Cranford Life - December 2023

CRANFORDLIFE UNIONNEWSDAILY.COM

Porchfest rocks out

— See Page 2

Fun times in Cranford

— See Page 4

Haunted tour excites

— See Page 7

DECEMBER 2023

VOL. 08 NO. 04

Home for the Holidays House Tour is back Cranford’s annual Home for the Holidays House Tour will take place the first weekend in December. The tour, in its 32nd year, will feature five beautiful homes lovingly decorated for the holidays, on Sunday, Dec. 3, from noon to 4 p.m.

Attendees will be guided through each home, where volunteers share information on the special historical and decorating details of each one. Both the Green Thumb Garden Club and the Cranford Garden Club will provide festive decorations as well.

“The Cranford Woman’s Club enjoys putting on this event each year. This is an important fundraiser for scholarships, Project Home and our other philanthropic recipients. Our homeowners are incredibly generous for sharing their homes and family stories for the tour. We greatly appreciate our homeowners and the attendees of the tour for supporting our efforts to give back to Cranford,” said Kendall O'Brien, who is the chairperson of this year’s committee.

Music by Cranford High School’s madrigal singers will be featured in three homes, along with a pop-up holiday band at another. Four of the five featured historic homes have never been on the tour, and the fifth has not been on the tour in thirty years. Organized Chaos, an in-home organizing service, will also be providing service to one of the homes.

Tickets can be purchased directly at the library, at Augusta Mae, Hickory & Hill or Periwinkles for $35.

The Cranford Woman’s Club, founded in 1949, is a volunteer organization richly rooted in the tradition of giving back to the community and its residents. While its common goal is enhancing the quality of life in our community, one of the many benefits is the lifelong friendships made along the way. Last year the club donated more than $30,000 in cash and goods to the community, including five scholarships to graduating Cranford seniors. The Holidays House Tour is the club’s largest fundraising effort.

Photos Courtesy of Julia Davis, Cranford Woman’s Club

Cranford’s 32nd annual Home for the Holudays House Tour will take place the first weekend of December. The tour will feature five beautiful homes, lovingly decorated for the holidays, on Sunday, Dec. 3, from noon to 4 p.m. Attendees will be guided through each home, where volunteers share information and music by Cranford High School’s madrigal singers will be featured.

The Cranford Woman’s Club runs several other major events each year, including Witches Night Out, Sip N Shop and Breakfast with the Bunny. The club’s philanthropic focus is on Cranford, with major beneficiaries being Project Home, Cranford Family Care, Cranford First Aid Squad and FLAG. The club meets the seco nd Wednesday of each month at the VFW on South Avenue at 7:30 p.m. Anyone is welcome to attend.

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2 — December 2023 — Cranford Life

Annual Porchfest Music Festival brings the music

By Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta Correspondent On Saturday, Oct. 21, Cranford hosted its annual Porchfest. Eight private homes in town offered their porches and lawns for musical acts to perform various types of music throughout the day.

The community music festival, which began in 2017, is open to all and for all ages to enjoy.

The event was inspired by a neighborhood music festival in Ithaca, N.Y. Porchfest happens every second Saturday of October. Organizers, performers, porch hosts and others who participate are all volunteers who give freely of their time, talents, resources and hospitality as a neighborhood.

George Harris, a Cranford resident retired from the Police Department, was enjoying the David Robinson Duo, who played on Van Buren Avenue. “What’s better than having music in your backyard?” he asked.

“It brings the community together,” added Mike Kniazuk.

Asbury Jam was rocking out on a front porch on Dorchester Avenue. They entertained the crowd with “Pretend We’re Dead” by L7 and “Rockin’ in the Free World” by Neil Young.

Ginnie Blackwell of Wingfield raved, “It’s a variety of music. It becomes a big social event.”

Kim Rielly of Cranford said, “Anything

Photos by Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta

Above left, the David Robinson Duo perform during Cranford’s annual Porchfest, which was Saturday, Oct. 21, throughout the community. Above right, from left, Kim Reilly and Donna Caldwell, along with dog Tucker, take in the sights and sounds of Porchfest. that involves community and the arts, I’m all in.”

Donna Caldwell, also of Cranford, added, “I love seeing people I haven’t seen in a while.”

Fry and Deeg rocked the large crowd on the porch of a home on Thomas Street, opening their set with “Take it Easy” by

The Eagles and “Doctor My Eyes” by Jackson Browne.

It was homeowner Jeannie Principale and her husband John Principale’s first year participating in Porchfest. “We love Porchfest,” she said. “We built a porch and want to celebrate. It’s a great excuse to have a mini block party. I would do it again.

We’re lucky, we know all our neighbors.”

Over on Livingston Avenue, young girls were having fun selling lemonade.

