Lost in Jersey

Meet Kimberly Latortue, the President of Friends of the Howe House, an organization that came together to save and preserve this house built in 1780, the first home owned by a former slave in Montclair, New Jersey.  

Unbelievably, it was for sale on Zillow! Join us as she shares with us how they saved the house from disappearing and the history and significance of the James Howe House. From the origins of the to the challenges faced in preserving its historical value.

Kimberly shares her personal experiences and insights. With her background as a realtor and her passion for community involvement, Kimberly delves into the importance of preserving black history and the role of homeownership in building strong communities. Listeners will be inspired by Kimberly's dedication and the friendships that have formed through the Friends of the Howe House organization.

00:01:22 Preserving African-American history in Montclair.
00:10:53 Importance of community involvement.
00:24:19 Promoting homeownership.
00:31:10 Finding purpose in unexpected places.
00:34:46 Building friendships through shared goals.

Quote:
"The friends of the Howe house? 
I'd say one big factor was the UUCM church in Montclair. That's Ravanya, Maria, Dionne Ford is part of that. Frank Godlowski, Mina Toller, Sarah Vasquez, Jeff Rockhill. "

Links:
Friends of Howe House
Black Home Ownership Matters
Kimberly at Weichert Realtors

When Kimberly isn't saving historical homes, selling them, or being PTA president, she loves to pop into one of her and our favorite restaurants http://lesalbuen.com/  which is in her lovely walkable neighborhood of Montclair, NJ. 
 
And a bit about Rachel and Kimberly's high school Dix Hills, Long Island connection.

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Liz George has successfully led Montclair, New Jersey's beloved and longstanding news blog Baristanet. And now there's an exciting new chapter as Baristanet, the renowned news outlet, has merged with Montclair Local News, and Liz assumes the role of Publisher, overseeing this dynamic union. With her at the helm, the future of local news promises to be even more compelling. Tune in for a behind-the-scenes conversation on this exciting transformation and to discover more about Liz's remarkable journey and her plans for Montclair Local News, a non-profit news agency!

Topics:
🌟 Local news impact on the community.
📈 Indicators of success
🗞️ The struggle of local news.
🌟 Managing comments.
🔝 The most popular department.
📰 Better a better news source.
👥 Mentors
🏡  Queens to Jersey
📚 Pursuing a master's degree.

Links

• Newsletter sign up
• Support local news
• Get tickets to "A Night Out for News":
• Read all about "A Night Out For News"
• Become a Sponsor of "A Night Out for News"
•  Link to launch announcement

Advertise with Local News
To advertise on Montclair Local, contact amazing(!) sales director Annette Batson at [email protected].

Launch Party Event/Fundraiser
September 21, 2023, 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM, at Porta Montclair
Tickets: Montclair Local "A Night Out for News"

Montclair Local News is a non-profit, supported through grants, fundraising donations, and advertising. 

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Feeling a whirlwind of emotions as you prepare to send your child off to college? We certainly did. Join us as we reflect on our recent experiences of pushing out our fledglings from the nest and into the world of dorm living and dining halls. A heartfelt conversation, filled with laughter and useful advice. 

We unearth our own college memories, exploring the lessons we learned and the valuable independence we gained. Drawing from our experiences, we offer advice on maintaining open lines of communication with your child without infringing on their newfound freedom. From dorm-preparation madness to the emotional farewell, we’ll cover it all. If you're a soon-to-be empty nester, we’re here to help you navigate this significant milestone with grace and understanding. Let's reminisce, share and learn together. Don't forget to share our podcast with friends and family who may find solace and comfort in our stories.

Helpful Links:

• 7 Ways to Let Go of Your Adult Children (and Grow Closer Because of It)
• That famous Rob Lowe Letter about sending his son off to college
• The W Curve of College Student Adjustment

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Learn the basics of creating a perfect cheese board in this delicious chat with Mary Connolly, a cheese expert and food columnist known as Marie Fromage. The French Culinary Institute graduate shares insights into cheese-making history and offers tips for crafting the perfect cheese board to delight both the cheese aficionado (Rachel) and their less adventurous friend (Janette ) at the party. 

Topics:
[00:01:18] Hors d'oeuvres according to Janette and Rachel 
[00:09:35] The history of cheese.
[00:13:30] Eating cheese rinds.
[00:16:00] Aging cheese with mites.
[00:21:23] Stinky cheeses and their brine. 
[00:27:15] Cheese storage tips.
[00:31:26]  Food gems in Montclair, NJ
[00:36:54] A cheese podcast.

The perfect Cheese Board Tips from Marie Fromage:
Here are the general categories - no hard rules, just a suggestion, and in the end, only put cheeses you like on the board. Can be all cow, all sheep, all goat, or a mix of animal milks. Mix textures for maximum tastiness!

• Fresh: fresh mozzarella, burrata, ricotta, chevre/goat cheese log
• Soft: fluffy white rind/brie-style cheese like brie, camembert, triple-creme (almost like butter- like St. Andre)
• Hard/semi-firm: gruyere style/comte, fontina, cheddar, chunks of Parmigiano-Reggiano, Mimolette
• Stinky/washed rind cheeses: epoisse, langres, talegio, cowgirl creamery red hawk
• Blue cheese: gorgonzola, Roquefort, Bayley hazen blue (Jasper Hill Farms)
•  Also add: something sweet, like honey and fig jam; nuts (or candied nuts), dried fruit (like dried apricots), and slices of baguette or plain crackers

Links:
Connect with Marie Fromage

• Mary Fromage LinkedIn
• Mary Fromage Instagram

New Top Food Recommendation in Montclair:

• The chefs at Butler and the Board
• Bar Franco
• Sam's Table Private Super Club
• The George Hotel
• Private wine dinner with Chef Alex at Just Jakes
• Van Hook Cheese 

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No spoilers but in the movie Barbie, Ken's character storyline is connected with a conversation we have been having behind the scenes. What is going on with boys today? College enrollment is low, gym memberships are up, and social influencers are guiding many young men. This thought-provoking topic has been making waves lately, even reaching the big screen with the movie "Barbie." 

