Northwest Bergen, NJ May 2023

Women's Issue

HEALTH + WELLNESS

HEALTH AND WELLNESS EXPERT SARAH WRAGGE

EDUCATION

RAMAPO COLLEGE PRESIDENT, DR. CINDY R. JEBB

ARTS + CULTURE

COMPOSER AMANDA HARBERG

Admiration to Outstanding Women in our Community

I don’t know about you, but I love any opportunity to recognize the women in my life who just make life richer and more beautiful. Our wives, mothers, and daughters are some of the most influential women in our lives.

And of course with Mother’s Day this month, all eyes are on moms. But it’s not just the biological mothers, but the mother figures in our lives who have made an indelible impact on us. It’s the family members, teachers, friends, and neighbors doing awesome things in our communities, pouring into our lives - making themselves unforgettable and irreplaceable.

This month, I'm delighted and privileged to feature three amazing women. Nutrition coach, Sarah Wragge will provide you with some tips and tricks to keep your body and mind healthy. Amanda Harberg is a composer, educator, and performer, all wrapped up in one. And last but certainly not least, is an amazing woman in her own right, Dr. Cindy R. Jebb, President of Ramapo College, and former retired United States Army Brigadier General.

While it’s always important to shop local and support our area businesses, this month is the perfect time to patronize businesses owned by women in our communities. That’s one of my favorite parts of this role - connecting with and championing the best of the best when it comes to Northwest Bergen's women.

They are movers and shakers, builders, and makers. They are both seen and unseen. Their silent service blesses those who are under their care. Their attention to detail shows us something about beauty that can’t be seen or understood any other way.

I hope you’ll take a few minutes to send a text, make a phone call or get your kids on a video call with the women in your life who deserve recognition. It only takes a minute to brighten someone’s day and remind them how much you love them.

As always, thank you for your support, and Happy Mother's Day to all of our wonderful moms.

MARC SCHWARTZ, PUBLISHER @NORTHWESTBERGENLIFESTYLE

EAT LOCAL | ENJOY LOCAL | SHOP LOCAL | SPEND LOCAL | SUPPORT LOCAL

May 2023

PUBLISHER

Marc Schwartz | marc.schwartz@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Kris Pepper | kris.pepper@citylifestyle.com

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Sammi Tatarsky | sammi.tatarsky@citylifestyle.com

STAFF WRITERS

Donna Gould | donna.gould@citylifestyle.com

Lucy Probert | lucy.probert@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Sarah Wragge Family Archives, Ramapo College, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Amanda Harberg

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore

DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer

ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson

WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell

AD DESIGNER Josh Govero

LAYOUT DESIGNER Andi Foster

business monthly

A round-up of exciting news from local businesses.

Eyes On Ramsey Opens its Doors

Keep your eyes out for Eyes on Ramsey—a new modern boutique-style optometry practice. Dr. Gurjinder Kaur O.D. will provide a comprehensive eye exam, using cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art equipment. Dr. Kaur’s goal is to give her patients the experience they are meant to have. Choose from a stunning selection of luxury and independently hand-crafted frames. Stop in and see for yourself! eyesonramsey.com

Sparo's Deli Coming to Ramsey This Spring

One bite out of a Sparo’s sandwich, and you’ll have to blink yourself back to reality. No, it’s not your grandma’s kitchen, but it sure does taste like it. This Montclair-native deli is expanding to Ramsey this spring. Think: generations of passed-down recipes meet a modern flair. Their Italian sandwich categories include Premium, Signature, American Classic, and Hot. Dine-in, take out, or cater your next event with Sparo’s Deli. sparosdeli.com

French Oak Bar & Grill Opens in Oakland

If you’re searching for authentic French cuisine, we know just the spot. Owners, Nathalie and Loïc Cadou, are first-generation Americans. Both of their parents were born and raised in France, and each moved to New York to pursue the restaurant business. The Cadou’s ran Nathalie’s family restaurant in New York City before opening French Oak. Their motto: “Everyone who comes through our doors becomes family.” frenchoaknj.com

Want to be featured?

Get in touch by heading over to our landing page to connect: CityLifestyle.com/NorthwestBergen

Sarah Wragge Wellness

EXPERIENCE THE TRANSFORMATION

We had the opportunity to speak with Wyckoff resident and nutrition coach Sarah Wragge. Sarah is the founder of Sarah Wragge Wellness (SWW), an innovative nutrition brand with highly customized health plans that create sustainable behavioral changes to bring clients closer to their wellness goals.