Antonio Pugliese of Cranford said he enjoyed socializing with his neighbors and “noticing local talent you didn’t know existed.”

See RESIDENTS, Page 3

Cranford Life — December 2023 — 3

Residents come out for Porchfest Music Festival (Continued from Page 2) Other talent performing throughout the day included: Jampagne, performing acoustic covers; Erin Cook, playing alternative rock covers and music for children; Firepit, a classic rock jam band; Secondary Location, acoustic covers; Band Substance, rock/pop covers; Claudine and David, folk pop; Triphammer, rock; Vienna Stivala, country/acoustic; The Coverup, rock; Exit 11, alternative rock; Rob Mattarrazzo, acoustic rock; I Found the Clouds, alternative; JJM Quartet, jazz/blues; Cumbersome, rock covers; Valencia School of Music, rock covers; Isabella Pombrio, singer/songwriter; Been There Done That, rock; Outside the Box, classic rock; Higher Ground, rock/country; Burnside Manor, pop punk; Corralling Catz, rock; Kevin Harrison and True North, original rock; Quadraphonic Lettuce, rock/alternative; Brender and Eddie, acoustic; No Strings Attached, classic rock; Binge, rock covers; and Blisstique.

Porch performances went on throughout the day, from 1:30 to 5:15 p.m., with a 5:45 p.m. finale in downtown Cranford.

Each year, Porchfest has been sponsored by Cranford Community Connection and gets bigger as the outreach grows. Bands come back year after year, bringing their fans with them.

To learn more about Porchfest, visit: https://www.cranford.cc/porchfest.

Photos by Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta

Above left, enjoying this year’s Porchfest are, from left, front row, Mike Kniazuk and George Harris, and back row, Tyler Harris, Mark Brink and Kyle Harris. Above left, from left, Callie, Hailey, Cora, Natalie, Kira, Charlotte and Priya enjoy Porchfest as they give away free lemonade. Lower left, it was their first time participating for John and Jeannie Principale, Porchfest hosts. Lower right, Hank Miller and Ginnie Blackwell say they love the variety of music, calling it a big social event.

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4 — December 2023 — Cranford Life

Things are always happening in the township of Cranford This year, Cranford participated in National Bike, Walk, and Roll to School Day on Wednesday, Oct. 4.

Cranford Mayor Brian Andrews issued a proclamation on behalf of the Township Committee and the Cranford schools supported the effort.

At our Township Committee meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 10, Caren Demyen, our Downtown Management Corporation director, and spirited young residents joined us to proclaim the start of our Halloween season and highlight the large number of Halloween events in town this year.

Also at the meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 10, October was proclaimed Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the Bosom Buddies of New Jersey were recognized for their help to families, who are on the front lines of fighting cancer.

Kristen Strobel and Cranford resident Mary Ellen O’Neill spoke on behalf of the grassroots group.

On Sunday, Oct. 8, the Hanson Park Conservancy and Cranford Chamber of See CRANFORD, Page 5

Photos Courtesy of Brian Andrews

Above left, Cranford Mayor Brian Andrews with the crossing guard at Orange Avenue School on National Bike, Walk, and Roll to School Day on Wednesday, Oct. 4. Above right, at the Township Committee meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 10, Caren Demyen, the Downtown Management Corporation director, and spirited young residents proclaim the start of our Halloween season and highlight the large number of Halloween events in town this year.

Below left, on Sunday, Oct. 8, the Hanson Park Conservancy and Cranford Chamber of Commerce presented the 12th annual Rubber Ducky Race. Below right, the winner of the 12th annual Rubber Ducky Race. At bottom, the mayor hops in the Rahway River the day before the event to clear out garbage and debris which had built up.

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Cranford Life — December 2023 — 5

Photos Courtesy of Brian Andrews

Above left, on Tuesday, Oct. 10, October was proclaimed Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the Bosom Buddies of New Jersey were recognized for their help to families, who are on the front lines of fighting cancer. Above center, on Sunday, Nov. 5, Cranford

VFW Post 335 hosted its annual Veterans Breakfast. Above right, from left, Mayor Brian Andrews stands at the annual Veterans Breakfast with Deputy Mayor Terry Curran and Assemblywoman Linda Carter.

Cranford hosts a variety of events throughout entire year (Continued from Page 4) Commerce presented the 12th annual Rubber Ducky Race.

The mayor hopped in the Rahway River the day before the event to clear out garbage and debris which had built up.

Finally, on Sunday, Nov. 5, Cranford The mayor spoke, along with AssemVFW Post 335 hosted its annual Veterans blywoman Linda Carter and Deputy Breakfast.

Mayor Terry Curran.

