The front of the Little Apple Toy Shoppe at 2484 Broadway
When I was walking my Broadway Walk, which is the 13 mile walk down Broadway from 242nd Street to the Bowling Green, I took my time and walked through many stores I found interesting. Some had colorful displays and some just had playful merchandise in the windows. Then I passed The Apple Toy Store at 2484 Broadway and saw the cheerful sign at the door and had to walk in. What a delightful, whimsical store.
The sign that greets you on Broadway
The displays inside and out of the store really showcase the merchandise and the store has that colorful, playful appeal that attracts both children and adults.
The inside of the store with interesting costumes and wooden products
What I loved about the store was there was not a plastic toy in sight but more smaller vendor wooden toys, more toys that spark imagination and creative play. In some toy stores in the City, they are just stacked with the same toys that you see in other stores. Piles of Legos, Playmobile and construction toys that while popular and interesting and fun to play with don’t offer that unique shopping experience of seeing some of the smaller toy vendors that are not available in every toy store. This is what makes Little Apple Toy Shoppe stand out.
The unique display of costumes
The store also has an array of costumes just in time for the holidays. Halloween and Christmas are just around the corner and it will soon be dress up time. Everything is so nicely displayed and not crammed in to fit every piece in the store. There is a nice selection of sizes and varieties to both boys and girls of different ages.
The dolls on display smile and wink at you almost asking you to take them home.
What was really nice was talking with the owner that afternoon as she just opened this shop. She had told me that West Side Kids, which was located on West 84th Street had closed their doors after Christmas of 2025 and there was no toy store in this part of the City. She wanted to fill that gap and create a store that would be part of the community. A place where families could gather and shop together. I think she is on the right path with the business with all the engaging toys and whimsical displays.
The selection of books, crafts, wooden toys and clothes
These are the type of toys I loved to receive when I was small. These are the type of playthings that enhance creativity and play and a child’s imagination.
The soft opening that day gave the owner a chance to meet people in the neighborhood and tell them about her business (she did not even have the sign over the door done yet. Just the sandwich board outside the front door). The store reminded me of the mythical store ‘Shop Around the Corner’ in the movie the movie, “You got Mail!”, creating an environment where families can meet and chat with both the owner and their neighbors.
I wish this establishment the best of luck because New York City needs more creative small businesses.
The scene in “Shop Around the Corner”
The spirit of small businesses all America and what happens when we don’t support them.
Over twenty years ago, I had joined the Hasbrouck Heights Fire Department in Hasbrouck Heights, NJ in June 2005. Some of the guys had started to tell me their stories about going to the piles one night as a Department while we on standby at the firehouse. I asked if anyone ever wrote an article on all this and they said no. I could not believe that no one bothered to tell their story so I got as many of the guys together that were there that day to talk about it for an article I wrote for both The Hasbrouck Heights Gazette and the Hasbrouck Heights Observer in 2006 for the Fifth Anniversary of the attacks. These are their stories:
I do not have a picture of all the guys together as none could get together for a group picture back then. This is a picture of us at an Engine One barbecue at the firehouse Summer of 2017 of which many of the guys attended. Firefighter Ed Carter is forth to the left, Firefighter Bob Pietz is fifth to the right and Chief Tim Moots is is first on the right.
Several Hasbrouck Heights Firefighters Recall 9/11
By Justin Watrel
*I wrote and published this article in September 2006 for the Fifth Anniversary of the Attacks on the World Trade Center for both the Hasbrouck Heights Observer and the Hasbrouck Heights Gazette. Many of the firefighters in the article have since retired or moved on from the Department with Firefighter Greg Rubino being the only current firefighter active on the Department. This is their story from the day of Recovery.
I want to thank the following Hasbrouck Heights Firefighters for assisting in this very moving article: Retired Chief Joe Taylor and Retired Firefighter Tom and Current Firefighter Greg Rubino, Firefighter and former Lieutenant Bob Pietz, Firefighter and Retired Chief Tim Moots and Firefighter and Retired Captain Ed Carter III. Thank you all for your dedication to the Hasbrouck Heights Fire Department.
Author’s Note: I updated this slightly to reflect today but the conversations are verbative from the original article. To keep the flow of the article, I kept the firefighters’ positions in current form through most of the article.
It is hard to imagine that 25 years has passed since the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Since that time, the site has been cleaned up, new buildings have gone up and One World Trade Center (formerly the Freedom Tower) has been built with views overlooking the once devastated City, where all this once happened. The whole configuration of downtown has changed since that time from a business to residential neighborhood. The vibe of the City has changed since that time.
Behind the scenes though, there are the lingering memories of what happened that horrible day 25 years ago and how it touched us as a community. Even though we are only eleven miles from Midtown Manhattan, it seems like a world away.
