As we wrap up our club year, we had the joy of honoring two incredible women for 40 years of dedication to our club — Nona Maher and Barbara Ostrom.
Barbara was inducted into the NJSFWC Honor Roll, recognizing her outstanding service and commitment. Nona, already a member of the Honor Roll, received the distinguished Federation Order of the Lilyfor her continued dedication and impact.
Although they couldn’t attend our meeting, we brought the celebration to them — surprising them at home with their pins and flowers. A heartfelt thank you to Nona and Barbara for inspiring us all!
We had a truly special May meeting this month as we celebrated our long-standing members! Members were invited to sign our legacy tablecloth—a tradition honoring their commitment and connection to our community.
Congratulations to Kathryn (10 years), Kay (9 years), Marge (8 years), Joanne (8 years), Marina (8 years), and Elizabeth (5 years) for their dedication and lasting impact!
Members had an amazing time learning how to make homemade paneer and discovering its health benefits! We also got to try our hand at making some delicious Indian flatbread to go with it. Many thanks to Darshana for the wonderful lesson and sharing her expertise!
This St. Patrick’s Day and Women’s History Month, let’s celebrate an incredible life from history! Meet Margaret Ann Bulkley—an extraordinary trailblazer who defied expectations and broke barriers. Margaret Ann Bulkley: A Woman Ahead of Her Time
Born in the early 19th century, Margaret Ann Bulkley knew that society would never allow a woman to become a doctor. So, she defied the rules—reinventing herself as Dr. James Barry.
Disguised as a man, she attended medical school, became a skilled surgeon, and even rose to the rank of Inspector General in the British Army. Along the way, she performed one of the first successful C-sections where both mother and baby survived—a groundbreaking achievement!
For decades, Barry lived in secrecy, dedicating a lifetime to medicine and saving countless lives. It was only after death that the truth was revealed: Dr. James Barry had been Margaret Ann Bulkley all along.
Her story is one of courage, determination, and an unwavering commitment to breaking barriers. Imagine what she could have accomplished in a world where women were allowed to follow their dreams.
Let’s keep pushing for a future where no girl has to hide who she is to achieve her dreams! #CosmicGirlsFoundation
We found our Zen at Salt of the Earth in their incredible Salt Cave! Surrounded by thousands of pounds of pink Himalayan salt, we breathed in the therapeutic air, letting the finely crushed salt work its natural healing magic. A truly rejuvenating and relaxing experience! Aaahhh!!!!
A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to our “Soup”er Bowl Food Drive—your generosity made it a huge success!
A special shoutout to Inserra ShopRite for their incredible donation of $500 worth of soups and staples—your support means the world to us and to those in need!
Together, we’re making a difference, one bowl at a time!
We wrapped up our last book club meeting of the year in style! Since A Gentleman in Moscow is set in a hotel and centers around a fancy restaurant, we decided to embrace the theme with a formal dinner, some Russian nibbles, and plenty of vodka. To top it all off, we ended the night with a festive holiday book swap.