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6 — December 2023 — Cranford Life

Cranford to have bond referendum on Jan. 23 The Cranford Public Schools Board of Education unanimously voted on Monday night, Nov. 13, to proceed with a bond referendum on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, aimed at improving the infrastructure of the district’s eight schools to align with the community’s high standards for education.

If approved by Cranford’s voters, the $75 million bond referendum would fund much-needed projects, including space to accommodate full-day kindergarten for all students, modernization of the district’s facilities to better suit 21st-century learning and overall infrastructure needs for the schools. State aid would cover 26% of the project costs and help minimize the local tax impact.

“Investing in our schools is an important way to invest in our whole community – people move to Cranford for the great schools and community life,” said Superintendent Scott Rubin. “The bond referendum will help us improve our schools to give our current and future students and residents places where they can thrive academically and socially.”

The bond proposal comes after years of careful planning, in which the Board of Education led a town-wide survey, formed a citizen steering committee, and held listening sessions to make sure residents had a voice in the referendum process.

The proposed projects include: • Kindergarten classrooms would provide much-needed space for full-day kindergarten. Currently, the district has only three classes of full-day kindergarten, which are tuition-based and awarded through a lottery system. The proposal includes bringing free, full-day kindergarten to all four elementary schools by constructing 16 total classrooms. Cranford is one of only a handful of districts in the state that does not offer free, full-day kindergarten.

• District enhancements would provide updated science labs, modernized multimedia centers that support 21st Century STEM programs, renovated performing arts spaces and dedicated space for culinary and eSports programs.

• Facility upgrades and improvements include air conditioning installation in large common spaces in our schools, upgraded electrical services, improved accessibility and other repairs districtwide.

• Cranford Public Schools has strategically planned for its bond referendum by proposing projects that qualify for state aid — 26% of the $75 million in project costs. That means, if Cranford voters approve the referendum, the state will contribute $19.6 million. The owner of an average assessed home in Cranford — $185,824 — would pay an estimated $34 per month.

“Our schools are well-maintained,

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‘Investing in our schools is an important way to invest in our whole community – people move to Cranford for the great schools and community life. The bond referendum will help us improve our schools to give our current and future students and residents places where they can thrive academically and socially.’

— Scott Rubin but nothing withstands the march of time,” said Board of Education President Kurt Petschow. “With the benefit of state aid, we can make long-term investments in our school buildings and protect these community assets so that students and residents can enjoy them for decades more.”

The district invites the community to attend a Virtual Community Forum on Thursday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m. Community members will hear from district leaders and the financial and architectural advisers who led the planning for the bond referendum, and then be able to ask questions. Visit the bond referendum website for the Zoom link and view a recording available afterward.

Additionally, the district will host an in-person Open House on Thursday, Jan. 4, at 7 p.m., at the Cranford High School’s lower gym. This event will welcome the community into the schools to receive further information on the referendum.

The Jan. 23 vote is crucial to the future of Cranford Public Schools and gives the community a voice. The district will continue to make every effort to engage with the entire community leading up to the vote.

Visit cranfordschools.org/vote for more details on the proposed projects for each school, frequently asked questions, and voter and financial information. For questions directly related to the referendum, email vote@cranfordschools.org.

Mia Altobelli, varsity gymnastics What’s your favorite memory of this season?

“My favorite memory was winning the Cougar Invitational.”

How do you get ready for a game?

“Before each competition, I usually listen to music because it helps me focus.

I think about how to do the skills in my routines so I am prepared.”

Besides sports, what else do you love to do?

“I love the beach and the ocean. I enjoy going down the shore and spending time with my friends. “ What’s the most important thing your coach taught you?

“Both my coaches have made my high school season great. The most important thing they taught me is not to put pressure on myself to always do well. As long as I am trying my best, the outcome doesn’t matter.”

What was your biggest accomplishment this season?

“My biggest accomplishment was doing a blind change on the high bar during my bar routine in a competition.”

What are your plans for after high school?

“I love to travel so I would like to experience different places around the world.”

What are you looking forward to for the holidays?

“Spending time with family and friends.”

Cranford Life — December 2023 — 7

Haunted Cranford History Tour is back for a second year

By Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta Correspondent Downtown Cranford was hopping during a recent crisp autumn evening.

Some things were typical of a Saturday night in Cranford, such as dining out and shopping. Others, not so typical, included the creepy Haunted Cranford History Tour.

Back for its second year, the Haunted Cranford History Tour took groups of people of all ages throughout Downtown Cranford to hear costumed actors tell the stories of the town’s famous and infamous who made special appearances from the world beyond.

Jane McLaughlin, of Branchburg, is the mastermind behind the tours. Her company, Haunted History Productions, put it all together. “Everybody loves Halloween and looks for something different to do,” she said.

McLaughlin has been doing the tours for the past 15 years in towns throughout New Jersey, including Woodbridge, Sommerville, Bernardsville and East Brunswick. “It’s a labor of love and a lot of work,” she said.

