Ho-Ho-Kus
SCOUTING LEADERS
TROOP 54
LIFE OVER A MICROSCOPE
JOHN SIMON JR.
What Makes Ridgewood Dental Associates Different?
We get asked all the time: “What is a Prosthodontist?” A prosthodontist specializes in making dentures, crowns, bridges and other custom-made oral appliances at a much higher skill level, offers treatment options and customized solutions that are unique to the specialty.
What sets us apart as experts? “Each patient’s situation is different,” explains Dr. Joung. “We take the time to carefully evaluate and plan, ensuring the best possible outcome for every individual. We are highly trained dual specialists in Prosthodontics and Periodontics. It’s all we do and it’s done under one roof which makes it an added value & advantage for our patients. Treatment is personalized to each patient’s complex situation. We’re not a cookie cutter dental practice. Our staff is incredible! Without a good experience, patients are not going to want to come back and continue their care. We want their experience to be the best that it can be. Our core values here at Ridgewood Dental Associates are making sure that we’re treating our patients like we want to be treated ourselves.”
Do the All-on-4© dental implants work for me? It’s very dependent on the individual, but by having specialists in surgical and prosthetic implant dentistry evaluate each patient, you will know that the best possible options are presented. There are also opportunities for patients who may not be able to afford the full costs to receive the care at reduced fees through the Ridgewood Implant Institute. The Institute offers continuing education courses for other dentists to learn from our specialists. “The All-on-4 is more than just a procedure,” says Dr. Samani. “It’s a life-changing experience for patients. They leave our office with a new smile and renewed confidence.”
“Thank you Dr. Samani, Dr. Joung and the entire staff of Ridgewood Dental Associates. If anyone is thinking of having extensive dental care, this is the group you want. Don’t think twice! I’ve never been fond of going to the dentist and actually am always afraid. This group of caring people have extended their professionalism tenfold. I have gained confidence and self-esteem in myself that I never had. I would always cover my mouth when I smiled.”
“Now, I smile BIG! You have changed my life and I’m forever grateful.”
–Joyce S.
www.RidgewoodDental.com
An
The
Editor’s Note
Spring is almost here, at least according to the calendar, and I hope you’re enjoying the first signs of a new season as you leaf through our March issue.
If the harsh winter we’ve all been experiencing is any indication, this month may be true to the adage and come in like a lion. But here’s hoping that longer days and hints of warmth lead to it going out like a lamb.
Springtime often invokes feelings of hope and anticipation. On that first day when I don’t need a hat or heavy coat, I always feel a little bit like a kid. Growing up in Ho-Ho-Kus, that meant dusting off bikes for a ride down our tree-lined street, walking to Krauszer’s for a candy bar and taking in the sights, sounds and smell of the brook after rain on a warm day—just some of the pleasures of living in the charming borough.
And while quaint neighborhoods, a delightful downtown and scenic spots to take in nature are key to making Ho-Ho-Kus such
a special place to live, I think we’d agree that it’s the people that make it home.
In this issue, we learn about some of the longtime institutions in town and those behind them that make Ho-HoKus what it is.
Our cover story spotlights the Ladies Auxiliary, a “small but mighty” group of women with a mission to support their family members on the Ho-HoKus Volunteer Fire Department and raise money to benefit charitable causes right here in the community. Members say they’ve made lifelong friendships working side-by-side to foster the values of pride, community and family throughout the organization.
And we spoke with scoutmasters and Boy Scouts in Troop 54, which has existed for nearly a century, aiming to raise good citizens with all the traits of a trusted leader. For about half that time, they’ve done so with the help of lifelong resident David Stuhr, who has volunteered countless hours to the mission.
The Auxiliary and the Scouts you’re surely familiar with, but did you know that a company that sells and services microscopes to schools across northern New Jersey has existed in Ho-Ho-Kus for decades? The John Simon Instrument Company was led by its eponymous founder until his retirement in 2018. John Simon died in November and his son, John Simon Jr., now operates the business. He speaks about his father’s impact on science education in the state and how it was always the two of them working and learning together.
We hope you enjoy reading about your neighbors as much as we enjoyed speaking to them to put together this issue. As always, please reach out to me with story ideas and photo submissions.
Enjoy this season of new beginnings and take in the beauty around you in Ho-Ho-Kus as spring unfolds.
Sarah Nolan Editor editor@hohokusmagazine.com
Ho-Ho-Kus MAGAZINE
Editor Sarah Nolan
Writer
Sarah Nolan
Photographers
Joe Nolan Adam Paray
WAINSCOT MEDIA
Chairman Carroll V. Dowden
President and CEO
Mark Dowden
VP, Group Publisher, Regional Thomas Flannery
VP, Content Strategy Maria Regan
Creative Director
Kijoo Kim
Art Director Rosemary O’Connell
Associate Editor Sophia Carlisle
Advertising Services Director Jacquelynn Fischer
Operations Director
Catherine Rosario
Production Designer Chris Ferrante
Print Production Manager Fern Meshulam
Advertising Production Associate Griff Dowden
Ho-Ho-Kus Magazine is published by Wainscot Media. Serving residents of Ho-Ho-Kus, the magazine is distributed monthly via U.S. mail. Articles and advertisements contained herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publishers. Copyright 2025 by Wainscot Media LLC. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent.
PHOTOGRAPH BY JOE NOLAN
AROUND TOWN
March Happenings
As the temperature warms and we look toward spring, Ho-Ho-Kus offers plenty of opportunities to get out and about.
