Pequannock February 2024

Pequannock February 2024

& Pompton Plains

FIRST AID

FROM THE HEART

BILL’S ARRANGEMENT KEEPS BLOOMING AFTER 50 YEARS

SHAMROCK ON! TEACHING MUSIC AND MORE

Still Sweethearts Dan and Diane Leva

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FEBRUARY 2024

Contents

14 22 6

28

18

30

IN EVE RY ISSU E

4

Publisher’s Note LOVING FEBRUARY!

6

Around Town BITE-SIZED UPDATES

F E AT U R ES

10 Q&A MEET OUR FUTURE BUSINESS LEADERS

14

30 Local Tastes JUST A LITTLE SOMETHIN’

18

First Aid From the Heart

With dedication and love, volunteers with the Pequannock First Aid and Rescue Squad demonstrate compassion in action.

Love Is in the Air

Two local couples share sweet Valentine’s Day memories on how love—and family life—flourished in Pequannock.

22 Still Blooming

Bill’s Arrangement celebrates 50 years of providing beauty and custom floral designs to Pequannock and surrounding communities.

28 Rock On!

ShamRock School of Music marks 15 years of nurturing talent, staging performances and supporting local causes.

32 Photo Op LOVE BUG

O N T HE COVER

Dan and Diane Leva, like friends Madeline and Bill Maier, have kept love alive from glory days to their nearly-golden years.

PHOTOGRAPH BY ANTONIETTA HENRY

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Loving February!

PHOTOGRAPH BY DAN PICCOLI

very much for our community.

Read on to learn more, and let’s not only celebrate them here but also thank them in person when we see them around town.

Bill’s Arrangement floral shop is still blooming after 50 years. Now’s the perfect time to stop in and grab some flowers and meet the new owner, Alex Varela. We celebrate and thank Virginia Marks Lax for all the special moments we have enjoyed with flowers and wish her all the best in retirement.

Love music? ShamRock has been touching countless lives through music for over 15 years, offering personal lessons, fundraising, giving back to the community and more.

February offers perfect timing for Just a Little Somethin’ for yourself or your sweetie this Valentine’s Day. Be sure to visit our local cake and candy shop filled with custom and homemade delights year-round. Check out the featured story and see the delicious goodies for yourself !

A heartfelt thanks for your love and support of the magazine. I enjoy reading each and every one of your personal messages and comments on our social media pages. It’s my pleasure to work with our amazing writers, photographers, advertisers and Wainscot Media staff to bring this magazine to you. We are for and about you, so be sure to share your love of this town, special stories and pics with us @pequannockmagazine.com.

Love is in the air this month, indeed!

We have a fabulous lineup, starting with our very own Future Business Leaders of America. Learn more about what the group is doing in the community and encourage your kids to get involved. This year, they will run our community’s annual Polar Plunge. Why not “jump in” and be a part of the cold plunge craze?

We share two very special “townie’’ love stories. These couples met, dated, married and built families here. You could literally see the love as they reminisced during our photo shoot at Pequannock Township High School.

We pay homage and gratitude to our EMT and First Aid and Rescue Squad members who do—and sacrifice—so

Donna Fillweber Publisher

Pequannock & Pompton Plains MAGAZINE

Editor & Publisher Donna Fillweber Art Director Sue Park Copy Editor Nancy Fass Writers Danielle Clements George King Angela Teta Kohle Mary Shumeyko Debbie Walsh Photographers Antonietta Henry Dan Piccoli WAINSCOT MEDIA Chairman Carroll V. Dowden President and CEO Mark Dowden VP, Group Publisher, Regional Thomas Flannery VP, Content Strategy Maria Regan Creative Director Kijoo Kim Advertising Services Director Jacquelynn Fischer Operations Director Catherine Rosario Production Designer Chris Ferrante Print Production Manager Fern Meshulam Advertising Production Associate Griff Dowden Pequannock & Pompton Plains Magazine is published by Wainscot Media. Serving residents of Pequannock Township, the magazine is distributed monthly via U.S. mail. Articles and advertisements contained herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publishers. Copyright 2024 by Wainscot Media LLC. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent.

