Morris/Essex Health & Life: April/May 2023

TAKE IT EASY

CHATHAM COLONIAL EVOKES SERENITY

WOW-WORTHY WALLS

5 DESIGNERS SOLVE YOUR WALLPAPER WOES

PARTY CENTRAL IN POMPTON PLAINS

GIVE & TASTE

Park Avenue Club is Morris County’s premiere social and dining club, conviently located just outside of Morristown. The members only club offers affordable social, personal and corporate memberships, granting access to private event space and a full roster of exciting social and fine dining experiences. Our club has a unique social mission to support 13 non-profits through its relationship with the Park Avenue Foundation.

AFFORDABLE MEMBERSHIPS AVAILABLE

CONTENTS Features

A Life Inspired | 18

Christina Thompson survived cancer twice thanks to The Cancer Center at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center and an aggressive screening protocol. Now, her life’s work is to advocate for early screening and knowing your family history—so her mother’s death wasn’t in vain.

A Neighborly Bond | 20

South Orange’s Michael Sang needed a kidney transplant. Little did he know his donor match lived next door.

Tips From NJ’s Only Certified Burn Center | 24 Burns receive specialized care at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, but it’s better to avert injury altogether with essential safety practices.

A Chance Encounter | 25

A twist of fate led 82-year-old Joseph Lamberto to the cardiologist at CBMC that would cure him of heart and kidney diseaseand ultimately change his life.

Work From Home—And Play There Too | 30

The first floor of a Chatham colonial was happily transformed with both serenity and practicality in mind. And it was worth the wait.

Take It Outside | 36

In Pompton Plains, a designer helped turn an uninspiring backyard with a deck into a visually stunning entertainment haven.

WALLPAPER WOES?

We’ve got you covered. Five Morris- and Essexbased designers share tips for wowworthy walls. p.24

CONTENTS

Departments

Morris/Essex Buzz | 10

Our guide to new ideas, tips, trends and things we love in the counties.

Your Friends & Neighbors | 13

Robbie Felice of Montclair’s Pasta Ramen wants you to pause and wonder: “Is it Italian—or Japanese?”

Home Front | 14

Here’s a bright idea—try one of these striking statement pieces to light up your room.

Oh, Baby | 15

Pamper the baby (and the parents-to-be) with must-haves for sleep, bath and play.

Gatherings | 63

Morris/Essex residents always show up to support their friends and neighbors— especially when help is needed most.

A Morris/Essex Moment | 64

Newark isn’t just buildings and businesses. A Maplewood photographer captures the natural beauty of the city at Branch Brook Park, where a lone fisherman waded kneedeep in a serene pond.

ON THE COVER:

Designer Megan Pisano transforms a Chatham home with serenity and practicality in mind.

Photo by Meghan Balcom.

Land Use Practice on the Move

Could You Save A Life?

April is National Donate Life Month —a special time to honor those who have given the generous gift of organ and tissue donation, celebrate the second chance at life made possible for transplant recipients and give hope to patients waiting for a transplant.

More than 107,000 individuals in the United States await the gift of life through organ donation, including 4,000 individuals in New Jersey. In 2022, the New Jersey Sharing Network reported more lives saved than ever before thanks to 283 organ donors in New Jersey who gave the gift of life resulting in 670 life-saving organ

helped developer and hospitality clients from purchase of property to lease negotiations, from obtaining site plan approvals to securing alcohol licensing for restaurant slabs. With long experience in the industry and practical understanding of development, we can assist in the development of a project from concept inception to shovels in the ground.

In addition to having practitioners intimately familiar and actively involved on the developer side, we have attorneys who represent land use boards. And we take particular pride in our nimbleness and ability to assist clients more e ciently than larger firms.

For more information how Post Polak’s Land Use Department can assist you, please contact landuse@postpolak.com.

RICHARD DAVIS President and Chief Executive Officer COOPERMAN BARNABAS MEDICAL CENTER

A Home Is A Vision Of A Family’s Future

Call it an editor’s guilty pleasure. Reviewing designs for the Home & Garden Issue of Morris/Essex Health & Life each year gives me a sneak peek into the destinies of the homes we feature. These projects mark the melding of a designer’s talents with a family’s dreams. And home design is ultimately about more than floor plans, materials, color palettes and imaginatively sourced pieces; it’s about the good times that will be enjoyed in these spaces. It’s a bold bet on future happiness, and I get to experience it vicariously—and share it with you, our readers.

For example, I get to enjoy along with the owners of a late-1960s Chatham colonial the recent transformation of their home to meet their three key requirements: that it be kid-friendly, work-from-home-friendly and, of course, friendly to the aesthetic eye. On page 30, you’ll see how triumphantly designer Megan Pisano met this trifecta of challenges. Ceiling lights, a generous desk space and charming French doors for an optional work time barrier help the 9-to-5 day mean business in this home, while pops of color and an ottoman that doubles as a coffee table contribute to fun family time with the couple’s toddler.

Then there’s entertaining—imagine being a proverbial fly on the wall at tomorrow’s possible parties (and here come some more “P” words) on a perfect Pompton Plains patio with an uplit pergola (page 36), where a firepit permits the outdoor socializing to go year-round.

What else rounds out this issue? In Buzz (page 10) you’ll read about where you can celebrate Earth Day, where to be good to the Earth by recycling used electronic products and hazardous waste, and where to go to make Mom happy on Mother’s Day if she’s one of five distinct Mom types. And suppose you’re a connoisseur of Japanese cuisine but your spouse is all about eating Italian. The brilliant chef whose offerings you both can happily settle on, Robbie Felice, is quizzed on page 13, where you’ll read about his passion for Wafu, what’s tattooed on his ankles and why it’s so darned hard to get a reservation at his restaurant.

Whether your home is your project this spring or you’ve vowed to explore the Morris and Essex county attractions you’re always too busy to check out, there’s bound to be something in this issue of Morris/ Essex Health & Life for you. It’s our pleasure (not a guilty one this time) to present pages we hope will entertain you—and offer an idea or two for your own future.

Rita Guarna Editor in Chief editor@wainscotmedia.com

HEALTH & LIFE Editor in Chief RITA GUARNA

Creative Director

STEPHEN M. VITARBO

Senior Associate Editor

DARIUS AMOS

Lifestyle Editor

HALEY LONGMAN

Contributing Editors

RICHARD LALIBERTE PAUL RANCE JR.

Contributing Photographer KEVIN MCGRATH PHOTOGRAPHY

PRODUCTION

Production Manager FERN MESHULAM

Production Artist CHRIS FERRANTE

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Morris/Essex Health & Life is published 6 times a year by Wainscot Media, 1 Maynard Dr., Park Ridge, NJ 07656. This is Volume 21, Issue

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BUZZ }

OUR GUIDE TO NEW IDEAS, TIPS, TRENDS AND THINGS WE LOVE IN OUR COUNTIES.

DRINK YOUR GREENS!

Did you eat right all winter? Never mind; it’s spring now—the perfect time to clear your system with something clean and natural. Juices and smoothies, that is, delicious drinks packed with fruits and veggies. Refreshing and filling, they can be ordered at:

—Green Point Juicery, multiple locations, greenpointjuicery.com. This local chain has dozens of smoothie, juice and bowl options to satisfy all tastes. Our favorite: the tropical smoothie with mango, banana, kale, spinach, coconut water and goji berry.

—Clean Juice Morristown, 68 South St., Morristown. Power up with a fresh protein smoothie or juice from this chain. This place also has assorted sandwiches and ready-todrink options for those on the go.

—Manhattan Juice Bar & Cafe, 446 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair, 973.744.4100; manhattanjuice2013. com. This neighborhood eatery offers delicious smoothies named after

prominent NYC landmarks (try the “Penn Station”—banana, peanut butter, chocolate protein powder and almond milk), juices and a full line of wraps, salads and paninis.

—Freshii, 1767 Rte. 10, Morris Plains, 862.325.9109; freshii.com. Locals visit this chain for their coldpressed juices and freshly made smoothies, but the shop also serves sandwiches, bowls, frozen yogurt and more.

—Juice Hub, 61 Academy St., South Orange, 973.996.8134; juicehubnj. com. This local chain has dozens of juice and smoothie options. If its drinks don’t fill you, order veggie burgers, wraps and other entrées from the extensive vegan menu.

SKEETERS SAY, ‘DON’T READ THIS!’

Preparing your yard for spring and summer means more than getting ready to garden—this is the time to safeguard your space against mosquitoes. These bloodsuckers typically thrive in moist environments when temperatures rise above 50 degrees, and they’re a nuisance when they start buzzing and biting. In New Jersey you may encounter three species: Asian tiger, cattail and white-footed woods. Each can deliver an itchy bite, while the Asian tiger (Zika and West Nile viruses) and cattail (West Nile) have been known to transmit diseases. Below are a few tips to follow so you don’t bug out later:

• Clean up your yard and remove anything that can hold water, such as unused pots and containers.

• Cover or overturn trailers, wheelbarrows, tools and children’s toys to avoid water pooling.

• Regularly clean gutters and drains so that water runs freely.

• Change water in pet drinking bowls, bird baths and vases at least weekly.

• Put sand around the base of potted plants to absorb pooling water.

• Keep swimming pools well maintained and chlorinated or securely covered if not in use.

• Keep fishponds clean with minimal vegetation around the edges.

• Keep lawns and gardens trimmed back to reduce the areas where mosquitoes rest.

PUPPY LOVE

Dog: Lulu, 3-year-old Australian Labradoodle

Owner: Bob and Donna D’Amico, Morris Township

The D’Amicos knew as soon as Lulu joined their home almost three years ago that the pooch would love and be loved by everyone. “She has a very chill personality and likes everyone,” says proud pop, Bob. It was only fitting that Lulu became a registered therapy dog with Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dogs in Morris Plains. In that role, Lulu makes regular visits to Morristown Medical Center as part of Atlantic Health’s Soothing Paws program as well as Morris View Healthcare Center in Morris Township and the Firemen’s Home in Boonton. Though her parents describe her as an “old soul” with a calm personality, Lulu knows how to have fun: She loves playing fetch, romping with her doggie friends and taking walks along Patriots Path. Want to see your pet in an upcoming issue? Email rita.guarna@wainscotmedia.com.

DELIGHT 5 KINDS OF MOMS

What is it about mothers that makes them so difficult to buy gifts for? Is it because they have everything, or because they claim they want nothing? While we figure that out, Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 14) is hurriedly approaching. So below are five gifts—all available here in Morris and Essex counties—for mothers, depending on what stirs their interest. If you have a mom who…

• craves caffeine, get the Nespresso VertuoPlus

Deluxe Coffee Maker & Espresso Machine by De’Longhi, $199, Williams Sonoma, Upper Montclair.

• lives and breathes

New Jersey, get some Garden State-themed swag such as marble coasters, $16.95, Pazzazed, Montclair.

• enjoys funky home décor, get the Delaney candlestick, $22, Anthropologie, Short Hills.

• is a bit girly, get the Movado bold ceramic watch in pink, $895, Macy’s, Rockaway.

• loves the outdoors, get the North Face Women’s 1996 retro Nuptse vest, $220, REI, East Hanover.

HE’S GOT THE TIME

Generally only famous people star in their own episodes of Talking Watches, the popular YouTube show produced by editorial and e-commerce company Hodinkee. For years, the global watch influencers’ show featured Hollywood A-listers from Kevin Hart to Brooke Shields and musicians from John Mayer to Ed Sheeran, who all presented their timepiece collections in candid interviews. But earlier this year, Allen Wright of South Orange became the first “regular” person to appear on the show. Over the past 14 years, Wright—a husband, father and crane operator—has amassed an amazing collection of watches that would make any celebrity proud. In his episode, Wright shares personal anecdotes, memories and comedic moments while showcasing his timepieces. His favorite piece: a Rolex Cellini Moonphase.

RECYCLE RESPONSIBLY

The best way to celebrate our planet is to take care of it, and there are a number of ways you can make a difference—starting at home. As you undertake spring cleaning, getting rid of old things in the basement and garage may be a priority, but remember to do so properly. Don’t toss electronics, household cleaners or hazardous waste materials into your regular trash for collection. Instead, determine if your town accepts these items (either by curbside pickup or at its recycling facility). If not, you can dispose of them at these sites on these dates:

Household hazardous waste—

Essex County Fleet Management, Cedar Grove, May 6.

Morris County Public Safety Training Academy, Parsippany, May 20, June 17.

Computers and electronics— Essex County Fleet Management, Cedar Grove, May 20. Morris residents should call the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority at 973.829.8006 for recycling options.

CULINARY CORNER

Get reeled in

When you think of great seafood, Croatia may not be the first place that comes to mind. But Fish Delish, a Croatian-inspired fastcasual seafood eatery, is now open in Montclair with a variety of salads, hot and cold sandwiches, burgers, pasta etc. (even fish dogs)—and fresh fish is the star of every meal. We can’t wait to try the tuna burger, a medium-rare tuna steak on a brioche bagel.

• Fish Delish, 590 Valley Rd. Montclair, 973.434.0810; fish-delish.com

Burke is back—in South Orange

Most New Jersey diners have heard of The Fox & Falcon in South Orange, but here’s what’s new: It recently reopened as The Fox & Falcon by David Burke, with the celebrity chef taking over the menu and management. Updated offerings include some of his signature dishes: lobster dumplings, clothesline bacon (!) and his pink Himalayan salt-aged beef.

• The Fox & Falcon by David Burke, 19 Valley St., South Orange, 973.419.6773; thefoxandfalconbydb.com

Taste the Mediterranean

Whether you’re interested in a Mediterranean diet or not, you’ll find healthy and delicious food inspired from that culinary region at Taim Mediterranean Kitchen. The new eatery in Florham Park lets you fully customize a pita wrap or bowl from scratch. We’re talking fresh ingredients for carnivores and herbivores alike, including roasted meatballs, traditional and spicy falafel, chicken and cauliflower and impossible kebabs.

• Taim Mediterranean Kitchen, 176 Columbia Tpke., Florham Park, 973.295.6966; taimkitchen.com

EMBRACE THE EARTH

Mother Nature deserves a hug, and there’s no better time to throw your arms around the world than Earth Day, Saturday, April 22. Whether you’re picking up trash at your neighborhood park or recycling old materials in your home (see below), there are plenty of ways to show that you care for the environment. To help “invest in our planet”—the theme of this year’s Earth Day celebration—bring the family to one of these events:

• Earth Day Celebration, April 15, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Crane Park, Montclair. Join the Northeast Earth Coalition and other community groups for a pollinator garden tour and park cleanup.

• Earth Day Celebration, April 22, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Crane Park, Montclair. Volunteers will be cleaning local public grounds, including Erie, Brookdale and Glenfield parks.

• Earth Day 2023, April 22, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Essex County Environmental Center, Roseland. The free outdoor festival includes crafts, games, demonstrations and a chance to enjoy canoeing and hiking.

A PLACE FOR PETS

We always knew our counties were friendly toward cats, dogs and other furry (and scaly and feathered) friends, but Montclair is one town that can make an official claim. It’s the first municipality in our area and the second in New Jersey to receive a pet-friendly town designation through Mars PetCare’s Better Cities for Pets program. Animal welfare group Humane Montclair submitted an application to Mars, highlighting the township’s public and private initiatives geared toward pets.

“We take animal welfare seriously here as just one of many values we espouse on behalf of our wonderful constituents—the furry ones too,” Montclair township council member Peter Yacobellis declared.

In another move demonstrating the town’s dedication to pets, the Montclair council this past winter put an ordinance on the books outlawing the retail sale of cats and dogs. The new law is intended to curb the poor conditions these animals may endure before they are sent to pet stores for sale. If you’re interested in a new furry friend, consider adopting from one of these local animal shelters:

• Montclair Township Animal Shelter, 77 N. Willow St., Montclair, 973.744.8600; montclairnjusa.org

• PAWS Montclair, Montclair, 973.746.5212; pawsmontclair.org

• Randolph Regional Animal Shelter, 97 Ironia Rd., Mendham, 973.543.9333; randolphregionalanimal shelter.org

MORE IN STORE FOR MORRIS

Who says brick-and-mortar is moribund? At presstime, the brand-new, squeaky-clean Morris Marketplace in Morristown was set to open, giving residents nearly two dozen more options for shopping, dining and personal services. The 140,000-square-foot destination is anchored by a Burlington department store and a Lidl grocery store. Tenants that have signed on (some are already open) include Taco Bell, European WaxCenter, Habit Burger, Jersey Mike’s, Orangetheory Fitness, Starbucks, Wells Fargo, AT&T and Optimum. But that’s not all: Finishing touches are being added to electric car charging stations, interactive play areas for kids and outdoor seating areas. Stay tuned!

