Mountain Lakes April 2026 by Wainscot Media

Mountain Lakes & BOONTON

A LOCAL BAND GOES NATIONAL BROCK & SGRO REACHING FOR THE STARS MARATHONER INA ROSE

Photograph by Antonietta Henry

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

of her time racing in the great outdoors. Rose is part of the 50 States Marathon Club and has traveled across the country to race in as many states as she can. Thinking about lacing up those shoes? Rose’s story is sure to inspire.

We also stopped in with local band Brock & Srgo. These musicians have been taking the township by storm, and their music has recently reached the big screen. Take the time to stop by one of their shows this summer before fame comes knocking.

Mountain Lakes & BOONTON

TOWNSHIP MAGAZINE

Publisher Mary Lima mary.lima@wainscotmedia.com 917-969-0924

Editor Ellen S. Wilkowe

Photographer Antonietta Henry

WAINSCOT MEDIA

Chairman Carroll V. Dowden

President and CEO Mark Dowden

SVP, Regional Magazines Thomas Flannery thomas.flannery@wainscotmedia.com 201-571-2252

Regional Publisher Jodi Bruker

VP, Content Strategy Maria Regan

Creative Director Kijoo Kim

AWELCOME, APRIL!

AT LAST, THE long doldrums of winter are finally over. The sun is peeking out from the clouds, and we’re all getting ready to throw open our doors and windows to let in the light. Let me introduce myself: I’m Mary Lima, the publisher of Mountain Lakes and Boonton Township magazine. During this season of change, I’m thrilled to introduce myself and share this issue with you.

This month, we celebrate spring by heading outside. And who better to talk to than Ina Rose, an impressive marathon runner who spends most

Our last feature of the month has us in a pretty sweet mood: The Corner Creamery is a newly opened ice cream shop in Mountain Lakes run by Kirsten Palmiero. We got the inside scoop on the store, from their specialty flavors to up-and-coming treats to look forward to. As you’re heading outside this month to soak up the spring weather, don’t forget to grab a cone.

As always, thank you to our lovely community for making this magazine happen. Your stories and readership are greatly appreciated. Have any story ideas for summer? Drop us a line.

Until next month,

Art Director Rosemary O’Connell

Executive Editor Elaine Paoloni Quilici

Associate Editor Sophia Carlisle

Advertising Services Director Jacquelynn Fischer

Operations Director Catherine Rosario

Production Designer Chris Ferrante

Print Production Manager Fern Meshulam

Advertising Production Associate Griff Dowden

Mountain Lakes + Boonton Township magazine is published by Wainscot Media. Serving residents of Mountain Lakes and Boonton Township, the magazine is distributed monthly via U.S. mail. Articles and advertisements contained herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publishers. Copyright 2026 by Wainscot Media LLC. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent.

GET Outside

BY ELLEN S. WILKOWE

APRIL SHOWERS and tax-filing deadlines aside, this month is alive with goings-on that will put this past winter in its proper place. So, lose the layers, roll up those sleeves, and come out into the light.

CULTURAL CONNECTION

Eid Mubarak!

This celebratory Arabic greeting translates to “blessed holiday or feast,” and is commonly exchanged between Muslims to convey goodwill, brotherhood, and unity, especially around holidays such as Ramadan.

While Ramadan came to a close last month, the Mountain Lakes Library will host an Eid Mubarak celebration of its own. The free festivities will take place April 18 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and include crafts, henna, treats, and community spirit. Please register at mountainlakeslibrary.org.

RUN WITH A VIEW

What better way to welcome warm weather than by working up a sweat? Come April 18, runners over 30 can do just that and put their best feet forward in the 48th annual Woods and Lakes run.

Participants can select between a 5K or 10K course.

The race gets underway with a 10 a.m. start at Birchwood Lake Beach. From there, runners will complete the namesake trail loop and then head to the Boulevard Trolley Line Path, where they will be treated to views of historic Laker homes. Then it’s off to the finish, through the trails of Tourne County Park.

The race is named for its views of lakes, brooks, meadows, and the hills of Morris County. Runners take note: The course includes sections of gravel, dirt, and the occasional rocks, roots, and mud. Register at woodsandlakesrun.com.

Now Showing

There is no shortage of monthly awareness campaigns. Nonprofit organizations rely on them to bring attention to a number of causes by way of education and resources.

Laker mom Amanda Cali did just that in the form of a documentary, “The Whisper,” which sheds light on her son’s rare medical condition in which tissue, muscle, and tendons fuse into bone and results in the restriction of movement.

