BY SARA MARTINO

From the \”Land down Under\” to the \”Back to Front\” location on King Street in Gloucester City, Marika Dutot, a holistic body practitioner professional, has established herself as a welcome addition to the waterfront area that is expecting a BIG revitalization. Marika, who came to America from New Zealand twenty years ago, lives in Gloucester City with her two young sons. \”I love being here. The people are wonderful and I am very excited to be a part of the city and the proposed redevelopment. Everything is convenient and accessible, especially the parking right across the street from the building,\” Marika said.

Wow, just talking about the therapeutic massage and the method\’s advantages for well-being creates a feeling of relaxation and also a new outlook on Integrative Healing from the inside out. Imagine having a two hour massage, with soothing oils and deep tissue therapy. What a novel idea for a special Valentine\’s Day gift!

While creating a business plan as part of her studies in school, Marika decided on the name of her future business, \” Back to Front \” .The term comes from the procedure used by professional massage therapists when they have completed treating one side of your body and request that the customer turn over from back to front.

Marika attended the National Academy of Massage Therapy and Healing Services in Kulpsville, Pennsylvania and also taught at the school for five years. She has administrated her techniques to many celebrities, including Bob Segar and Christina Aquilera. She has also treated the rich and famous at \”Toppers\” located in Philadelphia on Rittenhouse Square. \”I formerly treated the guests at the Borgata Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, but the busy schedule of getting one customer relaxed and then immediately on to the next person for their treatment did not fit in with my approach to relaxation,\” she said.

Marika treats the whole body, helping the body to de-stress which in turn relieves aches, lowers blood pressure, vanishes stress and creates an optimal balance of mind, body and spirit. She suggests that certain viruses that compromise the immune system can be eliminated with the use of the \”rainbow\”therapy. Ten to twelve different oils are slowly dripped along the spine, penetrate the area and assist in eliminating viruses from the body.

Other treatments include \”CranioSacral\” therapy, a gentle method of detection and correction that encourages your own natural healing mechanisms that help to dissipate the negative effects of stress on the central nervous system. Marika recently attended a seminar in Philadelphia presented by the Upledger Institute on the treatment. She does administer the technique which is intended to strengthen the body\’s ability to alleviate migraines and headaches, chronic fatigue, learning disabilities and many other conditions.

The above therapy is performed on a fully clothed person. The therapist uses a light finger and hand touch, generally no more than the weight of a nickel, to release problem areas and relieve undue pressure on the brain and spinal cord, resulting in a body that is able to return to its greatest level of performance.

Lymph drainage therapy is another hidden key to health and longevity by the proper functioning of the lymphatic system which is critical in helping the body detoxify and regenerate the tissues. The process also demands use of a light touch allowing the trained therapist to detect the specific rhythm, direction and quality of the lymph flow in the body

Once the therapy begins to re-circulate body fluids, the swellings will be reduced, and the body will be detoxified. The treatment also alleviates insomnia, depression, stress, loss of vitality and memory among numerous other benefits.

A special healing room in the establishment is therapy enough to begin with.. A place where you can relax , look at and read the symbols on the wall that represent knowledge, affection and passion and anticipate the award of feeling fine from the inside out.

\”Sometimes you really are not aware that your body is under stress until you are in the hands of a massage therapist. Most times, when the session is completed and the customer gets up they remark how wonderful they feel, as if all the pressures and stress have really been drained from their body and mind,\” Marika said.

If you would truly like to show your love and affection to your loved one (or ones) take advantage of the many therapeutic services available at \”Back to Front\”. Gift certificates may be purchased for the services. \”Isogenix\” products for cleansing and nutritional health are available and for sale in the inviting front room at 32 N. King Street. Please call Marika at 856-456-9429 or 215-694-5566 for a scheduled appointment Monday through Saturday.