WHAT IS YOUR PHILOSOPHY ABOUT HEALTHY EATING AND NUTRITION?

Our belief at SWW is that nutrition is a lifestyle and not a diet. I don’t believe in suffering or being hungry or having “on” days and “off” days. Good nutrition is more about what you add to your nutritional routine rather than what you take out. It shouldn’t matter if it’s Monday, the weekend, or vacation. Our program marries the science of blood sugar balancing with behavioral changes. By following the ten-step method of SWW, you will feel empowered to make the best choices.

HOW DID YOU DISCOVER YOUR LOVE FOR GOOD NUTRITION?

I’ve always been drawn to fitness and wellness. A powerful connection exists between nutrition and well-being—body, mind, and soul. Throughout my teens and 20s, I struggled with chronic health issues. Through my own health journey, I discovered a holistic nutritionist who changed my life. Once I realized that I could begin to feel

good by changing the food I consumed, I decided to give up my career in advertising and go back to school for nutrition. I literally turned a health crisis into a career!

HOW CAN SWW HELP SOMEONE CREATE SUSTAINABLE, HEALTHY HABITS?

SWW focuses on education and accountability. First, we educate you on the science of nutrition and the fundamentals of blood sugar balancing, which empowers you to make better choices. Our goal is to have you feeling so good that you won’t want to stop! That’s what creates sustainable changes.

WHAT TYPES OF PROGRAMS DOES SARAH WRAGGE WELLNESS OFFER?

There are several ways people can work with us. Our One-on-One Lifestyle Program includes working directly with one of our twelve nutritionists. We create a customized plan, coach you individually, and hold you accountable for 12 weeks.

The SWW Method program is a six-week group coaching program with a high-touch element on a community platform for support and motivation. It includes phone calls, guest speakers in the wellness industry, group Zoom calls, and customized food plans.

The 30-Day Challenge helps you to transform your life in just one month. Each day, you’ll receive an email with a video lesson from me to help you adopt a healthier lifestyle, focusing on how small changes can lead to big results.

We also offer a variety of lifestyle programs which plans tailored to your lifestyle—whether you’re a corporate executive or a busy stay-athome mom. We will plan food choices with your daily schedule in mind.

HOW DO YOU HELP CLIENTS MAINTAIN THAT MOMENTUM AFTER THEIR PROGRAM CONCLUDES?

Our goal is to always make you feel fully supported. When your program ends, you can move on to the SWW membership program, a monthto-month commitment that basically “puts your coach in your pocket!” There are different variations available, but basically, you’ll never need to leave the lifecycle of SWW.

SARAH’S 5 TOP TIPS FOR HEALTHY EATING:

• Start off every day with a liter of waterplace it by your bedside table and drink it first thing before coffee.

• Alkalize the body before coffee. After your water, start your morning with hot water and fresh lemon or SWW-approved green juice (find out more on the SWW website).

• Make sure your first meal is protein- and fiber-packed

• Avoid snacking. “Feast” on larger meals, and then “famine” in-between meals

• Create a wind-down ritual to help you optimize deep sleep, which is beneficial for balancing blood sugar and minimizing cravings throughout the day.

sarahwragge.com

“I’ve always been drawn to fitness and wellness.

A powerful connection exists between nutrition and well-being—body, mind, and soul.”

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Composer Amanda Harberg

A LIFELONG LOVE OF MAKING MUSIC

ARTICLE BY LUCY PROBERT

PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY AMANDA HARBERG AND THE INTERLOCHEN CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Amanda Harberg will never forget the moment she knew she wanted to become a composer. “I was five years old, listening to the Philadelphia Orchestra perform Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 with at an outdoor concert with my parents, and I just felt transported by the music. It was a very powerful experience,” she says. From that day on, there was no looking back. Now an accomplished composer and concert-level pianist, Harberg’s music has been presented at such esteemed institutions as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. She has recently been named the Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra’s first Composer-inResidence. “I want people to love playing my work,” she says. “And I love the relationships we build as musicians in the process. I find that very satisfying.”

