Hello, I’m Julia, the new managing editor of this monthly magazine. I’m excited to bring you stories that help you better get to know community members, businesses, artists, and the area itself.
In this issue, Mindy Toran reports on the Haddonfield Tree Lighting, which takes place every year on the day after Thanksgiving. My husband and I first attended the event when we moved to town five years ago. It was a freezing cold day, but listening to families chit-chat with each other while we waited for the tree to be lit and then being swept up in the crowd as we followed them to Kings Court made us feel glad to be part of an old-fashioned, tight-knit, wholesome community. As Joe Muldoon, the chef and owner of Haddon Culinary, says in the piece, Haddonfield is a quintessential American town. The tree lighting is a joyful highlight of the year — and a night that exemplifies what the area is all about.
Christina Barcia delves into the philosophical underpinnings of Carl Billingsley’s arresting sculpture “Three States of Being,” located on the grounds of Grace Church on Kings Highway, and in doing so gives us a kind of portrait of the artist, who has been working for more than five decades. He lives in Greensboro, North Carolina with his wife, a weaver and a textile artist. He believes that artwork should be able to transcend barriers like language, time, and place.
Chloe Goodman reports on the well-designed Haddonfield Snowflake Run, which is now in its seventh year. She describes the elements that help make the event fun and successful for runners and spectators alike. We hear from a participant, who is getting back into competitive running after having two kids. She finished eighth overall in the women’s division.
Finally, Sophia Stopper profiles Russ and Tammy Razzi of Salon 14 North, a hair salon that has been a mainstay in town for 25 years. It’s a cherished third space where clients experience the profound sense of safety that you want to have when you’re thinking of changing your look. Russ and Tammy offer useful tips on age-old questions like “how does one grow their hair as long as possible?” and “what’s the best way to work with a hair stylist to achieve a desired look?”
Enjoy!
