Northwest Bergen, NJ April 2019

NorthwestBergenLifestyle.com

APRIL 2019

The Eco Issue EARTH’S YOUNGEST CARETAKERS

ECO-FRIENDLY EATS

GREENING UP GLEN ROCK

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LIFESTYLE LETTER

Embrace Eco in Northwest Bergen APRIL MARKS OUR SIXTH ISSUE, AND TO ALL OF YOU, WE ARE SO GRATEFUL.

APRIL 2019

This month at Northwest Bergen Lifestyle, we bring you our Eco issue in honor of Earth

PUBLISHER

Day on April 22. When my staff began the process of researching what our residents are

Marc Schwartz | marc.schwartz@lifestylepubs.com

doing to sustain and protect our planet, I thought it would be a tremendous challenge; I soon learned otherwise and was pleasantly surprised with their findings.

Ridgewood resident Jeanne Johnson started Ridgewood Walks, an initiative that encourages health and safety by promoting walking to connect businesses and neigh-

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

Lucy Probert | lucy.probert@lifestylepubs.com CREATIVE MANAGER

Jean Terman

bors in Ridgewood. Throughout the year, RW hosts walking tours, such as "Step Into

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Summer!" in June and "Walktoberfest" in October. We all know the numerous benefits

Beth Meleski, Kris Pepper

of walking that contribute to a healthy body and mind. Walking also reduces emissions and offers a safer place for our children to live in.

According to Jamie Knott, owner of The Saddle River Café, the restaurant is Greencertified by the Green Restaurant Association. They’ve taken the eco-friendly concept to the next level by replacing plastic straws with paper ones, using biodegradable takeout containers, offering fully insulated paper coffee cups that don’t need sleeves and bottling all of their own water to avoid recycling plastic containers.

And how about the children of the Willard Elementary School in Ridgewood? Walk through the school and you’ll see cartons of sparkly garbage, big bags full of those pesky plastic grocery bags and plastic bottle tops overflowing from cardboard boxes.

Go just outside the building and a compost machine sits ready to be filled with leftovers from healthy snacks. It’s easy to see that the students at Willard have set an amazing example for everyone to recycle in our communities and beyond.

Congratulations to Glen Rock! You have added to the list of initiatives mentioned above

CORPORATE TEAM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

which now include the collection of Styrofoam and the installation of electric vehicle charging

CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry

stations. The goal of the EV charging stations is to encourage as well as facilitate EV usage.

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore

We hope the stories in this month's issue invoke feelings of gratitude for the wonderful world

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson

ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor

we live in—and the wonderful people in our community who strive to sustain it. Not sure where to start? Read what’s inside this issue and you’ll be inspired to get on board.

As always, please keep it local because local is a phenomenal place to be. We have so

EDITORIAL MANAGER Nicolette Martin AD MANAGER Chad Jensen REGIONAL SALES DIRECTOR Eric Williams WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell

much to offer right here in Northwest Bergen County, so let’s take advantage of it.

And lastly, thank you to our readers and businesses who have joined the mission to protect our planet.

Have a beautiful beginning to a wonderful spring season!

ARIZONA | CALIFORNIA | COLORADO | CONNECTICUT | FLORIDA | GEORGIA IDAHO | ILLINOIS | KANSAS | MARYLAND | MINNESOTA | MISSOURI | MONTANA

Marc Schwartz, Publisher

NEVADA | NEW JERSEY | NORTH CAROLINA | OHIO | OKLAHOMA | OREGON TENNESSEE | TEXAS | VIRGINIA | WASHINGTON

514 W 26TH ST., KANSAS CITY, MO

NorthwestBergenLifestyle.com ON THE COVER Willard Elementary School’s Caitlin Axisa

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEAN TERMAN 4

Northwest Bergen Lifestyle | April 2019

Proverbs 3:5-6 Northwest Bergen Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Northwest Bergen areas’ most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Northwest Bergen Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

INSIDE THE ISSUE APRIL 2019

FEATURES 16 Eco-Friendly Eats American-Style Café in Saddle River Takes Healthy Eating Up a Notch

20 The Art of Up-Cycling How One Artist Creates Masterpieces from Magazines

24 Greening Up Glen Rock One Town’s Mission to Make a Difference

20 16

28 Earth’s Youngest Caretakers Lose That Plastic and Save Our Planet!

24

28

DEPARTMENTS 4

Lifestyle Letter

8

Good Times

10

Around Town

12

Local Limelight

16

Hot Spot

24 Our Town 28 Giving Back 32 Lifestyle Calendar 34 Parting Thoughts

GOOD TIMES 1.

2.

3.

Danson Jewelers in Allendale Holds Charity Event for Animal Shelter Danson Jewelers in Allendale recently hosted a Ladies Valentine's Night Out where a portion of the proceeds was donated to the Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge, Inc in Oakland. Attendees were invited for an evening of music, food and drinks to purchase fine jewelry or make a wish list for spouses to come in and do their Valentine's shopping. DansonJewelers.com

4.

