A one-man-band filmmaker examines the complex stories of cannabis By Donny Levit Howard Ellis released his passion project, "Bar None: Cannabis Redemption" in March 2025 Maplewood documentarian Howard Ellis didn’t begin with a clear subject to chase. Instead, he began with curiosity and a willingness to be inspired. Through interviews and observation, he discovered a rich subject worth exploring. For Ellis, the story of cannabis incarceration was unfamiliar territory. He was

A neighborhood café where the customers are old friends By Amy Lynn-Cramer L: Signe Heffernan; R: Silvestre Cordero. Photos by Julia Maloof Verderosa. On a quiet stretch of Elmwood Avenue, there’s a café that feels less like a business and more like a living room. It’s a place where people know your name, your kids hug the owners and regulars stop by for food, conversation and connection. That place is True Salvage Kitchen. At the center of it all is Signe Heffernan, executiv

I'm on a streak By Ellen Donker My daughter Madeline has been encouraging me to learn Swedish for a long time. In 2018, I had taken her and her brother, Christian, to Stockholm and they loved it so much that they started learning the language and stuck with it. Now when they talk, they’ll throw a few Swedish words into their conversation and have a private laugh. I don’t know what was the tipping point for me at the beginning of January, but I decided to learn Swedish, too. (

The rise of Columbia High School’s Jun Harrigan By Adrianna Donat Jun Harrigan plays for the Pegasus organization in the Korean Basketball League in South Korea. When Jun Harrigan thinks about growing up in Maplewood, the first thing that comes to mind isn’t basketball. It isn’t even Columbia High School or long afternoons at The Baird. It’s the trees. “I remember the walks home from school and the nature and trees I was surrounded by,” he says via email from South Korea. “I

By Kristen Di Gennaro Each semester in my college writing classes, I ask students to share their pet peeves about language. Invariably someone mentions the use of commas and the classic meme comparing “Let’s eat, Grandma” with “Let’s eat Grandma.” An online version even includes the caption “commas save lives.” I’m unaware of a situation in which a comma saved a life, but I know of a legal case in which its absence cost a company millions of dollars. The comma in “Let’s eat,

Local group helps people find answers and activities By Cindy Perman L to R: FORT members took a Moroccan cooking class at the Kings Cooking Studio in Short Hills. Photo credit: Alan Levine; FORT members enjoyed a fall bike ride at Duke Farms in Hillsborough. Photo credit: Cindy Perman. FORT members attended a Moth StorySLAM in Brooklyn at Music Hall of Williamsburg, Photo credit: Alan Levine. Retirement is something most people dream about. No more work! Forty or more hours

Tennis program helps local youth with autism By Judie Hurtado Left: Mae Cosentino and Lucy Oakes warming up; Middle: Participants practice eye-hand coordination; Right: Shreya Ramesh, Maddie LoPiccolo and Karenna work on racquet skills. In the fall of 2021, when longtime Maplewood resident Sandy LoPiccolo first discovered ACEing Autism through family friends, she had no idea of the impact it would have on her family’s life and the lives of so many others. ACEing Autism is a n

By Charles Hammer The writer with Mr. Johnson, his high school history teacher. There he was, standing in the front of the class, saying something about American history. His smile told you he knew it all. He knew the secrets. Just calm down and be patient. I just didn’t understand. In hindsight, he was very much like a retired George W. Bush. He had the confidence of really knowing how it was while sounding like a fool. He would speak in jibs and jabs. “Right here now, peopl

Getting to know our local crossing guards By Danielle Alfonzo Walsman Winter brings a wonderland of snowbanks, icy sidewalks and breath-fogging low temperatures. Fortunately for our community, our crossing guards stand watch with rosy cheeks and reflective vests, warming hearts and helping protect our children. In this second installment of a three-part series, we introduce you to three more of these high-visibility heroes. Information about becoming a crossing guard is avail

Pure Vida vegetable soup By Ilysse Rimalovski Recently, I returned to Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula for a weeklong wellness retreat free of dairy, gluten and alcohol. This area is known for its deeply rooted culture, longevity and low stress among its people. The national greeting, Pura Vida (pure life), is a mantra at the heart of how they live. Pura Vida’s guiding principles of purpose, repetition and human connection are surprisingly transferable to here. This might includ

