Millburn & Short Hills March 2024

Millburn & Short Hills

A NEW ERA FOR MHS LACROSSE LUXE LIVING INTERIOR DESIGNER KAREN WOLF MILLBURN STANDARD

A MEETING OF THE MINDS

Recipe for Success

Rachel Mansfield

“Debbie was great from start to finish. She coordinated multiple contractors to prepare our house for sale after we had lived there for over 45 years. She made a complicated process easy and ultimately obtained a sale price far above our goal. Responsive, professional, and a pleasure to work with. You won’t find anyone better.”

“Debbie and her amazing support staff and service partners truly delivered to sell our home for a great price. She knows the market, the area, and the industry. She was spot-on in her confident opinions on what we should and should not do. Always reachable, she and her team made us feel we were her only clients. Thank you, Debbie!”

Publisher’s Note

MELISSA SPECTOR

Living in the social media age, whether you are young or old, it is hard not to marvel at the folks who make a living sharing their expertise through their original content on platforms such as Instagram. In this issue, we are delighted to feature Millburn author Rachel Mansfield whose talents in the kitchen have won her an impressive 1 million followers, appearances on “Today” and a growing brand all while being a mom of three. If you are not a fan already, you surely will become one. You might even bump into her, as she mentions in our story, at Millburn Standard, whose dynamic founders are also featured in this issue.

In addition to our regular monthly departments, including What’s New Around Town by Explore Millburn-Short Hills and Book Nook by The Book House, we are excited to share a window into the dedication and athleticism of the girls’ and boys’ high school lacrosse teams this spring.

Thank you, readers, for sharing this journey with us in our third issue as we celebrate the fabric of our community on our pages. We hope you will keep reaching out with your invaluable feedback to marylima@millburnandshorthills.com. This magazine is for you!

Mary Lima Publisher

Millburn & Short Hills

Publisher

Mary Lima

Art Director

Sue Park

Copy Editor

Nancy Fass

Writers

Sophia Colitti

Steve Grillo

Elaine Paoloni Quilici

Isabella Setaro

Abigail Good

Photographer

Melissa Spector

WAINSCOT MEDIA

Chairman

Carroll V. Dowden

President and CEO

Mark Dowden

VP, Group Publisher, Regional

Thomas Flannery

VP, Content Strategy

Maria Regan

Creative Director

Kijoo Kim

Advertising Services Director Jacquelynn Fischer

Operations Director

Catherine Rosario

Production Designer

Chris Ferrante

Print Production Manager

Fern Meshulam

Advertising Production Associate

Griff Dowden

Millburn

PHOTOGRAPH

WHAT’S NEW Around Town

BY STEVE GRILLO, Executive Director, Explore Millburn-Short Hills

Spring is on its way in Millburn-Short Hills, which means that event season is also on the horizon. Explore Millburn-Short Hills is working with numerous partners to create innovative and engaging programs in March and April that you need to know about.

MILLWHEELS PUBLIC ART PROJECT

Founding Day will also serve as the kickoff for a special public art effort launched by Explore Millburn-Short Hills and Millburn’s Cultural Engagement Diversity and Arts Committee (CEDA). In 2019, the town created a campaign called “Millwheels Rolling into Millburn” and more than 20 groups decorated wooden millwheels with their own unique designs. This year, those wheels are being brought back to life with new designs and installation locations. A dozen local cultural, civic, education and social organizations are participating, and the designs will make their debut at Founding Day.

A WEEK FOR DINING OUT

In 2023, Explore Millburn-Short Hills launched “Millburn-Short HIlls Restaurant Week,” which featured more than 25 restaurants and supported work done by Opportunity Project—a local nonprofit that provides care to individuals with brain injuries. The event is back for 2024 and will take place between March 17 and March 23. Last year was a phenomenal success and helped raise more than $6,000 for Opportunity Project. Follow Explore Millburn-Short Hills on social media for updates and promotions.