5.

6.

1. Pam Mulligan holding dog Annabelle chats with a guest at the event. | 2. Jacqueline Laurita with Danson Jewelers owner Jack Nazy | 3. Owner Jack Nazy with Frannie Laurita, Jacqueline Laurita and Marc Schwartz | 4. Annabelle from RBARI | 5. Marc Schwartz with Maria Harper, Linda Webster-Cennerazzo and Barbara Wasserman | 6. Guests mingle at Danson Jewelers. To learn more about RBARI, visit RBARI.org.

Quality Care For Every Hair

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8

Northwest Bergen Lifestyle | April 2019

AROUND TOWN Panache) at the helm. The restaurant's “Italian comfort food” includes Neapolitan-style pizza made in an 850-degree wood-burning brick oven and appetizers such as wood-fired octopus and Hotsy Totsy Shrimp. Try the traditional pasta entrees as well as the untraditional Not Your Mama’s Lasagna. Familyfriendly, with waiter service as well as an extensive take-out menu, they use locally grown and organic products whenever possible. PazzaNJ.com

VALLEY NAMED ONE OF NATION’S 250 BEST HOSPITALS Healthgrades has named Valley Hospital as one of the 250 best hospitals in the nation in 2019,

LOCAL TOWNS GAIN SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFICATION

putting it in the top 5 percent of more than 4,500 hospitals assessed for superior clinical performance. Valley was one of only four hospitals given

Three Northwest Bergen communities (Glen

the distinction in New Jersey and the only one in

Rock, Mahwah and Oakland) achieved certification

Bergen, Passaic, Essex or Hudson counties named.

by Sustainable Jersey for their demonstrated lead-

Healthgrades is an online resource for information

ership in areas such as improving energy efficiency,

about physicians and hospitals and recognizes

reducing waste, sustaining local economies and pro-

hospitals for overall clinical excellence across a

tecting natural resources. Glen Rock earned its silver

broad spectrum of care. ValleyHealth.com

award, Mahwah and Oakland the bronze. Sustainable Jersey, a nonprofit organization, provides tools, training and financial incentives to support communities as they pursue sustainability programs. The certification was given to 64 municipalities statewide.

"Collectively, the Sustainable Jersey towns are a powerful force in New Jersey," says its Executive Director, Randy Solomon. SustainableJersey.com

WYCKOFF YMCA HOLDS ITS ANNUAL MEETING The Wyckoff Family YMCA held its Annual Meeting earlier this year, which celebrated the contributions its community partnerships have made in the past year impacting the area. Speakers included Doug Struyk, president and CEO of

PAZZA OPENS IN FRANKLIN LAKES

10

Christian Health Center; Jennifer Brady, executive director of Oasis – A Haven for Women and

Franklin Lakes’ foodies recently welcomed

Children; and Bob Shannon, Wyckoff Township

Pazza, owned by Anthony and Sonny Esposito with

Administrator who spoke on strengthening com-

chef Arturo Barrales (former chef Café Amici, Café

munity ties. WyckoffYMCA.org

Northwest Bergen Lifestyle | April 2019

LOCAL LIMELIGHT

J E A N N E PUTTING HER BEST FOOT FORWARD ARTICLE LUCY PROBERT | PHOTOGRAPHY JEAN TERMAN

Jeanne Johnson on Ridgewood Avenue

JOHNSON: 12

Northwest Bergen Lifestyle | April 2019

BY THE TIME JEANNE JOHNSON AND HER HUSBAND, JEFF, MOVED TO RIDGEWOOD IN 2003 WITH THEIR TWO YOUNG CHILDREN, THEY WERE READY TO SETTLE DOWN. “We had already lived in several different places, and it was time to find a home where we would stay for a while,” Jeanne says. “Our kids were still young, and it was very important to me that we establish roots for them. I wanted them to feel like we were invested in this town, that this was their home.”

Being part of her new community quickly became a passion of Jeanne’s, and through the years she has done more than her part by helping keep her Ridgewood neighbors a little safer and more connected through coordinating the Safe Walks to School program as well as Ridgewood Walks.

Jeanne enjoying Van Neste Square

HOW DID YOU FIRST BECOME INVOLVED WITH VOLUNTEERING? After we moved, for a while when my son was very young, he was part of the Ridgewood Early Development program available to preschool kids with developmental delays. I was surprised to learn that they didn’t have in place a Home and School Association like many other schools in town. I thought that if anybody needed support it was these parents with special needs kids, so I started one, and it’s probably one of the things I’m most proud of. We raised money for in-house field trips for the kids for things like music programs and for the school playground, but mostly it was a support group for parents who are maybe having a tougher time adapting to parenting. I’m so happy that this program is still thriving and doing wonderful things 15 years later.

