The best care for your heart, and

for everyone in it.

New Jersey’s top TAVR program.

RWJBarnabas Health has a passion for heart health, with the largest adult and pediatric cardiac surgery programs in the state, a heart transplant program that’s in the top 10 nationally, the latest technology and medical advancements and hundreds of wellness and prevention programs to strengthen and protect healthy hearts. Whoever your heart beats for, our hearts beat for you. Learn more at rwjbh.org/tavr

WHEN SHOULD MY CHILD SEE AN ORTHODONTIST?

The American Orthodontic Association recommends by the age of 7. This way, any potential issues can be caught early. The earlier they’re caught, the easier they tend to be to treat.

Women

Suburban Essex

David J. Black FOUNDER & CEO

Cathleen M. Black PRESIDENT & COO

Michael J. Reidy ART DIRECTOR

Vanice Gage Donegan BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Cynthia Burns

Susan Baldani

Deborah Engel

Barry Farber

Kathy Gilligan

Janis Hashe

Christine Maxwell

Jessica Modrow

Jackie Schatell

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Amy Schwartz

Donna Stanul REGIONAL SALES DIRECTORS

Daniel Epstein SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

Bart Gorin

David Renna

Christian Shepard CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Mitchell Black

Heidi Dommasch

Robert Leo Murray

Robert “Red” Murray

GUARDIAN ANGELS

CIRCULATION 34,000

U.S. POSTAL SERVICE MAILED TO SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES IN: Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Fairfield, Glen Ridge, Livingston, Montclair, North Caldwell, Roseland, Upper Montclair, Verona, West Caldwell, West Orange

NEXT ISSUE: April 2023

Advertising Deadline: 03/15/23

In-Homes: 04/01/23

For calendar submissions email: Calendar@VicinityMail.com

For editorial suggestions email: Editorial@VicinityMail.com Call for info: 973-276-1688 SuburbanEssex.com

Suburban Essex is published by Vicinity Media Group, 184 S. Livingston Avenue, Suite 9-303, Livingston, NJ 07039. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication can not be reproduced either in whole or in part without the consent of the publisher. Vicinity Media Group assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials.

By Jackie Schatell

Dance Studio Celebrates 40th Anniversary

Recently, Michele’s Dance Studio (MDS) in Livingston celebrated its 40th anniversary with a week full of celebration including a birthday kickoff for the founder Miss Michele, spirit week dress up days, and a Saturday Night Sparkling Soiree. They also looked to the future with a Future Choreographers Showcase. The whole event was called 40Fest: Celebrating Forty Years of Michele’s Dance Studio. Michele Sandler started teaching dance classes in her Livingston basement, and over decades, grew her school into a thriving studio. After a lifetime of leadership, Miss Michele retired and her son Ross Sandler, a professional dancer, took over as MDS’s director. “After celebrating a milestone of the past, the studio is now holding its spring enrollment where new students will become part of our future,” says Ross. To sign up for classes, go to michelesdancestudio.com.

Eagle Scout Project to Benefit the Community

Harold Ross, a senior at West Orange High School has completed an impressive project toward becoming an Eagle Scout. He created the Crystal Lake Learning Center in West Orange that has four benches and a kiosk boasting information on the history of the lake. West Orange Town Historian Joe Fagan provided the information for the kiosk. Harold says he enlisted the help of family, friends, and fellow boy scouts in his endeavor to create the benches and kiosk for people visiting the area to enjoy. West Orange township graciously donated the logs for the benches, Boards and Beams Lumber in Fairfield provided the materials at a discount, and John Holloway from Heirloom Woodworks in Piscataway donated his mobile sawmill services to cut the logs. In addition, master woodworker, Dana Hagstrom, of West Orange, mentored Harold through the design and building process. Harold says he is pleased with how the project turned out and that he “hopes it has an impact on visitors to the area.”

Local Business to be Featured in a Documentary

An adult scavenger hunt party business owned by Kevin Harrison of West Orange, his wife Ilisa, and Jason and Leigh Gorvitz, of Livingston, is being featured in a documentary based on the 1980 American comedy film, Midnight Madness, in which college students participate in an all-night scavenger hunt. With the business aptly named Midnight Madness Events, the company was a shoo-in for being profiled. The Midnight Madness Events team, who are called game masters, plans private scavenger hunt parties and public events where teams drive around searching for clues, while competing for a monetary prize. Kevin says that the events always end up at a restaurant or bar where all of the teams go to wind down after vigorously searching for clues. “My mind is always on scavenger hunts because I am constantly thinking about places to put clues as I drive up and down highways, and puns, which are used as clues,” says Kevin, who loves what he does.

If you or someone you know in Essex/Morris County are doing something interesting, send an email to Jackie.subessex@gmail.com

Livingston Teacher Publishes Children’s Book

Marisa Vosa, a Spanish teacher at Livingston High School, has written a children’s book called, The Seed and the Bee. The story is about a seed from a different land that travels to a distant location due to a storm. It has messages about immigration, racism, discrimination, SEL, inclusion and friendship. It was inspired by her own story as she is an immigrant herself. She says, “I see a lot of children coming to the US from other countries who feel out of place. This book is meant to comfort them.” Linguistically, the book is for grade 3 and up, but can be read to children of all ages as vocabulary is defined on every page. Marisa says, “It feels pretty good to have a piece of me out in the world. If I can reach one person and make them have hope, then the book has served its purpose.” The book is available on Amazon.

Job Haines Sets Up GoFundMe Campaign for One of Its Own M

arti Carlos, only 32 years old, a beloved nurse at Job Haines Home in Bloomfield, was recently diagnosed with stage IV cancer. Marti has been considered a frontline HERO at Job Haines Home, where he worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to fight COVID-19, ensuring that every patient was well cared for during his watch. His coworkers say that he is the type of person that gives hope to others whenever they are down and always encourages them to “look at the bright side.” In spite of his diagnosis, Marti remains positive and focused on defeating this cancer and winning the fight! You can help him fight by participating in the GoFundMe campaign set up by the facility, which will be used to help pay for his medical expenses. The goal is to raise enough money to assist him with his medical needs, so he doesn’t have to worry about paying for ongoing treatments and procedures but is able to concentrate on getting well. You can find the full story and about the fundraising campaign here: bit.ly/3kEH8ts