Bridgewater, NJ May 2023

FOOD + BEVERAGE

A MOTHER'S DAY BRUNCH THAT CELEBRATES SPRING

EDUCATION TEACHERS HELP CHILDREN LEARN THE ART OF KINDNESS

Bloom Where You are Planted:

Women Who Inspire

#girlmom

It's no secret that women have played a crucial role in shaping our lives, whether they are our mothers, grandmothers, sisters, wives, girlfriends, friends or mentors. As a mother to four daughters, there is no lack of females around this house! We are a spirited crew, and I’ve taken to using the hashtag #girlmom on my social media posts. People constantly tell my husband that he’s a “lucky man.” While I’m sure they are mostly poking fun at his situation, the truth is, he is blessed to be surrounded by these ladies who take the world by storm. It is literally never a dull moment around here, and while the craziness can certainly get exhausting at times, I wouldn't have it any other way.

With Mother's Day right around the corner, it's a perfect opportunity to show some love and appreciation to all the women in our lives. We often take them for granted, but they truly make our lives richer and more beautiful. Let's celebrate the women who have made an indelible impact on us, from the biological mothers to the mother figures, family members, teachers, friends and neighbors.

One of the best ways to honor the amazing women in our lives is by supporting women-owned businesses in our community. These women are movers and shakers, builders and makers, and they deserve our attention and support. By shopping local and supporting their businesses, we are not only contributing to the local economy but also empowering these women to achieve their dreams.

But it's not just about the businesses. It's about the silent service these women provide to those under their care, their attention to detail and their ability to see beauty in the things that others may overlook. They are both seen and unseen and their impact on our lives is immeasurable.

So, take a few minutes to reach out to the women in your life who deserve recognition. A simple text, phone call or video call can brighten someone's day and remind them how much they are loved. Let's show some love and appreciation to the amazing women in our lives, not just on Mother's Day but every day.

May 2023

PUBLISHERS

Jake Slowinski | jake.slowinski@citylifestyle.com

Tiffany Slowinski | tiffany.slowinski@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Patti Zielinski | patti.zielinski@citylifestyle.com

MARKET SUPPORT DIRECTOR

Kristin Kosmoski | kristin.kosmoski@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

John-Paul Andronici, Jennifer Borealo, Amiya Harish, Pooja Kara

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Donna Gioia Volpe Photography, Liz Polo (Havana Photography),

MuSen Photos by Karen Kwong

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore

DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer

ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson

WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell

AD DESIGNER Rachel Chrisman

LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsi Southard

Proverbs 3:5-6

TIFFANY & JAKE SLOWINSKI, PUBLISHERS @BRIDGEWATER_SOMERSET_HILLS

city scene

Where neighbors can see and be seen.

1: Melissa Szwarc, owner of Mana Power Yoga in Martinsville, held a new business ribbon cutting. 2: Bridgewater Township celebrated the Chinese Lunar New Year. 3: Bridgewater artist Aprajita Lal exhibited 18 artworks at the library’s Warren Township branch. 4: Raritan Valley Community College and Planetarium celebrated “STEM Day” at JFK Elementary. 5: RWJ University Hospital Somerset and the Bridgewater Commons hosted the Go RED Fashion Show. 6: Steffany Marroquin is the first Somerset County Police Scholarship recipient to enter the police academy. 7: David Dedrick and Bob Daley played classic rock hits at Mannion's Pub.

CITY SCENE

BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP

BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP

SOMERSET COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM OF NEW JERSEY

RARITAN VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

BRIDGEWATER COMMONS

MANNION'S PUB

SOMERSET COUNTY

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Tag your Instagram photos with @bridgewater_somerset_hills

8-10: Somerset County Business Partnership celebrated International Women’s Day.

Photography by Somerset County Business Partnership

Take

The member experience goes beyond golf at Raritan Valley Country Club. It is our rich history, picturesque setting, sense of community, and extensive activities/amenities that make RVCC Somerset County’s premier private country club.

As a Troon® managed private club, our members also receive exclusive access to extraordinary golf and lifestyle benefits throughout the world with Troon Privé Privileges!

$2,500 off Initiation Fee for Golf Memberships now through June 30th Receive a New Member Perks Pack valued at over $300 including guest passes, lessons and more!

RVCC is a great place for our diverse membership to gather, develop meaningful relationships and create wonderful memories. Schedule a personal tour and explore our membership opportunities today!

