CNJ+ November 2025

CNJ+ is the premier newspaper in Central New Jersey and beyond. We have grown from a one town newspaper to direct mail to now 9 towns in the past 7 years. Our distribution combines several zip codes and reaches one of the top four wealthiest demographics in the state. All of our editorial content is directly targeted with New Jersey news focusing on community people, news, events and businesses.

NOVEMBER 2025 ISSUE 176

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CNJ+ | FORMERLY THE MILLSTONE TIMES

NOVEMBER 2025

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free. It is suitable for every age, even children. The capture takes less than a second. Images are available immediately and you can see your own retina and exactly what your eye care practitioner sees in a 3D animation. Most importantly, early detection means successful treatments can be administered and reduces the risk to your sight and health.

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DO YOU NEED A LAWYER IN MUNICIPAL COURT? BY JOHN BAZZURRO As indicated on our website, there are numerous charges that are heard in the Municipal Courts in the State of New Jersey. These range from low level motor vehicle violations such as going through a stop sign, careless driving, failure to maintain your lane and other charges that generally carry very low fines and two or less motor vehicle points. If you have been charged with any motor vehicle violation that carries more than two motor vehicle points upon a conviction, we suggest that you obtain the advice of counsel before going to court. The purpose of this article is to provide the reader with some information as to whether or not they need legal representation in Municipal Court on a low-level motor vehicle violation that carries two or less motor vehicle points. As most citizens of New Jersey know, municipal prosecutors will, generally, as a matter of course offer a “no point” or “zero point” violation as part of a plea bargain if you are charged with one of these low-level motor vehicle violations. The monetary cost of these “no point” or “zero point” violations are rather excessive in that you are required to pay a $250.00 surcharge for this “privilege.” The statute which provides this “no point” plea is called the unsafe driving statute. The basic theory in accepting a “no point” or “zero point” plea bargain is to potentially avoid motor vehicle points on your license in order to keep your auto insurance premiums lower and, potentially, to avoid the suspension of your driving privileges where you are in danger of accumulating 12 motor vehicle points which will result in a temporary suspension of driving privileges. However, it should be pointed out that there are a number of situations in which your acceptance of such a “no point” or “zero point” plea bargain may adversely affect your rights without your knowledge. One such situation is where you have already previously pled guilty to unsafe driving on more than one occasion. Your third guilty plea to unsafe driving within a certain period of time will subject you to four motor vehicle points when you may be under the mistaken belief that you will not be receiving any motor vehicle points. Another such situation where you potentially will need legal representation is where the low-level motor vehicle violation is the result of a motor vehicle accident. The bottom line is that, regardless of what type of motor vehicle violation you are charged with, you should seek the advice of an attorney before appearing in Municipal Court by yourself and entering into a plea bargain which may subject you to other legal ramifications of which you were not aware. Typically, when we receive a call for a motor vehicle violation, we initially attempt to obtain as much information as possible from the potential client to determine whether or not they will require legal representation given their individual circumstances. Accordingly, please feel free to contact us to discuss your individual situation to determine whether or not legal representation is required. •LICENSED AND BONDED APPRAISERS • TOP CASH PAID For Estate Jewelry & Watches and Coins • FREE Evaluation! Entire Estates - We Make House Calls! JEWELRY EXCHANGE We Buy…Gold, Silver, Diamonds, Estate Jewelery, Coins, And Watches MONROE JEWELERS FAMILY JEWELER SINCE 1974 WWW.7NJGOLD.COM JOHN T. BAZZURRO, Esq. JARED SPARNROFT, Esq. 200 Meco Drive, Millstone Twp., NJ jtbazzurro@bazzurrolaw.com • BAZZURROLAW.COM Pickup Special $ 9.99 Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney Member of New Jersey and New York Bars WATCH BATTERIES $ 4 . 99