Topics:
[00:01:31] Caitlin Moran's controversial statement.
[00:05:20] Boys and men struggling.
[00:10:27] Boys and their lack of purpose.
[00:12:31] The message we're creating.

Links:

• Podcast 1 - Mamamia Caitlin Moran Thinks It's HarderTo Be A Man Thank A Woman Right Now.
• Podcast 2 - Mamamai  How To Avoid Cancellation: Cause Chaos
• Salon Article by Mary Elizabeth Williams American boys and men are suffering — and our culture doesn't know how to talk about it
• Book by Richearch Reeves Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Mail Is Struggling, Why It Matters and What to Do about It

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 Meet Dr. Mary Thomas, a friend and phenomenal doctor at NuHeights Pediatrics in Clifton and Montclair, NJ. 🤗 Join us in discovering her journey, experiences, and challenges in caring for our little ones from birth to college.  Plus, she'll share some valuable recommendations and introduce exciting new services for new parents! Don't miss out on this enlightening conversation! 

TOPICS:

• [00:02:30] New service at pediatrician's office.
• [00:06:20] Balancing friends and patients.
• [00:09:35] Pediatrician's office and college kids.
• [00:11:14] Seeking appropriate medical specialists.
• [00:15:09] Childhood in rural Michigan.
• [00:19:48] Finding one's path in college.
• [00:21:20] The changing landscape of medicine.
• [00:24:50] Medicaid reimbursement challenges.
• [00:29:08] Concierge medicine for newborns.
• [00:33:18] Worrying about parenting choices.
• [00:37:29] Tracking illness outbreaks.
• [00:40:31] Imposter syndrome and self-care.
• [00:43:44] New Jersey surprises and gardening.
• [00:47:08] Culinary diversity in New Jersey.

LINKS:
https://nuheights.com
https://nubabydoctor.com/

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In this episode, Rachel and Janette delve into the rich history of their own town, Montclair.  They are joined by Angelica Diggs, the executive director of the Montclair History Center, who shares insights into the work of the historical society and the fascinating stories behind the town's houses and landmarks. From the settlement of Montclair to the history of Church Street and the cemetery, this episode offers a captivating exploration of Montclair's heritage.

TOPICS:

• Walking tours in Montclair.
• Church Street's creepy past.
• What's up with Rachel's house history!
• Upper and Lower Montclair, why?
• The name Montclair.
• Prohibition and liquor licenses.
• Olmsted of Central Park and parks in Montclair
• Montclair's history and diversity.
• Bias in historical documentation.
• Montclair hauntings and spooky stories.

LINKS:

• Montclair History Center
• Montclair History Center Youtube
• Library of Congress Publication on Montclair, Janette read and now thinks she is smart.

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There's a new mode of transport in these parts! We spoke with Joe Colangelo, the very nice CEO of Boxcar, who introduced us to a more comfortable bus ride that takes commuters from the New Jersey suburbs all the way to Manhattan's EAST SIDE. It's the only bus service we know of from New Jersey that offers this route, and people are loving it! But that's not all they do.

Tune in to learn about:

• The buses from NJ to NYC
• Find a parking spot near transportation
• Knife sharpening (yes, they offer that service)
• Grill cleaning
• Auto detailing (cleaning, not lightning bolts, Rachel)
• Future of Boxcar

Time Stamps

• 00:04:51 Improving the commuting experience.
• 00:05:35 Rent church parking through app.
• 00:12:30 Improving transit service in suburbs.
• 00:15:12 Better service than alternative transportation.
• 00:20:37 Integration of GPS tracking for buses.
• 00:29:46 Adaptability and innovation drive success.
• 00:32:06 Transparency is crucial for customer satisfaction.

Links:

• https://www.boxcar.com/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephjcolangelo/
• He didn't tell us about this but we found it, he made this for his kid a while back FUN!

And here's a special offer from Joe: "Yeah. Let's give out a $20 coupon code. How about using 'lost NJ'? L O S T N J will get you a $20 free Boxcar credit. Okay, great. So, in order to redeem the coupon, you would go on to the app and enter that code in the left-hand menu. You can create an account, add the coupon code 'lost NJ' for a $20 credit. And you can use that..."

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How does someone react to their first press interview? Join us for this mini episode to hear how we dealt with a reporter reaching out to interview us about our new podcast. Thank you to NJ Monthly!

Article Link:
https://njmonthly.com/articles/arts-entertainment/lost-in-jersey-podcast/

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Get fit and stronger faster! Join us on this episode as we chat with Lex LeBlanc, owner of Brain and Body Method gym in Montclair. Discover the impressive machines with monitors that track your progress and provide two-way resistance for maximum results in minimal time.

From her successful career on HGTV's Listed Sisters to her work as a production designer for renowned brands, Lex's journey is nothing short of inspiring. Tune in for this delightful conversation and get ready to be inspired!

Episode Topics

• Introductions and background
• How she landed a show on HGTV
• How she became a top brand production designer 
• Why she opened a gym 
• Why is this gym so great for bone health 
• Importance of being fit over 35, 40, 50, 60 ++++
• How she lives in Brooklyn but works in New Jersey 

Helpful Links:

• Gym Brain and Body Method
• Lex's brand production work 
•  Lex's Instagram
•  HGTV Listed Sisters

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