To learn more, please call (908) 722-2000 x207 or email membership@rvcc1911.org.

Library Donates

Over 400 Pounds of Non-Perishable Items to Community

For the twelfth consecutive year, the Somerset County Library System of New Jersey has collected and donated school supplies and non-perishable items for Somerset County community members in need.

The 11-branch system — through a program organized by Charlene Perkins and Jennifer McClear, co-chairs of the library’s feeding minds and bodies donation drive committee — collected 434 pounds of donation items for The Food Bank Network of Somerset County.

Photography by Somerset County Library

Scan to read more.

County Reforestation Project Launched

The Somerset County Office of Emergency Management received a New Jersey American Water Environmental Grant in the amount of $10,000 for a reforestation project in Manville. This reforestation project is a result of the severe flooding and devastation that resulted in countless trees uprooted and destroyed from Tropical Storm Ida.

The Best-Kept Secret IN SENIOR LIVING

Want to be featured?

Get in touch by heading over to our landing page to connect: CityLifestyle.com/Bridgewater

Word is spreading about the allnew, maintenance-free apartments and must-see amenities—within an hour of everyone and everything you love in New York City. It’s retirement Jersey-style.

Photography Somerset County

Message in the Music

The Somerset County Commission on the Status of Women sponsored an essay contest that asked middle and high school students in Somerset County to write about a woman who inspired them in real life. Here, meet two local high school and middle school winners and the women who made an impact on their lives.

“GLORIA CHU” BY AMIYA HARISH

It was the month of August a little over three years ago. To be truly honest, I was quite nervous and almost furious at my mother for taking me to see a new piano teacher. I was happy with my old one. I didn’t need a new teacher. Maybe I rarely practiced, and

MEET THE WINNERS OF SOMERSET COUNTY’S “INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN” ESSAY CONTEST

ARTICLE BY AMIYA HARISH AND POOJA KARA PHOTOGRAPHY BY LIZ POLO, HAVANA PHOTOGRAPHY

Mrs. Oksana and Pooja Kara

I might have been on the verge of quitting. Maybe I didn’t look forward to my lessons, hoping they might be postponed or canceled. But really, I just didn’t want to change things, didn’t want to meet a new person. I was fine. Yet my mom simply ignored my constant protesting and set up a time with Mrs. Gloria Chu. Grudgingly, I walked up the seemingly endless stretch of stairs to her house, utterly unaware of how my life would soon progress.

It has been a while since that day, but now I have nothing more to say than that it was pure luck for me to come across a teacher like Mrs. Chu. Inspiration is not just watching someone in awe. It is watching them in such awe that it sows seeds of motivation for improvement in one’s own life. Each moment I spend in a lesson with Mrs. Chu opens my eyes to what could be a part of my future.

Mrs. Chu has explained how music intertwines both the left and right sides of the brain and activates the same areas of the brain that are used while solving complex mathematical problems. By illustrating the connections between a specific part of piano playing and the hobbies of her students using exceptionally creative analogies, she helps us visualize exactly what we need to do to achieve our goals as pianists. After each lesson, I return home feeling the exigency to practice more and allow my fingers to grasp the next rung of the ladder to success before it slips through my fingers.

Difficult to mold into a few words of definition, inspiration is something that gives us the courage to choose each path we take in our journey of life and motivates us to persevere through the roller coaster of humanity. To me, inspiration is something that makes me look at the world in a new light and gives me the ability to find purpose in my life. But more than this, inspiration is what gives me the grit to push through the struggles I face.

Over the few years I have been learning piano under the instruction of Mrs. Chu, I have come to

realize that piano is more than an art. It encompasses intellectual and physical endurance, hard work and passion … and without one of these pieces of the puzzle, a pianist cannot bring out the true colors of the instrument. Although there will never be a single person who inspires me each day, when I think of a woman outside of my family that fits the description, the one specific person that comes to mind is none other than my piano teacher.

Amiya Harish is an eighth grade student at William Annin Middle School in Basking Ridge.

“MRS. OKSANA” BY POOJA KARA

The sound of Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake” filled the air, the beautiful music tugging at my very soul. I watched in awe as my piano teacher, Mrs. Oksana, demonstrated the piece for me, her fingers gliding against the piano’s keys. She turned to me with a smile, moving over so I could play.

