September 2020: Top Dentists & The New Us
If you are looking for a single word that best summarizes the recent months, we nominate uncertainty. It’s a fitting word for the months ahead, too, as is clear in several of the articles in this month’s issue. As the centerpiece of this issue, we introduce you to a number of New Jerseyans who have discovered new powers of resiliency amid the uncertainty of Covid-19 and the added upheaval of racial strife. Among them is a former colleague of ours who was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness during the early weeks of the pandemic. (Good news: She’s doing well.) This issue also includes our annual Jersey Choice Top Dentists list, a popular feature that we rescheduled from its usual July slot. What you won’t find this month is a ranking of the Top High Schools, which is on hold for now. Like everyone else, we are adjusting our routine to fit the uncertain times.
Garden Variety
Byram Blacksmith Pounds Out Knives of Perfectly Polished Steel
“It’s a powerful feeling to hit metal and make it go where you want,” Billy Barrett says.
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The Dogs Trained to Save Jersey Trees
Dia and Fagen learned to sniff out a fast-moving fungus before it strikes our state’s precious oaks.
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Jersey City Author Reclaims Painful Narrative
In “Being Lolita,” Alisson Wood challenges the perceptions of romance and consent in Vladimir Nabokov’s “Lolita”—and in her own past.
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NJ Painter’s Still-Life Spotted in Biden Home
Rosemary Castiglioni’s White on White appeared behind Jill Biden during home interviews that aired this summer.
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Oral History Project Documents Storied Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital
Stephanie Kip’s online interviews feature a range of subjects associated with the now-demolished Morris Plains hospital, including Woody Guthrie’s daughter and a former girlfriend of Bob Dylan’s.
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When a Palmyra Cop Broke the Mold
In 1959, Payton I. Flournoy Sr. was named the first Black police chief in Burlington County, and one of the first in the nation. At a recent Black Lives Matter rally—in a park named after him—his daughter shared part of his story.
Read moreSteve Adubato: Only in NJ
Local Educators Reflect on Virtual Teaching
Lessons learned during the previous school year’s lockdown.
Read moreGiving Back
Madison Nonprofit Connects Kids to Age-Appropriate Charities
The Student Wish List Project equips younger children with resources and skills needed to volunteer meaningfully in their communities.
Read moreStylephile
Scoping Out Facial Fashions in Asbury Park
The latest in fun and functional masks, straight from the street.
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A Hoboken Startup Devoted to Sustainable Shoemaking
Rebecca Heykes and Keiko Hirosue, founders of Loyal Footwear, produce supportive-yet-stylish shoes with cutting-edge materials and ethical practices.
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Tour a Stunning Showhouse in New Vernon’s Tyvan Hill Estate
The 19th Mansion in May Designer Showhouse and Gardens has this year evolved into Splendor in September, open for ticketed entry Sept. 8—Oct. 4.
Read moreFeatures
How Newark Abbey Symbolizes the Rebirth of a Diverse Community
In an evolving city, even the Benedictine monks have changed with the times.
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The Man Who Helped Put Jersey Wineries on the Map
Gary Pavlis has long been the Garden State’s go-to grape guy.
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The New Us: Stories of Resilience and Hope
Discovering our better selves in a time of uncertainty.
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High Schools Try to Make Up for Lost Varsity Seasons
Covid-19 put a damper on glory days for New Jersey’s young athletes.
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What’s Next for High School Sports in New Jersey?
Even pre–Covid-19, tight budgets, club play and injury fears were changing the game.
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Behind the Inaugural Year at New Brunswick P-TECH
Part of a national reform model, the six-year high school allows students to earn a tuition-free associate degree—and a leg up on the job market.
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Meet the Handful of Locals Rescuing Our State’s Threatened Trees
Our forests and town treescapes face a host of thorny threats. Here’s how a few Jersey heroes have come to their aid.
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A Quick Guide to Planting Trees in New Jersey
Experts share tips for restoring biodiversity, promoting our natural state heritage and more.
Read moreHome & Garden
Step Into Two Families’ Dream Sanctuaries
Behind the design approaches to a Short Hills colonial and a Jersey City townhome.
Read moreTop Dentists
How Jersey Dentists Tackled Covid-19
They donned masks and shields, installed advanced cleansing systems, and got back to work.
Read moreEat & Drink
The Challenges Ahead For New Jersey Dining
Rising costs for everything from food to labor, plus Covid-19 uncertainty, cloud the restaurant forecast.
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The Surging Popularity of Ready-to-Drink Cocktails
Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, sales of premixed cocktails have exploded.
Read moreExit Ramp
A Fated Spin on My Dad’s Old Carousel
On a ride with my son at Disney World, I rediscovered my own New Jersey childhood—and an unmistakable piece of my late father.
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