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YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD CARPET & FLOORING STORE 28 CNJ+ | FORMERLY THE MILLSTONE TIMES Join us for lunch or dinner! receipt available. All GPE products are distributed free of charge. Average reader per copy is 2.1. No copying or reproduction of the content of this newspaper is allowed without the express written permission from the publisher. GPEs publisher/owner reserves the rights over all electronic copying and reproduction of material contained here within. The publisher, editor, agents, and sales Credit for mistakes shall not exceed the costs of the ad in the month which the error occurred. Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney Member of New Jersey and New York Bars Jared Sparnroft, Esq. 200 Meco Drive, Millstone Twp., NJ Email: jtbazzurro@bazzurrolaw.com 732-410-5350 • www.bazzurrolaw.com Our Patio is open!! • Personal Injury • Motor Vehicle Accidents • Nursing Home Neglect • Wills • Municipal Court Practice, Including Defense of DWI, Traffic Tickets and Non-Indictable Offenses • Workers Compensation • General Civil Litigation • Employment Law • Residential and Commercial Real Estate Transactions Book Your Party at The Roost! CONCORDIA SHOPPING CENTER 1600 Perrineville Road, Monroe Township 609-395-5588 WWW.ABCARPETNJ.COM A.B. CARPET Carpets • Carpet Runners/Area Rugs INCLUDING “THE COMPLETE GOLFER” PACKAGE, A TOTAL LEARNING PROGRAM WITH VIDEO ANALYSIS. CALL THE PRO SHOP FOR DETAILS. Golf Lesson Packages Available 181 Rt 539, Cream Ridge, NJ 08514 • (609) 208-0050 (609) 208-0050 As always, we appreciate your business! Shaw • Coretec • Mohawk • Kane • Mirage • Phenix • Masland Mon-Fri 9am-5pm • Sat 10am-3pm FREE PADDING • ESTIMATES INSTALLATION • 2 bananas will provide you with just enough energy for an intense 90-minute workout. AB CARPETS • 609-395-5588 $250 OFF Any Sale of $ 2500 to $ 4000 Flooring Purchase CREAMRIDGEGOLFCOURSE.COM | ROOSTATCREAMRIDGE.COM AB CARPETS • 609-395-5588 $500 OFF Any Sale of $ 4001 & up or More Flooring Purchase ©2015 by Gunther Publishing Ent. The content of GPE publications

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I Remember Mom: MOM’S LAST APPLE PIE By Richard Mabey Jr.

In late October of 2019, right after Mom, my sister Patti and I had break fast, Mom announced that she was going to make an apple pie. The day before, we had just visited the Farm er’s Market and bought a big bag of apples. Actually, Mom picked out the sack of apples. She had it in her mind, at the Farmer’s Market, that she was going to make an apple pie. For Mom, making an apple pie, was a work of art. Just the right amount of sugar. Not too much cinnamon. Peeling the apples, then slicing them up into just the right sizes. And then slicing the slits on the top crust, so they were not too long and not too short. Mom never made just made an apple pie, she created a masterpiece. From the time I was a little boy, I always enjoyed watching and helping Mom make an apple pie. She would almost always hum the simple hymn, “Jesus Loves Me.” Sometimes Mom would quietly sing the words to this hymn. I remember as a boy, a certain inner peace would come over my heart, as Mom hummed “Jesus Loves Me” as she peeled and sliced the ap ples. As long as I can remember, going back to when I was three years old, Mom would tell me stories of her childhood growing up in Boonton, on the Sheep Hill area of Boonton Avenue. It was always a magical time when Mom made an apple pie. If I struck out playing baseball with my buddies, or got the cold shoulder from the little girl who sat next to me in Mrs. Raimo’s fifth grade class, or was struggling through science class, making an apple pie with Mom always healed my inner emotional hurts. It was while Mom was making her

nerve to drive his motorcycle to take her for a date. Mom told me how they had planned to go to the diner in Boon ton, then go to the State Theater. Dad had brought an extra helmet for Mom to wear. But Grandpa Kem merer put his foot down and told Dad that he had to watch television with him and that he could eat with the family. Mom laughed as she re called how her father really laid the law down to Dad. “The expression on your father’s face. All he kept saying to my father was, ‘yes, sir,’ as my father made it perfectly clear that that he was not going to allow me to ride on a mo torcycle,” Mom recalled as she cut the apples into little wedges. The next day, Mom had a cardiac incident. My sister called the ambu lance. They took Mom off to the hos pital. We followed the ambulance. On the eleventh of November, of that year, Mom had surgery to re place her Aortic Valve. Sadly, Mom passed away on the twenty-third of December, a little over a month after her surgery. With great fondness, I look back upon that day in late October, when Mom made her last apple pie. I am im mensely grateful that she told me the humorous story of how Dad came to her house on his motorcycle, during the time when they were dating. None of us have a guarantee for tomorrow. Forgive those who have hurt you. Love one another. Help the poor. Be kind to others. Offer a kind smile to a stranger. Find your true purpose in life. Forget political differences. Love is the key that un locks the strains of human relations. For love knows no boundaries.

