The Connections Bridgewater Somerville Edition June 2025

THE BRIDGEWATER-SOMERVILLE CONNECTION

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JUNE/JULY/AUGUST 2025

H ighlights...

A Note From Our Publisher...

As the publisher of The Connection Magazines and a longtime resi dent of this area, I take great pride in the small businesses that make our towns so special. These businesses are the heart and soul of our neighborhoods, offering unique products, services, and experienc es that you won’t find anywhere else. I hope you enjoy all that the Bridgewater-Somerville edition of our June issue has to o er!

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Senior Corner: Ellyn Mantell

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Medical Minutes: Performance Ortho Financial Forum: Shapiro CPAs

Lawyer’s View: Maleski, Eisenhut & Zielinski

With summer beginning and graduation season upon us, it’s the perfect time to cele brate and support our community. Whether you’re shopping for gifts, planning a cele bration, or simply enjoying all that the season brings, be sure to check out our Shopping, Beauty & Events section for inspiration and ideas. Patronize our local restaurants, not only for graduation parties and celebrations, but also for casual summer dining. Think of it as a fun night o from cooking in the heat! Your Guide to Summer Dining makes it easy to find an amazing, new local restaurant. In honor of this exciting season, we are proud to feature cover artwork created by talented high school students from our local school districts. Choosing from among the many incredible submissions was no easy task! Each selected artist shares the story behind her work in a short bio—be sure to read about what inspired their creativity. Heritage is the title of our cover art, and it was created by Harsha Balamurugan , a senior at Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High School . She is staying connected to her cultural roots through her artwork. Harsha’s gorgeous drawing of ornate, ethnic jewelry being cradled in hands “represents the emotional weight of carrying one’s culture across generations and geography.” Anyone can make a di erence—why not start this summer? Summer is a season of renewal and possibility, making it the perfect time to give back and get involved in your community. HOME of Somerset County (Housing Outreach Multifaith Empowerment) is making a powerful impact by supporting individuals and families in need. Read our Community News article and visit homescnj.org to learn more about their inspiring work and to discover how you can be part of the change. With summer approaching, we look forward to outdoor dining, BBQs, and grilling. Cooking and dining in our backyards usually entail some type of open flame and the use of plastic containers. In our Food for Thought column, Lori Koldin discusses the neces sary precautions to take to stay safe and healthy when grilling and using plastic utensils/ containers. As always, when you visit a business you discovered through The Connection, let them know you saw them here and #TellThemWeSentYou! Wishing you a joyful and meaningful start to summer! Anna Petro Publisher, The Connection Magazines

16-19 HEALTH & WELLNESS 16 Heath Hotline: NMR 18

Food for Thought: Lori Kolodin, MPH, RD The Art of Living: Barry Farber, Diamond Minds

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20-28 YOUR GUIDE TO SUMMER DINING 29-35 SHOPPING, BEAUTY & EVENTS 29

Community News: Warren County Farmers’ Fair

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Slice of Life: Ellyn Mantell

Creative Corner: Carolyn Hanson

Community News: HOME of Somerset County

36-39 KIDZ CONNECTION 36

Teen Voice: Adithya Bharath

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Commends: Mount St. Dominic Academy Family Adventures: Joanne Kleinle Camp Confidential: Greater Somerset YMCA

40-45 HOME & DESIGN 40

Real Estate Corner: Johanna Wiseman Hints for the Home: Fair Street Interiors

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46-47 COMMUNITY CALENDAR 48 SENIOR LIVING

THE CONNECTION MAGAZINE'S TEAM Donna Reina, Georgeann Agaisse, Heather Silver, Patty Herman, Alicia Singman

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Adithya Bharath, Gail Bicknell, Barry Farber, Giulia Grotenhuis, Carolyn Hanson, Joanne Kleinle, Lori Kolodin, Ellyn Mantell, Alyssa Martini, Dr. Joseph Mejia, Dr. Vincent Sferra, Robert Shapiro, Johanna Wiseman

PUBLISHED BY The Connection Magazine P.O. Box 4081, Warren, NJ 07059

908-903-1799 |

info@theconnectionsnj.com

ON OUR COVER

Somewhere in this magazine is a FAKE AD . Spot it and send your answer, along with your name, city or town and phone number to: spotthefake@theconnectionsnj.com or play online at theconnectionsnj.com The WINNER of the InstaGourmet ad in the April issue is Wade Killman of Somerville . Wade won a gift certificate to the Bridgewater Bakery in Bridgewater. Next Issue September! Advertising deadline August 8, 2025 SPOT THE FAKE!

Harsha Balamurugan Title: Heritage Medium: chalk pastel pencil

My name is Harsha and I’m from Bridgewater, New Jersey. I’m currently a senior in high school and will be attending Northeastern University this fall, where I plan to major in Public Health and Business Administration. For me, art has always been my non-verbal voice, and a way to express what I’m thinking and feel ing when words fall short. Throughout high school, I’ve dedicated a huge part of my time to creating. Being featured in The Connection Magazines is an opportunity I’m unbelievably excited about. I’m also the founder of the ArtHealth Initiative, a nonprofit I started to help bridge the gap between art and mental health. Through this project, I’ve worked with students to create and donate student designed coloring sheets to hospitals and mental health facilities across the country. Seeing how some thing as simple as art can comfort, calm, and connect people has been incredibly meaningful. As I move forward into this next chapter at Northeastern, I hope to continue combining my passions for creativity, community, and health to make a positive difference—both through my art and in the work, I pursue beyond it.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the articles are the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Connection Mag azines. We publish all advertisements, editorials and other content in good faith. We cannot guarantee or accept liability for the accuracy of the claims made by the advertisers.