SOMA Living September 2025

My name is Haley Esperanzate. I am a 5th grader at Seth Boyden Elementary School. I love to read, write, draw, and enjoy many other hobbies. I have been living in Maplewood since 2021. I am excited to write this column about my life here in the SOMA community as a 10-year-old. I want to share all the great things for kids to see and do in this wonderful place. For starters, the moment I moved here, everyone welcomed me and my mom with open arms. They were all so nice and prepared to welcome us! Neighbors even brought us cookies! When I started school at Seth Boyden, I first met all my friends on Zoom. They accepted me from the start and introduced me to the school. Another thing I love about SOMA is the amazing food places! In downtown Maplewood, there are awesome restaurants and cafes like Outer Borough and The Village Trattoria. There’s also a wonderful bakery called Able Baker! They make some of the best sweet treats in Maplewood. My family loves hanging out at Artie’s and now Pallet, where my mom is a bartender. In South Orange, you can find Tito’s Burritos, Mozzarella, Bunny’s, and so much more! Lastly, I adore all the homes in South Orange and Maplewood. They are so cozy and beautiful! Some of them look like cottages. They are all made beautifully, and it feels like I am surrounded by houses straight out of Disney princess movies. Since we’re on the topic of houses, my dream job when I grow up is to be a real estate agent. I am so glad I get to share my thoughts about SOMA in this magazine, and I look forward to writing about other great things in the SOMA community! SOMA SNAPSHOTS WELCOME TO “SOMA SNAPSHOTS: A KID’S VIEW”!

email us at AtlanticConcepts@hotmail.com to schedule a free estimate www.atlantic-concepts.com (386) 344-3894 Atlantic Concepts is a family owned business that has been serving the SOMA community for over 10 years. Its founder, Eddie Cevallos and family are proud residents of Maplewood. Specializing in kitchens, bathrooms, additions, etc, Atlantic Concepts would love to hear your ideas for your projects. Please give us a call for a free estimate.

Haley Esperanzate is a local SOMA kid who loves dance, writing, exploring SOMA, trying new restaurants and spending time with her friends and family around town

This monthly column gives kids from South Orange and Maplewood a chance to share their insights and experiences for three consecutive issues. We hope you enjoy seeing SOMA through the eyes of our young writers! To apply to be a writer, please submit a 250 word essay with an introduction and your feature of a special place, activity, or event in SOMA to: somalivingmagazine@gmail.com

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