THEN YOU TURNED YOUR ATTENTION TO SAFETY? My daughter was in elementary school back then and took the bus to school, but because of budget cuts, her bus was going to be being eliminated. This was very concerning because the kids who were losing their buses would be driven to school, putting more cars on the road at the busiest time of the day when many kids were walking to school. So one day, I took my kids, and we went door-to-door in our neighborhood to every home affected by the cuts and had petitions signed. And it worked—we got our bus back! This was around 2004, and after that, CONTINUED >

Jeanne sits at the Ridgewood Walks table at a Village event last fall.

April 2019 | Northwest Bergen Lifestyle

13

LOCAL LIMELIGHT

(CON TI N U ED)

I coordinated the Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 campaign in town, which led to applying for grants through a program called Safe Routes to School. From those grants, the Village of Ridgewood was given almost $1.5 million for safety improvements such as the painted and brick crosswalks, improved lighting, blinking beacons and safety education programs.

THEN CAME THE WALK TO SCHOOL PROGRAM? Yes, at first it was a Walk to School week, but it became so popular that it turned into a whole month, then for a month twice a year.

I was thrilled to learn recently that the elementary schools are still running this program.

WHY IS WALKING TO SCHOOL SO IMPORTANT FOR KIDS? Our Village was developed as a walking town, and not all but many students live within a few miles of their school. It’s really important for parents to understand that it’s not just plain healthy to walk; if more kids walked and fewer cars were on the road, it’s also actually safer for children. Also, studies show that 20 minutes of rigorous exercise in the morning opens up the brain to take in information that they then retain. And almost as importantly, it’s community building.

When you walk home with friends or kids in your neighborhood you may not know very well, you connect and build bonds.

AND THAT LED TO RIDGEWOOD WALKS? And that segued into starting Ridgewood Walks. Because of the divisiveness I saw in our country and in our community, I wanted to do something positive. I really believe that we can reconnect one community at a time through conversation. So we organized these guided walking tours downtown led by local residents. We started in the fall of 2017 with 48 tours and called it Walktoberfest and then did it again last June. Last fall, we had dozens of tours with more than 1,000 people participating. It’s been such a rewarding experience to watch people connect and build trust and friendships with one another. It’s glorious to witness this; you have no idea the satisfaction I’m getting from seeing it.

WHEN DOES RIDGEWOOD WALKS START AGAIN THIS YEAR? We will begin Step into Summer on June 1 with lots of great tours.

What’s come of it is we’ve seen these great relationships that we’ve built within Ridgewood and with residents from neighboring communities. The folks who walk with us, the local ambassadors who lead our tours and the businesses we partner with have all benefitted from our refreshing and informative strolls.

For more information, visit RidgewoodWalks.com.

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Northwest Bergen Lifestyle | April 2019

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HOT SPOT

Eats AMERICAN- STYLE CAFÉ IN SADDLE RIVER TAKES HEALTHY EATING UP A NOTCH

ARTICLE LUCY PROBERT PHOTOGRAPHY JEAN TERMAN

16

Northwest Bergen Lifestyle | April 2019

Chef Josh Means putting finishing touches on a signature salad

“WE HAVE AN EDUCATED CLIENTELE WHO CARES ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND WHAT THEY’RE PUTTING INTO THEIR BODIES.”

WHEN THE SADDLE RIVER INN’S CHEF AND OWNER, JAMIE KNOTT, SET OUT TO OPEN A NEW PLACE LAST SUMMER, HE WANTED IT TO BE AN ALTERNATIVE DINING OPTION FOR HIS FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS, OFFERING HEALTHY, CLEAN AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD, AND HE WANTED IT TO BE CLOSE TO THE INN. Just how close turned out to be a pleasant surprise: It is almost literally in their backyard.

“I drove by this space every day for nearly three years before I realized it was actually the perfect spot for my newest venture, the Saddle River Café,” Jamie says.

And making it American-style, casual and ecofriendly meant everything to him.

“Around here, we have an educated clientele who cares about the environment and what they’re putting into their bodies, and many of them have the money to spend a little more on healthy and sustainable options,” he says.

Green-certified by the Green Restaurant Association, the café has met required standards in categories such as waste reduction and recycling, sustainable foods and water efficiency as well as reusable and environmentally preferable disposables.

“This was important to us, to our mission for the café,” Jamie says. “As much as possible, we use food that is organic and locally sourced. For example, a lot of our vegetables come from Harvest Drop, which picks and delivers fresh produce in just two days from when we place an order. Our eggs are also organic and farm-fresh.”

When it came time to pick a chef for the café, once again, Jamie didn’t have to look far.

