Mantua residents Lydia Connell-Breen and Haylee Cain are 10-year-old best friends who attend J. Mason Tomlin Elementary School. The budding entrepreneurs recently began a make-and-create pen stand on Hollybrook Drive in the Bellemeade neighborhood where visitors can build their own pens.
Mayor Robert Zimmerman got personalized mayor’s pens from the girls that had patriotic designs. He plans to use them at meetings and to sign township legislative and other documents.
“We hope this is the beginning of their journey of being successful entrepreneurs,” said Lydia’s mom Dawn. “Learning the value of a dollar through hard work is very important.”