What many people don’t know is the contribution Hasbrouck Heights made in the recovery process. Our schools and parishes raised money and lent support to many agencies in the City that needed help. In the fire service, several of our members took time out of their busy work schedules to help on the piles with the recovery and help search for victims.
Some of them will never forget what they saw in those days following the tragedy in New York City. The Hasbrouck Heights Fire Department, a volunteer department, sent the following members over to work the piles, former Chief of the Department Joe Taylor Jr., Firefighter Tom Rubino and his son and current member, Greg, retired Firefighter Edmund Carter III and former Firefighter Bob Pietz. Former Chief Tim Moots went over with the Teaneck Fire Department. Many of these brave men shared their experiences that they encountered the days that followed when they helped work the piles years ago.
Former Chief Joe Taylor had been a member of the Department for over twenty years and been a former EMT in Hackensack, NJ said, “I was home watching TV that morning when I turned on the set and saw the towers on fire. I immediately reported to the firehouse for further instructions.”
Retired Firefighter Tom Rubino, a nursing instructor at Bergen Community College, said back then, “We were in classes when the plane hit,” Tom said. “Classes just stopped and everyone was watching TV. There were questions about terrorists but no one was sure. Classes were later suspended because everyone wanted to go home.”
His son Greg, who was at work at Hackensack Hospital said, “From the hospital, we could see smoke coming from the first tower then saw the second plane hit the building. The hospital then went to Code Yellow and we were on standby.”
Retired Firefighter Tim Moots, then a member of the Teaneck Fire Department, was at his home in Fort Lee at the time, when his then wife called to tell him what had happened. “About an hour later, I was called to the Teaneck Firehouse. We were on standby near the George Washington Bridge until 4:00pm. We were then sent over to Hoboken to help with HAZMAT. We were part of the DECON Team hosing people off, who were still arriving from the City at 4:00am.”
Former Fire Fighter Bob Pietz said, “I was working at the hospital installing an air conditioner when the first plane hit. I ended up having to leave the job. When I got back to Heights, the ambulance was called into service and I was on standby with other members of the Fire Department. As a Task Force, we headed to the City but were rerouted by the George Washington Bridge and were released a couple of hours later.”
Retired Firefighter Edmund Carter III was home asleep after a long shift at work, when his then wife informed him that the first tower had been hit. “My initial reaction like everyone else’s was that it was a plane that lost its way, but she informed me that a second plane hit. I then got up, showered and reported to the firehouse, where a lot of members were awaiting further instructions.”
Heading to the Scene:
Everyone on the Department had different reasons for helping in the recovery. All of them wanted to make the best contribution they knew how. Retired Chief Taylor said, “There was a lot of concern from each firefighter for both the City’s citizens and their fellow Brothers in the FDNY. I put out the call and asked members to help.”
Ed Carter said, “I felt I had an obligation to do so. I was given a chance to help in the best way I knew how and was not going to give that opportunity up.” Retired Firefighter Tom Rubino added, “When the call comes out, you respond.”
What they saw at the site still haunts many of the members of the Department. “It was the worst thing I ever saw,” Firefighter Bob Pietz said. “I never saw the magnitude of the destruction.” Chief Taylor added, “I could not believe it. You just could not fathom the destruction.”
Firefighter Tom Rubino explained, “The boat trip over was eerie. The lights were on where the job was being done. The smells were unbearable from the rotting flesh and dust in the air.” It was complete chaos,” his son, Firefighter Greg Rubino added. “I had never seen anything like it. It was like the end of the world.”
“It was only a ten-minute ferry ride over but it felt like forever,” said Firefighter Bob Pietz. “So much smoke was coming from the site.”
When the firefighters reached the site, the initial reaction to the site and the enormity of the situation took hold. Firefighter Tom Rubino explained, “It was like a different world. My first reaction was misbelief and anger.” Firefighter Greg Rubino added, “The smell was unbearable and there was dust, smoke and twisted beams all over the place.”
“It was like a war scene,” said Chief Taylor. “You could not fathom what you were seeing. There in front of you were 110 stories of two towers that stood only a couple of days before.” “It didn’t seem real,” Chief Moots said. “Even when you walked around, it just didn’t sink in that fast. The whole scene was just so overwhelming.”
“You experienced what the media showed and it was worse than what was reported,” added Firefighter Ed Carter. “The smoke hung over everything. I felt anger that fellow firemen, police and citizens from around the area had been killed from the assault on the City.”
Chief Taylor added, “You could not believe what you were seeing. There were cement slabs and bent “I” beams all over the place twisted like pretzels. It was amazing to see police cars and fire trucks smashed, twisted and flattened to nothing. The dust coated everything and the smell of rotting flesh was in the air.”
