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NOVEMBER 2025 FREE
Bre’s Baked Bites: A cottage bakery starts up in Hopewell By Joe emansKi
Kaempfer Harjes in goal for Hopewell Valley soccer. (Photo by Mike Schwartz/mssphoto.com.)
Harjes at home in goal for Hopewell Valley boys’ soccer “When I first went into goal was crazy. I loved it when I first how far would said. I didn’t know what to expect, I was exposed to it. I yearned for Kaempfer isn’tthey exactly guess I was ready for anything. those moments. That’s why I youHarjes go if sure why he became a soccer I just know it’s a choice I don’t love it.” goalie,were but he sick? knows exactly regret, and I guess it changed He has been there ever since,
By Rich FisheR
why he remained one. my life by accepting that.” much to the satisfaction of Harjes was a field player while It sure has. Hopewell Valley Central High starting out in Hopewell’s rec And Harjes vividly recalls coach “Uncle” Ed Gola. After program. When he switched when he found his home on the playing at the freshman, JV and teams, a coach said anyone pitch. varsity level in 9th grade, Harjes interested in playing goalie “We were in the playoffs dur- earned the starting job this year. should raise their hand and ing rec season, and I was called His first varsity start proKaempfer’s arm shot up. in to play goalie,” he said. “I duced 14 saves in a 3-0 shutWelcome to Capital Health. Why? made a big-time save, and the out against Hun. Through See HARJES, Page 12 “I don’t really know why,” he energy and the atmosphere When someone you care about is sick, you’ll do whatever it takes to make sure they get the best care. And so do we.
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Breonna Rios has long balanced everyday life as a stayat-home mom and wife, but she says that baking was always a part of who she was. Rios, a lifelong Central New Jersey resident, says that baking about much more than creating tasty treats. “It’s about creating something meaningful that brings joy, comfort and connection to people.” With that in mind, she has started up a small cottage baking business called Bre’s Baked Bites. Thanks to New Jersey’s cottage food operator rules, she is able to bake in her own kitchen. She sells the treats she makes at area markets, including the Hopewell Farmers Market. “I truly enjoy being part of this community,” says Rios, who today lives in Hopewell with her family. “Starting my business here felt natural because this is where my family is, and this is where I want to build something lasting.” Rios, 26, attended Trenton Central High School. She has been married for almost seven years, and has three children, ages 4, 2 and 5 months. “My
husband is very supportive of my entrepreneurial journey,” she says. “Being a mom is such a big part of my life, and my inspiration in business.” She says that her parents have always been role models for hard work and resilience. “My mom, being in the healthcare field and now the hospitality industry, is what shaped my love for caring and serving others,” she says. Rios is a self-taught baker who has spent years perfecting my craft through practice, research and a lot of trial and error. In 2023, at a point when she felt confident in what she had learned on her own, she enrolled at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts online. “I decided to go to culinary school to ensure I had a solid foundation and understanding both for the craft and for the business side of it,” she says. After years of baking for loved ones and being encouraged to share her treats with a wider audience, she started Bre’s Baked Bites in 2025. “I wanted to turn my passion into something that could also support my family. I also wanted to show my kids that dreams are worth purSee BITES, Page 11
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