MARMORA — “We live in Upper, our kids go to Upper schools and we like to support local businesses,” Meghan Steffanci said Nov. 13 at Upper Township Elementary School. “They make it fun for the kids, so we like that. It’s a fun night.”
The Upper Township Business Association held its 11th annual Community Night in the gym, where nearly three dozen businesses and organizations were represented.
UTBA Past President Blanche Adams said the event is held to support the business community and allow residents to see what local businesses and community groups have to offer, noting it also acts as a networking event for UTBA members.
Adams said the organizers have been working to make the event more family-friendly, this year hosting a balloon maker, dancers performing to Christmas music and free photos with Santa Claus. (Mayor Jay Newman took some time to share his wish list.)
“We want to do something for the kids in the community as well as the parents,” Adams said.
Christina Tolson, marketing manager for Broadley’s Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning and a member of the UTBA board, said the event is “a showpiece all of the businesses and organizations within the community” and helps “make sure all of our residents know that we’re here.”
“We’re trying to get more families out to participate, so we needed something for kids to do and needed food, so we brought in a food truck,” Tolson said.
Broadley’s has been in business since 1911, when it started as Broadley’s Plumbing in Ocean City. The business moved to Marmora after World War II and is now owner by Brian Broadley.
Brooke Powell, owner of Brooke’s Academy of Dance, brought her competition team to perform at the event.
The 2020 Ocean City High School graduate who grew up in Upper Township opened the dance studio a year ago on Route 9, in the same building as Sea the Future preschool operated by her mother, Michelle Powell.
She teaches dance and movement to children from babies to 18 years old, and has dance classes for adults as well.
During the day, she teaches at Sea the Future, which educates children age 2.5 to 5 during the school year and as old as 13 during the summer.
Michelle Powell said she has been part of the UTBA for many years.
“I love it. They involve us all the time in their youth activities,” she said.
Also offering something for the kids, Joanne Kimmins, co-owner of Simply Sweet candy store, was attending her first Community Night.
“I was really looking forward to it, looking forward to meeting the businesses that surround where we’re located,” she said, noting they opened last spring at the ShopRite plaza.
“It’s a great community. I absolutely love Upper Township; everybody is so supportive,” she said. “It’s such a close-knit community. We already have so many repeat customers — there’s a group a girls that probably comes in five days every week and I call them the helmet heads because I didn’t know their names for the longest time and they’re always there with their bicycle helmets on.”
Being part of the community is important to her, and she is hosting a fundraiser all day Nov. 23 when she will donate 15 percent of sales to a firefighter who was severely injured while taking part in a charity run. There will be face painting, and a DJ, as well as firefighters and EMTs on location.
“These people sacrifice their lives every day for us; they keep our community safe,” Kimmins said.
Ruth Ann Bosworth of South Jersey Quilts of Valor was selling raffle tickets for a quilt to be auctioned off during the Handmade in America Professional Craft Show on Nov. 23 at the Upper Township Community Center in Tuckahoe.
Bosworth said selling tickets for the raffle was secondary to raising awareness and getting nominations.
“Even if you sold five tickets and you got the word out for two hours, it’s worth it,” she said, noting they are always looking for nominations of veterans. “As long as we get a nomination or two and get the word out that we’re here.” Bosworth said.
She said the group has been averaging about 150 quilts per year, down from a high of about 250 in 1999 before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bosworth said they have extra blankets in case of need.
“If we get a call tomorrow that somebody’s in hospice and needs a quilt, we can get that quilt to them,” she said.
The group also shares extra quilts with other chapters, sending 30 this year to a group in northern New Jersey that had a lot of nominations and needed quilts.
Bosworth said every state has a Quilts of Valor chapter and even some other countries. The group started in 2003 in Delaware.
Lauri Greenberg, owner of Reiki Energy Healing, was there to talk about her business.
She said Reiki is an ancient Japanese technique for energy healing in which recipients lie down and the practitioner channels energy to 21 points on the body that correspond to energy centers.
“The idea is to provide energy where it’s needed to promote calm, reduce stress and anxiety, improve sleep and enhance feeling,” Greenberg said, noting it’s used as a complementary treatment in hospitals and cancer centers.
Caroline Kopczenski, manager of The Flower Co. next to Village Kitchen in Marmora, said they handle everything from weddings to daily delivers, selling cut flowers, plants, gift boxes and dried flowers. Owner Marjorie Calise opened her shop in 2020 and joined the business association that year.
Other businesses and organizations represented were Advantage, AtlantiCare, Cape May County bizHub, Cape May County Library, Cape Regional Urgent Care, Cape Shore Chorus, Dollars Sew & Vac, Family Center, Upper Township Green Team, Godfrey Funeral Home, Harbor Outfitters, Historical Society of Upper Township, Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy, Langley Loveland Funeral Home, Reiki Energy Healing, Luna Soul & Bowls, Marmora Volunteer Fire Company, Mary Kay Cosmetics, McCallister Service Co., M-Fit Gym, Reich Asset Management, Rooted Wellness, Rotary Club of Ocean City-Upper Township, Ry-Bandz Headbands, SAS Bamboo, Schuler Security, Seashell Travel, Sturdy Savings Bank, Univest Bank, Upper Township Rescue Squad, Boy Scouts of America and Upper Township Soccer Association.
The Upper Township Business Association was formed in 2010 to encourage and support business and community prosperity by promoting economic programs designed to strengthen and enhance the opportunities of all businesses in the township.
The UTBA holds regular membership meetings and mixers.
Full membership is open only to businesses in Upper Township, while a limited number of associate memberships are offered to businesses in the surrounding area. Annual business membership is $100 and nonprofit membership $75. Email upperbiz@gmail.com for more information.
– STORY and PHOTOS by CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff