BC the Mag Late Spring '21 by Bergen County the Magazine

Late Spring 2021 | Complimentary Issue

Flower Power Garden State ‘Springs’ Into ‘Living Color’

BONDS IN HAIKU

A Teaneck mother-daughter connection through poetry

SWIMMING REBIRTH

Rutherford pair finds the right stroke

ON THE WATER

Sea Scouts make a splash

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The Mag Life. Style.WINTER Where you2020 live. Late SPRINGPublishers 2021

Steven & Sharon Goldstein

2019 WINNER

PUBLISHERS

Publisher Sharon & Associate Steven Goldstein Brandon Goldstein ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

2017 WINNER

Brandon Goldstein Editorial Director Jessica EDITORIALHumphrey-Cintineo DIRECTOR Jessica Humphrey-Cintineo Design Director Jessica LaPlaca-Bruno Suzanne Giovanna Barr CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Director FASHIONFashion DIRECTOR Candace KristinCandace Kristin PHOTOGRAPHERS Photographer

Nick Gagliano, Nick Studio Gagliano Uno Photography CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Contributing Writers C-SPAN Ron Bergamini eLivingToday Sheila M. Clancy, MS, CHES Hackensack University Medical Center Tara DeLorenzo Kevin Czerwinski Michelle DeSantis Kristin FavaloroKristin Favaloro Jess Ford Tracy Flaherty, CHHC Brandon Goldstein Brandon Goldstein Dr. Michael Gross Michael L. Gross MD Soneca Guadara Soneca Guadara Tara Ippolito-Lafontant Richard Posluszny Stefanie Sears Marilyn Katzman Richard Posluszny Bergen County The Magazine is published Kimberly Redmond six times a year. Mail all editorial and advertising Mary Ann Treger materials to 297-101 Kinderkamack Michele Weinstein Road, Suite 135, Oradell, NJ 07649 or email materials to steven@bcthemag.com. For advertising and information, please call (201) 694-5197 or (201) 694-5196. For subscription information or to contact us,

Bergen County The Magazine is published six times a year. www.bcthemag.com. Mailgoalltoeditorial and advertising materials to 297-101 Kinderkamack 135, Oradell, NJ 07649 Copyright Road, 2021. Suite All materials are the propertyor email materials to steven@bcthemag.com.

of Bergen County The Magazine, LLC and may not be copied reproduced without written694-5197 consent For advertising and or information, please call (201) from 694-5196. the publishers. or (201) For subscription information or to contact us, go to www.bcthemag.com.

A Letter From The Editorial Director Jessica Humphrey-Cintineo

uring quarantine and the COVID-19 pandemic, I picked up a few new habits and hobbies. I started cross stitching once my two sons went to bed for the evening; I made personalized beaded bracelets that are all the rage right now for my family and friends; I redecorated my bedroom – the most neglected room in the house; and I started going to the drive-thru Starbucks in Emerson one morning a week. Why? Well, to be honest, a friend of mine started this habit first. One morning, I saw her share a story on Instagram saying how she was packing up her two kids and heading to the drive-thru Starbucks for a reset – for her kids and herself. I immediately thought to myself, “Why am I not doing this?” Quickly I declared one day a week our Drive-Thru Starbucks Day. Typically, it was based on that week’s weather. Icky weather? “Boys, hop in the car for a little adventure!” My boys and I would eat our breakfasts and then we’d head to the car for our little drive through the Pascack Valley. Often the radio wouldn’t be on; we’d chat and discuss whatever was on our minds that morning. And, do you know what happened? My youngest’s (now 2) vocabulary skyrocketed. My 4-year-old learned how to find his way home as he gave me turn-by-turn directions from his car seat. One rainy morning, we arrived at the Starbucks pick-up-window to learn that my order had already been paid for by the person in the car in front of me. I’d heard of this happening, but I have never been on the receiving end (or giving end, if I’m being honest) of it. Typically, I order and pay via app, but in my haste to get out of the house I didn’t that morning, thus allowing this whole occurrence to happen. With my latte in hand and two boys munching on chocolate cake pops in the backseat, the weight of world seemed to melt away, as funny as that sounds. Small acts of kindness can be deeply impacting. We often get so wrapped up in our own hurts and trials that we miss those around us who are in the middle of their own struggles. In this issue, we’re introducing you to quite a few stories of struggles and kindness. You’ll read about Columbia Bank and The Boys and Girls Clubs in New Jersey’s efforts to warm the hearts of the homeless with Blankets of Hope; Amster’s Prospect Tavern, where diners become family; and Amy Losak, who kept the spirit of her mother alive through haikus, among others. May their kindness warm your heart, like that free warm latte did for me. Sending you love and virtual hugs,

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Contents features bergen county

A Swimming Rebirth In Rutherford

Bonds In Haiku Teaneck Woman Stays Connected To Her Mother Through The Beauty Of Haiku

Columbia Bank Foundation and Boys & Girls Club In New Jersey Team Up To Warm The Hearts Of The Homeless With Blankets of Hope

columns 48

Hackensack Students Win Prizes In C-SPAN Video Documentary Competition During Unprecedented Times, Students Address Issues Of National Importance

STYLE BY SONECA How To Pick The Right Jewelry For Your Outfit

BEAUTY AND THE ‘BURBS Prepping For The Next Big Event

Wellness Exams Are Essential To Ongoing Health Even During A Pandemic

BC LOCAL LIST Support Your Local Merchants and Restaurants

How To Throw A Cinco de Mayo Fiesta All Summer Long

➥ Contents continues on page 10.

