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...

Home + Design

Love Your Home for Life

Furniture is an investment. Here’s how to get it right. Article by Ethan Allen Watchung Design Team | Photography by Ethan Allen We’ve all fallen head over heels for a piece of décor, spent to bring it home, and discovered it didn’t work well after all. When you’re investing in furniture, redoing a room, or reimagining your entire home, a misstep can take a big bite out of your budget.  Ethan Allen has been in business for 94 years, so we know a thing or two about making furniture of...

Local Services

Invest in Scotch Plains' Future

Take the Master Plan Survey Today and Have Your Voice Heard Article by Terry Azad | Photography by Township of Scotch Plains The Township of Scotch Plains will be working with the community to create a Master Plan - and ALL are invited to contribute. We interviewed Tom Strowe, Director of Redevelopment and Mayor Josh Losardo to learn more. : What is a Master Plan? A Master Plan is a document that establishes a long-term vision for the development of the community and guides how the...

Health + Wellness

Do More of What You Love

Joint Motion Physical Therapy Helps Our Community Move Stronger — and Happier Article by Terry Azad | Photography by Chelsea Doyle of CPaige Photography Active living isn’t just a lifestyle — it’s a way of connecting with family, managing through daily routines, and enjoying every life. But when pain, injury, or limited mobility interrupts your rhythm, even simple activities can start to feel like uphill battles. That’s where Joint Motion Physical Therapy on Park Avenue in Scotch Plains...

Home Services

Because Time Is the Real Luxury

Let’s be honest...laundry has a way of piling up fast. Between work, school, sports, and everything else that fills our weeks, it’s easy for laundry to become the chore that never quite gets done. That’s why more people in Scotch Plains are choosing drop-off wash, dry and fold laundry services to make life a little easier.So, What Exactly Is Wash, Dry and Fold?Wash, Dry and Fold is about as simple as it sounds. You drop off your everyday laundry, and we take care of the rest. No machines to wait...