Inside Essex
News and events on the retail, social, and civic scenes.

Inside Essex By Sean Carlson and Stefanie Jackowitz Nonprofit Provides Music for the Masses utpost in the Burbs, whose 22-year history is woven into the civic fabric of Essex County, hopes that the success of its gala benefit on November 1 will help cement its place as an artistic and charitable center for the area. Since 1987, Outpost in the Burbs has staged musical shows at its three Montclair venues—the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, the First Congregational Church, and Montclair High School. With its impressive lineup of performers—such as Shawn Colvin in September—Outpost has been able to translate its musical success into community service. As some performing arts centers struggle with a lag in state funding, Steve Cutaia, an Outpost founder, believes that nonprofit artistic organizations can flourish—with the help of fundraisers. "We want to build community through music," says Cutaia. Outpost in the Burbs recruits volunteers to aid groups like Habitat for Humanity, the Community FoodBank of NJ, local soup kitchens, and more. Its 2009 Fall Benefit Gala, to be held on Nov. 1 at Trumpets Jazz Club in Montclair, will feature music, food, and a variety of special guests, including Pete Fornatale of WFUV, Fordham University Radio. Upcoming concerts include the Willy Porter Trio and Luke Doucet on Nov. 6, and Red Molly on Nov. 13. For more information, call 973-744-6560. For concert tickets, visit Keil's Pharmacy at 732 Valley Road in Upper Montclair, Church Street Kitchen at 12 Church Street, Montclair, or log on to TicketWeb.com. O S ome time ago, a love-struck young man entered a jewelry store and left with the perfect ring for his soon-to-be wife. When, years later, the man's son came to the store to purchase a ring for his own engagement, the same owners were there to help him make the right choice. George Press Fine Jewelers, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, is honoring its history by holding an Anniversary Celebration Sale. The celebration, set for Nov. 27 to Dec. 5, will offer a variety of specials, including a drawing to win a Serena Garbo Bertolucci watch (log on to GeorgePress.com to enter). The decades-old success of the store can be accredited to the passion and dedication of its owner, George Press, who painstakingly makes his jewelry by hand. "He always feels most comfortable when he is at the bench," says Cheryl Press, George's wife and marketing manager for the store. "This is the store that the jeweler built." The boutique also has other special plans for the future, including a contest to award the holder of the oldGeorge and Cheryl Press with their daughters est George Press receipt. The Jacqueline, Jillian, and Madeline winner will receive a $330 gift certifi certificate to the store. George Press Fine Jewelers is located on South Livingston Avenue in Livingston. For more information on the celebration and upcoming events, call the store at 973-992-7797. 12 SUBURBAN ESSEX MAGAZINE November 2009 Generations of Jewels E Local Mailman Delivers Hope mmanuel "Baba" Anim-Sackey, a West Orange postal worker, is proving that a little faith goes a long way—literally. For his efforts, Anim-Sackey was named West Orange's 2009 Citizen of of the Year. In September, he traveled to Washington, D.C., to receive the National Humanitarian of the Year Award from the National Association of Letter Carriers. Anim-Sackey began helping village of Abetifi-Kwahu in his native country by donating clothes and durable goods he found at local rummage sales and thrift stores. But as folks on his mail route learned of his story, ackey aba" Anim-S Emmanuel "B ily. they pitched in. This year, Animthe Viezel fam to delivers mail bag of Sackey returned to Ghana with nates a Tyler Viezel do ey 's efforts. a shipping container filled with thing to Sack clo clothes, computers, and books— t Sciarrino, tesy of Rober er all donated by West Orange-area Photo cour The Star-Ledg groups and individuals. By spring, he plans to bring 30 donated hospital beds to a Ghana facility. "My father told me that you could be like a lake or a river," Anim-Sackey says. "A lake is still, unmoving, stagnant. A river is fresh because it is always moving. It not only takes in, but it gives out." For more information on Anim-Sackey's nonprofit group, Adopt One Village, call 973-518-2260; contributions can be mailed to P.O. Box 347, West Orange, 07052.

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