Meet the Merchants

MEET OUR MERCHANTS! These pages are dedicated to connect the community with the heart of our commerce, our merchants! Get to know them, their thoughts and their business here, then go visit them and check out their offerings- they’d love to see you and mention you saw them here!

Come visit us at our new Summit location on the 2nd floor of 426 Springfield Avenue above Marigolds.

GL SENIORS CAN APPLY FOR NEW TOM BARTON SCHOLARSHIP

The Berkeley Heights Recreation Commission/Berkeley Heights Recreation Department recently announced creation of The Tom Barton Scholarship Fund.

Mr. Barton, who served as the township’s recreation director for 18 years, died on Dec. 5, 2021, after battling cancer. Officials at the Recreation Commission/Recreation Department said they wanted to do something that would ensure Mr. Barton’s legacy, and wanted it to be meaningful to his family - wife JoAnne and daughters Andrea and Allison - as well as the countless community members whose lives Mr. Barton touched.

“Holding true to the values and general good nature of Tom Barton, we worked with GLHS and developed a scholarship that will go to a graduating senior at GLHS each year,” township officials noted. “The criteria of the scholarship is based around recreation participation in Berkeley Heights/Mountainside and what the student’s recreation participation has meant to that student growing up over the years.”

The officials continued, “We want the scholarship to be impactful to the recipient, but also something the Township of Berkeley Heights and the community, children and seniors who Tom interacted with daily would feel positive about contributing to. We all take great pride in saying we are from Berkeley Heights/Mountainside, and we are hoping some of this pride will expand into a donation to the legacy of Tom through the Tom Barton Scholarship Fund. Tom had friends and relationships in recreation throughout the state, county and surrounding local towns, and participated actively as an officer in the NJRPA (New Jersey Recreation & Parks Association). He is missed by all.”

To learn how to make a donation, visit friendsofbhrec.com/tom-barton-scholarship.

Sweets to Crave, which specializes in floral bouquets, including forever roses and chocolate-dipped treat arrangements, opened at 73 Summit Ave. on Feb. 5. Owner Laleta Teajman said, “We are a one-of-a-kind shop where you can find unique gifts that will make someone say, ‘Wow!’ This is a vision that has finally come to reality, and we are so happy to open our doors here in the city of Summit.” Reach Ms. Teajman by calling 609-630-0005.

Gathered last week to celebrate the grand opening of Sweets to Crave in Summit were, from left, Suburban Chambers of Commerce executive board members May Friedel and Joe Eberle, shop owner Laleta Teajman, Nancy Adams and Bob Conway of Summit Downtown, Inc., and Karen Fern Hadley, executive director of the Suburban Chambers of Commerce.

The Reeves-Reed Arboretum, 165 Hobart Ave., Summit, opens its 2022 Notable Garden Speaker Series on Thursday, Feb. 24, at 6:30 p.m. with Louis Bauer, recently-retired as director of horticulture at Wave Hill in the Bronx.

Mr. Bauer began at Wave Hill as a gardener in 1994. Ten years later he oversaw renovation of

Greenwood Gardens in Short Hills, then returned to Wave Hill just before the institution marked its 50th year in 2014. All are welcome to hear Mr. Bauer share stories drawn from experiences that eventually led to him to serve at the horticultural helm of a world-renowned public garden. Light refreshments will be served. Mr. Bauer is the first in a series of “Notable Garden Speakers” featured at the arboretum this year. Randi Eckel of Toadshade Wildflower Farm will be next, on Thursday, April 28, highlighting the role of native plants in landscape design. The speaker series takes place in the historic Wisner House on site at the ReevesReed Arboretum, as well as virtually. The cost for RRA members is $10, $25 for others. To register, visit reeves-reedarboretum.org or call 908-272-8787, x1920. With its grounds open to the public seven days a week, the arboretum is listed on both the National and New Jersey registers of historic places, and its mission is to engage, educate and enrich the public through both horticulture and environmental education and the care and utilization of the gardens and estate, which was formerly a private home.

THE CONNECTION WILL REIMBURSE ENROLLEES THE COST OF THE RED CROSS LIFEGUARD CERTIFICATION COURSE (A VALUE OF MORE THAN $300) AFTER 30 DAYS OF EMPLOYMENT AND A COMMITMENT TO WORK 10 HOURS A WEEK FOR SIX MONTHS.