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WHAT’S NEW

Around Town

GOT BOOKS? Winter is a great time to catch up on your reading—and a good time to purge away any books you no longer need.

Did you know that Pequannock has a large donation bin located at our Department of Public Works lot on Alexander Avenue?

Donate books in good, readable condition— hardcovers, paperbacks and textbooks are all accepted—that have a visible ISBN barcode.

Happy reading—and purging!

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Q &a

Preparing Students for Success High school students gain leadership and learning opportunities through Future Business Leaders of America.

BY ANGELA TETA KOHLE

INTERVIEW WITH

THE FBLA BOARD

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) helps high school students prepare for careers in business. We talked to Pequannock Township High School (PTHS) FBLA adviser Al Wehrhahn and the organization’s executive board to see what they do.

How would you summarize FBLA?

What are some community service projects the club is involved with?

We are a very active student organization with 84 members. The general membership meets monthly, and the executive board meets every Tuesday morning. We focus on community service, fundraising and competition. The fundraising helps offset the cost of attending the State Leadership Conference and provides scholarships for seniors.

In November, we dedicate our general membership meeting to making blankets for cancer patients at Chilton Hospital. In December, we host a Polar Express event for the community. Elementary school students are invited, and they bring a toy, which we then donate to children in need. Santa comes and we show the movie “Polar Express.” It’s a really fun day for the community.

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Opposite page: The Polar Express event is a key activity on FBLA’s annual calendar. Above: The group’s executive board includes (back row, from left) Al Wehrhahn, faculty adviser; Nathaneal Crefeld, vice president; Luke McGrory, vice president of membership; Alex Frame, co-vice president of community service; Chris Singer, historian; Jacob Tone, vice president; (front row, from left) Dominic Jiosi, co-vice president of communications; Kaitlyn MacSweeney, president; Sophia Zaccaro, vice president; Jackie Santana, co-vice president of community service; and Michele Cheng, co-vice president of communications. Not pictured: Kaitlyn O’Brien, secretary, and Tyler Frame, vice president of business relations.

What is your relationship with the Pequannock Chamber of Commerce?

Connecting with the Chamber has been very beneficial for us. An executive board member attends the monthly meetings to stay up to date on the issues of local businesses. Some Chamber members volunteer as judges at the FBLA State Leadership Conference. They have turned the Polar Plunge over to us, and in February we are hosting it for the first time. This is an excellent way to connect with the community through a very popular event and raise funds at the same time.

Can you tell us about High School Heroes?

High School Heroes is so popular that we invite non-FBLA students to participate, especially students from the Teaching and Learning Academy. We receive a curriculum through New Jersey Junior Achievement. After preparing, we go to the elementary schools to teach classes on business, financial literacy, citizenship and more. We love doing it, and the elementary students look forward to it every year.

Mr. Wehrhahn, what is your goal for your students?

My biggest goal is to provide a venue for them to expand themselves and grow and develop during their four years of high school. The commitment they have to the club is very commendable.

PTHS Principal Richard Hayzler, what would you add?

Traditionally, the FBLA advisers have created a culture of excellence, building future leaders while emphasizing character, citizenship, academics, service and responsibility. Students leave PTHS having had very meaningful experiences.

Angela Teta Kohle, retired after 35 years of teaching, lives in Pequannock. She enjoys volunteering at her church, traveling, reading, baking, walking and working for the family business.

FEBRUARY 2024

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First Aid From the Heart With dedication and love, volunteers with the Pequannock First Aid and Rescue Squad demonstrate compassion in action.

BY GEORGE KING

When Chief Thomas Lyons Jr. talks about the Pequannock First Aid and Rescue Squad, his voice is strong and reflects pride at being part of an invaluable and fully volunteer organization.

No matter what time of day or night, in the freezing cold or sweltering heat, the squad delivers every time a call comes in, no matter how serious the situation. And the number of calls is staggering: From December 1, 2022, to November 31, 2023, the squad logged 19,681 hours.

“I could say in my entire time on the squad we have not missed a call in town,’’ says Lyons, who has been a squad member for 18 years. This track record is a big reason the squad is so appreciated by Pequannock residents.

