us back our deposits. She’d “Who wrote this brief ?” he asked, peering out confiscated my iron when we first arrived, claiming we’d burn down the place (what in the world I thought over small, nickel-plated glasses. “They did,” we said, pointing to the boys who I was going to iron during the summer I have no idea!) slouched against the wall. and now denied she ever had it. He looked up at them, with a slight smirk, and Dayton’s stored our suitcases, having probably faced this with employees summer after summer, said, “When you pass the bar, come see me.” With that and gave us a few suggestions. We were able to find he slid a check across the table which totaled exactly a room by the end of the day, but that cost us what what we were owed. It amounted to about $100., a few dollars we had left in our aprons. We’d heard of small fortune to us. He wished us good luck, and then a free legal service that the city provided. The next handed me my iron. We cashed the check at the bank in the lobby day we arrived at the doors of an Episcopal church, where a small handmade sign announced “Free Legal of the law office building, paid for the parking and put Services” and pointed to a basement room where we gas in the car. We then treated our lawyers to a fine found two tanned, long-haired boys in shorts, T-shirts meal, where we toasted their first successful litigation. and flip-flops sitting, cross-legged, on top of an old We spent every dime of that check. We never saw them desk. “We’re your lawyers,” they announced with as after that summer, but I expect it was just the beginning of a pretty good legal career. I hope they remember much seriousness as guys in flip-flops could gather. They were second year law students at the that summer as fondly as I do.
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The
Buzz
It’s Fa rm e r s’ Ma rk e t t i m e . Maplewood’s opens on June 13, Mondays from 2 to 7 p.m. until October 31. Located in the Indiana Street parking lot at Springfield Avenue and Indiana Street, the market features two farm stands, an Italian specialty stand, Mr. Pickle, which sells a variety of pickled products, and other vendors. In South Orange, visit the market on Wednesdays starting June 29 in the Sloan Street parking lot across from the train station and the fire house. Shop for Jersey Fresh produce, flowers, pickles and pickled vegetables, prepared foods and more.
Natalie Farrell Sales Representative
“We wanted to thank you for the
excellent job you did with our home. It was wonderful working with you and your team. You are dependable, professional and hard working. We couldn’t have asked to partner with anyone better. Thanks again. ” - Giada and David Litner
Under Contract, Mul tiple Offer s
129 Prospect Place
Welcome to Tutu’s Green World. My name is Tutu and I love the earth. I want to make sure it stays beautiful. I do this by living a “green” life. To live green means to take care of the earth. I care for the earth by recycling, reusing my old things and reducing waste by not using more than I need. Tulani Thomas, creator of Tutu’s Green World, was motivated to start a children’s book series that would help parents teach their little ones to incorporate green habits into their daily routine in fun and
Molly Matters
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16 Colonial Terrace
SOLD, Multiple Of fers
629 Prospect Street
Office: 973-913-8002 Cell: 917-514-7541
[email protected] 181 Maplewood Avenue
© Dally/Duncan 2011
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Get top notch service from a Realtor who knows our communities from
A to Z
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(973) 376-5657 DIRECT (973) 751-0448 CELL
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Call me for my FREE report on the residential real estate market in your town.
Allison Ziefert SALES ASSOCIATE
PROJECT: Father’s Day Your Local One-Stop Shop for all the Men on your List It’s Girls’ Night Out in Maplewood Village!
Thursday, June 16 from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Grab your girlfriends and come to the village for a night of local shopping, dining and fun! For details visit www.maplewoodvillagenj.com/girls-night-out.
Barbeque Ninja Apron $19.95 Glencairn Official Whisky Glass $11.95 The Man's Lunchbox $15 Pen Cap Cutlery for the Office
$9.95 SodaStream Genesis Starter Kit $99.99 each
Universal Electric Rotisserie for the Gas Grill $37.95
Extra Large 60 Oz Cocktail Shaker
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Tulani Thomas
interesting ways. Thomas, a South Orange mother of two, visits schools, libraries, and bookstores to share with children, educators and parents small daily acts that make a difference to the environment. The presentation usually includes the reading of a TuTu book and an arts and crafts activity. For more information visit www.tutusgreenworld.com. The South Orange-Maplewood Adult School and The Baird are joining forces this summer to
localmatters offer four art classes taught by veteran teacher and fine artist Larry McKim: Relief Print Making, Painting, Silk Screen Printing and Portfolio Development. Each class runs daily for two weeks in the late afternoon or early evening and provides a perfect opportunity to pursue a passion or just dabble in a new medium. Examples of the various techniques can be seen on the instructor’s website, www. larrymckim.com. Registration is open until the first class. Join The Adult School for a summer wine pairing dinner at Coda Kitchen and Bar. Enjoy three taster courses, each paired with a selection of crisp, fruity and refreshing wines from a variety of grapes, styles and countries. Throughout the dinner, instructor Diane Letulle will provide enlightening commentary about the wines being poured and talk about summer wine and food pairings, including the best pours for seafood, sushi and steak off the grill. Bring a friend and enjoy this night of wine, food and fun on Tuesday, June 28, $63 per person. Please register for the classes and dinner online at www. somadultschool.org, by mail using the registration form in the catalog or by phone at 973-378-7620, or drop by the Adult School office in Columbia High School, Room A110, at 17 Parker Avenue. The Maplewood Libraries will be busy this summer with programs for children, teens and adults. One World, Many Stories is the theme for the Children’s Summer Reading Program this year. The kickoff will be held June 20, and the fun continues all summer with storytimes, crafts and a few surprises. This summer, adults will have their own reading program, themed Novel Destinations. Author talks will include Alan Paul (Big in China) and Jon Michaud (When Tito Loved Clara). A Summer Book Group will meet once a month to discuss intriguing international titles. Anisa Mehdi will be screening her wonderfully uplifting film,
mattersmagazine.com
Larry McKim
Diane Letulle
Inside Mecca. Adults will even have their own craft programs: Classes have been scheduled for Japanese Origami and the traditional Indian art of Rangoli. Details are available at the libraries, or visit www. maplewoodlibrary.org.
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Maplewood Country Club
turns
A
100 Growing up together
BY ADRIANNA DONAT
As you stand at 28 Baker Street and look toward Pierson’s Mill, it’s not hard to imagine the wooden frame barn that stood on 11 acres of bottomland a century ago. The old-growth hardwood trees scattered throughout the property hint at what was a forested area, cut through by the rambling east branch of the Rahway River. It’s still beautiful today, though less rustic. This land has evolved into the home of the Maplewood Country Club, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary. The barn has long since been replaced by a clubhouse, the grounds manicured to perfection. The motivation leading from barn to clubhouse: green space. In 1908 the land was purchased by the Valley Land Company from
PHOTOS BY KAREN DUNCAN
Charles DeGrasse. Just as we strive for more recreational green space in Maplewood today, the Valley Land Company’s goal was to find a place for children to play field sports. This was a time when Maplewood was growing its institutions to serve the thriving community better: Morrow Church retained space for a Sunday School in 1910; the library was organized in 1913, the Women’s Club in 1917. Valley Land Company was slightly ahead of the curve, but no less an integral part of Maplewood’s growth. The area was leased in 1911 to the Maplewood Field Club, a private organization, which set to work building a baseball diamond and four tennis courts. Over time, additional land was purchased to accommodate an 18-hole golf course, rounding out at 82 acres. In 1953, the organization
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mattersmagazine.com "...we lucked into the ideal person to make it all come together." ~ S.H., South Orange
Golf Professional Mike Sparks and Vince Forte, Assistant Golf Professional at Maplewood Country Club where the pro shop is now featuring “100 Year” logo merchandise.
"...head and shoulders above the other realtors we've met or dealt with in the past." ~K.M., Maplewood
GosselinHomes.com Facebook.com/GosselinGroup
Caroline Gosselin Caroline Gosselin Realtor Sales Associate
(Far right) The newly renovated gathering room.
l
Realtor l Sales Associate
Direct: 973-376-3623 l Cell: 973-985-6117 545 Millburn Avenue, Short Hills
CLASSES • SUMMER CAMP • PARTIES
Fencing Experience the exciting and rewarding world of fencing in our state-of-the-art, climate controlled facility with nationally and internationally recognized coaches and fencers.
