Bergen June 2020

VOLUME 20 ISSUE 6 | $3.95 | BERGENMAG.COM

VOLUME 20 ISSUE 6 | JUNE 2020

HEALTH & LIFE | FOOD & FASHION | HOME & HAPPENINGS

THE SUMMER ISSUE

SUMMER FUN

SMALL YARD, BIG CHANGE IN RIDGEWOOD SET IN STONE: A PARAMUS PATIO ROCKS SPLASHING DOWN IN ALLENDALE

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SPECIAL REPORT: THE BABIES OF COVID-19

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To ensure patient safety, all precautions are being taken to isolate patients with COVID-19 symptoms. Staff and patients are provided with all appropriate protective equipment.

Valley’s full-service Emergency Department, staffed by board-certified physicians and skilled nurses, also features a minor treatment area and dedicated Pediatric Emergency Department.

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Don’t Put Off Emergency Care If you are experiencing chest discomfort, abdominal pain, signs of stroke, or have suffered an injury, do not put off seeking emergency care.

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Valley’s full-service Emergency Department, staffed by board-certified physicians and skilled nurses, also features a minor treatment area and dedicated Pediatric Emergency Department.

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CONTENTS

{ JUNE 2020 }

SMALL YARD, BIG CHANGE

A Ridgewood family’s outdoor turf was neither sizable nor usable. Now it’s Fun Central.

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Features What to Eat for a Healthy Immune System | 34

Anything Was Possible | 48

You can support your body’s infection-fighting system by eating these healthy foods.

The tough part about redoing an Allendale backyard were the seemingly countless design possibilities.

New Moms Tell All | 36

Etched in Stone | 50

They were expecting, but they weren’t expecting this—childbirth during a pandemic!

After a stunning makeover with a firepit, a grilling area and a bar, a Paramus patio rocks.

Home Office Space | 40

A Basement Mans Up | 52

Quarantined? Or has home long been your 9-5 HQ? Either way, here’s inspiration for an office so stylish you’ll be glad you live there.

A rustic-industrial-inspired design creates a den so perfect for Dad that everyone else enjoys it too.

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IN EVERY ISSUE 8 Editor’s Note 32 Health News

RE-DEFINING THE ART OF OUTDOOR LIVING L ANDSCA P E M ASON RY | OUT D OO R L I VI NG S PAC E S | CUS TO M S WI M M I N G P O O LS

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CONTENTS

Departments Bergen Buzz | 17 Our guide to new ideas, tips, trends and things we love in the county.

For Men Only | 24

The polo is neat and sleek and an ohso-versatile shirt (plus it comes in lots of colors).

Style Watch | 26

Bold neons make you smile (and help you stand out)!

Jewelry Box | 28

Your father or grandfather will think of you everytime he wears this stylish new bling.

Tastes | 56

Turn off the oven and fire up the grill!

It’ll be easy thanks to these recipes— one meat, veggie and fish—from Bergen County chefs.

Spirits | 69

Roses are red and violets are blue—but this cheerful and tart drink is perfect just for you!

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Gatherings | 70

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

A Bergen Moment | 72

A “thank you” face mask spotted on a statue in Ridgewood’s Van Neste Square is a striking reminder to help stop the spread of coronavirus.

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Left to Right: EVAN BAIRD, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Mount Sinai Medical Center; RAFAEL LEVIN, M.D., M.S.C., Chief of Spine, HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley; JONATHAN LESTER, M.D., Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; NOMAAN ASHRAF, M.D., M.B.A., Assistant Clinical Professor, Mount Sinai Medical Center

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{ EDITOR’S NOTE }

Hello, Summer Traditionally, our summer issue extols the virtues of the great outdoors, and this year is no different—except, well, it is. Faced with continued social distancing and the uncertainty due to COVID-19, visiting our parks, courses, trails and beaches takes a lot more planning. Perhaps that’s why this issue has me especially excited about our very own backyard beauties. Now more than ever, we’ll need inspiration from our talented landscape designers to deliver distinctive spaces that will help us forget what we’ve been through and encourage us to get out and enjoy the balmy weather.

That’s exactly what Thomas Flint did for a young Ridgewood family that enjoys the outdoors but felt trapped inside because of their unusable backyard. The owner of his eponymous landscape design firm, Flint changed that, creating an inviting space for a swimming pool, spa, pavilion and lush landscaping. Turn to “Small Yard, Big Change” on page 44 and see the project that not only gets people outside, but also keeps them there for hours.