Some of the men said that while they were arriving at the site, there were still boatloads of civilians leaving the City covered in dust. They would be headed over to the HAZMAT Center, where first responders like Chief Moots would be working with the Teaneck Fire Department. Chief Moots said, “At 10:00pm, it was tough to hose the survivors down, especially after what they had been through. Some were angry, some were hurt and some were still in shock. The comments were heard were, ‘Thank you for all of your help’ and ‘You are so brave for going over there.” “They couldn’t have been more respectful,” Chief Taylor added.
We had a job to do
Even with the enormity of the site, there was a job to do and the men pitched in to do their part. The mood of the work site stuck all of them.
“Everyone was very focused.” Firefighter Bob Pietz said. “Everyone was working as hard as they could and no one was fooling around. The frustration of not finding any survivors was on everyone’s mind.”
“It was very somber,” Chief Moots added. “People had a job to do and there was not much personal conversation. People worked as best they could for as long as they could.”
“People were working with their game faces on determined to do the best job they could,” Chief Taylor said.
“We walked through the site where part of the tower had bent and sagged as shown on TV and we walked past the jagged edge of the wall to reach the area we had to work,” said Firefighter Carter.
While on the site, all the men were given jobs to do, working along side the FDNY and members of other volunteer departments. Some worked on the bucket brigades, while others worked cutting “I” beams and helping move debris.
Firefighter Greg Rubino because of his size, was asked to search through small crevices and assist with searches under the rubble with specially trained dogs to find pocket where people might have been. “With the spotlights and the tower lights you saw everything. You had to be focused so that you were not hurt while helping out.”
“We passed bucket after bucket. Buckets were being passed as fast as we could move,” Chief Taylor described. “I found pencils in sharpeners and receipts from “Windows on the World”, while we were digging. There was a great deal of cooperation, for example: There was a two foot “I” beam that we needed to pass and we immediately got help to cut it.”
Firefighter Carter described, “We dug past part of the building and found a piece of the plane. We notified the people in charge and members of the FBI immediately removed it as evidence.”
Later that evening, an FDNY firefighter’s helmet was found and then his body. “When we came across the fireman’s helmet, everything stopped. The whistle was blown and everyone stopped working. There was silence as the body was wrapped in an American flag and carried out of the site while everyone stood at attention.” Firefighter Carter said.
“I could not believe it when we found the body of the firefighter,” Firefighter Pietz said. “There was silence, then everyone took their helmets off.”
Chief Taylor added that it was done with the utmost care. “People got a little emotional when they saw that. The body was carried out with respect and attention. Then the men went back to work.
Personal Experience
When the men described their overall experience, each one had a different story to tell. Chief Moots describes, “There was an outpouring of thanks. There were loads of supplies, water, tools and food for the people working on the piles. The support volunteers who helped with the supplies were extremely thankful. I will never forget that.”
“I did not want to go back,” Firefighter Carter said. “I was too angry to go back there again. The more I experienced, the more I would carry the scar of the incident.”
Firefighter Pietz added, “It was amazing how everyone came together to help with what was happening on the scene. It was a great feeling that people had for one another, It was the true meaning of brotherhood.”
Chief Moots said, “People can pull together when there is a catastrophe and the expression, ‘here today, gone tomorrow’ is very true. You can almost relate to the experiences that our parents went through during WWII.”
“My main priority was to be with my men,” Chief Taylor said. “I didn’t want anyone to get hurt. When they wanted Greg Rubino to go into certain voids, I had to disagree. I was there as a firefighter but still looked out for my guys. Everyone wanted to do as much as they could during those days.”
Firefighter Greg Rubino added, “You never thought it could happen here but it did. You see a picture of the skyline now that the towers are not there and you realize how different the world is today.” His father added, “I think I am more tolerate toward my fellow man. People have to learn to appreciate life because in a minute it can all change. You never know when it can be taken away.”
Firefighter Carter summed it up best when he said, “The encounter was different from the time we got there until the time we left. The people who risked their lives in the line of duty are truly what heroism is all about. If I could have rescued one life, I would have done it.”
Will it happen again?
When asked if we are prepared for a next time, most of the men felt the same way. Most felt we would never be prepared because you can’t prepare for everything.
Chief Taylor said, “Will it happen again? It is a probability. You never know what you are getting yourself into in these situations. The people that helped out that day will never forget. You have to be mentally prepared for what might happen. We have made strides but you can never be fully prepared.”
“There will be a lot of chaos if it happens again,” Tom Rubino added. “Have you ever sat down to plan an escape route? Do you know that Route 17 might be like if we had to escape this area? It would be like a parking lot. What preparation we do have now is good but not good enough. People are just not prepared.”