No matter what the call involves, squad members are known to handle the situation with professionalism, which is the result of the way the organization’s 35 active members have been trained.

“We see people at their worst,

and we do the best we can,’’ squad member Elaine Stapp says.

Talk to squad members and there is a thread connecting them: giving.

“It’s an opportunity to give back and serve the community,’’ Dave Stapp says of why he joined the squad.

Olivia Iorio, a County College of Morris student who will move to Stockton University in the spring, explains the general feeling common among fellow squad members: “I am doing something,” the Pequannock resident says. “I am helping.’’

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PHOTOGRAPHS BY DAN PICCOLI

Chief Thomas Lyons (right) and Diane Kopp are two of the dedicated and experienced volunteers who faithfully respond to emergencies as part of the First Aid and Rescue Squad.

FEBRUARY 2024

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Community Partners The same is true of the squad’s partner organizations.

“We are very fortunate in this town,” Lyons says. “The Police Department, the DPW [Department of Public Works]—they work very closely with us. During snow emergences, when we get dispatched, the Police Department will call the DPW and tell them we have a call. We have had DPW trucks plowing driveways and cleaning off snow to the front of the house before we get there. It is really a great community effort when we get a call.

“You dial 911 for somebody not breathing the police are on the road right away,” Lyons continues. “They respond immediately. They are on the scene with in two or three minutes, which has made a big difference in quite a few lives that have been saved.’’

In addition to responding to calls, the squad provides standby coverage at Pequannock High School football games, the Hoe Down, swim meets, 5K races and many other events. The squad also provides CPR and first aid training to the community throughout the year. (For information how to join, go to www.pequannockems.org.)

From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. during weekdays, Atlantic Health’s ambulances answer calls. The squad takes over from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., while Saturday and Sunday belong to the squad whose members pull 24-hour shifts.

Serving also means the squad makes personal sacrifices.

If a member doesn’t live in Pequannock, he or she is required to spend the shift at headquarters, located behind the municipal building, where there are sleeping quarters, exercise equipment, a TV and a kitchen.

During inclement weather, squad members who live in town often opt to sleep at headquarters to be ready to go.

Top: Ron Furia has served the squad for 25 years.

Middle: Marko Denton (left) serves with his son, Tyler (right). Bottom: Allison Kane (left) and Tyler Denton are among younger squad members who provide a foundation for future service.

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Members of the Pequannock First Aid and Rescue Squad include (from left) Alyssa Savastano, Tom Lyons, Diane Kopp, Elaine Stapp, Tyler Denton, Marko Denton, Allison Kane, Ed Snook, Dave Stapp, Ron Furia and Ricky Greff.

Stepping Up The squad features a range of age and experience. Senior member Ron Furia is in his 25th year. “I hope I have 25 more,’’ he says.

At the other end of the spectrum, Lyons raves about young adults who have climbed the ladder.

“They started as cadets and now they are in charge of a crew,’’ Lyons says. “You are putting them in the same position that adults are put in on career jobs. You are making a call to somebody’s life: Are you going to a trauma center or a local hospital?’’

Lyons says.

Lyons cites as an example Tyler Denton, a 19-year-old freshman at Rutgers and a squad EMT. “I would put anybody’s life in his

hands, that is how confident he is,’’ Lyons says of Denton, a Lieutenant at 17, who, with Sean Moore (17), Rachel Knopf (18) and Alyssa Savastano (17) is a product of Allied Health Academy at Pequannock Township High School, headed

by Jill Marotta. “For a 19-year-old to have a live position at a first aid squad is very rare, but this is a young man on top of his game,” Lyons says.

Denton, whose father, Marko, is also a member, answered a squad need.

“I joined at the height of COVID,” says the younger Denton, who is studying biology premed. “It was a time we needed more people to help out. A lot of the older members, from what I understood, couldn’t

make as big of a commitment anymore. We needed, in my opinion, to step up, and that’s what I did.’’

Diane Lyons, Tom’s wife, says getting thanked by somebody whom the squad helped makes it all worthwhile. “It makes up for getting a call at 2 a.m. on a winter’s night,’’ Diane Lyons says. “It makes me feel good.”