The process of writing a script takes about a year. McLaughlin speaks with town historians and tries to pick eight people from the town who made a contribution. “Is there anything special

about their life that makes them an interesting character?” While historical facts are real, McLaughlin gets to embellish their personalities. “If nobody knows [their personality], I give them one,” she said. “When I’m writing a story, if they still have living ancestors, I try my best to honor that person. I try to get it just right.”

The enjoyable tour took a little more than 60 minutes and featured several interesting and spooky characters.

Caren Demyen, director of Downtown Management Corp., said, “We had a lot of great feedback.”

The tours began at 5:30 p.m., with the last tour at 8 p.m. Every 15 minutes, a new tour began. Groups were large, with about 30 people in each group, led by guides. Everyone walked at a brisk pace, trekking throughout the downtown area until they reached a different character at each spot.

The first “ghost” on the tour was the ghost of Fannie Bates, who was known as The Mother of Cranford. She lived in Cranford during the late 19th and early 20th centuries and became a widow shortly after moving into town. She was a strong woman who did a lot for the community, including creating Cranford’s library and getting rid of the See HISTORY, Page 14

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Above left, the ghost of Fannie Bates, known as The Mother of Cranford, speaks to people taking the Haunted Cranford History Tour on Saturday, Oct. 21.

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8 — December 2023 — Cranford Life

Holiday Gift Guide 2023 Make a holiday season shopping plan with these insider insights The busiest shopping days of the 2023 holiday season are on the horizon. Industry experts point out that knowing these dates in advance can help you score great deals -- or beat the crowds -- depending on your shopping priorities.

“Amid inflation, the return of student loan repayments and other factors that could impact holiday spending, many consumers will be bargain hunting this year. Since retailers are likely to plan promotions and experiences around the busiest shopping days of the year, if you’re on a budget, you should take note of when these days occur and adjust your plans accordingly,” says Brian Field, global leader of retail consulting and analytics at Sensormatic Solutions, a retail solutions provider of Johnson Controls.

“And of course, it’s helpful to know these dates if you simply wish to avoid bumperto-bumper parking lots and crowded store aisles.”

On average, the top 10 busiest shopping days in the United States account for approximately 40% of all holiday retail traffic, according to Sensormatic Solutions, which based on historical data, predicts those days will be:

1. Friday, Nov. 24 – Black Friday; 2. Saturday, Dec. 23 – Super Saturday; 3. Saturday, Dec. 16 – Third Saturday in December; 4. Friday, Dec. 22 – Friday before Christmas; 5. Saturday, Nov. 25 – Saturday after Black Friday;

Christmas Eve. In addition to planning your spending around the top 10 shopping days, Field advises taking your own personality into consideration for the best shopper experience. For example, if you want to get a jump on the holiday season, Veterans’ Day, which falls on the second Saturday in November right before the start of the formal holiday shopping season, may be ideal, as retailers are likely to capitalize on the timing and go all-in on early promotions.

However, if you are someone who prefers the excitement of finding lastminute deals, you should be aware that Super Saturday, the second predicted busiest shopping day of the season, falls very late this year on Dec. 23, and could be the last opportunity to wrap up shopping.

For more holiday shopping insights, Photo Courtesy of ivanko80/AdobeStock.com 6. Tuesday, Dec. 26 – Boxing Day; visit sensormatic.com.

7. Saturday, Dec. 9 – Second Saturday “Finding meaningful, fun and trendy in December; gifts for friends and family is one of the 8. Saturday, Dec. 2 – First Saturday in best parts of the holiday season, especialDecember; ly when you have insights that will help 9. Saturday, Dec. 30 – Saturday after you stretch your budget and shop with Christmas; and minimal stress,” says Field.

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Holiday Gift Guide 2023 Holiday gift ideas to promote healthy, happy feet Want to show your loved ones you truly care? Treat their feet this holiday season.

“Feet work hard. They carry our weight and get us where we need to go. They deserve some extra care and attention,” said Gretchen Lawrence DPM, AACFAS, a foot and ankle surgeon and associate member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS).

To help inspire you, here are six holiday gift ideas that promote healthy, happy feet from the foot and ankle surgeons of ACFAS: 1. Winter footwear. Outfit your loved one with the footwear they need for the season. Just keep in mind, safety doesn’t have to come at the expense of fashion.

While boots featuring tall, spiked heels and narrow, pointed toes can lead to slips, falls and sprains on ice-covered surfaces, there are plenty of practical options that are also stylish.

“A low-heeled winter boot is always going to be more fashionable than a cast and crutches,” said Dr. Lawrence. “Include some soft merino wool socks for toasty toes and to wick away moisture that can cause issues like athlete’s foot.”

