GOD is Watching the Apples

Capturing the central theme of this book, John Salerno shares a story he told as a church youth leader to illustrate the point that God constantly watches over us, even when we are unaware of it, and even in spite of our doubts.

A young boy going through the cafeteria line notices a sign that reads, "Take only one apple. God is watching," so as he passes the cookies, he makes up his own sign and places it front of them. "Take as many as you want...

God is Watching the Apples

Journey with John Salerno and Betsy Tooker in this often heart-warming, sometimes heart-breaking, and always inspiring book. In unflinchingly honest first person accounts, they share with author Chuck Miceli and you the reader, their individual life stories intermingled with their faith, and the surprising and sometimes incredible History of Tops Marketplace.

GOD is Watching the Apples provides a deeply intimate look into people who devoted their lives, their fortunes and their relationships to making a business succeed and explores in-depth, the themes that marked this incredible journey:

Grit: George and Julia Topshe opened Tops Market in 1951. The tiny 'box' store with a single cash register sat in a very rural area of the state. Some of the locals chided them, "Who ya gonna sell groceries to: The cows?"

When John and his partner, Jack Kastner, bought Tops, they dedicated ten percent of their profits to charity. John later shares, "I was the numbers man and became convinced that at the rate we were going, we'd soon be out of cash and out of business. Do you know what this means?" Jack replied, "Yes, we just have to give more."

Grief: John and Betsy chronicle the sacrifices and lives of so many loved ones they lost along the way. In particular, John relates the toll that business stresses took on his relationship with his wife, Nancylee, and lays bare his failures for the reader to assess.

Then, just when it seemed as though hope could triumph over ordeal, Nancylee was killed by a wrong-way drunk driver. John laments, "My soul mate, my traveling companion, confidant and lover, was gone; her life cut short by a careless, senseless, merciless act, and I didn't know how I could go on living without her."

God: Betsy Tooker recalls clearly her impression of the new Tops owners, "When John and Jack bought the store in 1979, in plain English, they didn't know a damn thing about the grocery business, but they were hell bent on dedicating it to God."

John recalls "When the hospital finally released me, I was still delirious and I couldn't walk. I was convinced that they had sent me home to die but then Jack came to visit me and after hearing me complain, he grabbed me by the shoulders and shook me violently while shouting, "God isn't finished with you, John. God is not going to let you die!"

Groceries: (Chuck) "When John and Betsy first approached me about working with them on writing this book, I hesitated. After all, how much of a story could there be about a grocery store? I couldn't have been more wrong.

(Betsy) "On march 3, 2019, we experienced a devastating blow that we thought might finally signal the end of Tops... For me, the tipping point occurred after they demolished the burned out shell of what used to be our store... As I looked over the empty lot, I saw a single, beautiful flower that had pushed its way out of the ground and was growing through the dirt and in that moment, I knew. I pointed to the flower and said, 'There's your answer. We have to rebuild.'"

Read GOD is Watching the Apples and let it make you laugh, and cry, and even more than that, let it inspire you with the power of its enduring story of faith, hope, and love.

Chuck Miceli is an award-winning author, poet, and playwright whose writing style focuses on unique projects. His textbook, Fire Behind Bars, (restricted publication) co-written with Alton P. Golden, was the first book in the US to address the dangers and prevention of deadly fires in secure institutions. The book put him on the national stage as a speaker and consultant.

For Chuck's paranormal thriller, Amanda's Room, the most frequent reader and reviewer comment is that "It is unlike anything I have ever read before." The story, located in New York's Catskill Mountains region, features a young woman's spirit who communicates by manipulating the environment, especially violent weather.

Chuck's literary novel, Wounded Angels, switches local from Brooklyn New York to the Bristol / Southington Connecticut area. Published as a novel, the book is based upon real-life people and events. A distinctive feature of the book is that Chuck tells the entire story in the first-person narrative of the female lead character.

In the biography, GOD is Watching the Apples, Chuck partners with John Salerno and Betsy Tooker, co-owners and managers of Tops Marketplace in Plantsville Connecticut. Through John and Betsy's own words, they share their individual autobiographies, as they also share the exceptional and inspirational history of this "community and faith focused" market. Learn more about Chuck and his work on his website, AuthorChuckMiceli.com

John Salerno is the primary force behind God is Watching the Apples. As a young boy, he experienced a profound act of generosity that helped shape the man he would become. The impetus for the book began with the sudden and tragic death of his beloved wife, Nancylee, killed by a wrong-way drunk driver on Connecticut Interstate I-84. That caused him to reflect on their years together, their marriage, children and family life, his career, and eventually the purchase of Tops Market, which became a central feature of the rest of their lives. John also relates the impact of his faith and that of the many important people who influenced the business and his and Nancylee's lives, especially his confidant and business partner: Betsy Tooker.

Betsy Tooker worked hand-in-hand with John Salerno in relating the story behind God is Watching the Apples, just as she has partnered with him throughout their personal and professional lives. Long before John and Jack Kastner bought Tops, Betsy had been working at the market since she was 15 years old and has been a part of the business ever since. She brings to their story the rich history of Tops from its very beginning, and the people who created and sustained the business. Following Jack's Kastner's death, Betsy relates how she bought into the business as John's full partner and co-manager. Together with John, she recounts the trials and tragedies, as well as the accomplishments and triumphs associated with running this business dedicated to being an instrument of God's goodness in the community.