The same could be said about how Pequannock residents feel about a group of volunteers who, as a unit, never miss a call.

George King has lived in Pequannock for 62 years. He covered Major League Baseball for 34 years, including the Phillies for the Trenton Times and the Yankees for the New York Post.

FEBRUARY 2024

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Love Is in the Air Two local couples share sweet Valentine’s Day memories on how love—and family life—flourished in Pequannock.

When two local couples started dating in 1980, the Oldsmobile Cutlass ruled the road, and when they married, the Ford Escort took America by storm. Thankfully, their marriages are enjoying a much sweeter ride than those popular cars of their youth.

For Valentine’s Day, Pequannock magazine caught up with Madeline and Bill Maier and Diane and Dan Leva, who happen to be great friends with marriages made in heaven. Both couples are high school sweethearts who began dating in 1980 and graduated Pequannock Township High School in 1981.

They charted the arc of their relationships through milestones over the decades.

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Diane and Dan Leva (this page), along with their friends Madeline and Bill Maier (opposite page, at right), were high school sweethearts who kept the spark alive while raising families in the town they know so well.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANTONIETTA HENRY

BY DEBBIE WALSH

1/17/24 11:21 AM

Glory days aren’t over: The Levas and Maiers revisit Pequannock Township High School, where each couple met and formed bonds that have lasted for decades.

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First Date Where did teens go on a first date back in 1981? Casual eating places, parties and outdoor activities—all within walking and biking distance or a short car ride away— were popular choices that were easy on the wallet.

Bill was unable to pick up Madeline for their first date because he was too young to drive. Their first date was ice skating at Greenview Park. The couple’s relationship blossomed, and their peers chose them as Class Couple during senior year.

The Levas’ first date was at Buxton’s, a dining spot that was later named Miranda’s and located next to Nagel’s Candy Barn in Wayne. Dan did not waste any time making use of his newly acquired driver’s license.

“Our first official date was on my 17th birthday,” Dan reminisces. “We drove to Buxton’s and had an ice cream sundae.”

College Bound After high school, Madeline studied at Montclair State College (University since 1994), and Bill attended New Jersey Institute of Technology. The Levas both went to colleges in Pennsylvania. They

transferred to New Jersey colleges during sophomore year, Diane enrolling at William Paterson and Dan at Rutgers in New Brunswick. A combination of factors brought them home; it wasn’t solely because they missed each other.

and I thought she had a beautiful smile,” Dan says. “She was someone I wanted to get to know. As our relationship grew, I came to know her as the person she is, and I knew she was the one I wanted to spend my life with.”

Chemistry and Connection So why were these two couples attracted to their mates?

“He just had a fun personality,” Madeline remembers. “He was active and always wanted to do things.”

“We met in Mr. [Frank] Mento’s chemistry class,” Bill says. “We always had a good banter going on between us. It was just a fun relationship from the start, and still is.”

For the Levas, the initial attraction was partially based on looks, but they soon learned beauty was not just skin deep.

Compatibility and other qualities came into play.

“Dan was so cute and kind, and wasn’t your typical showy, macho teenager,” Diane says. “He had a quiet, gentle maturity to him.”

“Initially, I saw Diane as very attractive,

Wedding Bells After receiving Madeline’s father’s blessing, Bill proposed to Madeline by the fence outside the sleepy little bar known as the Flight Deck, where they both worked at the time. Today, the Sunset Pub and Grill occupies the property.

They married two years after college, in 1987. They had their wedding reception locally at the Regency House and danced to Van Morrison’s “Have I Told You Lately.”

They honeymooned in St. Martin.

Dan proposed to Diane on Christmas Eve 1986 at Diane’s parents’ home. Diane’s family members made themselves scarce while Dan popped the question. They married on May 1, 1988, and also chose the Regency House for their reception. They danced to the theme from “Ice Castles,” “Through the Eyes of Love” by Melissa Manchester, and honeymooned in Hawaii.