Mom peeling the apples for her apple pie, in late October of 2019.

Mom offering me a slice of apple, as I took her picture.

last apple pie, in late October of 2019, that she told me of the time that Dad came to her home, riding his motorcycle. Dad had just come home from serving at Hickam Airfield, during World War II. Mom laughed as she peeled the apples, as she told me how upset her father was that Dad had the

Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He hosts a YouTube Channel titled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” Richard most recently published a book of poetry and short stories. He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@hotmail.com.

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NOVEMBER 2025

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DO YOU NEED A LAWYER IN MUNICIPAL COURT? BY JOHN BAZZURRO As indicated on our website, there are numerous charges that are heard in the Municipal Courts in the State of New Jersey. These range from low level motor vehicle violations such as going through a stop sign, careless driving, failure to maintain your lane and other charges that generally carry very low fines and two or less motor vehicle points. If you have been charged with any motor vehicle violation that carries more than two motor vehicle points upon a conviction, we suggest that you obtain the advice of counsel before going to court. The purpose of this article is to provide the reader with some information as to whether or not they need legal representation in Municipal Court on a low-level motor vehicle violation that carries two or less motor vehicle points. As most citizens of New Jersey know, municipal prosecutors will, generally, as a matter of course offer a “no point” or “zero point” violation as part of a plea bargain if you are charged with one of these low-level motor vehicle violations. The monetary cost of these “no point” or “zero point” violations are rather excessive in that you are required to pay a $250.00 surcharge for this “privilege.” The statute which provides this “no point” plea is called the unsafe driving statute. The basic theory in accepting a “no point” or “zero point” plea bargain is to potentially avoid motor vehicle points on your license in order to keep your auto insurance premiums lower and, potentially, to avoid the suspension of your driving privileges where you are in danger of accumulating 12 motor vehicle points which will result in a temporary suspension of driving privileges. However, it should be pointed out that there are a number of situations in which your acceptance of such a “no point” or “zero point” plea bargain may adversely affect your rights without your knowledge. One such situation is where you have already previously pled guilty to unsafe driving on more than one occasion. Your third guilty plea to unsafe driving within a certain period of time will subject you to four motor vehicle points when you may be under the mistaken belief that you will not be receiving any motor vehicle points. Another such situation where you potentially will need legal representation is where the low-level motor vehicle violation is the result of a motor vehicle accident. The bottom line is that, regardless of what type of motor vehicle violation you are charged with, you should seek the advice of an attorney before appearing in Municipal Court by yourself and entering into a plea bargain which may subject you to other legal ramifications of which you were not aware. Typically, when we receive a call for a motor vehicle violation, we initially attempt to obtain as much information as possible from the potential client to determine whether or not they will require legal representation given their individual circumstances. Accordingly, please feel free to contact us to discuss your individual situation to determine whether or not legal representation is required.

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Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney Member of New Jersey and New York Bars

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GRANDPA MABEY’S LAST THANKSGIVING By Richard Mabey Jr.

Now, at 71, I find myself dreaming more and more about moments that I shared with my paternal grandfather, Watson Mabey. I walked the forest path with Grandpa, from the end of Mabey Lane to the tow path of the old Morris Canal, over a hundred times in my childhood and youth. During the Summer of 1965, when I was just 11 years old, Grandpa and I came across the Magnificent Buck, on one of our walks to the old Morris Canal. It was a moment that, to this day, holds a dear and precious place in my heart. I grew up in the old Mabey Home stead, that my great grandfather, Wil liam Mabey, built in 1890. On Thanks giving Day, Dad’s sister and seven brothers, with their spouses and chil dren, would gather at the old farm house, to feast and have heart-felt fel lowship. My paternal grandmother, Bertha Mabey, would peel apples for apple pie, very early in the morning. While the women cooked in the kitchen, Dad and his brothers would gather around in the big, enclosed front porch and tell

This picture was taken on Thanksgiving Day of 1967. Grandma and Grandpa with their dog, Little Pixie, seated with their nine children behind them. Standing from left to right: Carl, Gerald, Edward, William, David, Dad, Violet, Earl and Harold.

