Beauty

The Shape of Purpose

The Pink Room’s Maria Sparacio helps women find empowerment in all sizes. Article by Terry Azad | Photography by PhotosbyCraigSmith There is something about Maria Sparacio that is difficult to capture on a page. She is, quite simply, one of those people who makes you feel good to be around. Beautiful inside and out, warm and energetic, Maria has a way of talking about her work that makes it clear that The Pink Room is about so much more than shapewear. It is about women. It is about...

Fitness

Gratitude in Motion

Families are thankful for the Fanwood Scotch Plains YMCA Article by Terry Azad | Photography by PhotosbyCraigSmith At 95 years old, Doris still shows up. Three days a week, she makes her way to the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA for senior strength classes. She exercises, she moves, she stays active—but if you ask Doris what keeps her coming back, the answer isn't really about exercise. It's the people. A member since 1989, Doris still has her original Y card from when she first joined. Back...

Finance + Legal Services

Good as Gold

For Steve Goldberg of Family Investors, building trust comes down to relationships. Article by Terry Azad If you live in Scotch Plains-Fanwood, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve seen Steve Goldberg lately. Maybe he was volunteering at the Mental Health Awareness Fair. Hosting a Rotary mini-golf event for local families. Dancing with friends at a Preserve Shady Rest fundraiser. Or standing behind a microphone, emceeing yet another community event. Steve is everywhere. And there’s a very...

Home + Design

Holy Cr*p - it's Thanksgiving!

Get Your House Mother-In-Law Ready with That 1 Painter Essex Article by Terry Azad You know the feeling. Thanksgiving is on the calendar. The holiday invitations are going out. You're mentally planning the menu, pulling out the good dishes and wondering where you're going to put everyone’s coats. And then you look around your house. Wait. When did the foyer get so dingy? Why does the dining room suddenly look so…blah? Were those fingerprints always on the family room wall? And that...

Home + Design

Built to Gather

Magnolia Home Remodeling designs kitchens where families cook, entertain, and gather Article by Tiffany Slowinski | Photography by Gravitude Brand Lab, Magnolia Home Remodeling Every good party eventually finds its way to the kitchen island. Someone opens a bottle of wine. Someone else offers to help but mostly stands nearby and talks. Plates fill the counter as guests drift in from the dining room. It usually starts with the food. Something is simmering on the stove, ingredients are being...

Food + Beverage

Maddie's BrewHERy

Maddie Bowen keeps the neighborhood spirit brewing Article by Terry Azad | Photography by Jimmy Douglas Photography From First Employee to Owner Maddie Bowen takes the reins at Lions Roar Brewing—and keeps the neighborhood spirit brewing Sometimes the best business stories begin with a plan. Others begin with simply showing up, rolling up your sleeves and becoming part of something you love. For Maddie Bowen, it was the latter. When Lions Roar Brewing Co. opened its doors in Westfield in...

Home + Design

Food for Thought

Coffee and Conversation with Coldwell Banker's Mary DePaolo Article by Terry Azad | Photography by Provided There are some people who seem to collect chapters in their lives rather than simply moving from one to the next. Mary DePaola is one of those people. Over coffee and conversation, it quickly becomes clear that her warmth and graciousness are matched by an unmistakable generosity of spirit. She is the kind of person who makes you feel as though you have known her much longer than you...

Life + Culture

More Than a Market

Finding Community at the Scotch Plains Farmers’ Market Article by Terry Azad Reusable tote bags in hand, neighbors make their way to the municipal parking lot on Park Avenue, dogs in tow and coffee in hand, stopping to say hello to friends along the way. The scent of fresh-baked goods mingles with live music —and, inevitably, something delicious to bring home. For more than three decades, the Scotch Plains Farmers’ Market has been a beloved Saturday-morning tradition. Established in 1992 as a...

Home + Design

Elevate your Style with Tile

Zabrina Castaneda, Owner of The Tile Concierge, shares tile trends that elevate your home Article by Terry Azad When it comes to home design, few materials have the power to transform a space quite like tile. Whether you're renovating a bathroom, updating a kitchen backsplash, or creating a show-stopping entryway, the right tile can instantly elevate the look and feel of your home. According to Zabrina Castaneda, owner of The Tile Concierge in Westfield, today's homeowners are embracing...

Home Services

Family Style

More than junk removal. John Valenti is building a family legacy with Go Garbage Article by Terry Azad | Photography by Photos by Craig Smith For most people, getting rid of unwanted furniture, construction debris, or years' worth of clutter is a chore they'd rather avoid. For John Valenti, it's an opportunity to help people move forward. As the founder of Go Garbage in Union County, John has built a business that does far more than haul things away. His company provides demolition, junk...