Amanda Harberg

Harberg grew up in Philadelphia’s Chestnut Hill surrounded by music. “Although my parents weren’t musicians, it was always a strong presence in my life,” she says. They acquired a piano when she was seven, and she calls it one of the most exciting days of her early life. As an undergraduate student at Juilliard, Harberg studied composition and minored in piano. Finding female composers to emulate was a struggle, she says. “I found an encyclopedia on women composers, and that was it. I never had a woman composition teacher at Juilliard and often wondered why.” Harberg later earned her master’s degree at Juilliard and her Ph.D. at Rutgers University, where she is now their first female composition instructor. After freelancing as a composer and pianist in New York City, she now lives in Glen Ridge with her husband Micah Fink, a documentary producer, and their two children, Lucas and Sydney. Lucas is an undergraduate student at Cornell University, and Sydney, a high school junior, plays the bassoon and is a serious music student.

IMPORTANCE OF COLLABORATING AND COMMUNITY

While her composing process is primarily solitary, Harberg finds it rewarding working with fellow musicians and playing through pieces together. “I welcome that collaborative side,” she says. “It’s extremely important, especially in the cultural environment we’re in today, to create our own opportunities to build musical communities.” For example, in the summer of 2020, after performances were canceled due to COVID, she organized the virtual performance of her work Prayer for Flute Orchestra, conducted by JoAnn Falletta, which included 95 flutists playing remotely from around the world. “This model of community-engaged co-creation of new music engages the international community and creates a sense of energy that motivates me to create new work,” she says.

INTERLOCHEN ARTS CAMP

Harberg is on the composition faculty at the Interlochen Arts Camp in northwest Michigan, where students gather each

Interlochen Arts Camp Post Performance

Composer Harberg with Rutgers Composition Students

Interlochen High School Music Composition Class

“It’s extremely important, especially in the cultural environment we’re in today, to create our own opportunities to build musical communities.”

summer to learn, practice and perform. “This summer camp has young people performing in orchestras, wind ensembles, and chamber music, all with enormous talent, vitality, and inspiration that just permeates throughout this very beautiful setting,” she says. She also spends time collaborating with colleagues while there and throughout the year.

MUSICAL PROJECTS

As Composer-in-Residence at the Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra, Harberg’s role is to help demystify the function of the composer for both the audience and the musicians by interacting with the audience, attending rehearsals, and trying to be a positive presence for young people, including young women. “It’s all about creating opportunities for everyone to learn,” she says. Her upcoming work for the Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra includes a piece inspired by the heroic life of Ridgewood native Varian Fry,

the American journalist who helped anti-Nazi and Jewish refugees escape Vichy France in the early 1940s. “This piece is meaningful because 1940 coincidentally was also the year of the Ridgewood Symphony’s first concert,” she says.

Other projects in the works include a sextet for piano, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, and bassoon for the U.S. Army Band Pershing’s Own Woodwind Quintet, one of the Army’s premier chamber ensembles. “I know the players, and they’re wonderful; I’m very excited about this project,” she says.

Harberg is also involved with Keys 2 Success, an organization that brings no-cost music education to young students in underserved areas of Newark, as an artistic advisor.

“There are so many different areas where you can discover musical communities,” she says. “And I see that many of them are thriving. It’s about creating relationships with other musicians and helping us find each other.” amandaharberg.com

Composer Amanda Harberg with the Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra

Dr. Cindy R. Jebb, President, Ramapo College

Bringing

ARTICLE BY LUCY PROBERT | PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAMAPO COLLEGE

Dr. Cindy R. Jebb, PresidentRamapo College

When Dr. Cindy R. Jebb joined Ramapo College in 2021 as its fifth (and first woman) president, she brought with her a rich background of 43 years of military service, including as a cadet and later a Dean at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, retiring as a Brigadier General. “Having the opportunity to teach at West Point helped me fall in love with its mission, which is to educate, train, and inspire, and that’s essentially what we’re continuing here at Ramapo,” she says.

Growing up in Rockland County, Dr. Jebb wasn’t born into a military family but became interested in West Point as a teenager in the 1970s, when she read about their first women’s basketball team in a women’s sports magazine. “The article really spoke to me in terms of the values at West Point, from developing the whole person and being part of something bigger than yourself through service,” she says. Enrolling in 1978 in just the third class of women admitted, Dr. Jebb acknowledges it was a challenge but ultimately was proud of the school and her experience there. “The Academy has advanced not just in the integration of women but academically, militarily, and socially,” she says.