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Creative Speech Solutions, llc changed its name to the Maplewood Country Club, and has been busy improving the grounds ever since. Unlike the traditional idea of a country club, set apart physically and attitudinally, Maplewood Country Club and the community of Maplewood have always had a symbiotic relationship. “Maplewood is a great town,” declares the club’s general manager, Michael Lusk, “and we do what we can to support it.” Lusk has managed the club for 18 years, and is current president of the Club Managers’ Association of America’s New Jersey chapter. He notes that the club contributes to a host of local charities, including Maplewood’s favorite way to kick off summer: the Kiwanis’s annual Duck Race. Much like Maplewood, the club is “not stuffy.” Maplewood Country Club’s membership and goals look a lot more like our
community’s than you might think. The membership is becoming younger and more diverse. And the club is making an effort to conserve resources, including water usage. “We are finding more local members,” says Lusk. The club helps the local economy, too, as many of the caddies and wait staff are local high school and college students. Some of the staff didn’t start out so local, however. David Madieros has worked for the club for 34 years, starting as a porter when he was 22 years old. He had recently emigrated from Portugal, and was eager to find work. “I used my heart,” says Madieros about how he worked his way up to becoming the head chef, dazzling guests with his food since 1989. His extraordinary talents are needed to keep the club running in the black, too. Maplewood Country Club hosts more than 100 affairs each
Pediatric Therapy Center n Cynthia Marrapodi, m.s.,
ccc-slp,
Director
Helping children to reach their maximum potential one step at a time
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Creative Speech Solutions, llC presents
Camp p.a.L. – pLay and Learn
Sign up for one or all weeks! Morning and afternoon programs available! Drop off your child for fun during the summer break!!!
The day includes: n■ Chat & Play with Friends:■run■by■a■ Speech-Language■Pathologist■ n■ Sing Your Heart Out:■with■our■ Music■Therapist■ n■ From Jumping to Drawing:■with■ our■Occupational■Therapist■ n■ Fun with Food:■conducted■by■our■ Speech-Language■Pathologist■ n■ Lovin’ Literacy:■with■our■certified■ Reading■Specialist■(ages■4■and■ older)
n n n
Offering 3-hour days, 3 days/wk. for the first 3 weeks of August, beginning Tuesday, August 2, 2011 . (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) Ages 4 and up: Each week $400 Under 4: Each week $375 ($100 Discount for week 3 if signed up for all 3 weeks) $150 non-refundable deposit required at time or registration
151 Summit Avenue n Summit, New Jersey 07901
908-598-0228 n www.creativespeechsolutions.com
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Summer 2011
Mini Camp at Far Brook School
Short Hills, NJ 6 weeks of fun! June 20-July 29 ‘11 For ages 3–6 years old, including children entering 1st grade.
Under the direction of Paula Levin • Donna Deltz • Bill Deltz
For more information call Paula Levin 973-992-2192
[email protected] • www.minicamp.org
just minutes away
Amazing Golf ● Driving range has 52 stalls of which 20 are heated and covered for year round use ● 40,000 square feet of putting greens, chipping areas and practice bunkers ● Junior all day golf camps offered on a weekly basis from June 27 thru Aug 15 ● Junior Girls Golf Program running from May 25th thru August 10th ● 1st Tee of Raritan Valley provides kids golf lessons plus lessons in life skills and core values ● Half day and full day golf school offered for all levels of ability
To schedule lessons & clinics call The Learning Center at 908-241-8380. To book a tee time call our Pro Shop at 908-686-1556
● Offers clinics for all ages and skill levels focusing on a different facet of the game each week
visit us at: thelearningcenteratgallopinghill.com gallopinghillgolfcourse.com • 3 Golf Drive, Kenilworth, NJ
year. When you search online for a review, almost every one mentions Madieros’ delicious food. With the economy as it is, these events serve as an important bulwark for a business based on sometimes scarce expendable income. But the club is not all about the bottom line. Lusk works with local nonprofit organizations on price to keep them celebrating local and within budget. And recently when Columbia High School student Gordon Brown-Christenson dreamed of organizing a golf team, Maplewood Country Club was there. BrownChristenson and his parents, Patty and John, approached Maplewood Country Club, looking for help. Brown-Christenson enlisted past MCC President, Dr. Elliot Rogoff, to ask the Board of Directors about starting the team. The team offered CHS time on the golf course twice
each week in the fall. “I’m just happy to play a small part in bringing golf back to Columbia High School,” says Brown-Christenson. “The real credit goes to our sponsors and the country club.” “That Maplewood Country Club is willing to support us is lucky…luckier since we have lots of interest in golf at CHS, and we can golf in our community. Not many schools can offer that,” says Kathy Hester, who coaches the CHS Golf Club along with Dan Savarese and Mary Lou Gregory. CHS can now work on offering both men’s and women’s varsity golf teams, a boon for the athletic department. “The club jumped at the opportunity,” says Savarese. “Dr. Rogoff, a local dentist, asked if they could donate money for clubs and shirts, and members say ‘hi’ on the course – they’ve welcomed us with open arms.”
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Local Family History mattersmagazine.com
1928
1960
Columbia High Golf Team with Maplewood Country Club’s golf pro Mike Sparks, far left. Gordon Brown-Christenson, Quinn McCann, Marques Brownlee, Kip Zenowich, Andrew Powers and Drew Kawalek, and coaches Kathy Hester and Dan Saverese.
Says Maplewood Country Club’s lauded golf pro, Mike Sparks, “As a PGA professional, it’s my job to grow the game, and that means teaching kids. As someone who played golf in high school, I know how important it is.” A country club working to grow the community around it? It may sound a little too good to be true. But lots of things in Maplewood are. “We do what we can for the community,” says Lusk modestly. “What’s good for Maplewood is good for the club.”
Adrianna Donat is a local copywriter, mom, wife and curator of small mammals.
1965
1986
1994
Captain DeCicco -Maplewood PD
meets today’s Technology Ellen & PJ have known our towns for generations... so
let’s talk real estate. Ellen S. DeCicco
Sales Associate cell (973) 953-4428
[email protected]
Peter “PJ” DeCicco
Sales Associate cell (973) 420-4401
[email protected] www.twitter.com/maplewoodhomes Maplewood Office 973-378-8300 www.ellenandpj.com
2007
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Summer 2011
BrightGreen
Home Theater Multi-Room Audio Home Automation Lighting Systems Computer Networks
Easy To Use High Performance Home Entertainment Systems Call for a free consultation:
(973) 762-0200 And visit our website:
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A
Tending Edison’s greenhouse BY EDIE SACHS
Access to the leafy private enclave of Llewellyn Park is controlled by a security guard stationed in the stone gatehouse at the entrance just off Main Street in West Orange. Generally, you cannot get in unless you’re a resident, visiting a resident, or have National Park Service tickets to see Glenmont, the home of Thomas Edison. Marcia Zweig is not in any of these categories, but she doesn’t even come to a full stop as she returns the guard’s friendly wave and drives past the gatehouse under the thick tree canopy.
Zweig – a Maplewood resident – is in fact headed for Glenmont, but she certainly doesn’t need tickets. She visits the property, particularly its greenhouses, several times a week. She is a leading member of a team from the Garden Club of the Oranges that restored and maintains the greenhouses in cooperation with the Park Service, which administers Glenmont as well as Edison’s nearby laboratories. “About seven years ago, our club was approached by the Park Service about bringing Edison’s
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greenhouse complex back to life,” says Zweig. “They had received a large grant to do a tremendous amount of renovation work on Edison’s home and labs. This happened during the Clinton administration, when Hillar y Clinton traveled around the country with a group called Saving America’s Lost Treasures to put more focus on national parks that weren’t Yellowstone or Yosemite.” The Park Service’s goal was to reestablish the kinds of plants that would have been grown in the greenhouses during Edison’s time. “And I myself had always wanted a greenhouse!” Zweig laughs. “But we didn’t have enough land or the right exposure at our home. So I convinced our club to do the project.” The Edison greenhouses were in a sad state; they had become a place where caretakers hung their laundry, and there were very few original plants left. “It’s been a lot of hard work bringing them back,” says Zweig. “But it’s a great project and a great partnership for us. I really love it.” Park rangers assist with various tasks, such as watering and misting the plants on days when no club member is able to do it. They also keep the club supplied with necessities such as soil, fertilizer, and terra-cotta pots. Zweig graduated from Smith College, after which she took a very nontraditional career path working for the Missouri
Remember me then?
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How about now? ...or then?
Edison in his Ft. Myers, Florida garden with friends American naturalist John Burroughs and automotive industrialist Henry Ford, circa 1914.
Pacific Railroad. “I wanted to do something radically different from being in a women’s college in the East,” she says. “So I wrote to the chairman of the railroad and asked him for a job. They were shocked because in those days –this is about 1976 – they only hired men, even as secretaries. They hired me into their management training program, and I was the only woman. “I traveled all over the railroad for three years, learning how to be a brakeman, a yardmaster… it was fabulous. I ran a hundred-unit coal train from Pueblo, Colorado, to East St. Louis. Then I took a job in the corporate headquarters as the head of service for the entire railroad. But then I got married, and my husband got a job in upstate New York… so that was that. We rented an old dairy farm in Chenango County, and I began gardening full time.”