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Contents in every issue

nonprofit spotlight

art

On The Water Sea Scouts Make A Splash

Haworth Artist Bursts With A Compulsion To Create

fashion

the sports doctor

auto

escapes

eats

restaurant guide

last laugh

Flower Power Garden State ‘Springs’ Into ‘Living Color’

Getting A Knee Up On Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries

Tesla’s Biggest Nightmare The All-New Ford Mustang Mach-E

Get Away Without Going Away Five Family Staycation Ideas That Won’t Break Your Budget

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isa Ferioli stepped outside her world and the experience proved to be exceptional. The 21-year-old Mahwah resident completed her journey with the Sea Scouts, BSA in October, exiting the program with the impressive rank of Quartermaster, which is the equivalent to the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts. Her time with the organization proved to be eventful and formative, providing her with an experience from which she believes other teenagers, particularly young woman, would benefit. Sea Scouts, BSA is a program of the Boy Scouts of America designed for young men and women ages 14-20. The Sea Scouts have existed for more than 100 years, promoting better citizenship, while improving members’ boating skills through instruction and practice in water safety, boating skills, outdoor, social, service experiences and knowledge of our maritime heritage. Ferioli was a member of Sea Scout Ship Ranger – units are called ships – which operates a 34-foot Bayliner cabin cruiser, an 18-foot sailboat, a 15-foot outboard runabout and a Sunfish sailboat on the Hudson River. The ship is also affiliated with the

Sea Scouts Make A Splash

By Kevin Czerwinski

Aaldrich Douma, Skipper Jim Loosse, Drew Douma, Nick Schuessler and Vicki Schuessler manning a public information booth at the Rutherford Street Fair. Lisa Ferioli and Skipper Jim Loosse in their blue chambrays visiting a naval ship at SUNY.

James, Lisa and Matthew Ferioli in Sea Scouts’ dress whites at the Northeast Region Bridge of Honor.

Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla in Wyckoff. “I would tell girls to take a chance and go outside their comfort zone,” Ferioli said. “Take a chance on the program. I didn’t initially think I would like it. It is a very male-dominated program but more girls make it more accessible and provide a different experience. It’s not just a program for boys; it’s a program for everyone. “It’s a really impactful experience for anyone where you can learn about boats, leadership and different skillsets. Having these skills and having Sea Scouts on your resume is very beneficial.” That Ferioli reached the rank of quartermaster is not much of a surprise when you consider the Sea Scouts are a family affair. Her older brother Matthew, 23, also achieved the rank of Quartermaster in addition to achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. Her father, Jim, has also served as a leader in the organization. Jim Ferioli was a Boy Scout leader as well and when the Sea Scouts came to speak at a Boy Scout district meeting, he thought the organization would be perfect for his son. He was right. “I knew Matt and his friends liked boats and the water,” Jim Ferioli said. “They had obtained the rank of Eagle

The Mag

Scout and had gotten as far as they could with the Boy Scouts. I thought, ‘Hey, let’s try this out.’ I brought him and two other boys and they loved it. They learned about boats, knots, sailing and it was another opportunity for them to learn about leadership. “I convinced Lisa to come down and she liked it as well. Both kids have their boating licenses now and handle themselves around water great. And for me, I got to spend more time with my kids and I got to help other kids, too, by being a leader. You can’t just have kids; you need to have leaders, too.” One of those leaders is Westwood’s Drew Douma, whose sons Aaldrich, 17, and Theo, 14, are members of the ship Ranger. Drew Douma said he wanted to be a Sea Scout when he was a teenager and suggested to his older son that he might enjoy the experience. Douma’s hunch proved to be correct. He said that Aaldrich, who had been a Cub/Boy Scout since he was 7, “fell right into it.” “My son probably got it from me,” Drew Douma said. “We spend a lot of time on and around the water, so this is a pretty good fit for us.” The unit’s ship is currently in dry dock in Havestraw,

late SPRING 2021

N.Y. During the warmer months, though, the scouts spend time traveling up and down the Hudson River and taking trips as far away as Atlantic Highlands while learning how to handle and repair the boat. “I’ve been into boats for a long time and I always wanted to go into the Coast Guard so this seemed like the perfect step,” said Aaldrich Douma, who intends to enlist in the Coast Guard after graduating from Westwood Regional High School in the spring. “My dad found it for me, we took a visit and I liked it. My favorite parts are the overnights and weekends on the boats. I also like that we have learned a lot of mechanical stuff in terms of the engine. I know how to service an engine a lot better now than when I joined. “I would encourage kids to do this in addition to the Boy Scouts. There are a lot of cool places we go and things we do, things any other kid my age wouldn’t be able to do. I feel you can do both but if you can’t do both because of the time then I would recommend the Sea Scouts over the Boys Scouts because it is something unique and not many people get into it.” ■

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A Swimming Rebirth In Rutherford By Kevin Czerwinski

ike Lazzara and Chris Dunn spent countless hours in the Rutherford Community Aquatic Center (RCAC) pool as children and teenagers, learning to swim and to be part of a team while creating memories that would last a lifetime. So, when the Rutherford natives had a chance to give back to the community and to the pool that helped shape their lives, they didn’t hesitate. The lifelong friends and former collegiate swimmers joined forces with the Rutherford Board of Education in the late summer of 2019 to take over running the RCAC pool and facility. The ensuing 19 months have been a rollercoaster ride for Lazzara and Dunn as they have worked to upgrade the facilities during a global pandemic and create a program that allows young swimmers in North Jersey to swim at the club level and compete around the country. The Rebel Aquatic Club, which operates under the auspices of the Lazzara and Dunn-created Rutherford Swim Association (RSA), made its first trip to a national competition when it traveled to Tampa, Fla. for The GSTA Swimming Championships in April. The 22 swimmers, which range in age from 9 to 18, that made the trek helped Dunn and Lazzara complete the foundation for a program that has quickly become an integral part of Rutherford and the surrounding communities. The success the club enjoyed in Florida, combined with the upgrades that Lazzara and Dunn have made to the RCAC have set the stage for what should be an exciting 2021. The RCAC had become outdated and 17