AN AFTERNOON OF CHANNELING WITH CRAIG MCMANUS
Join us on Sunday, March 16 from 2 to 4 p.m. when renowned medium and author Craig McManus invites you to join him for a live group event. This special group gathering is devoted to connecting those here with loved ones who have crossed over, providing messages of hope, healing and love. Seating is limited. Purchase tickets at thehermitage.org/events. Please note: this event is not recommended for those under 16 and attendance does not guarantee a reading.
ST. PADDY’S DAY SOCIAL
The Contemporary Club of Ho-Ho-Kus will host a St. Paddy’s Day Social for members on March 15 at 7:30 p.m. The couples’ night out will be held at Stone & Rail in Glen Rock and feature live music, dancing, light bites and a cash bar. Visit contemporaryclubhhk.com/ happenings for more information.
HO-HO-KUS EDUCATION FOUNDATION GALA
The Ho-Ho-Kus Education Foundation will hold its annual gala on Friday, March 28 at Seasons in Township of Washington. The Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing educational opportunities for students in the community. Since founding in 1992, the Foundation has awarded over $1.5 million in grants. Their mission is to foster excellence in the classroom for all learners, engage the mind, instill confidence and further open the door of possibility.
The Foundation provides grants for advanced learning tools and resources and raises funding for projects like Ho-Ho-Kus School’s newly installed playground and the STEAM lab.
Learn more at hhkef.org or email hhkedfoundation@gmail. com for tickets.
COMEDY NIGHT
SIP OF HISTORY BOURBON & WINE TASTING
Join us on Friday, March 28 to tour the historic Hermitage and then take part in the tasting of flights of bourbon and wine with Chuck Russo of Wine & Spirit World The event begins at 6:30 p.m., and tickets are $75 for an individual and $125 for a couple. Light fare will be provided, and the evening will also include a tricky tray. Visit thehermitage.org for tickets.
The Ho-Ho-Kus Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary will host its annual Comedy Night fundraiser on Saturday, April 5. It will be held at the Community Church (400 Warren Ave.) and will feature a host of stand-up comedians, a tricky tray and for the first time, a selection of food trucks. The event is BYOB.
Proceeds will benefit the organization’s scholarship fund. Tickets cost $40 in advance and $50 at the door. For purchase contact Sue Daly at 201-965-6988 or buy at the door. Food trucks will be outside the Community Church from 4 to 7:30 p.m. The doors open at 7 p.m., and the show starts at 8 p.m.
The Ultimate Host
Just Janice bistro, a borough staple, is a thriving establishment 23 years in the making.
Janice Tinari couldn’t have dreamed that she would still own and operate her bistro, Just Janice, 23 years after opening its doors.
She had always loved cooking and initially made a name for herself as a caterer and private chef. But when the opportunity to open her own place presented itself in 2001, she couldn’t pass it up. Tinari thought she would get a taste of being a restauranteur and move on to her next venture within a few years.
BY SARAH NOLAN
“I really just wanted to get it out of my system,” she said. “I loved cooking so much and wanted to know what it was really like to own a restaurant. I tell you, once it’s in your blood, it’s very hard to get out. I just love being here every day.”
More than two decades on, Tinari says the restaurant is thriving thanks to her loyal customers, an amazing staff and a family-focused approach—her daughter, Alison Tinari, manages the frontend of the
house, and her other three children have all worked at the eatery at one time or another. Now, even her grandkids are pitching in.
“I love being able to make these memories for my family,” Tinari said.
A new venture
Though she’s not professionally trained, Tinari has always cherished being in the kitchen, preparing food to share with a steady stream
of friends and family that she truly enjoys hosting.
When her youngest child, Alison, went to nursery school, the then stay-at-home mom decided she would use her newfound time to open a small catering company, commissioning her friend Fran Fabish to work with her.
They did their research and established La Cucina Express, running the company out of their Ho-Ho-Kus homes. They created a menu and started handing flyers out to the moms at school drop-off.
“Before I knew it, I had freezers in my basement, and we were taking orders like crazy,” Tinari said.
The pair had a lot of fun with their new venture, but Fabish decided to step back from the business when her husband became ill. Tinari continued, pivoting to become a private chef for parties and then working at The Moveable Feast, a now defunct catering company in the borough, while continuing her own business.
When the owner of that establishment was getting ready
to retire, she offered Tinari the opportunity to buy the business, but Alison was still very young, and Tinari said she felt the timing wasn’t right.
But the desire to open a restaurant continued to tug at her, and one day on her morning walk, she saw a for sale sign at the Sheridan Café—an old school luncheonette on the main drag in town.
“I thought, ‘I don’t want to say I’m sorry I missed out again,’” she said. “This was my passion; it’s all I wanted to do.”
Opposite page: Janice Tinari inside her restaurant, Just Janice. This page, clockwise from top left: Just Janice is located at 23 Sheridan Ave. Tinari runs the restaurant with the help of her daughter, Alison Tinari. Inside the bistro, booth, table and counter seating are available. The eatery offers a warm, casual vibe.
Learning on the job
Within three months, she and her husband at the time, John, had a restaurant (the pair have since divorced and he is no longer involved with the business). It took them another five to six months to renovate the former “greasy spoon” at 23 Sheridan Ave., though the beloved booths and counter seating remain, a modernized nod to the restaurant’s former iteration.