Zweig discovered a bushel basket of Rookwood pottery during the initial clean out of the greenshouses. Made by an iconic Ohio-based ceramics company, they were Mrs. Edison’s seedling pots which were used to start new plants. A rare and valuable find, they were taken possession of by the Park Service and classified as “artifacts.”
If you don’t remember me at all, let me give you a brief bio: Name: Gerry Nardone NatIve of: South orange, NJ ReSIdeNt of: maplewood, NJ educatIoN: South orange elementary & Junior High Schools columbia High School Seton Hall university PRevIouS BuSINeSS: South orange Retailer
Do I know all there is to know about living, learning and schooling in Maplewood/South Orange and the surrounding areas? Yes, I do! Let me provide and share with you the knowledge and experience I have gained over these many years of living, learning and working in the community. I am here to guide you in buying the house of your dreams... and support you in selling the house you dreamed in!
cuRReNt BuSINeSS: Maplewood, NJ • 973-762-5400 Each Keller Williams Office Independently Owned and Operated
caLL me: 201-463-7979 • emaIL me:
[email protected] • gerry.yourkwagent.com
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Summer 2011
Today, Zweig’s husband, John, is a senior executive with the WPP Group, an international advertising and marketing conglomerate; he’s also a serious jazz guitarist. Their son, Lincoln, is a high school sophomore. Zweig loves to show visitors around the greenhouses, starting in the Palm Room, where she tries to recreate the types of plants Edison kept at his winter estate in Fort Myers, Florida; he grew pineapples and kept bamboo plants as part of his experimentation with different types of plant-based fibers. There are also kumquats, lemons and limes. She points out the fig wall, one of the original survivors from the Edison era, and the night-blooming cereus, a very strange plant that produces one huge flower on only one night each year. In the Orchid Room, or Fernery (so named for its fern wall, another original greenhouse feature which Zweig restored), Zweig discusses characteristics of various plants, and the range of her horticultural knowledge is awe-inspiring. For more information about visiting Glenmont, call the visitor information line at (973) 736-0550, ext. 11, or visit www.nps.gov/edis/index.htm.
Job 25413 - Robert Northfield Matters Magazine Ad | Size: 9.5w x 5.625h
Robert Northfield is Pleased to Announce the Successful Sales of the Following Properties SO
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Robert Northfield Broker/Sales Associate
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Thinking About Buying or Selling? Call Robert TODAY (973) 275-3012
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©2011 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.
Maplewood Office 145 Maplewood Avenue (973) 378-8300
mattersmagazine.com
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Call Caroline
Want to know what your home is worth today? Want to understand the home sales process? Please call Caroline today!
Caroline Farnsworth Real Estate Sales Consultant
973-698-0737
181 Maplewood Avenue
Maplewood Village
[email protected]
“May your thirst for life never run dry”
Summer Brews are here! Lobster rolls daily 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
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
Edison’s European Fan Palm in the foreground.
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Summer 2011
“I know how to make smart moves!”
Maggie Calister
Direct 973-913-8020 Cell 973-271-6951
Call me for ALL your real estate needs.
Millstone Lawn & Garden Center 1 Pierson Road • Maplewood 973-763-6633
formerly PIERSON’S MILL: SAME great service and professional advice! First entrance on Pierson Road
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Not valid on sale items, deliveries, other promotions or house charges. Expires 6/30/11 VISIT BORIS AT THE MILLSTONE GARDEN SHOP
It’s especially interesting to listen to her explanations of why particular plants were popular in Victorianera greenhouses and what purpose they might have served for the household at Glenmont. Clearly, to do justice to the greenhouse restoration project, Zweig needed to become something of a historian as well as a horticulturist. A highlight of the greenhouse tour is the huge Monstera deliciosa, also known as the Mexican breadfruit or Swiss cheese plant; it’s another relic from Edison’s residency. The plant produces huge oblong fruits covered with scales that ripen into chunks “with a taste and texture like Del Monte fruit cocktail,” according to Zweig. When Zweig’s hands are not in the dirt, they’re likely to be holding a paintbrush. She is an accomplished artist who spends
Agave Americana Margarita
as much time as she can painting landscapes in her home studio. She hopes to do some painting at the greenhouses at some point – but so far, gardening has been the priority there. Edie Sachs, a South Orange-based writer and editor, would like someone to show her what to do with the two bags of mulch that have been sitting in her garage since last fall.
mattersmagazine.com
BY KARA ROMANSKI
OPEN HOUSE
Whether it be finding a buyer for that impossible listing or helping find the dream home for a buyer, there is nothing more satisfying than mission accomplished for these top area realtors. The challenge of making a win-win deal come together is what sets them apart in a challenging market. They have the talent to work anywhere but they choose to work here, in our part of the world, walking people through the most meaningful purchase or sale of their lifetime. But while it seems they may have been born to negotiate real estate, most of them started out doing something entirely different. Here is Matters Magazine’s spotlight on some very interesting realtors in our towns.
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PHOTOS BY YASMEEN ANDERSON
22
OPEN HOUSE matters
Summer 2011
If you want up-to-date advice from an experienced agent, call Sally. She has helped hundreds of families find their 1st or 2nd home and many are still in town. Whether buying or selling, she'd be happy to help you.
An Excellent Adventure
Sally Rowe
ABR, GRI, SRES, REALTOR
Broker Associate
Check out my Free Mobile App
Village Square REALTORS Cell: (201) 618-1011 Text Office: (973) 763-3700 ext. 111 SALE1
[email protected] to #87778 SO Dentistry Ad 3 2010:Layout 1 11/30/10 2:56 PM Page www.sallyrowe.com
1
Is there anything more beautiful than a child’s smile?
Maggie Calister has worn many diverse but always interesting hats throughout her life. A “natural-born” entrepreneur, one of Maggie’s earlier adventures involved moving to San Francisco during the late 60s – early 70s and running an “Earth Shoe” store. The theory behind the shoes was that they were “natural” and kept the spine aligned. The San Francisco adventure continued, and as an avid animal lover, she worked at the San Francisco Children’s Zoo, where she helped care for “Koko,” a gorilla famous for her knowledge of sign language. Coming back to the East Coast, she sang for a while, studied at the Swedish Institute, became a massage therapist, then opened day spas in Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope and New York City. For a time she owned “The Happy Dog Inn,” a doggie “B&B” before making her move to real estate where she found her niche as a full time top producing agent. There is much more. When you meet her, she can fill you in on all the details. Maggie and her husband, Tony, live in South Orange – and are the very proud parents of James, a tax specialist, and Reni, a senior at Barnard.
Maggie Calister
Keller Williams Mid-Town Direct 181 Maplewood Avenue, Maplewood 973-271-6951 cell www.njrealestatemama.com
What happens during my child’s first visit to South Orange Family Dentistry?
The first visit to South Orange Family Dentistry is usually short and simple. Dr. Fariba Farrokhi focuses on getting to know your child. She will handle your child’s fear and anxiety with a relaxing and positive experience on the first visit. Dr. Farrokhi will check your child’s baby teeth for placement and health and look for any potential problems with the gums and jaw. If necessary, we may do a cleaning. We will also answer any questions you have about how to care for your child’s teeth.
Baby teeth aren’t permanent; why do they need special care?
Although they don’t last as long as permanent teeth, your child’s baby teeth play an important role in their development. While they’re in place, these baby teeth help your little one speak, smile and chew properly. They also hold space in the jaw for permanent teeth. If a child loses a tooth too early due to damage or decay, nearby teeth may move into that space which can result in crooked or misplaced permanent teeth. We provide complete dental care of children of all ages.
Fariba Farrokhi, DMD, FAGD and her highly experienced staff make a
conscious effort to create an anxiety free environment for your whole family. Take the time to fit us into your busy schedule so we can help you through the process of giving your family the best dental care. We provide everyday preventive, restorative and cosmetic care for children, parents, and grandparents.
South Orange Family Dentistry 358 South Orange Avenue South Orange, New Jersey
973-763-1161 www.SOFamilydentistry.com
Innovative Consumer Services
In business since 1906, a commitment to professionalism and customer service remains the cornerstone of Coldwell Banker’s business philosophy. The nation’s oldest real estate company, it is also the first national one to augment its web site for smart phones, create an iPhone application and fully harness the power of video in real estate listings, news and information. Social media through Facebook plays an integral part of the organization, touching old, new and future clients.
