It's Chatham Living Magazine's 1 Year Anniversary!

By Stacey McEvoy

Boll & Branch has experienced another incredible year of growth. The company now has 32 employees and on the heels of the success of their pop-up store at The Mall at Short Hills, they will be opening a new, permanent location on the first floor in mid- September. In addition to sheets, they've recently launched a collection of pillows that have been extremely well received. The family enjoyed a summer vacation on Long Beach Island and look forward to lots of fun cheering the girls on the soccer field this fall!

The Green family and Broadway Bootcamp™ had a super busy year! Ronan was in a new musical workshop called “The America Project” in NYC and participated in Paper Mill Playhouse’s July Conservatory. Dash played Willy Wonka at CMS, performed in NJ Regional Choir, and attended Broadway Artists Alliance in New York during the summer. Last summer’s Broadway Bootcamp™ 80s themed show “Hollywood Hope” featured 60 local kids, BBC's largest cast ever. This fall, Mrs. Green is launching a brand new “POP UP! Workshop Series”: a yearround series of workshops for teens only--great for BBC alumni who are in high school. Registration for BBC summer auditions begins in February 2019 for BBC’s 8th smash season! www. bwaybootcamp.com.

Anthony and Gino Pascarella, owners of Pascarella Bros, and the Chatham High School football team recently hosted a tailgate at MetLife Stadium where the entire high school team was invited on the field during the opening ceremony. Both Chatham and Morristown Pascarella Bros locations are enjoying the start of the new school year both at the businesses and at home. All three of Anthony and Michelle Pascarella's children started new schools this fall--a college freshman, a high school freshman and a fourth grader at Lafayette Avenue School. Gino Pascarella also has a college freshman this year.

The Leach family continues to be amazed and humbled by the generosity and support of the Chatham community. Since launching the Sunshine Striders 1-Mile Fun Run, an annual family event in Chatham, and Team Pedaling Sunshine, a team of stationary bike riders/fundraisers who participate in the annual Cycle for Survival ride in February in Summit (and across the country), they’ve raised more than $800,000 - and they’re on track to reach a $1 Million fundraising milestone for 2019. If you hate cancer as much as they do, then JOIN THE BATTLE with them at www.pedalingsunshine.com.

Puppy Gerda, Canine Companions for Independence service dog in training, is growing up! Since the age of six months Gerda has attended training classes and worked daily on many basic skills and socialization. She has enjoyed going to the local Chatham grocery stores, meeting people at ECLC of New Jersey and visiting the Chatham Farmers' Market. She returned to college at the University of Pennsylvania, where Abbey is beginning her third year in the School of Veterinary Medicine.

Morgan and Hadden started their new semester of classes at County College of Morris. Hadden continues his outstanding service in partnership with Morgan--opening accessible doors for Morgan, carrying water bottles and packages, and sleeping peacefully during classes! He also enjoys his “pup-a-chinos” at Starbucks.

The Lonergan family continues to bring people together and participate in community service. Ryan led the Corpus Christi summer service trip in North Carolina. All summer long the family opened its shore house to lots of family and friends. They hosted their 7th annual gathering in Belmar to celebrate with families that have been coming together ever since their sons played baseball together in 6th grade. The boys are now high school seniors. As one friend put it, "I love this tradition. Thanks for bringing us together, Lonergans...they (the boys) will always remember these golden days."

Mexican Spice has been busy with the stores in Madison and Summit and lots and lots of parties, but the most exciting news is their New Taco Truck! Super chic awesome way to experience Authentic Mexico City street food! Everything is fresh and made from scratch! Perfect for a fun party with no mess!

Mexican Spice is also re-designing their website, menus and email communications. "We continue to be passionate about authenticity and originality and after taking a couple weeks off to decompress, we’re excited to kickoff a new 'school' year with delicious offerings for the busy nights when cooking is simply too much!" says Mexican Spice owner Jennifer Teutli Alarcon.

The Mathews family is having an exciting year. Stef's Flip Consignment store in New Providence has almost 2,500 consignors and over the summer Jacob hosted concerts at The Library of the Chathams and at Crossroads in Garwood where he played guitar. Justin just started another year of soccer with Chatham United and is getting ready to celebrate his Bar Mitzvah next month.

Despite the weather Mother Nature sent, Spring and Summer 2018 were good seasons for Great Swamp Greenhouses. Now that the fall and cooler weather are here, turn your garden into a dazzling display--the greenhouses have thousands of mums of all sizes, fall perennials, annual rudbeckias, cornstalks and pumpkins. Visit Great Swamp Greenhouses during Christmas time! With 3,000 premium trees, 20,000 poinsettias and anything you need to make your home cozy and welcoming for winter, the staff is ready to help!

A joyful update: Michael and Casey Beneduce’s family grew as son Mike, co-owner and winemaker at Beneduce Vineyards, was married to Corey Lewis in Farmington, PA, in August--a three day wedding on a 450-acre farm--one that family and friends will never forget!

The Tracey family didn't head out on a cross country road trip this year but did head up to Vermont and Canada. The highlight of their vacation was an unguided river rafting trip through the gorges of Jacques Cartier National Park in Quebec.

Charles Jijon has been riding his bike through Morris County, enjoying the newly paved roads. He recently heard rewarding news from a reader; his book, Titanium: The Path to Recovery, has indeed helped other hit and run victims and their families.

Stef Carroll is excited for the Chatham Borough Fire Department Dodgeball Tournament @ The Annex on Fri., Oct. 19, from 6:30 to 8:30pm to watch our Chatham Borough firefighters, whom she trains, compete in their gear and “on air” (using SCBA tanks) against local fire departments to raise money for The Burn Center at St. Barnabas. Bob is gearing up for the holiday season at his store, John Hyatt, in Summit.

We would like to thank Salerno Duane Inc. in Summit for bringing you this month’s cover story.