“We put our blood, sweat and tears into it and got it off the ground despite having no clue what we were doing,” Tinari said. “It was on the job training, and we learned so much from the experienced people we hired. Cooking I could do, it’s everything else I really didn’t think about before jumping into this. But I’m not sorry because I’ve loved every minute of it.”
Clearly, Tinari is doing something right. She said it’s heartwarming to see regular customers return week after week. She credits their support for keeping her
business afloat through two disasters: first a car crash through the front window of the restaurant that forced her to close for months to reconstruct and second, the pandemic.
Tinari said while her background is in Italian cuisine, she offers her patrons a little bit of everything. Just Janice serves lunch and dinner along with brunch on the weekends. Dinner menu favorites include fish tacos, rigatoni bolognese, chicken Milanese and the tuna tower. Soup and salads are king at lunch. For brunch, customers love the spicy egg sandwich, breakfast risotto, eggs benedict and pancakes. And for dessert, people go crazy for the banana cream pie.
Specials are offered daily to keep things interesting and the restaurant also has plenty of gluten-free options.
“Everything is cooked and baked inhouse,” Tinari said. “Nothing comes out of a can or jar.”
Though Tinari develops all the recipes and still gets in the kitchen at Just Janice,
she said these days she feels like she gets in the staff’s way. They run a tight ship and have a routine that works.
“They’re amazing—they can do just about everything and anything I can do,” she said.
She said her daughter, Alison, is her right hand and, she jokes, her toughest critic. Alison was in seventh grade when the restaurant opened, and she started pouring coffee. In high school, she worked the brunch shift.
“My mom and I are similar in a lot of ways,” Alison said. “We have the same thought-process, and our creative ideas are often uniform. But we’re two type A personalities working behind a very small counter. She likes the towel over here, and I like it over there. It can be hard, but it works.”
“It’s really been a family-run business from day one,” Tinari said.
For more about Just Janice, visit justjanicenj.com or visit the restaurant’s Instagram page @justjanicenj.
Though Tinari’s background is in Italian cuisine, Just Janice’s menu is varied, offering a little bit of everything for lunch, dinner and brunch on the weekends.
BERGEN HEALTH EXPERIENCE WOMEN’S
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2025
5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
The Terrace at Biagio’s Paramus, NJ
Living Life Over a Microscope
John Simon’s microscope sales and service business, now operated by his son, has flourished in Ho-Ho-Kus ever since its inception.
BY SARAH NOLAN
If you went to high school in northern New Jersey anytime from the 1960s on, it’s very likely that you used a microscope sold and serviced by the John Simon Instrument Company right here in Ho-Ho-Kus. The eponymous business was established in 1959 by John Simon and has been running out of 50 North Franklin Turnpike almost ever since.
Inside a sprawling basement office, desktops are covered with microscopes and the multitude of tools and salves needed to keep them in tiptop shape, including the tiniest hex
wrench you’ve ever seen. Cases display vintage microscopes, harkening back to the business’s early days and before. And John Simon Jr. sits, carrying out repairs and taking orders for new instruments from schools and universities.
John Simon Jr.’s father passed away at age 93 this past November and retired from the business in 2018. But until then, he said it was always him and his dad.
“The business started in our house on a card table,” John Simon Jr. said. “I was always with my dad and because I was always with my dad, I was always involved in the business.”
PHOTOGRAPHS
JOE NOLAN AND COURTESY OF JOHN SIMON JR.
Opposite page, left: John Simon (center) stands before the microscopes he would sell to schools.
Right: John Simon Jr. in his office, in front of a display of vintage microscopes. This page, clockwise from top left: John Simon Jr. as a child, looking through a microscope that his father was selling; John Simon and his wife, Louise; John Simon.
An emerging industry
John Simon, a Westwood native, graduated from Johns Hopkins University in the early 1950s with an undergraduate degree in biology and began his career as a chemist for Fisher Chemical, then became a sales representative in the medical lab industry.
In 1957, a historical event that would prove highly significant for the world was also a turning point in John Simon’s life and career. The Soviet Union launched Sputnik—the first artificial Earth satellite, as part of its space program.
The event threatened the United States’ technological capabilities and created a sense of urgency to train more scientists and engineers. As a response, the National Defense Education Act (NDEA) was established in 1958 and increased funding
for education, particularly in science, technology and engineering fields.
At the same time, John Simon Jr. explained that the population was exploding after World War II, and more schools were being built to accommodate the generation known as baby boomers.
John Simon had the foresight to recognize the emerging industry and opportunity to do business with schools and created his company, which became a staple for educators across New Jersey.
Prior to the 1960s, John Simon Jr. said microscopes used in schools were standard laboratory versions. Thanks to increased funding, Bausch + Lomb created the first one specifically for use by students. American Optical also produced one and John Simon sold another by a German
company, Beck Kassel.
For many years, the John Simon Instrument Company was also heavily involved in the servicing of microscopes for hospitals, research facilities and pharmaceutical companies. John Simon Jr. said his father purchased the Jewell Optical Company, which had operated in Bloomfield, in 1971. Clinical and industrial microscopes were the company’s primary focus, bringing new opportunities for John Simon.
However, as industry has fallen away in New Jersey and business with hospitals has become more corporate, John Simon Jr. said, the company has returned to its roots, focusing on microscopes for schools (though he does still do some work for veterinarians).
