At the top of the hill in Maplewood sits a really beautiful home I just listed with lots of conveniences, fine details, a view and a history. Check out the link below for more details.
http://7981collinwoodrds.thebestlisting.com/
Real Estate and local issues
SOMA’s knitwear designer is Kari Capone and she’s been knitting clothing for SOMA and beyond since 2007. To see her creations, visit her at Etsy (below), at the Bizarre Bazaar, or find her in action knitting while walking down Maplewood Ave or at the Able Baker.
Kari is not just about wool and needles; she recently set up a great event. She will be hosting a dance/birthday party/Under the Sea-themed charity event to raise money for Parkinson’s disease at Maplewood’s The Woodland on Sunday, November 12, from 2-5 pm. Here are a few questions and answers with Kari…
1 You are a prolific creator, were you always interested in knitting and sewing?
I learned to knit when I was about 21 years old from my great-aunt Mary. But I’ve always been crafty! Starting at age 6, I learned to crochet & needlepoint. I also loved to latch hook & made rugs for my two younger brothers. I was a rabid cross-stitcher (it used to be a thing) until knitting took over as my passion.
2 You’re staging an ‘ENCHANTMENT UNDER THE SEA’ dance party and benefit for Parkinson’s at the woodland in Maplewood. what’s the most important thing to you about it? Not everyone knows this, but the Enchantment Under the Sea dance is also my 40th birthday party celebration. My dad died from Parkinson’s two years ago. He was only 66 years old. He and I LOVED the Back to the Future movies. One of his favorite lines was, “Roads? Where we’re going we don’t need roads.” My goal is to raise $4000 for the foundation – it seems like a nice round number for my 40th birthday. 🙂
3 Who is the most famous person that you’ve knitted for? I haven’t knit anything for someone famous (yet) but one fun fact… I knitted about 125 pussy hats in the year 2017! I met Vanna White this year at a crafting conference and would love to teach her to knit. She’s more of a crocheter.
4 What’s the strangest thing you’ve knitted, sewn or created? The strangest thing I’ve ever knitted would have to be a full-length body suit, for an interpretive dance costume. A close second was an extra-large, Pepto-Bismol pink, double-breasted sweater coat with white fuzzy trim.
5 What drew you to live in SOMA? My ex-husband & I moved to South Orange and bought our first house here in 2005. We loved raising Andrew on a dead-end street; he could play with the other kids and we could walk him downtown to see the “choo-choos.” Now, we all live in Maplewood. Andrew’s dad and I live only a mile away from each other, and we’ve had such great experience in the schools (Marshall, Seth Boyden, MMS, & now CHS).
6 Who’s your favorite musician/band/singer? It’s difficult to choose my favorite musician. My favorite singer is Ella Fitzgerald. I also love Gillian Welch.
7 If you could have three people at a dinner party who would they be? If I could have three people at a dinner party, I’d invite Marie Forleo (marietv.com), Tim Ferriss (timferriss.com), and Kanye West. That would be an epic party.
8 What’s your favorite place in the world? I love many places, but I must say the Able Baker is one of my happiest places.
9 What would you like to see more of in SOMA? I used to own a cafe on Springfield Ave. I have a real heart for the neighborhood; I’ve lived there for ten years now. I’d love to see Julie Doran’s and Vic Deluca’s work on Springfield Avenue continue. I’m especially looking forward to the day when the vacant lot near my building is a public park, or a tea house, or an artist’s cooperative, or…
2 ADDING ELECTRIC AND WATER (for park events and water fountains)
3 SIGNAGE – add park name, Founder’s Park to an attractive sign near entrance
4 UPGRADED FENCING
5 PARK CLEAN-UP & PLANTING – (year 2) taking place May 20.
6 PLAY AREA – Add benches, tables for adults between swings and street and add more swings, slides & fun play structures to entice kids
7 WALL OF BUILDING NEXT DOOR – Paint a mural on the wall
8 GAZEBO AND SHUFFLEBOARD AREA – Eliminate black top and replace with grass or matching cement. Paint or re-stain Gazebo, Good spot for 2 large permanent flower planters or some landscaping to perk it up.
9 VIEWS
Improve views around side perimeters of park. Add smaller trees and other flora and block out industrial views on either side of park (skip laurel, ground shrubs, etc.). Have a small dedicated Garden area with a unique layout and flora that might attract people like Cherry Blossoms in Branch Brook Pk.
10 PROMOTIONS & EVENTS
Summer events – BBQ, Arts, Sculpture, Theatre, Music, Movies, Foodtrucks, Picnics, Bocce and other games…
THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Those interested in joining the AHNA and volunteering at its second annual park clean-up and planting day on Saturday morning, May 20. Visit www.academyheights.weebly.com or find the AHNA on Nextdoor.com.
The AHNA was established in 2015 by local residents, David Kraiker and Ken Krasner. Andrew & Catherine Kit, Linda Cappaze, Robert Lasner and others have also contributed significantly to the mission of “preserving the integrity and serenity” and raising the profile of the neighborhood. It numbers more than 200 members. Although young, the AHNA has already made its mark, working closely with the town on projects like the proposed 4th & Valley development and 320 Valley St. as well as Founders Park.
Also, they’re having a crazy Bag Sale event this Saturday!
Village President, Sheena Collum said the Village hoped to re-introduce the plan and agreements in January at a Board of Trustees meeting. The redevelopment plan would then be referred to the Planning Board for approval, then back to the Board of Trustees for a hearing and a vote.
“Third & Valley did not have the robust public process this has had,” said Collum. “Credit the neighborhood for mobilizing.” Neighborhood residents, David Kraiker, Andrew Kit, Linda Cappaze, Catherine Fisher and myself (and others) got together many times in preparation for our meetings with the town on this project. Speaking at the SOPAC meeting, Andrew Kit said, “This is the ideal of what a public process should be like.” We also were vocal about the 320 Valley project that has broken ground nearby.
As the town’s ‘vision plan’ has named the Valley St. corridor as one of the prime areas it’s looking to redevelop (in addition to South Orange Av & Irvington Av), it is very likely there will be interest in other sites nearby in the near future. If you’d like to get involved with contributing to shaping the future of the Valley St. corridor projects, please reach out to me – ken@kenkrasnerhomes.com