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HEALTH & WELLNESS
Health,Wellness&FitnessGuideADVERTISER CONTENT
DR. KAPLAN: Give yourself the best start on a brand-new day
One of the biggest health problems right now is peopleʼs mental status. Letʼs come up with a plan to reduce stress and anxiety for you and your children in natural ways with no risks or side effects.
When you wake up, do not press snooze. Make your bed immediately. This is an easy first step in the morning that will have you start your day with a victory. Donʼt check your cell phone for social media posts, text messages, or emails that will distract you from achieving your happiness and joy.
Donʼt start your day watching the news because that will create more stress and anxiety. Donʼt start your day with caffeine or sugar, which also contribute to increased anxiety.
Learn to generate your own energy without relying on external sources. Ways to do this differ for everybody, but may be exercising, meditating, journaling, stretching, breathing, listening to music, motivational books, or prayer.
After you make your bed, the next step is to go to the bathroom. Take coconut oil and swish it around in your mouth for 30 seconds. This is best to perform before you even talk or swallow. Coconut oil has been shown to help fight off the bad bacteria and in the morning you are most likely to have a lot of bacteria in your mouth.
Swishing will help activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which keeps you in a more relaxed state that will reduce anxiety and stress.
Other simple exercises you can do in the bathroom: gargling
intensely for 30 seconds and eliciting the gag reflex with your toothbrush or a tongue depressor. This activates the vagus nerve, a big part of the parasympathetic nervous system that helps with sleep, energy, heart function, digestion, urination, sexual function, circulation, and resDR. ERIC KAPLAN, KAPLAN BRAIN & BODY piration. Next, kiss your loved ones and give them a nice compliment. It is very unhealthy to start the day with a complaint, a negative comment, or a worrisome topic. That increases stress and anxiety for all parties. Dip your head in a bucket of water at 50 degrees Fahrenheit. This lowers your pulse rate if your heart is beating fast. Ask your doctor if this is appropriate for you. When performing this exercise, make sure you take time to breathe! Perform a diaphragmatic breathing exercise, where you push your belly down and out and inhale for four seconds, hold it for seven seconds, and then suck your stomach in as you exhale for eight seconds. You can repeat this three times and practice this three times a day.
When you are in the fight or flight, or sympathetic mode, instead of the rest and digest, or parasympathetic mode, this can also lead to migraine headaches. One natural option to help reduce stress and anxiety and even reduce headaches is to rub the little medial flap of the external ear, or the tragus, for 30 seconds and repeat three times a day.
Then make loud noises: cough, laugh, scream, sing, make high tones, make low tones, whistle, and swallow. Using your throat muscles in different ways will also get you in a more relaxed state.
Also, it is good to watch a comedy before work or school, which will help you be more productive throughout the day because you are less stressed.
With neuroplasticity and rewiring of the brain, it is possible to directly or indirectly activate the parasympathetic nervous system.
Put a sweet, sour or salty taste on the tip of your tongue, or a bitter taste on the back of your tongue. The more activation of the parasympathetics, the less likely you are to have anxiety. If you are medically diagnosed with anxiety, always talk to your medical doctor for treatment options.
Doing good deeds and helping others has also been proven to boost your immune system and reduce stress and anxiety. So make sure you do at least one good deed every single day.
Next, see me for terrific evaluations at huge discounts (for the first seven people who act now) to help you function better, feel better, and live better.To reserve your spot, write info@kaplanbrainandbody or call (201) 261-2150.
Berkeley: Covid can’t eclipse Berkeley PSO donors
FROM PAGE 1
school students, in all their curiosity and joy.
On Jan. 6, Earthʼs elementary school students attending Berkeley School in Westwood saw our planet up close and personal at a day of assemblies.
Waiting for each class in turn was the Earth Balloon, an inflatable 19 feet high and 22 feet in diameter, made of 24 huge panels silkscreened with photographs — shot from artificial satellites — of the surface of the world on cloudfree days.
Mobile Ed Productions, which owns this model of the globe, says the attraction has been used extensively across the United States to educate students about geography and environmental issues.
“Earth Balloon” is a star among the companyʼs assemblies, along with “Forces and Motion,” “The Magic of Science,” “SkyDome Planetarium,” “Stand Up, Step In, Stop Bullying!,” and “STEAM Museum.”
