The Connections Bridgewater-Somerville Edition April/May 2026

THE BRIDGEWATER-SOMERVILLE CONNECTION

PAGE 6

APRIL/MAY 2026

H ighlights...

A Note From Our Publisher...

A Season of Renewal & Celebration Welcome to the Bridgewater-Somerville edition of our April issue! As the days grow longer and the sunshine begins to warm our neighbor hoods again, spring brings with it a wonderful sense of renewal. After the quiet of winter, there is a new energy in the air. People are getting outside, gathering with friends and family, and enjoying everything our communi ties have to o er.

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Medical Minutes: Performance Ortho Financial Forum: Shapiro CPAs

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Tax Talk: Kingswood Tax and Business Services, LLC

Estate Planning: Norris McLaughlin P.A. 15-20 SPRING: SHOPPING, DINING, BEAUTY & EVENTS 20 Creative Corner: Carolyn Hanson 21 WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS DIRECTORY 22-25 KIDZ CONNECTION 23 Family Adventures: Joanne Kleinle 24 Shelf Awareness: Sonia Prabhakar & Isabella Santos 24 A Poet’s Playground: Ashwiki Arora 26 Community News: SAFE (Somerville Alliance for Food Education) 27-29 SENIOR LIVING 27 Slice of Life: Ellyn Mantell 28 Senior Corner: Ellyn Mantell 28 Commends: Heath Village 30-36 HOME & DESIGN 30 Hints for the Home: Fair Street Interiors 31 Inside Real Estate: Red Door Real Estate 34 Real Estate Corner: Johanna Wiseman 37-41 HEALTH & WELLNESS 38 Mind the Mind: Dr. Michael Osit 40 Food for Thought: Lori Kolodin 41 Health Hotline: Natural Medicine & Rehabilitation 42-43 COMMUNITY CALENDAR 44 HOUSES OF WORSHIP: FAITH, HOPE & JOY

This season is especially meaningful to me personally. This year, Mother’s Day will be a particularly special celebration in my family, as both of my daughters have recently become mothers themselves. Becoming a grandmother has been such a joyful and emo tional milestone. Watching my daughters step into motherhood and seeing the bond that is already forming with the next generation reminds me just how powerful and beautiful family connections truly are. Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate those bonds, whether it’s sharing a special brunch or dinner, finding the perfect gift at a local boutique, or giving the special women in your life a day of well-deserved pampering at one of our wonderful local salons and spas. Throughout this issue, you’ll find many local businesses ready to help you make the day truly memorable. We are also proud to feature our Women-Owned Business Directory , highlighting the incredible women who have built, nurtured, and grown businesses right here in our own neighborhoods. As a woman business owner myself, I know firsthand the dedication, perse verance, and passion it takes to build something meaningful. Supporting these businesses means supporting families, dreams, and the strength of our local community. In addition, this issue includes our Houses of Worship: Faith, Hope & Joy section, o er ing readers a place to connect with churches and services during the Easter season . For many, this is a meaningful time of reflection, faith, and gathering with loved ones. Our cover features a peaceful, acrylic painting by local Bridgewater artist Christine G. Pope . Inspired by a visit to her daughter’s home in Texas, the scene depicts a serene, oak grove with a bench nestled in the center. The vibrant palette balances warm and cool tones, with blues, greens, and purples contrasting beautifully against yellows and browns to create a truly inviting setting for reflection. Additionally, our Community News column highlights the Somerset County Region al Farmers Market . Hosted by S.A.F.E. (Somerville Alliance for Food Education), this nonprofit organization is dedicated to fostering health and wellness through community connections. We encourage you to visit the market to shop and eat local, featuring farm fresh produce, grass-fed meats, dairy products, various beverages and more! This spring, get outside, enjoy the sunshine, explore your community, and support the wonderful local businesses that make it thrive. Stay local - and #TellThemWeSentYou ! Wishing you a beautiful spring and a very Happy Mother’s Day.

All the best, Anna Petro Publisher, The Connection Magazine

THE CONNECTION MAGAZINE'S TEAM Georgeann Agaisse, Heather Silver, Alicia Singman, Jeanette Vogel, Pramisa Timsina

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ashwiki Arora, Gail Bicknell, James J. Costello Jr., Carolyn Hanson, Joanne Kleinle, Lori Kolodin, Ellyn Mantell, Chris Milan, Edward P. Nugent III, Dr. Michael Osit, Sonia Prabhakar, Isabella Santos, Dr. Vince Sferra, Robert Shapiro, Dr. Chris Thomas, Frank Walko, 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 Chocolate Detox Center is Cheryl S. of Hillsborough. Cheryl won a gift certificate to Somerset Valley Players Theater. Next Issue JUNE! Advertising deadline May 11, 2026 SPOT THE FAKE!

Title: Bench in Bulverde Medium: Acrylic on Canvas Christine G. Pope is a graphic designer and artist who has called Bridgewater, New Jersey home for over forty years. A graduate of the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Arts, Christine launched her career as an Art Director at Turchette Advertising in 1976, where she created marketing campaigns for clients including the New Jersey Devils, New Jersey Nets, and New Jersey Generals during the early days of cable television and regional sports marketing. She went on to establish C.G. Pope Design Inc., her own freelance graphic design studio, where she served pharmaceutical clients as a consulting art director for over 25 years—interpreting creative briefs, devel oping campaign concepts, and managing projects from rough sketches to polished finals. Over the years, she collaborated with agencies including McCann Healthcare Worldwide, Torre Lazur Health care Communications, and Commonhealth on campaigns for brands like Claritin, Lunesta, and Mucinex.

When Christine retired in 2015, she wasn't sure what would come next. Five years later, she started experimenting with acrylics— something she'd never had time for during her commercial art career. She especially enjoys painting landscapes and pet portraits. She's also an avid photographer. Christine lives in Bridgewater with her husband of 45 years. She recently became a grandmother and keeps a collection of over 250 succulents. Website: cgpopedesign.com | Email: christine@cgpopedesign.com 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.