tales of deep-sea fishing excursions, grand adventures of hunting, and fond remembrances of growing up together. And, in this mist of all this, Grandpa would sit in his easy chair, in the living room, with all of his grandchildren sit ting on the floor at his feet and tell stories of working on the old Morris Canal. There was something very different about Grandpa’s tales that he told in the morning of the Thanksgiving of 1967. I was 14 years old at the time and in my freshman year at Boonton High School. I was a sensitive boy and was gifted with a certain amount of intuition about things. Grandpa had just had a stroke, a few months prior to that Thanksgiving Day. For all practical purposes, the stroke left his left arm almost useless. But Grandpa did his best to hide it. Usually Grandpa would tell stories of his remembrances of working as the Chief Engineer of Incline Plane Ten East, which was located at the Towaco and Lincoln Park border, along the old Morris Canal. But this particular Thanksgiving morning, Grandpa talked a lot about Heaven. He told us that he had a good friend in Jesus. And he talked a lot about his brother Earl, who was killed in battle in France during World War I. Grandpa spoke of angels, how they would visit him at nighttime. There was a solemn, reverent quality to Grandpa’s stories, during that Thanksgiv ing morning of 1967. It was mixed with a bit of sadness. I remember Grandpa spoke of the Majestic Buck, as he called the wonder ful, magnificent, mystical buck that walked the forest behind the old Mabey Homestead. He talked of a time, when he was younger and had the giant buck lined up in the scope of his rifle but could not find it within himself to

pull the trigger. Grandpa would often say that the Majestic Buck was a true mystical beast. We used to eat our big Thanksgiving feast at about two o’clock in the after noon. Grandpa always sat at the head of the dining room table and the three or four additional folding tables that were set up, from the dining room and onto the formal living room. I remember that halfway through his Thanksgiving prayer, Grandpa be gan crying. It was the one and only time that I ever saw my grandfather cry. As tears flowed down his cheeks, he asked God to bless each and every one of us at the table. On the seventeenth of May of 1968, the angels called Grandpa Home to Heaven’s Gate. That was over 56 years ago. Since the day Grandpa passed, I don’t think a day has gone by that I haven’t thought about him. I loved him with all my heart. Now at 71, I still mourn for my beloved grandfather. I still miss him very much. I would give up my entire collection of antique books and my whole comic book collection, to have just 10 minutes to once again talk with that dear, wonderful, kind old man. Love those near and dear. Hold them precious in your heart. Forgive them of every wrong they may have ever done to you. Cherish every moment with the people you love and care for. For none of us have a written guarantee for tomorrow. Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He hosts a YouTube Channel titled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@gmail.com.

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NOVEMBER 2025

A FOND REMEMBRANCE OF THE CHRISTMAS OF 1963 By Richard Mabey Jr. ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES BUYERS ESTATE LIQUIDATORS

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The Christmas of 1963 holds a most endearing place in my heart. For it was a time when I took on a very special proj ect and completed it all by myself. I was 10 years old at the time and in the fifth grade. I was now in the Webelos Cub Scouts. It was now mid Novem ber, and I was about to face a most challenging pursuit. Dad had bought me a full-sized piece of ply wood at the Circle Lum ber on Route 23. The

found a certain comfort in listening to “Rambling With Gambling,” with the show’s host John Gam bling. I remember that it took me the greater part of that Saturday, to complete the fun-filled project. I was immensely proud of my self. I had set up the fin ished product on two saw horses. It was a sight to see, the little Plasticville homes and stores, neatly arranged on the big piece of plywood, with all the painted roads and painted grass abounding. I had completed the entire proj ect, all by myself, from soup to nuts. I remember the Christmas of 1963 with great fondness. My little village brought a certain joy and festive feeling to our Christmas Tree that year. I was all so proud of that little under-the-tree village. There is a time for synergy, and working together with people, and holding to the old, one for all and all for one outlook. However, there is something to be said for working alone to paint a landscape, to write a poem, to compose a song, to plan out a marketing strategy, or to build a little village from a big piece of plywood, a few little cans of paint and some Plasticville buildings. Sometimes, we underestimate a child’s ability to reach new heights and accomplish wonderful things. As a parent, a grandparent, an aunt, an un cle, a teacher, or another adult role in a child’s life, there is a tendency to want to jump in, to help the child with a project that they are working on. Per haps one of the greatest gifts that we could ever give a child, is the trust and encouragement to take on a project, completely on his or her own. Love is the single most powerful force in the uni verse. And, sometimes a great love we can give to someone, is to step back and allow them to accom plish a tough task, all by themselves. Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He has had two books published. He hosts a YouTube Channel titled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@gmail.com. • Paintings, Prints, Bronzes • Estate Jewelry • Coin & Stamp Collections • Judaica • Costume Jewelry MOVING or DOWNSIZING? CALL US!! WE BUY VINTAGE LIQUOR WILL TRAVEL ENTIRE TRI-STATE AREA FREE ESTIMATES 346 PALISADE AVE, BOGOTA WE BUY ANYTHING OLD. ONE PIECE OR HOUSE FULL. WILL TRAVEL. ANTIQUE & ESTATE BUYERS WE PAY CASH FOR SINGLE ITEMS TO ENTIRE ESTATES! • Sterling Flatware Sets ANTIQUE STERLING 201-880-5455 CELL 917-887-6465 Military Collections Wanted Swords, Knives, Helmets, Etc. • Watches, Clocks, Pocket Watches • Chinese & Japanese Artwork & Porcelain • Sports Collectibles • Comic Books • Old Toys • Records • Cameras • Lamps • Cameras • Lamps • Military Collections TOP $