Mrs. Oksana watched as my eyes scanned the sheet music, my fingers pressing against the familiar warm keys, my heart beating with ambition. Although my playing did not carry the same grace as hers, stumbling forward like a foal learning to walk, I knew that I would improve with Mrs. Oksana’s encouragement and teaching. She showed me how she made the world a better place, and I wanted nothing more than to be just like her, inspiring others into loving the piano as much as she did.

Without a doubt, Mrs. Oksana is one of the most inspirational women in my life. All she wants to do is spread her love of piano throughout her life, inspiring as many children as possible to persevere with their passions, even in times of challenge. As a Ukrainian herself, Mrs. Oksana was devastated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, she dedicated all of her free time to use her gift of playing the piano to raise money for Ukraine through churches and charity events.

Mrs. Oksana carried her passion for the piano into helping Ukrainians, and through her dedication to helping others, she taught me to follow my

“I wanted nothing more than to be just like her, inspiring others into loving the piano as much as she did.”

—Pooja Kara

passion for playing the piano. I followed in her footsteps, performing at piano recitals and winning several outstanding awards, with the hope that one day I would reach the point of being able to also raise funds for those in need with my playing.

Despite Mrs. Oksana’s uplifting and strong exterior, she was broken by the death of her husband. After several heart-related complications, her husband eventually passed, leaving Mrs. Oksana empty and heartbroken. She felt lost; her daughters were miles away, at university, while she was stuck at home, alone and grieving. Although her husband’s death left her distressed, Mrs. Oksana turned to her piano for comfort. She saw hope in her piano, finding solace in Chopin’s Prelude in E Minor. She persevered,

remaining strong as her piano pulled her out of the darkest point of her life. Mrs. Oksana taught me the power of music at that moment, and how impactful it is to emotions, especially sorrow. Before that moment I had never truly understood how doing what you loved could help you so much.

Now, my fingers waltz across the piano to the melody of “Swan Lake,” no longer as clumsy as they once were. The piano hums with the energy of the song, with all the hope and ambition I pour into it. Mrs. Oksana is seated near me, watching. I glance at her. She smiles proudly at my improvement. She had made the world a better place, and I was inspired to be just like her.

Pooja Karan is a junior at Ridge High School.

“Inspiration is not just watching someone in awe. It is watching them in such awe that it sows seeds of motivation for improvement in one’s own life.”

—Amiya Harish

Amiya Harish and Gloria Chu

Mrs. Oksana and Pooja Kara

Speak to Me!

Speech Therapist Denise Bayles Discusses the Challenges and Rewards of Launching a Successful Business

ARTICLE

BY PATTI ZIELINSKI | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MUSEN PHOTOS BY KAREN

KWONG

Denise Bayles knew she wanted to work in a helping profession since she volunteered as a candy striper at a local hospital in her youth. “I wanted to help people who had medical and developmental needs,” she says.

“When I worked as a rehabilitation aide at JFK Medical Center, I got exposed to a number of fields. After initially pursuing physical therapy in college, I found that I loved speech therapy. I wanted to help people talk after having a stroke or assist a child who was struggling with speech. I was motivated by the profession, so I changed my major.”

However, being in health care as a mother — especially someone like Bayles who had three children under the age of 4 — can be demanding. Seeking a work arrangement that afforded her more flexibility she wondered if she could strike out on her own. She consulted her financial planner who asked her to create a priority list of fears about owning a business. The lowest of the concerns was having enough clients. “He told me, ‘If that’s the least of your worries, you’re foolish to not do this,'” she says. “That was it. I dove right in.”

She launched The Bayles Family Speech Center in 2007, the year after her youngest child was born. The practice serves clients of all ages, but primarily works with children.

“I knew I could be a good therapist and also be a good mom who was present for my children,” she says. “We were fortunate to have a spot in the house with a separate entrance

that I could block off for my practice.” In 2014, the practice grew, and Bayles moved it out of her house to a local office in Bridgewater.

But being a working mom, even under the best conditions, has its struggles with worklife balance. “Since my kids are so close in age, there were always challenges in meeting their needs and the needs of the business at the same time,” she says. “But since I am self-employed, I can do workarounds when necessary. I also get great advice from my time management coach, Theresa Harp, owner of The Time Tamers, who is also a speech therapist.”