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Bill\’s Point of View:

Cheer –Newly appointed Superintendent of School Paul Spaventa found out that not all video tapes of school board meetings were being given to the Local cable Channel 19 for public viewing. Someone either in the administration and/or on the school board was choosing what tapes the public got to view. As soon as it was brought to his attention the superintendent corrected the problem. Thanks Mr. Spaventa for righting a wrong.

Jeer-To the representative of the City of Gloucester City and the representative of Police Chiefs for not releasing a public statement explaining the turmoil in our Police Department. Is the public\’s safety in jeopardy because of the split between the rank and file and the administration? The Chief\’s (Bill Crothers and Mike Kaye) remain silent, choosing instead to have surrogates write Letters to the Editor/post comments containing cheap jabs. The PBA union president released a statement about the problem but yet our elected leaders and department heads remain silent. The public deserves answers.

Jeer-Regarding the new King Street Corridor concept. Great idea but when are we going to stop the 53\’ tractor trailers from crisscrossing throughout our residential areas? The other day I watched a 53\’ trailer, pulled by a sleepover cab, travel North on 4^th Street and turn East onto Market Street. It was about 3:00 PM and the streets were loaded with kids coming home from school, while this behemoth vehicle snaked around, jumping curbs and finally (about 7 minutes blocking traffic) got onto Market St. Don\’t we have some LAWS about semi\’s rumbling through our city?

Cheer- To Gina Dunphy for all of the help she has been able to provide the City of Gloucester as the Coordinator of our UEZ, (Urban Enterprise Zone office). Her contributions both professionally and personally will always be looked upon as being great accomplishments for our City and the citizens of Gloucester. Unfortunately Gina will be leaving us this month to be with her family more and we wish her all the best in the future and thank her for her help and commitment to her job and our City.

Jeer- To the DCA, (Department of Community Affairs) for taking forever to approve the City\’s expired grant application for the revised plan to purchase and renovate the Gloucester Heights Fire hall into a new Senior Citizens Center. The fact that the City dropped the ball in letting this grant expire probably deserves a jeer as well. Councilman Nick Marchese said, \”We are happy to say that the renovations to the hall will be completed shortly and our Seniors will be able to enjoy this fine facility. We thank the Gloucester City senior citizen\’s for their patience.\”

Cheer-To the Mount Ephraim Celebration Committee, organizations and businesses for the seasonal banners on Kings Highway.

Cheer –To the Memorial dedicated to the lives of Jim Sylvester and John West.

Jeer – Mount Ephraim Post Office \’trailer\’ – fence falling down, trash all over, parking lot light leaning into the yard, plain and simple – an eye sore.

Cheer– Members of the Gloucester Heights Fire Association got tired of waiting for the City to pick up a dead squirrel lying in the street. So they took it upon themselves to clean up the mess. Thanks guys for helping to keep our City clean. Silly as it may seem a lesson in civic pride was displayed by these individuals; one that we should all heed.

Cheer-To the members of the Gloucester City Fire Department on their T-shirt campaign to raise funds to help our troops in Iraq. Kudos to the area fire departments (Brooklawn, Mt. Ephraim, Bellmawr, Westville, Gloucester City, Chews Landing, Deptford, Cherry Hill) for a job well done in fighting the recent fires that have occurred in our area. The Cheer includes the EMT\’s for their rescue services at auto accidents as well.

Cheer-To the two sixth grade Brooklawn students who attend the Alice Costello School for their innovative charitable work. After the 3-year old daughter of one of their teachers was diagnosed with leukemia, Gabryelle Doherty and Sydney Weichmann were inspired to begin to raise money to help seriously ill children. If you wish to purchase a purse from the girls, you can contact staff at the Alice Costello School at 456-4039.

Contributors include: Councilman Nick Marchese, Pastor Jim Doster, Susan Cain, Bernadette Gorman and two who remained anonymous. Send your Cheer or Jeer to [email protected].

