The Connections Warren Watchung Edition June July August 2021

THE WARREN-WATCHUNG CONNECTION PAGE 6 JUNE/JULY/AUGUST 2021 theconnectionsnj.com Here's to a Summer of Revival and Regrowth! We are approaching the end of a school year and fortunately, things are looking better! Restau- rants are operating with increased capacity and foot traf c at other businesses has increased. With summer just around the corner, we are fo- cusing this issue on something that brings families and friends together – FOOD! Check our online Restaurant Directory compiled es- pecially to help the food lovers explore our LOCAL eat- eries. www.theconnectionsnj.com/restaurant-directory Let’s shout it out for our LOCAL businesses! Our COMMENDS articles highlight LOCAL busi- nesses. In each issue, we feature some of their stories, their expertise, and their vision. We hope that as our valued readers you appreciate us spot- lighting their hard work and the faces behind the businesses. Local artist Steven Mairella adorns the front cover with an acrylic on canvas entitled Rosetta's Tomatoes. One of his artistic objectives is to hon- or and share his family history and Italian-Ameri- can heritage, through paintings that evoke emo- tions, memories, and sensations he experienced growing up. Steve says, “local sourcing and farm-to-table approaches to food are nothing new to the families and descendants of the southern Italian immigrants of the late 19th and early- to mid-20th centuries. Every year when I was growing up my mother and her sisters would get together in mid- to late Au- gust, to “do the tomatoes”. They would use tomatoes harvested from my Uncle’s large garden, supplemented with a few bushels of tomatoes from the Paterson mar- ket. The aroma of the tomatoes and basil bubbling away on the ancient stove in my Grandfather's basement pervaded the neighborhood, and re- mains to this day one of my most vivid and trea- sured memories. This particular painting of cuore di bue (literally, "ox heart") tomatoes on the vine depicts the garden of my friend and distant cousin, Rosetta Constantino.” • IMPRESS YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY with your cooking prowess. Print out easy-to-use tried and tested RECIPES from our ONLINE RECIPE BOOK. theconnectionsnj.com/category/recipes • COUPONS ON THE GO! Have LOCAL coupons handy exactly when you need them. Check our DEALS & STEALS Make it a favorite on your phone and access it readily. theconnectionsnj.com/ deals-steals • Join the die-hard fans of our SPOT THE FAKE ad contest – look for the fake ad in any of our three magazines and submit it to connectionsnj@gmail.com or play online theconnectionsnj.com/spot-the- fake-ad-form • Find articles on Health & Wellness, Senior Living, Cutting-Edge Medical Technology, Family Law, Trav- el & more on our written by industry experts, they are loaded with information and insights. theconnectionsnj.com/latest-news Subscribe to our magazines for FREE! www.theconnectionsnj. com/subscribe-to-our-magazines. We truly do CONNECT you to your communities! Have a safe and enjoyable sum- mer! Sincerely, Robin Fand, Publisher TABLE OF CONTENTS PUBLISHER Robin Fand 908-903-1799 • Fax 732-667-8488 • Connectionsnj@gmail.com OFFICE MANAGER Anna Petro PRODUCTION COORDINATORS Donna Reina, Jody Varvaro DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING COORDINATOR Prachi Jain ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES Patty Herman, Alicia Singman CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Rosie Battista, Kaylynn Ebner, Carolyn Hanson, Ellyn Mantell, Dr. Michael Osit, Linda Seigelman, Dan Rosenberg, Debbie Vanderbeek, Jaimie Yue PUBLISHED BY RBF Consulting LLC • P.O. Box 4081 • Warren, NJ 07059 theconnectionsnj.com Disclaimer: The views expressed in the articles are the author(s)'s and do not necessarily re ect 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. Somewhere in this Magazine is a FAKE AD. Spot it and send your answer, name, city and phone number to: Spotthefake@theconnectionsnj.com Subject Line: FAKE or play online at theconnectionsnj.com More than 300 people took part in our Spot The Fake Ad Contest in the April issue. Congratulations to everyone who “spotted” Planting Pants! The winner, selected randomly from a list of all those who entered and provided the correct answer, is Mary Ann Wood of Watchung. The winner received a gift certificate from Jules' Closet. SPOT THE FAKE! PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE ON THE COVER Steve Mairella ............................. Page 8 CONNECTION COMMENDS Sunny Dry Cleaners .................... Page 12 Your Kid’s Urgent Care .............. Page 24 Brasa Wood-Fired Grill .............. Page 36 Barth’s Market ........................... Page 41 Lepp, Mayrides, & Eaton, LLC .. Page 57 KIDZ CONNECTION SECTION ...............................Pages 14-17 Family Adventures ..................... Page 16 SPOTLIGHT ON BERKELEY HEIGHTS ...............................Pages 18-19 HEALTH & WELLNESS SECTION ...............................Pages 20-29 Community News – Dean’s Natural Food Market .............................. Page 20 Mind The Mind ........................... Page 22 Sleeping Naked After 40 .......... Page 28 DINING & PROVISIONS SECTION ...............................Pages 36-41 Big Apple Bites .......................... Page 38 “Random” Connections ............. Page 40 A Pinch of Local Flavor .............. Page 41 HOME & DESIGN SECTION .. Pages 42-52 Creative Corner .......................... Page 50 SENIOR LIVING SECTION ....Pages 54-56 Senior Corner ............................. Page 54 COMMUNITY CALENDAR ...Pages 58-59 Slice of Life ................................. Page 60 Winner Winner! Our Warren-Watchung ‘Spot the Fake Ad’ winner is Mary Ann Wood from Watchung. Mary Ann won a gift certi cate from Jules’ Closet.