Enjoy great food, win fun prizes and meet your neighbors

The Scotch Plains Rescue Squad’s 14^th annual Pancake Breakfast will take place on Sunday, February 25, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at its building located at 1916 Bartle Avenue. This event is hosted by the Scotch Plains Rescue Squad Auxiliary, which raises funds for the volunteer squad. 

All-you-can-eat pancakes and sausage, along with coffee and juice, will be offered for just a $7.00 per person entry fee (children 5 and under eat free). There will also be a raffle for baskets, which are filled with gifts and goodies donated by the community and area businesses.

It’s clear by the number of people who attend that it’s something the community looks forward to every year. So, come out with your family and friends and enjoy a hearty, delicious breakfast along with good conversation.  It’s a nice way to spend a Sunday morning and give back at the same time. And for those with mobility issues, downstairs dining will be available.

The Scotch Plains Rescue Squad Auxiliary meets once a month, and its grass roots function is to assist the Squad in many capacities – from holding fundraisers and providing meals during crises to performing outreach to squad and fellow auxiliary members. Members also attend town functions, such as fairs, concerts and holiday events, in order to connect with the community and promote Squad interests.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Auxiliary, come by the Squad building one evening to pick up an application, or go to https://www.scotchplainsrescuesquad.com/the-auxiliary/.

Contributing Author:  Susan Baldani, a life member of the Scotch Plains Rescue Squad in New Jersey.

By Sue Baldani

When Silk Road opened in Warren in 2004, most people in the area weren’t familiar with Afghan cuisine. “Some people like to put us in the same category as Indian, but it’s nothing like that,” says Mohamed Sidiqee, whose parents, Hashim and Naomi Sidiqee, founded the restaurant.

Hashim, a longtime Warren resident, immigrated to the U.S. from Afghanistan in the early 80s and later wanted to share his love of the food from his native country with his new community. The recipes used in the restaurant have been passed down from Hashim’s family.

In the beginning, many of their customers were those who were familiar with the food because they had lived in that area of the world. But then they started coming back and bringing their friends, who had no knowledge of the cuisine.

“They were really surprised by our food and the ambience, and then those new customers started bringing in their family and friends,” says Naomi. These people eventually became not just customers, but friends of the family. “That is how we survived in this business. It’s our loyal customers. We are so thankful they keep coming.”

She says Hashim is a perfectionist. Every part of the restaurant – the kitchen, dining room, and restrooms – are always kept clean and sanitary. “And the food is prepared from his heart – that’s how he does it.”

Customers’ favorites include lamb chops and shanks, and salmon, lamb, and chicken kabobs. “All of them are marinated and they’re so flavorful, but none of the spices are hot,” says Mohamed.

The food is also very fresh and prepared in a healthy way. The family cuts its own meat and makes the yogurt, cheeses and flat bread served in the restaurant. The bread is baked fresh in a tandoor oven for every customer and is accompanied by Hashim’s homemade condiments. 

Entrees come with a salad and a variety of unique rice medleys. The most popular is the Naringe Palow with orange peel, saffron, pistachio and almonds. Others include the Kabli Palaw, made with brown rice and topped with carrots and raisins, the Ladam Palaw with spinach, and the Chalaw, a lightly seasoned rice with Afghan spices. Vegetarians can order these rice dishes as entrees and add in vegetables grilled to perfection.

After dinner, customers can choose baklava, rice pudding, custard or elephant ears for dessert.

The atmosphere of this Afghan and Mediterranean restaurant is very warm and comfortable. “It’s like you’re walking into someone’s house,” says Mohamed. “Once someone comes in, they always want to come back. Plus, we serve a lot of food, so they usually take some home to have the next day.”

Adds Naomi, “We raised our children here and they learned the business. This is a family legacy that we would like to pass down to our three children.”

Silk Road is also a great place for private celebrations such as anniversaries, birthdays, and weddings. Catering is available as well.

To make reservations, call (908) 561-8288, and for more information, go to SilkRoadRestaurantNJ.com.

Written for The Showcase Magazine in New Jersey.