“It could be hard to stop a threat,” his son, Greg added. “You just can’t predict what can happen next. You have a strong feeling that something might happen, you have to prepare yourself for the future.”
“There have been many improvements since 9/11.” Chief Moots explained. “So much time and resources have been dedicated to better preparation but we have to prioritize.”
Chief Taylor concluded our interview with, “People tend to forget over time. You can’t prepare for everything. Things are tough when Homeland Security funding is being cut in this area of the country. The one thing I can say is that the City called our small town and asked us to help. We responded to the call and gave it our best.”
Author’s Note: As a nineteen-year veteran of the Hasbrouck Heights Fire Department, I wanted to thank my Brothers for sharing their story twenty years ago. Many have since retired from the department but their legacy lives on in the younger firefighters. I was very proud to tell these men’s story and we should appreciate how our town of Hasbrouck Heights responded that day when we were needed. Thank you!
Author and Retired Firefighter Justin Watrel (Author Justin Watral)
Westwood Cemetery was established in 1861 as the Old Hook Cemetery. The earliest burial was in 1791. Westwood Cemetery is a non-sectarian cemetery and continues to offer final resting places that suit individual needs. Whether you are planning for the future or purchasing for an immediate need, we have a variety of options available within the 35 acre park.
The newest part of the Westwood Cemetery where the family burials start around 1840 to Present sits on the Kinderkamack Road side of the cemetery
The back of the cemetery sits on a buff overlooking the pond that is parallel to Old Hook Road
The original family members were buried in this section of the cemetery while their grandchildren and great grandchildren are interned in the front section.
The oldest section of the cemetery which sits next to Old Hook Road is the Hopper Family plot which dates back to before the Revolutionary War
The Blauvelt Family plot sits next to the Hopper Family plot
The oldest section of the cemetery by Old Post Road home to family members of the Post, Blauvelt, Voorhis and Hopper members
The Demarest family plot overlooking the pond from the buff
The Blauvelt and Bogart family plot
The DeBaun family plot by Old Hook Road
One of the original Demarest family plots
The Haring family plot overlooking the pond
The Ackerman family plot
The Eckerson family plot with members of the Hopper and Demarest families
This section of the cemetery contains the oldest tombstones in the cemetery so many have broken or crumbled away. The lawn in this section of the cemetery is also not as well maintained so there are overgrown bushes and trees hiding the tombstones so you really have to look.
Then I worked my way back to the front of the cemetery finding the graves of these people’s children and grandchildren by following the names and dates of these people’s family members.
One branch of the Demarest family is front and center in the front of the cemetery
Next to them are the DeBaun and Vanderbeck families
Another branch of the Demarest family is a few rows behind
The Kipp family have a rather large family plot
The Hopper & Banta families share this large twin family plot
The Bogart family has this large family plot
The Westervelt family is near them with many of their members of the family
The Demarest family had two large family plots in the middle of the cemetery
The family plot of the Demarests and the Harings
The Demarest and Van Bushkirk family plot
The large Blauvelt family plot
The DeWolfe family plot
The Voorhis family plot
The Terhune Bogart family plot
What I found fascinating about this cemetery was to see the progression of each of these families from parent to child to grandchild just by walking through it. The families branch out in all sections intermarrying with similar families and the buried next to them. From back to front here they rest.
The sign welcoming you the the Endicott-Reardon Family museum
The original Endicott-Reardon Homestead that sits in the front of the museum
The entrance to the museum dedicated to the lives of both the Endicott and Reardon families.
The family artifacts and heirlooms at the museum as you enter the museum
The Endicott family display at the entrance
The museum is a real surprise as entire set of displays is dedicated to the lives of the local Reardon and Endicott families and their family items. A fascinating look of the lives of these early New Jersey families for over a hundred years. This is the collection of Harriett Reardon Bailey and her family. All these wonderful items were saved over the last 100 years and now it was time to share them with the world.
The various family items are organized by sections categorized by lifestyle and collection.
I was given a personal tour that I had arranged with the current curator who had known and worked with the owner of this extensive collection. It had been her dream to open a museum to share her collection with the public.
This beautiful, well lit and displayed collection of family heirlooms and personal items gives a glimpse of the lives of an upper middle class family in Southern New Jersey. It is organized and displayed as a household would be at that time.
The first section of the museum was dedicated to items from the kitchen and preparations.
The family Living room furnishings and decorations
The family piano that once graced their Living Room
A decorative toy car used in the Living Room
The kitchen area and artifacts of the cooking and washing done in the house
The table set for a formal dinner
The next part of the exhibit was the formal Dining Room and on display were many of the China patterns that the family owned.