Following in dad’s footsteps
John Simon Jr. said he always had an interest in the servicing and building of microscopes thanks to working alongside his dad. When he was a boy growing up in Saddle River, around 12 years old, he apprenticed under one of his father’s employees, learning a great deal. He also took a maintenance training course at the American Optical factory in Buffalo, New York.
“Working on microscopes is just something we always did together,”
John Simon Jr. said of he and his father. “It’s like having blue eyes. We fixed microscopes. My father defined himself by this business—it was who he was. Growing up I was always with him, so I was always doing this.”
Though he studied political science
in college and had ambitions of becoming a lawyer, John Simon Jr. would continue in his father’s footsteps after inventing and getting a patent for a video microscope.
As the popularity of video grew in the late 1980s, he saw a need in the market and designed an adapter that allowed users to mount a video camera to a microscope so images could be displayed on a television screen. He worked with Leica to bring it to market.
John Simon Jr. said it was a joy to see firsthand how his father thrived in his business. John Simon’s commitment to his school clients was exemplified by his dedication as a New Jersey Science Teachers Association (NJSTA) convention founder and charter exhibitor, according to his obituary.
He twice received the Atkins Award, given for outstanding cooperation with and service to science teachers in the state of New Jersey and was also awarded the Tom Fangman award in 2013 in recognition of his 37 years of service to the NJSTA.
“He was very loyal to and respected by his peer group,” Simon’s son said.
“He was very personable and a great salesman. He would go out on the road and meet people, building relationships that would last decades.”
And as they sometimes say, “behind every great man is a great woman.” John Simon’s wife and John Simon Jr.’s mom, Louise, was really the “nuts and bolts” behind the business, her son said.
“She did all the filing, all the typing, all while raising five children,” John
Left: Tools and salves litter a desk where John Simon Jr. services microscopes for schools. Right: Simon Jr. tests out a microscope.
Simon Jr. said of his mother, now in her 90s and still living in Saddle River. “She doesn’t get nearly the amount of credit that she deserves. When we all grew up and went to college, she came here and worked fulltime.”
John Simon Jr. said today, he continues driving to pick up microscopes that need servicing at least once a year from schools and colleges, mostly in northern New Jersey and Rockland and Orange counties in New York. He’s also a microscope dealer for a company called Accu-Scope. The business has changed over the years but is in more demand now than ever.
“This used to be a lot like watchmaking or gunsmithing,” he said of the very specialized, now rare business. “It was a trade.”
Aside from his longtime career fixing microscopes, John Simon Jr., a father of three grown children, is also an accomplished singer/songwriter. You might recognize him as a busker on the streets of Ridgewood, where he plays music on many Friday nights for the Ridgewood Guild. He lights up when he talks about his passion for music. He has two albums out now, with a third on the way, describing his music as Americana/ modern folk.
“I’m a second degree blackbelt, but I got too old to train any longer,” he said. “When you hit 50, things go downhill. I thought ‘What are you going to do with yourself?’ So I started playing guitar. I took lessons at the School of Rock in Waldwick—they got my head straight and got me playing good, then I started playing an open mic in Ridgewood, then busking. It’s fun and it forces me to practice.”
For more about John Simon Jr.’s music, visit his Instagram page @northhousemusic.
John Simon Jr., also a singer/songwriter, busks on Friday nights in Ridgewood.
Left: A case displays vintage microscopes at the John Simon Instrument Company.
Above:
Poised for Leadership
For nearly a century, Ho-Ho-Kus Boy Scout Troop 54 has existed to raise generations of young people to become confident leaders.
BY SARAH NOLAN
Lifelong Ho-Ho-Kus resident
David Stuhr was a member of the borough’s Boy Scout Troop 54 as a kid growing up in the 1940s and 50s. But it wasn’t until 1973 that his true appreciation for the program emerged.
A friend was the scoutmaster of a troop in Greenville, New York, and needed an extra vehicle and driver to transport boys to the National Scout Jamboree in Idaho, after which they’d continue on to tour the west. He asked Stuhr who thought: Why not?
Fresh off completing his doctorate degree, the chance to take a longer and
closer look at the western mountains and coast appealed to him more than the idea of working with a bunch of Boy Scouts, Stuhr said. But that quickly changed.
“It didn’t take me long to realize the impact of the trip, not only on me but on each of the Scouts,” he said. “By the end, I recognized how significant the Scouting program was in the lives of the boys. Not only did the program teach them useful skills, but it also gave them confidence in their ability to continually learn additional concepts that would be meaningful and useful all their lives.”
And so began Stuhr’s tenure as a
beloved leader in Ho-Ho-Kus’s Troop 54, for which he started volunteering upon his return from the Jamboree.
In his 50-plus years with the troop, he has overseen the transformation of 116 boys to Eagle Scout—the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America that gets to the heart of what Stuhr and his fellow leaders agree is the key element of the program: creating good citizens and leaders.
“It is one of the great joys of Scouting to help in the process of developing confident leaders who can accomplish amazing things,” Stuhr said.
Learning life lessons
Founded in 1927, Ho-Ho-Kus’s Troop 54 has been shaping youth for nearly a century. Current Scoutmaster Dr. Robert Barone, who has held the position for 20 years, said like many, he got involved when his son, Brian, joined the Cub Scouts. Brian is now in his mid-30s, and yet Barone stays on.
“Scouting is about self-reliance, and I truly enjoy guiding the boys in being able to take care of themselves and make decisions for themselves,” he said. “I also enjoy the outdoor activities, being outside and going on campouts, getting away from the TV, electronics and cell phones.”