MILLBURN FOUNDING DAY & TAYLOR PARK AT 100

Millburn’s Cultural Engagement Diversity and Arts Committee (CEDA) will host the third annual Founding Day event at Taylor Park. This event not only celebrates the founding of the town in 1857 but this year is a special celebration of the 100th anniversary of the dedication of Taylor Park. CEDA is working with various local groups to include activities related to the history of the town as well as a celebration of Earth Day. The event is scheduled for May 18 with a rain date of May 19. Make sure to join the Explore Millburn-Short Hills email list by emailing info@exploremillburnshorthills.org for more information.

WELCOME, NEW BUSINESSES!

Millburn-Short Hills has seen remarkable business growth since 2020. More than 100 businesses have opened in the five commercial districts of the town, and we have some exciting ones that have recently opened or are on their way.

Curious Kids - For parents looking for high-quality and engaging early childhood education, the newest spot to check out in town is Curious Kids, which recently opened on Spring Street downtown. The team has a passion for providing a developmentally appropriate environment where children will learn how to thrive in school and life as well-adjusted and kind individuals. Curious Kids offers Baby and Me, Toddler and Me, Drop Off and Summer Camp programs for children up to 5 years old.

Rossi Paint Stores - Longtime Millburn paint shop Suburban Paint recently was replaced by Rossi Paint Stores, a leading Benjamin Moore retailer throughout New Jersey. We are fortunate to have a local paint store in town, so make sure to visit it at 8 Main St. and welcome it to Downtown Millburn.

GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT

Save the date! Girls’ Night Out is taking place on June 8 in Downtown Millburn, and this year’s theme is “Mermaids in Millburn”—just in time for summer! Follow Explore Millburn-Short Hills on social media for updates and promotions.

PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE

There is a new and exciting feature starting on April 5 at Paper Mill Playhouse. Running through May 5, “Gun & Powder” is a new musical inspired by the true story of Mary and Martha Clarke, African American twin sisters who take extraordinary measures to settle their mother’s sharecropper debt and save her home. In 1893 Texas, the sisters Clarke—passing as white—embark on a remarkable Wild West adventure that examines race, family and identity with two electrifying women who transformed from farm girls to outlaws to legends. Visit the Paper Mill Playhouse website for information and tickets.

ABOUT EXPLORE

MILLBURNSHORT HILLS

Explore Millburn-Short Hills is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established to support and promote businesses throughout the five areas of the Special Improvement District that was established in 2020. Explore organizes numerous events, musical performances, educational programs and networking events. The organization is also responsible for various public art and streetscaping projects in the town including the Millburn Art Alley.

Connecting a Community

Neighbors of Millburn Short Hills hosts fun events where residents can make new friends and learn about local resources.

BY SOPHIA COLITTI

INTERVIEW WITH EMILY KRAMER Board Member, Neighbors of Millburn Short Hills

Driven by human connection, Neighbors of Millburn Short Hills is a nonprofit social group dedicated to enhancing the residential experience in the area. We spoke with Emily Kramer to learn more about the organization and its goals.

Please share the backstory of the group. Neighbors of Millburn Short Hills, formerly known as Newcomers & Neighbors of Short Hills & Millburn, was founded in 1973. The group is open to all residents of Short Hills and Millburn, no matter how long they have lived in the area. Over the past 50 years, the club has worked to change with the times, offer events interesting to all members, and continue to support and connect members of our community.

What was your personal experience joining the group, and how has your journey evolved with time?

Each member has a different experience and involvement. I found Neighbors through our realtor and started attending coffee meet-ups, which are very casual. Then, through making friends in the club, I found my way onto the board. As my first introduction to town and making friends in the suburbs, I found it a helpful way to meet people and learn about the area.

How do you fund your events?

We work to have as many lowcost and free events as possible, such as our coffee meet-ups, park meet-ups and walking groups. With the help of our $35 annual dues and our work to negotiate group rates with businesses, we also bring paid experiences to members at a discounted price. An example of a subsidized event was our recent ArteVino Paint and Sip event. We offered a discounted rate to members and were able to provide beverages and snacks for the event. In the past, the club has done fundraising galas and other events, and we are exploring the opportunities for bringing these back in the future. Stay tuned!