This benefit applies to first time certifications or for those whose certifications expired. Students must be at least 15 and able to pass the pre-course swimming skills test, which consists of: • Swimming 300 yards, continuously demonstrating breath control and rhythmic breathing • Treading water for two minutes using only the legs • Completing the following timed event within one minute, 40 seconds: • Start in the water, swim 20 yards. Your face may be in or out of the water. Swim goggles are not allowed • Surface dive, feet-first or head-first, to a depth of 7 to 10 feet to retrieve a

10-pound object • Return to the surface and swim 20 yards on the back to return to the starting point with both hands holding the object and keeping the face at or near the surface • Candidates should not swim the distance underwater • Exit the water without using a ladder or steps

TO SIGN UP FOR A CLASS

Visit redcross.org/take-a-class/ lifeguarding/lifeguard-training. Under the “Find a Class” option, select “Lifeguarding” and enter the area you would like to take the class. Look for the options for “Lifeguarding” (all in-person format – 25 hours, 20 minutes) or “Lifeguarding-BL” (Blended Learning, which is 19.5 hours in person, 7.5 hours online). Click the “Sign Me Up” tab next to the class you would like to attend and follow the prompts to register (do not choose Lifeguard Review, Lifeguard Instructor or Lifeguard Instructor Trainer). Once you successfully complete the course, you will receive an American Red Cross certificate for Lifeguarding/First Aid/ CPR/AED, valid for two years. The Connection’s current lifeguard needs are weekdays from 6 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. and Saturdays 7 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Compensation starts at $13/hour. Employee benefits include paid sick leave after four months, 401(k), free parking, and membership discounts offered to staff and their families, including access to the fitness facility and pool, as well as adult and children’s classes. For those who don’t have the time to commit to earning lifeguard certification, The Connection has part-time positions available for group swim instructors. Training is available. The current instructor needs are weekdays 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to noon.

NJ Sharing Network, the New Providence-based, federally-designated non-profit responsible for the recovery of organ and tissue donation in the state, announced the number of organ donors in a single year reached an all-time high as 233 individuals in New Jersey gave the gift of life in 2021.

“We owe this achievement, first and foremost, to our donor heroes, who generously gave the gift of life, as well as their supportive families,” said Joseph S. Roth, president and chief executive officer of NJ Sharing Network. “We are also deeply grateful for the extraordinary efforts of our team members and healthcare partners who work around the clock to help power our life-saving mission.”

In 2021, 599 organs were transplanted thanks to donors in New Jersey, including 322 kidneys, 151 livers (new record for liver recoveries), 57 hearts, 49 lungs and 20 pancreases. In addition, 42,112 eye and tissue donations healed and enhanced the quality of life for those in need. Tissue donations include corneas, heart valves, skin grafts, bone grafts, ligaments and tendons. One organ donor can save eight lives, according to NJ Sharing staff, and one tissue donor can enhance the lives of more than 75 people.

New Jerseyans may register at NJSharingNetwork.org, through the iPhone Health App or in person at any Motor Vehicle Agency

According to United Network for Organ Sharing, nearly 4,000 people in New Jersey are on the organ transplant waiting list, and one person dies every three days waiting for a transplant. However, the generosity of those in the Garden State is providing hope for the future, according to Carolyn M. Welsh, chief operating officer at NJ Sharing Network.

“Strong support for donation in New Jersey’s diverse communities has been achieved thanks to education and outreach efforts as well as expanded ways to register as an organ and tissue donor,” said Ms. Welsh. “Our dedicated team of professionals is fortunate to be supported by a range of community volunteers and partners who are committed to help save lives and improve the health and well-being of our neighbors.”

While it may already feel in February like it’s been winter forever, there are weeks of potential cold weather, frozen precipitation and dangerous driving yet to come.

Emergency response workers in New Providence have compiled a list they are calling “Be Prepared for an Emergency,” and are asking all local residents to heed their advice:

CREATE AN EMERGENCY PLAN.

Keep abreast of potential weather disasters headed to the region, and register to receive SMART 911 Alert messages at newprov.org. Put your plan down on paper and practice it once a month with the members of your household. As part of your preparation, designate an emergency meeting place in case you are separated from family members.

Remember that children may be in school during the emergency.

Once you have devised a plan, be sure to post it in your home so that all family members can refer to it easily. PREPARE A DISASTER SURVIVAL KIT

The next time a crisis strikes, there may not be much time to act. Whether the emergency is a power outage, winter storm, fire, hurricane, flood or thunderstorm, the best thing to do is to prepare now. Include special provisions for children and for any disabled family members MAKE SURE TO KEEP THE DISASTER KIT UPDATED

To help you get started, emergency response workers suggest contents that includes flashlights, a battery-operated or crank radio, extra fresh batteries, bottled water (1 gallon per day per person, and enough for three days), sanitation supplies (bleach, etc.), a three-day supply of canned goods and other non-perishable food items, a manual can opener, candles and matches in a waterproof container, a first aid kit and prescription medications, extra pet supplies and any necessary special items for infants, the elderly or disabled family members.

TEST YOUR SMOKE AND CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS, AND CHANGE THE BATTERIES

REGULARLY.

In addition, borough residents are encouraged to register disabled family members with the New Providence Police Department by reaching out to Susan DeLuise 908-665-1111.