Morris/Essex Buzz

Decorating a tree for the holidays is a joyful occasion—taking it down, more of a mournful hassle. But what if your Christmas tree could be put to constructive use? Try one of these ideas (and remember to take all the decorations off first): • Turn it into firewood. Your tree is perfect fuel for your outdoor firepit. Use smaller branches as kindling and chop the trunk into longer-burning logs. Avoid lighting it indoors, however, as the amount of moisture in the tree will create smoke and sooty fireplaces. ª Make it a sanctuary. Whether they’re rooted in the ground or secured on a stand, trees are great shelters for birds. So take your old Christmas tree into the yard and stand it in a safe spot for winter. Decorate it with a bird feeder, then watch as new aviary acquaintances drop by. • Compost it. Towns that collect Christmas trees at the end of the season turn them into mulch. You can use your tree similarly and simply toss it into the compost heap in your yard—the browns and greens will ultimately break down into soil and feed your garden. • Donate it. That’s right, several organizations—such as zoos and animal sanctuaries— accept old Christmas trees. The Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange, for instance, uses them as décor in their exhibits. Some animals, such as goats, chow down on the greens too, so it’s imperative that all tinsel and ornaments are removed. Shoes were just the first step: Cathy Chung-Lok never turns down a good volunteer opportunity. Throughout October, the Livingston mom used social media and other local resources to collect gently worn shoes to donate to Funds2Orgs, a nonprofit that delivers shoes to impoverished countries. And in three weeks, she collected more than 35 garbage bags full of footwear to send overseas for foreign feet—no easy feat. Chung-Lok also knits, and she hand-made 100 baby beanies to donate to a local children’s hospital. The deadline for shoe submissions has passed, but reach out to Chung-Lok via email at cathychung01@yahoo.com to be a part of her next big volunteer project.

Rails revisited: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and one savvy beholder is photojournalist Wheeler Antabanez. The Caldwell native and Montclair resident recently released a book and its accompanying short film, both titled Walking the Newark Branch: A Photographic Journey on the Abandoned Rails of New Jersey. They chronicle his walks along the Newark Branch of the Erie Railroad, which runs through Kearny, Harrison, East Newark, Newark, Belleville, Nutley and Clifton. Through vibrant imagery and descriptive commentary, Antabanez takes readers and viewers to hidden gems within the familiar landscape of the old Jersey railway. It’s $34.31 on Amazon; learn more at abandonedbooks.org.

From page to stage: There’s room for more than one successful author in these parts. School psychologist Danielle Gasalberti, a resident of Stirling in Morris County, released her first children’s book, Love Your Selfie, in August. And now, two theater arts freshmen students at Drew University, Gasalberti’s alma mater, are turning this feel-good story into a play. “The play is still being diligently worked on and should be ready for an audience by December!” Gasalberti says. DM the author @love_ur_selfie for more details!

Call them cooks for a cause. In October, chef Ryan DePersio of Fascino in Montclair teamed up with chef John Karangis of burgers-and-fries chain Shake Shack on a five-course meal to raise money and awareness for Jar of Hope, a nonprofit that battles a neurodegenerative disease called Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The nonprofit was founded by a friend of Karangis’ whose son was diagnosed with the disorder.

The duo of chefs prepared at Fascino a five-course meal that included, in this order: tuna crostini, market vegetable terrine, sweet potato agnolotti, balsamic glazed short rib and apple crostatas. The chef pals later walked/ ran off the calories at the New York City Marathon on Nov. 7, raising even more money for Jar of Hope.

Dog: Riggins, 3-year-old Goldendoodle Owners: Taylor Cosentino and Chris Volonnino of Randolph Riggins of Randolph is a people kind of pooch. His owners say he loves humans and sometimes seems to think he’s a human himself. He loves doing human activities such as visiting parks and hiking trails throughout Morris County and playing fetch with his favorite ball. But unlike people, Riggins has an especially keen sense of smell. “He always does a sniff test before eating something,” his owner says. “We even gave this a whole series on Instagram highlights!” To see more cute pics of Riggins, check him out on Instagram @rigginsdoodd.

Want your pet featured in a future issue? Email his or her pic and a brief description to our editor at rita.guarna@wainscotmedia.com.

A Chatham writer is breaking new ground with what she calls The Moon Cycle Cookbook. Devon Loftus’ new release, named after her onlineonly bakery, is aimed at women, and its recipes are organized according to the four phases of the menstrual cycle. Each dish reflects the nourishment and nutrients a woman’s body needs in that cycle (and yes, there are plenty of chocolate treats to be had). Bonus: The book also features pages of holistic practices, exercises and rituals to make you feel your best while you eat your best. It’s available for $18.95 on Loftus’ website, mooncyclebakery.com, and wherever you buy your books.

You know the library’s about more than taking out books. Now, thanks to a new pilot program from the New Jersey Library Association, it’s where Montclair residents can work with specially trained visiting “navigators” who can help them look for a job, improve computer skills or make a new business idea a reality.

Montclair’s is one of a dozen municipal libraries across the state (and the only one in Morris and Essex counties) chosen to participate in this Access Navigator Program. And no wonder—with 32,000 members it’s one of Jersey’s busiest.

Of course, the Montclair Public Library, with its main location on South Fullerton and a Bellevue Avenue branch, already provides great free programming, such as notary services, the printing and copying of documents related to taxes or job searches and the delivery of reading materials to homebound seniors.

To learn more, visit montclairlibrary.org or call 973.744.0500.

“Winner winner chicken dinner” (or lunch) is what you’ll get at Wing it On in Verona, the second soon-to-open New Jersey location of this New England-based chicken chain (the first is in Linden). Wings n’ ’wiches (that’s sandwiches) are the stock in trade here, with classics such as buttermilk chicken with lettuce and tomato and the self-explanatory Nashville Hot Chicken. You can also select your style of fries and a seasoning—and choose from among six rubs and 18 dipping sauces, such as Asian garlic or honey mustard.

• Wing It On, wingiton.com

Opening a restaurant in February 2020? Um, not ideal. So Savour Café in Morristown had its official do-over this past October, with a ribbon-cutting and reintroduction to the community. Savour is inspired by European-style cafés, and everything is made from scratch and from natural and locally sourced ingredients, including all desserts, sandwiches, breakfast platters and soups.

• Savour Café, 40 Morris St., Morristown, 973.343.5560; my-savour.com

Another new local spot that’s getting its produce, cheese and meat from local farms is Agricola, a farm-to-table, sit-down restaurant right along the Morristown Green. The Morris County location will be similar to the original one in Princeton, with fresh, Jersey Shore seafood and other local ingredients. The menu also includes seasonal pastas, soups, salads and meats for every type of carnivore. Stay tuned for its grand opening!

• Agricola, 40 W. Park Pl., Morristown, 609.921.2798; agricolaeatery.com