Once boys move from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts (toward the end of fifth grade), Barone said they begin to earn merit badges in different areas of expertise, from knot tying and first aid to more specialized subjects, depending on their interests.
As they grow and build upon their skills and teamwork abilities, they begin to realize the importance of what they’ve been working towards, Barone said.
“By eighth grade, a lightbulb goes off in their head: ‘Oh, I get why I’ve been doing this over and over again,’” he said. “Because out in the wilderness, you’re only as strong as your weakest link. They learn how to get along, work together and gain knowledge from older boys.”
Troop leader Peter Mastandrea, whose son is on track to receive Eagle this year, said it’s fun to see boys doing a lot more on camping trips than they might do at home. Parents remark in amazement that the Scouts have their kids cooking and doing dishes.
“These kids come in and they don’t know how to do anything,” Stuhr said. “By the time they’re 18 years old, they can cook, clean and take care of themselves and when they go to college, they’re
the ones that are chosen as leaders.”
The best part, troop leader Kevin Sheehy says, is it’s Scout-led. Adults are there for supervision and transportation, but the boys elect their senior patrol leaders and the older Scouts plan campouts, hold monthly leadership meetings and run weekly meetings.
Troop member Mica Ferrales, 17, said the younger scouts remind him of himself when he was in their shoes.
“Having older Scouts guide me through the program really helped me and made me the person I am today,” Ferrales said. “I’m honored to do the same for the younger members.”
As they climb the ranks, Scouts are also subject to interviews from a Board of Review, Sheehy said, teaching them how to interact and speak to people they don’t necessarily know and demonstrate that they’ve mastered the Scout
Oath and Scout Law.
“It’s a formal face-to-face interaction that many young people aren’t exposed to until much later,” Barone said. “It starts in sixth grade, and the questions get increasingly harder.”
To attain Eagle Scout rank, scouts must complete a project by their 18th birthday. These are service projects that involve leading a group of volunteers to improve a community and provide ample learning opportunities, Mastandrea said.
“It’s a lengthy process and there are so many great life lessons, from overcoming obstacles, to budgeting and the back-and-forth with town officials,” he said. “These are skills that will last you for your whole life.”
Troop 54’s Senior Patrol Leader Austin Hintz, 17, said he’s gained a sense of independence from being a member of the Boy Scouts and has been
Opposite page: David Stuhr, Robert Barone and Peter Mastandrea with boys who have reached Eagle Scout rank. Right: Stuhr with Scouts during his first trip to Philmont Scout Ranch and Explorer Base in 1975. This year will be his 38th time making the trek.
Bottom right: Scout leaders Tim Coombs, Barone, Stuhr and Mastandrea.
given opportunities that other clubs or sports might not offer.
“It’s student-led learning and working with your troop to pivot when things don’t go as planned or figure out a way to do things better next time,” he said. “There’s a very broad scope of what can you learn, and the program offers so much.”
The definition of a servant leader Troop 54 leaders agree that the preparation for climbing the ranks and so much of the making of a good Scout (one who is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent according to Scout Law) happens in the wilderness on campouts.
“Scouting uses camping as the primary teaching tool,” Stuhr said. “It is on campouts— summer camp and special camping
opportunities—that the Scouts grow and develop their leadership skills.” After all, discovery is at the heart of scouting, and if there’s an authority on exploration and adventure in Troop 54, fellow leaders and Scouts say it’s Stuhr.
This year will be the 38th time Stuhr, 86, makes the trip to the Philmont Scout Ranch, Scouting America’s largest National HighAdventure Base which covers 140,177 acres of rugged mountain wilderness in the Sangre de Cristo range of the Rocky Mountains in northeastern New Mexico.
Sheehy, who called Philmont the “mecca of Scouting,” said he did the 10-day backpacking trek with Stuhr as a youth and this year, he will be going as the lead hiker with his oldest son and Stuhr—a “full circle” moment.
“Dave never wants to be in the spotlight, but he’s always the driving force and always the
one that makes it happen—every campout, every meeting, he’s there,” Sheehy said. “He has planned knee replacements around Philmont so he can be there.”
Troop member Andrew Perna echoed Sheehy’s positive sentiments.
“Mr. Stuhr tells the best stories and there are always things to learn from him,” Perna said.
“He’s really the ideal Boy Scout—he donates all of his time, and even money, and it’s so inspiring.”
Stuhr goes the extra mile by transporting the boys to Philmont via a van so they can explore the United States after the trek. He said they’ve visited most of the national parks over the years in what he described as a micro sociological experiment: 12 guys packed in a van for days at a time. There are very few rules, Stuhr said, and one is that the boys must respect each other.
Top left: Barone speaks with Scouts at a recent meeting.
Above and bottom left: A trophy case at the Community Church displays awards, badges, photos and memorabilia.
“Dave buys a new van just for the troop every five to eight years,” Barone said. “He truly gives his time, talent and treasure.”
Along the way, Scouts and fellow leaders enjoy picking Stuhr’s brain. They say the retired Fordham business professor and dean that’s been referred to as a “legend” can speak on everything from politics and sports to the opera and art.
Another quintessential adventure experience Stuhr is instrumental in is the Northern New Jersey Council’s Floodwood Mountain Scout Reservation near Saranac Lake, New York, in the heart of the Adirondacks. There, Scouts canoe and take part in high peaks backpacking trips.