2. Healthy food subscription services.

Did you know that certain foods support healthy feet? Foods rich in calcium and vitamin D, like leafy greens and dairy products, promote strong bones (there are 26 of them in each foot) and healing in the event of a fracture. Look into food box subscriptions that will send fresh produce, cheese or nuts to your gift recipient, so they can enjoy delicious foods that can help build strong bones.

3. Indoor footwear. Slippers provide cozy comfort, support and traction while indoors, making them a great gift for any pair of feet. However, if you’re shopping for someone living with diabetes, this is an especially thoughtful option as they

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must take extra care to avoid scratches and cuts on their feet. Because the condition sometimes reduces blood flow to that area, it’s harder to heal from an injury or resist infection.

“People with diabetes should never go barefoot, not even at home. A great pair of slippers is a perfect holiday gift to protect their feet,” Dr. Lawrence said.

4. Ice packs. Ice packs make great stocking stuffers for those who suffer from plantar fasciitis, a common condition that can cause stabbing heel pain.

One of the first-line strategies foot and ankle surgeons recommend is icing the heel for 20 minutes several times a day to reduce inflammation and pain. Get cre-

ative by looking for ice packs in fun shapes and colors.

5. Be a workout buddy. Weight-bearing exercise, like walking, can decrease your risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease and promotes good overall health, especially for your feet. Make a plan to go for regular walks with your loved one.

They’ll appreciate your special time together while you both benefit from the gift of good health.

6. Foot massage. A foot massage can alleviate muscle pain, improve circulation and soothe tired feet. Manual massage is the safest approach, so ask your foot and ankle surgeon for referrals to a qualified massage therapist and purchase a gift card for a professional therapeutic foot massage.

With holiday gifts that promote healthy feet, you can help your loved ones feel comfortable, pampered and safe at home and on winter streets.

For more healthy feet inspiration, visit FootHealthFacts.org, the patient education website of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

– StatePoint

10 — December 2023 — Cranford Life

Cranford author tells a hair-raising tale in ‘Ghost Room’

By David Jablonski Managing Editor Just in time for Halloween, a local author released her first book, ready to give teens and tweens a little scare.

The hair-raising story is called “Ghost Room” and Cranford author Janelle Schiecke says it’s about friendships and things that are spooky, but it all got its start from a scary dream.

“I had that dream about the room and I wanted a spooky story and I wanted friends to come together and discover this mystery,” said Schiecke in an interview with LocalSource on Friday, Oct. 25. “I’ve always loved ghost stories and reaching beyond the realm, so to speak.”

Schiecke hasn’t always lived in Cranford, although she has called it home for 17 years. Born and raised in Ohio, it was there that she first got the horror bug.

“I read ‘Misery’ when I was 11 or 12,” said Schiecke, speaking of Stephen King’s frightening novel and Academy Awardwinning movie. “I had to use a dictionary to know most of the words. But after I read it, I had never gotten so scared. I’ve loved words and language ever since.”

Graduating from John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio, where she majored in English, Schiecke said she knew she wanted to be an editor. Two years later, she was one. Unfortunately, she was later laid off, and she and her husband moved to Brooklyn. After seven

years in the Big Apple, they moved to Cranford to start a family.

“I love Cranford so much,” she said.

“It’s such a great family town.”

It was about this time she had that scary dream.

“I had this dream,” she said. “And I had it for so many nights. My husband said I should just start writing and it started evolving and I was too scared to do anything with it. My parents both passed away the first year of COVID and, after they passed away, I was spurred to finish it.”

Of course, there are far too many writers to count who create that great masterpiece, yet never get it published. For Schiecke, however, she had a leg up over a lot of wannabe authors.

“I’m a freelance editor myself. I am at this company, Urban Writers, where I edit books for people who self-publish,” she said. “I self-published. It wasn’t that hard.

I had to create my own logo. Emerald Link Press. I found a platform.

“I found a company called Reedsy that helps you self-publish. I hired an editor there. I hired a book designer there. You can just kind of add your book there and export into your pdf and your Kindle and then just upload it onto Amazon and then you can order it and get a paperback.

There was a lot to do, but I really wanted to get it out there.”

Without giving away too much, “Ghost See AUTHORS, Page 11

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Author’s book explores friendships (Continued from Page 10) Room” is a story about a group of friends who find something a bit unusual, even scary, about the new house one of them has just moved into with her family. As to why the story is set in the ’90s, Schiecke says that’s easy to explain.

“I don’t like all this technology,” she said. “I wanted to build suspense and I think that’s more doable when there’s no technology. I grew up on an acre of land in Ohio. Where she (the main character) moves is basically based on where I grew up. I love Tim Burton. I liked how he connected with outsiders.

Tim Burton tapped into that.”