Rich Cording Sr. of CLC Landscape Design had plenty of options to give an Allendale family for their backyard—perhaps too many. After multiple rounds of back-and-forth, they agreed on the perfect project: a pool, patio, covered porch, outdoor living room and kitchen. The homeowners report that the result was even more than they imagined. Check out the work in “Anything Was Possible” on page 48.

Meanwhile, we welcome all the local babies born during the pandemic.

Meet nine of them (and their moms and one grandma) in our special report on page 36. Amid the heartbreak we’re enduring, it’s a reminder that indeed life goes on. While these little ones likely haven’t met extended family just yet, hopefully they too can enjoy these brighter, sunnier days.

Though we can’t help but go gaga over these newborns, we didn’t forget about all the dads out there. In this month’s For Men Only (page 24) and Jewelry Box (page 28), we curated a collection of gifts that your special guy would love for Father’s Day. To honor our dads, BERGEN staff members share with our readers wise words that each of our fathers instilled in us.

Turn to Bergen Buzz on page 17 for the sagely advice.

And that’s not all! This issue has more indoor and outdoor design inspiration, including home office ideas for those WFH, as well as more COVID-related coverage. Whether you’re inspired to head outdoors this summer or motivated by Dad’s encouragement to live life to its fullest, enjoy every moment and continue to do so safely. See you outside!

Rita Guarna Editor in Chief editor@wainscotmedia.com

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Editor in Chief RITA GUARNA Creative Director STEPHEN M. VITARBO Senior Associate Editor DARIUS AMOS Lifestyle Editor HALEY LONGMAN Contributing Editor HALEY GUTTENPLAN ART

Art Director MICHAEL FORTE Contributing Photographers FRONT DOOR PHOTOGRAPHY, FRANK GASSIB, ADAM PASS, VIC WAHBY PRODUCTION

Production Director SUSAN WINDRUM Graphic Designer, Advertising Services VIOLETA MULAJ Production Art Associate CHRIS FERRANTE

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CIRCULATION

Circulation Manager KATHY WENZLER

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Learn more at fdu.edu/summer

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by Wainscot Media, 1 Maynard Dr., Park Ridge, NJ 07656. This is Volume 20, Issue 6. © 2020 by Wainscot Media LLC. All rights reserved. Subscriptions in U.S. outside of Bergen County: $14 for one year.

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{ BERGEN BUZZ } OUR GUIDE TO NEW IDEAS, TIPS, TRENDS AND THINGS WE LOVE IN OUR COUNTY.

WEDDING SEASON 2.0

Celebrating during COVID is not ideal but it is possible with these six wedding tips from a party planning pro.

Ordinarily June is the most popular month to get married. But who says brides and grooms can’t still tie the knot in June—or shortly thereafter— during a pandemic? Not Amy Shey Jacobs, founder of New York City- and Wyckoff-based Chandelier Events and its new virtual-only division, Don’t Let The Day Go By. She shares a half-dozen tips for safe but memorable nuptials in our era of social distancing: • Consider a Zoom ceremony. In late April Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order to allow legal weddings to take place via Zoom. Just call the office of the borough where you planned to get married to find out how it’s administering marriage licenses during this time. “If possible, you can get married legally with a small ceremony on your original wedding date, have an intimate celebratory dinner with immediate family and friends and throw the party later,” says Shey Jacobs.

• Treat a virtual event as you would an in-person one. According to Shey Jacobs, this includes everything from setting a dress code to establishing a specific timeline to having someone— an officiant, party planner or close friend—“host” the virtual festivities to give them more structure. “Guests want to know what will be happening,” Shey Jacobs says, “so my advice to couples is to develop the optimal timeline and time span for a virtual event so people know what to do as participants.”

• Get guests involved from home.

If you plan your wedding enough in advance, you can mail invitations, favors, nonperishable goodies and/ or programs. Shey Jacobs also recommends using “virtual backgrounds, virtual photo booth, mini montages, live entertainment and dance parties” to your advantage so that it feels as if everyone is in the same room. Just don’t forget to rehearse beforehand— and be sure to “mute” all your guests!

• Don’t rule out an outdoor location.

In New Jersey, no more than 10 people are allowed at a gathering at one time, and social distancing still applies here. So, to ensure that your handful of in-person guests are comfortable, consider holding your ceremony at a local park, in a private backyard, or, if your venue allows it, outside on its property, rather than in a small, cramped room.

• Move forward with bridal showers and bachelor/bachelorette parties. These pre-wedding parties can be done online as well. Consider an event such as “a baking or cooking class with a live chef or a virtual speakeasy with a mixologist,” Shey Jacobs says.

