Welcome to the 08840, a magazine dedicated to the lifestyle and community of Metuchen. We hope you have been enjoying our bi-monthly editions so far. I am excited for you to check out what we have in store for our winter edition.
In this issue, readers will learn about the history behind Thomas Park, which was donated to the Borough of Metuchen in 1929 by the grandchildren of David Graham Thomas. The property includes a 0.4-acre pond at the corner of Lake Avenue and Franklyn Place. The story on the park and who Thomas was begins on page 4.
Cinnaholic is on a “roll” selling its sweet treats. With a location adjacent to the Town Plaza, meet owners Danny Cohen and his sister Rachel Cohen. The Cohens are hoping that their business future includes “steady and continued growth that mirrors the Metuchen downtown district.” Learn about their story on page 8.
Ever wonder about the colorful mural on the side of Angie’s Café and Bakery at the corner of Amboy Avenue and Main Street? It was installed in June as part of the Downtown Metuchen Alliance’s public art initiative called the Childhood Memories Project. Learn about the mural on page 13.
Our business spotlight features Metuchen Pet Club. Learn about local Nicole Blankiet, her love of animals and what her pet service offers the community. Her story begins on page 16.
All of this and more awaits on the pages ahead. Enjoy! Kathy Chang Editor
Hillside Cemetery is a historic, peaceful place that has helped generations of families with their final needs. Where you are welcome to visit your loved ones, anytime day or night. We provide traditional in-ground casket interment, and cremation interment in a columbarium niche or in-ground. For information how we can assist you, please contact the superintendent.
A Look At Local History: David Thomas Graham 4 Borough Bites: Cinnaholic 8 Childhood Memories Mural 12 Metuchen Pet Club 16 Metuchen on the Move 18
COVER PHOTO BY JAMIE GIAMBRONE Cinnaholic
It’s hard not to admire the beauty of Thomas Park. It’s a half mile from Metuchen’s bustling downtown and offers a sense of peace with the sounds of nature and water flowing from the fountain in the pond.
The park was donated to the Borough of Metuchen in 1929 by the grandchildren of David Graham Thomas. This beautiful 1.8-acre property includes a 0.4-acre pond at the corner of Lake Avenue and Franklyn Place. The pond complements the Borough’s other surface water features, including two brooks and 10 acres of wetlands, according to the borough website.
corner Lake Place.
A plaque on a rock in the park states just that:
THOMAS
PARK
IN MEMORY DAVID GRAHAM THOMAS GIVEN BY HIS GRANDCHILDREN TO THE BOROUGH OF METUCHEN
The land on which the pond now sits was once part of a large parcel of undeveloped land owned and farmed by one of the area’s early European landowners, Samuel Compton. The Comptons used the pond created by the depression in the land as a
Borough’s including please see HISTORY, page 6
Although less than two acres in size, Thomas Park offers a number of recreational opportunities such as an annual fishing derby, a Halloween pumpkin float, winter sleigh riding, year-round observation of duck life, and benches for reading and quiet rest.
sheep wash (where sheep would be washed prior to shearing), according to Tyreen Reuter, treasurer of the Metuchen-Edison Historical Society.
In 1849, Compton sold the area bounded by the current day Northeast Corridor line, Main Street, Lake Avenue, and High Street to David Graham (D.G.) Thomas.
D.G. Thomas was born in 1808 and had come to this area of New Jersey with his brother, Lewis, from Woodbury, Conn. in 1831. He built the house which sat at 59 Graham Ave. in about 1850. The house was demolished in Sept. 2018.
Thomas became a prominent resident and large property owner. Graham Avenue and Thomas Street are named after him and his family.
During the following years, D.G. Thomas opened Graham Avenue and surrounding streets and expanded his property through additional land purchases. While serving as an Elder in the Reformed Church, he donated the land for the first Reformed Church building, built in 1857, and its Parsonage House, built in 1867, Reuter said.
The church, which sat facing Le Grand (now Amboy) Avenue at the foot of Graham Avenue, later burned and was rebuilt at the corner of Lake Avenue and Franklyn Place. The Parsonage House was enlarged and became a private residence after being separated from Le Grand (Amboy) Avenue by the Lehigh Valley Railroad. After the cut for the railroad was made, D.G. Thomas built the first footbridge crossing in the area for his use. The Parsonage at 79 Graham Ave. was later home to Gov. George S. Silzer,
a former state senator who became the 38th governor of New Jersey. The house is still in existence.