Stuhr not only accompanies the troop on the high adventure trips but is part of a small team of volunteers who spend many
weekends maintaining the camp property and many evenings promoting it to Scouts in the Northern New Jersey Council and neighboring councils.
“Dave is truly the definition of a servantleader,” Sheehy said. “He is always putting everything and everyone else before himself.”
To Stuhr, it’s worth it seeing what the boys gain from these ventures.
“Many if not all Scouts who attend these camps have experiences that are lifechanging,” he said. “If you met a group who had been to either and asked them what it was like, be ready for a long and enthusiastic recounting of their experiences, all of them designed to create confident leaders and provide fun for the Scouts.”
Visit troop54hhk.com for more information about Troop 54.
Top: Stuhr and other leaders with Scouts at Philmont in 2023. Center: Stuhr with Scouts on a campout. Above: Stuhr cooks during a camping trip.
Small but Mighty
A closeknit group of Ladies Auxiliary members offer support to the Ho-Ho-Kus Volunteer Fire Department and raise money for the good of the community, fostering lifelong friendships along the way.
When Hurricane Sandy hit New Jersey in 2012, hundreds of thousands of homes were damaged and millions were left without power statewide.
Here in Ho-Ho-Kus, the Volunteer Fire Department and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) were running calls 24 hours a day to help residents in need. Firefighters slept on the second floor of the fire station in shifts, when time allowed.
And members of the Ho-Ho-Kus Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary were nearby, doing what they’ve
BY SARAH NOLAN
always done: supporting the mission and goals of the fire department and fostering the values of pride, community and family throughout the organization.
While their loved ones were out providing much-needed assistance to those affected, the Ladies were also pulling all-nighters, catching some zzzs in sleeping bags on the floor of the Borough Hall chambers when they could. In total, they provided dinner for 545 residents and breakfast and lunch to another 155 in the town’s emergency center, along with feeding the department.
“We’re a small but mighty group,” treasurer Trish Ludwig said. “It felt really good, helping the town in whatever way we could.”
Ludwig is one of the founding members of the re-established Ladies Auxiliary. Three generations of the Ludwig family have devoted themselves to the fire department, including her father-in-law, husband Jay and daughter Jaclyn. That kind of multi-generational showing is not uncommon in the department.
Wh ile a Ladies Auxiliary had existed in town decades earlier, it was reformed
Members of the Ladies Auxiliary pose with a Ho-Ho-Kus fire engine.
during a particularly poignant time for firefighters and their families: just before Sept. 11, 2001.
The Auxiliary is open to spouses, significant others and family of the HoHo-Kus Volunteer Fire Department, and while it partners with the department during local emergencies and assists with a variety of community outreach and fire-prevention activities, like the annual Open House, holiday festivities and new equipment wet downs, the group exists in its own right with a mission to raise money for an annual Scholarship Fund and various local charities and families in need.
Right now, the group is gearing up for its largest fundraiser—the annual Comedy Night, which will be held on Saturday,
April 5 and feature comedians from the “That’s What She Said” group along with Ho-Ho-Kus native Adam Oppenheimer, son of Auxiliary Vice President Kathy Oppenheimer.
Member Monica Ludwig, Trish Ludwig’s daughter-in-law, said for the first time the event will also feature food trucks, which will be open to the public from 4 to 7:30 p.m., prior to the ticketed 8 p.m. show.
Money raised from the show and food trucks will go primarily to the Auxiliary’s Scholarship Fund. Each year the organization gives out two scholarships to residents wishing to continue their education—one to a member of the fire department family, one to a community
member. The scholarships are given based on public service. Last year the Auxiliary raised nearly $6,500 for the cause.
In addition, the Auxiliary chooses other local organizations to donate to, including the New Jersey Firemen’s Home (a healthcare facility whose primary mission is dedicated to the men and women of the New Jersey Fire Service), the Center for Food Action and Children’s Aid and Family Services.
Residents in need and causes close to their hearts are also benefactors. One year, a donation was made to the Spectrum for Living for member Elly Portsmore’s son, who has special needs, and in memory of her husband Paul “Potsy” Portsmore, a beloved fire department member.
Trish Ludwig, founding member and treasurer of the Ladies Auxiliary.
Another year, funds were donated to Auxiliary member Carol Rosazza’s family. Her grandsons, now 10 and 13, were diagnosed with muscular dystrophy and funds went toward a double wheelchair accessible van.
“We were brought to tears and felt shocked and beyond grateful for the love, respect and generosity of a caring community that really understood our need at a time when we didn’t expect our boys needs to come so quickly,” Rosazza said.
Ladies Auxillary member Victoria Petrock said fundraising for local needs is incredibly rewarding.
“We’re really supporting people and causes in our community that might get overlooked, as a lot of people give to larger
nationwide organizations,” she said.
“You really know your neighbors are being taken care of with these donations. We physically give our time to the community through helping the Fire Department, and at the same time we’re fundraising and being able to cast a wider net with the donations we give.”
Fire Department Chief Don Seltmann said members are fortunate to have an “active and dynamic” Ladies Auxiliary.
“The ladies provide not only critical support during emergency responses, but also financial support when needed to bridge the budget gap, making sure we are always able to provide the best fire and rescue services to the community,” he said.
