Bridgewater, NJ September 2023

Fashion Is What You Buy.

Style Is What You Do With It.

Dear Reader,

This month, I want to take a moment to celebrate and explore the fascinating world of style. And no, I’m not just talking about the latest fashion trends or the hottest accessories (although those are always fun to discuss). Style goes way beyond the clothes we wear and dives into the very essence of our being.

Style is everywhere, my friend. It’s in the way we decorate our homes, creating a perfect balance between “Wow, this looks amazing!” and “Oops, watch out for that Lego on the floor!”

But wait, there’s more! Style is also about how we carry ourselves in conversations. Are you the kind of person who drops witty one-liners like it’s nobody’s business? Or maybe you prefer deep philosophical discussions that make everyone’s brain cells work overtime.

Now, let’s talk about my personal style. I like to call it “Mom of Four Chic.” It’s a delicate balance between looking put together for Zoom calls while not out of place standing on the sidelines of the soccer field. Comfort and functionality are my best friends. They say, “Hey, you can rock those yoga pants and still look fabulous!”

This month also brings us the return of schedules. Ah, yes, that magical time of the year when parents rejoice and kids mourn the end of their summer freedom. As a parent, it’s a bittersweet moment. On one hand, you can finally enjoy a cup of coffee and the house is quieter. On the other hand, you have to wake up early and engage in the epic battle of getting your child out of bed.

Back-to-school shopping is an adventure in itself. The hunt for the perfect pencil case becomes a quest worthy of Indiana Jones. You dig through aisles of colorful folders and shiny binders, hoping to find the one that will make your child the envy of the classroom.

But amidst the madness, there’s a certain excitement in the air. New beginnings, fresh notebooks waiting to be filled with knowledge and the promise of a year filled with laughter and learning. So, dear reader, embrace the back-to-school season with style. Whether you’re a student, a parent or just an observer from afar, remember to enjoy the ride.

Here’s to being uniquely you, dear reader! May your style shine brighter than a disco ball and bring joy to all those lucky enough to witness it. Here’s to being uniquely you!

TIFFANY & JAKE SLOWINSKI, PUBLISHERS @BRIDGEWATER_SOMERSET_HILLS

September 2023

PUBLISHERS

Jake Slowinski | jake.slowinski@citylifestyle.com

Tiffany Slowinski | tiffany.slowinski@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Patti Zielinski | patti.zielinski@citylifestyle.com

MARKET SUPPORT DIRECTOR

Kristin Kosmoski | kristin.kosmoski@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Richard Hannum

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Donna Gioia Volpe Photography, Liz Polo (Havana Photography), Wing Wong

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry

VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES Tiffany Slowinski

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson

DIRECTOR OF FIRST IMPRESSIONS Jennifer Robinson

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Josh Klein

CONTROLLER Gary Johnson

AD DESIGNER Josh Govero

LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsi Southard

city scene

1: Bridgewater Police Department celebrated “Proud to be an American Day” at the Somerset County VoTech. 2: Bridgewater-Raritan High School students Sharanya Ram and Angela Xu won the 2023 Congressional Art Competition. 3: Bridgewater Mayor Matthew C. Moench visited Ms. Montemarano's 3rd grade class at Immaculate Conception School. 4: Raritan Valley Community College students completed a 2,000-square-foot mural at the Bound Brook train station. 5: The American Bombshells performed during “Proud to be an American Day 2023.” 6: The robotics team raised $5,000 during the Charlie Run in memory of alumnus Charlie Schulz.

Where neighbors can see and be seen.

BRIDGEWATER POLICE DEPARTMENT BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP

SOMERSET COUNTY VOCATIONAL & TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL

BRIDGEWATER-RARITAN HIGH SCHOOL

RARITAN VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

BRIDGEWATER-RARITAN HIGH SCHOOL

Want to be seen in the magazine?