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reason Dad bought me this wonderful gift, is that I wanted to create a little village for under the Christ mas Tree. Using Dad’s old Plasticville stores and houses, I was going to create my masterpiece by painting roads and sidewalks and green grass onto this big piece of plywood. It was a project that was going to fulfill one of the requirements for commu nity living for my Arrow of Light Award, the high est rank that a Cub Scout can earn. In mid November, Dad would leave for Maine or New Hampshire to bring New York City its Christ mas Tree. Dad made this annual journey for well over 25 years. It would mean that my father would be away from us, for a good week or so. As a child, I knew how much it meant to Dad to have such an honorable responsibility. But then, on the other hand, after a day or two, I would find myself miss ing his presence. I was determined to create my little village from the large sheet of plywood, a few little cans of paint, and the array of Plasticville stores and homes, that Dad had from his days as a teenager. I set up Dad’s workbench, in the basement of the old Mabey Homestead, as my very own Central Command. I attacked this project with a certain amount of con fidence, mixed with a pinch of self doubts and anx ieties. I worked alone, while Dad was working all so hard, to bring New York City’s its tall and towering Christmas Tree. It was a Saturday morning and I turned on Dad’s radio, that he had on his workbench, and listened to my father’s favorite radio station, WOR-710. I

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ENTITLEMENTS By Bryan M. Kuderna “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” - Frederick Douglas Children run to and fro, crisscrossing dusty dirt alleyways. A child pokes his head into a card board tent in search of his mother. His father, like so many others, has deserted, leaving their young family of four essentially homeless. The boy takes a deep breath, feeling lightheaded from the ines capable stench of human waste. “Mommy, is there anything to eat today?” He begs. Today. She looks up at him from a small cupboard tucked away beside the decrepit mattress they all share. Mommy knows the answer, but unable to utter the words or even shrug her shoulders, she changes the subject. “Go play with your friends, it’s sunny out.” Mommy wants so badly to mention the trip she’ll make to the breadline later today but can’t bear offering another false hope to her children. This is not Orangi Town. It is New York City, 1933. America, and the rest of the global economy, is rocked by the Great Depression. 18 million elder ly, disabled, and single mothers live at bare suste nance levels. One out of four working Americans have lost their job. There is no safety net. The term or concept does not even exist. How quickly things change. The Roaring Twen ties are a time a of excess. Wall Street booms and anyone with spare change pours it into the stock market, ready to double their dollar. Behind the curtain, wages are slowing down, consumer debt is rising, banks are over-leveraged, and agricul ture slumps amidst a terrible drought. On October 24, 1929, almost 13 million shares of stock are sold as investors wake up to the reali ty of overvaluation, the day of reckoning is called “Black Thursday”. Five days later, on “Black Tues day”, the rest of the investment world follow suit and sell over 16 million shares. Companies go bankrupt overnight. Anyone who has ever put a dollar in the bank goes running to claim their cash, only to find the banks don’t have it on hand. Bank runs sweep the country. As the US Treasury tries to make emergency