Bayles notes that her collaborations with Harp and other local speech therapists is representative of the collegial nature of her field. “We do not regard each other as competition, but rather help each other out and refer people to each other’s practices as needed,” she says.

The biggest challenge Bayles has as a small business owner is determining how she can expand in a controlled way. “You have to have that CEO hat on and sometimes making business decisions isn't fun,” she says. “I had employees at one point, but currently am running the business myself. People like that the person who answers their call is the one who will be actually doing the therapy.”

She advises women who are considering launching a business to take a hard look at their finances. “Consider how much of a financial contributor you need to be in your family and CONTINUED >

the financial hurdles you could have over the years,” she says. “I had to plan for keeping my business afloat with two kids in college at the same time. I’m also very fortunate that the company my husband works for has good health and dental benefits.”

It’s also important to realize that you can’t be an expert in everything, Bayles notes.

“Reach out to the right business professionals for support. They will make sure you are set up with a solid foundation,” she says. “Don’t be afraid to take a risk, but ask lots of questions — and make sure you have a Plan B.”

Learn more about Bayles Family Speech Center at baylesfamilyspeechcenter.com .

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William A. Foster, U.S. Marine Corps

Practicing the Golden Rule

Students at Saint James School Learn Lessons of Caring

ARTICLE BY PATTI ZIELINSKI PHOTOGRAPHY BY DONNA GIOIA VOLPE PHOTOGRAPHY

Many hands — even the smallest — make light work.

The students at Saint James School in Basking Ridge are on a mission to make life a little bit easier for people who can use a boost. Throughout the year, students take on service projects, such as collecting children's clothing, toys for the Bonnie Brae School and blankets for St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center, and also join forces for larger, schoolwide efforts.

“When children participate in giving back — especially when they are doing something they enjoy — it becomes a positive experience they want to repeat,” says Suzanne Pasmore, a parent on Saint James’ Home-School Association Board who develops and executes the schoolwide projects.

In her youth, Pasmore had prepared meals for people less fortunate through her church and thought that was the type of project that could be done by children of all ages. While researching organizations, she discovered that The Samaritan Homeless Interim Program (SHIP) in Somerville accepted hot food. She called the nonprofit, which provides emergency services to people who are homeless or near homeless to enhance their chances of regaining self-sufficiency, and arranged for the schoolchildren to provide meals.

Before launching the project, the teachers spoke to their classes about how their work would benefit people who needed the help. The school also sent information, including SHIP’s website, home to the families.

They selected a recipe with 14 ingredients — creamy beef and pasta shells — and stocked the school’s pantry. Older students in grades 3 to 8 would cook the dinners and students in pre-K through second grade would assemble bags with four Oreos and Chips Ahoy! cookies in each.

Crockpots were placed in 12 classrooms and representatives from each class visited the pantry to select the ingredients and tools like measuring cups and stirring spoons. With their teachers’ help, the students assembled the ingredients and turned the crockpots on to cook. “So, the kids had that experience of the food cooking in their classroom all day,” Pasmore says. “And the whole school smelled like meat sauce. It was glorious.”

Meanwhile, the younger grades busily packed the cookie bags. “These kids — some as young as 3 and 4 — took their jobs seriously and really focused on counting out the cookies,” says Pasmore, whose own children are in pre-K and second grade. “They knew this was important, that they were doing something good.”

Since the school collected more ingredients than needed, they sent home meal kits for families to cook at home.

When everything was counted, the school and families had created 42 trays of food and more than 1,000 bags of cookies. They delivered the meals to SHIP over the course of several days.

“It is important that our students understand that there are people in the world who need help, nourishment, shelter and support. Often, children wonder ‘What does service to those in need look like for someone small like me?’ We provide opportunities for the students to see how their small part can grow into something big — helping many people in need,” says Sue Florendo, the school’s principal. “In our schoolwide service project during Catholic Schools Week, we celebrated each student’s contribution to the greater outcome. They saw that their small part fed many.”

Learn more about the good work being done by Saint James School at sjsbr.org . If you are interested in volunteering to help SHIP, visit ship908.com

Mia Romano, Annabelle Romano, Catherine Pasmore, Warren Pasmore

Celebrate Mom!