Everything at the SOMA Affordable Art Sale is under $200 By Cindy Perman The SOMA Affordable Art Sale organizers: Natalie Crandall, Magie Serpica, Sumana Ghosh-Witherspoon and Ken Stanek. Photo by Megan Fulop. SOMA Affordable Art Sale is the brainchild of three local artists who met while selling their art at events. They got to know each other by comparing notes on the good and bad of each event. After one whose sales were particularly disappointing, they had an idea: Why no

Getting to know our local crossing guards By Danielle Alfonzo Walsman Maplewood and South Orange have nearly 60 crossing guards to help ensure the safety of our children as they walk to and from school. The guards are also responsible for monitoring traffic patterns, reporting hazardous conditions and are often the friendly greeting and smiling face that our children rely on each day, no matter the weather conditions. In the first of a continuing series, Matters Magazine intr

Columbia High School students turn 3D printers into tools for good By Adrianna Donat Jackson Teitelbaum, a senior at Columbia High School, is the founder of Print with Purpose. The group designs and 3D prints tactile educational tools for people who are blind. Accompanied by the steady hum of 3D printers, a handful of Columbia High School students are running a quiet operation with big impact from their homes. Their efforts are changing lives for visually impaired people they

High school senior earns award for volunteering By Ellen Donker Gardiner's service trip to Los Angeles propelled him to volunteer even more. Findley Gardiner has volunteered at food pantries and soup kitchens since he was 11. So when he went on a service trip to Los Angeles in June 2024 with other boys at his high school, St. Peter’s Prep, he thought he knew the drill. He didn’t expect the experience to change how he viewed his ability to help others. “I was just excited that

Found: family recordings on antique discs By Ellen Donker A few weeks ago, my mother got an unexpected package in the mail. My cousin Lorraine was cleaning out her mother’s apartment and thought my mother might want some photos and homemade record discs from her youth. The photos were mostly duplicates of ones my mother already had, but the records were another story. They are home recordings that her Uncle Herb had made in the 1940s. She had mentioned the recordings to me ov

Discussing his latest book, Unabridged: The Thrill of and Threat to the Modern Dictionary , Stefan Fatsis notes, “I still have the Webster’s New World dictionary my mom gifted me on my 11th birthday.” As the holiday season approaches and we shop for gifts, I wonder when and why we started “gifting” and stopped merely “giving” presents to others. I first noticed people regularly using “to gift” as a verb 15 or so years ago. It’s a good example of what linguists call “conversio

How the star of "Jaws" cut his teeth on acting in Maplewood By Donny Levit Scheider as Chief Brody when he first sees the shark in "Jaws" and ad-libs the memorable film quote, "You're gonna need a bigger boat." With the colder months in full effect, your 2025 memories of swimming down the shore may be fading. Most likely, you took a dip, walked the boardwalk and maybe even indulged in a little salt water taffy. The Jersey beachgoers in 1916 weren’t so lucky. That summer, at l

J UMP TO: [words] Bookstore | Beacon Jewelers | Clay by Indigo Road Studio Kitchen a la Mode | Semifinalist | Hello Huckleberry General Gift Guide Maplewood Village South Orange Downtown Springfield Avenue Maplewood Gift Card Guide [words] Bookstore | Beacon Jewelers | Clay by Indigo Road Studio Andrew Ross Sorkin’s 1929 delivers a riveting narrative of the most infamous stock market crash in history – one with ripple effects that still shape our society today, $35,  [ words

Electrify SOMA harnesses community knowledge to help residents make sustainable choices By Amy Lynn-Cramer The Electrify SOMA team. Bottom row, L-R: Cindy Thompson, Rob Orgera, Julianna Garreffa, Joe Gonzalez. Top row, L-R: Kathleen Grant, Bob McCoy, Owen Tyrrell. Maplewood and South Orange are known as places where residents value community. Connections begin in everyday moments: a quick exchange at school drop-off, a chat at the playground, or an introduction at a block par

By Ilysse Rimalovski Meeting Alizeta Diallo is a heartfelt welcome into the culture of her homeland, Burkina Faso. Riz Gras, or “fat rice,” is the national dish central to her family gatherings and holidays. The aromatic onepot feast represents hospitality and celebration, sharing what one has, no matter how simple. At Christmastime and New Year’s, Riz Gras simmers with rich meats or fish typically reserved for special occasions. These elevated ingredients come together in ab