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The Seeing Eye breeds, raises, and trains German shepherds, Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers and a cross of the Lab and golden retriever.
Guiding the Way
The Seeing Eye has been training service dogs and advocating for blind people since 1929.
BY CHRISTINE BOCKELMAN
sSPEND SOME TIME on The Seeing Eye’s main campus, which sits on 60 bucolic acres in Washington Valley, and you might notice a few things seem out of place. Stuffed animals are abandoned on sidewalks, there’s caution tape strung around, and low-hanging branches sweep sidewalks. But these aren’t maintenance issues. It’s all there by thoughtful design and plays an important part in The Seeing Eye’s approach to training guide dogs.
Seeing eye dogs are trained to safely guide their handlers around obstacles and navigate street crossings. They’re taught to ignore a command that might injure their handlers, so won’t move forward into traffic or walk into things that hang across sidewalks.
“We teach our dogs intelligent disobedience,” says Karen Leies, President and CEO of The Seeing Eye. “Even if their human is telling them to move forward, if the dog sees its
not safe, the dog will not do it.”
Morristown, home to The Seeing Eye’s downtown training center, plays an integral part in all this training. It offers many of the scenarios The Seeing Eye’s students and graduates encounter in their daily lives. “It’s the perfect place to train our dogs and instruct our individuals,” she says. “There’s traffic, there are stores and restaurants, there are busses and a train station. There are even country roads.”
Karen Leies, president and CEO of The Seeing Eye, holds Beau, a seven-week-old puppy.
PUPPY POWER
Volunteer puppy raisers play a vital role in the success of The Seeing Eye.
The Seeing Eye has made more than 18,000 matches between dogs and blind people since 1929. A huge part of this success is thanks to volunteer puppy raisers. The organization breeds about 500 service dogs each year, and each of those dogs needs a home to be raised in for its first year of life.
“Puppy raisers come from all walks of life,” says Loreli Stochaj, who has raised 12 Seeing Eye puppies and is Club Leader of the Morris Paws 4 A Cause Puppy Club. “If you can welcome a puppy into your home, you can be a puppy raiser.”
The Seeing Eye puppy raisers are foster families for the dogs, starting when they’re about seven- or eight-weeks old. Puppy raisers have three main jobs, Stochaj says. “You have to give this puppy a lot of love, teach it basic obedience, and expose it to as much of the world as you can,” she says. This could means bringing the puppy with to the library, the grocery store, to concerts, or anywhere else you might go as you navigate your day.
Puppy clubs are there to support you every step of the way. Clubs typically hold weekly meetings for puppy raisers to trade tips, discuss issues, work on training, and socialize the puppies.
At about 13 to 16 months, the dogs start their formal training with The Seeing Eye.“The hardest part of puppy raising if giving them back,” Stochaj says. “It’s always sad, but you know these dogs are going to help someone who needs them so much, so it’s also a good feeling. You’re helping to change someone’s life.”
FUTURE FACING
In January, The Seeing Eye kicked off a strategic planning process. One part of the plan is examining how advances in technology, like Meta glasses, can complement their work.
“Meta glasses and other AIsupportive technology are life changing for people who are blind and low vision, whether or not they have a dog,” Leies says. “But when they do have a dog, we have to work to keep people safe and keep the dog safe and also maximize the benefit of the technology.”
Imagine, for instance, you are blind
or low vision and are standing in front of your open fridge wearing Meta glasses. “You can pull something out and say ‘Meta, what am I holding?’ and it will tell you that you have a can of Coke,” Leies says.
It’s an exciting new level of independence for a person who is blind or low vision. “We have a board member who is a graduate of the school and commutes to work through Newark Penn Station,” Leies says. “If the dog stops because there’s something it can’t negotiate around, normally he would have to ask someone around him what is going on. Now, he can just
ask the Meta glasses what they see around him. It’s a tool that adds to the person’s independence.”
The Seeing Eye is working to implement a carefully considered training program.
“The relationship between the person and the dog needs to stay sacrosanct,” Leies says. “The dog is their partner and their primary source of information, but if they’re getting information from another source, like Meta glasses, it can be confusing. We’re looking to maintain best-in-class instruction and relevance in this new era of technology.”