Chef With A Vision

Robbie Felice of Montclair’s Pasta Ramen wants you to pause and wonder: “Is it Italian—or Japanese?”

you can eat in Japan. My best description is, if I gave you a dish and told you to try it and then put you on the spot and asked, “Is it Italian or Japanese?” and you had to pause for a few seconds and couldn’t tell which it is, that’s Wafu.

Why did you choose Montclair as the home base for Pasta Ramen?

New Jersey made me who I am—I grew up in Sussex County. And the right deal that fell into our lap happened to be in Montclair, the restaurant capital of New Jersey.

We know Pasta Ramen is less pricey than your Tasting Tuesdays. Can you explain the vibe you want for the place?

I learned at a young age that going out to dinner is an experience. Every single thing matters: Was there traffic? What are the views like? What was it like when you walked in? How was the server, the music? Did the bathroom smell? The outside of Pasta Ramen is pretty basic; the windows are tinted; we have a little neon logo on the sidewalk. But it’s very speakeasy and secretive. It’s nearly impossible to get a reservation!

We are blown away and I still can’t believe it. Within 18 minutes of opening our books, we did 4,800 reservations, and when we opened our second month, we did 6,000 reservations within 45 minutes. It’s been amazing.

What are your other favorite dining spots in Morris and Essex counties?

Ani Ramen, owned by my business partner, is always a staple. And one of my favorite sushi spots is Kim’s Sushi in West Orange.

Do you have any interest in appearing on Food Network, becoming a foodie influencer or writing a cookbook?

The pandemic derailed many careers, but not Robbie Felice’s. In early 2020, when restaurants around the country were ordered to close, he came up with a notion that allowed customers to enjoy luxe dining omakase style (in which it’s left to the chef to craft an ideal meal) and a deliciously naughty feeling all at once. His inspiration led to the opening of Pasta Ramen in Montclair this January. Felice, 32, was a 2020 semifinalist for the James Beard Rising Star Chef of the Year award.

How did you and your partner, Ani Ramen’s Luck Sarabhayavanija, start Pasta Ramen?

I had to close my restaurants [Viaggio in Wayne and Osteria Crescendo in Westwood] for a short time and didn’t want to stop cooking. I came up

with this idea to do underground Tasting Tuesday, where I would invite guests into Viaggo, close the door behind them and cook a tasting menu. It was $295 a person. People loved the Japanese Italian food, but they loved me closing the door behind them and closing the shades. It was like the excitement of, “I’m not supposed to be here.” So we were onto something. We traveled with this omakase concept to 12 places across New Jersey, three in Miami, one in Los Angeles, one in Seattle and a few in NYC, and it really generated a buzz. You essentially invented this Japanese Italian fusion here in America. What does “Wafu” food taste like?

I hate fusion. You can’t just take two things and smash it together. But Wafu is an actual cuisine

I’ve always said no to TV and things like Chopped. I feel like the right thing for TV is going to come along eventually. As for the book, I’m trying my hardest in my free time to write some sort of book. And do I want to become an influencer? Not really. I feel like Instagram is just part of the job. Have you gotten a Pasta Ramen tattoo yet?

Funny you ask, because I just got one earlier this week. I have my other two restaurants on the front of my ankles and I got the big Pasta Ramen emblem on the back of my calf.

What do you like to do in our area when you’re not working?

If I take a night off, I’m probably going out for dinner somewhere. I like to go to Fort Lee and get Korean BBQ, and the best pizza is here in New Jersey.

—Haley Longman

Photo courtesy of Robbie Felice

Mom-Tested

BABY SHUSHER SLEEP SOOTHER MACHINE Target, East Hanover, 973.887.3145

MUNCHKIN WHITE HOT DUCK GIFT BASKET buybuy Baby, Livingston, 973.422.0431

ADEN + ANAIS BABY ACTIVITY GYM Nordstrom, Short Hills, 973.467.1500

DELTA CHILDREN THE CLUTCH STROLLER Walmart, Boonton, 973.299.3943

WONDER & WISE BABY ACTIVITY SQUARE CHAIR Nordstrom, Short Hills

MELISSA & DOUG TAKE-ALONG FARM PLAY MAT Just Kidding Around, Montclair, 973.233.9444

NIX NITRITES

A recent study has found an association between greater exposure to nitrites, added to processed foods to extend shelf life—bacon, hot dogs and deli meats, for example—and an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. People eating the most

DISTRACTED

To key to better running might not be new kicks. Research has shown that runners who distracted themselves by listening to music and focusing on the sights around them had better endurance than those who tuned

—Journal of Motor Learning and Development

THREE SQUARES

Researchers have found that men who ate larger daily meals less frequently had better appetite control and a higher resting metabolic rate than those who ate the same number of calories spread throughout the day.

—PLOS One

CONCEIVING HEARTHEALTHY KIDS

Researchers have found that blood pressure, heart rate and glucose levels were similar in children conceived using assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and their naturally conceived peers. Children were evaluated from childhood until their early 20s.

—European Heart Journal

The percentage of childhood asthma cases nationwide linked to the use of gas stoves. Thirty-five percent of U.S. household use gas stoves.

—The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

The percent of bariatric surgery patients who reported weight regain—one third of them reported gaining a “significant” amount, defined as 15 percent of the weight they had lost.

—Obesity Surgery

GET AN A BY TAKING Bs

Low levels of vitamin B have been shown to increase risk of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions including spiked blood pressure, blood sugar and elevated cholesterol levels. The result is a heightened risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes and stroke. Folks with the highest intake of vitamin B9 cut their risk of metabolic syndrome by 61 percent. Other Bs are helpful too: Study participants who took the most B6 reduced their risk by 39 percent, and risk for those taking the most B12 was 26 percent.

A LIFE INSPIRED

Christina Thompson survived cancer twice thanks to The Cancer Center at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center and an aggressive screening protocol. Now, her life’s work is to advocate for early screening and knowing your family history—so her mother’s death wasn’t in vain.

Christina Thompson, now 52, has used golf and her non-profit, Golf4Her, as an outlet during her cancer treatments; Top right, Christina and her husband, Mark; Bottom right, Christina’s younger brother, Carmine, 46, was also diagnosed with Lynch Syndrome, and he’s on the same screening protocol at CBMC.

In 1993, when Christina Thompson was 23 years old, her mother passed away at age 46 due to colon cancer. Her mother’s death changed her life for obvious reasons, but also incentivized her to begin getting regular colorectal screenings every three years starting at age 24 due to her family history. “My maternal grandmother had stomach cancer and uterine cancer, but nobody made the connections at the time,” Christina says. So, she took it upon herself to be proactive about her health—and to find a medical team that would help her and not dismiss her symptoms to stress or IBS like previous doctors had done.

But even after having a colonoscopy at Saint Barnabas Medical Center—now called Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center (CBMC)—every 3 to 4 years with no known polyps detected, Christina was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer at the age of 41 in 2011. She had no outright symptoms. “It was alarming because I was doing everything I thought I was supposed to be doing to stay on top of it,” she recalls.

Given her family history, instead of performing a more conservative resection of the tumor, Mark Gilder, M.D., a colon and rectal surgeon at CBMC, performed a subtotal colectomy, which removes three quarters of the colon and reconnects the small bowel to the upper portion of the rectum. “This was in her best interest because of the concern for Lynch Syndrome (based on her family history). By removing as much of the high-risk target cancer site (the colon), we could more easily evaluate her for the future. “But we’re still doing surveillance [on her], because she has a remnant of the rectum that could develop cancer.”

After the successful surgery, Christina underwent six months of chemotherapy at The Cancer Center at CBMC, a partner of Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, and was declared cancer-free. But Dr. Gilder—and his patient—had an inkling that there was something deeper going on. In 2013, genetic testing that wasn’t widely available at the time of her diagnosis revealed Christina had Lynch Syndrome, an inherited cancer syndrome associated with a genetic predisposition to different types of cancer, often before the age of 50.

A DIFFERENT FIGHT

Christina, now 52 and living in Rockaway with her husband, Mark, has been cancer-free for eight years. “I live a really normal life, I don’t have an ostomy bag, and anyone who meets me is surprised that I’ve gone through what I’ve gone through,” she says. Still, though her outlook and mood are generally positive, Christina admits she’s still in fight-or-flight mode. “There’s always a chance of another cancer diagnosis of the stomach, bladder or small intestine,” she says. “I’m never really in remission, and these things weigh on me every single day. It’s exhausting.”

Nonetheless, Christina is thankful she has a supportive husband, a devoted medical team, the ability to continue playing golf and that she runs a business she loves (in fact, in 2021 she expanded the Denville-based Golf4Her from an e-commerce site into a foundation to raise money for women’s health screenings). She’s also become an advocate for cancer awareness and for Lynch Syndrome.

“With my own diagnoses and what I went through with my mom, I can’t help but talk about it,” she notes. “Getting scanned is still such an awkward conversation, and we’re talking about our butt! But it’s a functioning part of our body that we need to address. I have no shame.” Recently, her younger brother, Carmine, opted out of early screening, but was also diagnosed with Lynch Syndrome, underwent the same surgery with Dr. Gilder and has been put on the same screening protocol at CBMC.

“We now have the ability for everyone in a family with a history of cancer to be tested for a genetic disorder like Lynch Syndrome at a much earlier age,” Dr. Gilder notes. “We can figure out who is predisposed to certain types of cancers, and then perform a prophylactic surgery on those who are high-risk, which prevents cancer from developing as opposed to waiting until you’re diagnosed. We can’t change our genetics, but we can act on it much earlier for better outcomes.”

Mark Gilder, M.D.

Christina was then put on a regimented screening protocol at The Cancer Center at CBMC of yearly MRIs, colonoscopy and endoscopy, and twice-yearly mammograms, pap smears and blood work. Her doctors also suggested a hysterectomy due to her increased risk of endometrial and uterine cancers. “I wasn’t thinking about having another aggressive surgery,” she admits. “I put it off, I was working, I launched my own women’s golf pro shop called Golf4Her. Golf was a big distraction for me during that time.”

But in 2015, she was experiencing some gynecologic issues, and was diagnosed with stage 1 endometrial cancer at age 45. She once again received her care at CBMC, where she felt most comfortable and confident in receiving treatment, and underwent a radical hysterectomy where doctors removed her uterus, along with her cervix and parts of the vagina. “I was sensitive to every little thing my body was feeling,” she says. “Listen to your body— your body will tell you what’s wrong with it.”

If people get just one takeaway from Christina’s story, she hopes it’s about the importance of screening, especially for those with a family history of cancer. “I was ‘looking’ for cancer and was prepared for it, but it still snuck up on me,” she says. “It’s so important to talk to about your family history, to get screened as early as possible and to be your own advocate if you don’t feel quite right. Take care of yourself and fight for yourself.” Dr. Gilder also stresses that patients should bring up their family history with their healthcare providers so you can be “referred to the right specialists and protect future generations.”

Christina knows that her fight and her advocacy would’ve made her mother proud. “I want to make sure that my mother didn’t die in vain and that her story can be told,” she says, getting emotional. “Because of her, her daughter and her son are still alive.”

As a West Orange native, Christina says Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center was a “no-brainer” when it came to choosing where to seek medical care. Dr. Gilder was referred to her by multiple other surgeons, she says. “I’ve always has trust with the whole facility. The doctors were familiar with Lynch Syndrome, and entire team made me feel comfortable and I could not have been happier to have them help me through this phase of my life.”

A NEIGHBORLY BOND

Most of us can say we’ve borrowed sugar or milk from a friendly neighbor in a pinch, but how many of us can say their neighbor gave them a kidney? Michael Sang can.

Mike and his wife, Miriam, and youngest daughter, now 10, live in South Orange, where they were friendly with Steve Mura, his wife, Judy, and two young daughters who moved in next door. In late 2021, Steve, 38, noticed that Mike wasn’t outside barbecuing as often as he normally would. Meanwhile, Judy tutored Mike’s daughter in math, and during her weekly visits observed his health deteriorating. “She’d notice Mike’s limp or his cane, and asked his wife if he was OK,” Steve tells Morris/Essex Health & Life The wives got to talking, at which point Miriam revealed her husband was on dialysis and would need a kidney transplant.

Immediately, Steve says, Judy contemplated donating her kidney. “We’ve had organ donations in the family because my father-in-law had a liver transplant six years ago,” he says. “We’ve seen the positive impact of organ donation, and how it gave him more time with his family.”

Through initial research, the Muras realized Judy likely wasn’t a good candidate for living organ donation, so Steve considered becoming a donor. “It took me about 10 seconds to decide to apply,” he says. The next day, he filled out the donor questionnaire on the Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center (CBMC) website and went through the entire screening process without telling Mike.

In the meantime, Steve did a lot of research on kidney donation and readied his body just in case he’d be undergoing the surgery. Steve is a professional running coach, and in January 2022, amped up his training and ran a half marathon to get in the best shape of his life. Months later, he got a call from the transplant center that he was a match for his friend.

“Finding out was like winning the lottery,” Mike, 49, says, recalling how dialysis tore him down physically and emotionally. “I started

crying. How often does it happen that your next-door neighbor is a match and he’s willing to give you a kidney?”

Once both donor and recipient were cleared for surgery—Mike’s clearance took a little bit longer due to some other pre-existing health issues that required evaluation and resolution — it was all systems go, and the transplant surgery took place in June of 2022 at the Renal and Pancreas Transplant Division at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center. “It’s like going to get an oil change at a gas station,” Mike, a medical biller, says of his experience at CBMC. “It was that simple and painless.”

Steve speaks highly of his experience at CMBC too. “I felt like the whole team cared about my well-being,” he says. He left the hospital two days post-op, and started running “a slow mile” six weeks later. Other than discomfort at the incision site, Steve says he didn’t experience any pain.

Now, almost a year later, both donor and recipient are thriving. In March, Steve flew to Tanzania with Living Donor Adventures, a group of donors, recipients and surgeons that he got involved with via Facebook. They summited at Mount Kilimanjaro on March 9, World Kidney Day (photo at right), to raise awareness for kidney donation and prove that you can live your life normally after donating an organ. He’s also training for a marathon, and says he feels “100 percent the same” as he did before he donated his kidney.

“The best part was the returning smell of BBQ wafting from Mike’s yard, and seeing the life go back into his body,” says Steve. “If I had three kidneys, I’d donate again. This experience has changed my life.”

Mike is still recovering, but he’s getting better every day and sees his new kidney as a new lease on life. “I really felt like my life was over [when I was doing dialysis],” he notes. “I always tell Steve he saved my life, and he’s my brother from another mother. There’s really no way that I can fully express my gratitude.”

To learn more about the Renal and Pancreas Transplant Division at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, visit

or go to transplantkidney.org.

South Orange’s Michael Sang needed a kidney transplant. Little did he know his donor match lived next door.

“Finding out Steve was a match was like winning the lottery. I started crying. How often does it happen that your next-door neighbor is a match and he’s willing to give you a kidney?”

—Michael Sang, kidney donor recipient, Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center

TIPS FROM NJ’S ONLY CERTIFIED BURN CENTER

“Few people seem to think they’ll ever have a significant burn injury,” says Kathe Conlon, RN, MSHS, reflecting what she often hears from patients as Director of Burn and Disaster Programs with The Burn Center at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center (CBMC). Conlon knows the unfortunate truth. “Burns are the third-leading cause of traumatic injuries in the United States,” she says. “One million people nationwide require hospitalization for burns each year.”