The ’90s references were also a pleasure for her.

For young kids, I want them to feel the vibe of the ’90s,” Schiecke said. “It’s a different decade that I think would spur kids to maybe find out who Pearl Jam is. I loved Pearl Jam and I loved Unsolved Mysteries, so it’s fun to put in these little Easter eggs. It was a fun escape for me to go back to the ’90s. Max and Amy are based on my childhood friends. I feel we would have been awesome ghost hunters.”

Schiecke said she got ideas from other people as well, which she incorporated into her novel.

“The prologue was my son’s idea. He had this vision of this bookcase and this witch. I was like, how am I going to tie this into the story?”

But tie it in she did. Even the villain can be traced to her youth.

“When I was in high school, there were always these jocks who got all the attention and I wanted him to be the bad guy.”

If you read this book — and you should — the ending is sure to leave you wanting more, even a part two. Schiecke says this was done intentionally.

‘I had that dream about the room and I wanted a spooky story and I wanted friends to come together and discover this mystery. I’ve always loved ghost stories and reaching beyond the realm, so to speak.’

— Janelle Schiecke “I’m a big fan of open endings. I love when a book ends and you have to figure out what happens next.

I wanted the story to go on. I didn’t want it to end.”

“Right now, what I’m writing is something different, but I do think of going back to it.

“I do want to either finish it or do a Goosebumps series of stories. I do like writing books for teens. It’s fun to write. You have to put your mind into the mind of a teenager. I wouldn’t want to put my mind into the mind of teenagers in the time we live in, because I don’t feel you get enough suspense.”

In the meantime, Schiecke is hard at work on her next novel, something a bit off the beaten path.

“My next one is about murder in a midwestern town.”

“Ghost Story” can be purchased online at Amazon in Kindle or paperback at http://www.amazon.com.

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12 — December 2023 — Cranford Life

Author leaves Manhattan to move to Cranford

By David Jablonski Managing Editor Bruce Goldstein took the big plunge last year, when he finally moved out of New York City and into Cranford with his family. For Goldstein, this was a big step.

“We moved in July of last year. It’s gone pretty quickly and we’re still adapting to New Jersey,” said Goldstein in an interview with LocalSource on Friday, Oct. 20. “I was born in Brooklyn and lived in several parts of New York City before living in Manhattan for 35 years.”

Making the jump from New York to New Jersey is not exactly unique, but Goldstein had a factor that a lot of transplants from the city don’t have to deal with: he’s bipolar. In fact, it was getting so bad that, as a twenty-something in the Big Apple some 30 years ago, he came dangerously close to losing his mind.

“My doctors said it was a miracle that I wasn’t committed,” he admitted.

His friends and his mother tried to help him, but it was getting increasingly difficult for him to manage.

Until he got a dog.

Now, for most people, a dog is a companion, someone to keep you company when you’re lonely, perhaps to teach your children responsibility. But for Goldstein, it was a game-changer, and it saved his life, literally.

“When you’re depressed, medication can only get you so far,” he said. “It doesn’t give you a reason to live. A dog is saving you.”

“People get depressed,” he continued, “because of different things they are going through in their life. I went the medication route. Medication can only get you a certain place, get you better. But a dog can take you out of your shell, out of your apartment. I had to take care of him. Basically, by taking care of him, I was taking care of myself.”

That dog’s name was Ozzy, and the journey, from deciding to get a dog and finding him to Goldstein’s gradual improvement to the point where he knew he wouldn’t hear the knives in the kitchen

Photos Courtesy of Bruce Goldstein

call him anymore became the best-selling memoir, “Puppy Chow is Better Than Prozac.”

For Goldstein, that book took nine years to write and was a journey in and of itself.

Goldstein’s memoir was published in 2008 and became a best-seller.

“It was a bestseller on Amazon. Right now, it’s a bestseller in Italy.”

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 2.8% of U.S. adults had bipolar disorder in the past

year. Goldstein was just one of many, although he did have Ozzy to help him through the tough times.

“I haven’t had any kind of relapse,” Goldstein said. “Was I really crazy or bipolar, manic depressive? It was serious, but since my kids were born, I haven’t had anything. I still work in advertising, but I haven’t had anything like that.

“I talk to people and tell them, you’ve got to be strong, and they can read my story. Two years ago, I got an email from a parole officer who said a woman in prison

did a book report and chose my book and wanted to thank me. She gave me a card.”

As his family grew, Ozzy did, too, but dogs age a lot faster than humans.

“Toward the end, when Ozzy was 12 and a half, I was pushing my daughter in a stroller and dragging Ozzy behind me,” Goldstein recalled wistfully.

