For 60 years, Maplecrest Ford has called Union home, and we’ve been thrilled to have the surrounding towns of Newark, Springfield, West Orange and Livingston as our neighbors. We take our role as your trusted adviser seriously and are happy to address your automotive needs, whether you’re looking to buy a new Ford SUV or get certified Ford service. As an enthusiastic recipient of the President’s Award, you’ll find our auto sales team is proud of our reputation of friendliness and professionalism. Please stop by our Ford dealership in Union for incredible customer service and seamless dealership experience.
Kids & PetsOur Joy
I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits.
This issue is always one of the favorites. I'm sure it's because of the immense joy that children bring to their families and the significant impact they make on their communities.
Children are not merely the hope for a brighter tomorrow; they are the foundation upon which our society stands. Their innocence, curiosity, and boundless potential have the power to shape the world in ways we can only imagine. Kids represent our hardest work and greatest investment and we are happy to highlight the best for West Orange kids in this issue. Let's explore some local, fun activities and take book adventures together this summer.
Secondarily, who could forget pets? This special kind of companionship can be a transformative experience for children and adults alike. Pets provide us with unconditional love, the opportunity to learn, grow and develop essential life skills in a nurturing environment. And who could ignore the bond between kids and their furry, feathery or dare I say, scaly friends? The bond is often deep and meaningful, fostering qualities like empathy, responsibility, and companionship.
I remember my first dog Trina. I met her on the streets of Harlem on a hot summer day. She followed me home and it was truly a miracle that my parents let me keep her. She quickly became my best friend. She was easy to talk to, intuitive, sweet and kind. I know these are all human qualities, but if you are a dog or cat person, you definitely understand the sentiment!
Although we know that children are of infinitely more value than our little buddies, what children and pets share in common is that they need us. Our care, attention and intention shapes how they are raised and who they become. We hope this issue inspires you to pour a little extra into the children and pets in your life this month.
Angelina Silvester, Martta Kelly, Christopher De La Espada
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Christopher De La Espada, Casey Fatchett
Corporate Team
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Zach Miller
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kathy Nguyen
1: Brandi (aka Freckles) displays her henna artistry at the West Orange Street fair 2: After viewing original film Mosiah, the traditional red drink toast representing resilience and joy occurred. 3: The WO street fair festivities continued at Thomas Edison Historical Park. 4: Councilwoman Tammy Williams addresses the jubilant crowd at West Orange’s inaugural Juneteenth Film Festival 5: The ladies of Howard Hanna Realty enjoyed the fair’s good vibes. 6: Ben Georgia Gallery 35th anniversary event 7: Ben Georgia welcomes art lovers to his gallery
business monthly
Hazel Avenue Elementary School Set to Launch New Student Facilities
The Hazel Has Heart event kicked off three projects that will launch at Hazel Avenue Elementary School: a new greenhouse, pantry and outdoor classroom. Once finished, the greenhouse will grow vegetables to stock the newly completed pantry and will serve as a gathering space for art and STEM classes. The nearly completed outdoor classroom will allow students to be in nature during the school day as they read, learn and develop.
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F&A Construction Celebrates 15th Year and Offers Additional Services
F&A Construction welcomes 15 years of excellent services to our customers. We now offer Waterproofing- Exterior Foundations and some Pump Insulation. We can prevent the water from coming into your home. Contact us at 973-417-5041.
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Arden Courts of West Orange Is Offering Complimentary Assessments
Arden Courts Promedica Memory Care compassionately cares for individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. We are staffed by specially trained caregivers. Call to schedule a complimentary assessment with our Director of Nursing. Assessments can be done in our community, your current facility or the comfort of your own home. Memory Care is all we do. 888-427-7183.
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Delightful Books
A Roundup on Local Children’s Book Authors
ARTICLE BY MARTTA KELLY
MOTHER AND SON SHARE ADVENTURE OF WRITING A CHILDREN’S BOOK
After her divorce, Crystal Lannaman reflected on her future. “I was searching for ideas that would help me navigate the rest of my life,” she says. “Writing a children’s book was one of them.”
Around the same time, her son, Kamil, now 8, took part in a Kwanzaa celebration at school where students shared their goals. Like his mom, his goal was to write a book.
Together, they co-wrote The Mystery of the Missing Gifts (2023: Lauren Simone Publishing House). Geared towards children in pre-K to 3rd grade, the book follows the adventures of a boy named Kamil, who is excited about his upcoming birthday and opening his gifts. He goes on a hunt for his “missing” birthday gifts and along the way, he develops positive character traits that enrich his life.
“Regardless of life changes, we can always pursue dreams and achieve our goals,” says Lannaman, a West Orange resident for 10 years who works in human resources.
Kamil says, “The best part about writing this book was coming up with activities and putting my friends in the story.”
As for future books in the pipeline, Lannaman says, “Kamil wants to write three more!”
BOOK GEARED TOWARD TEENS HELPS DISPEL MYTHS ABOUT EPILEPSY
Author Jenn Walkup loves working with teenagers and young adults, getting them interested in writing and reading. “The teen years are such a compelling time of life. It is all about coming of age and finding out about yourself,” says Walkup, an English professor and editor.