That’s why community education about burns is critical, Conlon says. Outreach efforts at The Burn Center—the only such facility in New Jersey and one of the busiest in the country—address two major populations.

One is medical professionals such as paramedics, EMTs, nurses and physicians, who must know how to care for burn patients until they’re transported—sometimes from distant communities—to The Burn Center for specialized care.

The other is the community at large, where education about burn prevention can be especially helpful for high-risk groups such as older adults and children.

“Approximately 25 percent of burn admissions are pediatric, and most of those [kids] are under age 5,” Conlon says.

The Burn Center offers training and tips to the community though initiatives including health fairs and other events, along with two educational fire-safety trailers that replicate a home environment filled with simulated hazards. “One third grader toured the trailer and later experienced a fire incident in which the child knew what to do and was instructing the parents,” Conlon says. “That’s the value of community education.”

FOILING FIRE

Burns occur in myriad ways, but Conlon is especially concerned about forestalling common scenarios. Here’s some of her best advice:

• As backyards become more inviting with warmer weather, keep children from playing near grills and fire pits.

• Never hold a child while sipping a hot drink. “Children often grab for a coffee cup, which can result in a scald injury—a major burn category,” Conlon says.

• Set your home’s hot water heater no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit, which significantly reduces the risk of scalding while keeping water hot enough for standard household uses.

• Be alert to common kitchen hazards such as reaching across a burner for a spice, utensil or pot—especially if you’re wearing a loose garment like a bathrobe. “We see a lot of burns, particularly among the older population, in which long, flowy sleeves catch fire from stoves,” Conlon says.

• Create and practice a home escape plan. “Make sure you have at least two ways out, which reduces the likelihood of a fire injury happening or, if it does, potentially reduces its severity,” Conlon says. When traveling, scope out hotel stairs and fire escapes.

• Follow recommendations on proper use, storage and disposal of lithium-ion batteries found in rechargeable devices like phones and laptops: Batteries can ignite if mishandled and/or defective.

Burns receive specialized care at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, but it’s better to avert injury altogether with essential safety practices.

Kathe Conlon, RN

A CHANCE ENCOUNTER

They say some people come into your life for a reason, and for Joseph Lamberto, the doctor he met by chance at a hospital saved his life. Joseph, 82, had been in and out of another area hospital over the course of six months for a bevy of medical issues, including aortic stenosis (narrowing of the heart valve) and kidney failure. His cardiologist there prescribed diuretics to clear out all the retained fluid as a consequence of heart failure, but that was only a temporary solution and lead to other issues like kidney failure as a side effect of the diuretics.

In May 2022, Darshan Godkar, M.D., structural/interventional cardiologist and director of radial interventions at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center (CBMC), happened to be covering for another doctor during one of Joseph’s visits and looked over his medical records and the results of his echocardiogram to see if he could find a culprit for his recurrent episodes of heart failure, bloating and discomfort. “I realized that for the last few years, the patient had a heart valve (aortic valve) that wasn’t working properly,” Dr. Godkar says. “If the valve is not fixed, the heart can’t pump blood forward and it backs up into the lungs.”

Joseph was admitted to CBMC, where he underwent an urgent angiogram and CT scan and was given a week or so to let his kidneys recover.

Then, in June 2022, Joseph underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with Dr. Godkar and Arash Salemi, M.D., clinical chairman of cardiothoracic surgery, RWJBarnabas Health, Northern Region. TAVR is a minimally-invasive procedure that replaces the old heart valve with a new one and essentially cures the patient’s aortic stenosis. “The moment it was done, he said he got a new lease on life,” says

Dr. Godkar. “He felt like he was drowning every day, but now he could breathe and walk.”

Joseph spent just one night in the hospital and recovered well. “I was very comfortable, I could get up, walk around, and I just felt great,” he says. “I didn’t have any of the symptoms that I was experiencing before the surgery.” But he was still suffering from an unrelated condition called atrial fibrillation, a rapid heart rate that can cause poor blood flow, heart failure and stroke. He was being treated with blood thinners, which in older patients can prevent strokes but result in gastrointestinal bleeds. So, Joseph inquired with Dr. Godkar about the Watchman procedure, which he found out about through a friend who had done it and, by chance again, read about in Dr. Godkar’s office.

“In our heart, we have a useless pocket in the left atrial appendage,” Dr. Godkar explains. “This is where all the clots form in patients with atrial fibrillation. The Watchman is implanted into the left appendage and blocks off this opening, and over time, the body forms a skin over the device so the pocket closes itself off and eliminates the risk of clot formation.” Joseph underwent this procedure in January 2023. “As a result of these surgeries, Joseph has recovered from heart failure, which eliminated his need for diuretics, thus facilitating a speedy recovery from kidney failure,” says the doctor. “Plus, stopping blood thinners means he’s no longer bleeding and has freedom from recurrent hospital admissions. Instead of blood

thinners, he’s only taking baby aspirin.”

Joseph feels great and has more energy than he’s had in years. He comes to the office regularly for follow-ups with Dr. Godkar, but he hasn’t been admitted to the hospital once in the last six months after undergoing these two minimally invasive procedures at CBMC.

“I told my wife, Grace, that I feel like I could get a job,” Joseph says. “The problem is I’ll only last until about 12 or 1 p.m. and then I’ll start to feel my 82 years!” He adds that he plans to join a gym this year, and his goal is to get down to his high school weight of 200 pounds.

“I can’t say enough about Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center and Dr. Godkar,” Joseph says. “They saved my life.”

To learn more about our structural heart program at CBMC or for more information, call 973-322-8258 or rwjbh.org/heart.

A twist of fate led 82-year-old Joseph Lamberto to the cardiologist at CBMC that would cure him of heart and kidney disease— and ultimately change his life.

Darshan Godkar, M.D.

WALLPAPER WOES?

We’ve got you covered. Five Morris- and Essex-based designers share tips for wow-worthy walls.

By Haley Longman

Paint is fine in a pinch, but if you really want to update your space, wallpaper could be the way to go. New trends, styles and textures are a far cry from your granny’s wallpaper of yesteryear; 2023’s are glamorous and sophisticated. And your choice needn’t be especially dramatic or grandiose to contribute to an effective look; sometimes all it takes is a subtle textured paper or a pop of color. Morris/Essex Health & Life asked five local designers to share wallpaper wisdom—about materials, style, sizing and more.

OUR EXPERTS

Campbell Minister, Campbell Minister Design, Montclair

Arielle Mizrahi, Arielle Mizrahi Design, Short Hills

Allyson Rich-Morren, A&R Interiors, Denville

Lisa Santoro, LSJ Interiors, Morristown

Andrew Suvalsky, Andrew Suvalsky Designs, Montclair/ New York City

WHY WALLPAPER?

Sure, it takes a bit more of a commitment than paint, but wallpaper can also make more of an impact in your space, our designers insist.

“Wallpaper can be a great place to add print, texture and color to a room,” says Santoro. “It can transform the feeling of a space and set it apart from an ordinary painted wall.” If you’re wary of a bold print or pattern, consider a textured wall covering— it can add luxurious depth to a room.

Regardless, “the home should be a collected, cohesive environment that balances textures, colors and motifs in a holistic way to tell a story of the people who live there, says Mizrahi. “Wallpaper is a beautiful way to accomplish that.”

MIND YOUR MATERIALS.

Where you’re considering putting the wallpaper will help determine what kind you should get. Our designers agree that vinyl, though not the most beautiful, is a popular choice for high-traffic areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, mud rooms and kids’ rooms because it can be wiped down and scrubbed when needed. It comes in a wide variety of finishes, including matte, glossy and embossed. “Pretty is always possible, but address function first,” notes Rich-Morren. Non-woven wallpaper is breathable and removable, meaning that it’s perfect for living rooms and bedrooms, while the more high-maintenance grasscloth or silk works for bedrooms, dining rooms and home offices—rooms with lower traffic and lower humidity levels, says Suvalsky.

“Grasscloth in particular adds texture to spaces where you may prefer color blocking and durability,” Mizrahi notes.

SELECT A STYLE.

As with any other design element, the wallpaper you select should fit the room and coordinate with everything else within it. “The simplest and most effective way to find a wallpaper is to start with a color story,” Suvalsky advises. “You can either find the perfect wallpaper that inspires the fabric and other paint and finish selections, or choose a wallpaper at the end that pulls all those reference points together.” You’ll also want to use the room’s architecture, hardware and furniture to guide your choices. However, if a wall covering speaks to you without necessarily being the “matchiest” choice, it’s likely still the one. “There are no hard rules here,” says Minister. “Simply pick something that inspires you and let the rest fall into place!”

GO BOLD.

Walls are the customary location, sure, but you’ll really make a statement by papering in unexpected places—Rich-Morren

papers the back of a bookcase, Minister loves a papered pantry ceiling and Santoro is a fan of using wallpaper as an accent wall in the bedroom.

“I love unexpected wallpapering, such as in a mural in a dining room either covering the full wall or intricately placed within millwork framing,” notes Mizrahi, to make it look like a piece of art. Another idea is to paper stairwells or hallways to create the effect of a feature wall.

CONSIDER SCALE.

Besides finding a style you love, you’ll want to consider the size of your room and the scope of your wallpaper print, if applicable, before pulling the trigger. Santoro says bold prints are great in small spaces, and Suvalsky agrees. “Putting a large scale print on the walls and ceilings of a small space can absolutely make that room feel bigger,” he says. Minister says the trick is to paint the trim of the room in a dominant color from the wallpaper. “This can have an expansive feeling when you walk into a space because everything is monochromatic and consistent,” she notes. “Wallpaper and the paint tie together to make a small space bigger.”

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY.

A wallpaper can sometimes feel like a tattoo—painful to get, and even more painful to remove! So, before you move forward with your selection, try it out first at home. “Depending on the price, you may be able to buy a relatively inexpensive (possibly returnable?) roll,” Suvalsky says. “If so, pin it up full height on your wall to see how you relate to it.” Santoro says many companies are good about lending out large-size samples too, so don’t be afraid to ask. Just be certain to observe the sample in different lighting conditions and in a spot on all four walls before committing to the whole room. As for what to look for during the trial period? “Make sure the wallpaper corners adhere really well and see if it passes the wipe-down test,” Santoro notes.

MAINTAIN YOUR WALLS.

How can you make sure your wallpaper looks good as new for years to come? It’s important to clean papering as needed (especially if kids’ fingerprints are all over them), because “allergens can get caught just like in upholstery,” says Minister. Santoro says to refer to the manufacturer’s recommendations before applying any kind of harsh cleaning agent or moisture to wallpaper. “That said,” says Mizrahi, “most papers can handle a bit of spot cleaning and light dusting as needed.”

FIVE FAVES

It wasn’t easy choosing just one, our designers report, but each picked a top-choice wallpaper to recommend:

“I really love Kelly Ventura’s designs, particularly the Peonia wallpaper in Apricot (pictured). Her prints are hand-drawn and then made into wallpaper, and can go from traditional to transitional and also be used in various spaces.”

—Lisa Santoro, LSJ Interiors, Morristown

“One paper I have been considering for our family powder room is a mural on panels by Andrew Martin called Mythical Land. The background is a dreamy pink plaster haze, and it just feels so painterly with the oversized vine-ripe pears hanging over beasts from his imagination.”

—Arielle Mizrahi, Arielle Mizrahi Design, Short Hills

“I love the Nuvolette by Cole & Son in a neutral metallic ‘gilver’ and charcoal.”

—Campbell Minister, Campbell Minister Design, Montclair

“I love the Limerence wallpaper in Sky by House of Hackney. I have it on a feature wall in my dining room.”

—Andrew Suvalsky, Andrew Suvalsky Designs, Montclair/New York City

“I suggest the Bankun Raffia wallpaper by Thibaut. It’s a visually realistic vinyl faux grasscloth that’s durable, comes in numerous colors and is timeless.”

—Allyson Rich-Morren, A&R Interiors, Denville

5 Periodontists— All Board Certified in Periodontics & Dental Implant Surgery

11 Ivy League Degrees from Harvard, Columbia & Penn

We are dedicated to providing the absolute finest periodontal & dental implant care available. We are passionate about using the latest and best technologies and procedures available to give the best outcomes, and never forgetting that that every single patient is our most important patient. Here are just some of the many procedures we offer:

• LANAP (laser assisted, non-surgical) therapy for periodontal disease, peri-implantitis, and depigmentation.

• Titanium & Ceramic Dental Implants (for patients who prefer non-metallic dental implants)

• Fully Computer Guided Implant Surgery, including All-On-X cases.

• PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) - autologous blood spun in a centrifuge to aid in healing.

• Sedation Services

• Gum Lifts - (esthetic crown lengthening)

• Recession treatment - including the non-surgical Chao Pinhole technique

• Perioscope - Fiber Optic camera use to see below the gum line

• Bone & Gum Regenerative procedures

• Sinus Lifts

Dr. Teresa Yang, Dr. Anne Hartnett, Dr. Eric Weiss, Dr. Jennifer Georgiadis, Dr. David Moisa

WORK FROM HOME— AND PLAY THERE TOO

The first floor of a Chatham colonial was happily transformed with both serenity and practicality in mind. And it was worth the wait.

Design by Megan Pisano

Photography by Meghan Balcom

Text by Richard Laliberte

Central to a first-floor transformation in Chatham are crisp, white built-ins like this one that pair with painted brick around the family room hearth. Megan Pisano of Megan Pisano Design chose warm tones and used natural elements to impart a sense of peace and calm.

For any homeowner who feels that renovation seems to take ages, Megan Pisano of Megan Pisano Design in Chatham offers these sage words: “Trust the process.”

That maxim guided and brought to fruition a quietly chic reno that recently transformed key rooms of a late-1960s Chatham colonial into a transitional retreat of calm and serenity peppered with practicality. The project did take more than a year. Replete with design puzzles and the occasional electrical challenge, “it had a lot of moving parts,” Pisano says. “But the clients were patient and very happy with the results.”

Goals were clear from the start: The new homeowners—a relocating couple with a toddler—wanted to create a sophisticated yet warm, relaxed and kid-friendly design for the first floor, particularly in an offthe-kitchen family room and a living room that needed to include an office work space. Built-ins would be integral to both rooms.

The first challenge: Tear away heavy, orangey, dated oak paneling that a previous owner had installed on the wall surrounding the familyroom fireplace. “We crossed fingers because we didn’t know for sure what was underneath the wood,” Pisano says.

Demolition happily revealed exposed brick around the hearth. Pisano had floor-to-ceiling brickwork painted white, sharpening the

room’s focal point. The mantel was lowered, and a hearth extension previously topped with black tile was renovated with four clean slabs of white slate.

To the right of the fireplace, a crisp, white built-in by Heard Woodworking of Chatham (following Pisano’s specs for finish, color, stain and hardware) helped set the stage for an integrated design throughout the downstairs that uses soft hues and warm tones in a palette of muted blues and grays. (The vibe extends into the kitchen, where Pisano had wood cabinets painted deep ocean blue with updated hardware in what she calls “a mini facelift” that nevertheless resulted in “a stunning transformation from the original dark oak.”)

For the family room, Pisano chose a sectional and ottoman from Arhaus in soft, durable, child-friendly fabric. “The ottoman can move and act as a coffee table,” Pisano says. “You don’t need a lot of furniture in a room, and sectionals with ottomans are my favorite for families.” Elegant, floor-to-ceiling, pleated drapes with fabric from Stout Textiles sewn by Denise Canney Custom Sewing contribute softness while adding height and dimension.

Subtle splashes of color enliven the space through cohering elements like pillows; a mottled rug over dark wood flooring

Above: Subtle splashes of color from pillows, the rug and artwork complement soothing hues of blue and gray used for the family room’s walls, sectional sofa and soft, floor-to-ceiling pleated drapes—and throughout the first-floor design.

Right: Natural shapes and textures from details such as driftwood, eucalyptus, earthy pottery and a wood mantel that was matched with refinished floors add visual interest and help create a serene vibe.

Above: Cohesion characterizes the living room/office, where echoes of the family room aesthetic carry over in shared elements such as colors, natural objects and a beautiful built-in with an expansive work surface.