What makes this group of community members stand out from other organizations in the area?

Our group is open to everyone! It’s a communitybased organization and the only requirement is living in town. We keep a low membership fee to try to remain accessible to everyone in the community. Secondly, while our members benefit from a listserv that connects them to hundreds of people in town, our main goal is to plan as many in-person events as possible throughout the year.

What are some events that you’ve hosted in the past that truly embody the group’s core values?

Our monthly coffees, Fall Family Fun Day and adult social hours embody our values of connecting people at all stages of life and making them feel welcome in town.

At what point do you find that new members tend to feel at home because of this group?

When people enter our group, we want them to feel like they have joined a community and have connected to a local network of people to help them navigate both socially and functionally. Our members who benefit the most from this network are those who jump in, come to our events and start connecting with their neighbors. We are also always looking for people to join our board, to help plan new events and help us to support this great group of people.

Having reached 50 years is a huge achievement, congrats!

Does the group have any future plans to explore new kinds of events or meet-ups?

This year we are excited to be partnering with Explore MillburnShort Hills for some of our events. Explore helps to support local businesses, so this year we’ll be adding more events that combine local business support with socialization. We hope to build awareness of the great resources in town while also bringing people together.

What goes into planning new events? What are the goals that drive the vision for new community events?

Our events are planned through brainstorming and communication. The board or club members come up with ideas and we discuss how to execute them. We try to think of ideas that reach a variety of groups, including families, adults and women. Our goal is to bring people a memorable event where they can form relationships and have a good time.

What are some Millburn and Short Hills must-sees that you recommend or show to newcomers?

Downtown Millburn has a lot to offer, but we also enjoy the hidden gems in town. Cora Hartshorn Arboretum is a great spot for a walk, kid’s camp, or a weekend visit to bring you back to nature.

Sophia Colitti is a Roseland-based writer with a journalism and media studies degree from Rutgers University. She is a former contributor to The Progress newspaper.

How can people learn more or join?

Our website is the best avenue to get information and join. You can find us at www.neighborsmsh.com.

Our coffees are a great place to start where you can meet some of your neighbors, start connecting and get involved. Come out and meet us!

We’re currently working on forming our board for the 2024-2025 year, please let us know if you’re looking for ways to get involved! You can email us at neighborsmsh@ gmail.com.

Neighbors of Millburn Short Hills is a nonprofit social group dedicated to enhancing residential experience in the area. It organizes many fun opportunities for residents to meet in person, including dining out, indoor rock climbing and more.

A Promising Spring

The boys’ and girls’ lacrosse teams at Millburn High School have their sights set on a spring full of growth.

BY SOPHIA COLITTI

It is well known that Millburn High School is the picture of academic excellence, but don’t discount the athletics, specifically boys’ and girls’ lacrosse—both teams are building back with a vengeance.

Boys’ lacrosse coaching duo, long-time friends, firefighters and

business partners Michael Gilligan and Brian Roth, are a united front. Gilligan, running the offensive side, has spent eight years coaching, three of which have been in Millburn as co-head coach. Roth, the defensive coach, has had a hand in coaching for 20 years, the past three as the

other half of the head coaching pair. Under their leadership, the team will be gearing up for the 2024 season.

“This is a special group this year, it’s a really nice blend of mostly veteran seniors with returning young sophomores,” Gilligan says.

A New Era

The team’s record of 9-10 last season was indicative of growing pains, but this year, the mix of experienced leaders and rising talent is promising. It appears all the right parts are in place for optimal team synchronicity.

“I think last year we had seven freshmen who played major minutes and have been battletested,” Gilligan says. “They were asked to step up and do something that’s not usually expected of inexperienced freshmen, but the upperclassmen guided them the right way.”

Players like second-leading scorer and sophomore Oliver Becker are testaments to said battle testing. Becker had a breakthrough season last year as a freshman. Junior Ander Berrman, faceoff specialist, is known for his versatility and is another name to watch out for this season.