Come April 26, The Mountain Lakes Library will host a special screening of the documentary, which follows Cali’s awareness-driven mission to India and the organization, tinsoldiers.org, that she created on behalf of families who are impacted. Check the library’s website for a time: mountainlakeslibrary.org.

Speak your Mind (or Heart)

Summon your inner poet and take a stand. The opportunity to use your words takes place the third Thursday of every month at Boonton Coffee Company’s open mic. So, put your prose to the test as part of the Literary Open Mic: The Spoken Hour. Signups begin at 7 p.m.

For more information, visit boontoncoffee.com.

HEALTHY KIDS DAY

Say “cheers” to the Boonton Township Police Benevolent Association during their annual wine and spirit tasting fundraiser scheduled for March 28 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Mountain Lakes Mansion. Sip in style and pair your pours with tasty tidbits. Cost is $75 per person with proceeds benefitting the Local PBA 392.

For more information, contact Mike at 973800-0932 or visit mountainlakesmansion.com.

Spring into Summer

B-I-N-G-O

The Mountain Lakes Education Foundation’s take on the traditional beloved game and a convenient way of putting the fun in fundraiser. The festivities take place at 7 p.m. on April 30 at the Rockaway River Country Club. Tickets cost $150 and include food, drinks, and four Bingo cards.

To purchase tickets or for sponsorships, go to mledfoundation.com.

It’s never too early to think of fun and sun, especially after weathering through the deep freeze this past winter. The Mountain Lakes Recreation Department just dropped its Summer Recreation Program for children in grades K-5. The weekly sessions start June 29 at Wildwood Elementary School and run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Cost is $170 with the exception of $136 for the first week. Every week provides a new theme plus an array of mini field trips from the beaches in town to bowling and beyond.

The Teen Adventure Travel program and summer sailing instruction camp portals are also open for enrollment. Go to mountainlakes.gov/recreationdepartment for more.

THE MAGIC OF BOOKS

Brianne Colombo creates a fairy tale of her own at Gingerbread Bookshop.

BY ELLEN S. WILKOWE

A FLOOR-TO-CEILING collection of carefully curated books, categorized by genre and vintage decor, greets you when you enter. You can pull up a chair and snuggle up with a book. Yes, there’s even a fireplace and a designated space for story hour.

Welcome to the Gingerbread Bookshop. The Main Street storefront opened its doors almost two years ago and has a few stories

of its own to tell—starting with the owner, who is as well-read as the books on display. Meet Brianne Colombo, a seasoned children’s librarian and a newly minted mom who is starting a new chapter in her life.

The bookshop and its part-time hours allow her to balance baby and business, while a built-in story time allows her to have both. That’s just one of the perks that come with the territory of running your own show, and it’s been a long time coming, even before the arrival of her baby boy, Roman. While she thrived in the town library setting, Colombo longed to be her own librarian and in charge of her own books.

“I spent 18 years working in town libraries,” she says. “I wanted my own space where I could share my own interests with the world. I’ve been dreaming up this space for a long time.”

She knew the downtown well, including Time’s Tin Cup, a collectable shop that relocated to Denville, leaving a vacancy that Colombo pounced upon. The niche space with its wooden floors fits her own narrative of preserving and promoting print nostalgia.

In true librarian fashion and even before her own foray into motherhood, Colombo created a child-friendly area for story hour with designated days, one for babies and the other for toddlers. A vintage stove in the culinary section speaks to her passion for repurposing items otherwise destined for landfills. A whimsical board of “Boontonopoly” hangs on the wall, and a wooden sewing machine of sorts adds that much more vintage flavor.

“Everything in here is second-hand,” she says. “That stove? I found it on a curbside in Boonton.”

Even her gently-loved book collection was curated by way of donations and, for the most part, still is.

“Every Friday, donate five books, get a gingerbread cookie,” Colombo says. “It’s a fun exchange—a give-and-take that creates community.”

What better way to bring people together than over cookies made from her grandmother’s recipe, a few good books, and a dog or two—yes, there’s dog treats, too. Tasty treats aside, Gingerbread pays homage to children’s

tales—think Hansel and Gretel—and embodies the essence of quaint. On a more personal note, the spicy and mostly seasonal cookie offering is a nod to her ancestry, namely her Germanborn grandmother and the rural village in Hungary where she came of age.

“If it was a good farming year, the people in the village would go to the market in the bigger cities for trading, such as ingredients and spices to make gingerbread,” Colombo says. “It was a ritual and my heritage.”

The same could be said about reading. Raised in a reading-forward family, Colombo basked in books. She remembers her father reading to her and her three siblings from a rocking chair. As a young child, she channeled her inner librarian and spent countless hours in the basement organizing her family’s collection, complete with pockets for cards, so that family members could check out the books.