Overall, the company offers 50 curriculum-based programs across the country, and has performed in New Jersey thousands of times in the past 40 years, says its president, Jeff Thompson.
The Jan. 6 adventure was funded in spring 2020 by the Berkeley Parent School Organization (20192020 and 2020-2021) but delayed in scheduling thanks to the coronavirus.
Some students, of course, by then had moved on to middle school.
Participants also learned a bit about the Earth in the context of the solar system.
Were it safe to join together in such an enclosed space, 35 to 40 kids and a teacher could have slipped inside the balloon, as though in a bounce house of the mind, where familiar terrestrial features would have been set off in a new perspective.
Mobile Ed Productions says on its website that Earth Balloon visitors “see and better understand the scale of concepts such as continents, plate tectonics, time zones, latitude, longitude, and more. Even major cities in comparison to the total Earth will be recognized.”
The company also offers “a 45-minute journey through the universe from the comfort and security of your own school” via its portable, inflatable SkyDome planetarium.
“Students will learn how to identify every planet in our solar system in dramatic ʻflightsʼtoward each world. They will be introduced to Greek mythological characters and see how these heroes of the past can be found in the stars. Students will witness the night sky in different seasons and from different global perspectives.”
Berkeley principal Michael J. Fiorello told Pascack Press that, of course, nobody was allowed inside the inflatable, and all attended the lesson masked.
He said Mobile Ed Productionsʼ senior presenter put on a dynamic show. “All kids learn geography in any one of their years with us, but itʼs also a life skill, learning about the Earth. Itʼs applicable to everybody.”
He said, “Again, not just learning about our world and solar system, but a monotony-breaker, something fun during the day. ”
Fiorello said, “We havenʼt had a lot of opportunities to bring people in for assemblies last year — at all — so weʼre cherishing, actually, the time that we can bring back some of these safely.”
And he said, “Weʼve managed to have some great experiences even with Covid, but weʼre limited with assemblies and things that weʼre all used to, so itʼs nice to see the return of some enhanced education.” (Thompson, of Mobile Ed Productions, told Pascack Press that “We have a robust Covid policy and procedures that, along with employing electrostatic sprayers, contribute to creating a safe environment for our students, staff, and performers.”)
Fiorello lauded the 2020 Berkeley PSO for its intended gift to its students..
“They paid for the presentation. The Berkeley PSO works with me and we look for stuff to do but why I always thank them is most times thatʼs where the money comes from,” he said.
The PSO promotes the welfare of Berkeley Elementary School and its students “through volunteer work and cultural enrichment programs financed by fundraising events and annual dues.”
Its board are volunteer parents who coordinate fundraising events that benefit children, parents and school.”
The board says online, “Money raised during these events fund a variety of activities and student programs. It is the dedication and hard work of volunteers that drive these programs.”
We reached out to the Berkeley School PSO for this feature. For more information, youʼll find Berkeley School PSO via wwrsd.org and on Facebook.
Pascack Press is committed to informing, empowering and celebrating the communities we serve. Got a news or feature tip or a letter to the editor? Write pascackpress@thepressgroup.net or message us on Facebook.
PASCACK VALLEY
Schepisi bill targets violations at nursing homes
Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Sen. Holly Schepisi that would create the Nursing Home Advisory Council and introduce penalties for long-term care facilities that violate state and federal regulations was approved by the New Jersey Senate.
“Over the last two years, thousands of elderly residents in New Jerseyʼs nursing homes lost their lives due to coronavirus infection. During that time, there has been little to no accountability for the policies that have been implemented,” Schepisi (R-39) said in a press statement Jan. 10.
She said, “My legislation will make sure that we have accountability going forward and that any long-term care facility that violates state or federal regulations is held responsible. We need to keep our most vulnerable residents safe—and hold those who put their health in jeopardy to account.”
The legislation, A-4478/S2759, introduced in 2020, directs the Department of Health (DOH) to scale penalties for nursing homes that repeatedly violate state and federal rules, including stricter penalties and special focused inspections.
It also mandates that the DOH review reporting requirements by nursing homes, direct facilities to post financial statements online, and require yearly reports on facility-acquired infections.
The bill also creates a ninemember Nursing Home Advisory Council under the DOH to advise on the oversight of nursing homes and issues faced by residents and families.