Coldwell Banker, Maplewood 145 Maplewood Avenue, Maplewood Village 973-378-8300 www.coldwellbankermoves.com
OPEN HOUSE matters
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mattersmagazine.com
Ellen and PJ DeCicco
Coldwell Banker 145 Maplewood Avenue, Maplewood 973-953-4428 Ellen’s cell 973-420-4401 PJ’s cell www.ellenandpj.com
Deep Roots
Ellen DeCicco is true blue South Orange, and represents a strong branch on one of the oldest family trees in the Village. DeCicco’s greatgrandparents emigrated from Ireland and settled in South Orange about 1895. One of eight children, DeCicco’s father served on the South Orange police force for 37 years and is credited for designing the police patch still used today. DeCicco’s work has become a family affair. Her son, P.J., a touring musician, played on the road with his former band, Armor for Sleep. He has now joined his mother in the “business.” That doesn’t mean P.J. gave up music; he plays with his new band, Love Automatic. DeCicco and her husband, Peter, have two more sons – Maurice, a wine consultant, and Jim, a personal trainer, whose studio is right upstairs from Coldwell Banker’s Maplewood office. The DeCicco’s are also the proud grandparents of Maurice’s children, Fenn, 3, (DeCicco’s maiden name is Fennessy) and Asher, 2.
Caroline Farnsworth Keller Williams Mid-Town Direct 181 Maplewood Avenue, Maplewood 973-698-0737 cell www.carolinefarnsworth.com
For Caroline Farnsworth, Manhattan had its perks for the young, successful professional. While living in Manhattan, this former senior vice president of a New York marketing firm enjoyed five-star dining, sophisticated culture and the luxury of getting to her office in a New York minute! But as the familiar story goes, Farnsworth looked at her growing children, Ally and Tyler, and felt that pull to suburbia. Maplewood was the perfect spot with its unique combination of small town warmth and big city savvy, and the Midtown Direct connection clinched the deal. Fourteen years later, Farnsworth has become enmeshed in the community as a realtor, board member and editor of the Maplewood Middle School newsletter, deacon at Prospect Church and avid cheerleader for her children’s lacrosse teams.
VILLAGE SQUARE, realtorS
Vanessa Pollock, realtor® 973-467-8522 office 917-723-4006 cell
[email protected] www.VanessaPollock.com Each Office Independently Owned and Operated.
New artists creating beautiful things for every occasion birthday... anniversary...
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Big City Living in Suburbia
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Maplewood Village 99 Baker St. Maplewood Village GirLS’ NiGHT OuT Fiesta Night www.thetenthmusegallery.com Thursday, June 16th at the Muse 973 313 2722 6:30- 9:30 pm Hours: Mon. - Sat. 10-6 • Late night Thurs. til 7:30 • Closed Sunday
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OPEN HOUSE matters
Summer 2011
Natalie Farrell
My goal is simply to make your dreams a reality.
Keller Williams Mid-Town Direct 181 Maplewood Avenue, Maplewood 917-514-7541 cell www.nataliefarrell.com
Find a wealth of information which will help get you started on building your dream at www.yourdreamhomenj.com
Valarie Tart-Williams Realtor®/Sales Associate
Cell: 973-641-3358
[email protected] 181 Maplewood Avenue Maplewood, NJ 07040 973-762-5400
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Fashion Forward
Natalie Farrell knows all about dressing for success. A film and photography major and graduate of The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, Natalie was a wardrobe stylist in the 90s, and she used her eye for style to dress high profile celebrities on television, movie sets and music videos. When Natalie, a native New Yorker, decided to start her family, she left the “Hollywood” scene in NYC, and moved to South Orange. The Farrell family is a double dose of creativity – Natalie’s husband, Marc, is a Director of Photography for the entertainment news show, Extra. Natalie also likes to cook, and her children, Julia, 15, and Isabel, 11, reap the benefits when she serves up specialties celebrating her Sicilian traditions. “I love living in this community – I feel I’m still working with celebrities and rock stars.”
Caroline Gosselin
Thank you to all our customers
Coldwell Banker 545 Millburn Avenue, Short Hills Interiors: 973-985-6117 cell • Remove wallpaper www.gosselinhomes.com • • •
Install wallpaper Skim coats Floor refinishing
Vive la Maplewood!
Caroline Gosselin was born in Texas to French parents. Her childhood was nothing short of a cultural smorgasbord, with summers spent between Dixie Dude ranches and France. After earning her masters in international affairs in Paris, she moved to New York City with her husband and spent several years as a program manager at a nonprofit, traveling coast to coast promoting the United Nations. In the years since making her home in Maplewood, Caroline has concentrated on raising her 4-year-old son Lucas, managing her busy real estate career and volunteering. She prides herself on being an involved and compassionate member of this community. She has honed her natural gift for networking by contributing her skills to many local organizations, serving on the board of the Maplewood Chamber of Commerce and as an officer of the Maplewood Rotary Club. Caroline is a big believer of grass roots effort promoting and supporting local business. She is also the co-founder of the local chapter for B.I.G. (Believe, Inspire, Grow), a women’s business support group, launching this summer.
OPEN HOUSE matters
Colleen and Matthew Kraus Coldwell Banker 145 Maplewood Avenue, Maplewood 973-222-4024 Colleen’s cell 973-477-8426 Matthew’s cell www.ColdwellBankerMoves.com/Colleen.Kraus
mattersmagazine.com
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Weichert’s #1 Agent in Maplewood and South Orange Again
Cheryl ‘Cherre’ Schwartz Sales Associate
“It’s no won der your clie nts write to me what a m tell agnificent jo b you’ve done for them.” -Jim Weicher t, P Weichert resident Realtors
Home is Where the Heart Is
Colleen Kraus not only sells homes, she opens doors for many neglected children in Essex County through her work at Essex County’s Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). CASA is an independent, court-authorized nonprofit organization that works through specially trained and supervised volunteers to promote the welfare of, and advocate for children involved in, troubled circumstances. Previously in the food service industry, Kraus was recruited to the real estate industry by her husband, George, Vice President of Coldwell Banker, Short Hills office. Today, she works with her oldest son, Matthew, who is following in his parents’ footsteps. The couple enjoys playing golf on the many public county courses in the area. Residents of Maplewood, daughter Maggie is a junior at Smith College in Massachusetts and son Robert (Bobby) is a high school student.
Simon Westfall-Kwong ReMax Village Square 508 Millburn Avenue, Short Hills 917-774-9242 cell www.simonkwong.com
High-Flying Fashion
Simon Westfall-Kwong spent as much time up in the air as he did on the ground during his nearly 20 year career as a Managing Director of Global Sourcing & Design for a major fashion house in New York City. Simon would jet to those great couture hot spots – Paris, Milan, Singapore, London, Hong Kong – and use his eye for color and sense of style to return with the latest trends to the U.S. fashion scene. But, there’s no place like home! The Short Hills resident really appreciates his “home,” and works hard to make sure his clients find their own home-sweet-home. When he is not thinking real estate, Kwong enjoys leisure travel to great destinations like Hawaii, Mexico and California – and doesn’t pass up the famous Jersey shore which he enjoys with his two daughters, Maleia and Leilani, and his partner of 16 years, John.
Jim Weichert
Maplewood Office 697 Valley Street
Office: 973-762-3300 If your property is currently listed with another broker, please disregard this advertisement. This is not an attempt to solicit.
Cell: 973-951-6665 See every home for sale at www.CherreSchwartz.com *According to REStats Inc., 12/31/10, compiled by GardenStateMLS
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Shakti Yoga & living arts Summer Monthly Unlimited Class Card $199 ~ from Memorial Day to Labor Day ~
Classes in a variety of styles for every-body. Free Community Class Sundays at 7 pm. Acupuncture, Massage, Somatics, Meditation & More 1861 Springfield Avenue • Maplewood • 973-763-2288 • www.shaktinj.com
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OPEN HOUSE matters
Summer 2011
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Judith “Judi” Langheld is a Newark native, but South Orange became her home-away-from-home. She fondly recalls her childhood experiences in South Orange as her grandfather’s “apprentice.” Langheld’s grandfather owned a tailor shop in the Village, and she would help with weekend deliveries around South Orange – passing by the lovely homes that she would someday help her clients buy and sell. A former schoolteacher, she has lived in Maplewood since 1979. An avid gardener, her passion for gardening “stemmed” from planting all the floral gifts presented to her over the years by her daughters Kristen and Jennifer. Today, her garden shines with the memories each flower represents and continues to flourish thanks to her husband, Jim Durkin, and her four grandchildren, twins Avery and Devin, 5, Kyle, 3 and Reagan, 6 months.
Judi Langheld
Remax Village Square 973-432-0411 cell www.jlangheld.ReMax-nj.com
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Did you know that chess players and realtors have a lot in common? Just ask R.J. Lennon, who is a real estate broker and business coach with Realty Executives. Like a seasoned chess player, a realtor needs to be knowledgeable of the craft – tactical, strategic, and patient. Lennon combines these skills when he engages in his favorite pastime, chess. He works with realtors to help them achieve real success in their business and in life. Whether it is the game of chess or real estate, Lennon looks at the whole board and knows his next move. He believes in the universal premise that everyone can win by sharing their own experiences and knowledge just as he does when coaching his peers. Lennon lives in South Orange with his life and business partner, Sharon Arnette, her daughter Shauna, and their two dogs, Hello Dolly and Pumpkin.