Alstede Farms Offers Mother’s Day Brunch Recipes That Celebrate the Glory of Springtime Harvests

There’s something about springtime, fresh eggs and fresh asparagus that is a natural, logical connection. In the 1900s, Asparagus Eggs Mornay was a sought after dish. It’s a simple food made magical by a white sauce made from a roux of flour and milk. Pancetta and Asparagus Strata is the perfect dish if you have food you need to use, like day-old bread. Since it’s a casserole, it’s forgiving: You can throw anything in it. For a sweet touch, the fresh berry salad incorporates whatever berries are in the season, which now are strawberries. Adding peas makes the salad bright, colorful, crunchy and sweet. See what is in season at alstedefarms.com .

ASPARAGUS EGGS MORNAY

INGREDIENTS:

• Fresh parsley, chopped

• 2-3 strips of bacon, cooked, drained and chopped

• 10-12 asparagus spears

• Salt

• Olive oil

• 2/3 c milk, heated

• 1 tbsp butter

• 1 tbsp flour

• 1/3 c Gruyère

• 2 tbsp parmesan

• 1-2 tbsp white wine

• 2-4 farm-fresh eggs

• 1-2 slices of bread, toasted and cut into small wedges

DIRECTIONS:

Set the oven to 350° F. Prepare the bacon and chopped parsley for garnish and set aside. Clean, trim and steam asparagus until almost fork-tender, about 4-5 minutes. Season with salt. Place the asparagus on a baking sheet and brush with olive oil. Keep asparagus warm in the oven. Set up a deep skillet to poach eggs. Fill the skillet with 1 inch of water. Set the pan over high heat. Meanwhile, prepare the sauce: Heat the milk for 1 minute in the microwave. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add flour to the butter. Mix to create a roux. Mix in a pinch of salt. Add the warmed milk. Stir until milk starts to thicken. Remove the pan

from the heat and stir in the cheeses. Warm the plates if possible.

Check the water in the skillet. When it is boiling, add a 1/2 tsp of salt and white wine. Lower the heat to simmer. Break eggs into small bowls or cups. Gently turn the eggs into the water, spacing them so that they remain separate. Simmer for 2 minutes for a very runny egg; 3-4 minutes for a more cooked yolk. Boiling longer will hard-cook the yolk. Remove the eggs with a slotted spoon. Blot the spoon on a paper towel to be sure that all the water is removed.

While the eggs are cooking, place the sauce back onto very low heat and stir to be sure all the cheese is melted and sauce does not stick to the bottom or burn.

Criss-cross the asparagus spears onto the warm plates. Place an egg or two on top of the asparagus in the center. Drizzle the sauce over the spears and the eggs. Sprinkle and garnish with chopped parsley and bacon. Place toast pieces of choice around the plate.

Serve with extra Parmesan (optional).

Recipe by Jennifer Borealo, Culinary & Educational Specialist

ARTICLE BY JENNIFER BOREALO & JOHN-PAUL ANDRONICI

PANCETTA & ASPARAGUS STRATA

INGREDIENTS:

• 8-10 c Italian bread, French baguette or hallah bread loaf

• ¾ lb asparagus

• 3 oz diced pancetta (rendered)

• 8 eggs

• 1 ¼ c heavy cream

• ¾ whole milk

• Salt and pepper

• 2 tsp fresh tarragon

• 4-3 tbsp butter, salted

• 1 ½ c Gruyère (shredded)

• 1/3-1/2 c Parmesan (grated)

DIRECTIONS:

Dice bread into larger crouton size. Lightly toast in batches.Blanch asparagus in salted water. Shock in ice water. Drain. Cut into 2to 3-inch pieces. Dice pancetta, sauté over medium heat until just crisp and drain. Combine egg, heavy cream, whole milk, salt, pepper and tarragon.

Line a 9 x 13 baking pan with a sheet of buttered parchment paper.

Top with ½ of the bread cubes and place the asparagus over the bread. Sprinkle evenly with 1/2 of the Gruyère and sprinkle with ½ of the pancetta.

Repeat with the remaining bread, pancetta, asparagus and cheese.  Pour in the remaining cream mixture, making sure all the bread is saturated.

Casserole may be covered and refrigerated overnight.

Bake at 350° F for 35-40 minutes until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. (Place a sheet of foil loosely over the top of the pan if the strata is browning too quickly.)

Allow to sit for 10 minutes before serving.