Tag your Instagram photos with @bridgewater_somerset_hills

7: Cristina Festa of Martinsville poses with Magic Johnson at a conference. 8: Iron Girl Project awarded nine Alexea G. Karpinski Memorial Scholarships to high school student-athletes. 9: Bridgewater’s Sarah Sconda and two other RVCC graduates received a $5,000 teaching scholarship. 10: BRHS students Amanda Smith, Morgan Cook and Santino Costello received Dan Grigal Basketball Scholarships. 11: BridgewaterRaritan Middle School music groups performed at the Music in The Parks Festival. 12: Somerset County 4-H held TOPS Camp.

CRISTINA FESTA

IRON GIRL PROJECT

RARITAN VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

BRIDGEWATER-RARITAN HIGH SCHOOL

BRIDGEWATER-RARITAN MIDDLE SCHOOL

SOMERSET COUNTY 4-H

ARTICLE

setting the stage

To Leslie Patrizio, fashion is a language through which we communicate. Fashion provides social connectivity and is a force for building confidence and supporting our communities.

Patrizio, the owner of Style Matters with Leslie Patrizio, which produces fashion shows for a variety of clients—from boutiques and designers to nonprofits and high schools in New Jersey and Pennsylvania— has even seen lives change.

BY PATTI ZIELINSKI PHOTOGRAPHY BY STYLE MATTERS WITH LESLIE PATRIZIO

LESLIE PATRIZIO BRINGS THE GLAMOUR OF FASHION WEEK TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES

Photos on this page by Donna Gioia Volpe

The Warren mother of two adult sons was inspired to use her talents as a special event planner to create fashion shows when her children were attending The Pingry School. “I used to produce women-inspired events for casinos that had a focus like fashion or cosmetics,” she says. “Pingry hosted a fashion show as a fundraiser every year, which I ran. Then, other schools started asking me to do the same. Stores took notice and that’s how my business evolved.”

Fifteen years later, Patrizio now produces about 12 shows annually, using professional models as well as members of the community—including children—to showcase the latest looks. “Who models the clothes depends on who the client wants to see on the runway,” she says.

In addition to promoting designers—such as Sareh Nouri and Dennis Basso—and local boutiques and department stores, Patrizio produces a number of shows to fundraise for nonprofits, such as Sapphires & Sequins, which benefits the Hunterdon Health Care Auxiliary, and the Go RED fashion show, presented by Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital–Somerset and the Bridgewater Commons. Her biggest fashion show is The Red Carpet Party, which benefits Family and Children’s Services. She also creates other events like fashion seminars.

Patrizio picks out the clothing, selects the music and choreographs the fashion shows. She pays special attention to amateur models. “Foremost, we want the models to be happy with what they are wearing. If they don't feel good, they will not have confidence and poise,” she says. “It might take hours for us to find the perfect outfit, but the most important thing is that models feel good about themselves.”

For novice models, she always does a rehearsal to allow people to get comfortable walking the runway. “I tell them that when they approach the runway, they should stop, relax, throw their shoulders back and lift their ribcage. I tell them to pose—because usually they are getting their picture taken at that point—and then walk that runway like they own it. I find that even the shyest person will morph into someone with fantastic self-confidence,” she says. “The boys are fun because a lot of times they steal the show.”

Some shows celebrate resilience. “At the Go RED fashion show, one of the models had had a heart transplant and another had recovered from a stroke the day after her college graduation. They had to come back from that and are fighters,” she says.

Whenever she can, Patrizio likes to support local boutiques. “I want to make sure that people in the audience could potentially be a customer—either geographically or economically,” she says.

Photo: Donna Gioia Volpe

So, what is in style this fall? The refreshing answer: Everything. “There really are no mistakes. You'll see everything in the stores: wide-leg bell bottoms, skinny jeans, cropped jeans and high-waisted and low-waisted jeans,” she says. “You are going to see more long, flowy floral prints, but you will not look out of style if you wore a short dress.”

Trends recycle, as we know. So, expect a continuation of fashion from the 1990s and 2000, Patrizio says.

Fashion, according to Patrizio, is a great communicator. “People might come up to you and say, ‘I like your dress.’ Or you might go up to someone and say, ‘Oh, I love your shoes.’ Fashion gives us something to speak to,” she says. “I am so fortunate to I do what I love; for me, this is not work. Sometimes, I think, ‘Wow, this is my job. I’m getting paid to do this.’”