OPEN HOUSE matters
Francine Lichtman
Remax Village Square 508 Millburn Avenue, Short Hills 646-734-3718 cell
mattersmagazine.com
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Keynotes Senior Real Estate Specialist, SRES Designation - 2010 Remax NJ 100% Club Award - 2010 Experience &Quality Service
Top of the Pops
Fran Lichtman has mingled with some great music legends through the years – The Divine Miss M, Phil Collins, Robert Plant, and the one and only Mick Jagger, just to name a few. After starting her career in the music industry as an assistant in the production end, Lichtman broke through the glass ceiling to become a senior vice president at Atlantic Records in NYC. She circumnavigated the globe, promoting artists and marketing their great music to the masses. A native New Yorker who lived in Manhattan, her career brought her to what would become some of her favorite cities – including London, Bangkok, Stockholm, and Sydney. Lichtman settled in Maplewood nearly 10 years ago and brought her vast experience in sales, marketing and negotiating to her real estate career. She lives with her spouse, Randy Rabney, and their son, Alexander (known as “Zan”).
Stephanie Mallios Towne Realty Group 511 Millburn Avenue, Short Hills 201-404-1972 cell www.stephaniemallios.com
Small Town/Big Town
Stephanie Mallios hails from Washington, D.C., and while growing up had big dreams of moving from there (which seemed so small to her at the time) to New York City (which seemed so big to her at the time). As a child, Mallios knew most of the families who frequented her father’s restaurants. She then worked for C-SPAN in D.C. and wanting to spread her wings, so in 1987 came to New York City and a job in marketing with Showtime/The Movie Channel. She has now happily come full circle – to a community where everybody knows your name. But, it’s not all about the east coast for Mallios – her partner Sean Larkin has a bit of a commute to Napa Valley, California, where he is a wine maker – and their 5-year-old son, Jack, even has a wine named after him.
Judith “Judi” Langheld Broker/Sales Associate
Village Square
Each Office Independently Owned and Operated
973-763-3700 x114 Cell: (973) 432-0411
[email protected]
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OPEN HOUSE matters
Summer 2011
Second Act, Third Act
Gerry Nardone, a 50-year Maplewood resident, has worked in retail in South Orange since he was 14 years old. Upon returning from his service in the Korean conflict, Nardone pursued that American dream and bought the department store he had worked in since high school. For the next 20 years, he settled in and ran his shop. After closing the store in 1989, Nardone went to work as a sales representative for Comcast. In 2003, Nardone embarked on what was to be a “short flirt” with retirement. But, his wife, Patricia, had a different plan for Nardone – real estate. Nardone, a theater lover, founded The Baird Theatre in the South Orange Department of Recreation and Cultural Affairs. He has acted, directed and produced more than 90 shows in the facility.
Gerry Nardone Keller Williams Mid-Town Direct 181 Maplewood Avenue, Maplewood 201-463-7979 cell www.gerry.yourkwagent.com
Robert Northfield Coldwell Banker 145 Maplewood Avenue, Maplewood 973-275-3012 cell www.robertnorthfield.com
Real Estate by the Numbers
Robert Northfield knows the real estate business inside and out. While working as an accountant with a major real estate investment firm in New York City, he was mostly concerned with “crunching the numbers” and making sure all the columns added up. As time went on though, he became interested in the “buying and selling” side of the business. A lover of older homes – Northfield is drawn to their character and charm – he decided since he can’t own them all, he can at least have the opportunity to “walk through” and enjoy many prospects while providing excellent service to his clients. Northfield and his wife, Andrea (also a realtor), settled in Maplewood 16 years ago, and share their lives with their two children, 9-year-old Timothy, and 7-year-old Claire. Northfield’s idea of “getting away from it all” is traveling with his family and when time is limited, hopping on the Midtown Direct to the city for some leisurely sightseeing.
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OPEN HOUSE matters
mattersmagazine.com
Amy Paternite
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Coldwell Banker 145 Maplewood Avenue, Maplewood 917-442-5130 cell www.amypaternite.com
The Beat Goes On
Amy Paternite has been playing the piano since she was 5 years old, so it was only natural that she would find a career in the music industry. She began her career as a public relations professional, working for Polygram Records in New York City and for independent public relations firms, before opening her own publicity business in 1997. After she had her children, Carly, 11, and Sofie, 8, who have enjoyed their fair share of concerts in NYC, she moved to Maplewood from Brooklyn. Paternite’s husband, Ryan, is director of Birdland Jazz Club in Manhattan in addition to being a widely exhibited photographer. Paternite was introduced to the real estate business by her mother-in-law, a seasoned broker in Ohio and Indiana. Being a full time realtor and mother, Paternite looks forward to one day having spare time again but in the meantime races from work to activities for her children, including gymnastics, Irish step dancing and Synchroettes, the Essex County competitive synchronized ice-skating team.
Vanessa Pollock
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
ReMax Village Square 508 Millburn Avenue, Short Hills 917-723-4006 cell www.vanessapollock.com
Happy Feet
One needs to be fast on their feet in the real estate business. Vanessa Pollock two-stepped her way into the real estate business after being a professional dancer with ballet and modern dance companies across the country. A Texas native, Pollock moved to New York City with her husband, Charlie, to pursue their respective careers, and Vanessa joined other “starving artists” in the big city; first waiting tables – then modeling for elite brands, while her husband entertained audiences on the Broadway stage and then worked with Sirius Satellite Radio’s marketing department. Her fancy footwork was certainly on display when she accompanied her husband on a national Broadway show tour while pregnant with their son, Hudson. At the end of the tour, the couple settled in South Orange, where Pollock merged her two professional loves, house hunting and marketing. Today they are happily raising three young children, as Hudson has been joined by two sisters, Sloane and Stella.
Father’s Day CarDs • GraDUatION CarDs
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171 Maplewood Ave. Maplewood Village 973-762-0888 email:
[email protected] [email protected] www.maplewoodstationers.net www.maplewoodstationers.com
kitchen & bar Good Food. Good Music. Good People.
Join Us for Live Music at our Sunday Brunch Live Jazz on Mondays Party Room available for Showers, Christenings & Graduations!
177 Maplewood Avenue, Maplewood Village 973-327-2247 www.codamaplewood.com
You
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Summer 2011
OPEN HOUSE matters
Sally Rowe ReMax Village Square 201-618-1011 cell www.sallyrowe.com
Showing Her Hand Unique Handcrafted Gifts for All Occasions Wed – Sat 10-5:30 • Sun 11-4
YOUR NEW NEIGHBORHOOD BAKERYandPARTYSPACE Full line of birthday cakes, graduation cakes, communion cakes & cookies, and specialty desserts Photo and Logo Cookies Cake Balls The BEST Brownies! Party space for: Birthdays, Ladies’ Night Out, Fundraisers, Corporate Team Building Decorating classes and Fondant classes
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Sally Rowe hails from the “Show Me” state of Missouri, and when Rowe’s husband, Tom, was asked to relocate to New Jersey (for a twoyear assignment), they soon realized what a great community they had picked. Thirty years later, Rowe can’t imagine living anywhere else. She is proud to have added many families to these towns. They have made strong neighborhood ties since then, and Tom has joined his wife in the real estate business. The Rowes enjoy antiquing and Sally has been a member of a local bridge club, which has met once a month for the past 30 years – and although some friends have moved out of town, they can always depend on Rowe to keep them updated on the local good news. The Rowes have expanded their family – they recently rescued a 3-year-old black golden doodle named Sweetie, who is providing many hours of enjoyment.
Cherre and Eric Schwartz Weichert Realtors 697 Valley Street, Maplewood 973-951-6665 cell www.cherreschwartz.com
May The Schwartz Be With You
Cheryl “Cherre” Schwartz is not only successful (and competitive) on dry land, her salt water fly-fishing prowess has earned her seven world records in the Ladies Division of the International Game Fish Association. And as a firm believer in animal rights (whether on land or in the water), Schwartz practices the “catch and release” method of fishing. Schwartz is very active in The Humane Society and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). She is the proud owner of three rescue dogs: David, Barbara and Richard. Real estate plays a prominent role in the Schwartz family, as both Schwartz’s father and her son, Eric, who works with her, are very successful realtors with Weichert. A Syracuse University graduate with a bachelor of fine arts in fashion design and marketing, Schwartz was in her early career the youngest buyer at Macy’s. Her daughter, Melanie, is following in a different set of her mother’s footsteps as a fashion designer in New York City.
OPEN HOUSE matters
Job 25789 | Colleen Kraus Maplewood Mag Ad | 4.675 x 5.625 mattersmagazine.com
Valarie Tart-Williams Keller Williams Midtown Direct 181 Maplewood Avenue, Maplewood 973-641-3358 cell www.YourDreamHomeNJ.com
Today’s Technology Has Not Replaced Face To Face Real Estate Sales, Only Enhanced It.
