Life + Culture

High Bridge’s Creative Spark

Artist and “artrepreneur” Sam Matthews builds a community where everyone can explore their creative side. Article by Patti Zielinski | Photography by Propagate Studio If there is one thing Sam Matthews knows, it’s how to unlock the creativity inside everyone. Since childhood, the artist and educator has been creating with whatever materials were at hand. Through travels in the U.S. and abroad she discovered a passion for sharing her enthusiasm that everyone has a creative side that just needs...

Food + Beverage

Sugar, Spice & Small-Town Charm

How D’Serve turned a simple doughnut wall into Flemington’s most delicious day-to-night destination. Article by Patti Zielinski | Photography by Andrew and Shannon Mercado D’Serve is where sweet and savory meet. Launched last August by Andrew and Shannon Mercado, the concept—artisan doughnut shop by day and four-course, farm-to-table prix fixe by night—has quickly become a community hub amid downtown Flemington’s renaissance. The married owners bring complementary skills: Andrew is a chef...

Local Services

Charmed Encounters

How Two Local Moms Turned a Chance Meeting Into Hunterdon County’s Newest Romance Bookstore Article by Patti Zielinski | Photography by Jersey Sunshine Photography Once upon a time, two women met and forged an instant connection. It was as if they had known each other their entire lives—which they had, but not really. Charmed, they quickly formed a tight bond, making up for lost time. They found themselves bound by the parallels of their life arcs and by their mutual passions, especially the...

Beauty

Building Beauty

How AM Salon built a drama-free zone of creativity, connection and confidence—one client at a time. Article by Carly Mac Manus | Photography by Christopher Sztybel - That Werks When you walk into AM Salon in Flemington, the first thing you notice isn’t the shimmer of blonding foils or the lineup of color bowls—it’s the sense of calm teamwork. Stylists move with an ease that feels rare in an industry often marked by competition. For salon owner Amanda Maddalena, that atmosphere is entirely...