All the china collections the family owned plus other decorative pieces
The family collection of China and glass pieces
The family had various collections of China
Mainly of the bedroom items have been preserved too from linens to comforters to every day clothing. There are also a selection of family member’s clothing, jewelry and personal items.
The Bedroom vignette with clothing and accessories
Another view of the bedroom
Harriett Reardon Bailey had been a school teacher like her mother and there were displays of items that reflected her time in the classroom including a classroom setting.
Time on the classroom and family employment
The classroom set up
Activities and programs at the school
More local school items
There were also displays on her father’s time in the army and her uncle’s time working on the railroad with carefully preserved outfits, programs and railroad artifacts from the job.
The Railroad display
School and family items
Work on the railroad
The display on the family contribution to the armed forces
What I thought was interesting was that the founder of the museum had been an only child with relatives that had never been married so that she was the only child and a bit spoiled.
The Toy Room
In a separate room off the side held her extensive collection of dolls and games. She had kept all her childhood items in such beautiful shape and with great care. What impressed me was there was a picture of her as a little girl with all her dolls and stuffed animals her room and since she kept everything, they were able to recreate the display.
The picture of the owner, Harriot Reardon Baily, of the museum as a little girl in her bedroom
The exact replicated display of toys in the same spots in the display
The collection of tea sets
The collection of toys and playthings are extensive and they are all in wonderful working shape
There was a large collection of dolls plus all their clothes and accessories that were kept together in her collection. Even into adulthood, all of her childhood items were kept in pristine condition.
The collectible dolls and clothing
The extensive collection of childhood dolls
The collection of China and baby dolls
The collection of baby dolls
The collection of cloth and rag dolls
The handmade dollhouse and rag dolls
The fancier imported and collectible dolls
What I thought was interesting during the tour was that the curator had said that the founder of this museum had the vision of keeping all these items for so long and packing the house with family memorabilia. I think she knew what she was doing.
She was not just preserving memories, she was preserving a past that was fading away and the memories of a different time. As her family died, she kept their memories alive by preserving their past as well. The curator had said that she had always wanted to create a museum with all her family’s items and share them with the public. Now we get to glimpse into her family’s history and everyday life.
The museum shares with the public the day to day happenings and life of the Endicott-Reardon branches of the family and life as a middle class Victorian family. I think she preserved the best items with such care as to share them with future generations of what life was like at that time. When people knew each other and times were slower and quality mattered. She loved her beautiful things and wanted to share them with us.
The inside of the Endicott-Readon Family Museum
A video of the museum from owner Harriot Reardon Baily and her collection
The historic grounds of the property in the winter
I visited the John Westley Gandy Farmstead on private walking tours both in the Winter of 2024 and the Summer of 2025 and got a glimpse of farm life in early rural Southern New Jersey. Away from the markets of New York City, I got to see how tenant farming and life was for early farmers after the Revolutionary War.
The house is decorated with artifacts from the early 1800’s to the turn of the Twentieth century and how they affected the lives of early inhabitants of the house. There is antique furniture, home made quilts and a fully stocked kitchen with a wood burning fireplace to cook meals from scratch (which was not a trend in those days, that is how they lived).
The grounds when I visited in the summer months
The grounds of the farm in the winter
The grounds of this historic homestead in the winter
When a returned for the private tour in the summer, it was a different story. The grounds were lush and in full bloom. It was really interesting to see how the farmstead was in the different seasons.
The same grounds in the summer
The history of the house
The front of the house during the summer
When you walk inside the Gandy Housr on the first floor, you are welcomed into the kitchen and pantry area plus some of public areas of the house. Here meals were prepared and guests were greeted.
The pantry area of the kitchen
Wood was stored for heat and cooking and herbs were drying for the winter months for cooking and daily use.
The fire wood and herb s drying
The pantry and larders for daily cooking and baking for the daily meals. All meals were cooked from scratch and large breakfasts and lunches were part of farm life. All meals were cooked in the open hearth so meals had to be properly timed and cooking and baking had to be coordinated for the family meals.
The larders were filled with the items that were in season
Cooking over a wood burning fire was part of everyday meals in the farm kitchen. Various pots and pans were in use to cook the family meals.
The inside of the kitchen area that heated the main room
Meals were coordinated for the day with cereals and soups cooking first, baked items going into the oven when it was warm enough followed by roasts and stews.
The days cooking over a hot stove
There were early morning breakfasts on the farm and then a late lunch/ early supper when the afternoon work was done.
The other half of the main room was used for dining and the families social space. Here meals were served and the family relaxed.
Everyday family objects of the household
The front part of the room faced the road and the comings and goings of the surrounding community.