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No Place like Home As young newlyweds, the Maiers lived at the Beaver Brook Gardens apartment complex in neighboring Lincoln Park.

After eight years of marriage, they welcomed their first child, Cole, in 1995. Mathew followed in 1996 and Kevin in 1998.

Treasuring their time growing up in Pequannock, the Maiers wanted the same type of small-town upbringing for their children. An athletic pair, they were drawn to the recreational opportunities Pequannock has to offer.

They loved the fact that their kids would be able to hop on their bikes and go anywhere in town.

“We are still friends with people who Bill went to kindergarten with and people we went to high school with,” says Madeline, a physical education teacher at Hillview School. “We always liked the small-town feel. When you go someplace, you’re bound to see someone you know, which is nice.”

When the Levas first got married, they spent time living with Diane’s parents until construction of their condo in Somerset was completed.

When it came time to start a family, they began looking for more space.

Daniel was born in 1990, Rachel in 1993 and Michael in 1995.

“We were looking in different towns with a realtor,” Diane recalls. “We’d ask, ‘Are the schools good? What about the library programs? How are the park and recreation programs? Can you walk to the town lake?’ I wanted my kids to be able to jump on a bike and go places. A lot of towns didn’t have all of that. We looked at each other and said, ‘I think what we keep looking for is the town we came from—the town where we grew up.”

What’s Next?

The Maiers and Levas do not plan to leave Pequannock anytime soon. When their kids were growing up, the parents had hectic schedules filled with hockey, soccer, baseball, basketball, swimming and coaching responsibilities. Now they have more to spend with each other.

Both couples enjoy hiking and other outdoor activities, and traveling.

The Maiers’ grown children are giving them a variety of places to travel. Cole plays hockey for the Nürnberg Ice Tigers in Germany. Before that, he played for the Manitoba Moose in Winnipeg.

Mathew lives in California and Kevin in Denver.

The Levas have something else to keep them busy these days: three

grandchildren. Though they no longer have children to watch playing sports, the next generation of athletes have already hit the fields: Their 4-year-old grandson played soccer in the fall.

Debbie Walsh has 30 years of experience writing for various newspaper publications and more recently as a ghost blogger. A semiretired sports mom, she enjoys dining out with friends, reading and playing golf.

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New owner Alex Varela carries on a tradition of personal service and fresh creations at Bill’s Arrangement.

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2/5/24 2:06 PM

Still Blooming Bill’s Arrangement celebrates 50 years of providing beauty and custom floral designs to Pequannock and surrounding communities.

BY DANIELLE CLEMENTS

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANTONIETTA HENRY

Fifty years ago, Bill and Karen

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Laird opened a small florist shop in Pequannock. Since its opening, the shop has had only two additional owners, each of whom has continued to honor the original vision of serving the local community by providing a personal touch to each product and interaction.

Bill’s Arrangement, the beloved florist shop, was established in 1974 and was originally located in the shopping center near the corner of Newark-Pompton Turnpike and Industrial Road. An evergrowing business, the shop moved to several more locations before becoming established at its current home on the corner of Newark-Pompton Turnpike and Oak Avenue.

In 2003, Virginia Marks Lax and her

husband, Tom, made the decision to purchase Bill’s, where Virginia Lax had been working for more than 20 years. “I worked there for 40 years in all, including the 20 that I owned it,” says Lax. Having recently sold the shop, she looks back fondly on her four decades of service to the community.

“This town is like a family,” Lax says.

“Everybody knows everybody, and we were helping people out on their most important occasions: christenings, wedding, funerals and everyday events.”

A former but longtime Pequannock resident, Lax recalls spending her early years with the shop as a delivery driver, then working her way up to designer.

When Bill Laird was ready to retire, it was a natural transition for Lax to step in.

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“The best thing my father ever told me was, ‘First thing you’ve got to do is listen to your customer, what they have to say, what they want—and you do your best to tailor to what they want.’”

- Alex Varela

Personal Touch Bill’s Arrangement has always enjoyed a special relationship with patrons, something Lax credits to the personalized service each customer receives.

For those special life events, Lax liked to talk with each customer personally to ensure understanding of their expectations.