Member Sue McIntire said she’s truly learned the value of volunteering via
her husband and his service to the Fire Department and her time with Ladies Auxiliary. “It’s amazing how these volunteers go out at all hours of the night, then get up and go to work the next morning,” she said. “Witnessing their service and being a member of this group has taught me how important it is to volunteer and give back.” McIntire said spending time with the “wonderful women” on the Auxiliary is the icing on the cake, and fellow members agree.
Many of the group’s 13 active members continue to serve even after their family members have left the Fire Department for a variety of reasons or circumstances.
When asked why she stays years beyond when her son was a member, Gayle Albes says, “I like the ladies!”
Top: Members of the Ho-Ho-Kus Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary at the station. From left, Elly Portsmore, Sue Daly, Trish Ludwig, Gayle Albes and Monica Ludwig. Bottom: Members of the Ladies Auxiliary get into fire gear during an event.
Right: Members of the Ladies Auxiliary including, from left, Elly Portsmore, Kathy Oppenheimer, Gayle Albes, Sue McIntire, Trish Ludwig, Monica Ludwig and Veronica Petrock. Center: The Ladies Auxiliary donated to Go4TheGoal years ago to support Ho-Ho-Kus resident Blake Buffa’s cancer battle. Bottom: Members of the Ladies Auxiliary and the Ho-Ho-Kus Volunteer Ambulance Corps, a beneficiary of the organization.
Many of the Auxiliary members knew each other prior to joining the group, as their family members were on the Fire Department, but Auxiliary President and founding member Sue Daly said spending time with friends and neighbors with the shared goal of giving back has allowed them to form deeper friendships and bonds.
Founding member Leann Surz said she’s originally from Wisconsin and developing bonds and friendships through the Auxiliary helped her feel at home in Ho-Ho-Kus.
Petrock said she appreciates that the Auxiliary allows her to connect with women across generations and said she’s learned a lot from members that came before her, both about the department and the town.
Monica Ludwig, a newer member, said before she moved to town she knew little about the Auxiliary other than that “they throw a great event.” Her mother-in-law inspired her to get involved once she and her husband Jason settled in the borough.
“I wanted to get to know more about the community and give back and this is a wonderful group of people,” she said. “I haven’t been part of anything like this, and it’s such a warm, closeknit group that’s doing wonderful things for this town.”
To purchase tickets for the Auxiliary’s Comedy Night, contact Ladies Auxiliary President Sue Daly at 201-965-6988. For general inquiries and more information, email hhkladies@gmail.com or visit hhkfire.com/about/ladies-auxiliary.
Let’s Glow!
Borough students learned about leadership while having fun and raising money for the Home & School Association during the Apex Glow Run Fundraiser.
Ho-Ho-Kus Public School recently participated in the Apex Leadership Co. Glow Run Fundraiser—a twoweek long interactive leadership and character-building program combined with a fitness-focused event, building students’ education along with funds for the school.
The Apex team taught students lessons centered around gratitude and teamwork, culminating in the energizing event where they ran laps to raise money for the Home &
BY SARAH NOLAN
School Association (HSA), which enhances the educational experience for all students by providing monies for author visits, multicultural celebrations, classroom improvements an supplies, sports equipment for recess, educational subscriptions, donations for the school garden and the spring musical production and much more.
HSA President Lara Larko said the event was incredibly successful, raising nearly $30,000 for the association.
“The HSA Glow Run Fundraiser
was an incredible two weeks filled with energy, excitement and school spirit,” Larko said. “Thanks to all of our families’ generosity and encouragement, this was one of our most successful fundraisers and far exceeded all of our expectations in funds raised. It was so amazing to see all the students, teachers, parents and families come together, have fun and support the HSA. We’re so grateful for everyone who participated and helped make this event a glowing success!”
Opposite page, clockwise from top left: Kindergarteners Olivia Delcalzo and Mara Breslin. Students run laps to raise money for their school. Fourth graders Brandon Derr, Hudson Steidel, Gavin Vaccarino and Sam Harris. Kindergartner Mason Baez gets ready to run his laps. Fourth grader Gavin Larko showing off his glow gear before running. Fifth grader Chase Larko is still smiling after running over 40 laps. Fifth graders Chase Larko and Max Greco all smiles as they prepare to run. Fourth grade girls smiling after a couple of laps around the Glow track. Sixth graders Matthew Derr and Vincent Catanzaro. This page, from left: James Baez supporting the students as they run. Eighth grader Luke Pedicano won the chance to give Assistant Principal Mike Padilla a mohawk, a reward for completing the Glow Run Nightly Challenge. Principal Martha Walsh flips pancakes for fourth graders in Mrs. McLean’s class as a reward for reaching their daily goal.
Selling Ho-Ho-Kus
Buying and selling a home can be daunting in this day and age. Experts answer our questions about the competitive market in Ho-Ho-Kus.
INTERVIEW WITH MAX STOKES AND MEGAN FOX
How did you get into real estate and why did this field appeal to you?
Max: My family has been deeply rooted in this community for over 100 years, running various businesses, including a real estate company right here in Ho-HoKus. As a fourth-generation real estate professional, you could say it’s in my DNA—it was always a lively topic at our dinner table growing up.
After spending several years in finance as a commodities trader, I bought and sold a wine and spirits store in Ho-HoKus before transitioning to focus on real estate full-time. That experience gave me a deeper appreciation for what it takes to be an entrepreneur running a business and being part of the community—plus I learned a ton about wine.