“I was pretty much raised in a library,” she half-jokes.

She also looked to books as portals or escapes to otherwise unknown worlds.

Her love of literature naturally played a role in her career choice. Colombo boasts two masters from Rutgers University, one in English Literature and the other in Library and Information Sciences.

Since the grand opening in July 2024, the shop has operated on a mostly weekend schedule. She was still working as director of the Glen

Ridge Public Library. In leading up to this moment, she amassed a decadesworth of books, and the community came running with more. Much like a librarian, she changes up inventory regularly and stands ready to impart her wealth of knowledge from the book world and beyond.

She even knows the storied walls of the building of her shop, and it contains as much history as it does books.

“This building goes back to the 1890s,” Colombo says. “It used to be a horse harness shop run by Charles Hopkins. People would bring the horses out back on Plane Street to be fitted.”

There’s also a basement of sorts, three levels deep and very possibly part of the Underground Railroad, she adds. “And the post office used to be upstairs. They’re now apartments,” she says.

Backstories aside, the future of books is in our hands. “Now more than ever, people crave the physicality—the experience,” Colombo says. “And that goes for in-person conversation, too.”

Her shop offers the opportunity for both. “The oldest shop in the world is a bookstore,” Colombo says. “It stood the test of time and tech.”

End of story.

Gingerbread Bookshop is located at 410 Main St. in Boonton. Visit gingerbread bookshop.com for more information. Check back for hours and events.

The Inside Scoop

The newly opened Corner Creamery hits the sweet spot.

BY ELLEN S. WILKOWE

AAS AN ICE CREAM confectioner, Kirsten Palmiero serves up homemade ice cream and custom desserts—but she also provides handmade happiness from her shop in Mountain Lakes.

“Ice cream is nostalgic,” she says. “It reminds people of good memories and lifts their spirits.”

The Corner Creamery—complete with its animated cow mascot—is an ice cream dream come true for this mom of two. The shop opened in October 2025 and is named for the corner location on Romaine Road.

A step inside is like a step back in time. Nostalgia is as front and center as the homemade and downright whimsical frozen concoctions.

Soft pastel pink invites lingering, as does indoor seating, with the many games to take advantage of the games on hand. With warm weather on the horizon, benches outside the shop stand ready to enhance the summertime ice cream experience.

Adding to the nostalgia are household items with sentimental value for Palmiero: a breadbox from her mom, a gumball machine, and, on a poignant note, a hat hung on the door in memory of her late father. “It’s like he’s here with me,” she says.

A WORLD OF FLAVORS

In crafting her own recipes, Palmiero works alongside her only full-time employee, Elizabeth Blanco of Cedar Grove, whom she met by way of an ice cream franchise where they both worked.

Standard flavors are available, but together, Palmiero and Blanco whip up ice cream flavors that extend far beyond plain vanilla. Oscar’s Garbage Can anyone?

Oscar keeps good company with the Cookie Monster blend. There are also creative takes on the fruit front, such as Blueberry Pie, Mango Tango, and Toucan Sam Fruit Loop.

Nutella also has a moment, as in Nutella Crisp!

Then there are specialty sundaes, such as Jimmy’s Triple Threat and the Brookie, both named for and created by Palmiero’s children. There’s even a take on the Choco Taco.

A separate drink menu covers all the bases from shakes to floats. Flavors run the gamut from traditional chocolate to cake batter and cotton candy. In keeping with nostalgia, Palmiero offers a line of sparkling beverages called Front Porch Sippers.

Palmiero changes her flavors weekly and incorporates seasonal themes, such as the heated homemade peach topping.

When it comes to her homemade ”mix-ins,” Palmiero abides by a strict no-skimp policy. “You know when you buy butter pecan, and there’s only one or two nuts? Well, that doesn’t happen here,” she says.

The counter is lined candy-store style with traditional toppers, such as confetti sprinkles, chocolate chips, and marshmallows, and sits next to fresh-baked goods such as brownies and cookies. In expanding on all

matters homemade, she recently partnered with Sweet Melissa Bake House in neighboring Boonton.

Palmiero also prides herself on producing the entire menu on the premises. The ice cream machine brings her recipes to life, and it takes an eye-opening 45 minutes to complete the deep freeze process.

On the celebratory front, Palermo has crafted her fair share of custom cakes, and all occasions are on the table—birthdays, graduations, even weddings, and there’s a story.

“I did a four-tiered wedding cake once. And you know....” she laughs. “There’s no pressure in doing a wedding cake. No pressure whatsoever.”