Left: Gold flourishes in hardware, shelving and the bases of two leather swivel chairs distinguish the space without compromising its tranquility. French doors allow the room to be isolated (but not completely closed off, thanks to glass panels) for work purposes.

(refinished throughout the level); wall artwork largely from Collected Living Co. in Chatham; and a Samsung Frame TV over the hearth that, when not used for entertainment, displays images that look like gallery pieces.

Charming natural details such as driftwood and eucalyptus lend the room a contemplative, almost marine quality. Rustic wood in the mantel—matched to the flooring—amplifies the peaceful “outdoors inside” atmosphere. “We wanted the mantel to pop, but not too much,” Pisano says. In a space leading to the adjoining kitchen to the left of the fireplace, a rectangular rattan console and a large, round mirror add variety to shapes and natural textures.

Similar natural elements in the living room echo tranquility even though the ample wall-to-wall built-in by Serritella Construction features a sizeable desk surface appropriate for nose-to-grindstone work. “It’s a multipurpose space,” Pisano says. Newly installed French doors can close for privacy when necessary for business. “A lot of people take doors out,” Pisano says, “but we added them because being able to isolate a room is good for an office.”

As befits task-oriented setting, hints of energy gleam from gold

touches in details such as cabinetry pulls, the bases of two gray leather swivel chairs from Restoration Hardware, a wall-hung shelf and a glass coffee table. Yet softer features like tasseled ottomans and Roman shades reinforce the restful colors that Painting Professionals LLC applied throughout the project.

The living-room window treatments posed one of Pisano’s design challenges. “I had envisioned drapes, but the built-in—which was a priority for the clients and which we designed the room around— extended too far to allow them,” she says. The relaxed, smile-like shape of the Roman shades offers an alternative way to convey a sense of softness and calm without competing with or obscuring the built-in’s crafted beauty.

Pisano’s attention to detail also carried to broader basics—installing ceiling lights throughout the rooms, for example—that are often lacking in older homes, and the source of some of the electrical obstacles she faced.

“Our design was a drastic change from what was there before,” Pisano says. “But the clients liked my aesthetic and had trust. The result is an outstanding transitional space that’s a dream for anything from a busy work-from-home day to a relaxing family movie night.”

PATIO MAGIC

In Pompton Plains, a designer helped turn an uninspiring backyard with a deck into a visually stunning entertainment haven.

Design by Rich Andreu, Exclusive Stoneworks

Photography by Kevin McGrath Photography

Text by Haley Longman

Pompton Plains residents had a backyard that was waiting for its miracle: a deck, a plain block of grass and a broken-up asphalt driveway. So, shortly after they finished a renovation on the house’s interior, they set out to make the outside look just as good and as modern—and Rich Andreu of Exclusive Stoneworks in Lyndhurst was retained for the job.

“Originally, the client told me he wanted us to do a new driveway, patio and a walkway to the back, but we also added in some entertaining areas like an outdoor kitchen and a firepit,” Andreu tells Morris/Essex Health & Life The design really maximizes the blank space they started with, and makes entertaining a lot more feasible for the family of three.

The goal, says Andreu, was to keep the grill area close to the existing deck so that it was convenient to take food to and from the kitchen. The curved structure is visually appealing, but the designer admits it was a bit problematic functionally. “It was difficult because we wanted a pergola

on top, but the contractor, Joe Edwards of Elite Concepts, came up with a creative way to make it work.” The team also installed canister lights in the pergola that have uplighting and downlighting onto the countertops, a special nighttime treat.

For design inspiration, the Exclusive Stoneworks team looked to the home itself. “We tried to pull the blue out of the house with the Cambridge three-piece ledgestone in Montauk Blue,” he says. Meanwhile, the coal-hued cobblestone on the walkway contrasts with the gray stone on the house.

The “separation of patterns” with varying textures is what Andreu considers distinctive about this project. “The border on the firepit ties into the walkways, the kitchen and the front driveway,” he says. “I like to mix and match.”

The project took just about a month to complete, and in that short time, the patio and the rest of the property were transformed from plain to just plain perfect.

This page, top: The barbecue island is designer Rich Andreu’s favorite part of the design, complete with a curved countertop and uplit pergola. Bottom: The cobblestone walkway wraps around from the driveway in the front to the backyard; cobblestonestyle hardscaping contrasts nicely with the more modern ledgestone pavers. Opposite: The firepit is one of three entertaining “zones” in this renovated backyard, allowing the homeowners to take advantage of their outside space all year round.

MORRIS COUNTY IS HOME TO SOME OF THE MOST SEASONED AND TALENTED REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS

IN THE COUNTRY. To help readers find the best agents to work with, Morris/Essex Health & Life contracted DataJoe Research of Boulder, Colorado to facilitate a multi-faceted research campaign. It consisted of an online survey delivered directly to agents across Morris County via email as well as internet research. In the survey, real estate agents were asked to provide sales volume ranges and also nominate their peers. In the internet campaign, DataJoe consulted a variety of websites to build richer knowledge of individual licensed real estate agents across the county.

DataJoe checked and confirmed that each published winner had, at the time of review, a current, active license status with the appropriate state regulatory board. If they were not able to find evidence of a real estate agent’s current, active registration with the state regulatory board, that real estate agent was excluded from the list. Finally, DataJoe presented the tallied results to Morris/Essex Health & Life for final review.

We recognize that there are many good real estate agents who are not shown on the representative list. This is only a sampling of the huge array of talented professionals within the county.

CHATHAM

Mary T. Weichert

Weichert Realtors

64 Main St. Chatham, NJ 07928

201-532-0788 | 973-635-5000

Debbie Woerner

Coldwell Banker Chatham

135 Main St. Chatham, NJ 07928

973-500-3032 | 973-635-8200

CHESTER

Debra Burke

Coldwell Banker Chester

191 Main St., Suite 2

Chester, NJ 07930

973-275-8869 | 908-879-4900

Marlene Ginsberg

Coldwell Banker Chester

191 Main St., Suite 2 Chester, NJ 07930

201-230-7697 | 908-879-4900

Ted Miller II Coldwell Banker Chester 191 Main St., Suite 2 Chester, NJ 07930

973-713-3077 | 908-879-4900

DENVILLE

Rick J. Ruotolo

Re/Max American Dream

3108 Route 10 West Denville, NJ 07834

973-723-7777 | 973-361-7700

Mary K. Sheeran

Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan

344 Route 46 West

Denville, NJ 07834

201-412-9155 | 973-957-0255

DOVER

Christian Vega Realty Executives

34 E. Blackwell St. Dover, NJ 07801

201-919-1329 | 973-729-7141

EAST HANOVER

Elvira Green

Coccia Real Estate Group LLC

435 Ridgedale Ave.

East Hanover, NJ 07936

201-230-9313 | 973-887-2500

Gloria LaForgia

Weichert Realtors 1625 Route 10 East Morris Plains, NJ 07950

973-477-4632 | 973-984-1400

Christine Nagy

Coccia Real Estate Group LLC

435 Ridgedale Ave. East Hanover, NJ 07936

973-615-9878 | 973-887-2500

Eileen Scott Weichert Realtors 21 W. Main St. Mendham, NJ 07945 201-317-6338

MORRIS PLAINS

Mara Glauberg Weichert Realtors 1625 Route 10 East Morris Plains, NJ 07950 917-733-3304 | 973-984-1400

Keith Kirkwood

Howard Hanna Rand Realty 374 Speedwell Ave. Morris Plains, NJ 07950 407-488-0312 | 973-532-5727

MORRISTOWN

Ryan Bruen

Coldwell Banker Morristown 211 South St. Morristown, NJ 07960 973-294-8887 | 973-267-8990

Douglas Collinson

Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan

44 Whippany Rd., Suite 230

Morristown, NJ 07960

973-214-0347 | 973-867-1152

Gordon Crawford

Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan

44 Whippany Rd., Suite 230

Morristown, NJ 07960

973-714-3085 | 973-539-1120

Ryan G. Dawson

Weichert Realtors

20 Madison Ave. Morristown, NJ 07960

973-768-7468 | 973-539-8000

Antoinette DePiano

Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 44 Whippany Rd., Suite 230 Morristown, NJ 07960 973-903-4430 | 973-539-1120

Ryan Dougherty Compass

1 High Street Court Morristown, NJ 07960 973-309-6178 | 973-315-8180

Ronnie Glomb

Your Town Realty LLC

5 Maple Ave. Morristown, NJ 07960

973-865-5050

Jeremy Gulish

Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 44 Whippany Rd., Suite 230

Morristown, NJ 07960 908-303-0926 | 973-539-1120

Kelly Holmquist

Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 44 Whippany Rd., Suite 230 Morristown, NJ 07960 908-451-4676 | 973-539-1120

Dorota Kundera

Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 44 Whippany Rd., Suite 230

Morristown, NJ 07960

973-867-8134 | 973-867-1151

Donna Lerner

Weichert Realtors

20 Madison Ave. Morristown, NJ 07960

973-945-9969 | 973-539-8000

Jillayne Southren

Weichert Realtors

20 Madison Ave. Morristown, NJ 07960

201-650-3722 | 973-539-8000

Douglas Tucker Compass

1 High Street Court Morristown, NJ 07960

973-769-1563 | 973-315-8180

Sima Wolf

Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 44 Whippany Rd., Suite 230

Morristown, NJ 07960

201-874-2218 | 973-539-1120

MOUNTAIN LAKES

Anne Fisher Coldwell Banker Mountain Lakes 91 Crane Rd. Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046

201-602-1304 | 973-263-0400

Ilene Horowitz Coldwell Banker Mountain Lakes 91 Crane Rd. Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046

973-229-0087 | 973-263-0400

Kathi Masters Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 333 Route 46 Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046

973-229-4500 | 973-335-5500

PARSIPPANY

Toni Kaufmann Realty Executives 113 Parsippany Rd. Parsippany, NJ 07054 973-809-0800

RANDOLPH

Doreen Grembowitz Weichert Realtors 284 Route 10 Randolph, NJ 07869 973-722-8863 | 973-328-7800

ROCKAWAY

Andrew Allen Century 21 Christel Realty 165 E. Main St. Rockaway, NJ 07866 973-349-0459

Glen Baker Re/Max Select 20 W. Main St. Rockaway, NJ 07866 973-727-8539

Lori A. Caruso Re/Max Select 20 W. Main St. Rockaway, NJ 07866 973-219-3789 | 973-663-8381

Joseph Morreale Re/Max Select 20 W. Main St. Rockaway, NJ 07866 973-390-3326

OUTSIDE THE COUNTY

WAYNE

Randi Bennett Keller Williams Prosperity 1700 Route 23 North Wayne, NJ 07470 973-610-7123 | 973-696-0077

Tracy Warsaw Keller Williams Prosperity 1700 Route 23 North Wayne, NJ 07470 973-722-8801 | 973-696-0077

TOP REAL ESTATE AGENTS

MORRIS COUNTY’S 2023

BUTLER

Laura Bellini

Coldwell Banker Butler

1450 Route 23 North Butler, NJ 07405

973-650-2357 | 973-838-9300

Betty Hedden

Coldwell Banker Butler

1450 Route 23 North Butler, NJ 07405

973-713-5714 | 973-838-9300

CHATHAM

Amy Ball

Coldwell Banker Chatham

135 Main St. Chatham, NJ 07928

973-224-2385 | 973-635-8200

Katherine Catanzaro

Weichert Realtors

64 Main St. Chatham, NJ 07928

908-403-3244 | 973-635-5000

Joseph Eberle

Weichert Realtors

64 Main St. Chatham, NJ 07928

908-868-4800 | 973-635-5000

Marta Knauff

Coldwell Banker Chatham

135 Main St. Chatham, NJ 07928

908-507-9594 | 973-635-8200

Karen Torrente Coldwell Banker Chatham

135 Main St. Chatham, NJ 07928

973-476-7100 | 973-635-8200

Kristin Winter Coldwell Banker Chatham

135 Main St. Chatham, NJ 07928

973-214-3828 | 973-635-8200

CHESTER

Carol Borman

Re/Max Heritage Properties 294 Main St. Chester, NJ 07930

908-581-9205

Christopher Americo Cleffi

Re/Max Heritage Properties 294 Main St. Chester, NJ 07930

973-714-9005 | 973-879-4700

Catherine Conway Coldwell Banker Chester

191 Main St., Suite 2 Chester, NJ 07930

201-412-9537 | 908-879-4900

Susan Dalgleish Coldwell Banker Chester

191 Main St., Suite 2 Chester, NJ 07930

973-769-1072 | 908-879-4900

Meeka Kulkarni Weichert Realtors

142 Main St. Chester, NJ 07930 908-334-4605 | 908-879-7010

Deborah “Debbie” McIntosh Weichert Realtors 142 Main St. Chester, NJ 07930 203-856-1421 | 908-879-7010

Erica Tattersal Weichert Realtors

142 Main St. Chester, NJ 07930 908-914-7944 | 908-360-2933

DENVILLE

Orie Fischetti Re/Max American Dream 3108 Route 10 West Denville, NJ 07834 973-229-0022

EAST HANOVER

Jen Bassolino Coccia Real Estate Group LLC 435 Ridgedale Ave. East Hanover, NJ 07936 973-202-2103 | 973-887-2500

David Cadmore

Howard Hanna Rand Realty

460 Ridgedale Ave. East Hanover, NJ 07936 407-456-3165 | 973-532-5727

Annette Capo

Howard Hanna Rand Realty 460 Ridgedale Ave. East Hanover, NJ 07936 714-944-5487 | 973-532-5727

KINNELON

Kristen DeLeo Realty Executives 1167 Route 23 South, Suite 4 Kinnelon, NJ 07405 973-519-4093 | 973-838-6990

Debra “Slawson” Zyskowski

Terrie O’Connor Realtors 1483 Route 23 South Kinnelon, NJ 07405 201-247-6334 | 973-838-0100

MADISON

Judy Carlsson

Kienlen Lattmann

Sotheby’s International Realty 223 Main St. Madison, NJ 07940 973-214-6164 | 973-377-7785

Debra Cunningham Weichert Realtors 15 Prospect St. Madison, NJ 07940 917-716-5824

Marybeth Eckhardt

Kienlen Lattmann

Sotheby’s International Realty 223 Main St. Madison, NJ 07940 973-908-1633 | 973-377-7785

Donald Fanelli Coldwell Banker Madison 175 Park Ave. Madison, NJ 07940 973-632-1449 | 855-755-9965

Valarie J. Friedman

Re/Max Achievers 4 Division Ave. Madison, NJ 07940 973-610-3855 | 973-377-5025

Donna Mattina Coldwell Banker Madison 49 Main St. Madison, NJ 07940 973-214-2929 | 973-377-4444

Maureen Mount Coldwell Banker Madison 49 Main St. Madison, NJ 07940 973-769-3970 | 973-377-4444

Patsy Soden Coldwell Banker Madison 175 Park Ave. Madison, NJ 07940 973-713-2471 | 855-755-9965

Pamela “Pam” Tishman Coldwell Banker Madison 175 Park Ave. Madison, NJ 07940 973-271-9079 | 855-755-9965

MENDHAM

Jill A. Cardullo

Weichert Realtors 21 W. Main St. Mendham, NJ 07945 973-879-8443 | 973-543-6511

Susan Corona Coldwell Banker Mendham 106A E. Main St. Mendham, NJ 07945 908-963-1112 | 973-543-2552

Isabelle Famularo

Kienlen Lattmann Sotheby’s International Realty 20 E. Main St. Mendham, NJ 07945 908-399-1540 | 973-543-3500

Denise Mortenson Turpin Realtors 8 E. Main St. Mendham, NJ 07945 973-714-1309 | 973-543-7400

Diane Tolley Coldwell Banker Mendham 106A E. Main St. Mendham, NJ 07945 973-219-6064 | 973-543-2552

MONTVILLE

Triveni Gurikar

Re/Max Neighborhood Properties 381 Main Rd. Montville, NJ 07045 973-727-9418

Rich Heim

Heim Realty LLC 161 Main Rd. Montville, NJ 07045 973-335-0811

Lisa Motisi Re/Max Neighborhood Properties 381 Main Rd. Montville, NJ 07045 973-334-3341