See more runway style at LesliePatrizio.com

Photos of Leslie Patrizio taken by Donna Gioia Volpe at Boutique CALIA, Bernardsville. Patrizio wears dresses from Prabal Gurung, jeans from Moussy, leather jacket from Mauritius, cami from Gold Hawke and necklace from R. Weiss Jewelers in Bernardsville Centre.

Photo: Donna Gioia Volpe

C omprehensive m edi C al C are

Raritan Family Health Care is the most accommodating and accredited family healthcare facility in Central NJ. We provide exemplary personalized service in a welcoming atmosphere.

We proudly offer same day appointments and extended early morning/evening/weekend hours for your convenience.

Welcome, this is our family caring for your family.

Divine Inspiration

STYLE REIGNS SUPREME AT A PREMIER CENTRAL NEW JERSEY ESTATE

ARTICLE BY PATTI ZIELINSKI | PHOTOGRAPHY BY WING WONG

Every other year, the area’s top interior and landscape designers are presented with a challenge: to take a space at an esteemed historic estate in the Morris or Somerset area and create magic.

Mansion in May, the preeminent designer showhouse in the New Jersey–New York area presented by the Women’s Association for Morristown Medical Center, celebrated its 20th installment this year. Proceeds benefitted the expansion and modernization of the Institute of Bioskills Training and Innovation at Morristown Medical Center, which allows health and medical providers to practice clinical skills through simulation.

TRENDS

This year’s selected grand estate was Three Fields in Mendham, a 9,000-square-foot stone, brick and tile-roofed French manor–style home.

This year’s selected grand estate was Three Fields in Mendham, a 9,000-square-foot stone, brick and tile-roofed French manor–style home, designed by New York architect Greville Rickard and situated on almost 36 acres of pastoral, rolling fields.

After visitors tour the grounds, they cast a vote for their favorite interior and landscape design. The winners in each category receive the Tulip Award, the event’s highest honor. “Moor and Mountain,” designed by Sam Ciardi of Samuel Robert Signature Spaces, won for interior design. Ciardi says the design for the rustic but regal retreat was inspired by a desire to create a space in which people could come in from the cold, curl up by the fireplace and enjoy the holiday in a majestic, yet cozy, cabin.

The Tulip Award for landscape design went to “Petite Parterre,” by Erika Mantz and Anthony Sblendorio of Back to Nature Home & Garden who transformed the area in front of the pool house. It was inspired by the iconic parterre gardens of the French countryside. A modern twist on the classic garden layout delivered an explosion of blooms in a gradient of colors, framed by a compact hedge. An antique olive jar planted with cascading annuals acted as a centerpiece, using viewpoints from the pool house and adjacent landscape spaces.

Learn more about Mansion in May and donate to the Institute of Bioskills Training and Innovation at Morristown Medical Center at MansionInMay.org .

"Moor & Mountain" /

Photo by Danette Merchant

Getting to the Root of Good Health

ARTICLE BY PATTI ZIELINSKI | PHOTOGRAPHY BY LIZ POLO, HAVANA PHOTOGRAPHY

Dr. Vince Sferra Discusses an Educated Approach to Managing Your Health Care

In the 25 years since Dr. Vince Sferra founded Natural Medicine & Rehabilitation in Somerset, he has seen people become less interested in treating their symptoms with medicine and increasingly asking intelligent questions about the root causes of their issues—and how they can be addressed naturally.

Since suffering an immune response from a ruptured appendix 30 years ago, Dr. Sferra, a chiropractor in business for nearly 40 years, embarked on postgraduate education, studying autoimmunity and clinical nutrition to better understand the interconnectivity within our bodies and how that contributes to disease.

Today, Dr. Sferra treats patients using functional medicine. The practice seeks to determine how and why illness occurs and restores health by addressing the mechanisms that cause the disease or disorder.

“In conventional medicine, there’s a disease classification and identification of the one cause and the one treatment. However, with chronic diseases, that rule almost never applies. You cannot just patch up a symptom and solve the problem,” he says.

