Name: Karen Shinevar
Where do you live? Upper Montclair
When did you move there? Fall of 2011, when my youngest son went to college
Where did you grow up? I grew up in Battle Creek, MI, Cereal City Capitol of the world! We lived on a farm and raised our own food and meat. I went to college in MI, graduating from University of Michigan Law School in 1981. Go Blue!
How do you make a living? OR What is your everyday passion? In part because my husband died in 2004 with cancer at age 48, I am grateful for each and every day and try to make a difference. Animals have always been so important to my family, so in 2017 a Montclair friend and I co-founded Communities Promoting Animal Welfare NJ (CPAW NJ) to help outdoor cats through trap, neuter, return to save lives and reduce shelter intake. We have a monthly SPAY DAY the last Tuesday of every month with our partners ACME (we use their parking lot) and People for Animals. I also help folks with cat behavior problems to prevent surrenders.
Coffee, tea or … ? LOL. Coffee is my one truly bad habit. I love it! And coffee mugs with hippos or cats.
What’s your idea of a perfect weekend day? Being able to sleep until 7 AM and not going out trapping until then. I love going to craft fairs and seeing the talents of so many, or going for a nice walk in a park. Living inside Brookdale Park makes that easy.
What’s your favorite local restaurant? So many to choose….but I love Mish Mish and anything spicy!
What’s on your nightstand? Salve for my aching joints, a big bottle of water, Reveal (latest book I’m reading), and my rose quartz pendulum.
What are you listening to? NPR…can’t help it….I’m addicted.
What are your current indulgences? Any extra calories go to treats from Creative Confections on Bellevue Avenue. Or a large cup of Dairy Queen. Seriously….I am a DQ nut from childhood.
What talent you would most like to have? I’d love to be able to sing…or really be able to play the piano well.
What’s the worst-kept (or best-kept!) secret about Montclair? The best kept secret is how many folks really care about cats and are feeding outdoor cats, but a bit under the radar…contact us at cpawnj.org and we can help you spay/neuter them. We’re here to help!
What do you hope they say about you at your funeral? That she tried to do her best to make a difference in the world. And that I loved my two sons more than anything else in the world.
nice profile. what is it about midwesterners and DQ? we feed a male stray cat that is intact. should he be spayed/neutered?
Hi lacamina: YES! Feel free to use the contact info at the CPAWNJ links in the profile to get assistance.