Sally Vreeland Novak

Re/Max Neighborhood Properties 381 Main Rd. Montville, NJ 07045 973-819-9820

Cheryl A. Schuck

Re/Max Neighborhood Properties 381 Main Rd. Montville, NJ 07045 973-727-7626

MORRIS PLAINS

Kimberly Brechka

Weichert Realtors 1625 Route 10 East Morris Plains, NJ 07950 917-597-1768 | 973-984-1400

Brenda Lee

Weichert Realtors

1625 Route 10 East Morris Plains, NJ 07950 646-402-2002 | 973-984-1400

MORRISTOWN

Amanda Nadia Abdelsayed Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 44 Whippany Rd, Suite 230 Morristown, NJ 07960 201-230-7515 | 973-539-1120

Christine Altamuro Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 44 Whippany Rd, Suite 230 Morristown, NJ 07960 973-557-5026 | 973-539-1120

Stephanie Blumert

Coldwell Banker Morristown 211 South St. Morristown, NJ 07960

973-220-4756 | 973-267-8990

Yinna Chih

Weichert Realtors

20 Madison Ave. Morristown, NJ 07960 973-539-8000

Jane Conway Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan

44 Whippany Rd, Suite 230 Morristown, NJ 07960

201-400-2707 | 973-539-1120

Mary Dougherty Compass

1 High Street Court Morristown, NJ 07960

862-812-0962 | 973-315-8180

Lorraine First

Kienlen Lattmann Sotheby’s International Realty

55 South St. Morristown, NJ 07960 617-320-1822 | 973-952-6200

Denise Flanagan Coldwell Banker Morristown

211 South St. Morristown, NJ 07960 973-420-4590 | 973-267-8990

Eric Funk Re/Max Select One Madison Ave. Morristown, NJ 07960 551-587-2359

Elizabeth Harper Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 44 Whippany Rd, Suite 230 Morristown, NJ 07960

201-317-1118 | 973-539-1120

Adam Haslett

Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 44 Whippany Rd, Suite 230 Morristown, NJ 07960

973-668-2430 | 973-539-1120

Nicole Haslett

Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 44 Whippany Rd, Suite 230 Morristown, NJ 07960

908-887-0862 | 973-539-1120

Jacqueline Haynes Re/Max Select One Madison Ave. Morristown, NJ 07960 201-230-3312

Christer Holmquist Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 44 Whippany Rd, Suite 230 Morristown, NJ 07960 908-797-3944 | 973-803-5405

George P. Jenkins Compass 1 High Street Court Morristown, NJ 07960 973-615-9494 | 973-315-8180

Edwin Kalinka

Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 44 Whippany Rd, Suite 230 Morristown, NJ 07960

973-670-8338 | 973-539-1120

Kevin Karcich

Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 44 Whippany Rd, Suite 230 Morristown, NJ 07960

862-432-3409 | 973-539-1120

Patricia Lopez

Kienlen Lattmann

Sotheby’s International Realty 55 South St. Morristown, NJ 07960

973-476-2236 | 973-952-6200

Teresa M. Maegerlein

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

New Jersey Properties 264 South St. Morristown, NJ 07960 201-826-1462

Mary Menard Compass

1 High Street Court Morristown, NJ 07960 973-879-2860 | 973-315-8180

Lisa Molinari Weichert Realtors

20 Madison Ave. Morristown, NJ 07960 908-337-1748 | 973-539-8000

Michelle Pereira Weichert Realtors

20 Madison Ave. Morristown, NJ 07960 201-841-4413 | 973-539-8000

Evduza Ramaj Your Town Realty LLC 5 Maple Ave. Morristown, NJ 07960 973-400-1818

Elzbieta “Ela” Ravin Coldwell Banker Morristown 211 South St. Morristown, NJ 07960 973-479-0787 | 973-267-8990

Alice B. Samach Weichert Realtors

20 Madison Ave. Morristown, NJ 07960 973-610-9021 | 973-539-8000

Jackie Scura Compass

1 High Street Court Morristown, NJ 07960 973-214-9488

Dominique Scura Compass

1 High Street Court Morristown, NJ 07960 973-219-8909

Erica Travis Compass

1 High Street Court Morristown, NJ 07960 908-370-8695 | 973-315-8180

Andrew Walker

Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan

44 Whippany Rd., Suite 230 Morristown, NJ 07960 201-424-8628 | 973-539-1120

Ian Wolf

Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan

44 Whippany Rd., Suite 230 Morristown, NJ 07960 201-838-6367 | 973-539-1120

MOUNTAIN LAKES

Romila Bajaj

Weichert Realtors

3510 Route 46 Cherry Hill Rd. Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046

956-844-6612

Keith Bochner

Coldwell Banker Mountain Lakes

91 Crane Rd. Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046

973-476-2089 | 973-263-0400

Kathleen “Kathy” Caldwell

Coldwell Banker Mountain Lakes

91 Crane Rd. Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046

973-727-2921 | 973-263-0400

Anna De Grossi

Coldwell Banker Mountain Lakes

91 Crane Rd. Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046

973-886-4507 | 973-263-0400

Patricia Finnegan Coldwell Banker Mountain Lakes 91 Crane Rd. Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046 908-507-2294 | 973-263-0400

Anthony Frederico Coldwell Banker Mountain Lakes 91 Crane Rd. Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046 201-274-3327 | 973-263-0400

Katherine “Kathy” Henning Coldwell Banker Mountain Lakes 91 Crane Rd. Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046 973-263-0400

Margaret Peggy Lefsky Coldwell Banker Mountain Lakes 91 Crane Rd. Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046 973-727-0795 | 973-263-0400

Joe Polizzi Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 333 Route 46 West Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046 973-219-7984

Sueanne Sylvester Coldwell Banker Mountain Lakes 91 Crane Rd. Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046 973-219-8845

PARSIPPANY

Barry Coopersmith Re/Max First Choice 1160 Route 46 Parsippany, NJ 07054 201-919-2896

Andrea Martone Realty Executives 113 Parsippany Rd. Parsippany, NJ 07054 973-886-2626 | 973-887-0095

RANDOLPH

Andrea E. Duda Weichert Realtors 284 Route 10 Randolph, NJ 07869 201-602-1856 | 973-328-7800

Angela McNiece Weichert Realtors 284 Route 10 Randolph, NJ 07869 973-296-0912 | 973-328-7800

Javier Millan Realty Executives 419 Route 10 East Randolph, NJ 07869 973-390-5361

Debi Riska Re/Max House Values 1250 Sussex Tpke., Suite C Randolph, NJ 07869 201-486-5566

Julie Williams Weichert Realtors 284 Route 10 Randolph, NJ 07869 973-277-0059

ROCKAWAY

Marian Bloete Century 21 Christel Realty 165 E. Main St. Rockaway, NJ 07866 973-714-4662 | 973-627-6800

Teresa Drapczuk Century 21 Christel Realty 165 E. Main St. Rockaway, NJ 07866 609-220-0933 | 973-627-6800

Nicole Fletcher Re/Max Select 20 W. Main St. Rockaway, NJ 07866 973-934-9095

Jennifer Taylor Century 21 Christel Realty 165 E. Main St. Rockaway, NJ 07866 856-816-1543 | 973-627-6800

Julia Torsiello Century 21 Christel Realty 165 E. Main St. Rockaway, NJ 07866 973-907-4938 | 973-627-6800

Olga Tsiavos Re/Max Select 20 W. Main St. Rockaway, NJ 07866 973-219-5102

Susan Wadleigh Exit Classic Realty 1 Bank St. Rockaway, NJ 07866 201-936-8804 | 973-386-9900

TOWACO

Enid Davis

Prominent Properties

Sotheby’s International Realty

670 Main Rd. Towaco, NJ 07082

973-714-4422 | 973-335-5700

OUTSIDE

THE COUNTY

WASHINGTON

Mark Duke

ERA Duke Realtors

Elvira Green, Realtor®

Coccia Real Estate Group

435 Ridgedale Ave., East Hanover, NJ 07936 • C: 201.230.9313

O: 973.887.2500 • www.cocciarealestate.com/elvira-green Zillow Profile: www.zillow.com/profile/elvira9

ELVIRA GREEN IS AMONG THE MOST TRUSTED AND TOP SELLING REALTORS IN MORRIS COUNTY. She received the NJAR Circle of Excellence Sales Award during the last 9 years from 2014—2022.

She’s clearly set a high bar with her top-notch professionalism & passion for excellence, providing superior service to every client. Elvira’s clients always have full confidence in her expertise, efficiency and abilities to spot red flags. A lifetime resident of Florham Park and Madison, Elvira Green has deep connections to this desirable area where she raises her family. Elvira’s clients find that there’s no substitute for her invaluable financial background, expert negotiating skills & proven results.

Before entering the real estate market as a Realtor, Elvira was a mortgage associate with Wells Fargo Mortgage helping borrowers understand their loan options. She also worked as a compliance specialist for Merrill Lynch & Co. managing retirement investment plans for Fortune 500 companies. Elvira’s BA in business from Caldwell University adds to her strong skill sets.

Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan | Crawford Lorenzo Home Selling Team

AN EXPERT AMONG EXPERTS IN THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY, GORDON CRAWFORD LEADS THE CRAWFORD LORENZO HOME SELLING TEAM AS A TOP PRODUCER IN NORTHERN NJ FOR MORE THAN 45 YEARS! Early in his career, Gordon became one of the most successful and trusted agents in Northern New Jersey. Building his business and reputation on four core values (Honesty, Hard Work, Personal Responsibility and Common Sense), Gordon has successfully created a team of 17 full-time executive agents who also hold those same values and work ethic. Each agent provides their clients with an exceptional level of first-class service. Gordon’s team is #1 at Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan and continues to outpace the market. Last year, 2022, when the real estate market was down overall, The Crawford Lorenzo Home Selling Team had 174 transactions totaling 104 million in sales, up 10% from their 2021 sales. Whether you’re listing your first home, a luxury home, you’re a first-time buyer, upsizing, downsize, or relocating, we are here to help.

Give Gordon a call, we put our clients first!

RANKED AMONG THE TOP 1% OF WEICHERT AGENTS OUT OF 6,400 NATIONWIDE #103 companywide, # 31 regional. Gloria is a proud recipient of the NJ 5 Star Realtor Award from 2014-2023-recently featured in Forbes magazine, 2022 Market Leaders. This is an award which is voted by past and present clients. In 2022, Gloria received the Circle of Excellence Platinum award, which is the highest level of achievement in Real Estate.

Gloria began her real estate career in 1994 and enjoys working with buyer and sellers, from first-time home buyers to luxury buyers, sellers in all price categories and as sold over 450 homes /over 220 million. An expert in Morris and Essex Counties, Gloria is ‘The East Hanover Specialist” -to date has listed and sold more homes in her hometown of East Hanover than any other Realtor. She has built The La Forgia Group, consisting of herself, two buyers agents and her assistant. Business has grown rapidly, largely as a result of referrals and returning clients and internet exposure.

In this ever-changing market, all the more reason you will need a seasoned agent to help you through the process. Due to higher interest rates, the market has calmed down a bit. However, due to a surplus of buyers and low inventory, it remains a sellers-market. Giving back to the community is always important. Gloria sponsors local baseball, football

and soccer leagues along with contributing to various other charities. Weichert Realtors and its agents contribute yearly through various fund raisers to the American Brea t Cancer Society. Gloria’s clients can count on her to guide them through each step of a real state transaction and will receive quick responses to all forms of messaging. She understand that a real estate transaction may be the largest financial transaction clients will make and is extremely dedicated to developing client relationships based on trust and professionalism.

Videos and social media are the way to go when listing your home and nobody does it better than our team of professional photographers and videographers-89 Productions. My goal is to make each and every transaction as seamless and stress free as possible. Looking forward to a fantastic 2023. Serving East Hanover and surrounding towns since 1994.

Christine Nagy

Coccia Real Estate Group

NJ Realtors Circle of Excellence

Award 2010 - 2022

Seller Representative Specialist, Accredited Buyer Representative 973.615.9878 • Christine@cocciarealestate.com • www.chrisnagy.com • www.zillow.com/profile/nagy25

CHRISTINE NAGY HAS BEEN A REALTOR FOR 18 YEARS at Coccia Real Estate Group and an East Hanover Resident for 30 years. In 2022 she had 16 East Hanover real estate sales transactions totaling over 11 MILLION DOLLARS IN EAST HANOVER ALONE! Combining total sales she had 30 transactions in 2022 totaling almost 18 MILLION DOLLARS IN REAL ESTATE! She has been a member of the NJ Realtors Circle of Excellence Award from 2010 to 2022 and a member of the Distinguished Sales Club, where 10 years of Circle of Excellence achievement is required. Christine is a Seller Representative Specialist, completing advanced training in seller representation and is also an Accredited Buyer Representative, taking courses in advanced skills for home buyer representation. “It’s very important for me to make sure I am accessible and patient to help my buyers find the perfect home. For my sellers, I take it very personally when someone chooses me to help them in the sale of their home. I make sure I go the extra steps to ensure my sellers get the best results.”

Christine has stayed with one office throughout her career. She attributes that decision to the great Coccia Real Estate environment between the other realtors, staff and Christopher Coccia, the broker of the office. “I love what I do, whether it’s a first time buyer finding a new home, or a seller who needs more space or is downsizing to a smaller home. I am happy that they have trust in me to help them move on to the next chapter of their lives. Coccia Real Estate has a beautiful new office in East Hanover. We appreciate our wonderful community and are

TO ENID DAVIS, Team Leader of The Davis Group, real estate is a service profession. A top-notch agent shows genuine concern, putting the client’s needs first. Enid entered real estate after a career in the fashion industry, using many of the skills she had developed, building relationships and analyzing markets. Attentive to the market, she can advise clients about the right price to buy or sell. Each real estate transaction is unique, and Enid thrives on learning new techniques for success. Active in her

community, Enid supports the Montville Educational Foundation and OneMontville, an organization that promotes acceptance and kindness.

Jillayne Soutren, Sales Associate

Weichert

JILLAYNE (JILL) SOUTHREN’S WEICHERT ALL UNDER ONE ROOF TEAM OF ADVISORS work together to help you select, finance, insure, protect and close on time as part of a single integrated transaction. I manage everything for you, making your experience as simple, enjoyable and rewarding as possible. So, if you are ready to move to a new home or thinking about right-sizing, reach out to me today! I am always available to provide tips, offer guidance or share the latest local area market trends. Call me today to harness winning tips to win in a competitive market.

Today’s real estate market is red-hot! And, whether you are looking to buy or sell, you should be ready for some intense competition. Consider these tips on how to navigate the market.

HOMEOWNERS: Don’t wait to sell.

Real estate, like all markets, is cyclical and home sales activity follows a relatively steady, 17-year cycle. According to historic data as well as the many factors that are influencing today’s hot market, it appears we are reaching the peak.

BUYERS: Empower your offer.

Don’t lowball. Avoid contingencies. Align your closing with the seller’s needs. But before anything, get pre-approved for a mortgage. The Mortgage Advisor on my team can make that happen in minutes. Plus, they will consult on Weichert programs that let you:

TO HELP READERS FIND THE BEST REAL ESTATE AGENTS TO WORK WITH IN ESSEX COUNTY, Morris/Essex Health & Life contracted DataJoe Research of Boulder, Colorado to facilitate a multi-faceted research campaign. It consisted of an online survey delivered directly to agents across Essex County via email as well as internet research. In the survey, real estate agents were asked to provide sales volume ranges and also nominate their peers. In the internet campaign, DataJoe consulted a variety of websites to build richer knowledge of individual licensed real estate agents across the county.

DataJoe checked and confirmed that each published winner had, at the time of review, a current, active license status with the appropriate state regulatory board. If they were not able to find evidence of a real estate agent’s current, active registration with the state regulatory board, that real estate agent was excluded from the list. Finally, DataJoe presented the tallied results to Morris/Essex Health & Life for final review.

We recognize that there are many good real estate agents who are not shown on the representative list. This is only a sampling of the huge array of talented professionals within the county.