Senior captains, Zach Lipton and Quentin Kuehn, alongside senior goalie, Bobby Hansen, are all spearheading the 2024 team as veterans. Both captains have committed to continue their lacrosse careers in college, Lipton at Rochester Institute of Technology and Kuehn at Ursinus College. These upperclassmen are called to impart wisdom to the rest of the team.

“We always say ‘stay the course,’” Roth says. “Lacrosse is a game of ups and downs. You’re playing another team—they have good athletes as well; they’re going to get their goals—but you can’t let it get inside your head. We rely on the seniors to preach that same slogan to the kids as well,” Roth says.

“You’re playing another team—they have good athletes as well; they’re going to get their goals—but you can’t let it get inside your head.”

—Brian Roth, co-head coach, Millburn High School Boys’ Lacrosse

Meet Me Up Here

In the spirit of overcoming adversity, the girl’s lacrosse motto is “Meet me up here,” infamously repeated by assistant coach Manny Hernandez, who holds the girls to a gold standard. Head coach Samantha Parlavecchio credits Hernandez for his fitness guru-esque background and another assistant coach Tiffani Hamman for her knowledge of basketball and stats. As for Parlavecchio herself, she has 11 years on her coaching resume, two of which have been spent in Millburn as head coach. Her career teaching physical education and health paired with her extensive coaching experience, has allowed her to observe different coaching philosophies and find the best approach.

“I’ve known these girls pretty much their whole lives,” Parlavecchio says. “It’s nice to know them as more than just lacrosse players. They’re not only

great athletes on the field but they’re great scholars.”

Like the boys’ team, the girls are finding their footing and rebuilding from graduated team members.

A Tough Start

“Last year, my first year, they had a season with zero wins,” Parlavecchio says. “So, we started off tough, but I feel like once we got that offense set, and once they realized that everybody is going to have accountability and we’re not relying on a single person to get us to that next level, they started to believe in themselves and their teammates, and they started to win games.”

Junior Ava Guzman and seniors Meadow Motroni and Maggie Tratnyek, who is committed to Muhlenberg College, are slated to lead the team in reclaiming wins.

“Ava Guzman helps run and establish our defense, but she also can push the

field and play offense too,” Parlavecchio says. “She’s that good of a player. And we have two strong seniors, one was our high scorer last year, Meadow Motroni. Maggie Tratnyek is also a returner, and those two will control our midfield line, and I have extremely high hopes for them to control the tempo of the entire team as well.”

Parlavecchio’s confidence in her 2024 team is unwavering, setting the tone for the spring season. “I think they’re hungry,” she says. “That fire is burning within them to have a successful season. I have the utmost confidence and respect for these girls. They just have to continue to buy into themselves and they’ll do just fine.”

Sophia Colitti is a Roseland-based writer with a journalism and media studies degree from Rutgers University. She is a former contributor to The Progress newspaper and a believer in the power of the pen.

Recipe for Success

Local food entrepreneur Rachel Mansfield continues to expand her empire.

BY ELAINE PAOLONI QUILICI

Next time you’re walking down the aisles of Trader Joe’s or ordering dinner at Millburn Standard, don’t be surprised if you see food entrepreneur Rachel Mansfield.

Mansfield, who began sharing her food content on Instagram in early 2015 while living in Manhattan, has since moved to Millburn and grown her brand exponentially in less than a decade. Today, she has a broad social media presence with nearly 1 million followers on Instagram, hosts a podcast, has written a bestselling cookbook, is an ongoing contributor to “Today,” is both an advisor and investor in more than 18 companies, and runs a venture capital fund with her husband, Jordan Carpenter.

Mansfield’s success stems from her passion for healthy eating and her drive to turn her passion into an empire. While working in earned media for a consumer packaged goods company, she started posting her own healthy recipes on Instagram as a side hustle. From overnight oats to banana bread made with oat flour, her goal was to help make people’s lives easier and healthier.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY MELISSA SPECTOR

Finding Her Focus

When Mansfield was suddenly fired from her job in late 2015, she placed her full focus on her side project. Within just six months, she quickly proved she could make more money working for herself than for someone else.