Census records from the second half of the 19th century show D.G. Thomas and his wife, Ann, his large family, and his servants living on the property, being operated as a farm. In some years, their adult children and spouses are also listed as residents in the home, notably the Reformed Church’s Rev. N.I.M. Bogert, who was married to their daughter, Augusta, and lived with his in-laws after leaving the clergy due to ill health. The Second Empire Bogert House, which formerly sat at 59 High Street, was demolished in 2017.
In 1893, D.G. Thomas died and was buried in the First Presbyterian Church cemetery on Woodbridge Avenue. Thomas Park was donated to the Borough of Metuchen in 1929 by David Graham Thomas’ grandchildren in his memory. In addition to the pond and park, Graham Avenue and Thomas Street are also named for D.G. Thomas and his family.
Although less than two acres in size, the park offers recreational opportunities such as an annual fishing derby, a Halloween pumpkin float, winter sleigh riding, yearround observation of duck life, and benches for reading and quiet rest.
One of the benches is in memory of Jack Cunningham – “a wonderful son, brother, uncle, nephew and friend.” The park also has a foot bridge at one end.
In 2000, the Metuchen Garden Club, during its 75th anniversary, planted a yellowwood tree in memory of its departed
members.
Under the management of the Borough’s Environmental Commission, a long-term landscape management plan was developed for the park, the half-acre pond was deepened, and an aerator fountain was installed.
Councilwoman Dorothy Rasmussen, who is council liaison to the Environmental Commission, said currently the commission is working with a local Boy Scout to try to address the algae growth in the pond.
baby buns, brownies, apple crumb cookies, chocolate chip banana bread, pumpkin loaf – they even sell a side of frosting.
If all this sweetness seems overwhelming, you can opt for a plain roll, or even go the savory route and try a Pizza Roll. Yes, they sell Pizza Rolls.
A unique aspect of Cinnaholic is that the ingredients are 100% vegan, dairy- and lactose-free, egg-free, cholesterol-free and kosher.
BY JENNIFER AMATO
The old adage goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Well then if that is the case, “a smell may be worth a thousand tastes.”
As soon as you open the doors to Cinnaholic Metuchen, you smell the oven of hot, fresh cinnamon rolls. If you’re overwhelmed by the menu boards, instead look at the display cases, which are filled with Carnival Crunch Roll, Pumpkin Spice Roll, Monkey Business or Jelly Roll, or the favorites of Sibling owners Danny Cohen and co-owner Rachel Cohen - the Frankie Valliinspired Can’t Keep My Eyes Off of You or Whitney Houston inspired Higher Love.
“Cinnaholic has something for everyone,” Rachel Cohen said – including cookie dough,
“Our mission is to solve everyone’s dessert cravings. We’re proud to serve create-your-own cinnamon rolls and other sweet treats like madefrom-scratch brownies, cookies and edible cookie dough. Select from over 20 unique frosting flavors and a variety of fresh and decadent toppings for your cinnamon roll,” Rachel Cohen said.
What’s more enticing than the dessert menu is the fact that there are about 20 team members hired from the local community.
Danny Cohen’s exten-
As seen on “Shark Tank,” these cinnamon buns are out of control
sive background in the food service industry between New Jersey, South Florida and New York made coming back to Central New Jersey, where he grew up, even sweeter when he saw an opportunity to bring unique and high-quality products to his neighborhood, his sister said.
“Cinnaholic’s team truly touches upon many of the boxes of strategic success when evaluating a franchise,” she said.
So far, the first few months since opening in August “have been wonderful,” Rachel Cohen said, “and we thank the local businesses, surrounding communities and the Metuchen family for their patronage and support.”
She said they’ve always known that the
best way to be part of a vibrant community is to not compete, “although a little competition forces you to be innovative, and to augment the community’s greatest assets,” Rachel explained.
“Partnerships with other businesses show that the sum of us all is greater than the sum of the parts. We are one community. And yes, being adjacent to the Town Plaza attracts a good number of visitors during the farmers markets, events that the Metuchen Downtown Alliance puts on, and the casual Metuchen students walking back from school,” she said.
The Cohens are hoping that their business future includes “steady and continued growth that mirrors the Metuchen downtown district,” Rachel Cohen said.