The side bench and family objects
The most interesting part of the tour of the first floor is the view of the construction of the home. Behind the glass frame showed how the home was built and of what.
The construction of the home behind the glass frame
The family quarters on the second floor show the chores that followed during the day with spinning yarn, making and mending clothes and dying fabrics.
The spinning wheels and the making of quilts
The landing and the first floor rooms
The spinning wheels and patterns
The first bedroom was furnished with handmade quilts and sown linens. The wash basins were used before indoor plumbing.
The first bedroom upstairs
The wash basin and grooming products
Going out for a formal evening
The second bedroom on the second floor has is collection of quilts
The hand made quilts in the second bedroom
The children’s toys
The handmade quilt collection in the one bedroom
Handmade linens were part of the fabric of rural life as women were trained to sew and quilt their clothes and bed linens. Store bought linens were a rarity at this time and the quality of a woman’s homemaking skills defined her household. The handwork on these quilts were amazing.
The upstairs fireplace to keep the rooms warm
The upstairs alcove where the fireplace is located
The Morning clothing in the alcove
We then headed up the stairs to see the attic which were hard to walk up they were such small stairs.
The narrow stair’s to the attic
I got to see the attic area which visitors normally don’s see. This is where the boys of the family would sleep in the summarrr
The attic loft area
We finished the house tour back in the kitchen-living room
The full kitchen and living room room
The laundry area just off the main room
The we then toured the grounds of the estate walking through the grounds and exploring all the buildings on the property, some original to the estate and some brought here from other properties that awaited the wrecking ball. The grounds included the family well, barn, outhouse, root cellar, wood shed and a grape arbor.
The area right behind the main
The estate well which was going to be replaced
Fresh well water is still a part of the communities in Southern New Jersey. These farmsteads were pretty much self-sufficient and people grew what they needed and could barter for the rest or bring it to market.
The woodshed on the estate
The estate on a sunny day
The root cellar
The Root Cellar was used to keep Summer foods and preserves cool throughout the season. People tried to eat seasonally as much as possible and store for the Winter months.
The Ice House
The historic sign for the Ice House
The inside of the ice house and the hooks to hold meats
Ice was brought in from local lakes and ponds to keep foods well preserved during the warmer months of the Spring and Summer.
The barn that was moved here
The inside of the barn with all sorts of historic farm. These are pieces of equipment that were used over the last 100 years.
The farm equipment
The equipment that runs a farm
The storage area of the farm
The storage bins
The Outhouse
There was no indoor plumbing in those days and the use of the outhouse was placed far from the main house.
The grounds of the farm
The back of the farm
The front of the homestead in the summer of 2025
The house was warm and contained by fireplaces in the Winter months and open and airy in the Summer months with a flow of air through the open windows. The Upper Cape May Township Historical Society is open also for special events like their Strawberry and Apple festivals plus private tours.
The Gandy Farmstead Annual Apple Festival
Two weeks after my initial visit to the Gandy House during the Firemen’s Convention, I returned for the Historical Society’s Annual Apple Festival. The event reminded me of the Brinckerhoff House Strawberry Festival, a very nice family and community event that attracted everyone.
Since there were a lot of shore towns I wanted to revisit while the weather was nice, I arranged to stay at an Airbnb in Ocean City so I had plenty of time to do what I needed to do and relax afterwards.
I could not believe how crowded the roads were as so many places were having either Fall festivals or October Fest. Route 9 was like a parking lot near Smithville, NJ.
I got to the Apple Festival around noon and the parking lot was packed with people. One of the members said later that afternoon that he could not believe the consistent crowds as it was still busy at 2:15pm (the festival was over by 3:00pm). The crowds were filled with several generations of family members who I am sure were traveling from one event to another on this spectacular sunny morning.
The sign welcoming you to the event
When I arrived at the festival, the parking lot was still filling up so I had to park way in the back so I could get in and out easily. They had plenty of parking on the farm across the street.
On the Gandy family property on the other side of the home, they had an antique car show, a mini train ride around the tracks of this part of the property and a Caboose train car that you could explore.
The train tracks around the farm property
The train set up and tracks to tour around the farm
The train rides were really popular with both the small and ‘big’ kids
This small train trip had a nice sized line to it as families were really enjoying themselves
I then toured the Caboose which was set up for service and a day in the life of a conductor. Some of the volunteers were even dressed as conductors leading tour and talking to families.
The caboose on the farm property
The inside of the caboose
Getting ready for the holidays
Life of a train conductor shown in the caboose
After the tour of the car show and watching the families have fun on the trains, I headed across the street to the Gandy House for the tours and activities.
