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OUR GUIDE TO NEW IDEAS, TIPS, TRENDS AND THINGS WE LOVE IN OUR COUNTIES.
TIME TO VOTE— AGAIN Morris/Essex Health & Life magazine’s annual Readers’ Choice Poll is a go for 2022 despite the pandemic, and even if you haven’t voted in past years, this is a great way to support local businesses. Visit healthandlifemags.com/mehlvotereaderschoice2022 to help bring glory to your favorite local spots, from restaurants to retail shops, brunch hangouts to barbers. And stay tuned to find out the winners, who will be revealed in our annual “Best of” issue this fall.
LONG LIVE OUR LIBRARIES
Libraries are full of books—and possibilities. And in 2022, some of these cherished local facilities are making changes to serve you better. • The Roxbury Library has officially gone fine-free. As of January, the library has waived all late fees for past-due items. The reason? To make the Succasunna spot a more welcoming place that won’t deter visitors (especially younger folks and those with limited financial resources). It’s a first for Morris County but not for New Jersey—in fact, when the Montclair Library did the same in 2019, it led to an uptick in library usage overall. • The Chester Library will soon receive $61,681 in funding from the Library Construction Act, which has allocated $37 million for its second round of funding to make technological advancements and building improvements in libraries across the Garden State. The Free Public Library of the Borough of Madison is getting a facelift too, thanks to $913,974 in funding from the same source.
BLACK HEALTH MATTERS “Black Health & Wellness” is the theme chosen for Black History Month this February, and that means both physical and mental health. So what could be more fitting than to patronize one of these Black-owned health and wellness businesses (just five of many!) in our counties? Afrikinky, a line of natural soaps, body butters, herbs and oils based in Bloomfield and sold at local stores in Newark, East Orange and Maplewood; afrikinky.com The Black Home, a home décor store in Newark that focuses on Blackness (both the culture and the color), 7 William St., Newark, 973.343.5536; theblackhome.com
Brittney’s Cuts for Kids, a hair salon in Cedar Knolls that specializes in haircuts for babies up to teens; 170 E. Hanover Ave., Suite 19, Cedar Knolls, 973.635.0306; brittneys-cutsfor-kids.business.site BWS Massage on Demand, based in Glen Ridge and offering individual and couples’ massages and even spa parties. P.S.: BWS stands for Bodies with Style; bwsmassage.com Living in Wellness Counseling Services, a therapy practice based in West Orange that focuses on cognitive behavioral therapy for individuals, couples and families; 640 Eagle Rock Ave., Suite 1, West Orange, 862.930.3925; liwcounseling.com
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KUDOS We’re knee-deep in winter here, but the Dolphins never stop swimming—the YMCA Montclair Dolphins, that is. Two of the senior swimmers in the competitive swimming league, Nead Kojic (right) and Leo Powers, took first and second place respectively in the 100-yard breaststroke at the Winter Classic swim meet in Ocean County. These two and about 20 other Dolphins of all ages also qualified for the Sunkissed Invitational Event, the national junior/senior swimming championships that will culminate in Charlotte, North Carolina, in March (COVID permitting). Perhaps we’ll see these guys at the 2028 summer Olympics? FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022
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