Tea For Two
South Orange resident Valarie TartWilliams was running with the bulls and the bears on Wall Street for most of her professional career-“buying low and selling high” as they say. Tart-Williams decided that basically the market is the market – whether you’re on Wall Street or Maplewood Avenue. So she traded up to the real estate market and now uses her eye to spot the right property for her clients. An avid tea lover, you can find Valarie and her husband, Leonard, many evenings sipping tea at the local tea and coffee shops around town. Her real estate career is quite demanding of her time, so spending quality time with her children, Marcus, a student at Syracuse University and Bryanna, a graduating eighth grader at South Orange Middle, is of utmost importance to her. So as they have done for many years, they will spend their family vacation on Martha’s Vineyard relaxing and enjoying each other’s company.
Towne Realty Group
511 Millburn Avenue, Short Hills 973-376-8300 www.TRGhome.com
31
Work With Agents Who Can Provide Both!
COLLEEN KRAUS
MATTHEW T. KRAUS
Broker Sales Associate Cell: (973) 222-4024
[email protected]
Sales Associate Cell: (973) 477-8426
[email protected]
Selling Maplewood and South Orange since 1993, one yard at a time. • Unparalleled market knowledge • Advanced negotiation skills adds value to your transaction • Rapid response or delivery of information by your preferred method of communication, text, phone, email or social networking 145 Maplewood Avenue Maplewood, NJ 07040 (973) 378-8300 ColdwellBankerMoves.com
Snap this QR code with your smart phone for additional information.
©2011 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.
The Fur Salon "s ge ra
to
Custom & Ready Made Storage Cleaning Glazing Alterations
ld "Co
• • • • •
15 Village Plaza, South Orange
973-763-2283
Doesn’t your child deserve academic excellence in an attentive, caring atmosphere?
Find Your Way Home With Towne.
Towne Realty Group prides itself on listening to clients’ needs and keeping them well-informed and knowledgeable about the real estate market in their towns of choice. Providing detailed financial information and counseling continue to be the hallmark, while remaining fair, honest and professional. “We follow the Golden Rule,” says Broker-Owner Karen Eastman Bigos, pictured here with business partner, Daniel Cannizzo, and Broker of Record, Carolee Jones. “Striving to build clients for life is our motto!”
Register now for 2011/2012 • Please call the office to schedule your personal tour. ENROLL NOW for our SummER Camp, celebrating its 25th yEaR
State Certified teachers, Pre-school – 8th, Core Curriculum Courses; Early Childhood Program, Full & Half day sessions; Vibrant Religion Program; Computer & Science Lab; Media Center; Music; Art; Phys. Ed.; Spanish; Extracurricular Activities; Before/After School Care Programs; Summer Camps; Accredited by Middle States Association
Aquinas Academy – St. Philomena Parish – 388 South Livingston Avenue, Livingston, New Jersey 07039 – 973-992-1587 – Sr. Lena Picillo, O.P., Principal
32
OPEN HOUSE matters
Summer 2011
Weichert Realtors 697 Valley Street, Maplewood 973-762-3300 www.weichert.com/maplewood
The Sign of a Smart Move.
Start by understanding what is involved and get the right answers from Weichert. From setting a pricing strategy to attracting buyers to negotiating an agreement, it’s much more involved than merely planting a For Sale sign on your lawn. Independent research ranks Weichert.com among the top 1% percent of all real estate broker websites with an average of 100,000 visits per day. Weichert ensures maximum exposure on major search engines to make their listings easy to find. Whether you’re a first-time seller or you have plenty of experience, you’re bound to have questions. The knowledgeable and helpful Weichert neighborhood specialists, who specialize in selling homes in our area, are critical and paramount.
Allison Ziefert
Park Wood
D I N E R •
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A warm and caring environment for young children for over 30 years. Thelma K. Reisman
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SCHEDULE A VISIT. SEE FOR YOURSELF. SANDY SACHS, DIRECTOR 973-763-0113 •
[email protected] 222 Irvington Avenue • South Orange, NJ
Coldwell Banker 545 Millburn Avenue, Short Hills 917-751-0448 cell www.allisonziefert.com
Building Blocks
Allison Ziefert has a passion for places and how they work. Fascinated with community development, old buildings and the construction process, Ziefert’s professional blueprint led her to a masters degree in urban planning and historic preservation, and eventually into real estate. A founding member of the Maplewood Village Alliance, a nonprofit downtown management organization for Maplewood Village, Ziefert has a long history of involvement in Maplewood. She prides herself on her knowledge of the town and surrounding communities and sees real estate as a means of strengthening them by improving properties, businesses and neighborhoods. A resident of Maplewood for 15 years, she lives in her dream home with her husband, Jon, and three children, William, 15, Nate, 11, and Sylvie, 6.
mattersmagazine.com
33
Market Ready THE GO-TO LIST
Olger Fallas Painting
Classic Construction
973-885-1461 www.olgerfallaspainting.com
973-762-5604 www.classicconstructionservice.com
World of Colors
973-313-2338
[email protected]
Jason Levesque Homes 973-761-1200 www.levesquehomes.com
Decorative Painting & Wallpapering
Home Design Studios 973-762-7603 www.drfixitstudios.com
R & G Custom Carpentry, Roofing and Siding
The Decorating Store
732-422-6498 www.decorativepainting andwallpapering.com
973-324-9461
[email protected]
ALS Staging + Design
908-688-9416 www.thedecoratingstore-tme.com
973-747-2369 www.alsstagingplusdesign.com
L’Entrepot Design
Dr. Fix It
973-610-2580 www.lentrepotdesign.com
973-762-7603 www.drfixitstudios.com
Skillman Doors
St Clair Kitchens
973-762-5885 www.skillmandoors.com
973-762-9500 www.stclairkitchenandhome.com
Advantage Pest Control 973-736-1007 www.advantagepestcontrol.com
C.T. Williams & Sons Plumbing and Heating 973-761-6142
Valentine & Co. Plumbing 973-309-4404 www.valentine-plumbing.com
Millstone Garden Center 1 Pierson Road 973-763-6633
Thornhill Home Electronics 973-762-0200 www.thornhillonline.com
Big Business Scoopers 973-379-7995 www.BigBusinessScoopers.com
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Summer 2011
Now carrying KISSES
Thanks to all who participated in the MayFest Hershey Kiss Count The total count was 1063 Congratulations to all the winners!
Trimarco Jewelers
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family-run business for 60 years
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You are Safe in Our Hands
KIM’S Nail & Spa
173 Maplewood Ave, Maplewood Village
•
In our salon, Sterilization and Sanitation is our top priority.
•
Our instruments are HospitalGrade Sterilized to inactivate all fungi, bacteria, viruses and also bacterial spores.
•
A fresh sealed Sterilization pouch is opened in front of you.
•
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How does your garden grow?
T. 973-763-9949
Two Perfect Spots
for showers, christenings, communions, rehearsal dinners, or any wonderful special occasion!
La Piazza T r aT T o r ia 662 Passaic Avenue Nutley 973-667-4521
www.casa-piazza.com
La Piazza
Sowing little seeds with Maplewood Garden Club’s Youth Gardening Program
T r aT T o r ia
101 Newark Pompton Turnpike Little Falls 973-256-0005
STORY AND PHOTOS BY KRISTEN RYAN
mattersmagazine.com
Good Food 011 2 r e m m Su ood w e l p a M
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Look who came to Towne! Stephanie Mallios ReALToR® office: 973.376.8300 x291 Cell: 201.404.1972 email:
[email protected] www.StephanieMallios.com
Presenting Our Listings in Maplewood
T
Tucked behind Maplewood Town Hall is a bustling community garden with three enormous greenhouses and more than 50 outdoor beds. Some of the delicate seedlings are tended by children as young as 3, and their harvest makes a real impact on our community. On Saturday morning s the Maplewood Garden Club’s Youth Gardening Program offers free gardening activities for children ages 3-8. Led by biology teacher and
www.17oakland.com Above: Renee Birnbaum tries out her homemade binoculars in the Maplewood greenhouse.
LoCATion, LoCATion, LoCATion!