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NOVEMBER 2025

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governmental loans to banks to keep them afloat, it realizes it no longer has enough money to pay its own government workers. Few Americans, to this point in time, have been able to save enough for the “rainy day”. They live for the moment, as has always been par for the course, and realize working from cradle to grave is normal. If old age does prevent working, well, that’s why par ents have children. The handful fortunate enough to save and invest their money watch their fortunes disappear in a flash. No one escapes unscathed. “The impact of all these forces increasingly con vinced the majority of the American people that individuals could not by themselves provide ad equately for their old age, and that some form of greater security should be provided by society,” says Senator Paul Douglas of Illinois. State and local governments, and charities are struggling to survive themselves, long past being able to assist the people. Enter President Franklin D. Roosevelt on March 4, 1933. Within his first one hundred days in office, he introduces the New Deal, a road to recovery. Its primary aims are employment and financial secu rity. The forward-thinking FDR administration also quietly establishes a “Black Cabinet”, led by Mary

McLeod Bethune. Its purpose is to ensure that ev ery New Deal agency has a black advisor. The num ber of African American government workers in stantly triples. The American people receive a panacea— hope. Whether rich or poor, white or black, man or wom an, help is on the way. As tempting as it may be for a politician to grab public morale and sprint from campaign to cam paign with its superpowers, FDR understands his ultimate responsibility to the future. “The lessons of history, confirmed by the evi dence immediately before me, show conclusively that continued dependence upon relief induces a spiritual and moral disintegration fundamentally destructive to the national fiber. To dole out relief in this way is to administer a narcotic, a subtle de stroyer of the human spirit…” the president pro claims. One of the most important features in this initia tive is passed by Congress in 1935, the Social Secu rity Act. It will address unemployment, disabilities, and retirement pensions. What is viewed as a res cue package in a time of crisis, becomes the new and permanent framework for American society. It is called welfare.

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AS THE FOUNDER OF GOODSTREET FINANCIAL LLC, RACHEL VERGARI HAS REDEFINED WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MODERN FINANCIAL ADVISOR

For more than two decades, Rachel Vergari has been helping peo ple turn financial planning into something deeply personal. As the Founder of GoodStreet Financial LLC, she’s built a firm grounded in integrity, transparency, and human connection, a place where cli ents feel empowered to plan boldly and live fully. “I’ve always believed money isn’t just about numbers,” Rachel says. “It’s about freedom, choices, and peace of mind.” That belief took root early. After earning her Finance degree from the University of Rhode Island, Rachel began her career with the largest mutual life insurer in the U.S., where she learned the true meaning of trust and service. From there, she spent 15 years in cor porate management, training advisors, developing strategies, and helping close complex contracts. “I loved the challenge,” she says. “But I missed the one-on-one connection, the chance to help people directly.”

While people often assume the toughest part of finance is dealing with markets or emotions, Rachel says the real challenge is time. “There are never enough hours in the day,” she admits. “The key is prioritizing what truly matters, empowering my team, refining sys tems, and staying focused on our mission.” Her advice for the next generation? “Find a mentor and never stop learning,” she says. “Every successful person I know had someone who believed in them before they believed in themselves. And when it comes to money, don’t try to go it alone. Surround yourself with professionals you trust, advisors, attorneys, accountants, people who care about your success as much as you do.” Rachel also reminds young professionals that wealth isn’t built overnight. “It’s built through discipline, smart choices, and mean ingful relationships,” she says. “Stay humble, keep learning, and don’t just chase success, build something that lasts.”

That realization became her turning point. Rachel took the leap and launched GoodStreet Financial LLC, a firm where she could blend structure with heart, strategy with empathy. “It was terrifying and thrilling all at once,” she laughs. “But it’s the best decision I’ve ever made.” Today, GoodStreet Financial LLC helps individuals, families, and business own ers create plans that aren’t just about building wealth, but about designing lives filled with clarity, confidence, and purpose. Of course, entrepreneurship comes with its share of challenges. “In the begin ning, it was all about finding the right team,” Rachel says. “You need people who not only have the skills but share the heart behind your mission. I kissed a few frogs along the way, but every lesson brought me closer to the incredible team I have today.”

Through it all, Rachel’s motivation has remained the same: her clients. “I don’t believe in failure, only lessons,” she says. “Every set back and every late night has shaped who I am today. Growth happens in the hard seasons. That’s where you discover what you’re made of.” And at the heart of it all? People. “When you treat people like gold, they feel it,” Rachel says with a smile. “They become your biggest advocates and your greatest inspiration. Every leap of faith has led me here, to a business built on integrity, ser vice, and human connection. That’s what inspires me every single day.”

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