Top: Loreli Stochaj, holding a blue leash, and members of her puppy club in NYC with The Seeing Eye puppies. Bottom: In 2023, Stochaj was honored with The Seeing Eye’s Kirby Award for Volunteer Excellence.
REMOVING BARRIERS
The second part of January’s strategic plan, Leies says, revolves around answering the question: What do our graduates need from us most? “We try to be their voice and advocate in terms of barriers to service or barriers to access,” she says.
While federal and state laws guarantee that people with service dogs can be accompanied by their dogs in all aspects of their lives, that’s not always how it happens. “It’s a big challenge for us, especially since people have gotten comfortable taking emotional support animals, which may not be properly trained, with them everywhere,” Leies says. “Also, people tend to overestimate the capacity or training of their pets.”
This becomes a problem when service dogs are denied entrance to businesses because of the bad behavior of other non-service dogs, Leies says. For instance, a seeing eye dog has been taught how to walk down the aisle and to sit under their handler’s seat
during the flight. But if another dog on the plane doesn’t have this training, it might misbehave on the plane. “It can have a domino effect,” Leies says. “Dogs that aren’t well trained can impact a business’ desire to allow people with service animals to travel or enter a business,” she says.
In fact, The Seeing Eye recently completed a report on how well each U.S. state, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico protect the rights of people who work with service dogs. It reported that over a 12-month period, 54 percent of service dog handlers were denied access to rideshares and taxis, and nearly 40 percent reported encountering other access barriers.
While Morristown remains a great partner and advocate for seeing eye dogs, outside of the local area “we still have to work to educate the general public and make everyone allies for The Seeing Eye and other real service dogs.”
Learn more about The Seeing Eye at seeingeye.org.
Top: The Dr. Robert H. Harris Canine Pavilion is a state-of-the-art kennel facility on The Seeing Eye campus. Bottom: Leies with seven-month-old Scout
Great Gifts, Tiny Packages
After her daughter spent 126 days in the NICU at Morristown Medical Center, Amanda Fisher started the Morristown branch of Project Sweet Peas.
BY CHRISTINE BOCKELMAN
iIN MARCH 2020, Amanda Fisher’s world shut down three days before the rest of New Jersey’s did. That’s when, on March 6, her youngest daughter, Amelia, entered the world at just 24 weeks old and weighing less than 1.5 pounds.
“It was like a movie,” says the mom of three. “It was a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from.”
Not only was Amelia high risk, but during the coronavirus pandemic Fisher’s friends and family couldn’t really be there for her or do a lot to help. “At another time, I would have had friends and family and so much support, but it
just wasn’t possible in 2020.”
It was isolating and lonely, Fisher says. The COVID-19 pandemic meant that only one parent per day could enter the unit, so Fisher wasn’t even able to spend much time with her husband. One of them was always at the hospital, and the other was with their two other children.
“One day, one of my friends left a little bag filled with hand lotion, ChapStick, face wipes, and a granola bar on my car, and it meant the absolute world to me,” she says. Not only was the gift thoughtful, but it was also very practical. In the NICU, Fisher says, her hands were very dry
from washing them over and over, and she wasn’t eating much because the hospital cafeteria was very limited.
“When your child is in the NICU, you just aren’t thinking about yourself,” Fisher says. “The gift was small, but it meant so much. It made me feel supported.”
In all, Amelia spent 126 days in the NICU at Morristown Medical Center. At times, she was the most critical baby there. “When she started doing better, and things were more positive, I knew I had to do something to make sure other people in this situation feel a little less lonely and scared.”
Amanda Fisher
GREAT THINGS, SMALL PACKAGES
Fisher started looking for ways to give back. “I really wanted to do something that was super local and super targeted,” Fisher says. “There are a lot of big organizations doing a lot of amazing work, but I wanted to have impact closer to home.”
Project Sweet Peas was the perfect fit. The national organization has local chapters that provide support to families and caregivers of premature or sick infants, as well as families impacted by pregnancy and infant loss.
Inspired by the gift her friend left on her car in 2020, Fisher puts together care packages for parents of babies in the NICU at Morristown Medical Center.
“Project Sweet Peas provides some items, and with the funds I raise I always add hand lotion and a granola bar like I received,” she says.