In 2013, Shannon and Florian Radke,
founders of Cinnaholic, pitched their vegan cinnamon roll concept on the TV show “Shark Tank.”
The owners later backed out of the deal offered by “Shark” Robert Herjavec.
The bakery is in 70-plus locations across the U.S and Canada.
Cinnaholic Metuchen is located at 33 New St., Metuchen.
BY CHRISTINE BARCIA
There’s a quote by playwright Tom Stoppard that resonates what is depicted on the east side of Angie’s Café and Bakery at the corner of Amboy Avenue and Main Street.
“If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older.”
The colorful mural is on display for all to see.
“It is about my childhood memories,” explained Angie Quinonez, who along with her husband, Edgar, owns the Dominican café and bakery located at 275 Amboy Ave.
The couple opened the restaurant in 2016. The mural depicts Angie’s childhood memories growing up in the Dominican Republic. It was installed in June as part of the Downtown Metuchen Alliance’s public art initiative.
“Supporting local businesses and vibrant public spaces helps people identify and connect with the community,” explained Isaac Kremer, executive director of the Downtown Metuchen Alliance (MDA). The Childhood Memories project, he said, is “anchored in remembering the joy and innocence of youth.”
Artist Raúl Ayala, chosen to create the
please see MURAL, page 14
mural, brought Angie’s “joy and innocence” to life. Ayala, who is from Ecuador and has been painting murals for 15 years, painted a mural, To Break Bread, in nearby Highland Park in 2020.
The MDA took notice of the mural and reached out to him about bringing his talent to a public art initiative in Metuchen.
The borough’s Public Art Policy has two primary ways to select artists - by an open call, and by selection of an individual.
“Given our tight timeline we decided to select an individual,” Kremer said of the decision to select Ayala.
The reputation of the artist and prior work we had seen factored into the selection process, Kremer continued.
At the time, Ayala was teaching a visual arts class at Rutgers University Mason Gross School of Fine Arts. He incorporated the mural project in his curriculum, and he even included collaboration with an urban planning class.
“Murals are powerful,” remarked Ayala, as they can “change and activate space.”
Ayala’s murals often depict themes such as social justice, memory, immigration, and resilience. So, MDA was spot on in selecting Ayala to match their plan to improve the borough’s public space with art that connected to the spirit of the community.
Ayala and Angie had several conversa-
tions about the design of the mural.
“Angie wanted me to paint the joy of childhood, particularly things children can do without resources,” Ayala said.
Hoop rolling, sledding and kite flying are illustrated in the mural.
It was important for Ayala to convey the pride Angie feels for her culture.
In addition, Angie proposed the inclusion of the Flamboyant tree, a symbol of the Dominican Republic.
With its bright-red flowers, this tree is the centerpiece of the mural.
Ayala, who emphasized the importance of making a meaningful connection with the host of a mural, recalled a conversation he had with Angie.
“During her first couple of years in New York, she bought a notebook and would draw and write. She drew a tree. It was her connection to the land,” he related.
The past and future are represented by a spiral Taino design in the center.
Ayala and his students created the mural off-site using polytab fabric and acrylic paints. The 210 square-foot mural was then applied to the east wall of Angie’s Café and Bakery using polymer gel.
“This process (mural making offsite) is a way for people to participate in a controlled environment,” explained Ayala. “The mural looks and feels like it was painted on the wall.”
Childhood Memories will be the background of future outdoor dining space of
Angie’s Café and Bakery.
The community response to the Childhood Memories mural project has been outstanding.
“Everybody loves it,” exclaimed Angie. “People stop by with positive comments.”
Initiatives like this benefit the city at large, improving the surroundings for business owners and residents alike.
“As a partner of the MDA, they (the Borough of Metuchen) look to the Alliance to take the lead on projects for the betterment of the downtown,” Kremer said.
Linda Vonderschmidt-LaStella, owner of Earthsongs Studio, located across Amboy Avenue from Angie’s Café and Bakery, expressed strong feelings of support for the installation of the mural.
“The point of public art is a place and an image for people to come together,” she said.
Vonderschmidt-LaStella was particularly appreciative of Ayala’s approach to the mural.
“The artist spoke with Angie, business owners, and residents about how to make the connection between art and this particular community,” she said. “Sometimes when artists are commissioned, they come in with their own ideas.”
Vonderschmidt-LaStella applauded Ayala for listening to the voices of the community.