Lucas Gomes in the pool

Mike Lazzara and Chris Dunn

Lucas Gomes

late SPRING 2021

Rebel Aquatic Club team

rundown by 2018 and was scheduled to be demolished and replaced by a new Rutherford High School cafeteria and kitchen as part of a $53 million schools upgrade referendum in the fall of 2018. That referendum was ultimately not passed by the community, a decision that saved the pool but left its future in limbo. Lazzara, 30, saw the referendum’s defeat as an opportunity to bring the pool and accompanying facility back to the type of place it was when he was a child. So he and Dunn, 28, who swam together at Rutherford High School, teamed up and put in a bid to take over the pool. The pair were awarded the contract in the late summer of 2019 and have worked with the Rutherford Board of Education since to help create the type of facility that can be a community hub. “We learned a lot of lessons at that pool,” said Lazzara, who swam collegiately at William Paterson in Wayne and at Montclair State University. “There are a lot of great memories there. The pool was on the referendum to be knocked down and turned into a cafeteria but Chris and I know how valuable a pool can be to a

community. That motivated us. “We had an opportunity to serve the community and bring something positive that could have a tremendous influence on the community. It took a lot of hard work to get to that point. We were up against an organization [the previous tenant, the Meadowlands YMCA] that has a lot of history of success.” Dunn and Lazzara signed a contract with the board of education on Aug. 30, 2019 and began operating the facility two days later. It was too late in the year to put together a competitive team, so they signed a one-year rental agreement with an existing team, allowing that squad to use the pool while they focused on building other programs, which included swim lessons. The first session of swim lessons drew 40 would-be swimmers while the second session last winter topped 100. Then the pandemic ground everything to a halt. “We knew we had to keep pushing forward at that point and the board let us renovate the pool in the meantime,” Lazzara said. “We drained it and acid washed it. To see it shine again was incredible. Next we renovated the lines. (Continued on page 20.)

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Right after we won the bid we were promised by a local bank in town that it would donate money to help us install starting blocks. So, the same week we drained the pool and redid it, we cleared and painted the deck and installed the starting blocks. “We’re chipping off everything we want to do. We had a new timing system installed; something the pool didn’t have in its entire lifespan. Now kids are able to see their name on the board and their time. It’s exciting to see the new life that has been pumped into this place.” Then there was the swim team. Dunn said the group practiced outdoors over the summer and that slowly more and more swimmers would take part in practices each week. By September, there were 75 members on the team. “It was a good product at an affordable price,” said Dunn, who swam for three years at The College of New Jersey. “By the fall, we were able to move back into our facility. We got kids through word of mouth. The parents are pleased and the word has spread. We’re building a team; we had a bunch of kids try out at the end of March, so we have some new additions. Hopefully we’ll keep growing.” Based on how the team performed in Tampa, Dunn

and Lazzara shouldn’t have much of a problem adding to their squad. They had a host of top-10 finishes and strong performances that will only help the team continue to grow its already strong reputation. The quartet of Olivia Piazza [East Rutherford], Julia Pamula [East Rutherford], Sydney Harris [Rutherford] and Angela Schembri [Rutherford] took second in the Girls 11-12 200Y Free Relay [2:01.93]. The quartet of Piazza, Schembri, Natalia Wdowiak [Wallington] and Nicole Szwaczka [Wallington] took third in the Girls 11-12 200Y Medley Relay [2:16.98]. Schembri also took second in the Girls 11-12 50Y Breast [37.19] while Szwaczka was fourth [37.76]. Delilah Rango [Rutherford] took third in the Girls 13-14 200Y Fly [2:49.41]. “The dedication of us not being willing to give up started before we won the bid,” Lazzara said. “There were a lot of people who weren’t sure. We didn’t get discouraged, though. Once they saw where we were coming from and what our approach was, they were going to change their minds. We were always taught that you have to work hard to earn it and that’s the same motto we’ve approached the kids with.” ■

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ince he was a young boy in Englewood Cliffs, Russ Rubin has been bursting with a compulsion to create. Long bottled by pragmatic notions and a headlong adventure down the rabbit hole of the music industry, it’s come gushing out in explosions of color, shape and dimension. His escapist color-block worlds speak to the collisions between nature and civilization, between the world outside and the infinite worlds within. Inspired as much by whacked-out old cartoon backdrops as Nike ACG and artists from Stuart Davis to Nina Chanel Abney, Rubin’s “Dream Lands” seem to dare us to hurl ourselves inside them, into the possibilities of a beauty beyond rationale. From doodles in little notebooks and on spare bill envelopes to finger-drawn digital mockups, the images finally creep onto the canvas, ever evolving as Rubin slaps on layer after layer, tweaking curves and hues, building up dimension in the paint as he sweats and squints and rubs out his eyes in his basement lair, making and breaking the rules as he goes, hunting down that ever-elusive balance around the bend. An artist and writer from the enchanted woods of New Jersey (he now lives and paints in Haworth), Rubin is an Artist-In-Residence at Harlem and Hackensack hospitals. His paintings have been featured at the White Space Gallery in Chelsea and at the YouTube Studios. He is currently knocking out private commissions whilst chasing a 3-year-old around a basement. To learn more about Rubin or see more of his art, visit his website at www.russrubin.us or his Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/russrubin. ■ 24

