Twenty- three years ago Michele Marcowitz left New York and headed to the suburbs of New Jersey. Transitioning from a home where her cousin’s window was only at arm’s length away, to a spacious suburban neighborhood was difficult to get used to. This among other things made it difficult for Marcowitz to get used to her big move. On Hylan Boulevard in Staten Island, it was easy to walk to the local pizzeria, the deli. and even to school; this made it convenient to travel.

Even though she felt Marlboro was safer for young children, as an adult she felt trapped. In New Jersey, a car is a necessity and even driving laws were different. When she first moved to Marlboro, there were little to no sidewalks to keep a “country” feeling so it was hard to go from a place where all you heard were cars honking, buses passing, and the conversation of the family next door. Initially, it felt too quiet for Michele. However, over the years, though, she learned to appreciate the occasionally deer that like to cross your path and the acres of tall oak trees.

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