While there’s a seasonal aspect to the biz—July is designated National Ice Cream Month—Palmiero is open year-round and adjusts her offerings to the calendar.

STEPPING UP TO SCOOP

So, how did this ice cream connoisseur who bid farewell to a 12-year career in pharmaceutical advertising come to scoop her own ice cream creations?

It all started in high school, maybe even before, when she discovered her artistic side and put it to good use through her first job at—where else—an ice cream shop.

“I always knew that I wanted to do something artistic,” she adds.

An art major in college, she continued with her ice cream side hustle before taking a detour into pharmaceutical advertising. Yet, her heart remained in store behind the counter where her creativity flows as freely as soft serve. So, she reversed course and returned to the ice cream scene, this time for good.

This brings us to now.

As the mercury continues to rise and outdoor sports resume, Palmiero anticipates a busy first summer.

While she and Blanco mind the store fulltime, Palmiero employs more than a dozen local high school and college kids. It’s a payit-forward kind of moment as to how she got her start.

Who knows? Palmiero could very well be training a next-generation ice cream creative with dreams of her own.

The Corner Creamery is located at 5 Romaine Rd. in Mountain Lakes. @cornercreamery_ml.

Ellen S. Wilkowe is a freelance writer and former journalist living in neighboring Denville.

Music Machine

Brock & Sgro get their groove on in town and on TV.

BY ELLEN S. WILKOWE

TTHE THIRD SEASON of “Virgin River,” the small-town, big-hearted romance from Netflix, doubles down on the evolving relationship between Mel and Jack, facing another crossroads involving her pregnancy.

But it’s not the plot that makes it a standout, at least not for a group of local musicians behind the song, “In My Time,” featured in episode 303.

“In my time, I wanna see more light I wanna feel the life when it’s going in In my time, I wanna feel more love

See more of what I never knew…”

Fitting lyrics and equally as fitting instrumentals for the Netflix favorite––not to mention decent exposure for an original band that has been navigating the North Jersey music scene for more than five years.

Welcome Brock & Sgro (pronounced Suh-gro), a rockin’ indie band made up of a Laker, a Townshipper, plus two out-of-towners.

STUDIO SESSIONS

Deep into their fifth studio album, the quartet is named for its founders, Alan Brock of Mountain Lakes and Chip Sgro of Boonton Township. The pair met by word of mouth when Sgro and a friend were putting a cover band together. Well, the friend just so happened to be next-door neighbors with Brock and brought him into the fold. The ensemble had a good run playing as “Past Tense,” but then the present and future would take them in different directions.

Brock and Sgro, however, remained in touch and took on new directions of their own and began sharing their solo projects.

Then came album number one, followed by air time, and then the addition of drummer Ken Trimmer of Lavallette and bassist Rich Santiago of Haverstraw, New York.

“Rich was really the missing piece,”

says Sgro. Much like the pairing of Brock and Sgro, Santiago also made his way into the band through the grapevine of “a guy who knew a guy,” jokes Brock. “At the barbershop.”

With Brock and Sgro bringing the lyrics, lead vocals, and guitars, the quartet is on their fifth album and rehearses Tuesday evenings in the basement studio of Sgro’s Boonton Township home.

In addition to the “Virgin River” episode, the band boasts a number of commercial placements, including seven custom songs for “The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers.” The sitcom, based on the ’60s counterculture comic book, is voiced by big names such as Woody Harrelson, Pete Davidson, John Goodman, and Tiffany Haddish. The show’s first episode featured “Peace in a World of War” from their fourth album, “Cut the Wires.”

COMING TOGETHER

The band brings a lifetime of talent to the table, prioritizing their passions while counter-balancing day jobs. Now a collective of mostly emptynesters and semi-retirees, the quartet has had more time to dedicate to their burgeoning midlife careers. They rehearse weekly and try to take their show on the road locally several times a month. To date, Brock & Sgro have taken the stages at Harrigan’s Family Restaurant in Montville, Krogh’s Restaurant, and Brew Pub in Sparta, and play regularly at Autodidact Brewery in Morris Plains.

Sgro likens the independent music scene to the shop local movement, meaning venues should be more open

to homegrown talent.

“You know the whole “shop small” campaign?” Sgro asks. “Well, the same could be said for independent music–play small.”

As for their genre? It depends on who you ask, but indie rock seems to fit, as does the subgenres of pop-rock and alternative. “Melded with British Invasion,” Sgro adds.