More importantly, real estate has always been a true passion of mine. I love living
and working in the same community I serve. Helping clients navigate the purchase or sale of what is often their largest and most significant asset is incredibly rewarding.
Megan: After leaving a finance career in New York City, I decided to transition into real estate. This change was motivated by the need for a more flexible schedule, especially after having children. Real estate attracted me because it offers the chance to work closely with clients to assist them in finding homes that perfectly suit their needs and lifestyles. The ability to build personal connections and make a meaningful impact in people’s lives is what truly inspired me to pursue this field.
Ho-Ho-Kus is an incredibly sought after town, and homes don’t tend to stay on the market long. What is inventory looking like going into the spring?
Max: Ho-Ho-Kus is a highly sought after community, and as we approach spring, inventory remains limited. This tight market dynamic is expected to continue, with homes likely selling quickly. High demand and low availability are expected to keep prices at elevated levels.
It’s been a tough few years for first time home buyers, with high interest rates and home prices. As a real estate expert, do you have any insight as to whether this will continue? How do you see things evolving in the next few years?
Megan: The real estate market has been particularly challenging for first-time buyers, largely due to high interest rates, elevated home prices, and competition from well-qualified buyers, such as downsizers or those leveraging equity from an existing home to fund their next purchase. Unfortunately, until the supply-and-demand imbalance improves, first-time buyers will continue to face significant challenges.
That said, we have successfully guided many first-time buyers through this competitive market by employing creative strategies to win bidding wars and securing off-market opportunities that are not widely accessible. With the right approach and expertise, it is possible to turn these challenges into successful outcomes.
What are some tips or advice you offer people trying to sell their home?
Max: Selling a home for top dollar requires the right mix of strategy, presentation and market expertise. Pricing competitively, enhancing curb appeal and decluttering can make huge differences in attracting serious buyers. Thoughtful updates like painting and switching out outdated light fixtures as well as staging are worthy investments alongside ensuring professional photography and video, as you only get one chance at a first impression.
But beyond the aesthetics, success comes down to experience, and our top recommendation is to partner with a hyper-local real estate team that understands the pulse of the market. It’s essential to choose a real estate professional you both trust and feel comfortable with to help guide you throughout the process.
What are some tips or advice you offer people trying to buy in Ho-Ho-Kus or move within the borough?
Megan: Often experienced agents will have insider access to homeowners considering a sale and can help play matchmaker between buyers and sellers in low inventory high demand towns, like HoHo-Kus. We are proud that seven members of our team are residents of Ho-Ho-Kus and deeply involved in the community, giving us unparalleled local knowledge and access to an extensive network.
Megan Fox and Max Stokes.
What are some qualities that you believe make Ho-HoKus so desirable?
Max: Ho-Ho-Kus is ranked the #1 best place to live in Bergen County by Niche. com, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a charming town with a rich history, offering beautiful homes and a close-knit community.
Megan: I cherish the smalltown atmosphere of HoHo-Kus. As a mother of four children who were born and raised here, I appreciate our K-8 school, which has been instrumental in fostering lifelong friendships.
Max: Spending so much of my childhood in Ho-Ho-Kus, I always knew it was where I wanted to buy my first home and raise my children. Ho-HoKus is truly a 10 out of 10 in my book. It offers an incredible quality of life, with its central location, excellent schools, convenient mass transportation, charming downtown, engaged local government, relatively low taxes and welcoming community spirit. You really couldn’t ask for a more idyllic place to call home.
The Fox & Stokes team.
In Women’s Words
Celebrate Women’s History Month with these classics by female authors.
Women are dominating the contemporary book business, according to a study by Joel Waldfogel, an economist at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management. Since 2020, women are writing the majority of all new books in both the fiction and nonfiction categories. Female authors are also seeing greater sales, larger readership and higher metrics of engagement than their male counterparts, the study says.
Celebrate these industry strides (and Women’s History Month) with these classic novels by female authors.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou’s 1969 autobiography is a stirring account of her youth, including the trauma and racism that she had to overcome to become the worldrenowned author we all know and love. The book was the result of a challenge from Angelou’s close friend James Baldwin, who felt an autobiography couldn’t also be a piece of literature. She proved him wrong big-time.
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
This dystopian novel, set right here in Cambridge, follows characters in a patriarchal, totalitarian state in which women are forced to procreate for the ruling class. The exploration of suppressed reproductive rights, a loss of female agency and the right of independence continues to strike a strong chord with women today.
The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
“The House of the Spirits” remains one of the most-loved books by prolific Chilean author Isabel Allende. It follows the Trueba family through three generations and a century of Latin American history. The story is interwoven with magical realism.
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
This novel follows four immigrant Chinese families in San Francisco who start a mah-jongg club known as the Joy Luck Club. The book is structured in a similar manner to a mah-jongg game with four parts each divided into four sections. Throughout those sections, three mothers and four daughters share their stories in short vignettes.
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
Joan Didion wrote “The Year of Magical Thinking” about the year following her husband’s death. She recounts the days before and after the death and the way the grieving process impacted her emotionally and physically as she tried to care for her ill daughter. Her personal narrative is interspersed with medical and psychological research about grief.
Fletcher Kakolewski enjoys the new playground at Ho-Ho-Kus Public School, which was completed in January. The new addition was made possible through funds from the Ho-Ho-Kus Education Foundation. A student committee provided input on what kinds of equipment students would most enjoy.
Have a great image for Photo Op? Submit your high-resolution shot to editor@hohokusmagazine.com.
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