“Once I was able to give it my all, it really started to pay off,” she says. “The consistency of the posting and the quality of the content really started to help my brand take off. After a few months, I had already made more money than I had in one year at my last job, and I thought clearly I could turn this into something.”

Nine years later, Mansfield hasn’t looked back. Since then, she’s grown her single Instagram account into a broad social media presence,

launched a website and a podcast, and published a cookbook titled “Just the Good Stuff.”

In 2021, her husband quit his finance job to help support her business. Together, they also cofounded a venture capital fund, grt sht ventures, where they invest on behalf of people who want to get involved in the healthy eating space. A longtime fan of Bethenny Frankel and the business empire that she has built, Mansfield is currently an investor in 18 different companies—six through grt sht and 12 personal—and acts as an advisor to them.

“I help a lot of companies when it comes to the creation of their products, launching and spreading awareness,” she says. “I love helping these founders grow their businesses.”

A Move to Millburn

As Mansfield’s own business has blossomed, her family has also expanded. She and Carpenter now have three sons, Ezra, 5, Brody, 3, and Cooper, 1. After a few years in Hoboken, they designed a home in Millburn in 2020 for its easy access to the city, moving there in late 2021. Though they relocated without knowing a soul, they were hopeful based on the reputation of the town, people and schools.

Mansfield is now well-integrated in the community and believes that the move has helped to grow her business.

“The community in this area is amazing, and I think the word of mouth has really helped,” she says. “There are so many parents and guardians looking to feed the whole family quick and easy meals.”

Mansfield creates her own recipes that put a healthy twist on family favorites. Since her husband has celiac disease, she also focuses on gluten-free food.

Healthy Twists on Familiar Favorites

“Nothing I make is reinventing the wheel,” she says. “People will call me a chef or a cook, but I didn’t invent banana bread. I’ll make my own version of banana bread, made of more wholesome ingredients, that still tastes good and hopefully makes you feel better than a traditional recipe.”

When she’s not shopping for ingredients at Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Costco, ShopRite or Kings and crafting new recipes, Mansfield and her family like to eat out at Millburn’s healthy restaurants. They love the family-friendly American fare at Millburn Standard. They also frequent Springbone Kitchen—an eatery she begged the owner to bring to Millburn after falling in love with it in the city.

“We’ll go to Springbone if I’m not cooking that night and we want a home-cooked kind of meal, like roasted chicken, rice cooked in bone broth, roasted Brussels sprouts or a salad,” she says.

Although she has been on “Today” a half dozen times, Mansfield sometimes doesn’t register her celebrity and still is getting used to being recognized in public.

“When I post something on Instagram, I feel like just my mom, dad and husband see it,” she says. “I still don’t understand that more people are watching it. When someone tells me they made my recipe, I think that’s so cool. That’s my favorite part. I love connecting with people.”

Elaine Paoloni Quilici is a freelance lifestyle writer and editor based in Verona. Her work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, amNewYork, New Jersey Monthly and Mommy Poppins.

In addition to her career as a food entrepreneur, Millburn resident Rachel Mansfield runs a venture capital fund together with her husband, Jordan Carpenter.

From left: Jason Turon, beverage director and managing partner; Ryan Harris, general manager and partner; Rod Morrison, executive chef and managing partner; and Davey Love Jones, general manager and managing partner. Not pictured: Alex Rubenstein, owner, and Drew Fettes, contractor and managing partner.

MELISSA SPECTOR

Setting the Standard

Millburn Standard is a charming eatery with an interesting menu and a vibe that feels like a home away from home.

Millburn Standard came to fruition through a meeting of the minds—six minds to be exact. Alex Rubenstein, Rod Morrison, Jason Turon, Davey Love Jones and Ryan Harris pooled their talents to create a dining experience centered around elevated American cuisine.

While all six share the same levels of passion, creativity and gratitude, each one is brilliant in his own right. “We each have our own area of expertise,” says Turon. “The main idea man, Dave, acquired the building and this business and then put this supergroup of talented people together as partners to build and run this restaurant.”