BELLEVILLE

Jorge Velasquez

Re/Max Professionals I 264 Washington Ave. Belleville, NJ 07109 973-450-4000

CALDWELL

Helene Harrison

Coldwell Banker Caldwell 307 Bloomfield Ave. Caldwell, NJ 07006 973-714-8975 | 973-226-2577

FAIRFIELD

Vito Contuzzi

Century 21 Wessex Realty 435 Hollywood Ave. Fairfield, NJ 07004 973-652-9303 | 973-227-7000

LIVINGSTON

Bonita Areman

Coldwell Banker Livingston

2 E. Mount Pleasant Ave. Livingston, NJ 07039 973-568-0341 | 973-994-4323

Ilona Berlaga

Keller Williams Suburban Realty

4245 Town Center Way Livingston, NJ 07039 973-464-8507 | 973-251-0100

Ellen Gonik

Coldwell Banker Livingston

2 E. Mount Pleasant Ave. Livingston, NJ 07039 973-879-9467 | 973-994-4323

Jamie Silverman

Coldwell Banker Livingston

2 E. Mount Pleasant Ave. Livingston, NJ 07039 973-632-9913 | 973-994-4323

MAPLEWOOD

Justin Kiliszek

Keller Williams Midtown Direct

223 Mountain Ave. Maplewood, NJ 07040 973-314-1096

Robert Northfield

Keller Williams Midtown Direct 181 Maplewood Ave. Maplewood, NJ 07040 973-544-8001 | 973-761-4100

Mark Slade Keller Williams Midtown Direct 181 Maplewood Ave. Maplewood, NJ 07040 917-797-5059 | 973-762-5400

Sam Joseph Prominent Properties Sotheby’s International Realty 32 Valley Rd. Montclair, NJ 07042 917-359-8990 | 973-783-6900

Aleksandr Pritsker eXp Realty 28 Valley Rd., Suite 1 Montclair, NJ 07042 732-688-3819

Christopher Walsh eXp Realty 28 Valley Rd., Suite 1 Montclair, NJ 07042 732-309-5502 | 973-878-9843

Nancy Chu Keller Williams NJ Metro Group 237 Lorraine Ave. Upper Montclair, NJ 07043 917-992-3098 | 973-783-7400

Tamima Friedman Keller Williams NJ Metro Group 237 Lorraine Ave. Upper Montclair, NJ 07043 201-306-0267

John Haydu Keller Williams NJ Metro Group 237 Lorraine Ave. Upper Montclair, NJ 07043 973-868-8585 | 973-783-7400

Kathleen Kulik

Keller Williams NJ Metro Group 237 Lorraine Ave. Upper Montclair, NJ 07043 973-454-3563

VERONA

Lauren Orsini Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New Jersey Properties 538 Bloomfield Ave. Verona, NJ 07044 973-650-1683

BELLEVILLE

Carmen Jimenez

Re/Max Professionals I

264 Washington Ave. Belleville, NJ 07109 201-919-2878

Felix Rosario

Re/Max Professionals I

264 Washington Ave. Belleville, NJ 07109 201-491-3262

BLOOMFIELD

Ronald Collins

HomeSmart

First Advantage Realty

16 Orange St., Suite 180 Bloomfield, NJ 07003 347-527-4224 | 973-354-5000

CALDWELL

Tracy Chan

Century 21

Cedarcrest Realty Inc.

460 Bloomfield Ave. Caldwell, NJ 07006

973-476-8097 | 973-228-1050

Mandy Corry

Lattimer Realty

327 Bloomfield Ave. Caldwell, NJ 07006 973-632-4535

Jeffrey Lattimer, Jr.

Lattimer Realty

327 Bloomfield Ave. Caldwell, NJ 07006

973-768-2942 | 973-226-1717

Patrese Lattimer

Lattimer Realty

327 Bloomfield Ave. Caldwell, NJ 07006

973-632-3564 | 973-226-1717

Kathleen Milinkovich

Coldwell Banker Caldwell

307 Bloomfield Ave.

Caldwell, NJ 07006

973-610-4207 | 973-226-2577

Maria Rampinelli

Berkshire Hathaway

HomeServices New Jersey

Properties

14 Forest Ave.

Caldwell, NJ 07006

973-868-2931 | 973-228-5525

Joseph Scotto Century 21

Cedarcrest Realty Inc.

460 Bloomfield Ave. Caldwell, NJ 07006

201-575-1456 | 973-228-1050

FAIRFIELD

Janice Corsilli

Lattimer Realty

397 Route 46 West

Fairfield, NJ 07004

973-632-4644 | 973-575-1200

Michael Lattimer

Lattimer Realty 397 Route 46 West

Fairfield, NJ 07004

973-886-5544 | 973-575-1200

LIVINGSTON

Marsha Bowen Washington

Coldwell Banker Livingston

2 E. Mount Pleasant Ave.

Livingston, NJ 07039

646-249-6212 | 973-994-4323

Jason Cohen

Coldwell Banker Livingston

2 E. Mount Pleasant Ave.

Livingston, NJ 07039

973-495-9055 | 973-994-4323

Frank Conturso

Keller Williams Suburban Realty

4245 Town Center Way

Livingston, NJ 07039 201-213-0952 | 973-226-0200

Angela D’Aries

Berkshire Hathaway

HomeServices New Jersey

Properties

79 S. Livingston Ave.

Livingston, NJ 07039

973-650-8898 | 973-992-6363

Dana Dang Garden Home Realty

513 W. Mount Pleasant Ave. Suite 300

Livingston, NJ 07039

973-698-1004 | 973-533-0880

Carol Eisenstein

Berkshire Hathaway

HomeServices New Jersey Properties

79 S. Livingston Ave.

Livingston, NJ 07039

973-879-3282 | 973-992-6363

Jane Greene Coldwell Banker Livingston

2 E. Mount Pleasant Ave.

Livingston, NJ 07039

973-727-0158 | 973-994-4323

Kelly Hartnett

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New Jersey Properties

79 S. Livingston Ave.

Livingston, NJ 07039

973-992-6363

Douglass Holmes

Howard Hanna Rand Realty

58 E. Mount Pleasant Ave.

Livingston, NJ 07039

973-568-2224 | 973-740-1881

Barbara Kanefsky

Keller Williams Suburban Realty

4245 Town Center Way

Livingston, NJ 07039

973-868-8767 | 973-251-0100

Robin Raite

Coldwell Banker Livingston

2 E. Mount Pleasant Ave.

Livingston, NJ 07039

973-615-5926 | 973-994-4323

Stanley Rubin

Coldwell Banker Livingston

2 E. Mount Pleasant Ave.

Livingston, NJ 07039

973-856-4305 | 973-994-4323

Frank Vazquez

Elite Realtors Of New Jersey

160 S. Livingston Ave. Suite 208

Livingston, NJ 07039

973-994-9009

Crystal Wiggins Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Jordan Baris Realty

124 E. Mount Pleasant Ave. Livingston, NJ 07039

862-216-9523

Robert Zebaida

Keller Williams Suburban Realty

4245 Town Center Way

Livingston, NJ 07039

917-992-4430 | 973-477-5075

MAPLEWOOD

Justin Bullock

Keller Williams Midtown Direct

223 Mountain Ave.

Maplewood, NJ 07040

973-619-2268

Donna Dickson

Coldwell Banker Maplewood

145 Maplewood Ave.

Maplewood, NJ 07040

201-978-0430 | 973-378-8300

Kate Elliott Coldwell Banker Maplewood 145 Maplewood Ave. Maplewood, NJ 07040 646-662-6655 | 973-378-8300

Caroline Farnsworth Coldwell Banker Maplewood 145 Maplewood Ave. Maplewood, NJ 07040 973-698-0737 | 973-378-8300

Natalie Farrell Weichert Realtors 697 Valley St. Maplewood, NJ 07040 917-514-7541 | 973-762-3300

Lara Liquori Coldwell Banker Maplewood 145 Maplewood Ave. Maplewood, NJ 07040 973-382-5386 | 973-378-8300

N. Marie Lundi

Keller Williams Midtown Direct 181 Maplewood Ave. Maplewood, NJ 07040 201-362-7168 | 973-762-5400

Jennifer McManus Coldwell Banker Maplewood 145 Maplewood Ave. Maplewood, NJ 07040 917-837-2192 | 973-378-8300

Andrea Northfield Keller Williams Midtown Direct 181 Maplewood Ave. Maplewood, NJ 07040 973-641-6775 | 973-762-5400

Heather Rodriguez

Coldwell Banker Maplewood 145 Maplewood Ave. Maplewood, NJ 07040 908-343-3163 | 973-378-8300

MILLBURN

Danielle Genovese PremiumONE Realty 27 Bleeker St. Millburn, NJ 07041 908-445-5546

MONTCLAIR

Mary “Seton” Beckwith Keller Williams NJ Metro Group 15 Bloomfield Ave. Montclair, NJ 07042 973-632-5304 | 973-783-7400

Sandra Bolcar Compass 113 Grove St. Montclair, NJ 07042 201-247-5768 | 973-310-7360

Joseph Burris

eXp Realty 28 Valley Rd., Suite 1 Montclair, NJ 07042 908-565-0063

Michele Chiles-Hickman Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New Jersey Properties 695 Bloomfield Ave. Montclair, NJ 07042 201-463-0958

Barbara Clausen

eXp Realty 28 Valley Rd., Suite 1 Montclair, NJ 07042 732-841-9987

Henry Eisenstein

eXp Realty 28 Valley Rd., Suite 1 Montclair, NJ 07042 908-216-6532 | 973-878-9843

Maria Carolina Forero Gomez

eXp Realty 28 Valley Rd., Suite 1 Montclair, NJ 07042 201-844-7234 | 973-804-5006

Jonathan Greene eXp Realty 28 Valley Rd., Suite 1 Montclair, NJ 07042 973-873-0734

Melissa Haddad eXp Realty 28 Valley Rd., Suite 1 Montclair, NJ 07042 732-337-0098

Victoria Heller Prominent Properties Sotheby’s International Realty 32 Valley Rd. Montclair, NJ 07042 917-450-8358 | 973-783-6900

Susan Horowitz West of Hudson Real Estate 33 Plymouth St. Montclair, NJ 07042 201-803-4791 | 973-337-6035

James Hughes Compass 113 Grove St. Montclair, NJ 07042 201-675-1210 | 973-310-7360

Jeffrey Kalafut

eXp Realty

28 Valley Rd., Suite 1 Montclair, NJ 07042

973-886-6797

Leslie Kunkin West of Hudson Real Estate

33 Plymouth St. Montclair, NJ 07042

917-674-3007 | 973-337-6035

Susan Lovit Compass

113 Grove St. Montclair, NJ 07042

973-477-7252 | 973-310-7360

Gary Mawson

eXp Realty

28 Valley Rd., Suite 1 Montclair, NJ 07042

609-839-8218 | 732-641-6706

Elizabeth Morris

Prominent Properties

Sotheby’s International Realty

32 Valley Rd. Montclair, NJ 07042 201-675-6137

Tracy Nix

Prominent Properties

Sotheby’s International Realty

32 Valley Rd. Montclair, NJ 07042

917-439-1832 | 973-783-6900

Laura Quinn

eXp Realty

28 Valley Rd., Suite 1 Montclair, NJ 07042 732-233-2303

Brett Sikora eXp Realty 28 Valley Rd., Suite 1 Montclair, NJ 07042 973-590-8205 | 866-201-6210

Valarie Tart-Williams

eXp Realty 28 Valley Rd., Suite 1 Montclair, NJ 07042 973-641-3358

Vikram Vasisht

Prominent Properties

Sotheby’s International Realty

32 Valley Rd. Montclair, NJ 07042

917-685-2606 | 973-783-6900

Al Wells

eXp Realty

28 Valley Rd., Suite 1

Montclair, NJ 07042

973-343-3433 | 973-250-4418

Shelly White Prominent Properties

Sotheby’s International Realty

32 Valley Rd. Montclair, NJ 07042

973-699-4633 | 973-783-6900

Albert Wright

eXp Realty

28 Valley Rd., Suite 1 Montclair, NJ 07042

848-218-4003

Xiaoxing Zhao

Compass 113 Grove St. Montclair, NJ 07042

908-868-3372 | 973-310-6816

NEWARK

Michael Rosa Rosa Agency 360 Lafayette St. Newark, NJ 07105

908-432-1100 | 973-589-7550

NUTLEY

Matthew De Fede Realty Executives Elite Homes

653 Franklin Ave. Nutley, NJ 07110

862-228-0554 | 973-846-0065

Carl R. Lordi

Re/Max Park Square 244 Chestnut St. Nutley, NJ 07110

973-477-5216

SHORT HILLS

Lisa Lang Compass 1200 Morris Tpke. Short Hills, NJ 07078

973-951-5729 | 973-310-6816

UPPER

MONTCLAIR

Roberta Baldwin Keller Williams NJ Metro Group

237 Lorraine Ave. Upper Montclair, NJ 07043

973-420-9043 | 973-783-7400

Karin Carson Keller Williams NJ Metro Group 237 Lorraine Ave.

Upper Montclair, NJ 07043

917-301-1681

Erin Crawford Keller Williams NJ Metro Group 237 Lorraine Ave.

Upper Montclair, NJ 07043 973-634-1017

Brendan Da Silva

Keller Williams

NJ Metro Group

237 Lorraine Ave.

Upper Montclair, NJ 07043

201-926-1190 | 973-783-7400

Mark DiBenedetto

Keller Williams

NJ Metro Group

237 Lorraine Ave.

Upper Montclair, NJ 07043

917-882-1389 | 917-915-0275

Alan Ellenbogen

Keller Williams

NJ Metro Group

237 Lorraine Ave.

Upper Montclair, NJ 07043

973-477-9270 | 908-403-7304

Alexandra Estevez

Keller Williams

NJ Metro Group

237 Lorraine Ave.

Upper Montclair, NJ 07043

646-752-0790 | 973-783-7400

Donna Goode

Keller Williams

NJ Metro Group

237 Lorraine Ave.

Upper Montclair, NJ 07043

973-214-0817 | 973-783-7400

Elizabeth A. Green

Weichert Realtors

272 Bellevue Ave.

Upper Montclair, NJ 07043

973-432-1809 | 973-746-1515

Jessica Keefe

Keller Williams

NJ Metro Group

237 Lorraine Ave.

Upper Montclair, NJ 07043 973-997-0535

Amy Owens

Keller Williams

NJ Metro Group

237 Lorraine Ave.

Upper Montclair, NJ 07043 201-396-2927 | 973-783-7400

Pauline Panza

Keller Williams

NJ Metro Group

237 Lorraine Ave.

Upper Montclair, NJ 07043 973-809-5277

VERONA

Jeanne Bongo

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New Jersey Properties

538 Bloomfield Ave. Verona, NJ 07044 201-709-6186 | 973-239-7700

Fran Lichtman

Hearth Realty Group

460 Bloomfield Ave. Verona, NJ 07044 973-913-5055

Jennifer Lieberman

Hearth Realty Group 460 Bloomfield Ave. Verona, NJ 07044 973-913-5055

Rick Lodato

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New Jersey Properties 538 Bloomfield Ave. Verona, NJ 07044 973-239-3535

WEST ORANGE

Rehana Deshpande

Weichert Realtors

460 Prospect Ave. West Orange, NJ 07052 917-497-5951 | 973-731-6064

David Mohan

Re/Max Solutions

99 Northfield Ave., Suite 8 West Orange, NJ 07052 973-517-2278 | 973-731-1200

Gloria Perez

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Jordan Baris Realty 50 Mount Pleasant Ave. West Orange, NJ 07052 973-736-1600

Krysta L. Senek

Weichert Realtors

460 Prospect Ave. West Orange, NJ 07052 973-731-6064

Lisa Lang, Real Estate Consultant

Compass RE

1200 Morris Turnpike, Short Hills, NJ 07078

C: 973.951.5729 • www.lisalanghomes.com • lisa.lang@compass.com

LISA LANG’S PRIMARY GOAL,is a happy, seamless experience for her clients, and she’s had the pleasure of helping hundreds of families with their real estate needs for the past 28 years. Her honesty, passion, expertise and local knowledge have garnered spectacular results. With her positive, energetic attitude, she has built a career on personal relationships and referrals. “There is nothing more rewarding than finding my clients their dream home!” She says. “My sellers love that I strive to achieve the highest price in the shortest amount of time possible with maximum exposure to the marketplace. They also love that I am

so hands-on and personally involved.” She has also netted numerous awards including recognition as one of New Jersey’s top ten realtors for client satisfaction by the American Institute of Real Estate Professionals.

