4 minute read
Inside Essex
Professional Soccer Player is Offering Lessons Locally to Youths
Catherine Zimmerman of Madison, a professional soccer player that has been playing for team Melbourne Victory in Melbourne, Australia for two years, is home for the summer teaching youths to play soccer individually and in small groups. She also does this when she is in Australia. She says she “enjoys playing on a team with a common goal of winning as playing with people with a similar mindset is enjoyable.” In addition, she says she “loves the lifestyle and work life balance being a professional athlete provides.” Prior to joining team Victory, Catherine played soccer at Providence College, and for Sky Blue (which is now called Gotham FC), in Switzerland. She can be contacted for lessons at czim19@gmail.com.
Catherine Zimmerman
Madison Resident Creates for a Cause
Margaret Malishchak of Madison has turned her passion for creating stained glass art into a charitable endeavor called glass4good. She donates all of the proceeds she earns to NJ-based social and environmental justice organizations like Nourish NJ, The Great Swamp Watershed Association, and Land Conservancy of NJ, as well as to Peaceworks, CATA Farmworkers, United Help Ukraine, the Madison Environmental Commission, and Black Lives Matter NJ. She sells her work at fairs, farmers markets, and yard sales, as well as through her newsletter and website glass4-good.constantcontactsites.com. Margaret Malishchak Since 2020, she has donated over $5000. “I am amazed at how much I have been able to donate,” she says. Margaret developed a passion for stained glass art in her 20’s and picked it up again recently. She loves the craft and creates her items “at a brisk pace.” Email her at glass4good2020@gmail.com to sign up for her mailing list.
Chatham Resident Launches Sustainable Products Website
Tanu Kumar, of Chatham, is on a mission to create a positive impact for both people and the planet. She started her online store GoodsAgain (www.goodsagain.com) that offers unique upcycled products handcrafted by artisans from materials otherwise destined for landfills or oceans. Products on GoodsAgain include bracelets from old life vests, bags from woven newspapers and denim scraps, swim covers from preloved sarees, and many more unique items across categories that include women’s accessories, kids, and home. Each product provides strength and hope to underrepresented artisans from across the world, primarily women, and gives them a source of livelihood. “I adore the uniqueness and craftsmanship behind each item and how they each tell a story of their prior life before embarking on a journey of their second life,” says Tanu, who shares those stories behind each product on her website.
Nadja Springer
Local Mom Publishes Books on Kindness and Compassion
When the pandemic forced us to stay at home back in 2020, Nadja Springer and her family had just gotten settled in the US. Her children’s biggest worry was to never see their family in Europe again - a worry Nadja took seriously, and which marked the start of her book publishing journey. “Tree Finds Friendship” is about kindness and believing in yourself; “Tree Finds Hope” is about never losing hope. But Nadja also loves to write funny stories, and her story “Oh Happy Night” will give you a new perspective on what happens at the North Pole during Christmas night; it will be published this fall. “I love being able to hide my girls in the books and send them a secret love letter in doing so,” says Nadja. She recently moved from New Providence to Mendham but adds “New Providence will always stay our home away from home.” The books are available on Amazon.
SVFAS Holds 2022 Juniors Program Graduation Ceremony
The Summit Volunteer First Aid Squad (SVFAS) held the annual graduation ceremony for its Juniors Program in June. Nine members of the program, all Summit residents, were honored for having fulfilled their commitment to the program as they graduate from their respective high schools. In addition, five members of the graduating class received scholarships as they embark on the next phase of their education. The members of this year’s graduating class include Amanda Brown, Mary Caffrey, Summer Cullen, Jack Detweiler, Lleyton Lance, Olivia Lawlor, Sean McCormick, Natalie Peralta, and Sarah Silverberg. Brown, Cullen, Detweiler, Lawlor, and Silverberg received the Alice Nichols Memorial Scholarships during the ceremony. The scholarship was created to honor Alice Nichols, a long-time member of the Squad who served as its President when she died unexpectedly in 2000. Lawlor also received the first Mike D’Ecclessis Award, which was established to honor the 46-year career of D’Ecclessis, who was on hand to deliver the award.