Genre aside, the instrumentals are complemented by solid vocals that demonstrate range and emotions. With Brock and Sgro in command of the lyrics, the instrumentals further represent the rock legends that inspired them, such as The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Prince, even a bit of oldies and doo-wop.

The “Virgin River” placement came by way of band manager Kim Sgro— Chip’s wife—who handles marketing such as bookings, placement, and press. In keeping music in the family, Kim is also the sister of drummer Ken, who is Chip’s brother-in-law.

“We love playing local and having friends come,” says Kim.

The band distinguishes itself from the otherwise crowded music scene that tends to favor cover bands over original acts. In widening their bandwidth, the homegrown musicians continue to turn to more behind-the-scenes tactics in shopping their music—such as the TV show placements and streaming stations across the country.

From back left: Rich Santiago on bass, Ken Trimmer on drums, and the band’s frontmen, guitarists Alan Brock and Chip Sgro.

A BASE IN MOUNTAIN LAKES

So, how did this blend of talent come to call Mountain Lakes and Boonton Township their command center for creativity?

In leading up to their collaboration, their separate, past lives were always defined and driven by music. Music was an outlet and a constant that uses sound to tell experiences and emotions.

While growing their families and careers, music was an accessory within reach and a gift to share with loved ones. It is both fun and functional and definitely trickles down to those around them, such as to Sgro’s 19-yearold son, Will.

A student at Lehigh University, Will is in command of his own band, “Carpal

Tunnel,” and you guessed it, he plays the guitar.

So, what exactly were their side hustles before the band?

Chip is the lawyer contingent, having had a past life as counsel to an investment bank, Brock brings the graphic design into the fold, while Trimer represents the medical technology sector. This leaves Santiago standing as the career musicianturned music teacher, who criss-crossed the country and even provided onboard entertainment on cruise ships. Now, he drives a school bus to give back to his community.

Past and present work lives aside, the band performs just as many random acts of charity as they do music. Proceeds from the emotionally encompassing “Soldier’s Song” off

their second album, “No Reason to Complain,” were donated to the Wounded Warrior Project.

On a recent Tuesday night, music reverberated from Sgro’s basement studio—his wall-mounted guitar collection and Beatles’ memorabilia, front and center.

The studio doubles as a home base for rehearsals and recordings alike. While the music is certainly staged here, the muses behind the music often happen outside the studio. That is where tech comes in handy:

Files are shared, collaborations unfold, and piece by piece, a song comes to life.

“Alan and I will write the songs, then Ken will drop a beat, and Rich will come in on bass,” Sgro says.

Brock & Sgro rehearse every Tuesday at a basement studio of guitarist, keyboardist, and singersongwriter Chip Sgro of Boonton Township.

With exposure comes success measured by way of streams across the country, such as WMMR in Cleveland, where they charted in the top 100, Homegrown Radio here in Boonton, and they are represented on Spotify and Apple Music, too.

“We went from 1,000 streams to 100,000,” Brock says, regarding the “Virgin River” accolade. With established TV placements, airtime, and gigs, what’s the future frequency?

Brock & Sgro have their sights set on larger venues and have made headway with multiple invitations from the Delancey in the city. Harrigan’s also insisted on many happy returns, and “The bartender and owner said they were the best band they ever had,” Kim says.

Ever the networker, Kim is always one placement ahead. Word on the street is that Brock & Sgro have achieved finalist status for commercials and movies. “The band would love to continue to custom-write songs and have their original music placed,” she adds. “Or have someone more famous sing their songs.”

Any takers, Lakers?

Listen to Brock & Sgro at brockandsgro.com or see them live at The Delancey at 168 Delancey St. in New York City, April 18 at 6:45 p.m.

Ellen S. Wilkowe is a freelance writer and former journalist living in neighboring Denville.

Reaching for the Stars

Ina Rose is no ordinary marathoner—her races take her across the country and the world.

FFOR NEARLY TWO

decades, Ina Rose has been racing across the country one marathon and state at a time.

The Mountain Lakes distance runner has proof in medals and proof in stars—each to represent a state where she crossed the finish line. As a member of the 50 States Marathon Club, she views the races as equal parts of the journey, as it is the destination.

‘I’ve got four left,” she says. “It’ll be over in April.”

A PASSION FOR RUNNING

The club operates as a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting health, fitness, and bringing together running enthusiasts who share a common interest in marathoning across the country.

Rose represents a growing number of later-in-life athletes, a trend confirmed by data from the industry association Running USA. According to their 2025 survey, the 45 to 54 demographic is the largest group increase in running participants. The Mountain Lakes and Boonton Township area seems to be home for older runners; last fall, Natalie Grabow, also of Mountain Lakes, claimed fame as the oldest woman to finish the Ironman competition.