The crew had anticipated opening doors in March 2020, but the opening was delayed by the dining restrictions of

BY SOPHIA COLITTI

the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We were afraid because the first bite of food would have been out of a to-go box,” says Turon. “It’s not like people knew who we were or what we were about. It wasn’t until June, when we were allowed outside seating, that the restaurant began. We joke about it; we say it was the longest soft opening ever. It was almost two years until we could get 100 percent seating.”

Honing the Experience

Slowing down did have a silver lining, allowing executive chef Morrison to hone his craft and execution of the menu. With a focus on first-rate ingredients, the intentional nature of the cuisine shines through.

“Having to open everything slowly

allowed us to fine-tune at a more forgiving pace,” says Morrison. “Everyone is really focused on quality and accessibility. As long as we keep focusing on those two things, we’ll be driving in the same direction.”

Approachable dishes are given thoughtful twists that keep diners coming back for more.

“For example,” says Morrison, “I’ll focus on how we can take everything that makes a French dip a French dip but maybe present it just a little differently so it’s more interesting—a little unique and kind of our own. If that’s a parmesan butter that goes on there instead, that crispy cheese that you would usually get on a French dip is introduced in a different way. But nothing shocking, nothing crazy.”

“Everyone is really focused on quality and accessibility. As long as we keep focusing on those two things, we’ll be driving in the same direction.”

Rod Morrison, executive chef and managing partner, Millburn Standard

A United Front

The perfect accompaniment to highquality food is an ambiance that leaves a lasting impression. Music with underlying feels of club soul lends a cohesive feel throughout the bar and dining room. There is even a private dining room with a bar for those who wish to spend special occasions enjoying the traditionally tasteful atmosphere.

“The feeling when you come in, it’s something that can grow but still holds a certain kind of elegance,” says Turon. “It’s never going to age badly. We have a lot of copper, there’s brick and a ton of wood.”

The most overwhelming praise from

the six collaborators, however, is for their staff. The establishment prides itself on exceptional service and a sense of community that extends into the back of the house. The staff’s professionalism and attentiveness is often compared to New York City restaurants, according to the partners.

“I have a few servers who have been with me for over 10 years, so the loyalty is there, and they’re the reason we’re doing what we’re doing,” Harris says. “We’re always preaching ‘treat the restaurant as a whole.’”

And while six partners running an establishment doesn’t seem like it should work, this group is the perfect storm that

ran through Millburn, leaving traces of scrumptious food and good vibes.

“One of the most remarkable things about this dynamic is that there’s really no ‘I,’” says Turon. “It really is a cohesive unit—no one’s above another, no one steps on another’s toes, but the synchronicity, how we work together, it’s commendable. It’s hard enough for restaurants to have three owners, never mind six who work together and agree with each other. It’s a little unreal.”

Sophia Colitti is a Roseland-based writer with a journalism and media studies degree from Rutgers University. She is a former contributor to The Progress newspaper and a believer in the power of the pen.

Luxe Living

designer Karen Wolf sets the stage for creating a beautiful home.

Interiors have been an integral part of Karen Wolf’s life since she became a trend forecaster for home furnishing retailer Spiegel’s right out of graduate school. Spending those years advising buyers on consumer behavior allowed Wolf to create a career of delving into clients’ minds to create their dream homes with K+Co Living.

Wolf’s interior design studio based out of Short Hills designs from “city to coast” and emulates a laid-back luxe lifestyle. Having an innate interest in how people live organically evolved into her stepping in to help with the lofty decisions that come with building a home.

The Value of Layering

Wolf’s signature technique of layering materials, textures and tones is elemental in her process, using color decidedly to create

BY ISABELLA SETARO

a curated and intentional pop that doesn’t overpower the more minimalist appeal.

This elevated look and feel can be found across her aptly named design projects, including Gatherings on the Hudson, a contemporary take on a Hudson Valley farmhouse; A Layered Life, a texturally rich four-season Spring Lake home; and Long Beach Retreat, Wolf’s Californiainspired vacation home.

When it comes to designing for different destinations, Wolf says, “You have to take a look at the environment and surroundings and how your home will play out in that environment, but at the same time, the needs of each client and what their purpose and intent is for their home.”