According to Schepisi enhanced sanctions and penalties will include a series of escalating fines for severe violations, as well as a series of escalating licensure actions for repeated violations.
These licensure actions may include suspending, terminating, or revoking the facilityʼs license, restricting new admissions to the facility, or requiring the transfer of residents to another facility.
The bill also is sponsored by Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-37) and others.
PASCACK VALLEY
Ask the Dentist: Why teeth can look darker as we age…
Question:
When I looked at recent photos of myself, it seemed like some of my teeth looked dark, but I am in my sixties. Is it too late to correct something like this? —John B., Pearl River, N.Y.
Answer: You are not alone in noticing that your smile looks different in photos than you imagined. I hear this quite often. I also hear that grandchildren who are often brutally honest ask a grandparent why their teeth are brown/yellow, etc.
As long as you are healthy enough to have treatment and you are motivated to improve your
“Kodak smile,” go for it! Change in tooth position over the years, which is normal, can cause a tooth or teeth to look dark in a photo or to others. Often aligning teeth which then causes them to reflect light more evenly along with some ROBERT H. GULLER, D.M.D OF PASCACK DENTAL ARTS bleaching can provide a vast improvement. It is interesting to note that as long as gums and bone are healthy, teeth can be orthodontically moved at any age and often simple appliances can provide minor tooth movement. Speak to your dentist and find out how you can be ready to smile for the camera. For more information on this and other dental topics, write Dr. Guller at askdrguller@aol.com or call him at (201) 391-5565.
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WESTWOOD
ForeverYoung yoga, art, tai chi
Westwood Recreation is enrolling adults 55 and up for its ForeverYoung yoga, art and taichi classes starting in January.
Certified yoga instructor Tori Karach leads ForeverYoung participants, beginners to advanced, in a 60-minute class designed to increase overall flexibility, assist in improving balance and posture, boost mood, increase muscle tone and ease aches and pains.
The winter session runs Thursdays from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. at the Westwood Community Center.
The ForeverYoung yoga class is free for Westwood residents 55 and up; itʼs $20 per month for nonresidents.
Adults 55+ are also invited to take an “Artistic Journey” with artist Brit Sikiric the new instructor of the ForeverYoung Art Class. This takes place in a fun, freestyle, and low-key atmosphere — the perfect way to unwind and create.
Instruction focuses on each participantʼs unique sense of expression and interpretation of their own artistic process, through acrylic paint, watercolor, canvas and pastels, mixed media clay and more. Classes are inspired by impressionistic, traditional, and modern artists and participantsʼ own style.
ForeverYoung art class runs Tuesdays from noon to 1:30 p.m.
ForeverYoung participants looking for a new challenge are also encouraged to try Tai-Chi with instructor Hasmig Mekjian. Tai-chi is a Chinese martial art incorporating slow continuous movement from one pose to the next.
It is widely hailed as a beneficial way to reduce stress and anxiety and regular practice promotes better sleep and weight loss, and might improve cognition and balance and relieve symptoms of arthritis.
ForeverYoung Tai-Chi classes run Tuesdays at 8 a.m. and Thursdays at 1 p.m. Free for Westwood residents; the non-resident fee is $30 per month and includes entrance to both classes.
To register, adults 55+ should go to the Westwood Community Center office at 55 Jefferson Ave. any day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information call (201) 6647882.
BY JOHNSNYDER OF PASCACK PRESS
WESTWOODREGIONAL
Families “met” the school districtʼs new anti-bullying coordinator in an emailed introduction on Jan. 14.
Jameelah Surgeon, who also is the districtʼs human resource and compliance manager, said she was appointed to the role on Nov. 10, 2021, holds a bachelor of arts in psychology and a masterʼs degree in public administration, and has served as a human resources and talent manager since 2016.
She said she is working with the superintendent and the antibullying specialist at each school and clarified the legal difference between bullying and student conflict “so you understand why we make the decisions we make when we have harassment, intimidation, and bullying (HIB) complaints.”
Her appointment dovetailed with an incident at Westwood Regional High School that involved a student injury and police investigation, and an investigation at the middle school that police said was over a threat that was determined not to be credible.
Acting Superintendent Jill Mortimer wrote families on Nov. 17 to say the Westwood Regional School District, serving Westwood and the Township of Washington, “denounces violence directed toward any member of our school community. ”
She said that “thoughts are with the student who was injured yesterday as the result of a conflict that occurred on the campus of Westwood Regional High School.”