“Our healthcare system is designed for disease care: Determine the symptoms, suppress them,” he continues. “Patients should be alert for red flags, such as a doctor not spending much time learning the patient’s history during the consultation. If a doctor is just looking at old bloodwork you had that you faxed over, that’s falling short. Also, you want to feel comfortable asking questions and getting thorough answers. Patients did not go to medical school, so they may not know all the nuances of why the care plan is being recommended. But they have every right to have questions answered.”

A skilled functional medicine doctor will look at factors such as the person’s constitution, habits, diet, blood sugar and ability to temper stress in order to understand why the problem was created in the first place. They spend a lot of time with patients, in assessing their condition, educating them, reviewing tests with them and developing a treatment plan that encompasses many different factors.

Dr. Sferra’s practice engages a number of other practitioners—such as doctors, neurosurgeons, spine surgeons, women’s health clinicians, endocrinologists—as an integrated network to treat the whole patient.

“We put a little twist on the chiropractic/ physical therapy/rehabilitation model. Our patients learn about things like the causes of inflammation, nutrition that supports the metabolism and tissue repair, diet supplementation and lifestyle changes,” he says. “The goal is to give a person a different perspective on their overall health, not just treat their back. We are seeing clients who want to maintain their metabolism, hormone balance, gut health, brain health and blood sugar regulation through lifestyle. But they have to be ready to do the work. They have to be ready to change habits.”

Consistency is key to healthy aging. “People get stuck when it comes to staying on course, like with nutrition. They are stressed to the max and not getting enough rest and recuperation,” he says. “You need to work with your doctor to determine good habits—then stay consistent.”

Learn more about healthy lifestyles at nmrnj.com .

Spices of Life

Nestled in the northeast corner of the Bridgewater Shops on Prince Rodgers Avenue, Kurry & Naan is a new hidden gem. Opened in November by chef/owner Kulwant (“Kay”) Singh, who previously owned Divine Curry in Hillsborough, Kurry & Naan focuses on northern Indian foods. Singh is the youngest in his family and learned to cook with his mother before attending culinary school in India. The owner of several Indian restaurants over the decade, he is well-versed in Southeast Asian cuisine and has trained many chefs.

Unfamiliar with Indian cuisine? Staple ingredients include rice, tomatoes, lentils, chickpeas and yogurt. While there are certainly many vegetarian options to choose from, fish, lamb, goat and poultry also are used widely. Regional cuisine makes use of many of the healthiest herbs and spices, including cardamom, black pepper, coriander, cumin and turmeric, leading to incredibly vibrant and flavorful dishes. You will find all of this and more at Kurry & Naan.

Singh makes use of a host of flavors, including a housemade kadai spice blend. To taste this spice, try the Kadai Chicken and Kadai Paneer, a tangy, deeply spiced dish that

is also made from cheese and bell peppers. All dishes are prepared on site, with the naan made from scratch in the clay oven. Rich in antioxidants, the wonderful, exoticflavors of Indian spices have numerous health benefits, including aiding in heart health, improving digestion and combatting inflammation.

Singh continues to expand on and improve his food. “I’m still trying to copy my mom,” he says as we review the varied menu options. With chicken and lamb curries, vegetarian and vegan dishes, and seafood options—many of which are gluten-free—there is something for everyone in the family to enjoy. Try the popular Tandoori Chicken—or make Singh’s recipe at home. Other crowd favorites include the Biryani specialties with vegetable, chicken or lamb.

But be sure to leave room for dessert: The Gulab Jamun— deep fried cheese with honey syrup—is amazing.

Check out the menu at KurryAndNaan.com

Richard Hannum (“Small Time Foodie”) is a food reviewer based in Bridgewater who studied at the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts.