Making Each Property Distinct

Balancing these factors makes each property distinct and dynamic, especially

when it comes to second homes—a personal favorite for Wolf. “I really love working on second homes in general,” she says. “I find that they’re a place of joy and fortune and people are willing to take chances, so I think you can get a little bit more creative.”

Her mastery of aesthetics doesn’t just apply to her work with K+Co Living but also informs her styling studio, K+Co Goods, which was inspired by fleets of requests to help with finishing touches that result in a home that’s “magazineready,” as Wolf calls it.

The store reflects the same laid-back luxury distilling into her design process with a vast range of accent pieces that are sure to enhance your living space so your home can be magazine-ready, too.

Visit www.kandcogoods.com or www.kandcoliving.com to learn more.

Isabella Setaro is a Montclair-based writer. She has a degree in advertising and marketing communications and a passion for the power of storytelling.

Interior

PHOTOGRAPHS

RAQUEL LANGWORTHY

BOOK NOOK

Celebrating Women’s History

In honor of Women’s History Month, The Book House in Millburn shares its favorite history-themed books by and about women, both fiction and nonfiction.

BY ABIGAEL GOOD

FICTION

“BEYOND THE GHETTO GATES”

By Michelle Cameron

Step into the Jewish community of Ancona during the days of Napoleon Bonaparte’s campaign to conquer Italy in the late 1700s. This novel follows two very different young women as they navigate the tense boundaries between Judaism and Catholicism during a whirlwind collision of religions.

“ALIAS GRACE”

By Margaret Atwood

Atwood’s novel is based on the true story of Grace Marks, an IrishCanadian maid convicted in a notorious murder case in 1843. While Grace narrates the story of her life to a doctor trying to determine her guilt, innocence or madness, Atwood treats history as something to be assembled like the pieces of a quilt, making historical women’s creative needlework an ongoing metaphor for their experiences.

“CODE NAME VERITY”

By Elizabeth Wein

A spy known as Verity is captured in 1943 in Nazi-occupied France. Faced with torture if she doesn’t give up her secrets, Verity’s only goal is to protect her best friend, the pilot who brought her here. Meanwhile, pilot Maddie will do anything to rescue Verity and fulfill their mission. With one girl captured and the other in hiding, Wein’s tense story takes you back through the girls’ training in Britain and forward to the shocking conclusion of their mission.

NONFICTION

“ALL THAT SHE CARRIED”

By Tiya Miles

In 1850s South Carolina, an enslaved woman named Rose gave her daughter a sack filled with all she could provide for her. Her descendant, inheriting this sack, later embroidered on it a list of its contents, ending with all of Rose’s eternal love for her daughter. Drawing on this artifact’s history, the history of Rose’s

descendants and Black women’s writings throughout American history, Miles creates a history book that is as emotional as it is informative.

“MONSTER, SHE WROTE”

By

Lisa

Kröger and Melanie R. Anderson This collection of biographies introduces you to more than 100 women who wrote horror and speculative fiction, from the ones you know to the authors you’ve never heard of. Beyond Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” there’s the Victorian horror author Violet Page, science fiction author of the 1600s Margaret Cavendish and more. This is the perfect book for anyone who wants to learn more about the history of female authors and expand their reading list.

Abigael Good is the store manager at The Book House, where you can find these books and many more. Visit www.thebookhousemillburn.com, or follow @thebookhousemillburn on Instagram and Facebook to learn about upcoming events, including the My Favorite Book variety show on April 15, comedy night on April 16 and an author event with Neal Pollack on April 19.

Driveway Moment

Driving through the Glenwood neighborhood, a visitor might be surprised to see this carefully wrapped, shockingly thin vessel atop a car. For locals and neighbors, it simply means that Tokyo Olympian Molly Reckford is visiting her parents. The Short Hills native is currently training and competing in an Olympic Selection Camp, attempting to earn a seat on the U.S. Rowing Team for the Paris Olympics. Her admirable athletic determination, honed here in her hometown, inspires our young budding athletes. We know she is going to make it— go Molly! Photo courtesy of Molly Reckford.