The packages also include a NICU bracelet that Fisher wears every day and is engraved with the words “brave, resilient, strong.” There’s also a preemiesized onesie “because those are hard to come by. At baby showers you normally get larger sizes,” Fisher says.
Fisher’s desire to give back didn’t stop at care packages though. “Every day on the long walk to and from the NICU, I’d pass a donor board that mentioned the Women’s Association for Morristown Medical Center,” she says. Today, Fisher serves on the association’s executive board and is in charge of fundraising and marketing.
Top: Amelia visits the NICU. Bottom: Bellamy, Bennett, and Amelia Fisher
FAMILY AFFAIR
Amelia is now a smart, energetic six-year-old who just graduated kindergarten and is taking the world by storm. Still, Fisher doesn’t forget how far her daughter has come. Last year, for Amelia’s fifth birthday, they worked together to assemble Project Sweet Peas gift bags and deliver them. It was the first time Amelia was able to go back into the NICU unit where she’d spent the first critical months of her life.
“We took that long walk down the
same hallway I’d walked down alone, where I’d waited for her alone while she had surgery, and she is now this amazing, healthy kid,” Fisher says. “It was an incredible moment.”
Her older children, Bennett and Bellamy, are also involved. “When they have a birthday party, we’ll ask that in lieu of gifts guests consider making a donation to Amelia’s Sweet Peas fund,” Fisher says.
Fisher hopes she is instilling in Amelia, and her other two children,
the importance of giving back. “There’s this cute saying in the NICU, ‘It’s the little things that matter the most,’ since the babies are the tiniest things in the hospital. We try to stay true to that. Big donations are amazing and do incredible things, but that little care package I received of just basic, simple items was exactly what I needed in that moment, and for me, it made all the difference,” Fisher says. “That’s exactly what Project Sweet Peas is all about.”
Left: Amelia in in front of Morristown Medical Center, where she spent 126 days in the NICU. Top: Project Sweet Peas gift bags Bottom: The Women’s Auxiliary for Morristown Medical Center helped assemble gift bags.
Mo-Town Melodies
This month is a jackpot of music around Morristown. From blues and jazz to folk and classic rock, August brings something for every music lover.
BY CHRISTINE BOCKELMAN
From left: Paul Bollenback, Paul Rossman, Michael Goetz, Richard Baratta, Vincent Herring, and Bill O’Connell of Richard Baratta Gotham City Latin/Jazz Septet
MUSIC ON THE GREEN
The Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival celebrates its 15th year of bringing community and free music together on the Green.
EVERY AUGUST for the last decade and a half, Morristown has hosted some of the country’s best jazz and blues musicians for a free community festival. This year is no exception, and on August 15 a slate of big names hits the stage set up on the Green.
The free concert, the brainchild of Mayor Tim Dougherty, is produced by Don Smith, who lived on Macculloch Avenue for more than 25 years and had a long career in and around the music business.
Smith mines his deep connections to bring top acts to Morristown. “I choose the acts personally,” Smith says. “I know jazz very well, and I know all the artists. I pretty much know everyone in blues, too.” Smith tries to bring new acts in each year to “expose as many people as possible to the artists.”
This year features a particularly stellar lineup, starting with jazz and transitioning into blues later in the day. Bring lawn chairs, spread out your blankets, and enjoy the show. For more information, visit morristownjazzandblues.org.
12 p.m. Swing Band James Langton New York AllStar Big Band covers chart toppers by Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and other big bands from the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s.
2 p.m. Grammy-nominated group Richard Baratta Gotham City Latin/Jazz Septet hits the stage to perform a fun set of Latin jazz standards.
4 p.m. LaBamba and the Hubcaps, led by trombonist, vocalist, and arranger Richie “LaBamba” Rosenburg, is a rare repeat performer at the festival—this year marks his third appearance. Rosenburg has performed with Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Diana Ross, and other famous artists.
6 p.m. Dylan Triplett, who was named the Blues Music Award’s “Best Emerging Artist” in 2023, combines blues classics with his soulful voice.
8 p.m. The festival closes with blues superstar Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, a guitar phenom who is widely regarded as one of today’s top blues songwriters. In 2023, “60 Minutes” called Ingram “a new blues superstar” during a segment on the music scene in Clarksdale, Mississippi, his hometown.