Reflecting on the Childhood Memories mural, Kremer said that “as with most public art commissions we have done, it required a willing owner who was interested in hosting a new public art commission.”
In February 2021, after Angie and Edgar bought the building on Amboy Avenue, the Public Art team agreed to take this on as a project.
“This is our first project south of the New Jersey Transit station. Given the location in the future Metuchen Arts District also makes this an important place for art,” Kremer said.
The Borough of Metuchen developed an official “Public Art Policy” in 2017 with support from a consultant. That policy was later adopted by the MDA Board of Trustees.
“The goal of the public art team is to acquire temporary and permanent artworks of the highest quality, to contribute to Metuchen’s history and identity, and to create unique public spaces that make downtown Metuchen a vibrant place,” Kremer said.
Angie expressed gratitude to the MDA, Ayala, and everyone else who made the mural a reality for her family’s business.
“Thanks a million,” she said.
Families who employ Metuchen Pet Club’s professional pet care services know their pets will receive the “tender, loving, care” they always receive in the comfort of their homes.
Metuchen Pet Club cares for dogs, cats, bunnies, hamsters, and other small animals, servicing families in Metuchen, Edison, and portions of surrounding New Jersey towns.
Growing up in Gravesend, Brooklyn N.Y., Nicole Blankiet’s family always had pets in their home. Cats, dogs, parakeets, fish, gerbils – you name it.
At the age of 16, after consistent requests, she was gifted her first dog, a pit bull beagle mix.
So, that tight-knit family feel she fondly remembers is exactly what Blankiet had in mind when she set up her Metuchen Pet Club LLC in October 2018. It was a year after leaving the corporate world to pursue her love of caring for animals.
“After almost 30 years in the call center and customer service management industry, I needed to try something more, something from my heart. Because of my life-long passion for animals, I decided to start with pet sitting in the neighborhood,” Blankiet recently explained.
She contracted as a pet sitter for a year to make sure this was the path she wanted to take. Blankiet set up her business in 2018, however, due to the sudden illness and death of her father, she kept her business small so she could care for him at the time.
In March 2019, she began to advertise and get her name out through social media, and word-of-mouth spread quickly; among pet owners and their pets. “The business started to grow,” she said.
Around the same time, Blankiet moved to a pet-friendly residence and adopted Calli her plott hound/pit bull, who quickly became Metuchen Pet Club’s mascot. Then in December 2021, she added to the family by adopting Luca, a six-year-old beagle.
While other pet-related businesses may only offer limited services, Blankiet’s approach to pet care is extremely comprehensive. In fact, the motto is “the kind of care your pets deserve,” and the same level of love and care that the pet owner would provide.
Metuchen Pet Club, which is fully insured and bonded, provides a variety of services including pet sitting, dog walking, pet taxi to the veterinarian, grooming appointments, light house-sitting, and more.
“We are here to make your life easier and brighten your pet’s day,” says Blankiet. “We provide peace of mind so you can go to work and travel with the comfort that your pets are being well cared for and loved.”
The visits are tailored to meet all of a pet’s needs, so the pet does not miss any sched-
gives pet owners ‘peace of mind’ with TLC in pet care
uled feeding, potty breaks, medication, playtime, and companionship.
“We offer loving pet care –including feeding, cuddles, playtime, and more – when you are not there. Your trust, security, and the well-being of your pets and home are of the utmost importance to the Metuchen Pet Club.”
The animals in her care include dogs, cats, bunnies, chickens, other small animals, and even a pig and a bearded dragon. In fact, she recently took the pet pig to the vet.
“It is the kind of care your pet deserves. When I go to a client’s house, I am there to offer the kind of care that the client would provide for his or her own pet,” Blankiet explained. “We become an extension of the family. One client’s young children started calling me ‘Aunt Nicole’ and I was so honored. I watched them grow from infancy. They saw me almost daily when I came to walk the dogs.”
She admits that she misses the pets in her care when she doesn’t see them for a while. “I know their quirks, fears, what upsets them, and what makes them happy. This is not just a job where you show up and throw some food down and change the litter box. I am providing peace of mind.”
She also said it is important to commu-
nicate with her clients. She shares a phone app that provides visit reports photos, and GPS maps showing where they walked. “Our clients love our phone app, especially those on vacation for extended trips.”
All
of this is crystal clear to new and longtime clients, which can be seen in the many positive testimonials on the Metuchen Pet Club website.