Helene Harrison, Sales Associate

Coldwell Banker Realty

307 Bloomfield Avenue, Suite 102, Caldwell, NJ 07006

C: 973.714.8975 • Heleneh2@msn.com • HeleneHarrison.com

THE HALLMARK OF HELENE’S SUCCESS IN A CAREER that spans over 30 years, is in developing solid partnerships with buyers and sellers through her unique and personal client-centered approach.

Honored and humbled by corporate and peer recognition including the NJ Realtors® Circle of Excellence® Sales Award® at the Gold Level and Coldwell Banker’s “President Elite,” a distinction she shares with the top 1% of Coldwell Banker agents nationwide, Helene’s true reward is in achieving the highest level of client satisfaction through her guiding principles of honesty, ethicality and mutual trust.

Utilizing her expertise in marketing, trend analysis and negotiating, Helene sells homes for maximum value and finds just the right “home sweet home” for her deserving buyers.

Ellen Gonik, Realtor Associate®

Coldwell Banker Realty

DRIVE AND A STELLAR REPUTATION have catapulted Ellen Gonik to become a top producing and award-winning real estate professional. She is ranked *#1 Agent in Livingston across all companies, **#1 Agent in Essex County across all companies for Individual agents without a team, **#1 Coldwell Banker Agent in New Jersey, *#4 Agent in New Jersey across all companies in sales volume, and **Top ½% of all CB Agents Worldwide. She is focused on properties in Livingston, Short Hills, Summit, Chatham, East Hanover, Florham Park, West Orange, Essex Fells, Roseland and the Caldwells.

Her success, by her own admission, is due to “credibility, immediate response and humor.” Gonik explains, “It’s not an easy industry. Buying or Selling a house is an emotional experience…These are The Days of Our Lives…..A home is where we eat, sleep, raise our families, love, entertain. My clients and I laugh together and cry together.’ Her advice to those wishing to buy or sell: Align with one agent and choose wisely. “For example, during multiple offer situations, I’m not only looking at the offer price, I strongly consider the reputation of the buyer’s agent.”

Gonik prides herself on her reputation and professional connections within the industry. “I’ve earned the respect of my peers and it has enabled my clients to win homes when there are multiple offer situations.” If Ellen is the kind of per son you want in your corner, please contact her at 973.879.9467.

Angela D’Aries, Sales Representative

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

New Jersey Properties

79 South Livingston Avenue, Livingston, NJ 07039 C: 973.650.8898 • O: 973.992.6363, ext. 126 angela.daries@bhhsnj.com

TOP REAL ESTATE AGENTS

MORRIS COUNTY’S 2023

ESSEX COUNTY’S 2023

TOP REAL ESTATE AGENTS

FOR TOP REALTOR LISTINGS PLEASE VISIT

MSXHEALTHANDLIFE.COM/MORRIS-COUNTYS-TOPREAL-ESTATE-AGENTS-2023

MSXHEALTHANDLIFE.COM/ESSEX-COUNTYS-TOP-REALESTATE-AGENTS-2023

ANGELA’S EXPERIENCE IN OPERATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS PROVED just the right segue for the real estate itch she got 16 years ago. Utilizing the proven tools that deliver success – honesty, integrity and attention to detail – Angela’s client base quickly exploded. Consistent rave reviews describe Angela as “An amazing real estate professional who knows her trade inside and out and brings tremendous value to anyone employing her skills. A true advocate, knowledgeable, resourceful and kind.” Angela’s many recognitions speak volumes for her dedicated service. For the last four out of five years, Angela has been a Pinnacle Group for BHHSNJ recipient, ranked Top Agent Companywide. She has also earned the NJ REALTORS® Circle of Excellence Award recognition for the past decade.

Laufer, DaLena, Jensen, BraDLey & Doran LLc

JANE ELLEN DORAN joined the firm as a Partner in 2020, having practiced exclusively in the area of Family Law for over 35 years. Experienced in all aspects of divorce litigation, including complex valuation and distribution issues of businesses and professional practices, executive benefits, alimony, child support and contested custody issues, she has an extensive history of negotiating premarital agreements, marital agreements, and post judgment issues.

For the last 20 years, Ms. Doran has maintained an AV pre-eminent rating by Martindale Hubbell, the highest possible rating for both legal ability and ethical standards. She has been named as a Super Lawyer in the State of New Jersey beginning in 2006 through and including 2021. Ms. Doran served as a

Trustee of the Morris County Bar Foundation and was appointed to the District X Ethics Committee in Morris County. She served as a Master of the Central New Jersey Inns of Court.

Ms. Doran is a Member of the New Jersey State Bar Association, Family Law Section; the Morris County Bar Association Family Law Section (Former Chair), and the New York State Bar Association.

Ms. Doran received her B.A. from Providence College with Honors and her Juris Doctorate from the New England School of Law. She is licensed to practice in the States of New Jersey and New York.

JANE ELLEN DORAN Divorce Attorney / Mediator

Where To Eat

CALDWELL FORTE 182 Bloomfield Ave. 973.403.9411 fortepizzeria.com

HOKKAIDO NOODLE & ROLL 405 Bloomfield Ave. 862.702.3817 hokkaidoroll.com

CEDAR KNOLLS

H2OCEAN RESTAURANT & RAW BAR 41 Ridgedale Ave. 973.984.9594 h2oceanrestaurant.com

CHATHAM RESTAURANT SERENADE 6 Roosevelt Ave. 973.701.0303 restaurantserenade.com

SCALINI FEDELI 63 Main St. 973.701.9200 scalinifedeli.com

CHESTER REDWOODS GRILL & BAR 459 Main St. 908.879.7909 redwoodsgrillandbar.com

DENVILLE

THE PASTA SHOP 13 First Ave. 973.253.4143 thepastashopdenville.com

DOVER

FAIRFIELD

JOSE TEJAS 647 Rte. 46 W. 973.808.8201 bordercafe.com

HANOVER SEASONS 52 1402 Rte. 10 862.242.2750 seasons52.com

KINNELON CYPRESS TAVERN 174 Kinnelon Rd. 973.492.2700 cypresstavernnj.com

HOUSE OF THAI 1483 Rte. 23 # 6 973.750.1600

SAN GIORGIO’S ITALIAN BISTRO 86 Boonton Ave. #86 973.492.5305

SMOKE RISE VILLAGE INN 9 Perimeter Rd. 973.838.7770 smokerisevillageinn.com

LAKE HOPATCONG PAVINCI ITALIAN GRILL 453 River Styx Rd. 973.770.4300 pavinci.com

THE WINDLASS 45 Nolans Pt. Park Rd. 973.663.3190 thewindlass.com

BELLEVILLE

SOLAR DO MINHO 15 Cleveland St. 973.844.0500 solardominhobelleville.com

TOPAZ THAI

137 Washington Ave. 973.759.7425 topazthainj.com

BLOOMFIELD

BELLA NAPOLI

1640 Broad St. 973.338.8500 bellanapolinj.com

BINH DUONG 61 Belleville Ave. 973.680.8440

BLOOMFIELD STEAK & SEAFOOD HOUSE 409 Franklin St. 973.680.4500 eatbeefgethooked.com

STAMNA 1055 Broad St. 973.338.5151 stamnataverna.com

BOONTON BOONTON SUSHI HOUSE 701 Main St. 973.394.8811 sushiboonton.com

ROMA PIZZERIA 709 Main St. 973.335.1614 romapizzaofboonton.com

THAI PING 811 Main Ave. 973.335.9541 thaiping.com

THE QUIET MAN 64 E. McFarlan St. 973.366.6333 quietmanpub.com

EAST HANOVER DON JOSE

200 Rte. 10 W. #7 973.781.0155 donjosemexican.com

MR. CHU 44 Rte. 10 W. 973.887.7555

PENANG

200 Rte. 10 W. #8 973.887.6989 penangcuisine.com

LEDGEWOOD ICHIBAN SUSHI 1034 Rte. 46 973.252.0900 ichibanroxbury.com

LOVING HUT 538 Rte. 10 973.598.9888 lovinghut.us/ledgewood

LINCOLN PARK 202 ITALIAN BISTRO 177 Main St. 973.709.0093 202bistro.com

ANTHONY FRANCOS 60 Beaverbrook Rd. 973.696.0708 anthonyfrancospizza.com

Getting three squares a day has never been easier—Morris and Essex counties are home to a selection of restaurants diverse enough to satisfy all of your cravings.

SCALINI FEDELI, CHATHAM

SUNSET PUB & GRILL

425 Beaverbrook Rd. 973.694.8700 sunsetpubandgrill.com

LIVINGSTON LITHOS

405 Eisenhower Pkwy. 973.758.1111 lithosgreekrestaurant.com

SWEET BASIL’S CAFE 498 S. Livingston Ave. 973.994.3600 sweetbasilscafe.com

LONG VALLEY CHESAPEAKE TAVERN

1 W. Mill Rd. 908.867.7102 chesapeaketavernnj.com

LONG VALLEY PUB & BREWERY

1 Fairmount Rd. 908.876.1122 restaurantvillage atlongvalley.com

MADISON BEGUM PALACE

300 Main St. 973.660.9100 begumindiancuisine.com

IL MONDO VECCHIO 72 Main St. 973.301.0024 ilmondovecchio.com

MAPLEWOOD CODA KITCHEN & BAR 177 Maplewood Ave. 973.327.2247 codakitchenandbar.com

ST. JAMES’S GATE PUBLICK HOUSE 167 Maplewood Ave. 973.378.2222 stjamesgatepublick house.com

MENDHAM

THE BLACK HORSE TAVERN

1 W. Main St. 973.543.7300 blackhorsenj.com

DANTE’S RISTORANTE 100 E. Main St. 973.543.5401 dantesnj.com

PIATTINO 88 E. Main St. 973.543.0025 piattinonj.com

MILLBURN BASILICO 324 Millburn Ave. 973.379.7020 basilicomillburn.com

CAFÉ MONET 309 Millburn Ave. 973.376.8555 cafemonet.info

CARA MIA 194 Essex St. 973.379.8989 caramiamillburn.com

MOONSHINE 55 Main St. 973.218.6042 moonshinesupperclub.com

MINE HILL CINDERS WOOD FIRE GRILL 319 Rte. 46 973.928.7000 cinderswoodfiregrill.com

MONTCLAIR EGAN & SONS 118 Walnut St. 973.744.1413 egannsons.com

FASCINO 331 Bloomfield Ave. 973.233.0350 fascinorestaurant.com

FAUBOURG RESTAURANT AND BAR 544 Bloomfield Ave. 973.542.7700 faubourgmontclair.com

HALCYON 114 Walnut St. 973.744.4450 halcyonbrasserie.com

MESOB 515 Bloomfield Ave. 973.655.9000 mesobrestaurant.com

RAYMOND’S 28 Church St. 973.744.9263 raymondsnj.com

SAMBA MONTCLAIR Park St. 973.744.6764 montclairsamba.com

TOAST 700 Bloomfield Ave. 973.509.8099 toastmontclair.com

ZEUGMA GRILL 44 S. Park St. 973.744.0074 zeugmagrill.com

MONTVILLE COLUMBIA INN

29 Rte. 202 973.263.1300 thecolumbiainn.com

LOCANDA VECCHIA

167 Rte. 202 973.541.1234 locandavecchia.com

MORRIS PLAINS

BOLLYWOOD GRILL

1729 Rte. 10 E. 973.998.6303 bollywoodgrill.net

TABOR ROAD TAVERN

510 Tabor Rd. 973.267.7004 taborroadtavern.com

TOMMY’S TAVERN & TAP 1900 Rte. 10 973.998.6429 tommystavernandtap.com

UP THAI 981 Tabor Rd. 973.998.8536 upthainj.com

MORRISTOWN

END OF ELM

140 Morris St. 973.998.4534 endofelm.com

FIG & LILY GARDEN

2 Cattano Ave. 973.539.3999 figandlilygarden.com

JOCKEY HOLLOW BAR & KITCHEN

110 South St. 973.644.3180 jockeyhollowbarandkitchen. com

MALAY 147 Morris St. 973.538.3322 malaymorristown.com

MARJAN FINE PERSIAN GRILL 84 Speedwell Ave. 973.889.8884 marjanpersiangrill.com

REVOLUTION 9 South St. 973.455.0033 revolutionmorristown.com

ROOTS STEAKHOUSE 40 W. Park Pl. 973.326.1800 rootssteakhouse.com

1776 BY DAVID BURKE 67 E. Park Pl. 973.829.1776 1776bydb.com

SOUTH+PINE 90 South St. 862.260.9700 southandpine.com

NEWARK ADEGA GRILL 130 Ferry St. 973.589.8830 adegagrill.com

CASA VASCA 141 Elm St. 973.465.1350 casavasca.net

FORNOS OF SPAIN 47 Ferry St. 973.589.4767 fornosrestaurant.com

IBERIA TAVERN & RESTAURANT 80-84 Ferry St. 973.344.7603 iberiarestaurants.com

MOMPOU TAPAS BAR & RESTAURANT 77 Ferry St. 973.578.8114 mompoutapas.com

SEABRA’S MARISQUEIRA 87 Madison St. 973.465.1250 seabrasmarisqueira.com

SOL-MAR RESTAURANT 267 Ferry St. 973.344.3041 solmar-restaurant.com

NUTLEY MEAL 433 Kingsland St. 973.542.8522 mealnj.com

QUEEN MARGHERITA 246 Washington Ave. 973.662.0007 queenmargherita.us

ORANGE

BELLA ITALIA 535 Central Ave. 973.676.4300 bellaitaliarestaurantnj.com

HAT CITY KITCHEN 459 Valley St. 862.704.6248 hatcitynj.com

PARSIPPANY

CAPITAL GRILLE 10 Dryden Way 973.889.8622 thecapitalgrille.com

CHAND PALACE 257 Littleton Rd. 973.334.5444 parsippany.chand palace.com

ECCOLA 1082 Rte. 46 973.334.8211 eccolarestaurant.com

GOURMET CAFE 136 Baldwin Rd. 973.316.0088 gourmetcafenj.com

MARAKESH RESTAURANT 321 Rte. 46 973.808.0062 marakesh.com

RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE 1 Hilton Ct. 973.889.1400 ruthschris.com

SHAN SHAN NOODLES 333 Rte. 46 973.287.7399 shanshannoodles.com

PEQUANNOCK BARDI’S BAR & GRILL 149 Newark Pompton Tpke. 973.694.1058 bardisgrill.com