CONTINUED >

April 2019 | Northwest Bergen Lifestyle

17

HOT SPOT

(CON TI N U ED)

Owner Jamie Knott wanted a healthier option for local diners.

Glass terrariums along the windows

“Josh Means was with me from the beginning at the Saddle River Inn. He’s a creative and talented cook and the first person I thought of when the café was in its planning stages,” he says.

Open for brunch and dinner, among the most requested offerings are the spinach and mushroom omelet with roasted shallots, herbed cream cheese and chives and the lobster omelet, a favorite of Jamie’s. The açai blend bowls, organic pressed juices, smoothies and Devocion coffee are also brunch favorites. For dinner, mussels and fries, the Bronzino fillet fish and shrimp risotto are just a few of the can’t-miss menu choices.

They’ve taken the eco-friendly concept to the next level by replacing plastic straws with paper ones, using biodegradable take-out containers, offering fully insulated paper coffee cups that don’t need sleeves and bottling all of their own water to avoid recycling plastic containers. Even the atmosphere and physical space of the café incorporates the earthy and calming scene Jamie wanted to create, with warm shades of blue and green throughout.

“It’s a bright and airy space with more than 120 succulents and plants within 1,000 square feet,” he says.

“WE’RE TRYING TO MINIMIZE OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT. WE’RE TRYING TO BE AWARE OF WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE NEXT 10, 20 OR 50 YEARS ENVIRONMENTALLY.”

“So the air quality is good, the vibe is good, it feels alive.

We’re really just trying to minimize our carbon footprint,” he adds. “We’re trying to be aware of what’s going to happen in the next 10, 20 or 50 years environmentally. It’s a conversation we have to have now so we’re not too far gone and having to play catch-up. It’s really pretty simple.”

The feedback has been tremendous, he says, not only for his greening efforts but also for the food.

“In the end, only one thing matters. The food has to be delicious, or none of this is worth it. I’ve always said, 'life is short; eat well.'”

18

Northwest Bergen Lifestyle | April 2019

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April 2019 | Northwest Bergen Lifestyle

19

The Art of Up-Cycling: HOW ONE ARTIST CREATES MASTERPIECES FROM MAGAZINES

ARTICLE KRIS PEPPER

PHOTOGRAPHY JEAN TERMAN

Jim in the process of making a collage

From Star Wars to landscapes

Artist Jim Nonas at work on a collage

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Northwest Bergen Lifestyle | April 2019

THREE YEARS AGO, GLEN ROCK’S JIM NONAS DECIDED TO GET A LITTLE CREATIVE WITH HIS SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS AT ST. NICHOLAS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH IN WYCKOFF. The concept was to do a project depicting an icon in mosaic-style art. To keep costs down, he swapped old magazines for traditional tile. Sketching out an image from the Bible, Jim guided his seventh- and eighth-grade class to glue down strips of yellow, red and blue magazine paper to create the picture, and the results were a big hit.

When he was asked to do the same project with a class a few years later, it was once again successful, prompting Jim to explore the idea of creating art pieces of his own to show and to sell. So in his spare time, when not teaching science or coaching wrestling at Teaneck High School, Jim began dedicating countless hours honing his technique and experimenting with various styles. He produced a collection of 30 works and entered the Bergen County Art in the Park Festival. By the show’s conclusion, he had sold five pieces to an art dealer; contracted with Rock House Gallery in Key West, Florida, for six pieces; sold two works to show visitors; and was retained for a commissioned piece. With his great success at the show, Jim knew he was well on his way to becoming a professional artist.

“I think the appeal of magazine collage is that it is unusual,” Jim says. “Many people paint, but this is a little out of the ordinary.”

He sometimes sketches his designs out first, especially ones that require linear perspective, Jim created this collage of his grandparents on their honeymoon from a family photo.

but he has become skilled at creating many designs freestyle.

“Collage is somewhat freeing,” he says. “I am forced to be less exact when choosing what magazine images to use.”

And upcycling magazines, which otherwise would be destined for an energy-consuming recycling process, creates something different, useful and beautiful out of discarded materials.

All it takes are a few supplies and lots of imagination to have a positive impact on the environment, he says.

CONTINUED >

April 2019 | Northwest Bergen Lifestyle

21

THE ART OF UP-CYCLING

(CON TI N U ED)

Jim’s studio is in his basement, and his artistic scope includes landscapes, animals, beach themes and his own interpretation of famous works. He has even reproduced a photo of his grandparents on their honeymoon in Atlantic City into a very special collage. As a child, Jim enjoyed various types of artwork, which evolved over the years from building with Legos and drawing Star Wars scenes to colored-pencil sketches and scratch model building.

When Jim creates commissioned artwork, he chooses stock that suggests words or ideas about the subject to personalize it.

“I like using materials like magazines that already exist,” he says. “That’s all you need, along with scissors, canvas and Mod Podge.”

