Page Review
Our favorite stories from days gone by

As we celebrate SJ Magazine’s tenth anniversary, we’ve been thinking… Ten years means we’ve published approximately 3,000 articles, about 12,000 pages and almost 15,000 photos…whew, that’s a lot of work.

We began looking at that body of work, and we were impressed – a lot of effort has gone into producing articles that are interesting, heartwarming, and sometimes just plain funny. Here, we’ve reproduced some of our best stories that we hope you enjoyed. To see the complete articles, visit sjmagazine.net.

How’s Business? One Year Later
By Terri Akman • May 2009

It’s a sign of the times. In 2008, we visited four businesses to see how they were faring in a dismal economy. At that time, no one had any idea the economy would worsen. But it did, so a year later we went back to get an update from the entrepreneurs. One had closed, another had re-vamped his company, and two were trying their best to move forward.

Ten Questions: From Scrubs to Garden State
By Jen A. Miller • August 2004

We quizzed Zach Braff for 10 Questions one month after making his directorial debut in the movie Garden State. He was also enjoying success as a star of the television sitcom Scrubs. Since then, Braff continues his role in Scrubs, now in its ninth season. While he hasn’t directed another movie since Garden State, Braff has opened a restaurant in New York’s West Village. Last fall, Braff had to hit the cyber airwaves to deny rumors that
he had committed suicide by overdosing on pills. “I wouldn’t have done it that way,” he quipped. “I would have beaten myself with pots and pans.”

The Black and White
By Maury Z. Levy • February 2003

Every now and then, we get super-serious in our journalism, like this story about the black and white cookie made famous on Seinfeld. Maury Levy set out to find who in SJ makes the best (he volunteered for the job), and cooked up a list of his favorite spots. Not sure if this was a true writing assignment, or Maury just wanted a reason to eat lots of his favorite cookie.

It’s All in the Genes
By Julie Walsh • July 2008

We went hi-tech when we examined the work at Camden’s Coriell Institute, whose scientists are in the middle of a groundbreaking research project that will map the genetic data from its participants – all 100,000 of them. SJ readers were invited to participate, and all you had to do was spit in a test tube.

Evacuated from Home
By Sally Friedman • February 2007

It was a far-away war, but the Kulchitsky family brought it directly to us. Marcella Kulchitsky and her three children fled their home in Beirut, where their father worked as an American University professor, and moved in with family here in SJ. Dad Roman, who grew up in Cinnaminson, stayed in the war-torn city, waiting to send word to his wife that the family could return home. It was a struggle they eloquently shared. Today, the family is back home in Beirut.

Power Couples
By Sally Friedman • March 2008

Somehow we managed to get five of SJ’s most powerful couples to fit a magazine photo shoot into their schedules, and included in that bunch was Congressman Rob Andrews and his wife, Camille. The dynamic duos showed up on time, and happy to be with each other.

Chasing a Baby Beluga
By Brent Blanchard • June 2005

Remember the baby whale lost in the Delaware River a few years back? Mount Laurel dad Brent Blanchard took his two young sons on a day-long quest to see the mammal firsthand. The trio had an adventure they’ll remember for the rest of their lives – and luckily, we can, too.

Dancing With My Father
By Taylor Kane • March 2009

This article came in the mail, a complete surprise. Turns out 10-year-old Taylor Kane was a fan of SJ Magazine, and she had a story to tell – a lovely, well-written account of her father’s death when she was 3. Taylor graciously described the painful years after her family’s tragedy, and the more recent, joyful times. We were grateful she chose SJ Magazine to share her story…kind of makes us feel like we’re BFFs.

Little Miracles from the Ashes
By Lynette Esposito • November 2002

A year after 9/11, the NYPD put out a call for help to restore the thousands of photographs found in the rubble at the World Trade Center. Mount Laurel’s NFL Films stepped up to the plate, using their people and equipment to clean, repair and preserve the photos – for free. Volunteers from all over SJ joined the effort, and families of victims were able to get back a photo or two that once belonged to their loved one.

Telling Tales
By Sally Friedman • June 2007

It almost sounds like a joke – the story of the rabbi and the minister – but this unusual tale spoke of two very different souls united when Reverend Karen Onesti donated her kidney to Rabbi Andrew Bossov. Today, Bossov is well, and actively advocates for organ donation. Onesti is a supporter for the cause also, and is pursing her doctorate in theology. Understandably, the two have become friends. As Rabbi Bossov says, they are “joined at the kidney.”

Live an Inspirational Life
By Mary Lou Sheffield • December 2007

Our goal with this cover story was to inspire our readers. We often feature people who are successful in an obvious way – they’ve written a book, play professional sports or have mastered a medical specialty. But what about people who use their personal power to find purpose in life? How do they think? What do they have to say? We discovered, and profiled, inspirational leaders in five areas: philanthropy, business, public service, spirituality and marriage. Their insights inspired us. We hope you felt the same.

Raising Boys
By Julie Walsh • September 2007

Many times, the focus of our articles turns to kids, and parenting issues. In this article, writer Julie Walsh, mother of two boys, took an in-depth look at the unique challenges facing parents of sons. Experts – and parents – weighed in with their best advice.

Tranquil or Toxic?
By Terri Akman • August 2007

Turns out there are over 50 locations in Camden, Burlington and Gloucester counties listed as EPA Superfund sites. In this brief review of two sites – the Route 561 Dump and the United States Avenue Burn in Gibbsboro – writer Terri Akman, who lives close to both sites, filled us in on exactly what dangers such sites pose. (These two locations remain on the Superfund list.) To check out other local sites, visit epa.gov/superfund.

A “Lucky Guy”
By Carol Suplee • December 2003

This moving story described the incredible life of Irving Raab, who survived the Holocaust and eventually began life anew in SJ. Today, Raab and his wife Esther run Vineland Kosher Poultry in Vineland with the help of their two sons.

SJ Journal
By Cynthia R. Nelson • 2006 Monthly Series

At 35, Cindy Nelson was diagnosed with ovarian and cervical cancer and began a long fight against the two diseases. Each month, she chronicled her struggle for SJ readers, writing openly about hair loss, treatment sideeffects, and how the disease was affecting her personal relationship with her now-husband, David. Many readers wrote us to say how much Cindy’s column was helping them – or a loved one – cope with their own battle against cancer.

Cindy ended her series in October 2006, soon after finding she had “No Evidence of Disease.” In 2007, she updated readers with news that her cancer had recurred and she was once again beginning rounds of chemo. Last year, Cindy wrote to tell us she had gotten married to David on July 4 – a date she chose to mark her celebration of life.

Today, Cindy is living in Florida. At her last check-up in February, doctors found a spot on her left lung. Because of the location of the lesion, Cindy has chosen conservative treatment, continuing with her scans and blood work to monitor her condition. She is also managing some long-term side effects with medication and physical therapy, but she maintains the same positive attitude she so eloquently described during her first year of treatment.

When Cindy wrote last year about her wedding to David, she talked about the gold band with eight diamonds he gave her when he proposed. “This is a healing ring,” he told her. “You’re going to be all better now.”

“I am never without my healing ring,” Cindy now says. “It guides me, knowing that I have love in my life.”

Deepak Chopra: Ready to Transform SJ
By Sally Friedman • October 2009

Our interview with Deepak Chopra was initially scheduled for the spring of ’09. But then came word the promotional tour for his new book was being cancelled – so no interview, no story. Months later, we got the word it was a go, and the gracious Deepak Chopra spoke with Sally Friedman from his home in New York. His message was soothing, calm…and worth the wait.