Home + Design

Flower Dreams

A Friendship—and Thriving Business—Blossoms in Raritan Article by Patti Zielinski | Photography by Liz Polo, Havana Photography From the time Lucy Sandler was a child, she used to love picking wild flowers for her mother. As an adult, she officially fell in love with flowers while working at a flower shop in New Brunswick where she attended Rutgers University.  Dana Kane has always been a creative, finding beauty in every corner of her world. As a kid, Kane   stood   in the outfield during...

April 2024

Life + Culture

Glamour & Glory

Victoria Cabrera is Ready to Compete for Miss New Jersey Article by Nancy A. Ruhling | Photography by MuSen Photos by Karen Kwong Try something different. Step proudly out of your comfort zone.  That’s the message that Victoria Cabrera, Bridgewater’s contestant in the Miss New Jersey USA pageant, wants to spread. The 20-year-old New Jersey native who is studying human resources and labor relations at Rutgers University, will be competing at the Hilton Parsippany from June 21 to 23 with 120...

April 2024

Education

Teaching with Intention

Women Educators at Saint James School Empower the Next Generation Article by Carly Mac Manus | Photography by Brian Gornick Meet the dedicated women shaping futures at Saint James School, each with decades of passion and commitment to nurturing young minds. Linda D’Alessandro Linda D’Alessandro has been at Saint James School for 18 years. She says she is inspired every day by the community around her. “Saint James is more than just a job to me,” she says. “It is a family where everyone...

April 2024

Style + Beauty

Spring is in the Air

Fun Fashion is the Flavor This Season—and Osprey Lane Has All the Looks Article by Elle Bridge | Photography by Osprey Lane For Maria Vraniak, owner of Osprey Lane Boutique in Somerville, spring heralds a time of flirty, fun fashion.  While the boutique typically carries more muted, neutral colors, this season one can expect hues like blues, greens, peaches and whites—or “more vibrant fun,” as Vraniak explains.  As people increasingly return to the office, look for more of a trouser pant...

April 2024

Wellness

Restore Yourself

How a Visit to a Med Spa Can Help You Look Naturally Younger Article by Elle Bridge | Photography by Brian Gornick “People want to look better and younger without any major setbacks or downtime,” says Dr. Edward Buch, owner and operator of EDB Med Spa in Hillsborough, which offers a variety of cosmetic medical procedures in a resort-like setting, including laser hair removal, laser facial resurfacing, laser liposuction and platelet-rich plasma procedures. Here, Dr. Buch discusses the ways...

April 2024

Food + Beverage

Bubbles Bring Smiles

Restauranteurs Invest in a Franchise—and Rekindle Their Passion Article by Patti Zielinski | Photography by Donna Gioia Volpe When Tom and Betty Lee sold the Japanese restaurant they had owned for 27 years in Middletown and moved to Basking Ridge, they were seeking a change. “We loved the service industry, but it can be intense. It’s a lot of hard work, a lot of sacrifice,” Betty says.  The couple wanted to spend more time with their teenaged children at home but still be hands-on in a...

March 2024

Finance + Legal Services

Year-Round Tax Strategies

How Small Businesses Can Save Big Bucks at Tax Time Article by Patti Zielinski | Photography by Brian Gornick For businesses, managing taxes should be a year-long process, not an afterthought with an end game of April 15. That is the business mission of Daniel P. Vigilante.  For more than three decades, the certified public accountant with a master’s degree in taxation and a certified tax coach, has been helping small-business owners who have at least $100,000 in annual salary and profits...

March 2024

Professional Services

Thriving Through Growth

A City Lifestyle Publisher’s Journey to Discovering Her Calling Article by Elle Bridge | Photography by Liz Polo, Havana Photography As a woman business owner, Tiffany Slowinski knows success comes from constantly evolving. Over her journey from college student to young earner to motherhood to successful entrepreneur, she has forged new identities and reinvented herself many times over. Recently, as she embarked on her latest venture—Team Spark Advisors, which employs data analytics to help...

March 2024

Entertainment

Playing with Fire

Tom Brislin’s Lyrical Journey from a Dunellen Music Studio to Keyboardist for Iconic Rock Band Kansas Article by Patti Zielinski | Photography by Julianne Reynolds Tom Brislin thought his career had died at Bernards High School.  He was 15, performing at a Battle of the Bands with his friends. It was their first gig and they were nervous and excited. They were also green. And not as prepared as they should have been. They were in over their heads.  They went on and were practically booed off...

March 2024

Finance + Legal Services

Celebrating 40 Under 40

The SCBP Spotlights Top 40 Professionals, Philanthropists, Entrepreneurs and Community Leaders Photography by Provided The top 40 Under 40 initiative shines a light on a diverse group of professionals, philanthropists, entrepreneurs, and community leaders, all under the age of 40, who have gone above and beyond in their roles within their jobs, families, and communities throughout 2023. This prestigious accolade is a testament to their unwavering commitment to business growth, professional...

March 2024