• Anticipate limitations once regulations are lifted. When big gatherings are allowed again, the event planning industry does anticipate some changes. These include smaller groupings and larger spacing between tables, limitations on dancing and the use of sit-down dinners instead of buffets. Gloves as a part of formal wedding wear were already making a comeback pre-pandemic—at least for women. They’ll be joined by masks when the world reopens.

Shey Jacobs and her team are already making monogrammed and decorative masks for their clients, so you can have fun with this feature.

“Your wedding can still be beautiful and intimate,” the party pro says. “You just have to wrap your head around doing this differently.”

Englewood couple Viviana Ocampo and Fernando Valencia almost had to postpone their April wedding due to coronavirus. But Mayor Michael Wildes saved the day by stepping in to officiate his first COVID-19 wedding. Wildes even hosted the ceremony on his front lawn... in the rain.

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{ BERGEN BUZZ }

CATERING HALL CONTRIBUTIONS With large parties and events cancelled indefinitely due to the pandemic, local venues find themselves with a bit more free time. So why not use it to give back? Kitchen staffers at two catering halls in River Vale—Edgewood Country Club and Florentine Gardens—donated food to workers on the frontlines of COVID-19. In April, Edgewood prepared, packed and delivered roughly 300 sandwiches to staff at Pascack Valley Medical Center and Nyack Hospital, whereas Florentine cooked up and dropped off chicken teriyaki with veggies.

Says Edgewood Country Club General Manager Daniel Somogyi: “We are grateful to these workers and to all those who serve our community every day.”

PUPPY LOVE Dog: 23-month-old Jax, a Jack Russell terrier, collie, Bernese mountain dog and German shepherd mix Owners: Susie, Nick and Carly Reitano, Dumont Once Susie Reitano laid her eyes on this mutt during a North Shore Animal League America adoption event in Westwood, she knew he was the perfect fit for her family. ”I fell in love with his face,” she says. “And all he did was give me kisses!” The easygoing pup loves playing with squeaky balls and enjoys a specific game in which Susie’s 26-year-old daughter Carly hits the soccer ball with a bat and he retrieves it. Jax also enjoys spending time with his canine friends at Bergenfield Dog Park—”he misses them!” Susie says—and, despite his small stature, this active doggie runs as fast as a greyhound! “Jax means the world to me,” says Susie. “He is my baby.”

FATHER KNOWS BEST!

What’s the best advice your dad ever gave you? BERGEN staff members recall the words of wisdom that continue to resonate.

Thomas Flannery, Publisher My dad taught me about responsibility.

He said, “If you tell somebody you’re going to do something, then do it.” I’ve always tried to keep my word—whether it’s something workrelated, or a promise I’ve made to a friend or family member.

Rita Guarna, Editor In Chief My dad loved to travel, and he encouraged my sibs and me to do the same. “No education is complete without travel,” he said.

Besides experiencing different foods and cultures, it definitely sparked my sense of curiosity and my resourcefulness.

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Stephen Vitarbo, Creative Director My father always said, “If something’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right.”

He refused to let me halfway anything, and that has stuck with me to this day.

JUNE 2020

Darius Amos, Senior Associate Editor My dad always stressed the value of maintaining good relationships with everyone, including colleagues, bank tellers, store greeters.

“You’ll never know if you’ll need their help in the future,” he said.

Haley Longman, Lifestyle Editor My dad has always emphasized the importance of staying active and how working out helps build up immunity for sickness. He’s well into his 70s now and still biking and swimming almost daily!

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER As COVID-19 impacts our daily lives, Hackensack Meridian Health is committed to providing you with the most up-to-date information from our expert doctors, scientists and infectious disease specialists.

Because when you’re armed with knowledge, you can make better decisions about your health and well-being.

For trusted, timely health news and resources, visit HackensackMeridianHealth.org/Covid19.

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PAMPER YOUR PUP Hair gone wild during the quarantine?

Surely you’ve noticed Fido is in need of a grooming too. This poses a challenge for dog owners like New Milford’s Ginny Spoto, who for weeks debated trimming the fur that was starting to hang over the eyes of her 3-month-old goldendoodle. “I got him in late January thinking I’d be able to set up regular services, like baths and grooming,” she says. “Then the pandemic hit and everything closed; now his bangs are covering his eyes!”

But tails began to wag again in April, when Gov. Phil Murphy declared that pet grooming, day care and boarding businesses could reopen provided they adhered to social distancing guidelines.