“It was a bumpy time in my life. Ozzy passed away when he was 13. The book has lived on; it’s timeless. I was thinking it’s timeless because people will get See BEST-SELLING, Page 13

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Best-selling author relocates from NYC to Cranford (Continued from Page 12) depressed and dogs will be there.”

Goldstein admits, as much as he loved New York City, it was just getting too expensive, especially for a family.

Someone had mentioned Cranford to him, and the next thing he knew, he was living there.

“We ended up in Cranford. We found an apartment.”

As for Goldstein, he’s still writing and he has aspirations.

“I’ve written for BP Hope for Bipolar,” he said. “It’s the only publication for bipolar. I had a blog. And I wrote for them for a couple of years.”

Books are still something he considers an option, even if not all of his ventures in the publishing world have been successful.

“You remember that craze, fidgets?” he asked. “It lasted about two or three months. I self-published a book about that, a work of fiction, and by the time I got it published, I missed the phase.”

“Escape From Planet Fidget” might not have made much of a mark, but Goldstein isn’t stopping anytime soon.

“I came up with a book about when I had the kids and I talked to my agents and they said there were too many kid books,” he laughed.

“Now I’m working on my new book. I have a courtroom thriller with a hook. It’s been around for 20 years.

I wrote it as a screenplay, then shopped it around as a TV miniseries. My plan for my next couple of books is to selfpublish them and get someone to promote it. The pub-

Photo Courtesy of Bruce Goldstein

Ozzy and Bruce Goldstein lisher gave me a publicist for ‘Puppy Chow’ in the beginning, but now I’ll do it myself.”

“If you don’t have a million dollars, they’re not going to come to you,” he says somewhat cynically, with more than a little knowledge from the school of hard knocks.

Goldstein still has strong feelings about his

“Puppy Chow is Better Than Prozac.”

“I guess it’s a really relatable story,” he said. “This book has a happy ending. I do take four kinds of medication, but would I get off the boat? No way.

“I’m now at the 15-year anniversary of my first book being published. It’s been reaching people around the world since 2008.”

He hasn’t gotten another dog since Ozzy died, but has he thought about it?

“I don’t know if there will be a dog in the future. But I can’t even imagine it right now, and with the kids in the apartment ….”

Meanwhile, he and his story are still reaching people.

“When I meet someone with a dog, I start telling my story, and then they open up with me and start telling me their story. People really relate.”

As for right now, he’s still learning about Cranford and loving every minute of it.

“It’s a nice safe place that we moved to. I like where I live,” Goldstein said.

“This place is huge, but I still can’t write at home. I write best around people. Coffee shops in the city.”

I’m a New Yorker and I love walking everywhere.”

If you’re looking for Goldstein, you might find him at Track 5 Coffee in Cranford.

“I’m at the coffee shop every day,” he said.

Check out his books, too, particularly “Puppy Chow is Better Than Prozac.” Goldstein is a man who can teach you a thing or two about himself, and about yourself as well.

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14 — December 2023 — Cranford Life

History is haunted on special tour (Continued from Page 7) town’s gambling hall and beer bottling plant. The “ghost” encouraged the young women in the group: “Don’t give up.

This is 2023. The sky’s the limit.”

The group also “met” the ghost of Maggie, the wife of Ernest E. Tyree, manager of the Cranford Stars, which later became The Cranford Dixie Giants, an all-black baseball team.

Then there was Detective William Wagner, who solved a murder mystery.

The victim, Mildred Mowry, was burned so badly, she was beyond recognition.

Her remains were found on Feb. 23, 1929. Her killer was Henry Colin Campbell-Close, who she met through a Lonely Hearts matchmaking agency. Campbell-Close was notorious for preying on women who were widows with money.

Campbell-Close confessed to the killing and was sent to the electric chair, which was known as “Old Smokey.”

Carrie Brown was a New York prostitute who enjoyed quoting Shakespeare and was allegedly one of Jack the Ripper’s victims to have been killed outside of London, in the “New World,” although another man was eventually convicted of her murder. Jack the Ripper — or his copycat killer — could have been from the Hopelawn section of Woodbridge.

Cyrus Drake, the owner of a former Lenape Indian trading post, is said to now haunt the Riverside Inn in Cranford, where he once had his trading post.

He shared his story from his teepee which was set up in back of the Riverside Inn. The tour ended with Laughlin herself, assuming the captivating persona of “Miss Cookie.” She jokingly referred to herself as a “ghost writer,” adding, “We make learning about history fun.”

To learn more about Haunted History Productions, visit: www.hauntedhistoryproductions.com/.

Photos by Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta

Above, the ghost of Cyrus Drake, the owner of a former Lenape Indian trading post, is said to now haunt the Riverside Inn in Cranford. Below, ‘Miss Cookie,’ a persona of Haunted History Tour creator, Jane McLaughlin, speaks to people at the end of the tour, offering a little wit and humor.