The back of the Gandy Farmstead with crafts and entertainment
Entering the Apple Festival with a Farmers Market and Apple sale
The Farmers Market of locally grown produce
They had a wonderful duo interesting the crowds that afternoon
There were all sorts of crafts stands around where the entertainment was performing
The local crafts people were really talented and included crocheted, painters, floral arrangers and jewelry markers.
One woman sold flowers from her gardens and arranged bouquets
This woman painted her own crafts and did beautiful work for both Halloween and Christmas
Here beautiful holiday crafts
I loved this Santa tree and was going to get it for my mom
This woman had the most beautiful handmade doll clothing and knit items for the holidays
What is an Apple Festival without food? I went to the concession stand for lunch and ordered a hot dog with a glass of locally made Apple cider and had an homemade Apple Shortcake, which I found out later the members had made the night before.
The concession stand where all the food was made
Enjoying my lunch. Both the hotdogs and apple cider were locally made. That’s why it tasted so good!
Hot dogs taste so good off the grill!
The delicious homemade Apple Shortcake with homemade apple topping were made by the members
I also stopped off at the apple stand where cases of apples were being sold. It looked like many people were going to make pies and sauce with these and the stand looked like they were selling out.
I managed to buy one of the Mango sweet apples they were selling individually
The apples were so hard, fresh and sweet that it made the perfect addition to dessert.
The Mango Sweet apples
Talk about delicious
After lunch I ran into the Board members who had helped me with the tour two weeks early and I took a quick tour of the first floor of the home. The laundry room was not open the day of my private tour.
Touring the outside grape arbor
The grape arbor on an early Fall day
Touring the first floor laundry room
An early washing machine
How to do laundry at the turn of the last century
After having lunch, touring the house and visiting all the vendors I relaxed for the rest of the afternoon and listened to the entertainment perform. They did a combination of 70’s hit songs, country music and some James Taylor.
The duo performing
The first part of the song “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” from the 1970’s before people walked in the way
The rest of the song performed. They did an excellent job with it
Before I left just after 2:00pm, I stayed to see who won the Apple pie contest. There were only three contributors but I wanted to get a slice before I left. They did not slice them up. Bummer!
The winners of the Apple pie contest
The Apple Festival sponsored by the Upper Township Historical Society happens every October. It is a wonderful family event and fundraiser for the Historical Society. I know I had a lot of fun and it reminded me of the events that I went to as a kid in the 1970’s.
It was funny that the only person who had a cell phone glued to his hand was me. It was just like the 1970’s all over again with families enjoying each other’s company. Try to visit in the future.
This is the first time in my career at Bergen Community College that I have taught a summer class and it was a very interesting experience. I have taught Business 101, which is the Introduction to Business class for many years but not in a modified seven week period. Normally this important entry level course is taught in fourteen weeks.
With an issue with my car the first day of class and then the Memorial Day holidays the next week put us two days behind and then I had to work on a modified Team project for the students. This would be a challenge. I had done all the on campus events I wanted and there was not much time for one of the bigger more detailed events. So I decided to reach out to a local business to help me out.
I was going to use the florist across the street from the campus and thought that would be the perfect client. The couple unfortunately was selling the business and even though they liked the idea thought it would not work since it would not help them as they were looking for a buyer of the business.
I then had another idea with a business I passed all the time driving up and down Kinderkamack Road on my was back and forth to work, Critchley’s Candies in River Edge, NJ. The business had been around for seventy years and I had met the owner once before. I thought would he help me out?
I was very lucky in that the store had a new owner, Rossana, who was willing to partner with me and liked my proposed ideas. I was lucky that she was looking for ideas to expand her business so it was a win win for the two of us. This would give her free marketing and a fresh perspective from a younger customer and would give the students an opportunity to help a small business owner.
I made two trips to the store to get some ideas and look over the merchandise. They have a nice selection of candies and chocolates and a whole new line of handmade candies that are made in store.
The inside of Critchley’s Candies
The selection of candies at Critchley’s
The selection of handmade candies
Once myself and Rosanna, the owner, worked together to fine tune the project, I brought my class to the store for their field trip. We had a two week deadline on this project and there was a lot to do (they actually did the whole project in ten days).
Over the weekend, I picked my Executive Team and fine tuned the project with more details to each section of the project. It had to be pared down because unlike many other Team projects, we had only two weeks to pull this off and present it to the client.
The proposed project:Critchley’s Candies: We’re Making it!
On one of the rainiest mornings we had in a long time (it never stopped raining for a month), I met my students to tour the candy store. We had a really nice time touring the store that morning and Rossana’s full time employee, Nancy, led the tour with myself and the class.