Even the mayor of Mountain Lakes— Melissa Muilenburg—is in on the action and has accompanied Rose on many of her runs.

Much like Grabow, Rose’s own running start happened while adulting. She speaks to a black-sheep moment, having grown up in the company of six sports-minded siblings.

“I was the least athletic in the family,” she says. “I was never a runner.”

Her husband, Jeff, would change all that. An accomplished rower and biathlete, he competed frequently, and Rose would often accompany him to lend support from the curbside. One such race, and a pair of 70-something participants, would catapult her from sideline to starting line.

“I looked at them, and something clicked,” Rose says. “I wanted to be them.”

That was in the early 1990s. A bit of coaching from her spouse, and she was off and running. Trending on the much younger side of her septuagenarian influencers, Rose is

well on her way and even beyond. A 2008 business trip to San Francisco landed her unexpectedly in a race— “purely on a whim”—and she’s been on the move ever since—returning the next year to race the full marathon and yet another in November 2009 in Philadelphia. It was here that the 50 States Marathon Club came to her attention.

What sets these races apart from their distinguished New York City and Boston counterparts is the qualifying time required to enter. Instead, the club bases membership eligibility on the number of states run, with ten being the minimum number required to join.

THE JOY OF THE RACE

Now retired, Rose has more time for fundraising, and she selects charities that hold personal connections to her, such as breast and colon cancer organizations. Since her third “50-in50” race in Las Vegas, she has raised a collective $100,000.

The charitable piece is an extension of her consulting firm, Passion 4 People, where purposeful giving is built into the business model. Since learning about the 50-in-50, she’s been equal parts racing and touring, packing in four states a year.

The esteemed New York and Boston marathons rank equally as her GOATs. “These are rockstar people,” she says. “The crowds are screaming and telling everyone that they’re amazing.”

Some other standout locales? The “Jack & Jill” in Seattle, which, true to the nursery rhyme, involved a rolling

hill, but even more wow-worthy, a tunnel was part of the race too.

“We had these headlamps on and ran through this train tunnel,” she says. “We were completely inside a mountain, and all you could hear was the pounding of feet and panting. It was pitch black.” This gave new meaning to “the light at the end of the tunnel,’ Rose says. “There really is one!”

The city of Charlevoix, Michigan, resonated and may warrant a return trip just because. As a long-time distance runner, Rose has grown accustomed to the inevitability of inclement weather, and Alaska was just the place to deliver on that.

“We were in Cordova, and there were only 13 of us,” she says. “It was pouring sideways. The weather was so bad that it was funny. I passed this bald eagle getting drenched on a branch, and we just kind of looked at each

other.” Wayward rain aside, Alaska ranks high on her list. Her entire family came—she has three adult children—and they elongated the trip by two weeks. Extended excursions are commonplace, especially when exploring 50 states’ worth of uncharted territory. Her recent marathon in Tokyo illustrates just that. She came for the race, but stayed for the skiing.

The Tokyo race may also check a box as an entry into another starcollectible racing series: The Abbott World Marathon. In addition to Tokyo, this globe-trotting jaunt includes Berlin, London, New York, and Chicago. “When you complete the sixth one, you get a star and your name on the wall of fame that travels to each one,” she said.

Well, having run New York, Chicago, and Tokyo, why stop now?

The races also often pave the way to

short-term on-foot friendships, mostly by way of similarly-paced runners. “You run with someone for two hours, and you learn their life story,” Rose says. When it comes to pace and time, Rose takes the metrics all in stride.

“My average is about 4.5 hours,” she says.

On the training front, she uses a ladder system approach that increases in miles weekly over the course of 10 weeks.

“Maybe I’ll start with ten miles, and then the next week it’s 11 and so on,” she says. Rose also prefers to train outside, and Mountain Lakes delivers on trails, not to mention the Boulevard. She

points to the woods surrounding Birchwood Lake. “There’s like ten miles of trails back there,” she says. She also works in the trail system in neighboring Tourne County Park.

In boosting her cadence, she is powered by playlists featuring Beastie Boys, Green Day, and a good number of audiobooks. “I still use an iPod mini,” she says. “I just strap it around my arm and go.”

The iPod mini serves as a security blanket of sorts, much like her purposeful selection of specific racing gear. “Runners are very superstitious,” she says.

There is comfort in the familiar, and even sustenance is subject to discretionary standards. This holds particularly true at mile 20 when Rose sprints toward her much-coveted Diet Pepsi hand-delivered by her husband. “It’s a happy moment,” she says. “I always say that the secret to the last 6 miles is caffeine. That’s when you hit the wall.”