She recognizes that adolescence can also be a challenging time. “I deal with this in my book, The Ordinary Life (2015: Luminis Books), about a high school girl from a dysfunctional family who takes care of her younger brother who has epilepsy.” Coincidentally, the girl meets a boy who also has epilepsy who helps her through some of the rough parts of her life.
A West Orange resident for 18 years, Walkup has been a caregiver for someone with epilepsy for a long time and has lectured at several epilepsy awareness organizations. “Epilepsy is often misrepresented in the media,” she says. “In my book, I show that epilepsy is just one piece of the whole person.” Walkup, who writes books for adults as well, has also penned an award-winning murder mystery for adolescents, Second Verse (2013: Luminis Books), featuring a group of friends investigating an unsolved murder of a young girl that took place many years ago.
https://jenniferwalkup.wixsite.com/web-idea-1/bio
FORMER EDUCATOR SHINES LIGHT ON CONTRIBUTION OF FEMALE SCIENTIST
Author Lisa Gerin was disappointed with the lack of children’s books about female scientists, so she channeled that frustration and decided to write one.
Rosalind Looked Closer: An Unsung Hero of Molecular Science (2022: Beaming Books) focuses on Rosalind Franklin whose research in molecular biology transformed the world. A Jewish girl in England, Franklin grew up during World War II and became passionate about science when few women were recognized for their contributions. “I chose Rosalind Franklin because most kids—and even many adults—aren’t aware of her story,” Gerin says.
Walkup loves working with teenagers... “The teen years are such a compelling time of life. It is all about coming of age and finding out about yourself.”
Franklin captured an image of DNA unlike any other image that had been seen before, one of the most important findings of the 20th century.
A former West Orange resident, Gerin worked as an elementary school librarian and high school teacher for more than 30 years and has written children's picture books for the last decade. Both of her daughters went through the West Orange school system and followed their mother’s footsteps into teaching.
Another book is in the making, Cats and Their People, which is about cats and their celebrity owners told from the viewpoint of the cats. “These are cats of famous artists, authors, fashion designers, even Taylor Swift.” Gerin is currently shopping for a publisher.
www.lisagerin.com/lisa-gerin
HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM WRITE BOOKS THROUGH THE EYES OF INVENTORS
Karen and Byron Green share a fascination with inventors and their engineering marvels but were not able to find many books about inventors geared towards kids.
Together, the parents of two young sons decided to write a children’s books series about inventors, called The Young-Nobles, which features The Inventor of the Clock, The Inventor of Paper, The Inventor of the Lightbulb, and The Inventor of 3D. All are self-published.
“Our books teach kids about problem solving, creativity, exploration, and perseverance, all character traits of successful inventors,” says Byron, a videographer, who with Karen are the parents of Bryson, 4, and Apollo, 2.
For the past 10 years, Karen has been teaching biology, forensic science, animal behavior (a course she created 5 years ago) at West Orange High School. “While collaborating with my husband on writing books, I always try to think from the perspective of an engineer or inventor,” she says.
The couple aim to write additional books for the series and have created a GoFundMe site to raise funds for printing costs.
They both agree that book publishing, like a clock, has many moving parts. “We’re learning as we go,” says Karen.
The Children's Department serves children from pre-school through the 6th grade. In addition to books, the department offers many other services and materials, including pre-school story hours, class visits, movies, summer reading activities, help with homework assignments, audio-visual materials, book discussion groups, and family programming. Contact the Youth Services Department at 973.736.0198 ext. 216.
https://www.wopl.org
“Our books teach kids about problem solving, creativity, exploration, and perseverance, all character traits of successful inventors.”
We are excited to announce the incorporation of sports medicine services at our West Orange, NJ office, where we already offer a wide range of aesthetic treatments. Our aesthetics and sports medicine services will address all non-surgical sports medicine and musculoskeletal-related injuries for patients of all ages, accepting major insurances in New Jersey. This addition perfectly complements our existing aesthetic services, emphasizing both external beauty and internal fitness. Our mission is to keep you active and healthy while helping you achieve your aesthetic goals, enhancing your natural self and boosting your confidence.
Summertime Fun
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTOPHER DE LA ESPADA
Local Activities to Enjoy
Summer is in full swing. Here's a reminder of great things to do locally that will help your child ease back on screen time and enjoy a fun break with a sprinkle of academics. Let this summer be a time for unlocking creative ideas and capturing beautiful moments with friends and family.
ESSEX COUNTY SOUTH MOUNTAIN RECREATION COMPLEX
Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex offers various activities, from visiting the Turtle Back Zoo to mini golfing. The waterfront hosts weekly events you and your family can attend, from yoga classes ,musical shows to activities such as paddle boating. The Treetop Adventure Course has an obstacle course. The Environment Center hosts hands-on activities to learn about nature and animals. Codey Arena has a Summer Figure Skate Camp where children can learn how to figure skate.
THE NEWARK MUSEUM OF ART
The Newark Museum of Art is a goldmine of activities for all ages. In addition to public exhibit tours, the museum hosts nighttime film festivals, community day events, and planetarium shows.