Above: Richie “LaBamba” Rosenberg. Photograph by James Palczewski
Left: Dylan Triplet. Photograph courtesy of the artist
FRIDAY NIGHT TROUBADOURS
EACH FRIDAY NIGHT for 50 weeks per year, contemporary singer-songwriters and acoustic musicians in a range of styles—from Americana and country to bluegrass and jazz—hit the stage at the Morristown Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (21 Normandy Heights Rd.).
An impressive two-thirds of the musicians are nationally touring performers. The remaining one-third are members of local communities, from beginners to accomplished professionals, who get on stage to share their musical skills. This is all part of the Troubadour Concert Series run by the nonprofit Folk Project, which has been bringing music and dance to Morristown for more than 50 years.
Tickets for the shows can be bought at the door or online at folkproject.org. They cost just $20 to keep performances accessible and encourage more people to discover new music. All performances begin at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit folkproject.org. Here’s the August lineup:
8/7: Carolann Solebello, a founding member of Americana trio Red Molly, and singer-songwriter Kyle Morgan both perform.
8/14: The bluegrass music of The Ryan Shupe Band and the mountain-style harmonies and fiddle music of Rakish.
8/21: Campfire Night has three artists performing from the middle of the room, without a sound system, while sitting next to an electric campfire. The artists are folk musician Joe Crookston, James Taylor aficionado James Geddon, and a sing-along led by Ken Galipeau.
8/28: The Veterans & Songwriters Project features the stories of 10 veterans set to music written by Folk Project songwriting professionals.
On August 18, enjoy a performance by Wilma. Vail Mansion Plaza. 6 p.m. Free.
Photo courtesy of MPAC
LOCAL BEATS
THERE’S LOTS OF OTHER MUSIC on offer around Morristown in August! Here’s a sampling of additional performances. For tickets to MPAC events, visit mayoarts.org/events.
8/1: Johnny Woods Band. Moo-Sic on the Farm at Fosterfields. 4:30 p.m. $5/person (2 and under free). For tickets and more information, visit Morrisparks.net/events.
8/19: Orleans, Firefall, Pure Prarie League & Atnalnta Rhythm Section. MPAC, 7 p.m.
8/20: Glen Burtnik’s Summer of Love Concert. MPAC, 8 p.m.
Healthy Hair, Family Roots
BY MY MO-TOWN STAFF
ELYSE MARIE BERTOLETTI, who owns Elysium Biodynamic Salon & Spa with her husband, Rodrigo Bertoletti, tries to live an organic, holistic lifestyle. But her job as a hairstylist wasn’t aligning with those values and she had a realization. She was pregnant with her oldest son and had just opened a jar of hair color. “The smell of the chemicals just hit me in the face. I immediately felt like I was living a lie—my professional life was not reflecting my personal life,” Bertoletti says. This was the catalyst for opening Elysium, which uses nontoxic products, minimizes the use of plastics, and believes hair health is interconnected with your mental and overall health. Bertoletti sat down with My Mo-Town to talk about organic products, her dislike of trends, and more.
How does hair health relate to physical health?
Hair shows what’s going on in the rest of your body. For instance, as women age, their changing hormone levels can show up in their hair, making it thinner or more fragile. Things like thyroid issues can affect the proteins in hair, too, and that, in turn, affects the coloring process. Also, when we’re stressed, our hair is usually stressed out, too. It all connects.
The salon uses nontoxic products. How are those different from organic products?
For truly organic products, we’re talking about henna or coffee as hair color. You’re not necessarily going to get the result you want with either of those. With henna, for example, you’re very limited in color tones—
INTERVIEW WITH ELYSE MARIE BERTOLETTI
Elyse Marie and Rodrigo Bertoletti, owners of Elysium Biodynamic Salon & Spa, with their sons
it’s lots of reds—and it’s transparent, so it’s not covering gray hair. But you’re coming to a salon because you want a certain result. We’ve married these two thought processes—we’re not using coffee to color your hair, but we’re not using toxic products that are going to harm you.
Scalp care is all the rage right now. Why is your scalp so important to the health of your hair?