The Top- LuxuRy Condo
First time offered, steps to Maplewood Village, NYC trains, parks & Tuscan Elementary School. Charming, classic 1922 colonial with many authentic details including hardwood floors with inlaid ribbon trim. $419,000
Elegant 2 BR, 2 marble baths, Master bedroom w/2walk-in closets, 1410 sq feet of glamorous living space, cherry wd flrs. Luxurious amenities including 24hr concierge, doorman & valet parking, gym, indoor pool & spa. $395,000
Go to www.TRGhome.com and see all listings
Below: Youth gardening director Monika Hannemann shows Yael how to “tickle” the roots to loosen the soil.
horticulturist Monika Hannemann, the children use handmade toiletpaper-roll binoculars for scavenger hunts in the greenhouses. Some don tiny pink garden gloves when they dig in the soil.
www.616SoorangeAve3e.com
511 Millburn Ave • Short Hills, NJ 07078 • 973.376.8300 Independently Owned & Operated, Towne Realty Group, LLC. Licensed Realtors
THE HUDSON SCHOOL
Grades 5—12 • Founded 1978 • Coeducational Day School
Open House October 15, 2011 • • • • • • • •
Highest Academic and Ethical Standards Small Classes Dedicated and Professional Faculty International Student Body Computer and Technology Courses Challenging College Preparatory Curriculum AP Courses Art, Drama, Instrumental Music, Choral and Dance Instruction • Modern and Classical Languages • Community Service Required • Athletics and Team Sports
For the intellectually curious student who loves to learn and doesn’t mind a bit of hard work.
Accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
601 Park Avenue • Hoboken, NJ 07030 • 201-659-8335 • www.thehudsonschool.org
ACT! DANCE! SING!
Whether it’s a single class or an entire performing arts curriculum, at PTW each child receives individual attention from a faculty with expert credentials: Julliard, Yale Drama School and countless B’way credits. PTW is located in Maplewood.
973-327-2250 PTWonline.com
Exciting classes for ages 3-18 Stage & TV Acting, Voice, Hip Hop, Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Comedy & Improv, Piano, Guitar, Shows, Broadway Showcases and more! Summer Camp 2011. Fall 2011
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Summer 2011 After School : A stimulating place for schoolage children and youth. Homework completion is the first priority where students receive assistance. Saturday Youth and Adult Classes: Students experience the marketing, and selling, of a self-designed comic book. Learn the nuances of royalties from sales of any merchandise or book signings that feature their character.
gram, pport pro of u s g in n r a ion exciting le through the creat . n a is s ic OOK FUN 12Com d COMIC B EARNING MAKING L M SUPERHERO an a CUSTO 12Comics Inc. “Education via Custom Comics !” 73 Third Street ■ South Orange, NJ ■ 862-216-2705
headshot portrait & event
Summer Camp: Students spend the day developing custom superheroes, comic books and short films.
■
photography
www.12comics.com
©iStockphoto.com/KumonCreativeServices
ENROLL TODAY AND DIVE INTO SUMMER LEARNING AT KUMON. The first months of the school year should be a time for moving forward, not catching up. Kumon Math and Reading keeps children’s minds active, so they can hit the ground running. Summer 2011
FREE
Registration!* (up to $50 value)
An Academic Enrichment Program
Get started between June 1st and July 15th and we’ll waive the Registration fee. *Valid at participating Kumon Centers only. Must present ad to receive the FREE Registration offer. Offer valid between 6/1/11 - 7/15/11.
KUMON OF SOUTH ORANGE 973-327-4737
Preschool Through 12th Grade
yasmeenphoto.com
76 South Orange Avenue, Suite LL-04 South Orange, NJ 07079
©2011 Kumon North America, Inc.
917.575.2984
M
Matters A
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Back to School
creative senior photo E
and boy do we have some GREAT stories to share!
Look for it August, 2011
sessions are the perfect grad gift
mattersmagazine.com
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WINE • LIQUOR • CORDIALS • BEER
All Wines
Mix and Match 6 bottles: 10% off 12 bottles: 20% off
Right: Christopher Jay Gardenhire-Crooks gets his soil ready for seeds.
750 ml size only • excludes sale items 3 Highland Place • Maplewood Village • 973-763-6377 • www.maplewoodwineliquor.com
Below: Parents and children frequently collaborate on their projects. Niv Ben-Adi and his son,Yael BenAdi, plant radishes and carrot seeds.
This is her first year with the Youth Gardening Program, but Hannemann jumped right in with the enthusiasm and creativity of a committed teacher. In March the children planted seeds in the greenhouse. In April they prepared the beds and diagrammed their future crops. In May they planted the seedlings. They will continue planting, tending and harvesting the fruits of their labors every Saturday through the end of the growing season. “Monika clearly has an amazing horticultural background and knowledge, as well as amazing energy and the ability to interact with kids of any age,” according to Amanda Birnbaum, mother of 3-year-old gardener Renee Gerstmann. “She’s patient and finds the kids’ way in, whatever that is.” The 10 outdoor beds dedicated to the Youth Gardening Program are brand new, the product of a generous donation from Home Depot. “That’s decking material made from recycled plastic bottles,” says Hannemann. “Because we’re 100 percent organic here,
they’re perfect for us – without the chemicals you get with treated lumber.” The students love to share their accomplishments with siblings and friends, and they look forward to their time in the garden. It also gives parents a chance to spend time with their kids and to work on a project together. “We love planting,” Birnbaum says. “We started last winter after having another baby. It’s nice, special time together. Every week Renee asks, ‘Is it time for planting class ? When do we get to go to the garden?’” Other Garden Club members enjoy volunteering in the Youth Garden. They get right in there with the kids and get their hands dirty. “ We feel that if you get kids interested in gardening, they will change interests in their teens, but so often they come back to gardening,” explains David Nial, past president of the Garden Club. “Get kids interested and they’ll come back to it later in life.” Hannemann and the Garden Club volunteers offer kids more than the chance to get mud under their fingernails. They help develop social skills, self-esteem and a respect for the natural world.
Any Pest – Anytime – Anywhere
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973-736-1007
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Health & Wellness Coaching Create a Lifestyle YOU Can Live With • Individual Coaching • Weight Management Groups • Motivational Speaking
Risa Olinsky, M.A.
www.risaolinsky.com 973.761.5758 108 Baker Street, Maplewood
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Summer 2011
For more information on the Youth Garden Program, please visit www. maplewoodgardenclub.org. To volunteer or donate to the Food Pantry at Our Lady of Sorrows, call 973-763-5454.
“I think it’s important for kids to know where their food comes from. It ties into our nutrition, our physical health and our mental health. There are just so many great reasons to be working with our hands outdoors. Besides, it’s fun!” - Monika Hannemann
Family owned since 1902 We manufacture on premises • Green Mattresses • Two-sided Mattresses 973-761-1100 fax: 973-378-3464 1933 Springfield Ave. Maplewood, NJ
Four year olds Renee Birnbaum and Ariel Harrington ready the soil for seeds.
Name brands available Personalized Service Great Selection www.mycustombedding.com
They also feed hundreds of families. Last year the Youth Gardening Program donated 350 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables to the Food Pantry at Our Lady of Sorrows, in South Orange, which gives out more than 100 bags of groceries to local families every week. The produce is an unusual and appreciated donation. “Their impact is great because a lot of low-income families don’t have the mentality or the resources to get fresh produce,” says Mary Beth Zichelli, coordinator of the Food Pantry. “They don’t go for fresh vegetables or fresh fruit because in their minds it’s cheaper to buy canned foods.” Zichelli explained that many families don’t know how to prepare fresh foods, so the Food Pantry provides recipes for the produce from the Youth Garden. They also appreciate receiving food donations instead of cash. “It’s a huge help for us because it
can be hard for us to go to a store and get the produce,” Zichelli says. “It’s good for us and helps the low-income families have an appreciation for fresh vegetables and fruit.” The Youth Gardening Program also teaches its young participants the value of community service. Each year Zichelli invites the Youth Garden volunteers to help hand out food at the Food Pantry so they get to meet some of people they helped. The children who grow the produce also have an appreciation for fresh veggies. Christopher Jay Gardenhire-Crooks, 5, a Youth Garden volunteer, likes to eat lettuce, chard, tomatoes and tiny potatoes he grows himself. As he exuberantly puts it, “Then we don’t have to spend a lot of money – and it makes you strong!” Kristen Ryan, who lives in Maplewood, is still trying not to kill the tiny, fragile Swiss chard plant the children gave her for her own garden.
mattersmagazine.com
AND WE’RE LIVE
39
Check out this Summer issue of Matters Magazine now online. We will print, we still mail, but now you can catch up on issues you’ve missed or pass it along to out of town friends and neighbors. It’s just more of what you love. More Matters. Missed the Spring
Matters
M
A
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Meet the Shopkeepers
or Winter issue?
