THE BRIDGEWATER-SOMERVILLE CONNECTION PAGE 6 APRIL/MAY 2024 Sticks Cigars Page 12 Blithe Travel Inc Page 14 Jewish Family Service Page 25 Vital Brain & Spine Page 35 Psychiatric & Behavioral Health Solutions Page 36 Marjorie St.Clair Marjorie has lived in Martinsville with her husband for over 30 years. It is where they raised their son; who currently lives with his family in London. She spent over 40 years as a teacher of special needs children, mostly in the Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District. While there, she received The Council for Learning Disabilities "Outstanding Teacher" for North America award. In those days, her art forays were limited to bulletin boards and illustrations for teaching! Upon her retirement, she enrolled in art classes at OLLI-RU (Osher Lifelong Learning at Rutgers U.) and online classes while working as a private tutor and all of that changed. Her main focus is now watercolors, acrylics, and ink. Her work represented Somerset County and was displayed in the New Jersey State Senior Art Show. THE CONNECTION MAGAZINES TEAM Donna Reina, Georgeann Agaisse, Heather Silver, Patty Herman, Alicia Singman Somewhere in this magazine is aFAKE AD. Spot it and send your answer, along with your name, city or town and phone number to: spotthefake@theconnectionsnj.com or play online at theconnectionsnj.com TheWINNERof the Snowby Fake Ad in our February issue is Loreli Stochaj of Bridgewater. Loreli won a gift certificate to Doyle's Farm. SPOT THE FAKE! 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 liability for the accuracy of the claims made by the advertisers. ON OUR COVER Highlights... As we welcome the arrival of spring, we are delighted to present to you the latest edition of the Bridgewater-Somerville Connection. This issue is dedicated to celebrating the beauty of nature’s new blossoms, the excitement of new growth, and the joy of warm weather. Spring is a time of renewal and rejuvenation, and what better way to embrace this spirit than by exploring the new businesses that have recently opened their doors. Whether you are in search of a cozy café for a leisurely afternoon, a boutique filled with the latest fashion trends, a wellness center to nurture your body, or a designer to help update and brighten your home, our local advertisers have something for everyone. In addition to celebrating the arrival of spring, we are thrilled to announce that this issue will be dedicated to highlighting Woman-Owned Businesses. We want to take this opportunity to recognize and honor the incredible women who have shown tremendous dedication, passion and perseverance in their entrepreneurial endeavors. As a fellow business owner, it’s truly inspiring to see the hard work and dedication of other women in the business world. We’re honored to have them featured in this issue, and we support and stand by them in their entrepreneurial journey. Take a look at our Women-Owned Directory and see how many small businesses in our towns are owned by women. Together, we can uplift and empower one another to achieve greater success. These entrepreneurs have entrusted us with spreading the word about their ventures, inviting you to patronize their establishments. Let’s come together and show our support for them. We encourage you to take the time to peruse this issue and discover the hidden gems that await you in our community. Our Community News column features the good works of nourish.NJ. With the rise in families su ering food insecurity, this non-profit’s work is more important than ever. For nearly 40 years, nourish.NJ has been providing relief to those su ering from hunger, homelessness, and poverty. Read the column to learn more about the upcoming golf fundraiser and how to volunteer or donate. Discover where you can “Sail the Local Seas,” by reading our Family Adventures column by Joanne Kleinle. The Raritan Yacht Club is local and o ers several programs including the Learn to Sail Program. Although the sailing season is from May to October, the clubhouse is open all year long and o ers many activities and events. The vibrant flowers on our cover were painted by local artist, Marjorie St. Clair. The medium is watercolor and pen. I was struck by the lovely spring colors-reds, pinks, purples, yellows, and greens-popping o the page. Marjorie titled the piece, Hope Springs… and was inspired by the beauty and hope that the season brings. Thank you for your continued readership and for joining us in welcoming the arrival of spring. We hope that this issue inspires you to embrace the spirit of new beginnings and explore the exciting opportunities that our community has to o er. Wishing you a season filled with joy, growth, and warm weather. Best regards, Anna Petro A Note From Our Publisher... CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mariah Acree, Cassandra Bellmann, Gail Bicknell, Barry Farber, Jill Fierst, Carolyn Hanson, Joanne Kleinle, Trish Mahoney, Ellyn Mantell, Dr. Michael Osit, Robert Shapiro CPA, Cathy Siegal, Ryan E. Radwanski, MD, Dr. Vincent Sferra, Johanna Wiseman Community News: nourish.NJ Page 10 WELCOME SPRING- Shopping, Dining, Beauty & Events Pages 14-22 Creative Corner Page 16 Family Adventures Page 18 Slice of Life Page 20 Financial Forum- Shapiro Financial Group Page 23 KIDZ CONNECTION Pages 26-28 Young Author – Cassandra Bellmann Page 26 HEALTH & WELLNESS Pages 33-41 The Art of Living- Barry Farber Page 33 Health HotlineAdvanced Frequency Energy Spa Page 37 Senior Corner Page 38 Mind the Mind Page 40 Health Hotline-NMR Page 41 WOMEN OWNED DIRECTORY Pages 42-43 Real Estate Corner-Johanna Wiseman Page44 HOME & DESIGN Pages 45-53 Hints for the HomeFair Street Interiors Page 53 COMMUNITY CALENDAR Pages 54-55
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