NEWS Correspondent

BY SARA MARTINO

Two Saints named Valentine, maybe even a third Valentine? We do know now that everyone wants to honor St. Valentine on his special day. One of the saints of the second century was Valentine of Roma. The other is Valentine of Terni and third saint was martyred in Africa. History is not clear on the reason that Saint Valentine (I, II or the III), is the patron of love but the modern world celebrates his day, February 14, with tributes to the loves of their lives.

\”Valentine\’s Day is the busiest time of the year for a florist,\” said Sunshine Flowers & Gift\’s owner, Diane Fisher. \”We start work at 7 am open at 9 am and stay open to 8 pm on that day. Sometimes later if the customers still come in or telephone for orders,\” she said.

At the present time, the shop has two full time designers, Linda and Georgette. Diane\’s sister Pat waits on the customers and does computer work for the business. Diane is in the design room, behind the cash register when needed and busy with the arrangements. Jim, as the fastest and best florist delivery man, delivers all over New Jersey and surprises many recipients with the beautiful arrangements from the shop.

\”On Valentine\’s Day, we have an extra ten people and three trucks out on the road,\” Diane said. \’Easter, Mother\’s Day, Christmas are some of the other busy days, but on Valentine\’s Day, customers request delivery specifically on the \”Sweetheart\’s Day\”, not the day before or the day after,\” she said. Other holidays are spread out over a few days.

According to some rose experts, Red roses mean \”romantic love\” and are the most popular and the traditional choice. White, yellow, pink, peach, and hot pink roses and the reds are ordered from three different wholesalers in the tri-state area and sometimes from Florida, California and South America if needed. White roses signifying \”purity\” lend themselves to displays of reverence and humility. The meaning of yellow roses is joy and friendship. Peach roses can be used to signify sympathy or gratitude. Pink and light pink roses show feelings of admiration. When the flowers arrive at the shop, the flower arrangers remove all the thorns and lower foliage, and then they condition the flowers to keep them fresh and long lasting.

Sunshine adds different ferns, plumosa and baby breathe to the custom-made arrangements .Balloons, teddy bears and other additions to the bouquets are available. In addition to the beautiful flowers and plants on the main floor, customers can step upstairs to an \”upper room\”, where Yankee Candles are on display as well as many other delightful gift items for sale. Throughout the shop, exquisitely designed Enesco Angels seem to float on the shelves. Bearington Bears are ready and waiting for you to bring them home.

Diane and husband Bill grew up in Gloucester City attended Gloucester Catholic High School and are the proud owners of Sunshine for the last 18 years after buying the property at 2 N. Broadway from a Mr. Funk, the previous owner. They have been married almost 41 years, with two daughters and three grandchildren. Diane\’s parents, Don and Anna Reddy were also born and raised in Gloucester City.

When the Fishers visited Alaska, Diane said they were pleasantly surprised to see how big and gorgeous the flowers were that grew there. \”The colors were so vibrant because of the extra hours of sunlight during the summer solstice,\” Diane said.

\”We will positively take lots of photos of tropical flowers when we go through the Panama Canal and while visiting the Caribbean in the future,\” Diane said. Birds of Paradise, Anthurium, Ginger, Protea and lovely Orchids are some of the pleasantry that the Fishers are hoping to gaze upon and partake of their flowery aromas. They will come back with additional, exciting ideas for their shop.

Diane will be too busy to traditionally celebrate Valentine\’s Day with a romantic dinner. But, she certainly will be surrounded by more flowers than the rest of us. \”My present to my husband will be \”a loving pat on the back\”. We\’ll celebrate after all the orders have been filled and the customers are satisfied .I still make sure that the girls in our family are presented with their floral tokens of love,\” Diane said.

\”Unless requested, we do not call ahead to tell recipient of the delivery. We do not want to spoil the surprise,\” Diane said.

If the government comes through with rebate checks for the tax payers, use some of the extra cash and spend it right in your neighborhood. What could be nicer than \”saying it with flowers\”?

Call 456-0324 and order early for the best Valentine selections. Sunshine Flowers & Gifts is open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm and on Saturdays 9am to 2pm.

Related: Buy Local/UEZ