And good canine hygiene tells. Proper dog grooming not only cleans furs and removes dead hair, dirt and dandruff; the pros also can detect issues with the skin, nails, teeth and ears and other health conditions.

“Pet groomers typically see your pet at least once every eight weeks, which is usually more often than the veterinarian,” says Elizabeth Kumar, owner of Bark Avenue in Cresskill. “We are able to identify lumps and bumps and find infections that may need medical attention.

This time of year brings a reemergence of fleas and ticks, which we get rid of using natural flea and tick products.”

{ BERGEN BUZZ }

PRIMETIME KUDOS:

Always a McBridesmaid: Twenty-nine-yearold Lyndhurst resident Christina Kapushy, who goes by the stage name Ckay, was a contestant on Season 2 of NBC’s Songland, a competition show on which undiscovered songwriters pitch their original material to a panel of judges and global superstars. The opera singer and songwriter appeared in the May 4 episode with special guest star Martina McBride and performed her original song “Heroes.” “The verse is very Adele,” said judge Ryan Tedder after Ckay took the stage. Kapushy made it onto the studio round, during which she worked with Shane McAnally to finesse the melody and lyrics and make the song perfect for McBride. McBride ultimately chose another competitor’s tune to record and release, but Ckay still made Bergen proud!

Bake My Day: Meanwhile, Jessica Lugo of Lodi appears on the debut season of a fellow New Jerseyan’s new series, Bakeaway Camp with Martha Stewart. Lugo, who bakes as a hobby and works as a TV producer, is one of just six competitors braving the elements and competing in camprelated cooking challenges for a shot at the $25,000 prize. See Lugo give it all she’s got when new episodes— there are just four—air Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on the Food Network.

SLOW RIDE, TAKE IT EASY While curbing motor vehicle traffic and limiting mass transit options, the coronavirus shutdown has breathed new life into two-wheel travel. To keep bikes a viable transportation option, stores such as Westwood Cycle, Ridgewood Cycle Shop and Wyckoff Cycle have been deemed essential businesses and permitted to remain open with restrictions during the pandemic.

“It’s a unique situation,” notes Mike Grotz, owner of Cyclesport in Park Ridge. “The things we’ve done for a long time we now have to do differently.”

For starters, store owners had to set up shop outdoors and help customers try bikes along the curb. In addition, turnaround time for their repair business began to slow, as access to parts has been limited. “We have a lot of people dusting off old machines and bringing them for refurbishing so they can ride again,” Grotz says. “Everything takes a little extra time.”

If the pandemic has inspired you to unearth your bike from the garage,

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Grotz (who’s known to Cyclesport regulars as the chief motivator) offers three tips: • Service your bike. Have a professional check its chain, tires, brakes and bearings.

• Check your helmet. Make sure it fits properly. The foam in most helmets wears down because of heat and other environmental factors, giving most helmets a three- to five-year life span.

• Be visible. When you share the road with motorists, wear brightcolored clothing and outfit your bike with rechargeable daytime running lights that have a flashing setting.

{ BERGEN BUZZ }

CATCH OF THE DAY

THEY ALSO SERVE Doctors, nurses and first responders have become the faces of heroism in the coronavirus pandemic—and deservedly so. But let’s not forget to thank those unsung heroes, the essential workers who have been doing their best to keep things normal for the rest of us during this time: postal and parcel service employees, gas station attendants and auto mechanics, sanitation crews, landscapers and more.

For example, there’s Teddy Francois, a Fairview resident who’s been delivering meals from restaurants to dinner tables via Doordash and UberEats. He takes pride in his role and performs it safely—he always wears gloves and a mask when picking up and dropping off food. “People need to eat,” he says, “so I’m happy I can help out in some way.”

And then there’s Hackensack resident Emil Hernández, a cashier with Inserra Supermarkets.

With nonstop interaction with customers, front end workers like him are continuously at risk. “We wear masks and gloves, and we’re constantly wiping down surfaces and working behind shields at the register,” he notes. “Shoppers understand everything takes a little bit longer as long as we keep it safe.”

New Jersey’s trout season started in mid-March, but most of Bergen County waterways went untouched as a result of the pandemic. That changed in May, when Gov. Murphy reopened the majority of the state and county parks— and just in time too. National Go Fishing Day is June 18, so grab your gear and cast a line (remember social distancing!) at one of our favorite spots below: • Overpeck Lake, Leonia/Ridgefield Park • Ramapo Lake, Oakland • Ramapo River, Mahwah/Oakland • Pascack Brook County Park, Westwood • Oradell Reservoir, Oradell • Cooper’s Pond, Bergenfield Remember, anyone age 16 and older must have a valid license to fish in the state’s freshwaters with a handline, rod and line or longbow and arrow. For more information or to obtain a license, visit njfishandwildlife.com.