late SPRING 2021

aiku H n I s d n o B er Mother nnected to H

an Stays Co u Teaneck Wom eauty of Haik B e th h g u ro Th

attributed ularly haiku, is ic rt pa , ry et po for preciate life’s my Losak’s love she learns to ap as , rg be en os R her, Sydell to her late mot res. selves. simplest treasu d speak for them an s le tit t ou ith nw oken in Haiku are ofte be able to be sp ld ou sh u ik ha some poets, “According to ,” says Losak. e-breath poetry on : poetic form th ea br e on iku is short, this ha of th ng le e gh th However, thou t meets the eye. mplex than wha co e or m ple but t bi a might be mple. It’s a sim si y el iv pt ce de at haiku is reader “I would say th expansive. The t ye d an f ie br and poetry – between writer layered form of ed experience ar sh a is It . poem ‘completes’ the ns Losak. reader,” explai (Continued on pa

ge 28.)

pread page s A twoaiku Is For H from H

By Stefanie Sears 26

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Losak, from Teaneck, is a member and publicist of The Book Meshuggenahs (the group fondly named themselves after the Yiddish word for “crazy”), a group of 18 Jewish women living in the United States and Israel who publish award-winning children’s books that center on Jewish characters, themes and values to serve as a resource for Jewish families. In addition to Losak, the other New Jersey members include Chana Stiefel, also from Teaneck; Karen Rostoker-Gruber from Branchburg; Rachelle Burk from East Brunswick; and Laurie Wallmark from Ringoes. The group originated on Facebook back in 2018 when Nancy Churnin of Dallas, Texas established the idea. Churnin also created the group’s Chai-ku Contest (“chai” is the Hebrew word for “life”), which is currently in its second year. The contest invites both adults and children to submit original Jewish-themed haiku for fun and prizes. Anyone, Jewish and not, is welcome to enter as long as they accurately portray Jewish culture with their poems. What exactly is a haiku and what does it entail? Here is a brief overview course on the subject. “What is haiku? That’s not an easy question!” says Losak. “There are a number of answers, depending on which poet you ask. I am still a beginner. Mom studied, practiced and wrote this form for

Amy Losak

decades. She was always learning. What I will say is that haiku, which originated and flowered in Japan, is the shortest form of poetry, but arguably the most expansive. Today, it is global in popularity. Poets from around the world share their work and uplift each other. The craft of haiku requires a certain way of ‘looking’ into slices of seasonal life, of finding bits of meaning and maybe even magic that we might otherwise overlook in the rush and rumble of our daily lives.” Haiku also has its own rules. “Many English-language haiku written today are shorter than the traditional structure many students may have been taught in school: three lines, with the first line containing five syllables, the second line, seven syllables and the third line, five again. Try to keep them to a max of 17 syllables, but keep in mind that content matters as much as, if not more than, syllable count. I enjoy writing haiku both ways. This luminous form requires both focus and flow: sensory immersion 28

in our surroundings. I consider haiku to be poetic mindfulness,” she says. Here is an example of a Jewishthemed haiku written by Losak’s mother Sydell. It is written in 5-7-5 and was published in Haiku Magazine in 1968: And the green grass grows through cracks of the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. The following is another haiku, written by Losak and published in the Volume 48.2, Summer 2017 Issue of Modern Haiku: change of tenants imprint of the mezuzah on the front door frame “For Syd, reading, writing and studying haiku was like a pathway to small but rewarding (and sometimes painful) revelations,” explains Losak. Sydell, who passed away in 1996, was a New York City teacher, writer and a charter member of the Haiku Society of America, formed in 1968. Losak herself is also a member today. “Mom woke up each day with a sense of anticipation and adventure,” Losak says. “I didn’t realize when I was younger, but thanks to her I learned an appreciation for small things, the importance of stopping and observing a sparrow, a pigeon, a butterfly, a squirrel. She referred to her work in a classic anthology first published in the 1970s as ‘city haiku.’” Losak experienced her mother’s

influences a few years ago when she came across what she later identified as a black swallowtail butterfly. “I was rushing to make the commuter bus into Manhattan for my work at a public relations agency. It was early, and I was already stressed. As I practically jogged down the street – I could hear the bus arriving, I glimpsed a stunning butterfly circling a rose bush in a neighbor’s front yard. It was magnificent. I stopped and just watched. That’s all. I let myself have that small moment of beauty and joy. I let the bus leave, because there’s always another bus, and lines, traffic congestion and delays. These quotidian annoyances are

“My mother helped me learn this way of using my senses to immerse myself in small but meaningful moments. It took me a long time to understand and use this gift.” omnipresent, predictable, soulsapping. But that quiet yet vivid ‘butterfly moment’ was unique. It won’t happen again. There will be others, but not that one. On a typically tense tizzy of a workday morning, I went in an

instant from ‘catching the bus’ to ‘catching my breath’ – and then releasing it,” she continues. “From franticness to stillness. It made a difference in the tenor of an ordinary day, if only for – and in — that moment. And I still made it to work on time. My mother helped me learn this way of using my senses to immerse myself in small but meaningful moments. It took me a long time to understand and use this gift. I need to use it more often.” Starting in the mid-60s, Syd’s haiku and other poems have been well-anthologized and published in journals, books, newspapers and other media, including a Manhattan theater marquee in 1994. How-

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ever, her biggest dream of releasing a haiku alphabet picture book for children has finally been achieved posthumously. In 2018, Penny Candy Books released Syd’s collection “H Is For Haiku: A Treasury of Haiku from A to Z” with illustrations by Sawsan Chalabi. The book is based on at least one of Syd’s old manuscripts and has an introduction written by Losak herself. It also features Syd’s definition of haiku in her essay

of English honored “H Is For Haiku” as a “Notable Poetry Book.” In October 2020, the independent literary press Kattywompus Press released Syd’s haiku chapbook “Poised Across the Sky” (see page 31). “Some of her work is still published posthumously,” says Losak. “I even have a dogwood tree planted in her memory in Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Teaneck, with a haiku engraved on a stone