He credits his neighbors for keeping him well stocked with their old magazines instead of putting them out for the recycling truck. Nonglossy pages are his media of choice; especially cooking and fashion magazines and clothing catalogs. The finished pieces are sealed with a UV-resistant varnish upon completion.

Jim shares his upcycling philosophy and artistic talent through his Collage Art workshops at the Creative Den in Glen Rock. The Den’s owner, Tara McKee, recalls she had a few reservations about how the students’ art would turn out, but after his first class, she was pleasantly surprised.

“Jim is an amazing teacher,” she says. “His willingness to share his gift is a testament to his personality. My favorite part is telling people that he’s a wrestling coach. It shocks them every time.”

Jim lives in town with his wife and three young daughters whose college funds are the beneficiary of their father’s remarkable artistic talents.

For more information, visit JimNonasArt.com.

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Northwest Bergen Lifestyle | April 2019

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OUR TOWN

GREC volunteers, from left: Laura Occhipinti, Ben Meyer, Sylvia Rabacchi, Arati Kreibich, Candace Lynch, Sara Froikin-Gordon and Ann Marie Brennan

greening up glen rock: ONE TOWN’S MISSION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE ARTICLE BETH MELESKI | PHOTOGRAPHY JEAN TERMAN

Glen Rock Inn's Evan Quinn with GREC volunteers

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Northwest Bergen Lifestyle | April 2019

“THEY SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING, BUT THEY DON’T ALWAYS KNOW HOW TO START.” –ARATI KREIBICH, GLEN ROCK COUNCIL MEMBER

I

F YOU SPEND A LITTLE TIME IN GLEN ROCK THESE DAYS, YOU'LL QUICKLY NOTICE A FEW CHANGES: LIKE FEWER STRAWS AND PLASTIC BOTTLES IN RESTAURANTS AND IN MUNICIPAL HALL, AND ELECTRIC CARS PLUGGED INTO THE NEW CHARGING STATION IN THE TRAIN PARKING LOT. These improvements are the result of a community-wide effort, led jointly by volunteers from the Glen Rock Environmental Commission and the Glen Rock Green Team, to advocate for small actions that have made a big impact. GREC and Green Team

members recognized early on that the hardest part of starting a new habit—or changing an old one—is getting people to take the first step. To that end, they implemented initiatives that would enlist Glen Rock residents in an organized, focused environmental effort.

“They saw an opportunity to engage the community because people want to do the right thing, but they don’t always know how to start,” says Glen Rock Council Member Arati Kreibich.

Arati and the rest of the GREC/Green Team members started out by opening their monthly meetings to the community, encouraging residents to share their own ideas for promoting sustainability and environmental responsibility, then taking ownership of an initiative that aligned with their interests. The result has been a steady stream of successful actions including the drive to reduce the number of straws used at local businesses in the borough, the collection of both soft plastics and Styrofoam for recycling and the replacement of plastic water bottles and single-use beverage cups at the municipal hall.

Here are some of GREC’s tips for inspiring and energizing a community to cre-

ate beneficial change: Make it easy. Knowing that free time is at a premium for most residents, GREC has focused on small asks rather than sweeping changes. Last year, they proposed that residents consider foregoing straws and plastic shopping bags unless absolutely needed, requested that local organizations avoid using single-use cups and bottles at their meetings, and asked the community to be mindful of idling cars. They can report that each of these simple switches has been enthusiastically embraced by Glen Rock residents.

Make it impactful. Last year, as part of their "Year of Plastic," the Green Team participated in a recycling challenge with a leading recycled materials manufacturer, where residents recycled their soft plastic (think grocery bags, dry cleaning bags and packaging overwrap) for a chance to win a bench made from recycled materials. While their town-wide efforts won the bench, volunteer and GREC commissioner Candace Lynch notes that the collection was eye-opening.

“It was almost too successful. Residents were happy to participate, but the amount of plastic we collected was overwhelming,” Candace says.

“Garages were stuffed with plastic bags. When residents would arrive at a collection site, they couldn’t believe their eyes,” Arati adds.

What had previously gone unnoticed could now not go unseen.

Make it personal. Recognizing that community involvement is integral to the program’s success, 2018 saw the installment of the first Green Team Interns. This dynamic group of teens and young adults represents the generation that will inherit the problems their parents and grandparents created. Last fall, the interns paid a visit to the Glen Rock Inn, a family-owned business in town for 70 years, CONTINUED >

April 2019 | Northwest Bergen Lifestyle

25

OUR TOWN

(CON TI N U ED)

Electric vehicle at the town's charging station

to ask about switching from plastic straws to paper. Evan Quinn, a third-generation owner of his family’s restaurant, was very receptive and has since made the switch.

“It may be a little more expensive for us, but we all have to do our part, and our customers have been receptive,” he says. “I’d actually like to be completely plastic-free going forward.”

