What Makes South Orange/Maplewood So Special?

It's hard to put into words what makes South Orange/Maplewood so special. They are 2 communities that each have their distinctive personalities and collectively they make a super place to live for so many reasons.

When clients ask me about what makes South Orange/Maplewood
so special, I get tongue tied. But the most salient characteristic that comes
to mind are the incredible people of these communities which they choose to call
home.

As a South Orange resident I was forever delighted by the people I met walking their dog in my immediate neighborhood, through school related events, and on the train platform day in and day out.

One of my neighbors, Robin Baker, stood out immediately when I moved in. We had a lot in common -- we were both working moms who commuted to NYC and our nannies became fast friends. Robin's daughter Olivia and my son Jack were the same age and they played together often. I found Robin to be quite admiral for her ability to juggle it all. In addition to holding a major corporate job in Manhattan and being a devoted mother, she also committed to serving the community as a member of the Board of Education.

So, I guess it's not too much of a surprise to see that her daughter Olivia has grown into a wonderful young woman and turning out to be a master juggler as well. She is currently a graduating junior at Columbia High School in Maplewood, is an accomplished viola player, is in the very top, top track in her academics and is also breaking almost every state record in running track. Last week Olivia was the first athlete in the state to win 4 gold medals at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions. And let's not forget other winning track stars like Carl Lewis, Joetta Clark and Erin Dunn who were all from NJ. 

It's not her speed, creativity or intellect that make her so special, it's that Olivia is a woman who takes it all in stride, has an infectious smile and is quite humble. She still has to do her chores which includes walking her dog. And that's when I had a chance to chat with her last. She is charismatic and polite and not full of herself-which she has every right to be.

Of course her dream is to compete at the 2016 Olympics. However she is simultaneously plugging away at her other dream of becoming a neuro-surgeron. To her the options are clear. She says she will go to college and if she makes the Olympic team she will put off medical school until her running days are behind her. Nice fall back position to have - becoming a Neuro-Surgeon! Congrats to Robin and Sam for inspiring Olivia and for the many gifts she gives to our communities.

So. I guess it's not too much of a surprise to see that her
daughter Olivia is turning out to be a master juggler as well. She is currently
a graduating junior at Columbia High School, is an accomplished viola player,
is in the very top, top track in her academics and is also breaking almost
every state record in running track.