Earning an M.A. from Duke University and the Naval War College and a Ph.D. in Political Science back at Duke, Dr. Jebb has served in command and staff positions at home and abroad along with her husband, Joel, who was in her class at the Academy. They lived in Germany during the Cold War, in Fort Hood as Company Commanders and served at Fort Meade. Her time serving as senior faculty at West Point enabled

her to also periodically serve as a practitioner on operations around the world.

Her career as an academic landed Dr. Jebb back at West Point in 1998 and included serving as the Professor and Head of the Department of Social Sciences and an appointment as the Academy’s first woman Dean of the Academic Board. “Being able to focus on the academic mission there was just a joy,” she says. “The army values education, which is so important to critical thinking. To be able to be an academic but also a practitioner from my different assignments around the world and bring that to the Academy was an absolute honor and a privilege.”

In her time at Ramapo, Dr. Jebb has launched a comprehensive strategic planning process through a set of campus-wide community-building conversations driven by The Future Series. “It was designed and orchestrated to bring the community together to talk about meaningful topics to help us understand the future of Ramapo,” she says. “It gave us a great opportunity to make sure that all voices were heard.”

She has also taken a tradition often used in the military by utilizing challenge coins. “We call it the presidential coin, and it’s a way to distinguish excellence. When I see or hear of somebody doing something above and beyond in service to others, I present it to them,” Dr. Jebb says. “We had a design competition and combined two students’ designs, with the college represented on one side and our motto ‘Be Bold, Be Kind, Be Teammates’ on the other.”

Dr. Jebb recognizes her family, husband Dr. Joel Jebb, head of the English Department at West Point’s Preparatory School (“my phenomenal teammate”) and their three children, for their support and love. Ben, a Special Forces officer, and his wife, Heather, a Military Intelligence officer, have a son, Carter, and another child on the way. Alex, who is a manager at Accenture, in Baltimore, is a track and field assistant coach at Johns Hopkins University, and Olivia is in residency for primary care medicine at New York University. “I’m very grateful for them. They are all serving in their own way, and I learn from them every day,” she says.

Looking back has helped her move forward at Ramapo. “I fell in love with the mission of West Point as a teenager,” she says. “And Ramapo embodies those same values: the focus on students, on character, empathy, service, and kindness in a liberal arts education where students learn how to think not what to think.”

And it is the students themselves who provide her with inspiration every day. “I take the opportunity to walk around our beautiful campus and have conversations with students about their passions and how they care so deeply about making a difference,” she says. “This generation has a lot to say, and I’ve just been truly inspired by them.”

Make an Impact for Mom

Memorable ways to celebrate the mother figure in your life

The moms and the mother figures in our lives mean everything to us. They deserve the best every day, of course. But at least one day out of the year, we get to shower them with the same love and thoughtfulness they give to us so selflessly.

This year, we hope you’ll consider some memorable ways to make lasting memories with the mom or mother figure in your life. If you haven’t already planned something special, take a look at our list of ideas and circle your favorites. If you have kids, let them join in the fun too!

Whether you decide to spend a day at home or enjoy a day on the town, these innovative celebration ideas will include fun for the whole family and make Mom feel loved. Whatever activity or surprise you land on to show your mom, wife, sister or maternal figure your appreciation for all they do, the most important thing is that you all get to spend some quality time together.

Take a Flower Arranging Class Mother’s Day arrives just as spring is in full bloom. Take advantage of the season by going to a flower arranging class with mom.

Play a Family Board Game

If Mom likes strategizing, challenge her to a friendly board game competition. (And, no, you don’t have to let her win just because it’s Mother’s Day.)

Pick Your Own Fruit

This activity is especially fun if you have a lot of kids who want to get in on the action. Then, when you all get home, you can whip up a treat for Mom with your selections. (Maybe give her a strawberry in a Champagne glass while she waits.)

Book Her a Weekend Away

There’s no day like Mother’s Day to be impulsive! Book a weekend trip for the two of you at a cute B&B in a city Mom has always wanted to visit.

Complete a Jigsaw Puzzle

Find a puzzle with an image you know your mom will love (or make a custom one using a photo of the two of you) and put it together over wine and snacks. You’ll be amazed at how much chatting you can get done while puzzling.