“On What Is Haiku” that was published in the Wind Chimes journal back in 1981. As Losak recounts it, Syd “deH Is For Haiku scribes her vision about this deceptively simple form:” “Now I go to what is there, and each time, get something different … Each time, discovery,” she says. The following year, the National Council for Teachers

marker, thanks to the Trees of Love Program.” The engraved haiku says, In trees and sky a comical lost-and-found of park balloons. Losak now follows in her mother’s footsteps in the publishing realm. Her work has been published in numer-

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ous print and online journals. Also, due to a collaboration between the Haiku Poets of the Garden State and the New Jersey State Botanical Gardens in Ringwood, for the second year in a row one of her haiku was displayed in an installation at the New Jersey State Botanical Gardens through the end of April 2021 to celebrate National Poetry Month: sun-clock my day unwinds with low-flying sparrows She also made appearances for children at the Ridgefield Park and Teaneck public libraries and submitted a second poetry picture book that combines both hers and her mother’s work. “These two books are my tribute and gift to her, because she never got to publish her poetry in book form. I realized her dreams after she died. Over time, her dreams became mine,” says Losak. Other good haiku source materials include The Haiku

Foundation; The Haiku Society of America; Michael Dylan Welch’s Graceguts; HSA’s frogpond; Modern Haiku; The Heron’s Next; Akitsu Quarterly; Frameless Sky; hedgerow: a journal of small poems; tinywords; Charlotte Digregorio’s Daily Haiku; Eastern Structures; and more. “I hope people will try their hands at haiku and impel their spirits to soar,” says Losak. ■

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Columbia Bank Foundation and Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey Team Up to Warm the Hearts of the Homeless with Blankets of Hope Blankets Delivered with Children’s Handwritten Notes of Encouragement to People in Need

olumbia Bank Foundation, headquartered in Fair Lawn, Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey and Blankets of Hope have joined forces to make a difference in the lives of the homeless in New Jersey, by wrapping the less fortunate in the comfort of warm blankets. Together, the organizations have delivered 1,440 “Blankets of Hope,” to community members to help uplift spirits and offer compassion.

Purchased by the Columbia Bank Foundation, the blankets were distributed to nine Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey chapters, where youths participated in Blankets of Hope’s “Kindness Workshop.” Children were led through an empathy exercise to imagine what it’s like to experience homelessness, then created colorful, handwritten notes of hope, love and encouragement, to pair with each blanket. The heartwarming, inspiring gifts were delivered to local shelters and organizations in need (see images on

“Currently, approximately 9,000 New Jersey residents are without homes, and due to the pandemic, the number is rising.”

next page). Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey contributors and blanket recipients are as follows: Boys & Girls in NJ Chapters – Camden County, Clifton, Cumberland County, Garfield, Newark, Paterson and Passaic, Hawthorne, Hudson County and Union County; shelters/organizations in need include Joseph’s House in Camden, NJ Family Promise of Morris County in Morristown, Cumberland Family Shelter in Vineland, Center for Hope and Safety in Rochelle Park, Covenant House in Newark, Eva’s Village in Paterson, St. Paul’s CDC in Paterson, York Street Project in Jersey City and St. Joseph’s Social Service Center/Elizabeth Coalition in Elizabeth. Currently, approximately 9,000 New Jersey residents are without homes, and due to the pandemic, the number is rising. The Columbia Bank Foundation recognizes now more than ever, its continual commitment to help citizens overcome challenges and gain a renewed sense of hope is paramount. “As one of the largest private giving foundations in the state of New Jersey, the Columbia Bank Foundation is consistently looking for ways to maximize our impact,” said Thomas J. Kemly, president and CEO of Columbia Bank and president of the Columbia Bank Foundation. “Through our 33

late SPRING 2021

designated in funding for future community-based projects and charitable programs. The foundation was created to serve the needs of local communities, and provide grants and contributions to organizations recognized as taxexempt under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Columbia Bank Foundation actively seeks to provide support in seven major areas: affordable housing programs, community investment and economic development opportunities, financial literacy and educational opportunities, health and human services, food insecurity, environmental sustainability and the arts. Special consideration is always given to programs that provide a measurable community impact. For more information regarding the Columbia Bank Foundation and grant eligibility requirements, please visit www.columbiabankonline.com/ columbia-foundation.

partnership with Blankets of Hope we are proud to have provided the Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey with a free kindness workshop and an opportunity to give back. These Blankets of Hope offer lifesaving warmth, as well as an encouraging mental health boost to those in need.” About Columbia Bank Foundation Columbia Bank Foundation is one of the New Jersey’s largest charitable foundations with roughly $60 million

About Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey is an alliance of 22 Boys & Girls Club organizations serving over 70,000 youth ages 5-18 throughout the Garden State. Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey is a collaborative effort representing all 22 Clubs with the purpose of building local Club capacity; raising public awareness; and securing resources and financial support to increase the impact and

Columbia Bank Foundation delivers Blankets of Hope to Center for Hope and Safety, Rochelle Park.

(Continued on page 36.)

Photos Courtesy of Columbia Bank Foundation

Members of the Boys & Girls Club of Garfield NJ with their encouraging letters and warming Blankets of Hope.