Scalp care started thousands of years ago with Japanese women who performed rituals with their hair and protein-rich rice water. But you can’t expect your hair to be healthy if your scalp is not. Think of your scalp almost like soil. Everything grows from there, so if your scalp has issues, you cannot expect that the hair that grows from it will be at its best either. We focus on scalp detoxes. Whether you have eczema, psoriasis, or are just dealing
with oil buildup or flakes, we cleanse the scalp and create a fresh, healthy environment for the hair follicle to breathe and grow to its potential.
It’s summertime. Any tips for dealing with chlorine buildup in your hair?
I always suggest vitamin C. You can order vitamin C powder online and you mix it with your favorite conditioner. Heat it up a little bit, or put on a shower cap and sit in the sun, and you will actually see if you have chlorine buildup. There’s no formula to follow at all. Just mix the two together, and it’s a fun little science experiment. The water from your hair will be blue or green in the shower cap. That’s all the chemicals leaving your hair.
How do you protect your hair at the beach?
My first tip is always to go and have fun! If you’re going to the beach and know
you’re going to swim—and you should swim and have a great time!—you might want to saturate your hair with a leave-in conditioner before getting in the water. This creates a protective seal so you can go and enjoy yourself.
Any hair trends you like right now?
I don’t like focusing on hair trends because they are trends for a reason—they don’t necessarily work for everyone! It’s like I tell my kids: You are an individual. You should be doing what works for you, not just doing what’s popular. But one thing I’m happy about is that women aren’t using permanent color to cover up their gray as much. They’re camouflaging the gray, not covering or hiding it, and creating this trend I love. They’re still coming in to get their hair colored, but they are letting the gray live with other pigments. That’s a trend I will stand behind.
Elysium Biodynamic Salon & Spa
In a Pickle(ball)
Pickleball is incredibly popular, but leads to more than its share of injuries. Here’s how to stay in the game and avoid getting sidelined.
BY KATE CHERICHELLO TENTE
CHANCES ARE SOMEONE you know is obsessed with pickleball. After all, it’s the fastest-growing sport in America. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s Pickleball Single Sport Report published in May 2025 found that pickleball participation was up an impressive 311% over the previous three years.
That increase in popularity has brought a related rise in injuries. A 10-year study published in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics estimated that almost 78,000 pickleballrelated injuries occurred nationally in the study’s two-year timespan.
With those stats in mind, I reached out to sports chiropractor Dr. Randi Case of Morris Spine & Sport to glean some tips for how to stay injury free.
Pickleball Courts at Madison High School
Dr. Randi Case
THE COURT IS CALLING
Below are a handful of places to play in and near Morristown. Check hours and court reservation requirements before heading out.
Outdoor Courts:
• Lidgerwood Park (46 Lidgerwood Pkwy., Morristown)
• Mt Pleasant Road Tennis/Pickleball Courts (40 Mt Pleasant Rd., Mendham)
• Ginty Field (50 Woodland Ave., Morris Township)
• Madison High School (170 Ridgedale Ave., Madison)
Member-Only Options:
• Greater Morristown YMCA (79 Horse Hill Rd., Cedar Knolls; indoor courts)
• Home Court in Cedar Knolls (235 Ridgedale Avenue, Cedar Knolls; indoor courts)
• Morristown Field Club (168 James St., Morristown; outdoor courts)
WARM IT UP
“I always tell players to warm up dynamically and cool down statically,” Case says. “Before you play, use hip circles, leg swings, ankle rolls, and light shuffles to prep your joints. Afterward, stretch your calves, hip flexors, hamstrings, chest, and forearms. And for real durability on the court, strengthen your glutes, core, and rotator cuff—those are your stabilizers.”
PICKLED WITH PAIN
Case sees Achilles strains, pickleball elbow, and shoulder overuse issues most often. “They’re common because pickleball involves quick lateral movement, sudden lunges, and repetitive gripping—often on bodies that aren’t warmed up or conditioned for those demands,” she says.
ELBOW ISSUES
“Pickleball elbow is an irritation of the wrist-extensor tendons,” Case says. She suggests preventive measures like using a paddle that isn’t too heavy and has proper grip size and having strong
forearm muscles. “I also emphasize shoulder and core stability, because when the upper body isn’t supporting the motion, the elbow ends up taking the load.”