In one instance, she created a custom funeral arrangement for a client whose deceased relative loved slot machines. Lax and another designer spent more than 10 hours handcrafting the arrangement.

“The piece was three-dimensional, and we added in chocolate gold coins, we had the arm, the light on top, the whole thing,” Lax says. “Three days later, the owner of the funeral home came in with the piece— the family loved it so much that they wanted us to have it back in case we could use it again. You only have one shot at a funeral to do your best, so that stood out; that made me so happy.”

Another key to the consistently positive feedback that Bill’s receives is the use of fresh flowers. “This business has changed a lot,” Lax says. “You can buy flowers anywhere you go—the gas station, the pharmacy—but we ordered flowers direct from the farm. We prided ourselves on giving a fresh product; that is what makes them last longer.”

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Above left: Alex Varela (left) accepts a symbolic handoff from previous owner Virginia Marks Lax, who worked at Bill’s Arrangement for 40 years, 20 of them as owner. Each of the shop’s owners has catered to customers with a personal touch.

A Family Affair Lax’s whole family worked in the shop over the years, including her daughter.

Fittingly, now that Lax has moved into a well-earned retirement, the shop was sold to a new family of flower arrangers: the Varelas.

New owner Alex Varela purchased the business in November 2023. “Having the support of my family is the backbone to the business,” Varela says. “I am a third-generation florist; my parents and grandparents were florists back home in Mexico. It’s been a tradition—cousins, aunts, uncles. It’s something that we have instilled in us.”

Wanting to stay true to the already established business, Varela kept “Bill’s” as the name of the shop. “It means a lot

to the community,” he says. “I’ve seen how much it means to people—they have good memories of it. It’s a tradition in Pequannock.”

Varela plans to continue providing that same personal touch to each and every customer and to expand into largescale events.

“Our expertise is lavish weddings— that’s what we do in Queens and Long Island—but we aren’t going to forget our roots and our customers,” Varela says.

“We’re just broadening the spectrum of services.”

Varela learned important business practices from a very early age. Having worked in family floral shops since age 5, Varela credits his father as being one of his best mentors.

“The best thing my father ever told me was, ‘First thing you’ve got to do is listen to your customer, what they have to say, what they want—and you do your best to tailor to what they want,’” he says.

“They can’t get that experience from a giant corporation. We want to create a wholesome experience where customers feel understood and we take care of their needs.”

Lax has certainly handpicked the right family to carry on her legacy—just as she carried on the legacy of Bill Laird.

Pequannock resident Danielle Clements is a lucky wife, mom to two awesome boys, a dog lover (especially her beloved Bowie) and a communications professional.

FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK Visit Bill’s Arrangement in the store at 215 Newark-Pompton Turnpike or online at www.pequannockflorist.com.

Follow on Facebook for all the latest updates at www.facebook.com/billsarrangement.

FEBRUARY 2024

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Rock On! ShamRock School of Music marks 15 years of nurturing talent, staging performances and supporting local causes.

BY MARY SHUMEYKO

Over the past 15 years, ShamRock School of Music has become synonymous with talented local artists who entertain and amaze our communities. In 2008, Laura and Randy Shamber followed a dream and opened their original studio in Pompton Plains.

They began with one student. Now they’ve grown to a new location in Riverdale with 12 instructors and over 175 weekly students.

The facility is warm and welcoming.

With lesson rooms spinning off a central waiting lounge, students

are comfortably and safely taught in a motivational and encouraging environment. The rooms are tastefully decorated in various colors and associated with famous musicians.

Opportunities for All Instruction, performance and confidence are gently emphasized, with opportunities to participate in many of ShamRock’s shows.

There are three recitals during the year (included in the tuition), where students are encouraged—but not required—to perform.

Every show also serves as a fundraiser for various organizations. NewBridge Services and the Pequannock Food Pantry both have benefited from the Shambers’ vision.

ShamRock welcomes learners from all walks of life. The school has taught senior citizens, high school kids auditioning for a part, band members hoping to hone their skills and tiny tots who want to sing or play.

Special needs students are welcome and have met with wonderful success.