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room for your longest toe to push off. The main portion of the shoe that surrounds your foot is called uppers. Modern shoes have synthetic uppers rather failing miserably every step of the way. reach local or Clubs. & Girls Clubs than of leather otherBoys natural fibers. Newer materials are of Hope “Blankets By the time winter came around, Mike inlighter, New Jersey worksbreathe to strengthen and are more flexible, rewashable, better and has now donated and Nick were losing all hope. To get their grow the little mission & Girls quiring or of no Boys break-in. BeClubs sure to choose the upper over 31,000 best suited to your expected usage. minds off their failures, Mike and Nick which is: To enable all young people, esoutsole and theblankets upper. The midsole is located and started a GoFundMe campaign to raise pecially those who need usbetween most, tothe reach Many believe it is the most important part of any running their full potential as productive, caring handwritten notes money to buy blankets for people living on shoe. It controls excessive foot motion and provides cushthe freezing cold streets of NYC. With the responsible citizens. to those in need – ioning and shock absorption. Some synthetic foams are helping hands of friends and family, they counting.” used for the midsole; they are light, but not and durable. About Blankets of Hope hand-delivered 100 “Blankets of Hope” Polyurethane is also commonly used; although durable, it Blankets of Hope is an educational to those in need. is denser, heavier and harder. Many shoes are now cush501(c)3 nonprofit helping students Little did the brothers know, their good deed would pay silicone practice or foamempathy capsules.and These ioned with gel, airbags, kindness by donating blankets – each paired with an them back on in ways couldn’t imagine. the other dirt they or grass. Today, mostOn shoes have a are all attempts to increase cushioning and durability at the for running inspirational handwritten note to those experiencing side of the country, a video portraying Blankets of Hope ridged sole, which is more flexible and best for running on same time. homelessness. to inspire a global movement had captured the heart of top Forbes-ranked venture capior cement. The outsoleItsismission: the treaded layer on the bottom of the shoe asphalt The heel counter is the rigid material that had surrounds talist, Todd Chaffee. Their guardian angel arrived.the heel. ItsTodd’s function is to stabilize support the heel. adWith mentorship and and financial support, theAn brothditional external counter is usually added between the miders transformed their small family project into a globally sole and the base of the organization. heel for extraBlankets support.ofSometimes recognized non-profit Hope has a wedge is used to add height to the heel. This enhances the now donated over 31,000 blankets and handwritten notes ability of the shoe to absorb shock and reduce injury. to those in need – and counting. ■

to theone midsole. The outsole resists to wear, provides ofglued kindness, blanket at a time. Its vision: live in a traction and in absorbs world united love. shock. The outsole is usually made of blown rubber, gum family rubber,project. hard carbon rubber or2016 some It started as a small It was Summer combination the three. Blown is the quit lightest, when Brooklynofbrothers Mike and rubber Nick Fiorito their but least durable. Solid rubber materials are considered the best 9-5 jobs in search of more meaningful work. For months, material for training shoes. Stud or waffle outsoles are good they jumped from one entrepreneurial venture to the next,

BC The Mag WINTER 2020 89

Freedom Bank is committed to providing individuals and businesses the resources they need to achieve their financial goals.

Amy Choi

Sarah B a

sil

Hackensack Students Win Prizes in C-SPAN Video Documentary Competition During unprecedented times, students addressed issues of national importance Courtesy of C-SPAN

my Choi and Sarah Basil, students in Hackensack, are winners in C-SPAN’s national 2021 StudentCam competition. Choi and Basil have received $250 as honorable mention winners for the documentary, “Medical Fraud: Stealing Our Money, Stealing Our Health,” which can be viewed online here, www.viddler.com/v/ff2e9cdd. The competition, now in its 17th year, invited all middle and high school students to enter by producing a short documentary. C-SPAN, in cooperation with cable television partners, asked students to join the national conversation on the challenges our country is facing with the theme: “Explore the issue you most want the president and

new Congress to address in 2021.” Despite the unique challenges brought about by COVID-19 this year, more than 2,300 students across the country participated in the contest. C-SPAN received over 1,200 entries from 43 states and Washington, D.C. The most popular topics addressed were health care (14.9 percent); environmental and energy policy (14.6 percent); equal rights and equity (13.5 percent); criminal justice/policing (7.6 percent); and education (7.5 percent). “With the continual shift in the educational landscape, it is difficult to overstate just how challenging the pandemic has proven for schools across our nation,” said Craig (Continued on page 40.)