Since then, the interns have encouraged several other businesses to go from plastic to paper as well. They are also assisting with a Styrofoam collection that has attracted interest as a possible county-wide initiative and screened the film A Plastic Ocean for more than 150 residents last summer.

Make it relevant. The goal of the electric vehicle charging stations, according to Candace, is to encourage as well as facilitate EV usage. The hope is that EV owners from other towns will come for the chargers and stay for the retail and restaurants. The Styrofoam was delivered to a nearby facility for recycling into new products. Rain gauges and timers on sprinkler systems immediately conserve water. No idling means better air quality around schools and local businesses. By collecting real data, the GREC and the Green Team demonstrated that conservation efforts have an impact on both economic and physical health.

With 2019 dubbed "the Year of Air and Water," GREC has ambitious plans. A second class of interns and a program that will enable residents to adopt a storm drain are both in the works. The hope, Arati says, is that residents will acknowledge that working on environmental issues matters to them personally, and that what might start out as a short-term adjustment will lead to permanent change.

For more information or to receive updates, visit GreenUpGlenRock.com.

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Northwest Bergen Lifestyle | April 2019

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GIVING BACK

E r t h Y n g e s

'LOSE THAT PLASTIC AND SAVE OUR PLANET' ARTICLE LUCY PROBERT | PHOTOGRAPHY JEAN TERMAN

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Northwest Bergen Lifestyle | April 2019

C r e SPARKLY GARBAGE IS A HOT TOPIC OF CONVERSATION IN CHRIS KEARNS’ FIRST-

a

GRADE CLASS AT WILLARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN RIDGEWOOD. It’s the shiny foil inside many chip bags and juice pouches, and it can all be recycled. Walk through the halls of the school, and you’ll see cartons of sparkly garbage, big bags full of those pesky plastic grocery bags and plastic bottle tops overflowing from cardboard boxes. Go just outside the building, and a compost machine sits ready to be filled with leftovers from healthy snacks. It’s easy to see that the students at Willard have been hard at work doing

e r s

their part to recycle, reduce and reuse.

“A phrase we throw around here a lot is how to be a good caretaker,” Chris says.

“Whether it’s being a caretaker for the earth by recycling and cutting down on plastic use or being a good caretaker for yourself by eating healthy foods and making the right choices, it's up to you.”

What used to be an after-school recycling club has in the past several years turned into a school-wide initiative at Willard, ensuring that all students have a chance to participate.

“Every child is in the lunchroom at some point during the day,” says Caroline Hoffman, CONTINUED >

April 2019 | Northwest Bergen Lifestyle

29

GIVING BACK

(CON TI N U ED)

For the past eight or so years, Willard has been involved with TerraCycle, a New Jersey-based organization that recycles hard-to-recycle materials (aka sparkly gar-

to questions they ask themselves, like: ‘Do

bage and plastic bottle caps).

I really need three plastic sandwich bags

“We have an army of people who bring in

every day?’ or ‘Maybe I’ll use a cloth bag

the principal of Willard, which was named a

the caps,” Chris says. “Outside of my class-

for my lunch tomorrow instead of a brown

Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department

room right now are four bags that came

bag.’ Our kids have to be the teachers to all

of Education in 2012. “And whether they

today. I used to keep track of how many

of us,” she says.

have brought food from home or bought

pounds of materials we were collecting but

it at school, this is a great opportunity for

couldn’t keep up a few years ago.”

As the weather gets warmer, the compost machines will be put to use by class-

them to take part in the recycling process

The items for TerraCycle are boxed,

rooms wanting to contribute. Year-round

through disposing of their food and plastic

labeled and sent into the company, and

in Chris' first-grade class, where they are

in the various bins we have down there,"

the school receives rewards back. Chris

encouraged to bring in snacks that are

she says. “Anyone else seeing this might be

reports that Willard has received more

good for them, they have their own white

overwhelmed by all of the different contain-

than $3,000 for their efforts since they

bucket which, after snack time, is filled with

ers and what goes where, but the kids know

began participating in the program.

the remains of fruits, vegetables and other

exactly where things go, and we think that’s

They also take part in the Recycling

awesome. They’re learning it in kindergar-

Plastic Challenge from Trex, a manufacturer

“We talk about who can put their apple

ten; it’s just become part of their day.”

of wood-alternative composite decking

core in the bucket or whose orange peels

The message of being eco-conscious is

made from recycled material. Students bring

go in,” he says. “If seeing how what’s in the

conveyed to students in many ways. Several

in plastic bags from home, which are then

bucket is composted encourages kids to ask

years ago, the school was given a grant from

collected, weighed and taken to a participat-

their parents for healthy foods to bring in,

the Bergen County Utilities Authority to put

ing grocery store’s drop-off location. Chris

that’s great,” he says.

compostable items.