ARTICLE BY RICHARD HANNUM | PHOTOGRAPHY BY DONNA GIOIA VOLPE

KURRY & NAAN SERVES UP THE FLAVOR OF INDIA

Kulwant Singh and Sarabjit Kaur with sons Angad and Jessie Singh

Tandoori Chicken

Ingredients :

• 10 chicken drumsticks or 5 chicken legs, leaving the bone in

• 4 oz fresh lemon juice

• 3 tbsp ginger-garlic paste, made with a 1:4 ginger-garlic ratio

Directions:

• 1 tbsp salt

• ½ tbsp chili powder

• 1 tbsp coriander powder

• 1 tbsp cumin powder

• 2 tbsp cooking oil

• 8 oz yogurt

• 3 tbsp Kashmiri Mirch or paprika

1. De-skin the chicken and cut three to four slits across to help marination seep inside meat.

2. Add lemon juice, ginger-garlic paste, salt and chili powder. Mix all with the chicken.

3. Add coriander powder, cumin powder, oil, yogurt and Kashmiri Mirch/paprika. Refrigerate for two hours.

4. Pre-heat oven to 350°F. Place chicken in moist pan and keep it in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes. Turn the chicken to the other side and cook another 5 to 10 minutes.

5. Serve with mint chutney, BBQ sauce or hot sauce.

Tandoori Chicken

Chicken Biryani

Malai Kofta

THE little BLACK DRESS

ARTICLE BY ANGELA BROOCKERD PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES STYLIST: AMANI SKALACKI

Most of us can say we have that one staple black dress that can be worn at any occasion, and the classic look is not only popular but is elegant and timeless. It is the dress in our closet that can be accessorized to fit the event and often is the dress we go back to time and again. It is one of the most versatile items we own, never goes out of style and looks good on anyone. But how did this classic look originate?

Prior to the 1920’s, black was reserved for funeral wear, but when Coco Channel made the bold move to print a short, black dress on the cover of Vogue in 1926, all of that changed. The popularity of the black dress skyrocketed, and it became one of the most influential pieces of clothing. Chanel transported fashion from tight corsets and bustles to straightlined silhouettes. Because of its affordability, black remained a popular choice during The Great Depression. The black dress had another boom in popularity when “Breakfast at Tiffany’s’’ debuted, and Audrey Hepburn showcased her iconic black dress with long, black gloves. Today, people accessorize the black dress to fit any occasion.

We enlisted the help of stylist, Amani Skalacki, to show us how versatile the little black dress can be.

THE POPULARITY OF THE BLACK DRESS SKYROCKETED and IT BECAME ONE

OF THE MOST influential PIECES OF CLOTHING.

COCO CHANNEL MADE THE BOLD MOVE TO PRINT A SHORT, BLACK DRESS ON THE COVER OF VOGUE IN 1926

“We usually think of the little black dress as a piece you wear to an event. However, because black is so flattering on all body types and skin tones, women have multiple black dresses from casual to evening,” Amani says. “I selected this collection of dresses to show the versatility of the black dress and to give women some new ideas of how to wear the evening gown with a train on a night out with her girlfriends or the traditional summer strappy maxi dress while running errands in cooler temperatures.”

Although black is a timeless, classic look, that doesn’t mean it goes without personality. You can make it your own style by accessorizing to infuse new life into a dress that you already own.

“A sequin dress can be dressed up with heels, or that same dress can be transformed into a casual outfit with the addition of tennis shoes and an oversized blazer or a denim jacket. Transform that strappy dress you have been wearing all summer into an outfit that is perfect for chilly fall temperatures. Add a narrow scarf, a leather jacket and sandals or a tall pointy boot, and you have a whole new look for an evening out,” Amani adds.

If you have a dress in the back of your closet that you haven’t worn in years, don’t be afraid to dust it off and give it new life. “Take that evening gown you wore years ago to a tailor for a little transformation. Turn it into a high low dress-top that can be worn out with girlfriends or on a date night. Pair the top with leather leggings, ankle boots, a chunky belt and some statement jewelry, and now you have a piece that pushes the boundaries of the little black dress.”

Are you looking for the best cut or style of dress that works best for your body type? Amani provided this simple guide:

HOURGLASS FIGURE:

• V-necklines

• Cinched-in waistlines

• Tailored/fitted dresses

PEAR OR TRIANGLE

FIGURE:

• Tailored dresses

• Off the shoulder

ATHLETIC FIGURE:

• Embellished

• Ruffles

• Empire waist

• Volume is your friend

APPLE FIGURE:

• Drop waist

• A-line

The dress that all body types can’t go wrong with is a wrap dress of any length.

