Home Services

Perseverence and an American Dream

Mosquito Joe's Jay Annepu is living the American Dream Article by Terry Azad | Photography by PhotosbyCraigSmith As a community we are all rooting for the small businesses that invest in our town. We see the sweat equity they put into their products and services - and they become a part of our daily lives. Sometimes we get to know business owners personally, learning about their journey - the sacrifices they’ve made - and we root for them even harder. Such is the case with Jay Annepu, owner...

Life + Culture

Girl Dads

These local dads are raising strong independent young ladies - and loving every second. Article by Terry Azad | Photography by Provided GIRL DAD: ANTHONY FIORE You may recognize his name as the Moderator for the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Community Facebook page, or his face as a volunteer at many local events, but for Anthony Fiore, “girl dad” is the role he’s most proud of.  A father to two daughters, Kayla (19), and Kenzie (15), Anthony describes his parenting style as “supportive and...

Life + Culture

Scotch Plains-Fanwood "Girl Dad" Scrapbook

Photography by Provided We see you Girl Dads! Sure, maybe you're not wearing your capes around town, but we still see you! Whether you're cheering on the sidelines, loading the car for family vacation or doing drop offs and pick ups - we see you. Here are just a few of Scotch Plains-Fanwood's greatest dads in action. Happy Father's Day to ALL the dads!  

Home Services

Summer Laundry Survival Guide for Scotch Plains & Fanwood Families

Summer has a way of creating more laundry than any other season. Between beach towels, sweaty sports uniforms, camp clothes, and constant outfit changes, many families find themselves doing laundry almost nonstop. If your laundry pile feels like it’s growing faster than you can keep up with it, let Bubbles and Baskets’ Laundry Room take care of it!Why Summer Creates So Much Extra LaundryWarm weather means more activity:Kids in camp all daySports practices and gamesPool and beach tripsOutdoor...

Education

ALL POINTS LEAD TO COMMUNITY

The Power of Intentional Connection at Compass Schoolhouse Article and Photography by Terry Azad Joyous. That is the one word I would use to describe the Compass Schoolhouse located at 125 Elmer Street in Westfield, NJ. It was a grey and rainy Monday morning when I visited. Elsewhere in the world people were feeling the Monday doldrums - but not here. At Compass Schoolhouse, the teachers, staff, parents and students all arrive like it is the Best. Day. Ever.  Because it is. And it will be...

Life + Culture

Sisterhood in Action

Three local stories - from business to family - showing the power of women lifting each other up. Article by Terry Azad | Photography by As Noted PAGE ONE If you want to see sisterhood in action, skip the group chat and head straight to The Zap Group—where collaboration isn’t just a buzzword, it’s practically a sport (and yes, they’d win). Led by Scotch Plains local Rachel Schwartz, this all-female marketing powerhouse has built something rare: a team that manages to be both wildly effective...

Finance + Legal Services

Family Law Family First

Expert legal counsel from a team that understands what’s at stake. Article by Terry Azad | Photography by Provided Law firm Ross & Calandrillo, located in Mountainside, NJ knows that being a premier family law firm starts with how they treat their own families. Founded on the principle that professional excellence and parenthood should never be mutually exclusive, the firm has cultivated a supportive, flexibile environment for their team. By removing the burden of choosing between career and...

Education

Check Out These Compass Kid Cuties!

Article and Photography by Terry Azad Interested in being a part of this special community? Visit www.compassschoolhouse.com or call 908.232.2084 and arrange for a tour. Compass offers a variety of flexible programs and schedules to suit families' individual needs. Enrichment programs offer an optional extended day for preschool students. Subjects such as math, science, theatre arts, movement, technology, and engineering are explored in small group settings. And…registration is now open for...

Home Services

More Time for What Matters Most

For most families, laundry is simply part of the weekly routine. But as schedules get busier, more families are reconsidering whether doing it all at home all the time is still the most practical option. With professional drop-off wash, dry & fold, and pickup and delivery laundry services available from Bubbles & Baskets’ Laundry Room you now have flexible solutions that save both time and energy. So which option truly makes sense?People spend between three and five hours per week...

Life + Culture

Live Long. Live Well.

Mom and Pap's Home Care brings compassionate care home Article by Terry Azad | Photography by Veronica Kautz and Provided A recently published study examining the common traits of people who live to 100 years or older identified companionship as the single most important contributing factor to longevity. Ena Forbes, founder of Mom and Pap’s Home Care, has seen that truth play out in her own life. Forbes cared for her grandmother, who lived to be 100 years old. Through that experience, she...