Josh Ketschke, varsity soccer player What’s your favorite memory of this season?

“My favorite memory of this season was our first win. Our win over New Providence on Sept. 19 started our winning streak and gave us a needed boost in confidence, which was essential to our success.”

Cranford’s library offers many events Families with children of all ages are invited to Family Storytime on Friday, Dec. 1, at 10:15 a.m. at the Cranford Public Library, 224 Walnut Ave., Cranford.

Children in kindergarten and older are invited to a Winter Storytime on Wednesday, Dec. 20, at 4 p.m. No registration is required for either event.

Readers in grades 3-5 are invited to sign up for the Cranford Public Library’s Graphic Novel Book Club. The club meets on Monday, Dec. 4, at 6 p.m. Visit the library’s calendar to reserve a spot.

Young readers are invited to hone their skills by reading to certified therapy dogs.

Dogs are a perfect, non-judgmental audience for children learning to read independently. This program meets from 6:30

CRANFORD ATHLETE OF THE MONTH

to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Dec. 19 and Jan. 23. No registration is required but space is available on a first come, first served basis.

Independent readers in grades 2-3 are invited to the library’s Early Readers Book Club on Wednesday, Dec. 20, from 6 to 6:45 p.m. Read the book “Billy Twitters and his Blue Whale Problem” together and create art inspired by the story. Registration is required and can be done online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ 747695586627?aff=oddtdtcreator.

Make holiday creations using Lego bricks and display them in the library.

This group welcomes friends in kindergarten and older on Thursday, Dec. 21, See CRANFORD, Page 15

How do you get ready for a game?

“Prior to each game, I made sure to hydrate, stretch and foam roll my muscles. These three things were all key aspects of my pregame routine.”

Besides sports, what else do you love to do?

“Something else I love to do is to go to the beach. My two favorite hobbies are surfing and fishing so I spend much of my time at the beach. “ What’s the most important thing your coach taught you?

“One of the most important things my coach has taught me is to be resilient.

The coaching staff continuously harped upon this, making sure we worked hard through good and bad times.”

What was your biggest accomplishment this season?

“My biggest accomplishment from this season was my season stats, 17 goals and 7 assists.”

What are your plans for after high school?

“After high school, I plan to go to college and further my academic learning.”

What are you looking forward to for the holidays?

“I’m looking forward to seeing my family and having time off from school.”

Cranford Life — December 2023 — 15

Cranford Public library has much to offer its patrons through five should stop by the Children’s Desk to select their book pick. Reserve a spot online: eventbrite.com/e/who-wasisbook-club-tickets-433579496947.

• New Jersey Makers Day: New Jersey Maker’s Day is a statewide celebration of creativity. Children in grades two and three can sign up for a Dot and Dash Robot Workshop at 11 a.m.: eventbrite.com/e/dot-and-dash-workshop-new-jersey-makers-day-tickets508034323337. Children ages 6 and older are invited to drop in for Lego Hour at Many clubs are available noon, and toddlers can dive into making The Cranford Public Library, 224 Wal- at Tinker Tots from 2 to 3 p.m. nut Ave., Cranford, is hosting a variety of The Cranford Public Library can be programs for children and families. reached at 908-709-7272, library@cran• Who Was/Is … Club: Read about fordnj.org or cranfordlibrary.org. favorite African American icons, such as • Tween Spa Night: Tweens, ages 9 to the Obamas, Coretta Scott King and 11, are invited for an evening of creating Michael Jordan. Children in grades two fun, spa-themed goodies! DIY your own (Continued from Page 14) from 6 to 6:45 p.m. This is a drop-in program; no registration is required.

Create as a family at Family Art on Friday, Dec. 22, at 4 p.m. and craft some charming holiday ornaments. Registration is not required, materials are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, call 908-7091658, email library@cranfordnj.org or visit CranfordLibrary.org.

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natural lip balm, learn to make bath bombs and hang out with friends. This free program is sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

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Cranford library board meets The 2023 monthly meetings of the Cranford Public Library board of trustees will be at the Cranford Public Library, 224 Walnut Ave., Cranford, at 7 p.m. on the following date: Thursday, Dec. 28. All are welcome to attend.

IN MEMORIAM • BAUKNIGHT – Lois P., of Washington, formerly of Cranford; Oct. 20.

Was 88.

In Memoriam is a monthly feature compiled by the news staff from various sources. We also provide the opportunity for families and funeral directors to publish a more extensive, special notice about their loved one called an obituary. These notices are published on our website immediately and then in the next edition of this newspaper. To place a paid obituary send an email to obits@thelocalsource.com or fax to 908-688-0401. Family and friends’ submissions must include sender’s name, address, phone and the name of the funeral home. Call 908-686-7850 for assistance.

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