IN MOTION

With almost two decades crisscrossing the country, Rose racks up just as many stories as she does in miles and stars. As a marathon jetsetter, she is almost always in constant motion, even at home and especially in the weeks leading up to the races.

“Training is the worst,” she grumbles.

But she has a cross-training system, one that counterbalances the running and injuries associated with repetitive movement. An outdoor enthusiast to the core, she turns to biking, pickleball, and paddleboarding. On the dietary front, she follows a fairly normal meal plan, maybe ramping up the carbs as race day approaches.

Food is fuel, and easy-access energy is essential to stay the course. Powered by oatmeal at the start, she turns to her stash of goo-gels to last her the duration. The Diet Pepsi delivery is standard operating procedure.

When it comes to the big finish, it never gets old. It only gets better.

“It’s the coolest feeling in the whole world,” she says. “You feel so happy and accomplished.”

With her 50 states drawing to a close, she is experiencing a bit of what now?

“It’s been such a big part of our lives,” she says.

She stares into the distance. “I have some traveling to do,” she says, weighing a newly announced ninestar racing series that includes Sydney, Shanghai, and Cape Town.

In the meantime, she’s got to see a state about a star. Nebraska’s up next.

Recent Home Sales

Thinking of selling your home in Morris County? Now might just be the perfect time! With strong buyer demand, low inventory, and competitive market conditions, sellers are in a prime position to maximize their equity. Morris County’s desirable neighborhoods, excellent schools, and vibrant communities continue to attract buyers eager to find their dream home. Don’t wait—seize the opportunity and make the most of this seller’s market! 2/10/2026 - 3/9/2026

Reel Time

Big fish, small hands: Lakers tackle the annual trout derby.

BY ELLEN S. WILKOWE

WHEN RON GIRONDA moved to Mountain Lakes, his then neighbor George Lilieholm extended a warm welcome, but there was a catch. “He told me I was going to be co-chair of the trout derby committee,” Gironda says.

That was 52 years ago, and Lilieholm has since passed. Gironda still holds the esteemed title of longest-serving committee member and bears witness to a timeless tradition that brings the community together and offers a glimpse of Americana.

“The first trout derby in 1962 was to encourage interest in fishing and sportsmanship by the youth in Mountain Lakes,” Gironda says.

An all-hands-on-deck operation, the derby is made possible through the efforts of the recreation department, the Police Benevolent Association (PBA) Local 310, and the dozen or so members of the Trout Derby Committee. The competition is funded through recreation department funds, community-group donations, entry fees, and proceeds from merchandise sales during the event.

“The PBA has been very generous with providing most of the prizes,” Gironda says.

In advance of this year’s derby, we sat down with Gironda for a fishing expedition of our own. The contest takes place April 18 from 8 to 10 a.m. at Birchwood Lake. The cost of entry is $15 per child or $25 per family. The derby takes place rain or shine and is open to children ages 16 and under.

You’ve been involved in the derby since almost the beginning. Does the adage “the more things change, the more they stay the same” hold true? Well, the derby actually got its start by members of the Mountain Lakes Rod and Gun Club, which is no longer, and the first few competitions up until 1965 were held on Cove Lake on Crane Road. Due to the increasing turnout, the derby outgrew its location and moved over to Birchwood Lake.

To what do you attribute the derby’s staying power?

Everyone has a job to do, and it’s a commitment. I am so proud of all the committee members who make this happen each year. The set up is very involved, and there’s a lot of off-site prep work, such as purchasing prizes, refreshments, and supplies to sell. There’s even a method to determine the number, size, and type of trout to order, and a raffle to give away unused prizes.

Did your kids grow up with a rod and reel?

My son won second place the first year we introduced the Spinner Award. The prize is named for the late Chief Spinozzi, who was affectionately known as Spinner.

What is the typical number of participants, and how has that changed over the years?

We normally get around 200, but it used to be a lot more—up to around 400 at one point. There’s a lot of competition now with spring sporting events, so we make it just two hours in the morning. That way, parents can get their kids to other activities, like the Little League parade. That wasn’t around when the derby first started.

Can you (excuse the pun) school me on the local fish? Are there existing species in the lakes that don’t require stocking from a hatchery?

As far as I know, there are sunnies and pickerels. At one point, I believe that those species were tagged.

Take me through the stocking process. That’s a whole separate event. The Friday before the derby, the truck full of fish arrives, and we invite the community to come out and help stock the lake. The committee members stand on the truck holding buckets, while the workers from the hatchery net the fish out of the truck’s tank and drop them in the buckets. We then hand the buckets to the children, who run them across the sand and dump the fish into the lake. This year, the stocking event is April 17, from 4 to 5 p.m. at Birchwood Lake.