My students on the tour of the store
My class getting a feel of the merchandise
Nancy, one of the employees of the store led the tour discussing the different lines of merchandise.
We discussed the different types of gummies, jellies and hard candies the store carried.
The video of the tour of Critchley’s Candies that day:
My class and I touring Critchley’s Candies with Nancy, one of the long service employees at the store. She explained all the candy lines to us and what chocolates were made in house.
She then discussed the individual chocolates that are on sale for creating boxes for gift giving.
Me tasting the homemade Milk Chocolate Covered Oreo
When we finished the tour, we had a candy tasting. Everyone got a chance to taste either a homemade Milk or Dark Chocolate Covered Marshmallow or Oreo Cookie. It was a sweet way to end our tour of Critchley’s Candies. Then it was on to our Team Lunch.
After the tour was over, our class took a group shot at the store with Nancy.
After the tour was over, I took my students on their first ‘Business lunch’ and we met as a class at Pompilio’s Pizzeria at 223 Westwood Avenue in Downtown Westwood, NJ. I have taken students here before for lunch on about five other Team projects.
This gives the students the opportunity to get to know each other and have some Team bonding. The pizza is also excellent here too and they have very fair prices and a wonderful ‘school special’.
The Team Lunch:
Pompilio’s Pizzeria & Restaurant at 223 Westwood Avenue in Downtown Westwood, NJ
Some of my students at our Business Team building lunch
The pizza here is excellent
From this point on the students were on their own to create the project. We have already had a series of Board meetings in class and I have had to face two students dropping the class ( I just don’t think this is for everyone).
For the next two weeks, technically ten days, the students worked with their teams on completing the assignment. This meant meeting on their own time and trips back to Critchley’s Candies to film commercials and Tik Tok videos.
We had our last Board meeting the day before the Presentation to wrap things up and go over any missing items. I strictly informed about dress code and performing the role as Student Consultants. From this point on, it would be up to them. They were also assigned two papers to finish the project up.
Paper Three: What would I change in the store if I bought Critchley’s Candies from the owner:
On Tuesday morning, June 24th, 2025, the Presentation took place in our classroom. The first mode of business for each student was to pass the ‘Dress Code’ grade. I have students come in formal business attire. My way of turning group of Gen Zers in to Gen X. Image is very important when trying to sell a concept or program and you must look the role.
With the exception of a few hiccups, the whole class looked very professional considering it was 95 degrees outside. It not been this hot all week but it felt like 100 degrees. Thank God the air conditioning was working in our part of the building that day and the classroom was very comfortable.
The Presentation started late as one student got a flat tire and we had to wait for him. At the same time the owner of the store had an issue at her full time job that got resolved just as the student arrived in class. We started the Presentation at 11:00am and now it was full attention on the project.
The President this semester, Peter McNamara and the Senior Vice-President of Operations JC Abella welcoming everyone and starting the Presentation.
Marketing Team Member Kim Perez discussing the history of Critchley’s Candies to the audience.
The Marketing Team discussing the new ‘Store Jingle’ for the commercial
The Commercial on YouTube:
This includes the store jingle at the end of the commercial.
The students also created a Tik Tok video on the store and its wonderful selection of chocolates.
The Tik Tok video:
The Tik Tok video on Critchley’s Candies
Marketing Team member Matthew discussing the creation of the ‘Store Jingle’
The Product Development and Special Event’s Team discussing the QR Codes Program for the store’s boxed and individual candies.
Product Development/Special Events Team Member Aisha Martinez discussing the new ‘Summer Camp Care package’ proposal. This included a prototype of the packaging.
Team Leader of the Product Development/Special Events Liam discussing the ‘In-house Birthday Party’ program. This caters to that jaded Bergen County child who has seen it all. This birthday concept was very creative. It made it fun to have a birthday at the store.
His proposal for the ‘Birthday Party’ invitation with Vice-President of Product Development/Special Events Joel Fife to the right and President McNamara and SVP Arabella to the left looking on.
The Presentation concluded on time with a Q&A and a discussion on some of the ideas needing adjustments. Overall the owner of Critchley’s Candies, Rossana Rossi, who I partnered on this project seemed very impressed by the results. Then we took our Team picture with the owner and her employee, Nancy, who had led us on the tour of the store two weeks earlier.
The Paramus Critchley’s Candies Team with the owners of Critchley’s Candies.
After the Presentation was over, everyone took their jackets off and I hosted a reception for the students and our guests. I baked cookies and brownies and had an assortment of snacks and sodas for the students. I thought this went by very well for a class that had been here for only seven weeks.
The reception at the end of the Presentation
This is when I can say that I am very proud of my students!
The Official Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. website for the project with QR codes, Commercials, Logos and pictures from all the visits and the presentation:
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