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