“OUTSIDE OF MY CLASSROOM RIGHT NOW ARE FOUR BAGS THAT CAME TODAY. I USED TO KEEP TRACK OF HOW MANY POUNDS OF MATERIALS WE WERE COLLECTING BUT COULDN’T KEEP UP A FEW YEARS AGO.” toward recycling bins in every classroom,

estimates they’ve collected more than 300

Rooted in the heart of the school, their pas-

and that has been very helpful, Chris says.

pounds of plastic bags to date. Awards are

sion for recycling isn’t going anywhere soon.

“It’s great because the exact same bins are in classrooms from kindergarten up to

given to schools that collect the most, a nice motivation for the students, Caroline says.

“We’re knee-deep in this,” says Chris, laughing as he looks around his classroom.

fifth grade, so kids are seeing continuity

“We love a contest,” she says. “But after

“But what we’re trying to teach them, from

in their recycling efforts year after year in

the excitement of seeing just how much they

this early age, is about making good choices.

each class.”

can bring in settles down, the real conver-

If something is important to you, then it

He reports that support from fellow

sation starts. It brings an awareness of how

becomes a powerful choice to take those

teachers in their own classrooms is amaz-

much plastic we use and about ways to cut

extra steps to make something happen.

ing, and the school is also using their stu-

down on that use. And that inevitably leads

That’s what it’s all about.”

dent-delivered WPN broadcasts to carry the message as well.

30

Northwest Bergen Lifestyle | April 2019

And with almost too many bottle caps in the hallway to count, it seems to be working.

Willard Principal Caroline Hoffman happy to see a student's recyclable lunch container

Third-graders keeping tabs on plastic bag donations

Lunchtime is over.

Time to recycle!

Sanyu holds up the compost bucket from her first-grade classroom

Healthy snack time in Chris Kearns' class at Willard

April 2019 | Northwest Bergen Lifestyle

31

APRIL

LIFESTYLE CALENDAR

2

week-long programs will cover a

RESIDENTIAL TREE CARE TIPS FOR HOMEOWNERS

chicks. Games, crafts and activities

variety of topics from preparing to planting, to the process of hatching are included in this special change-

THE IRISH IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION LECTURE

Oakland Public Library

of-season time at the farm. Single-

Bob Malgieri from Borst Landscaping

and multiple-day enrollments avail-

The Irish fought the British, the Patriots,

will discuss everything from how to

able. AbmasFarm.com

the French, the Hessians and the Spanish

pick the right plants and how to care for them with fertilization and pruning to information on insect and deer problems. He will also have live shrub material to demonstrate pruning techniques. Attendees are encouraged to bring photos or samples of their own plantings for on-the-spot advice.

OaklandNJLibrary.org

Ridgewood Public Library

during the American Revolution as foot

10

soldiers and commanders. Local historian

WOMEN GARDENERS OF RIDGEWOOD GARDENERS DAY

words from the Irish themselves. No regis-

Todd Braisted’s well-researched topic will be presented with humor and includes tration required. RidgewoodLibrary.org

Old Paramus Church, Ridgewood

Tovah

Martin,

an

award-winning

horticulturist and author, will pres-

32

13

14 GILBERT & SULLIVAN OPERA COMPANY TO PERFORM H.M.S. PINAFORE

8–12, 15–18

ent "Gardening as if the World

SPRING BREAK CAMP AT THE FARM

make a difference in their own back-

Performing a comic opera that opened in

Abma's Farm, Wyckoff

yards. A light lunch and a Q&A with

London in 1878, the Ridgewood Gilbert

Give your kids a hands-on farming

the author is included. Tickets are

& Sullivan Opera Company will present

and gardening experience at Abma’s

$25 in advance, $30 at the door.

a concert version of H.M.S. Pinafore, or

Farm Spring Break Camp. These

WomenGardenersOfRidgewood.com

The Lass that Loved a Sailor. This opera

Northwest Bergen Lifestyle | April 2019

Depends on Us," a lecture filled with ideas on how gardeners can

Mahwah Public Library

company has performed full produc-

founded in 1952 by a member of the

tions of Gilbert & Sullivan every fall and

Tommy Dorsey Band, has remained true

spring since its founding in 1937. Seats on

to its roots, performing arrangements from

a first-come basis. MahwahLibrary.org

great band leaders of the past. Skyliners will present works from the '40s through

24 WYCKOFF YMCA LADIES' NIGHT OUT The Venetian, Garfield

The Wyckoff YMCA's 24th Ladies' Night Out, for Women of the Y is an evening to celebrate love, compassion and commitment to the community. This annual fundraising event, which will include din-