She promised “a strong response to what transpired.”
The previous day there was an additional police presence at Westwood Regional Middle School after boys said “horsing around” a week prior caused a stir that was determined not to be a credible threat.
All of the students involved are minors, and no identifying information is publicly available.
According to Mortimer on Nov. 17, a high school student altercation prompted her and principal Frank Connelly to meet with all students in their physical education classes, “including the classes that did not meet today, to express our deep disappointment in what happened and to denounce violence in our school.”
She said, “We advised students to come to an adult if they have an issue with someone or are worried about something.”
Without referring to the incidents, Surgeon said in her outreach, “New Jerseyʼs Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act (ABR) is commonly referred to as the Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) law. The purpose of the law was to strengthen the standards by which school districts prevent, report, investigate and respond to incidents of bullying.”
She said, “It is important to understand that a difference exists between conflict and bullying. Bullying is not a conflict between students or among groups of students. Bullying is one-sided, whereby one or more students are victims of one or more personʼs aggression. It is intended to physically or emotionally hurt the victim(s).”
She explained that in contrast, conflict “is a disagreement or an argument which is a normal part of human development. It is not motivated by an actual or perceived characteristic.”
Surgeon said, “According to the law, A HIB event can be any gesture, written, verbal, or physical act, or electronic communication, whether it is a single incident or a series of incidents.”
She provided a list of criteria that must be met: •The event must be seen by a reasonable as being motivated either by any actual or perceived characteristic such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or a mental physical or sensory disability, or by any other distinguishing characteristic. •The event takes place on school property, at any school sponsored function, on a school bus, or off school grounds that substantially disrupts or interferes with the orderly operations of the school.
And she said one of the following criteria must be met: •The event has the effect of physically or emotionally harming a student or damaging the student's property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm to his person or damage to his property; or • The event has the effect of insulting or demeaning any student or group of students; or • Creates a hostile educational environment for the student by interfering with a studentʼs education or by severely or pervasively causing physical or emotional harm to the student
We reached out to Mortimer, who is to be appointed to permanent superintendent Jan. 27, for an update and/or lessons learned on the high school incident, which she said involved a fight.
She said both Connelly and Westwood Regional Middle School principal Shelley LaForgia have since put interventions in place: •The high school added student programs: “Conflict Resolution” and “See Something, Say Something.” •A “Stop School Violence” program is being planned for all of what Mortimer called the “helping professionals” at the high school. •At the middle school, representatives from the Bergen County Prosecutorʼs Office conducted an internet safety presentation for students, and the school is implementing the Robin Program 30day Challenge (my-robin.com). •She said the school is working to set up the Alternatives to Domestic Violence program for 8th graders. •CarePlus New Jersey will deliver anti-bullying presentations in the spring.
Mortimerʼs note to families after the November high school incident spoke to an increased police presence, supplementing school security, in light of the district having information of “an alleged threat from a current student that could jeopardize the safety and security of the Westwood Regional High School.”
She said, “We are grateful to all of the community members who reached out to inform us of what they were hearing.”
Specifically, she said, the district had received information regarding a recent hostile post directed at the high school.
The matter was investigated, and she said she could not divulge details owing to the age of the people involved.
She said, “I want to reassure you of the fact that the alleged actor of this threat will not be allowed in the school building. We have several measures in place to prevent that from happening. As the details unfold, I will continue to keep you updated.”
Of the middle school incident, Mortimer said at the time, “In our ongoing efforts to keep the children and staff of our district safe, we encourage them to report suspicious activity or situations they are concerned about. It has proven to be beneficial in the past, and it worked again yesterday.” To connect with anti-bullying coordinator Jameelah Surgeon, write jameelah.surgeon@wwrsd.org or call (201) 664-0880 ext. 2013.
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SALUTE TO A BROTHER
PASCACL VALLEY
Fire chiefs past and present hobnob at Edgewood Country Club in River Vale on Jan. 14 amid their 2020–2021 testimonial dinner, for Hillsdale Fire Chief Tom Kelly. On Facebook, after Hillsdale Fire Commissioner Zoltán Horváth posted this photo to Hillsdale Happenings, residents added their plaudits — saying of Kelly in part that he is “the best of the bravest.”