By Sue Baldani

When it comes to home technology, most people want the best. They’ll buy the latest televisions, state-of-the-art sound bars, and the most secure alarm systems. But, if they don’t have the right person installing all of this great technology, these items will not perform at their best.

For many years, Giovanni Atanasio, owner of MyPCGuy, LLC, would often hear his clients complain about the cost of these installs and the problems they were having while he was working on their computers and laptops.

“They would ask me if I knew anybody who mounted TVs, or did Ring installations or surround sound,” he says. “I’ve been doing all that for over 20 years, but they had no idea.”

In January of 2020, Gio founded Audio Video Technologies, LLC, to assist people with these needs as well. “The name itself pretty much defines what we do. A lot of people ask us to install home automation so they can turn their lights on and off from anywhere and control other aspects of their home remotely. We’ve also installed Sonos^® smart speakers throughout entire houses, so one person can be in the kitchen playing 80s rock while in the living room someone else is listening to classical music.”

This technology also extends to the outside of the house, so homeowners can listen to music while hanging out in their yards. To make that area even more attractive, he does beautiful landscape lighting too.

Gio is also a reseller for PowerShades. “This is one of the best companies for shades and they’re all automated,” he says.

He gets a lot of requests for Ring cameras and alarm installations as well as home theaters. For the latter, clients can buy a television through him since he’s a Samsung and LG reseller, or buy it on their own and he’ll install it.

Gio doesn’t just do residential work, but commercial too. Business services include conference room technology, boardroom audio and video installations, video walls, digital signage for retail establishments and more.

While other companies offer these services, what makes Audio Video Technologies stand out is the outstanding service Gio provides. “I treat my clients the same way I want to be treated,” he says. “First and foremost, I ask the client, ‘What are your needs?’”

If they give him a huge list, he’s going to take each one and prioritize what’s most important to them. “They may want all kinds of things, but that’s a lot of money. I say, ‘Let’s start off with the basics and then we can always build bigger down the road.’”

Gio also never tries to upsell a client. “I always give them three options – good, better, and best – and they make the decision. I’m not going to spend their money.”

Once he’s done with an installation, he leaves behind a pristine working area. He believes in going above and beyond, and this is why many of his clients have also become his friends.

To learn more, go to Audio Video Technologies, LLC, on Facebook, call 201.723.3139 or email info@avtech.us.

Written for The Showcase Magazine in New Jersey.

Optimal healthcare for women at every stage of life

By Sue Baldani

In 1996, Somi Javaid and Komel Caruso’s mother’s medical complaints were repeatedly dismissed as stress and anxiety. One day, she was rushed into emergency surgery and was extremely fortunate to have survived.

It was then that Somi, who was already in medical school, was inspired to empower other women and make sure they were heard. But, after completing an OBGYN residency, the realities of the healthcare system prevented her from doing so.

“She was seeing 40 to 50 patients a day with eight to 10 minute appointment slots,” says Komel.

After 15 years plus of practicing, Dr. Javaid realized that in order to give women the time, education and compassionate care they deserved, she needed to open her own practice. In 2015, she and Komel founded HerMD. Today, there are five physical locations in five different states, include one in Millburn, NJ.

With appointments ranging from 20 to 60 minutes, and medical care provided by experienced board-certified doctors and nurse practitioners specially trained in sexual health care and menopause, women are finally receiving the proper care.

“There’s still a stigma around talking about sexual health and menopause, so women are suffering in silence without any treatment options because only 20% of OBGYNs are trained in menopause care,” says Komel.

There are a broad range of services offered at HerMD, including general gynecology. There’s a laboratory and ultrasound on site. “We also have the ability to perform minimally-invasive surgical procedures on site,” she says. “We’re fixing that broken healthcare system with our outcomes and also having truly comprehensive healthcare under one roof.”

When it comes to finding optimal healthcare for women, it can be difficult no matter who you are. She says actress Melissa Gilbert, who lives in upstate New York, recently drove over two hours to HerMD in Millburn. Today, she says the practice is changing her life. Another patient commented, “I have found the heart of my health in the hands of these providers.”

241 Millburn Ave
Millburn, NJ

862-289-6590

HerMD.com/Locations/Millburn-NJ/

Written for Inside Livingston/ Vicinity Media Group in New Jersey.