RIVAAZ GASTRO BAR & INDIAN RESTAURANT 23 Rte. 23 973.686.6040 rivaaz23.com

TOMMY’S TAP & TAVERN, MORRIS PLAINS

PINE BROOK

BONEFISH GRILL 28 Rte. 46 973.227.2443 bonefishgrill.com

CHINA PAVILION 263 Changebridge Rd. 973.227.1006

DON PEPE STEAKHOUSE 58 Rte. 46 W. 973.808.5533 donpepesteakhouse.com

POMPTON PLAINS

STEFANO’S RESTAURANT 565 Rte. 23 973.616.6624 stefanosrestaurant.net

TAVERN 5 710 Newark Pompton Tpke. 973.835.1426 tavern5.com

V&J PIZZA 500 Rte. 23 973.839.9757 vandjpizza.com

RANDOLPH BLACK RIVER BARN 1178 Rte. 10 W. 973.598.9988 blackriverbarn.com

KABAB PARADISE 124 Rte. 10 973.453.0202 kababparadise.com

LA STRADA RISTORANTE 1105 Rte. 10 E. 973.584.4607 lastradarestaurantrandolph.com

NOCHES DE COLOMBIA 140 Rte. 10 973.620.9135 nochesdecolombiarandolph.com

ROCKAWAY BRICK 46 68 Rte. 46 973.625.4900 brick46.com

CAFFÈ NAVONA 147 Rte. 46 W. 973.627.1606 caffenavona.com

THAI NAM PHET 296 Rte. 46 973.627.8400 thainamphet.com

THE EXCHANGE 160 E. Main St. 973.627.8488 exchangefood.com

SHORT HILLS

BENIHANA 840 Morris Tpke. 973.467.9550 benihana.com

BOCCONE SOUTH 519 Millburn Ave. 973.378.9222 bocconeristorante.com

THE DINING ROOM 41 JFK Pkwy. 973.912.4756

ENZZO’S TRATTORIA 514 Millburn Ave. 973.379.7111 enzzos.com

LEGAL SEA FOODS

1200 Morris Tpke. 973.467.0089 legalseafoods.com

RANDOLPH DINER BAR & GRILL 517 Rte. 10 973.328.2400 therandolphdiner.com

ROSIE’S TRATTORIA 1181 Sussex Tpke. 973.895.3434 rosiestrattoria.com

SUBURBAN BAR & KITCHEN 500 Rte. 10 W. 973.891.1776 sbknj.com

VERONA RESTAURANT

1171 Sussex Tpke. 973.895.8888 veronarestaurant.com

RIVERDALE CONEY ISLAND PIZZA 40 Hamburg Tpke. 973.476.9223 coneyislandwoodfired pizza.com

SOUTH ORANGE

ARIYOSHI 56 South Orange Ave. 973.378.8818 ariyoshijapanese.com

WALIA 11 Village Plz. 973.762.2186 waliarestaurant.com

TOWACO 900 DEGREES 626 Main Rd. 973.335.2555 900degreespizza.com

RAILS STEAKHOUSE 10 Whitehall Rd. 973.335.0006 railssteakhouse.com

UPPER

MONTCLAIR DAIKICHI 608 Valley Rd. 973.744.2954 daikichimontclair.net

DE NOVO EUROPEAN PUB 275 Bellevue Ave. 973.893.5008 denovoeuropeanpub.com

TURTLE + THE WOLF 622 Valley Rd. 973.783.9800 turtleandthewolf.com

WEST ORANGE

CHIT CHAT DINER 410 Eagle Rock Ave. 973.736.1989 chitchatdiner.com

HIGHLAWN PAVILION 1 Crest Dr. 973.731.3463 highlawn.com

KIM’S SUSHI 456 Eagle Rock Ave. 973.669.2800 kimssushinj.com

THE MANOR RESTAURANT 111 Prospect Ave. 973.731.2360 themanorrestaurant.com

MCLOONE’S BOATHOUSE 9 Cherry Ln. 862.252.7108 mcloonesboathouse.com

NICHOLAS ANTHONY’S FAMILY KITCHEN 450 Main St. 862.520.1252 nicholasanthonys.com

SUZYQUE’S BBQ AND BAR 34 S. Valley Rd. 973.736.7888

WHARTON 4 SEASONS 322 S. Main St. 862.244.9777 4seasonswharton.com

THE CANAL HOUSE 47 Kossuth St. 862.244.4495 canalhousenj.com

WHIPPANY

THE AULD SHEBEEN PUB 1401 Rte. 10 E. 973.583.8811

IL CAPRICCIO 633 Rte. 10 E. 973.884.9175 ilcapriccio.com

TRATTORIA TOSCANA 554 Rte. 10 973.386.0303 trattoriatoscana

DE NOVO EUROPEAN PUB, UPPER MONTCLAIR

EDUCATION PLANNER

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

The Forum School

The Forum School is non-profit, state approved specialized school serving children with autism and related learning, language, behavioral, and social challenges who have not been successful in a public school setting. Our supportive approach to the challenges our students face provides opportunities for success. Here, children and young adults thrive in our atmosphere of care and dedication. Most students are placed by their school district and attend at no cost to parents.

107 Wyckoff Ave., Waldwick, NJ

201.444.5882 | www.TheForumSchool.com

Honor Ridge Academy

Honor Ridge Academy offers students and their families hope for a new future. For more than 40 years, we have been committed to life-changing special education for students in grades K-12 with social, emotional, learning, and behavioral disabilities. Teaching “the whole child,” we offer highly individualized instruction and a rich array of intensive therapeutic and behavioral supports, all provided by experienced educators in a family-like environment. We use positive behavioral supports consistently across all aspects of the program.

342 Madison Hill Rd., Clark, NJ 732.827.5885 | www.HonorRidge.org

Mount St. Dominic Academy is a college prep school for young women, built on the foundation of the Dominican pillars of study, prayer, mission and community. Through a unique blend of tradition, faith and innovation, Mount students from diverse ethnic, religious and economic backgrounds are nurtured by a faculty that knows how girls learn best, provided with compelling academics, athletics, arts, service and co-curriculars, and empowered to be themselves on their journey of self-discovery.

Founded in 2011, The Alliance represents 40 state-approved private special education schools in Northern and Central New Jersey. Our goal is to see that parents, school staff and advocates are well informed about the special education needs of, and range of program options for students with complex needs. We offer a searchable directory of schools on our website, free parent advocacy from a trained and knowledgeable parent advocate, workshops, resources and two annual scholarships.

Mount St. Dominic Academy

EDUCATION PLANNER

EDUCATION PLANNER

THE CRAIG SCHOOL

The Craig School is an independent, coed program that specializes in working with students with academic learning disabilities, grades two through twelve. Our mission is to provide to our students a strategy based, comprehensive and challenging school experience that acknowledges their learning disabilities, builds on their aptitudes, and strengthens their self-awareness and self-esteem. We also help our parents assess their child’s true potential and understand the nature of learning disabilities, and provide to our families an internal support network within the Craig community.

10 TOWER HILL RD., MOUNTAIN LAKES, NJ

973.334.1234 | WWW.CRAIGSCHOOL.ORG

•

Life-changing, therapeutic special education services for students in grades K-12 with social, emotional, learning, and behavioral disabilities.

At Honor Ridge Academy, we meet students where they are, honoring the path they are on and working with them to achieve positive outcomes.

• More than 40 years of experience

• Individualized Academics & Instruction

• Low student/staff ratio

Reading and Literacy Program

Behavioral Supports

• Community Services Coordination

• Wraparound family support

Honor Ridge Academy 342 Madison Hill Road Clark, NJ

Discovering the Possibilities...

Absolutely stunning 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath custom home with over 4000 sq. ft with custom third floor media/home theatre room in amazing East Hanover neighborhood

Enclave at Hillandale—K. Hovnanian Homes

Starting from the lower $1 Millions, relish in the beauty and tranquil surrounds of K. Hovnanian’s newest boutique townhome community set in the scenic mountains of Mendham Township. Enjoy an elevated living experience with modern floorplans and stunning interior design.

Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan Crawford Lorenzo Home Selling Team Cell: 973.615.1567 | Office: 973.539.1120

Crawford Lorenzo Home Selling Team

Picture perfect 5 bedroom 3.5 bath Colonial with huge walk-out basement and in-law suite. Beautiful open floor plan, hardwood floors, dramatic windows, high ceilings and spacious rooms throughout!

Mountaintop Marvel Situated on 50 majestic acres; nestled atop the surrounding hills of western NJ, this one-of-a-kind dwelling delivers privacy, serenity, and unmatched amenities.

Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan Crawford Lorenzo Home Selling team C:973.714.4381 | O: 973.539.1120

Christian Kuzemczak, Sale Associate

Gorgeous 5 bedroom, 3 bath colonial with amazing curb appeal in great neighborhood! Spacious rooms, gleaming hardwood floors and tons of updates throughout!

Coccia Real Estate Group 973.615.9878

Christine Nagy

Enjoy country living while still living in Morristown, NJ! Fantastic move in ready 4 bedroom, 3.1 bath Colonial home situated on 1.4 secluded acres on cul-de-sac street that backs up to the beautiful Loantaka Park!

Weichert Realtors O: 973.539.8000 | C: 201.650.3722

Jillayne “Jill” Southren, Sales Associate

236A BROOKLAKE ROAD, FLORHAM PARK SOLD!

40 TRINITY DRIVE, EAST HANOVER SOLD!

25 ANITA DRIVE, EAST HANOVER SOLD!

1 BLUE STONE TERRACE, MORRISTOWN, NJ LIST PRICE: $1,050,000

506 MOUNTAIN VIEW RD. WEST, ASBURY, NJ $6,000,000

MENDHAM TOWNSHIP, NEW JERSEY

A&R INTERIORS

No project too big or too small for A&R Interiors’ design experts. Their professional team offers start-tofinish residential and commercial design including architectural consultations for new construction and renovations; kitchen/bath design; interior design of bedrooms for all ages; work-from-home spaces; formal or casual living and dining spaces, and custom entertaining rooms. They offer wall- and floorcovering recommendations to compliment any project, as well as a showroom that offers an ever-evolving collection of finishing touches.

27 E MAIN ST., DENVILLE, NJ 07834 973.625.8950

WWW.ARINTERIOR.COM

DISTINCTIVELY OUTDOORS

Distinctively Outdoors showcases over 7,000 sqft of outdoor living options featuring full displays of decking & hardscapes, outdoor kitchens with top name grills and accessories, fire pits, pergolas, hot tubs, patio furniture and more! Let our design team help you create an outdoor living space that fits your lifestyle and entertaining needs by showing you choices in deck and patio materials, outdoor kitchens that offer true functionality, lounge-worthy furnishings, and custom spaces all on display in our showroom. We will help you put the comforts of the indoors in your next outdoor space!

3713 ROUTE 46 EAST, PARSIPPANY, NJ 973.828.1288

WWW.DISTINCTIVELYOUTDOORS.COM

Be There

April 16

Opera is considered the greatest music in the world, and you can listen to it live right here in New Jersey. Enjoy an opera concert in honor of the Queen’s platinum jubilee at Mansion Hall at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Madison campus. The 3 p.m. show will feature

singers performing arias and duets, as well as some familiar

April 19 to May 14

Enjoy Agatha Christie’s classic Murder on the Orient Express when it’s performed live on stage at Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn. The murder mystery is funny, fastpaced and a can’t-miss for you and your crew. Shows are at 1:30, 7:30 or 8 p.m. depending on the date, and tickets start at $35. Visit my.papermill. org to book.

May 7

Looking to add to your coin, stamp or currency collection?

You’ll find plenty of new treasures at the Garden State Coin, Stamp and Currency Show in Parsippany, considered to be one of the largest in the tri-state area. Organized by the Garden State Coin Show and held this year at the PAL of Parsippany, this exhibit is 35 years running and is open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Email gardenstatecoinshow@gmail.com for the scoop.

May 13

Jersey. Tickets start at $90; visit mayoarts.org/ shows/Chicago for showtimes and to book.

April 20

Enjoy a night out with family or friends at the Lake Parsippany School Bingo Night , a local fundraiser to support the community. Held at the Parsippany Police Athletic League (PAL) building, bingo boards and everything else required to play is provided; players should bring their own food and drink. The event starts at 7:30 p.m., but doors open at 5 p.m. More info can be found online at allevents.in/parsippany.

April 23

It’s street fair season! Kick it off with the Millburn Street Fair & Craft Show, where artists, crafters, vendors, food, rides and more will take over the streets of downtown Millburn from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will also be live music and dancing; admission is free. Streetfairs. org has more info (and a list of additional local fairs).

May 4–7

Chinese New Year has passed already, but you can enjoy the Chinese culture all year round. Experience the popular family-friendly show Shen Yun, a dance performance featuring stunning costumes, orchestral music and animated backdrops that help bring the Asian country to life. The show is at NJPAC’s Prudential Hall Betty Wood Johnson Stage in Newark. Tickets range from $80 to $200. Grab yours now at njpac.org.

Environmentalists, community activists and residents will come together for the Montclair Eco Fair, a collaboration between The Northeast Earth Coalition and St. James Episcopal Church in Upper Montclair, the latter of which is hosting the program. There will be educational opportunities about gardening, native plants, edible landscapes, environmental restoration, composting and volunteering. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Visit neearth. org or email info@neearth. org for more information.

May 25

Why should arts and crafts only be for kids? Head to the Boonton Holmes Public Library for Fiber Craft Night, a new twice-monthly event where you can set aside more than an hour for some “me” time. Socialize with other fiber crafters; just bring whatever you’re working on from home. Event is free, open to all adults and runs from 6 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Registration is not needed—just show up! Get more details at boontonholmeslibrary.org.

In-person events are back in full swing! Here are 10 that are filled with fun, laughter and entertainment— and will help you safely return to normal.

*Editor’s note: Due to COVID-19 restrictions, all events are subject to cancellations or changes. Attendees are encouraged to observe local safety guidelines.

Gatherings

NEWARK SYMPHONY HALL

ESSEX COUNTY NEWARK TECH HIGH SCHOOL

Essex County officials joined students and staff for the official grand reopening and ribbon cutting for the Essex County Newark Tech High School. Newark Tech is the third building in the county’s Schools of Technology District to undergo renovations. During the ceremony, officials announced the naming of the Governor Phil Murphy Innovation Center. 2–3 Students, staff and dignitaries gather for the ceremonial ribbon cutting.

Newark Symphony Hall (NSH) hosted the 16th Annual Ms. Philippines Pageant: Lumaban, a moment that brought together the Filipino collegiate community and their families from across the tri-state area. 4 Belle España 5 Ms. Philippines Pageant contestants

7

MORRIS HABITAT RESTORE

Thanks to the help of community volunteers, Habitat for Humanity’s Morris ReStore in Randolph is able to open on Mondays (except for holidays). 6 Volunteers from Columbia Bank help staff Morris ReStore.

COOPERMAN BARNABAS MEDICAL CENTER

The Center for Asian Health and Wellness organized a Lunar New Year Celebration for the employees at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center. Staff was treated to a special presentation commemorating the Year of the Rabbit. 7 Lunar New Year celebration at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center

WINTER CLOTHING DRIVE

More than 80 children and adults received donations from this year’s winter clothing drive at Newark Symphony Hall. Clothing donations were collected and distributed to residents in need as well as to the Miller Street Shelter and Newark Emergency Services 8 Talia Young, Warren Thompson, Rob Shorter, Chris Sabin

Morris and Essex residents always show up to support their friends and neighbors— especially when help is needed most .

“Post the peak of the cherry blossoms in early May, I wanted to go for a long walk at Branch Brook Park before I left the following week on a European vacation. The reflection in the water caught my eye and inspired this photo. I don’t know who that guy is that’s fishing in the photo, but he was cool with me taking the shot. I wanted to share it so others can see the beauty that exists in Newark.”

Photo courtesy of Doug Allen Photography, Instagram @dougallenphotography

Doug Allen, Maplewood

COSMETIC PLASTIC SURGERY OF THE FACE, BREAST & BODY

MOKHTAR ASAADI, MD, FACS

CHAIRMAN, DEPT OF PLASTIC SURGERY, COOPERMAN BARNABAS MEDICAL CENTER

WWW.ASAADIPLASTICSURGERY.COM

BEFORE & AFTER

SECONDARY UPPER AND LOWER BLEPHAROPLASTY, FACELIFT, BROW LIFT BY DIRECT EXCISION OF SKIN, DIRECT EXCISION OF THE DEEP LINES OF THE FACE.

LIST OF PROCEDURES

• BLEPHAROPLASTY AND CORRECTION OF FESTOONS, MALAR BAGS AND DIFFICULT EYELIDS

• FACELIFT AND NECKLIFT

• RHINOPLASTY

• BREASTAUGMENTATION,LIFTANDREDUCTION

• “COREABDOMINOPLASTY”(TUMMYTUCKWITH REPAIR OF ABDOMINAL MUSCLES)

• “MASTERTUCK” (VASER ULTRASOUND LIPOSUCTION)

•

• SKINCARE, PRP FACIAL, MICRONEEDLING, HYDRAFACIAL,MICROBLADING/PERMANENT MAKEUP