In the Vicinity
News and events on the retail, social, and civic scenes.

In the Vicinity By Stefanie Jackowitz and Sean Carlson 80 YEARS OF SHOES n July of 1929, Mac Needell and his wife, Rose, opened a small shoe store in downtown Summit. Although 80 years have passed since those doors first swung open, the spirit of that store, Nee Dell's, has remained the same—and so has its heritage. Grandson Mark Needell now owns and operates the family business. "It's kind of unique today for any business to last during all the economic ups and downs," he says. "It makes me feel proud." Nee Dell's carries a wide selection of women's footwear, including the latest from Merrell, UGG, and Dansko. Customers looking for holiday gifts can peruse the selection of men's styles, including slippers from both Acorn and UGG. New to the store is the Merrell outerwear collection, a line of water-resistant, windproof insulated jackets and fleeces. Visit Nee Dell's at 386 Springfield Avenue in Summit, or call 1941 nee Dell's in 908-273-2042 for information on anniversary specials, including raffles and prizes throughout December. nee Dell's today I and Memories Innovator Award Chatham Grad Wins G reg Schroll, a 2004 Chatham High School graduate, was named one of the 10 most brilliant innovators of 2009 by Popular Mechanics Magazine. Schroll, 23, was honored with the Next Generation Award at an October ceremony in Manhattan. His invention? He created a spherical robot that can propel itself up hills and stairs—a model that is considered a huge advancement in technology. Earlier models of the robot were limited to moving forward and backward. Although the spherical robot remains without a name, its technology has the potential to provide practical solutions to real-world problems. Schroll envisions the robot being used to explore other planets, or, to Greg Schroll and his winning invention meet a possibly more immediate need, to survey disaster areas and terrain too dangerous for humans to explore. Designed to be versatile, the robot's outer shell could even be made to float in water. And Schroll is likely to continue coming up with scientific innovations; he will be earning his master's degree in mechanical engineering from Colorado State University in 2010. Other Popular Mechanics winning inventions include a bacteria-powered battery used to help light homes in Africa, and a controller-free Xbox system that uses human body movement to power computerized players. How Do You Get to CARNEGIE HALL? B 8 asking Ridge resident and pianist Ashley Zhou, a Pingry School freshman, performed Frederic Chopin's Scherzo in B Minor at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall on October 10. The concert showcased the Young Artist Division winners from the 2009 World Piano Competition, held this summer at the Aronoff Center for the Arts in Cincinnati. Ashley won a silver medal in both the solo and concerto competitions in her division. A skilled pianist since the age of five, Ashley is no stranger to the stage. This was her second appearance at New York's Carnegie Hall. Congratulations, Ashley! Pianist Ashley Zhou, 14, of Basking Ridge Vicinity MAGAZinE Winter 2009

<<Previous Page | Home | Next Page>>

Get the latest Flash Player plugin free from Adobe.