Clinton Township Newsletter

2 2 d e c e m b e r 2 0 2 1 W W W . C L I N T O N T W P N E W S L E T T E R . C O M If you visit HeartStrings, a gift shop and boutique on Main Street in downtown Clinton, you'll find a small container on the counter, with positive words written on pieces o f c a r d s t o c k f o r customers to take a n d p u t i n t h e i r pocket... It might b e a r e s o n a n t , meaningful word; a word to meditate on, to grow on; a word you can give to others; a word to wish and dream on... But the word t h i s m o n t h , f o r owner Carol Beder, is "Magical!" C3Q: Clinton *is* a magical place to live... it was voted 'Best Place to Live' how many times? CB: I think at least three, and I agree! I moved into the area in 1972, and I've had my store since 1976. In the 1970s, the town itself was looking a little rundown, and went through a lot of construction; from 1976 on, things started coming to fruition, and it became a special little town. Over the last 25-30 years people have been coming to town just to show it off to their children or friends, because it looks the same as it did in their past. People have a lot of fondness for Clinton; it is a special feeling when you come over the bridge and see the town; it retains the same charming look and feel. People say, "I can just take a deep breath and relax here, and it's a wonderful thing." My shop HeartStrings has been around for 45 years; it has metamorphisized, as many shops do over the years. It's now a boutique for children's and adult's clothes, seasonal decorations, and jewelry. People remark all the time when they come in about how unique my store is. I start decorating my store right after Halloween, and it takes on a whole different look for the holidays, and it gets me in the holiday spirit. C3Q: You are instrumental in the Guild of Clinton; can you talk about what the Guild does for the Town? CB: The Guild started a year or two before I came into town, and I think over the years, the members of the Guild that are involved have grown and grown. We take care of the downtown, and we make sure to do marketing for the town, and hold events. The events are the shop-owner's way of saying "Thank you!" for supporting us throughout the years. We do all of the decorating in town, and make sure that it is a magical environment for everyone, which is key to the town itself. So many of the surrounding towns gravitate here as well; people come to Clinton because it is their "downtown"; the community can gather here. It is the local community which turns out for the events like Pumpkin Fest, Dickens Days, and the Christmas Parade. We're so different from a lot of other towns because we are small, and we have two museums, the river, the bridge...(The Bridge is one of the few truss bridges left in New Jersey, and it's a very historic bridge). We're not on a highway; people can walk here and we have a lot of dogs and strollers; we're a very community-minded town. We just have a very wonderful, unique place here. Obviously I love it, or I wouldn't be here for 45 years and doing this! It's a great place to raise your family, and great for your children...they feel safe and happy here. C3Q: Clinton recently transformed into a Victorian Village for D i c k e n s D a y s , w i t h Father Christmas and h o r s e a n d c a r r i a g e r i d e s ; a n d t h e r e was the Community T r e e L i g h t i n g , t h e M e n o r a h L i g h t i n g , and the ongoing Red Mill Village Festival o f T r e e s . D o e s t h i s holiday spirit bring a lot of people into the town to shop? CB: When Dickens Days comes, that really kicks off our holidays, but you can feel Christmas every day when you walk down the street; there is that feeling of wonder and special ambiance. As far as the holiday season, I see that people are supporting the town a great deal, especially since Covid. Since the pandemic began, we've seen more people shopping and being involved in the town. We hope that the holiday season will be a banner year for shoppers, especially after being confined for so long. But Clinton is more than shopping, it's an experience. Going into each of the stores, and the museums, walking around the town...it's such an experience. Clinton is very walkable, and I love all of the stores in town; I can't pick a favorite! People should come and visit them all; including East Main Street and lower Center Street. The shops are so varied; it's incredible that we have a shoemaker, that's so rare! We have a pickle shop (they have only been there for a year, but they are so involved and such a great addition.) We have a wonderful florist, a cheese shop, specialty markets, dress shops, card shops, bakery, deli, guitar store, hot dogs and ice cream...even a dollhouse store! We have all the things a town can use. All kinds of food...Thai, American, Italian, organic...you just have to see the whole town! And it is so key to these special merchants to shop local this Christmas. Online shopping takes its toll on all of us; shopping local is so important, and I want to say thank you to everyone who supports the town. I hope that people enjoy the experience of shopping, and the community they feel as they shop. It's different when you can see something in person and get it wrapped special, and come into a shop, talking with friends and experiencing things; it's such a good feeling. Anything you want for the holidays you can find in town. You can visit Carol at HeartStrings at 10 Main Street in downtown Clinton, and feel some of that holiday magic on Candlelight Night on December 16, from dusk to 9:00 pm. Rachel Sprague, a resident of Clinton Township, has a degree in journalism from Rutgers. With her husband Russell, Rachel is raising two young children in the Clinton Township School District. She thinks that Clinton Township is a delightful place to live. Welcome to with Rachel Sprague "We just have a very wonderful, unique place here (in downtown Clinton). Obviously I love it, or I wouldn't be here for 45 years and doing this! It's a great place to raise your family, and great for your children... they feel safe and happy here." – Carol Beder, Owner of HeartStrings "... HeartStrings has been around for 45 years; it has metamorphisized, as many shops do over the years. It's now a boutique for children's and adult's clothes, seasonal decorations, and jewelry. People remark all the time when they come in about how unique my store is. I start decorating right after Halloween, and it takes on a whole different look for the holidays, it gets me in the holiday spirit. – Carol Beder, Owner of HeartStrings Carol Beder and Peg Lacamera make everything magical at HeartStrings in downtown Clinton HeartStrings is full of treasures and is always decorated beautifully for the holidays!

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