ROOKIES VS. REGULARS
Dr. Case sees a mix of new and seasoned players in her office. “Newer players often overload tissues because they jump in with enthusiasm but not much conditioning. More seasoned players develop overuse patterns— the same motions repeated for years without enough strength or recovery. Different paths, same outcome if you’re not proactive,” she says.
SOLE SEARCHING
The upper body might see a majority of injuries, but don’t forget your feet. The proper shoes are a crucial part of a healthy pickleball experience, Case says. She suggests a court shoe rather than a running shoe to help with the pickleball’s side-to-side movements. “You need lateral stability, a firm heel counter, and good traction for side-
to-side movement,” she says. “Running shoes are built for forward motion, and that’s exactly how ankle sprains happen on the pickleball court.”
STAY IN THE GAME
None of this is to say you should avoid trying pickleball. It’s great exercise that uses multiple planes of motion and boosts your social health, too. “You get cardiovascular work, balance training, hand eye coordination, and quick bursts of power, all with less impact than tennis,” Case says.
Kate Cherichello Tente is a New Jersey native, wellness advocate, and host of the streaming series Healthy in the Garden State, which spotlights local health resources, experts, and practical wellness tips. She has more than 20 years of experience in the fitness and entertainment industries and is both an ACSM-certified Group Fitness Instructor and ACE-certified Personal Trainer. She lives in Morris County with her husband, toddler, and rescue pup. Visit healthyinthegardenstate.com.
BOOK NOOK
Spaced-Out Summer
Check out these out-of-this-world reading recommendations from an MMT librarian.
CURIOUS ABOUT the night sky and what’s beyond our planet? MMT Library has you covered! Warm August nights offer the perfect backdrop for stargazing. The Perseids, the most popular meteor shower of the year, typically peak in mid-August. This year, the shower will coincide with a new moon, providing darker skies and optimal viewing conditions. These meteor showers offer a spectacular view of natural fireworks. If you are interested in stargazing but don’t own a telescope, the Library of Things has one that any Morristown or Morris Township resident with a library card can check out. You can also find numerous nonfiction books in our collection that offer tips on stargazing, as well as fascinating fiction about what may lie beyond the stars for readers of all ages. Some new titles for all ages:
BY ROBIN WASILEWSKI
“TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER: PERSPECTIVES ON YOUR FIRST ALIEN ENCOUNTER” by Neil deGrasse Tyson Ever wonder what is beyond the stars? You’re not alone. In his latest book, America’s favorite astrophysicist wonders what a close encounter with extraterrestrials would be like, for us and for them. Tyson offers a fun perspective with factual evidence. A must-read for anyone who is curious about what else is out there!
“RIPPLES ON THE COSMIC OCEAN: AN ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY OF OUR PLACE IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM”
by Dagomar Degroot
Degroot traces the surprising threads linking earthly human activity to the rest of the solar system in this new title. He reveals how other planetary environments have shaped current geopolitics, spurred cultural innovation, and encouraged new ideas about the emergence of life on Earth.
“THE SECRET ASTRONOMERS” by Jessica Walker Award-winning YA fiction with an
illustrated art-collage twist. In rural West Virginia, two teens are secret pen pals with the help of an astronomy textbook in their high school library. They become friends and join forces to unravel a possible extraterrestrial mystery in their small town.
“THE CELESTIAL SEAS” by T. A. Chan
“Moby Dick” in space! Young adult science fiction at its best with the story of Ishara Ming, the sole survivor of a space whaling ship whose crew was destroyed by the cyborg whale MOBIS. She’s now captaining a new ship and bound to avenge the deaths of her friends. Action and adventure await readers beyond our solar system.
“THE UNIVERSE: DISCOVER WHAT LIES BEYOND OUR SKIES” by Abigail Beall
The latest in a series of astronomy books for children by the team at DK Publishing, known for its fabulous, illustrated works of engaging nonfiction. Kids in grades 2-5 will enjoy learning all about the stars and planets.
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Let’s have a proper chat — over tea! Ginge Calhoun | Morristown local 378 Millburn Ave., 2nd Floor, Millburn, NJ 07041
Totally Floored
Kevin Handerson of ReCoat Revolution shares how to take your hardwood floors from beatup to beautiful.
BY MY MO-TOWN STAFF
How can you revive hardwood floors are that tired and worn?