All private lessons are customized to each student’s needs.

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Honoring Achievements One delightful project of the school is the coveted Shammy Awards.

Fashioned after the famous Grammys, the Shammys are given annually to the most accomplished students in 15 different categories. Every performance is recorded, posted on the organization’s YouTube channel and evaluated by independent judges.

The 10th annual Shammys ceremony will be held March 2 at the Debonair Music Hall, with performances

by ShamRock’s vocal ensemble along with teen and adult rock bands. Admission is free; audience members are encouraged to support the Pequannock Food Pantry with a donation.

ShamRock’s website, www.shamrockschoolofmusic. com, provides much more information and details about specific instruction. Bios of ShamRock’s talented instructors are posted along with class schedules and other services. Register online for a free trial lesson and then you, too, can rock out with ShamRock!

Opposite page: Laura and Randy Shamber launched ShamRock School of Music in 2008. Above: Teacher Nick Arrechea (right) instructs Megan Henry, who has taken advanced piano lessons since 2012. The school now serves more than 175 students.

Mary Shumeyko is a retired Pequannock teacher who helps at her church and the Pequannock Library. Traveling, running, reading and spending time with family fill her free time.

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LOCAL TASTES

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Diane Grimes (opposite page) was inspired by her Italian heritage to provide a variety of treats at Just a Little Somethin’, including cake pops, cupcakes, brownies, chocolate-covered pretzels and seasonal specials, along with gluten-free and custom options.

The Sweetest Spot in Town At Just a Little Somethin’, Diane Grimes and her family draw on traditions of warmth and hospitality.

BY MARY SHUMEYKO

Just a little somethin’: The expression comes from Diane Grimes’ Italian background, where relational values of kindness and respect are important. When she was growing up, visiting family was fundamental, and everyone was encouraged to “always bring just a little something.”

That saying now provides the name for a small store called Just a Little Somethin’—a name the family happily shortens to JALS. A photo of Grimes’ mom and dad looks out over the operation, which serves a variety of delectable items.

The success story of this hobby grown into a business reflects Grimes’ 12 years of developing her chocolate venture into the lovely shop that she and her husband, Joe, run today with the help of children Taylor, Haley and Skylar.

Kitchen Magic Behind the fully stocked cases and shelves of chocolate masterpieces is an equally fully equipped kitchen, where Grimes

works her magic.

“I love doing what I do,” she says. “I use my imagination to create new and different items. Our products are not mass produced. We work in small batches; when we run out, we make more.”

The confections are varied. Cake pops are most popular, but other favorites include cupcakes, chocolate caramel apples, brownies, chocolate-covered pretzels and Oreos, and seasonal specials.

There’s also a gluten-free section, and the staff will work to accommodate other special needs. “One of our customer favorites is a Make-Your-Own-Box; selections are made, we add embellishments and gift wrap,” Grimes says.

Locally Engaged Community involvement is important to the Grimes family. Touched by local stories, they recently partnered with Alex’s Lemonade Stand to host a street event involving Scout troops, Pequannock

dignitaries and many volunteers. Festivities included games, kids’ activities and more.

Together, they raised several thousand dollars for children with cancer.

Just a Little Somethin’ also welcomes services and products provided by organizations supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities. The shop proudly displays Holy Bones dog treats, among other gift selections.

Dessert tables, corporate events and favors are some of the services provided by JALS, along with centerpieces, cakes and balloons. From setup to breakdown, orders are specifically designed and arranged.

“We love making events just a little somethin’ special,” Grimes says.

Check the website www. justalittlesomethinnj.com—or stop by to visit the sweetest spot in town!

Mary Shumeyko is a retired Pequannock teacher who helps at her church and the Pequannock library.

Traveling, running, reading and spending time with family fill her free time.

FEBRUARY 2024

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PHOTO OP

Love Bug

Taylor Selser snapped this super cute love bug—her 2-year-old daughter, Skylar, behind the wheel of a classic Volkswagen Beetle—having a blast at the car show in Pequannock Valley Park this past fall.

Have a great image for Photo Op? Submit your high-resolution shot to donnafillweber@gmail.com.

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