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The Edge for September 2018

An Exclusive Article for NJ ChamberEdge
Grounds for Sculpture
At Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton Township, there are sculptures, beautiful landscapes and plenty of quiet places to take it all in.

With deadlines, meetings and reviews, any workplace can get stressful. It can get intense. So we asked New Jersey business executives to share with us the places – the hidden gems – they retreat to in New Jersey to unwind. Here’s what they said.
 

 

Grounds for Sculpture

Aldonna Ambler

I enjoy Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton Township, where the New Jersey State Fairgrounds used to be. Each sculpture is displayed in its own distinct setting. The landscaping and foliage play large parts of the overall immersive experience. There are sufficient walkways, seating and refreshments. Plus there are quiet meditation areas that are exquisite. I enjoy visiting at least four times each year because the seasons make a huge difference in the experience.

– Aldonna Ambler, President, Ambler Growth Strategy Consultants

 

Don Jay SmithA Walk in the Woods

When I need to get away from work for a few hours, I like to go for a hike in the woods. Places like Hacklebarney State Park in Chester and Schooley’s Mountain Park in Long Valley are beautiful. But one of my favorites in Central Jersey is the Ken Lockwood Gorge where I can take my dog and walk along the scenic South Branch of the Raritan River. While it’s very popular on the weekends, during the week it is relatively quiet and provides a refreshing respite from my computer and cell phone. The trail follows an old, one-lane road that has long been closed to vehicles so it is an easy walk with plenty of places to sit by the meandering water. To me, there is nothing better than quiet time in the woods and New Jersey is filled with gorgeous opportunities.

– Don Jay Smith, Partner, LKS Associates Inc.

 

Ralph ThomasThe Picturesque Grounds of Fiddler’s Elbow

My favorite hidden gem in New Jersey is the serenity of Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club in Bedminster. As soon as I step foot inside, I have a feeling of calm, and I begin to decompress from the workday or week. This is thanks to the facility’s picturesque grounds, friendly staff and great dining experiences. They also have a culture of respect on the grounds where cellphones, for example, are expected to be muted to ensure everyone has the same serene experience. Whether I’m spending quiet time or enjoying a meal with my wife and friends, the facility makes you feel welcome. As an avid golfer, Fiddler’s three golf courses, training programs and practice areas are particularly inviting. Playing golf on such wonderful grounds makes you enjoy the sport even more.

– Ralph Albert Thomas, CEO and Executive Director, NJCPA

 

Responses for this article were edited for space and clarity.

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Newsmakers


Hackensack Meridian Health has received a $125 million donation from an anonymous benefactor, the largest gift ever given to a New Jersey health system. The money will support an expansion of Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune City. At the donor’s request, a new pavilion will be named for John K. Lloyd, the network’s former co-CEO who died in February 2024.


Bergen New Bridge Medical Center has named Dr. William Holubek chief medical officer. Holubek, an emergency medicine physician by training, brings more than a decade of executive experience, previously serving as chief medical officer of Boca Raton Regional Hospital in Florida. He also held the role at University Hospital in Newark and served as vice president of medical affairs and CMO at Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center.


The Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation has received a five-year, $3.7 million federal grant to expand lung cancer screening among high-risk populations.


RWJBarnabas Health and Monmouth Medical Center have opened a new 'Food Farmacy' at Monmouth Medical's Alexander Pavilion. It's the health system’s sixth location providing patients with nutritious food and individualized nutrition counseling.


Rutgers University and RWJBarnabas Health launched the Rutgers/RWJBarnabas Health Innovation Hub, powered by Amazon Web Services. Based at the Health and Life Science Exchange in New Brunswick, the hub will bring together students, clinicians, researchers and tech experts to address health care challenges.


Three New Jersey children’s hospitals have earned top rankings in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026-27 Best Children’s Hospitals list. Hackensack Meridian Health’s Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital and K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital, considered as a single entity, tied for No. 1 in New Jersey with The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (part of RWJBarnabas Health). Atlantic Health’s Goryeb Children’s Hospital ranked No. 3 in the state and No. 6 in the NYC region.


Princeton University and NJIT have been named New Jersey’s top-ranked private and public universities in TIME magazine’s inaugural 'America’s Best Colleges 2026-2027' rankings. Princeton landed at No. 4 nationally among all 500 ranked schools; NJIT came in at No. 95 overall and No. 38 among public institutions nationwide, making it the state’s highest-ranked public university on the list.


Stockton University has completed a $24 million expansion and renovation of the Richard E. Bjork Library and Learning Commons at its Galloway campus. The project, which took two years, was completed in time for the fall 2026 semester.


Montclair State University has opened a virtual reality learning facility in partnership with Dreamscape Learn. The center is designed to expand experiential learning and prepare students for digital media careers.  


United Airlines has launched a time-saving benefit for customers: the ability to order food, drinks and other travel essentials in advance through the United app and have their order waiting at the gate.


The UMC Foundation has promoted longtime staff members Gary Engelstad to senior director of giving and Rebecca Roe to senior foundation director. Engelstad, with more than 30 years of experience in nonprofit senior housing and philanthropy, will focus on donor relationships and corporate sponsorships. Roe, who joined the foundation in 2013, will oversee strategic planning, staff management and cross-functional coordination.


Jennifer D’Angelo has been named interim president of the New Jersey Innovation Institute, an NJIT subsidiary founded in 2014 to accelerate technology development and connect private enterprise with university resources. D’Angelo will assume the role Sept. 21.


Novo Nordisk said it is rebranding its name to "Novo" and updating its corporate culture. Novo also announced a broader company rebrand focused around the phrase "Lasting Health Starts Now," which promotes the idea that patients should make progress toward long-term well-being immediately rather than later.


The New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJCPA) has launched its 17th food drive to benefit the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. Organized by the NJCPA’s Emerging Leaders Council, the food drive runs until Nov. 16.


JAG Physical Therapy has opened new clinics in North Brunswick, Old Bridge and Whiting, expanding access to rehabilitative and orthopedic services in Middlesex and Ocean counties. The additions bring JAG’s regional footprint to more than 180 locations.


Debra Rosen, a partner at Archer, has been named the 2026 recipient of the Honorable Joseph M. Nardi Jr. Distinguished Service Award from the Rutgers Law School-Camden Alumni Association. Rosen, who has spent 40 years at Archer, focuses on environmental and toxic tort litigation, compliance and due diligence. She serves on the firm’s Board of Directors and Equity and Inclusion.


Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis has formed a new practice team focused on legal services related to data center projects. Led by Barbara Koonz, the team can serve as lead counsel or as local New Jersey counsel for national and international law firms and developers.


Secaucus-based Quest Diagnostics has partnered with Apple to allow Apple's Health app users to purchase and schedule biomarker testing through the platform later this year. The service will offer a $119 laboratory panel measuring 50 biomarkers related to organ function and cardiometabolic health.