“We couldn’t be happier with Nicole; she
gives us peace of mind. We have three ‘senior’ rescue dogs, each with her own set of issues,” said longtime happy client Lorraine LeSter, of Metuchen.
Before Nicole, our youngest dog, Kassidy, would hide, bark, and shake when anyone came over while we were out because she is very leery of strangers. But Nicole won all of them over so quickly. They love her. Without Nicole, we could not leave the house for any extended periods of time. I have recommended her to everyone I know who has pets, and each of them has thanked me.”
Not only is Nicole devoted to her human and furry clients, but she has also shown them her resilience and devotion, especially during the pandemic. She was getting ready to hire employees and further ramp up the business in March 2020, when COVID-19 restrictions and isolation took place. She lost 90% or business overnight.
Metuchen Pet Club took all COVID-19 precautions needed,
came we her. please see PETS, page 19
When it comes to your social calendar, change is … not always good. But sometimes it’s inevitable. For updates pertaining to weather and other cancellations, visit the event organizer’s website the day of the event.
Metuchen’s farmers market on the plaza is held every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. through the Saturday before Thanksgiving, at the intersection of Pearl and New streets.
The Cornerstone Jazz Series continues with Scott Robinson Quartet at 2 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Metuchen Public Library, 480 Middlesex Ave. The free event is produced by Friends of Metuchen Arts in association with Metuchen Arts Council and Metuchen Public Library. For upcoming events visit www.metuchenartscouncil.com.
Explore Metuchen Arts Council’s Artcycle Gallery at the Greenway Trail Head entrance on Middlesex Avenue.
The Metuchen ArtCycle 2022 project commissioned artists from Middlesex County
to create small art installations made from discarded, recycled road signs. The individual work are linked by themes or stories that promote sustainability, environmental awareness and the effect of climate change.
Visit the Rotunda Gallery at Borough Hall, 500 Main St., featuring ArtCycle: School Crossing through Jan. 31, 2023. The exhibit is in conjunction with the ArtCycle Outdoor Gallery and features art created from recycled road signs made by students of Edgar Middle School and Metuchen High School.
Up Chorus from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 10
along Main Street.
art created from recycled road signs made students
Small Business Saturday is Nov. 26. Get ready to shop small at your favorite local businesses in downtown Metuchen.
The annual Winter Festival Parade steps off from Wernick Place at 4 p.m. Nov. 27. It will proceed north on Main Street to the Plaza. A tree lighting will take place immediately following the parade with remarks from Mayor Jonathan Busch and a performance by Rise Up Chorus.
For more information visit www.metuchennj.org.
Metuchen Downtown Alliance (MDA) will hold its Winter Market from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 3 on the Metuchen Town Plaza, 1 Pearl St.
Join the MDA for holiday caroling with Rise
Come downtown during Twas’ the Weekend Before Christmas for last minute shopping and specials on Dec. 17.
Wind down 2022 and Kick in 2023 with MDA’s New Year’s Party with Karaoke and a Ball Drop on Dec. 30 on the Metuchen Town Plaza, 1 Pearl St.
For more information visit www.downtownmetuchen.org.
Please include all critical information: who, what, where, when, and how to register or get tickets (if applicable), as well as a few lines of description. Email your listings to kchang@ newspapermediagroup.com
including picking up dogs in the yard or garage to avoid human contact.
Business picked up briefly in August 2020 and then more consistently after vaccinations began and clients began to travel, and go back to the office or school. Staying viable during a pandemic is quite a feat and something that Blankiet is extremely proud of being able to handle.
“It was scary for us just like everyone, we survived and remain an important part of our community and that feels good,” she explained. “I love this town and lived here about nine years before I opened my business.”
Blankiet said that Metuchen Pet Club is about much more than providing top-notch pet services. “I enjoy being part of my client’s life events – weddings, births, birthdays, and even emergencies. I have a special connection with my clients, and I think of them as family,” she said. “I want to expand the business and make it a true pet community within Metuchen.”
For more information go to:
Metuchen Pet Club Metuchen, NJ 08840 Telephone: +1 833-638-7387 or at +1 833-MET-PETS. Email: metuchenpetclub@gmail.com Website: Metuchen Pet Club Facebook: Metuchen Pet Club
If you are looking for animal-related work send a resume to, careers@metuchenpetclub.com.