30 THIRD ANNUAL HOLISTIC CONFERENCE Seasons, Washington Township

the '90s and feature the band's female

The Valley Hospital nurses and the

vocalist, Tanya Garzia. Seats are on a first-

Center for Advancement of Integrative

come basis. MahwahLibrary.org

Healing

will

Holistic

Conference

present

this

full-day

which

invites

28

participants to explore laughter as

JEAN TERMAN PHOTOGRAPHY OPEN HOUSE

achieve maximum health, find ways

a wellness practice, identify ways to work with the natural environment to that gratitude can affect self-happiness

648 Wyckoff Ave., first floor, Wyckoff

and learn how to attend to body/mind/

ner, dancing and raffle baskets, strives

Celebrate Northwest Bergen Lifestyle

spirit. Presentations, breakfast and

to empower women to bring change to

photographer Jean Terman at an open

lunch included. Eventbrite.com

those in need in our community. Cost is

house in her new first-floor studio space in

Tickets start at $75.

$65 per ticket. WyckoffYMCA.org

Wyckoff. In her studio, Jean, an award-winning photographer, will be offering Social

28

Media Fun Nights, Summer Photography

THE SKYLINERS BIG BAND TO PERFORM

Camps for middle school kids, family

We are always accepting submissions

photo sessions, corporate and social

for events you'd like to see included

media images and artist headshots.

in our Calendar section. Submissions

Mahwah Public Library

RSVP not necessary but appreciated.

are accepted via the Contact Us tab at

This 18-member swing band, originally

JeanTermanPhotography.com/events

NorthwestBergenLifestyle.com.

April 2019 | Northwest Bergen Lifestyle

33

PARTING THOUGHTS ya R A ra

ebir th owne

rD

an

iel

aM us an

o

E C O -K I N D M U S T-H AV E S FIVE WAYS ARAYA REBIRTH SPA OWNER DANIELA MUSANO IS DOING HER PART TO BE ECO-CONSCIOUS

White vinegar as a multipurpose cleaner

+ “My favorite cleaning product is actually distilled white vinegar. I put a one-third vinegar and two-thirds water mix-

ht y M ig

B e a d s je w e lr

ture in a squirt bottle and use it to clean wood floors and surfaces. It makes them shine, isn’t harmful to our kids or

y

our cat, and the smell is nice. I even give my kids their own spray bottles so they can help out with cleaning at home.” + “I love my Mighty Beads made by Wyckoff resident and Araya esthetician Gosia Narula. She handcrafts each jewelry piece with an intention to bring joy to whoever wears them. Each stone represents something different; one of my favorites is the Chocolate Moonstone Mala, which has the stones of the mother moon, deep healing waters and sacred feminine energies. Plus it’s really pretty.” + “I first read Be Here Now by Ram Dass in the 1990s, and it has been a pivotal book in my life. It’s about a Harvard professor’s spiritual journey exploring how to reach and achieve a higher consciousness. I have read it many times since.” + “My favorite skincare products are from EmerginC. I use their kombucha cleanser and organic phytocell cream.

They use potent plant botanicals, and what I love is that each time you buy a product, they plant a tree. Last year, Araya Rebirth helped in the planting of more than 750 trees!

They’re also now offering a complimentary reusable steel straw with every purchase, which cuts down on plastic use.” + “We’re doing our part at Araya Rebirth to be eco-conscious by using only VOC-free paint, lining our decorative walls with reclaimed wood, installing floors made from recycled vinyl, using cabinetry from sustainable and certified forests, and donating all retired linens to a local animal shelter.”

Be Here Now by Ram Dass

Araya Rebirth, 10 Garber Square, Ridgewood, 201.445.7005, Araya-Rebirth.com

EmerginC's Kombucha Cleanser

34

Northwest Bergen Lifestyle | April 2019

YO U ’ V E F O U N D T H E Join us for the

Blossom Veils Trunk Show

Perfect Dress,

A pri l 5 -1 4

9 Sheridan Avenue, Ho-Ho-Kus 201.857.4958 RosisBridalStudio.com

Perfect Veil

NOW LET’S FIND THE

Flowers: Flowers by Joan, Waldwick Hair: Beauty by Alexa Rae, Ho-Ho-Kus Makeup: Erika - Luminous Beauty, Ho-Ho-Kus

SPECIAL SPRING DISCOUNT!

Join Valley Health LifeStyles in April and May and receive 40% off the enrollment fee!

201-389-0839

The LifeStyles fitness center includes: ◗ The medical fitness difference: qualified staff,

physician oversight, safe and meaningful outcomes ◗ Six-lane lap pool, warm-water therapy,

whirlpool and saunas ◗ Sports performance training and walking/

running track ◗ Rock climbing wall, group exercise studios,

gymnasium and state-of-the-art fitness equipment ◗ KidStyles fitness program and babysitting services

Valley Health LifeStyles 1400 MacArthur Blvd., Mahwah 201-389-0839 Monday – Friday: 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Saturday: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

ValleyHealthLifeStyles.com