Recipe by John-Paul Andronici, Food & Beverage Manager

FRESH BERRY SALAD

INGREDIENTS:

• 8-10 c mixed salad greens

• 2 c sliced fresh strawberries

• 1/4 c red onion, very thinly sliced

• 1 c sugar snap or snow peas, cut in half

• 3/4 c crumbled feta or goat cheese

• 1/2 c toasted, sliced almonds, walnuts or pecans

RASPBERRY VINAIGRETTE

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 c extra-virgin olive oil

• 3 tbsp raspberry vinegar

• Juice from 1/2 lime

• 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard

• Salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS:

Tear salad greens into a large bowl. Add the remaining ingredients. Whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, lime juice and mustard. Pour over the salad ingredients. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.

Recipe by Jennifer Borealo, Culinary & Educational Specialist

Empowering the Next Generation

THE MARTIN LUTHER KING YOUTH CENTER PROVIDES A SAFE HAVEN FOR THE COUNTY’S CHILDREN

ARTICLE BY PATTI ZIELINSKI

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MUSEN PHOTOS BY KAREN KWONG

For a half-century, the Martin Luther King Youth Center in Bridgewater has been a support system for underserved children in Somerset County. The non-profit was originally opened as a recreational youth center to provide activities for children and keep them off the streets. Over the decades, the center expanded to include educational after-school and tutoring programs and summer camp programs for children from low-income families who paid on a sliding income scale.

Currently, it serves over 55 children in the after-school program and 100 in the summer camp.

Elisa Rivera-Wong (teacher), Rajni Chopra (executive director), Alicia Holmon (administrative assistant)

Based on Prince Rodgers Avenue in Bridgewater, the center serves children from ages 5 to 13 who live in Bridgewater, South Bound Brook, Bound Brook, Manville, Hillsborough and Somerville. Children are creatively engaged through educational programs that emphasize character development and leadership skills. The center offers a library, computer room and a team of certified teachers for each grade level.

“Children are tutored individually and in small groups,” says Rajni Chopra, who has been the executive director for three decades. “We collaborate with local school administrators to continually enhance our curriculum, especially in the areas of math, reading and language.”

The Center, which operates through funding from a variety of sources, including private donations, provides children with

basic needs like snacks and dinner as well as transportation to and from the building. During the summer camp, children receive transportation along with a breakfast, snack and lunch. Although the cost to attend is low, some families still struggle to make the payments, but Chopra says the center works with them to find a way to keep children involved.

Currently, the Center needs to repave the parking lot, do maintenance on the school bus and make classroom upgrades. “We rely on the community’s help, whatever they can provide, whether it is a monetary donation or donations of time like volunteering or tutoring,” she says. “For example, we have a number of high school and college students who tutor.”

To make a donation or to find more information on the Martin Luther King Youth Center visit mlkycenter.org

Memorable ways to celebrate the mother figure in your life

Make an Impact for Mom

The moms and the mother figures in our lives mean everything to us. They deserve the best every day, of course. But at least one day out of the year, we get to shower them with the same love and thoughtfulness they give to us so selflessly.

This year, we hope you’ll consider some memorable ways to make lasting memories with the mom or mother figure in your life. If you haven’t already planned something special, take a look at our list of ideas and circle your favorites. If you have kids, let them join in the fun too!

Whether you decide to spend a day at home or enjoy a day on the town, these innovative celebration ideas will include fun for the whole family and make Mom feel loved. Whatever activity or surprise you land on to show your mom, wife, sister or maternal figure your appreciation for all they do, the most important thing is that you all get to spend some quality time together.

Invite Her To High Tea

Whether you make the brews and treats yourself or head out to an official tea house, Mom will love sipping her beverage out of fancy china and snacking on tea sandwiches.

Pick Your Own Fruit

This activity is especially fun if you have a lot of kids who want to get in on the action. Then, when you all get home, you can whip up a treat for Mom with your selections. (Maybe give her a strawberry in a Champagne glass while she waits.)

Book Her a Weekend Away

There’s no day like Mother’s Day to be impulsive! Book a weekend trip for the two of you at a cute B&B in a city Mom has always wanted to visit.

Complete a Jigsaw Puzzle

Find a puzzle with an image you know your mom will love (or make a custom one using a photo of the two of you) and put it together over wine and snacks. You’ll be amazed at how much chatting you can get done while puzzling.

Take a Flower Arranging Class

Mother’s Day arrives just as spring is in full bloom. Take advantage of the season by going to a flower arranging class with mom.