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this year’s prize-winning Thai West (BYOB) students who have delivered22 among theAve., finest Jefferson El Cid Westwood short films inRd., theParamus history of the StudentCam 205 Paramus 201-497-6981 competition.” 201-843-0123 Wyckoff Thai Cuisine C-SPAN cable Meson Madridis funded by America’s 314 Franklin Ave., Wyckoff Restaurant television companies, who also support 201-485-8855 343 Bergen Blvd., WHAT IS BERGEN JEWISH CHAPEL AND WHY IS IT UNIQUE? StudentCam. In Hackensack, C-SPAN is Palisades Park PERSIAN available locally through Optimum and The Bergen Jewish Chapel Concept is an online funeral arrangement 201-947-1038 Altice USA Business. process with the goal of alleviating a family's stress and Kabab on the Cliff Sangria “Despite the challenges brought on by the 23 Godwin Ave., 1033 MacArthur Blvd., burden while dealing with end of life issues. Ridgewood Mahwah pandemic that students faced this year, these 201-444-5100 201-962-3310 Bergen Jewish Chapel Our process helps families to: local winners showed creativity, resourcefulness Rose (BYOB) Sayola • Gather vital information you and a strong work ethic to create documenta(201) 261-2900 1150 Teaneck Rd., Teaneck 50 Prospect Ter., Tenafly need before you need it. ries addressing important issues on both the 201-569-3600 201-871-2182 www.bergenjewishchapel.com • Benefit from our full disclosure of local and national level,” said Jen Ostrager, Tapas De España services, merchandise, and pricing. 789 Teaneck Rd., Teaneck, NJ 07666 vice president communityTURKISH affairs, Altice 7909 BergenlineofAve., • Eliminate the burden of a face to face (201) 836-0202 North USA.Bergen “Optimum continues to be committed to meeting at a funeral home location, Cinar 201-453-1690 while still benefiting from our 268 Kinderkamack Road strengthening our communities edu- Rd., 214through Kinderkamack personal attention to our families. Oradell, NJ 07649 Taste of Spain Emerson, cational programs, including our longstanding 493 Tappan Rd., Northvale • Maintain Traditions Owner/Manager Daniel W. Leber NJ Lic. No 3186 201-523-9284 partnership with C-SPAN and StudentCam.” 201-767-8904 Babba (BYOB) These winners are amongHakki 299 students from 555 Anderson Ave., THAI across the country winning aCliffside total ofPark $100,000. C-SPANGarden is awarding one grand prize, four first 201-840-8444 Bangkok 261 Main St., Hackensack prizes, 16 second prizes, 32 third prizes and 97 Hunkar (BYOB) 201-487-2620 319 Hackensack St., honorable mention prizes. These winning vidCarlstadt Clifton Thai eos will receive cash awards of $5,000, $3,000, 201-507-0606 239 Parker Ave., Clifton $1,500, $750 and $250, respectively. 973-253-1400 Istanblue Restaurant High school students competed (BYOB) on a regional Chok Dee Thai Kitchen level, with the United States divided into threeRd., Kinderkamack 561 Livingston St., Norwood 645 River Edge 201-750-8880 regions: West, Central and East. Middle school 201-262-4400 Gao Thai Kitchen (BYOB)on a national basis. The students were judged Istanbul Café & Grill (BYOB) 63 Main St., Ramsey grand-prize winner was selected nationally 14-25 Plaza Rd., Fair Lawn 201-962-2691 among all regions and grade201-791-2222 levels. Malee Fine Thai Cuisine The 150 winning videos can be viewed Kebab Istanbul (BYOB) may be used in a Blvd., 5819 John F. Kennedy 2at www.studentcam.org and E. Ridgewood Ave., North Bergen Ridgewood broadcast with attribution to C-SPAN. 201-861-4400 201-612-7797 The annual StudentCam competition is Marmaris Cafe (BYOB) Massaman Cuisine sponsoredThai by the C-SPAN Education Foun820 River Rd., Edgewater 312 Hackensack St., dation. Videos were evaluated201-943-9090 by a panel of Carlstadt educators and C-SPAN representatives based on 201-559-1424 Samdan the thoughtful examination of the competition’s 178 Piermont Rd., Pimaan Thai Restaurant (BYOB) theme, quality of expression,Cresskill inclusion of vary201-816-7343 79 Kinderkamack Rd., ing sides of the documentary’s topic and effecEmerson Turkish Kitchen ■ tive incorporation of C-SPAN programming. 201-967-0440 297 Palisade Ave., Cliffside Park BC The Mag WINTER 2020 43

110 BC The Mag WINTER 2020

Wellness Exams are Essential to Ongoing Health Even During a Pandemic Enhanced COVID-19 safety protocols remain in place, so there’s no reason to skip your annual in-person exam Courtesy of Hackensack University Medical Center

(Continued on page 44.)

o matter your age, annual wellness checks with a primary care provider are an essential part of ongoing health — even when you are feeling well. However, concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic and scheduling challenges have caused many people to skip these critical, in-person annual checkups. In some cases, putting off these appointments has resulted in postponed screenings and delayed diagnoses of physical and mental health conditions. “Certain health conditions can go undetected without the use of screening tests,” said Nora Tossounian, MD, an internal medicine specialist with Hackensack University Medical Center who treats patients age 18 and older. “Unfortunately, some patients who postponed screenings due to the pandemic were later diagnosed in the advanced stages.”

Wellness Check Benefits One of the main benefits of a wellness visit is that patients and providers can spend more time discussing the patient’s overall

Enhanced Safety Measures Protect Patients All Hackensack University Medical Center primary care facilities are taking steps to keep patients and providers safe, including: 1. Pre-screening of all patients by phone and at the door

2. Staggering appointments to promote physical distancing 3. Universal masking for patients, employees and visitors 4. Temperature screenings

5. Rigorous cleaning protocols based on public health guidelines 6. Increased use of telemedicine

7. Providing an opportunity for all team members to promptly receive the COVID-19 vaccine 8. Requiring all team members to complete a self-screening questionnaire before working

health when compared to a sick visit, when only one acute problem or concern is addressed. “Annual wellness exams allow providers to look at the patient’s health from a holistic perspective, so we can work together to develop a comprehensive care plan,” said Dr. Tossounian. Providers also look at a patient’s personal and family health history and order screening or diagnostic tests based on age and symptoms. “Although telemedicine is useful in certain situations, we can’t overlook the benefits of an in-person exam,” said Dr. Tossounian. “During in-person visits, I have noticed a mole on the back, a nodule on the thyroid, or a lump on the arm; in some instances, further test-

ing has revealed early stages of treatable cancer.” Wellness checks also allow providers to screen for and initiate conversations about substance use, as well as anxiety and depression, which have been on the rise during the pandemic. “We can connect people with behavioral health services or prescribe medication as the situation warrants,” said Dr. Tossounian.