Raritan Valley Country Club, a Troon Privé private club, offers our members access to wonderful amenities including golf, racquet sports, a resort-style pool, youth programs, exquisite dining and a full calendar of social events.

As a member of a Troon Privé Club you also receive exclusive access to extraordinary golf and lifestyle benefits around the world through the Troon Privé Privileges program. Our golf members enjoy access to Troon Privé courses and amenities, opportunities to experience Troon Golf resort and daily fee locations at preferred rates, as well as Cliff Drysdale Tennis. Plus, all members of Troon Privé Clubs receive benefits with Avis Rental Cars, Ship Sticks, Entertainment, Marinas and more.

To learn more about membership and our partnership with Troon, please call (908) 722-2000, ext. 207 or email membership@rvcc1911.org.

747 State Route 28 · Bridgewater, NEW JERSEY · rvcc1911.org

events

A curated selection of the most intriguing upcoming events in our area.

SATURDAYS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 9TH

Somerville Summer Stage

DIVISION ST., SOMERVILLE Downtown Somerville hosts its Summer Stage outdoor concert series on Division Street every Saturday through September 9.  DowntownSomerville.com/Events

THROUGH SEPTEMBER 17TH

Fanciful Visions

MORRIS MUSEUM, 6 NORMANDY HEIGHTS RD., MORRISTOWN

“Fanciful Visions Real and Imagined Engineered Worlds” explores the ways in which artist Jack Rosenfarb combines both found and created elements to prompt thought-provoking reactions in the real and imagined worlds. MorrisMuseum.org

SEPTEMBER 10TH

Bridgewater Family Fun Day and Touch-a-Truck

BRIDGEWATER COMMONS, 400 COMMONS WAY, BRIDGEWATER | 10:00 AM

Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center and Atlantic Health System sponsor this event that features a variety of trucks and vehicles for children to explore, inflatables, race cars, crafts, live music and food trucks. ssbjcc.org

SEPTEMBER 16TH

Walk-a-Thon

DUKE ISLAND PARK, 191 OLD YORK RD., BRIDGEWATER | 9:30 AM

This walk benefits the Akshaya Patra Foundation, which addresses child hunger and promotes education.  AkshayaPatraUSA.org

SEPTEMBER 16TH

Best Friends Girl

DUNELLEN THEATRE, 458 NORTH AVE., DUNELLEN | 8:00 PM

Best Friends Girl recreates the timeless hits of The Cars spanning their 35-year career.  Facebook.com/ DunellenTheatre

SEPTEMBER 21ST

Judy Collins & Madeleine Peyroux

MAYO PERFORMING ARTS

CENTER, 100 SOUTH ST., MORRISTOWN | 7:30 PM

These folk and jazz icons share the stage for an unforgettable double bill of songs and stories. MayoArts.org

It’s that time to continue to make a DIFFERENCE. This outing CHANGES LIVES! Since 2007, Zoned has been committed to helping our student athletes moving on to play collegiate baseball and softball.

Last year’s outing allowed us to donate:

EVENTS CONTINUED

SEPTEMBER 23RD

The Green Planet Band

BRANCHBURG COUNTRY FAIR, WHITE OAK PARK, 235 BAIRD RD., BRANCHBURG | 7:00 PM

A local favorite! Rock out with this family band composed of teen siblings Kylee, Tyler and Anna, along with Mama Lisa. TheGreenPlanetBand.com

SEPTEMBER 28TH TO OCTOBER 1ST

Hub City Jazz Festival

DOWNTOWN NEW BRUNSWICK

Founded in 2004, the festival is a four-day destination event attracting jazz enthusiasts throughout the Northeast. HubCityJazz.com

SEPTEMBER 29TH TO OCTOBER 7TH

A Man of No Importance

SIEMINSKI THEATER

CULTURAL ARTS CENTER, 8000 FELLOWSHIP RD., BASKING RIDGE

Set in 1964 Dublin, this tender musical of family, friendship and acceptance teaches us it is wonderful to “love who you love.”  SieminskiTheater.org

realty report

A sample of recently sold properties in Bridgewater.

& Daycare