C omprehensive m edi C al C are

Raritan Family Health Care is the most accommodating and accredited family healthcare facility in Central NJ. We provide exemplary personalized service in a welcoming atmosphere.

We proudly offer same day appointments and extended early morning/evening/weekend hours for your convenience.

Welcome, this is our family caring for your family.

events

A curated selection of the most intriguing upcoming events in our area.

Fresh Perspectives

MORRIS MUSEUM, 6 NORMANDY HEIGHTS RD., MORRISTOWN

Works by Bridgewater-Raritan High School students Meredith Thayler and Angela Xu were selected for this juried high school art online virtual gallery and curated exhibition hosted by the Morris Museum. See the art at morrismuseum.org.

Right to be Forgotten

SIEMINSKI THEATER CULTURAL ARTS CENTER, 8000 FELLOWSHIP RD., BASKING RIDGE

No one escapes the internet. Intrigue, lies and political double-dealing abound in this compelling new drama about one man’s attempt to erase a youthful indiscretion. sieminskitheater.org

Love Letters

PEOPLECARE CENTER, 120 FINDERNE AVE., BRIDGEWATER

Open Door Arts Center, a new organization that presents visual and performing arts in Bridgewater, produces “Love Letters,” tender, tragi-comic and nuanced examination of the shared nostalgia, missed opportunities and deep closeness of two lifelong, complicated friends.  opendoorartscenter.org

Annual Bridgewater Spring Carnival

BRIDGEWATER COMMONS, 400 COMMONS WAY, BRIDGEWATER, PARKING LOT #9 | 11:00 AM

This free event featuring carnival games, rides, music, face painting, arts and crafts, a petting zoo, vendors and food trucks, is presented by the Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center and the Bridgewater Commons. ssbjcc.org

The Federation of Art Song: Fellowship Award Winners

ZIMMERLI ART MUSEUM, 71 HAMILTON ST., NEW BRUNSWICK | 2:00 PM

Listen to baritone Jared Michaud and pianist Christina Koti, who were awarded the 2022–2023 Federation of the Art Song Fellowship Award. zimmerli.rutgers.edu

Sapphires & Sequins Fashion Show

HAMILTON FARMS GOLF CLUB, 1040 POTTERSVILLE RD., GLADSTONE | 6:00 PM

Stylist Leslie Patrizio promises to dazzle fashion lovers with spring and summer runway looks from boutiques including White House Bride, Urban Cottage, Boutique Calia and Tessuto Mens Store. sapphiresandsequins.org

MAY 11TH

Girls Night Out

DOWNTOWN SOMERVILLE | 5:00 PM

Grab your favorite girlfriends and spend a night celebrating in Downtown Somerville with food, drink, entertainment and special retail deals. downtownsomerville.com

MAY 12TH, 19TH AND 26TH

Peony’s Envy

Friday Night Picnics

PEONY’S ENVY, 34 AUTUMN HILL RD., BERNARDSVILLE

Enjoy the warmer weather. Bring your own picnic, a picnic blanket and enjoy the bloom! peonysenvy.com

MAY 13TH

Central New Jersey

Spring Beer Fest

SUNSET LAKE, 1350 CORIELL DR., BRIDGEWATER | 3:00 PM

Enjoy New Jersey's best craft breweries on a white sand lakefront beach with live music, food trucks and a special cask ale tent. http://bit.ly/3TlSCzt

MAY 20TH

Barry’s Appliance Annual Grilling Event

BARRY'S APPLIANCE & TV, 565 UNION AVE., BRIDGEWATER | 11:00 AM

Enjoy free food, a free gift with every purchase, a raffle, vendor demonstrations and a DJ. barrysappliance.com

MAY 27TH

Corner House

FLOUNDER BREWING CO., 2 CLERICO LN., BLDG. 4, HILLSBOROUGH | 6:00 PM

Graduates of the Berklee College of Music incorporate mandolin, fiddle and cello to create a singular sound that incorporates old time, Scottish, progressive bluegrass and folk.  flounderbrewing.com

MAY 29TH

Tour of Somerville

DOWNTOWN SOMERVILLE | 9:00 AM

Professional and elite cyclists compete in the oldest competitive bicycle race in the country.  tourofsomerville.org

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realty report

A sample of recently sold properties in Bridgewater.