Traditional refinishing sands floors to bare wood, stains them the desired color, and applies a new topcoat. If you want to change the color of a floor, or if it is warped or buckled, then a full sanding job is the best solution. Some providers offer a lighter sanding option called “screen and recoat” that is faster but still involves sanding. If you like the current color, and the floor is just worn and scratched, then there’s a new option called the Clean ReCoat process that can refresh your floor without any sanding. Avoiding sanding provides several benefits— it’s faster and less costly, it extends the life of the floor, and no cleanup is required after the job is done.
When should we call a professional?
All of the processes mentioned above should be done professionally. Professionals have the equipment, materials, and techniques to give you the best results. Be sure to get a firm quote to avoid surprises, and ask if all the materials they use will be nontoxic, child- and pet-friendly, and environmentally safe. Also ask about what preparation steps you will need to do, how long you will need to be out of the house, and what cleanup will be required after the job is done.
What about routine cleaning and products from the local hardware store?
For routine cleaning, we recommend frequent vacuuming and occasionally using a pH-neutral cleaner for damp mopping. We do not recommend applying “quick shine” products because they can trap dirt on the floors, and they are too soft to withstand daily use—they quickly look worse! Pet accidents should be cleaned up as quickly as possible. If they remain on the floor, they can cause deep damage that cannot be removed by any process, including sanding! We also recommend against allowing any wetness to stay on the floors for extended periods.
Can engineered wood be treated the same way as solid wood floors?
No! Solid wood can be sanded several times before it needs to be pulled up and replaced – this is one reason that the new Clean ReCoat process puts off sanding until it is really necessary. Engineered wood floors are similar to plywood, with a thin, attractive layer of real wood on top. Engineered wood cannot be sanded, or the thin attractive layer could disappear! The Clean ReCoat process can be applied to engineered wood, as well as to other floors that cannot be sanded because the process does not include sanding. For example, we can refresh Luxury Vinyl Plank floors (LVP), Vinyl Composition Tile floors (VCT) and even polished concrete.
What should you consider when choosing a new topcoat sheen?
All the sheens—gloss, semi-gloss, and satin—have similar strengths and durability, so it really is primarily a personal preference. Gloss tends to show imperfections most strongly, while satin tends to reduce the appearance of imperfections, but other factors such as lighting and window placement have a big effect. Choose whichever you prefer!
Kevin Handerson owns and operates ReCoat Revolution of the NJ Highlands. For more information, visit recoatrevolution.com/njhighlands or follow them on Instagram @recoatrevolutionofnjhighlands.
ReCoat Revolution owner Kevin Handerson cleaning a hardwood floor before adding a new protective topcoat. Photograph by H. Nguyen
LAST LOOK
FARM FRESH
ON SUNDAY, July 5, at the Morristown Farmers Market, the produce was showing off! Greet friends and neighbors and shop for everything from vegetables to dog food every Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. through November 22.
Have a fabulous Morristown photo?
Email it to the editor: Christine.Bockelman@ wainscotmedia.com. It could be featured in an upcoming issue!
Colorful fresh veggies at the Alstede Farm stand at the Morristown Farmers Market
The Art of Customized Body
Contouring
Following significant weight loss, pregnancy, GLP-1-assisted weight loss, or age-related changes, excess skin and tissue laxity can remain despite a healthy lifestyle. With 30 years of experience and an artist’s eye for proportion, Dr. Scott Spiro develops highly individualized surgical plans designed around each patient’s anatomy and goals. Procedures may include arm lifts, bra line lifts, breast lifting procedures, and mid-body lifting to address concerns of the upper arms, bra line, upper back, and lateral chest wall. Many patients are surprised to learn that areas beyond the abdomen can also be reshaped and refined through surgery. By evaluating the body as a whole rather than focusing on a single area, Dr. Spiro restores balance, contour, and proportion with results that look natural and stand the test of time.
Advanced Skin Tightening & Regenerative Skincare
For patients seeking non-surgical improvement, Nurse Practitioner Mikayla offers XERF, an advanced radiofrequency treatment that stimulates collagen production and improves skin firmness with minimal downtime. Combined with Plated™ exosome skincare, these treatments support skin health, enhance surgical outcomes, and provide meaningful rejuvenation for patients not yet ready for surgery.
