The Connections Bridgewater Somerville Edition April/May 2023

THE BRIDGEWATER-SOMERVILLE CONNECTION PAGE 6 theconnectionsnj.com APRIL/MAY 2023 Spring is here to make our days better, brighter, and warmer. Be sure to take the time to enjoy the warm sunshine, smell the roses, and shop local! When the new issue comes out, I love to sit on my porch on a beautiful spring morning with my coffee and read about all the wonderful businesses-delicious restaurants, stores with quality and unique merchandise, and shops with superior service. Because these establishments are LOCAL, they are able to provide us with personalized service and attention. We are lucky enough to live in an area that has the ability to provide a wide array of small businesses waiting to serve us and welcome us into their stores! In this issue, we are proud to celebrate WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES! We take our hats off to these female entrepreneurs, armed with strength and determination, to work hard and sail through tough times, to see opportunities to launch new businesses. Take a look at the Women-Owned Directory and see how many of the small businesses in our towns are owned by women. Please join me, as a female business owner, in honoring and supporting them. Give yourself a spring treat; visit the Mansion in May at Three Fields in Mendham. It is a must-attend event, showcasing forty-four of the area’s top interior and landscape designers. Mansion in May runs through the entire month of May. To learn more, read the article, “Premier Interior and Landscape Designers Come Together for Mansion in May 2023 at Three Fields”, by Barbara Gallo. Check out our Community News column to discover how America’s Grow-a-Row is helping so many people less fortunate than us. They expect to serve more than 100,000 people this year through their produce donation, volunteer, and education programs. Please consider donating or volunteering; read the article to find out how you can help. And remember-giving is so much more rewarding than receiving. Our cover symbolizes the epitome of spring. This beautiful watercolor piece was painted by Ethan Szeman, a student at Somerville High School. I love the combination of purples and greens he chose to use. Ethan says, “I use art as a way to express myself, as well as my interests.” Learn more about Ethan by reading his bio on page 8. We thank our readers who love reading our PRINT magazines and also thank those who can easily navigate the vast DIGITAL space to enjoy the issue. To make it easier for our digital readers, there is a FREE digital subscription. Get instant access, anytime and anywhere! The subscription link is: theconnectionsnj.com/subscribe-to-our-magazines. Sincerely, Anna Petro, Publisher HIGHLIGHTS... Disclaimer: The views expressed in the articles are the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Connection Magazines. We publish all advertisements, editorials, and other content in good faith. We cannot guarantee or accept any liability for the accuracy of the claims made by our advertisers. PUBLISHED BY Connection Magazine, LLC • P.O. Box 4081 • Warren, NJ 07059 908-903-1799 • info@theconnectionsnj.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS... Gail Bicknell, ASID, CAPS, Barbara Gallo, Carolyn Hanson, Susan Kalfaian, Joanne Kleinle, Ellyn Mantell, Dr. Michael Osit, Elise Prezant, Dan Rosenberg, Dr. Vincent Sferra, Johanna Wiseman A NOTE FROM OUR PUBLISHER... ON THE COVER Ethan Szeman . ...................................................... Page 8 CONNECTION COMMENDS Blooming Hearts Child Development Center...... Page 27 EDITORIALS Creative Corner..................................................... Page 12 Community New-JFS............................................. Page 14 SPRING SECTION........................................... Pages 16-23 Ask the FurrierSchultz & Blaustein................................................ Page 16 WOMEN OWNED DIRECTORY..................... Pages 24-25 KIDZ CONNECTION SECTION. .................... Pages 26-28 Family Adventures................................................. Page 26 HOME & DESIGN SECTION.......................... Pages 29-37 Community NewsMansion in May...................................................... Page 30 Hints for the HomeFair Street Interiors............................................... Page 31 Real Estate Corner. ............................................... Page 32 Home ImprovementsFleetwood Kitchens............................................... Page 33 SENIOR LIVING SECTION............................. Pages 38-39 Slice of Life............................................................. Page 38 Senior Corner......................................................... Page 38 Random Connections. ........................................... Page 40 Community NewsAmerica’s Grow-A-Row. ........................................ Page 40 HEALTH & WELLNESS SECTION.................. Pages 41-45 Mind the Mind....................................................... Page 42 Health Hotline-NMR.............................................. Page 43 COMMUNITY CALENDAR............................. Pages 46-47 HOUSES OF WORSHIPFaith, Hope, Joy.................................................... Page 48 WE'RE HIRING! BECOME A PART OF OUR TEAM Advertising Sales Rep Needed send resume to: info@theconnectionsnj.com See more details on page 14 Founded by the Late Robin Fand THE CONNECTION'S TEAMWELCOMES SPRING! OFFICE MANAGER Donna Reina EDITORIAL & PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Georgeann Agaisse SOCIAL MEDIA & PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Heather Silver ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Patty Herman ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Alicia Singman Somewhere in this Magazine is a FAKE AD. Spot it and send your answer, name, city and phone number to: Spotthefake@theconnectionsnj.com or play online at theconnectionsnj.com Congratulations to everyone that spotted Penelope’s Poetic Pen in our February issue! AND THE WINNER IS… Anthony Celi of Raritan. Anthony received a gift certificate to Next Level 2 Barbershop. SPOT THE FAKE!

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