They’re both now online too. Spring 2011
See more about your favorite advertisers, and enjoy additional features in our MORE Matters section. Log on to mattersmagazine.com
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Summer 2011
4thof July
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World of Colors Professional Painters
Interior and Exterior Painting
973-313-2338
Kindermusik (from birth to age 7) Art & Theater Classes Birthday Parties
Drop-In Art & Play Summer Camp Toy & Gift Shop
1677 Springfield Avenue, Maplewood 973-762-6575
www.jazzberries.yourvirtuoso.com
[email protected]
It’s a full day of family fun organized by the Fourth of July Committee and the Maplewood Civic Association. Tags are required for admission, especially to the circus, music and fireworks ($10 per tag, babes in arms free). Tags are available at Maplewood’s Town Hall clerk’s office, libraries (Main and Hilton branches) and recreation department (Town Hall and DeHart Park) and local merchants. On July Fourth, tickets will be sold in Memorial Park at the evening event entrance gates. The day begins at 7:45 a.m. at Ricalton Square with the flag salute and national anthem and a parade concluding in Memorial Park in time for the 9 a.m. dashes & relay races. Ribbons will be awarded. Morning concessions will be available near the skate house. From 9 to 9:40 a.m. is the fourth annual Fourth of July 5K Run, which starts and finishes on Oakview Avenue near the field house. Walk to the kids’ art project at 10 a.m. (downhill from the Maplewood Station). Ice cream eating contests begin at 11 a.m. in the picnic area next to playground (Maplewood residents K-12 and adults) and ribbons will be awarded. Baking contest entries need to be at Town Hall between 9 and 9:30 a.m. for the 11:30 a.m. judging. At 12 noon, in front of the main library, will be the pet show. Play (or watch) adult softball at the athletic field opposite Town Hall from 12 to 3 p.m. Also starting at noon, downhill from the Maplewood train station, you’ll find the kids’ percussion forest. The Circus performs at 1, 3:30 and 6 p.m., under the big top, rain or shine, firstcome, first-served. There are no reserved seats and seating is limited, so line up early! This old-fashioned, small traditional family circus features acrobats, dancing, juggling, clowning and dog and pony shows. There are pony and camel rides, ship slide and moon bounce attractions and food concessions at extra charge. Come to the lawn (opposite town hall) at 4 p.m. until fireworks for live music featuring local young and adult bands. Picnic and get ready for the fireworks: ice cream will be on sale; hotdogs, soda and snacks will be sold by Maplewood Boy Scout Troop 5. The fireworks are scheduled for 9 p.m. C o n s i d e r helping this year! For information about volunteering, tickets and events, call chairman, Paul Appelgren, 973275-1665 x 101 or e-mail www. maplewoodonline. com/cg/july4. Happy 4th to all!
businessmatters
Value Added A new resource that’s a key to success
41
mattersmagazine.com
• Additions • Kitchens • Bathrooms • Basements • Decks • Windows
• Renovations • Ceilings • Plastering • Doors • Porches • Tiling
Call Ian for a free estimate www.classicconstructionservice.com
973 762 5604
532 ProsPeCt street, MaPlewood, NJ
BY MARY JO MALONE
“How can I help you?” R.J. Lennon asks everyone he meets, and he’s well known for making sure he’s introduced. His positive enthusiasm is compelling and infectious. One can’t help but be swept into his overall good will and his sound business approach, engaging, connecting and encouraging others even when he’s just walking along South Orange Avenue. “It’s about providing value, being a resource for others,” says Lennon, who has returned to South Orange to re-open his innovative boutique real estate agency. Along with his partner in life and business, Sharon Arnette, a New York City business owner and realtor, Lennon plans to change the paradigm of real estate as a part-time profession. Their mission is to empower their Realty Executives agents with resources and tools to make real estate a sustainable career. The agency will provide “a virtual assistant” for each agent to handle all administrative and marketing duties as well as weekly one-on-one business coaching sessions. “There’s no doubt that realtors are feeling beaten given the past few years, but despite this market they can still be successful,” says Lennon. “They just need the right type of coaching and resources that give them more time be out in the community.” Utilizing his MBA and extensive sales management experience, Lennon developed a “mastermind” accountability coaching program called “The CEO’s Journal” to help business owners create a roadmap for their success – in Lennon’s words, “a GPS system for your business.” Arnette’s role will be leveraging her city business and Wall Street contacts, as well as her experience in northern New Jersey, to bring more diverse groups of buyers into the Essex County marketplace. As she puts it, “We believe in fostering not only our agents’ businesses but adding value to our clients and colleagues in the community, by sharing ideas, expertise and contacts.” Realty Executives is located at 14 South Orange Avenue in South Orange. Call 973-519-0042, or email them at
[email protected]. South Orange residents Linda Thibideau and Caryn Krueger, owners of CSM Art & Frame at 25b Commerce Street in Chatham, will host Images of Love NJ, a photo auction, on June 10 from 6:30-9 p.m. The auction will benefit LOVE (Leave Out Violence), an organization that helps eliminate violence in the lives of youth and their communities by initiating a movement of youth spokespeople who communicate a message of nonviolence. For tickets to the event call 201-486-5899 or visit www.csmart.com. Also visit www.leaveoutviolence-us.org.
as
staging + design
arlene l. sommer
RA, CID, CSP, RESA
48 North Terrace, Maplewood, NJ 07040 P: 973.747.2369 www.alsstagingplusdesign.com
[email protected]
55 Academy Street, South Orange NJ
REGISTER NOW FOR SUMMER CAMP Call for details
42
finalmatters
Summer 2011
Summer Ball
“Mom, it’s a run, not a point.” Confessions of a clueless baseball mother.
M
BY LAURI BLINDER ROTHSTEIN
My son is on the pitcher’s mound, bases are loaded, and the game is tied. The batter walks (this much I understand). The look on his face breaks my heart. I dab at my eyes and then watch the magic unfold. I feel pity and sadness, but what I hear from his teammates is, “That’s okay, Ben,” “Shake it off, Ben,” “You know you’re a great pitcher, Ben.” And after the inning, from the sideline I see back slaps, high-fives, and more words of encouragement. And I am in awe. And then I get it. I am not sure whether it is his age, 11, the intensity of summer travel baseball or the excellent coaching that he has received over the years (or, most likely, some combination thereof), but when my son proudly suits up in his Villagers uniform, he is not just ready to play the game that he loves. He is ready to be a friend, to support his teammates, to forgive himself, and to win with humility or lose with grace. I said “yes” with cautious reluctance to the hours and hours of driving, to sitting through three hour games in 90-degree heat, and to countless “dinners” eaten in the car, because I wanted my son to be able to play the game for which he has been so passionate since his T-ball days. What I did not anticipate was how much I would enjoy watching him. I marvel at the lessons he has learned through this experience, and as I eat cold pizza and try to entertain my younger, very bored child, I take a quantum leap into my son’s future. And in that vision, he is well-equipped with coping mechanisms, the seeds of empathy and two feet firmly planted on the ground (or at least on the pitcher’s mound)! Suddenly, a game of baseball has taken on a whole new meaning. While I still don’t have a great understanding of the mechanics of the game, I now have a profound understanding of the life skills that my son and, I imagine, all of the other boys and girls playing organized sports are destined to acquire along the way. And I will try my best, next season, to congratulate Ben on scoring a run, not a point. South Orange mom Lauri Blinder Rothstein will be cheering on her son, and all of his Villagers teammates this summer.
Now Open in South Orange!! Great Rates! Great Service! Come visit us to learn about our specials for business and consumer banking. Located at:
75 SOUTH ORANGE AVE. SOUTH ORANGE, NJ 07079 HOURS OF OPERATIONS 973.313.0232 Mon.-Thurs.: 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. isbnj.com Member FDIC
CBMaplewood
friend us for a real estate difference
ROBERT NORTHFIELD
JOANNE SOCKLE
DOMINICK OTTOMANELLI
ANGEL CALVOSA
AMY PATERNITE
JANET SCHOENER
JESSICA ESTREICHER
ELLEN DECICCO
KOBI JOSEFSBERG
LISA VICK
LUZ HART
TINA ERWAY
ROSA STUCCI
PJ DECICCO
MARIE ALMAGNO
COLLEEN KRAUS
DEBBIE LONGENECKER
BEN GARRISON
DONNA DICKSON
GINNY SPIEGEL
FRANK SPERANZA
KAREN BASEDOW
KAREN PALAITIS
JILL SOCKWELL
MATT KRAUS
THOMAS VILARDI
AVA MARTIN
MIRIAM MITCHELL
MONICA ROSS
PAT ROSS
RUTH LANDA
SUSAN PALMAFFY
STACIE LEVY
SUSAN BLODGETT
#1 Market Leading Sales Associates Team in Maplewood & South Orange www.ColdwellBankerMoves.com/Maplewood
Gregory Calvosa, Joan Durkin, Chris Dickson, Thomas Loeffel, Ian Japinga, Laurie Joffe, Gloria Grabois, Ninon Thomson, Andrea Northfield, Gloria Garafulich-Grabois Rob McKee BVP, Dawn Bernheim, Steven King, Carol Baker, Paige Heyman. 2011 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Coldwell Banker is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Owned and Operated by NRT LLC. All sales information obtained from the GSMLS. All information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. Subject to errors and omissions.