Get Theater Tickets

Go to a play or a musical — lots of towns even host outdoor theater events.

Invite Her To High Tea

Whether you make the brews and treats yourself or head out to an official tea house, Mom will love sipping her beverage out of fancy china and snacking on tea sandwiches.

I N T E R I O R S

events

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

Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra

WEST SIDE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, RIDGEWOOD | 8:00 PM

Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra featuring Amanda Harberg, Solis for Orchestra, Giuseppe Verdi, Franz Joseph Haydn, Symphony No. 92 "Oxford," and Antonin Dvorak, Cello Concerto, Soo Bae, soloist. Solis is a tone poem based on a poignant opening melody, heard first in the solo trumpet against a gentle backdrop of strings. The University of Nevada Symphony Orchestra originally commissioned Solis. ridgewoodsymphony.org

Waldwick Chamber 5K Run

WALDWICK HIGH SCHOOL TRACK FIELD - WYCKOFF AVE & HOPPER AVE | 9:00 AM

The Waldwick Chamber is partnering with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation to bring you its 15th Annual 5K Run. Their mission is to change the lives of children with cancer through funding impactful research, raising awareness, supporting families, and empowering everyone to help cure childhood cancer. Enjoy the fresh air, scenic views, and exercise for a good cause. runsignup.com/Race/NJ/Waldwick/WaldwickChamberofCommerce5K

MILES4MARCUS

BUONANO SITE 550 RAMAPO VALLEY RD, MAHWAH | 10:00 AM

Marcus Kayal was a Mahwah High School student and an avid soccer player before he passed away in 2019. Marcus Kayal Legacy4Life, supported by Mahwah Schools Foundation and the Mahwah High School Sports Boosters, is hosting the second annual fundraising challenge. Each participant will have one hour to complete as many laps as possible in honor of Marcus.  runsignup.com/Race/NJ/Mahwah/Miles4Marcus

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert

NJPAC PRUDENTIAL HALL - BETTY WOLD JOHNSON STAGE | 8:00 PM

From a galaxy far, far away—the New Jersey Symphony will present Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back as it has never been heard before. The musicians will perform John Williams’ Oscar-winning score live to the entire film. Gather a group of your Star Wars-loving friends and enjoy this concert with a Force like no other.  njpac.org/event/new-jersey-symphony-star-wars-the-empire-strikes-back-in-concert/

The Voice of America with the Waldwick Band

MAHWAH PUBLIC LIBRARY – WINTER ROOM | 2:00 PM

To honor the Americans who gave their lives in service, The Waldwick Band will perform Americana and patriotic music from colonial America to the present. The band, a volunteer music organization based in Waldwick, owns an immense concert band library of over 2,100 titles dating back to 1891.  mahwah.librarycalendar.com/index.php/event/voice-america-waldwick-band

The Ridgewood Run

VETERAN'S MEMORIAL FIELD, RIDGEWOOD | 8:20 AM

Lace-up your sneakers and get ready to hit the pavement. The Fred D’Elia Ridgewood Run celebrates its 46th running on Memorial Day 2023. Head over to the Veterans Memorial Field to join this special holiday tradition. Sponsors of the run include Ramsey Volvo Cars, Fleet Feet, Ridgewood YMCA, Freedom Bank, and more. runsignup.com/Race/NJ/Ridgewood/TheRidgewoodRun

Want to be featured?

Get in touch by heading over to our landing page to connect: CityLifestyle.com/NorthwestBergen

Their first years. Our first priority.

A child’s natural curiosity is boundless. By nurturing that with a thoughtful balance of play and structure, we spark lightbulb moments every day. Learn how our approach inspires a lifelong love of discovery. Enrolling Infants-Kindergarten

NOW ENROLLING SUMMER 2023

Picture yourself Picture yourself LIVING HERE ,

At The Vista, you can fill each day with uplifting experiences. Attend a concert, lecture, or art class. Get a manicure at the salon. Stay fit in an aquatic class or along picturesque walking trails.

Watch stunning sunsets while dining on the terrace with friendly neighbors. Enjoy all of this in a richly wooded Ramapo Mountain setting. Picture yourself inspired. Picture yourself at The Vista.

community that inspires you to discover, engage, connect, and grow.