VAN VLECK HOUSE & GARDENS
Van Vleck House & Gardens is open to the public and offers a range of educational activities, including gardening classes. These activities provide a fun experience and allow you to be one with nature.
EAGLE ROCK RESERVATION
Eagle Rock Reservation is a pet-friendly landscape with a great New York City Skyline view and a great place to host picnics and watch the sunset.
ENJOY!
“Let this summer break be a time for unlocking creative ideas and capturing beautiful moments with friends and family.”
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Please Call for Tours 973.736.3100
arden-courts.org/WestOrange 510 Prospect Ave, West Orange, NJ
Your Home, Your Personality
Let SBC Interiors help you transfer your special personal touch and style to the design of your home. Happy to work within your timeframe and budget. We are eager to assist and help you create the home of your dreams.
Whether your pup has the obedience of a dog show finalist, or social behavior that makes you want to play dead around others, you can develop more owner confidence with help from this expert trainer.
“Socializing your dog is beneficial for both dogs and their owners,” says Taryn Tyler, a certified dog trainer. “It creates confidence for both dogs and owners and displaces the anxiety we feel when our dogs aren’t behaving like we want them to.”
Taryn says that boundaries can be learned by dogs of any age.
“There’s a nasty perception along the ‘can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ line of thinking,” she says. “While you can’t take a dog with serious behavioral issues and completely turn them around 180 degrees, you can make improvements in how you understand your dog and how they understand you. Dog training isn’t just for struggling pups either. Creating a relationship between you and your canine based on confidence, reliability and reward can turn a good dog into a great dog.”
ARTICLE
BY LISA MOYER
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE
JONES
STYLED BY ANGELA
BROOCKERD
“Creating a relationship between you and your canine based on confidence, reliability and reward can turn a good dog into a great dog.”
Taryn stresses that teaching a dog to sit or stay is less about tricks and more about the relationship that builds between animal and owner. “That, in turn, fosters an envi ronment where the next time a family hosts Thanksgiving or has friends over, the owner and their dogs fall into the habit of obeying commands because of the confidence built through all the work put in beforehand.”
Even dogs with a troubled history can achieve improvement.
“We all love our dogs, but they can be stressful when they can’t seem to click in our home environments.
DOG SOCIALIZING TIPS:
• Socializing is more than taking your dog in public. A guy can dump a bunch of mulch in your driveway and spread it , but he’s not a landscaper until he’s following a plan. When the doorbell rings or a visitor comes into the house, what’s our expectation for the dog? When we’re in public and the dog’s attention is diverted, what’s our plan to refocus them? Socialization is 99 percent work ing on small steps as part of a larger plan.
• Socializing isn’t about our dogs being the center of attention in public. Everyone loves seeing a dog, but our best outcome for the dog is to go unnoticed. Sitting by our side, ignoring external stimuli, remaining calm— those are things we strive for when socializing a dog.
• When socializing dogs with other dogs, start small. Take a walk with another dog to get them to just exist in the same vicinity. Once they’re able to not be excited by the other dog, work on limited playing in controlled environments.
• If someone comes into your home, let them know what boundaries you’re working on with your dog. You can even suggest asking them to carry a few treats and work on some of the behaviors your dog is already comfortable with.
Once your dog is able to socialize with other pets, playdates are a great way to encourage good play behavior. One way to celebrate your pup’s birthday is to celebrate with their favorite furry friends. Here are a few helpful tips for making your gathering a success.
• Set up play areas for your furry guests to enjoy. This can include a doggy pool or splash pad, chew toys, frisbees, and don’t forget the pet-friendly bubbles.
• Offer party guests birthday attire such as a birthday hat, bandana or party outfit. Set up a photo wall for pet owners to get photos with their furry friends in their birthday outfits. Better yet, make it a costume competition, and invite guests to come dressed up ready to show off their pup’s attire.
• Create a treat display with a pet-friendly birthday cake and various chewy snacks for guests to give their pups.
• Party favors are a must to end your festivities with a bang. Fill party bags with bouncy balls, treats, and pet-friendly bubbles to send your guests off with a smile.
HOW
TO THROW A BIRTHDAY BASH FOR YOUR FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS:
ARTICLE BY ANGELINA SILVESTER
BY JULIA VERDEROSA
Capturing Joy
Julia Verderosa has always had a passion for photography, best seen though her series of pet portraits. Working with West Orange’s What A Pet Wants, she aims to create meaningful, personal art for the people that love their furry friends.
When speaking about her current work, Julia said that the entire experience is “just one of joy”. Pets are a favorite subject, not only because of their unique personalities, but because of the bond they share with their owners. Clients will often choose photos of their pet that are unexpected, but rather than steering them away, she leans into this choice. Often, she said, they “recognize something in it that speaks more about them than I see”. Ultimately, she hopes that people think her art means something to them. “The more you see it, the more joy it brings,” she said. “It does for me.”
www.juliamoloofverderosa.com follow me @juliamaloofverderosaphoto
Picture Perfect Pets
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