The Personal Injury Attorney in Hillsdale, NJ, You Can Trust

Olivia "Livvy" Dunne of Hillsdale is no stranger to the spotlight. With 7.8 million followers on TikTok and another 4.4 million on Instagram, the Louisiana State senior gymnast is a social media star.

Now the Bergen County native can add one more thing to her resume: a Sports Illustrated cover.

“Somebody pinch me,” Dunne posted Wednesday on Instagram stories with the SI cover.

Dunne and fellow LSU star Angel Reese grace the cover for a story about money in college sports. Titled "Generation NIL," the story examines the economy of collegiate sports, and how LSU women's sports is leading the way.

On3, a college recruiting site, has Dunne at No. 3 on the name, image and likeness (NIL) list, with an estimated valuation at $3.2 million — trailing only Bronny James (Lebron James' son) and Shedeur Sanders (Deion Sanders' son). Reese is No. 8 on the list, with $1.7 million.

It is not the first time Dunne has graced the pages of Sports Illustrated. She appeared in the 2023 swimsuit issue.

“It’s a dream come true. It’s an honor to be included because I love everything the magazine represents. It is all about supporting women from all different paths,” Dunne told SI at the time.

Women and Sport:NJ's Olivia Dunne defines what college athletes can earn with NIL

Bergen County roots

Dunne, born Oct. 1, 2002, grew up in Hillsdale and has a long history with the Eastern National Academy of Gymnastics in Paramus, which she represented at national and international competitions, including stints with the U.S. national team.

When Dunne at the age of 14 represented Team USA at an international competition, she told The Record: "You know, it's a long path ahead. All I can say is this is one more step to my Olympic dream. I feel really excited to see what is to come."

Dunne was homeschooled and graduated from Abeka Academy, an online homeschooling site. She received a scholarship to LSU in 2019.

Social media influencer

Today, Dunne has millions and millions of followers on multiple social media platforms.

Her social media journey began way back in 2012, and her Instagram posts track her gymnastics journey through the years from ENA Paramus to LSU. It includes meeting future Olympians Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney and Simone Biles.

hanks to Starbucks, the Hillsdale community had a spot in town to grab coffee and work remotely. But when the cafe closed, local needed something to fill the void. That why Anthony Bellifemine, owner of The Barista’s Touch, opened his business. The coffee shop and cafe serves both European style and traditional coffee.

The Barista’s Touch has a dual menu that mixes familiar and unfamiliar coffee options. First, there are traditional coffees like Americanos, lattes, cortados, in-house cold brew, and house-dripped coffee. Then there are an assortmant of teas, as well as back iced tea. In fact, nearly all these drinks can be made iced.

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Anthony says many patrons are unfamiliar with the menu’s European style beverages. But he enjoys introducing them to these new flavors. Popular drinks include the shaken espresso. “It’s a nice way to drink espresso that’s not too bitter or acidic,” he says. Likewise, the Cappuccino freddo – which resembles an Irish coffee – is a hit. “It’s a fun way to have your espresso with different temperatures in one drink.”

But Anthony’s favorite menu item is the espresso tonic. “It’s sweet and acidic,” he says. “It’s a good way to stay hydrated, and refreshing when the weather is warm.”

The Barista’s Touch also collaborates with Despina’s Cream Bakery in River Vale. This allows the cafe to offer the bakery’s bars, crumb cakes, cookies, and focaccia.

Anthony was hands-on with the space’s design and layout. “I’m a barista, so I knew how I wanted the coffee bar to flow most efficiently,” he says. He gave the space – which seats 14 patrons – a “rustic European vibe” thanks to furniture sourced from Facebook Marketplace. The cafe also features teal ceiling tiles, wood from a barn in Pennsylvania, and equipment from Greece.

Prior to opening The Barista’s Touch, Anthony grew up in Elmwood Park. He currently lives in Waldwick. “I have been in the hospitality industry for as long as I can remember,” he says. He worked at a pizzeria as a child, then went on to attend culinary school in New York City. He was most recently at Erie Coffeeshop & Bakery in Rutherford. “Ownership has always been a dream of mine,” he says. “When the location came up, it was meant to be.”

Visit The Barista’s Touch at 66A Park Ave in Hillsdale. Look for them online to learn more.

All Photos: © The Barista’s Touch

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This week, Christians around the world will observe Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of the 40-day period of repentance known as Lent. The solemn season ends on Easter, which falls this year on March 31.

Ash Wednesday is celebrated with a Mass during which a priest places ashes in the shape of a cross on worshippers' foreheads while reciting the words "You are dust, and to dust you shall return." The ashes, typically made from burning palms, symbolize penitence and mortality.

Over the past decade, an increasing number of priests in North Jersey, recognizing that busy commuters don't always have time to stop into church on weekdays, have been bringing ashes to the time-crunched masses at bus stops, train stations and intersections.

The idea is to meet people where they are, said the Rev. Emily Mellott, a pastor at Trinity Episcopal Church in Moorestown, who helped popularize the phenomenon with a website, ashestogo.org.

"Many of us need those reminders more when we are in the middle of our daily business of life than when we’ve made time and preparation to come to a church building, so we take the ashes and prayer outside the church."

The Rev. Andrew Wright of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark added that although the act of receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday is a Christian practice, "it’s available for anyone (of any denomination) who wishes to participate."

Ashes to Go in North Jersey

Here's a partial list of locations around the region offering ashes-to-go. The Episcopal Diocese of Newark maintains an map with the most up to date information at the "Ashes to Go in Northern New Jersey" webpage.

Deena Yellin covers religion for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to her work covering how the spiritual intersects with our daily lives, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.