Are there many waders or boaters?

There are a few boaters, but most contestants fish from along the banks or docks. In its heyday, the crowd was shoulder-to-shoulder.

Let’s talk prizes.

The first prize is given out by the mayor, and the winner gets his or her name engraved on the trophy. After the derby, the trophy is exhibited at the school of the winner. The second prize winner— The Spinner Award—gets his or her name engraved on a plaque. There’s also a table full of prizes to select from. The big one is usually a kayak. The first and second place winners pick first, and then the rest of the children who caught fish can select a prize based on the size of their catch, from longest to shortest. If there are any prizes remaining, there’s a raffle to hand out the rest.

What is your hope for the future?

My hope is that we continue to get new volunteers on the committee, especially as current members retire or move. The borough council and the recreation department have been very supportive of this family-oriented event and want to keep it going. I, for one, am confident that the derby will remain one of the most anticipated events in town. I can’t say enough how much I’ve enjoyed working on the committee.

Open a Window, and OPEN A BOOK

APRIL SHOWERS? Bring it. In the meantime, the library’s got your back, and these reads will make like the rain and refresh. Besides, who can pass up a good Garden State novel or a time travel kind of freak show featuring an influencer and tradwife?

FICTION

GHOST TOWN

by Tom Perotta

Nostalgia for 1970s New Jersey presents the backdrop for this coming-of-age story involving a young Jimmy Perrini and his adult self, who is coming to grips with a series of events that changed the course of his life.

AMERICAN FANTASY

by Emma Straub

Is it ever too late for your teenage dreams to come true? Well, a bunch of adult women are about to find out on board a cruise ship where their boyband crush reawakens their inner adolescence.

GO GENTLE

by Marie Semple

Navigating middle age on her own terms, Adora Hazzard prefers a lifestyle driven by matters of the mind over matters of the heart. A philosopher, divorcee, and mom, she keeps her emotions in check and moves about the world freely, that is, until the universe delivers a master plan that awakens her heart.

YESTERYEAR

by Caro Claire Burke

Natalie is an archetype of the

BY ELLEN S. WILKOWE

traditional American wife and mother. In addition to beauty, a handsome husband, and a hearty brood of six, she also runs a successful business selling her signature lifestyle of raw milk and farm-fresh eggs to her rabid base of social media followers. Living the dream reverses course as she awakens cold, filthy, and downright petrified in an alternate reality set in 1805. As she comes to grips with her new normal, she wrestles over who, or what, is responsible.

LAST NIGHT IN BROOKLYN

by Xochitl Gonzalez

Alicia Canales Forten is lured into the world of glitz and glam through her neighbor and fashion designer, La Garza. Fashion forward, yes, but the read also tackles other cultural themes such as gentrification, the American dream, and the compromises that people of color often have to make.

NONFICTION

THE

FUTURE

IS PEACE-A SHARED JOURNEY ACROSS THE HOLY LAND

by Aziz Abu Sarah and Maoz Ino Two lifelong peace activists scarred by the Israeli/Palestinian conflict provide their own first-hand accounts of the historical, mythical, and political influences at the heart of the division in the Holy Land. Meet Palestinian Aziz Abu and Israeli Moaz Inon. Bonded by a separate but shared grief, the pair forge a brotherhood against all odds that is exemplary and insightful.

LONDON FALLING

Patrick Radden Keefe

A family reeling from the sudden death of their 19-year-old son begins to piece together his apparent secret life that lured him to the criminal underground that lurks below London.

SECURE

by Amir Levine, MD

A secure, fulfilling life is within your reach, and Amir Levine, M.D., the bestselling coauthor of “Attached” will show you the way. This how-to guide is for self-help enthusiasts looking to improve their emotional health, foster meaningful relationships, and tap into their full potential.

THE NEW PERIMENOPAUSE

by Mary Claire Haver, MD

Finally, a book that answers the calls of middle-aged women who have longed for someone, anyone, to address the stage of life that rarely gets the medical attention it deserves. The companion book from the author behind “The New Menopause” addresses a difficult and often misdiagnosed phase of life and offers a self-help component to help women not only survive but thrive during an otherwise unsettling time.

WHEN THE FOREST BREATHES

by Suzanne Simard

Imagine the possibilities if the human condition leaned into the lessons built into the cycles of the natural world. The author who posited the concept of communication between trees returns to explore themes of adaptability, resilience and community.