Enhanced Safety Protocols According to Dr. Tossounian, patients can rest assured that Hackensack University Medical Center’s primary care facilities are taking steps to keep patients and team members safe, including pre-screening of all patients (Continued on page 46.)

“Dr. Tossounian stressed that COVID-19 shouldn’t prevent

people from seeking wellness care. She said being proactive — even during a pandemic — is one of the most important things people can do for their health.”

Recommended Preventive Screenings by Age for Men and Women These guidelines are a modified version of the U.S. Preventive Services Taskforce screening guidelines. Please note that these are only guidelines; speak to your provider regarding the appropriateness of these tests and whether additional ones are necessary, based upon your risk. Age 20-30: PAP every 3 years (women)

by phone and at the door; staggering appointments to promote physical distancing; universal masking for patients, employees and visitors; temperature screenings; rigorous cleaning protocols based on public health guidelines; and increased use of telemedicine. “Although many team members have already received the COVID-19 vaccine, we are continuing to use complete personal protective equipment — including double-masking, goggles, face shields and gloves as appropriate — during all in-person exams,” said Dr. Tossounian.

Age 30-40: PAP every 3 years (women), cholesterol levels Age 40-50: PAP every 3 years (women), diabetes screening, mammograms (women, discuss frequency with provider), colonoscopies (now starting age 45), cholesterol levels Age 50-60: PAP every 3 years (women), diabetes screening, mammograms (women, discuss frequency with provider), bone density test, colonoscopies, hepatitis C screening, cholesterol levels, lung cancer screening (starting at age 55) for certain smokers or former smokers, prostate cancer screening (men) Age 60-70: PAP every 3 years (women, until age 65), diabetes screening, cholesterol levels, mammograms (women, discuss frequency with provider), bone density test, colonoscopies, hepatitis C screening, lung cancer screening for certain smokers or former smokers, prostate cancer screening (men) Age 70-80: mammograms (women, discuss frequency with provider) and colonoscopies up to age 75, bone density test, cholesterol levels, hepatitis C screening, lung cancer screening for certain smokers or former smokers, prostate cancer screening (optional for men) Age 80 and up: bone density test; mammograms (women) and colonoscopies are case-specific and after having discussion with your provider regarding risks and benefits

Pictured above: Dr. Tossounian and patient.

Dr. Tossounian stressed that COVID-19 shouldn’t prevent people from seeking wellness care. She said being proactive — even during a pandemic — is one of the most important things people can do for their health. “When it comes to the pandemic, we thought it was a sprint, but it turned out to be a marathon — and we’re still running it,” said Dr. Tossounian. “Don’t wait to get your wellness care back on track.”■

S T Y L E

S O N E C A

How to Pick The Right Jewelry For Your Outfit

ho doesn’t love jewelry? We all do. Men and women can be found wearing it with a passion. It comes in all colors, shapes and sizes. It’s a great way to accessorize your outfit. Jewelry is versatile and can be worn in our day-to-day lives. Some pieces are more valuable than others, where they need

Match print shapes. You probably wouldn’t think of this one and most people don’t, but the shape of your earrings or necklace should match the shape of the design of your dress. Therefore, if the design is angled stripes, you wouldn’t want to pair it with circular hoop earrings. Comfort is key. You don’t want to wear something to

to be kept safely and maintained meticulously. Sometimes we have more jewelry than we need, but when wearing there are some things to consider. For instance: Let your jewelry be compatible with your outfit. Consider your wardrobe and the kind of jewelry you prefer to wear. What is your lifestyle? Are you the type of person to wear the same jewelry over and over or do you like to mix and match and wear versatile pieces? Pay attention to necklines. The key is to create a balanced cohesive look. For instance, if you are wearing a strapless dress, pair it with a necklace that sits at your collar bone or a chunky chocker. Balance your look with a long necklace if you happen to be wearing loose fitting clothing; wearing a long necklace can balance your look from appearing short and wide. Pair bold with basic. The same goes true of wearing basic with bold. If you decide to wear big statement earrings, don’t wear a necklace. Want to wear a lot of bracelets? Forgo the rings. It’s all about proportion when pairing your jewelry to your outfit. Clothing should be neutral and classic if you want your jewelry to stand out. Otherwise keep it simple like a pair of stud earrings. Less is more when it comes to formal outfits also. Shiny delicate jewelry will always work best. Match bracelets to sleeves. The longer the sleeves, the fewer bracelets. The shorter the sleeves, the more bracelets.

heavy or with sharp edges. Earrings, for instances, that are heavy can wear down your ear lobes and even cause damage. Remember, it’s all about the comfort. Budget. Fine jewelry, such as gold, silver and platinum, along with diamonds, are great investment pieces. Treat yourself every now and then to these types of pieces. However, if purchasing the real thing is difficult, know that you can buy pieces that are gold plated for less money; they will give you the same look and feel for less. Match jewelry to skin tone. If you have cool undertones, white metals, such as silver and platinum, will look best. If you have warm undertones, then gold and rose gold will look best on you. Diamonds look great on all skin tones, luckily. If your skin tone is neutral, well then you hit the jackpot! You can wear any type of metal. Hopefully these tips will help you save time and frustration when picking out jewelry to wear with your outfit. Remember, it’s all about proportion. So, if in doubt, take a look in the mirror. Play around and see what looks best on you.

Soneca Guadara is a personal fashion stylist who helps women feel beautiful and confident to rise to their highest and best selves through style. Want to know more style and fashion tips? Follow her on Instagram (@Styledbysoneca) and/or visit her website, www.stylebysoneca.com.

by Soneca Guadara 48

� Fashion �

Flower Power Garden State ‘SPRINGS’

Into

‘LIVING COLOR’

From Weekend at Max Mara at Westfield Garden State Plaza.