CLOSE-KNIT STUDENTS GIVE BACK Months before the stay-at-home orders were in place, four students at the Academy of the Holy Angels in Demarest had taken up knitting. It was a hobby, for sure, but the baby hats and booties that the group, known as Knitting for Life, was making brought warmth to newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit at a Bergen County hospital. Today, longtime friends Rachel Mina (pictured), Hannah Ferrer, Francesca Osborn and Olivia Culleton have taken their skills a step further: They’re accepting thank-you letters to healthcare workers and pairing them with a knitted heart.

According to Mina, 25 letters and hearts were delivered to more than two dozen frontline workers at Bergen hospitals on April 27. “We want to spread the message of generosity and benevolence to those around us as well as give back to the health care community,” Mina says. To learn more about the group’s project, visit knittingforlife.org.

READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL? Nakia Griffin-Stewart spent an early May afternoon on Instagram posting photos of his latest snack from Denaro’s sandwich shop in Dumont. But the Tenafly native will have a different story come August, when he suits up for his first season with the Minnesota Vikings. GriffinStewart, 23, has spent much of the pandemic in his hometown, including April 26, the day he got the call and signed as an undrafted rookie free agent with the Vikings.

“I was humbled beyond belief,” says Griffin-Stewart, a former Tenafly High standout. “It was and still is hard to believe that I am actually one of the very fortunate and blessed BERGENMAG.COM

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athletes in this world who have been able to make it to the highest level in my sport: the National Football League.”

After his career at Tenafly, Griffin-Stewart played in 25 games at Rutgers before transferring to the University of Pittsburgh for his final season of football eligibility. In 2019 the 6-foot-5 tight end started 12 games for Pitt and was selected to play in the Spiral Tropical Bowl all-star game. GriffinStewart joins the Vikings as the team’s fifth tight end, but has plans to move up the depth chart when the squad reports to training camp in late summer.

“I still have tons of goals and a lot of things to prove to myself during this next chapter in my life,” he says. “Therefore, the celebratory moments are currently done, and I am back to working and preparing for training camp.”

All of us for all of you.

ENGLEWOOD ORTHOPEDIC ASSOCIATES

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We offer advanced treatment options to provide you with the best plan of care and the quickest recovery.

We have two convenient locations in Bergen County, New Jersey.

Englewood: 401 South Van Brunt Street Paramus: 1 West Ridgewood Avenue Appointments and Information: 201-569-2770 or visit ehpn.org

Rapid Access Ortho is a convenient alternative to an emergency room for non-lifethreatening injuries. Available at our Englewood location, Rapid Access Ortho welcomes patients Monday − Friday, 8:30 a.m. − 6 p.m.

{ FOR MEN ONLY }

The Power of the Polo

It’s neat and sleek and an oh-so-versatile shirt (plus it comes in lots of colors).

Polos by Fedeli, Vero Uomo, Englewood, 201.894.1424

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JUNE 2020

GIVING HOPE, SAVING LIVES. Donald A. McCain, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.S.

Dipliomate of the American Board of Surgery • American Cancer Society 39th Annual Diamond Ball, Medical Honoree, 2018 • Jersey Choice Top Doctor 2019, New Jersey Monthly Magazine • Castle Connolly Top Doctors Award 2019 New York Metro Area • Inside NJ Top Doctors Award 2019 • 2016 Nobility in Science Award from National Pancreas Foundation • Vice Chairman of the John Theurer Cancer Center • Chief, Division of Surgical Oncology and Executive Vice Chair, Dept of Surgery, Hackensack Meridian Health University Medical Center • Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery, Seton Hall Medical School We provide comprehensive surgical care for: Gastrointestinal Tract Tumors Colorectal Cancer Liver Tumors Pancreatic Cancer

Breast Tumors Sarcomas Skin Cancers Esophageal Cancer

Dr. McCain currently holds an academic appointment at Seton Hall NJ Medical School.

Dr. McCain is extensively trained in the latest most effective resection techniques, including robotic resections for gastric and colorectal cancer, and minimally invasive resections for pancreatic and liver cancer.

Dr. McCain works alongside specifically certified APNs and nursing staff, and works collaboratively with medical and radiation oncologists at the John Theurer Cancer center to develop a treatment plan for each patient.

Donald A. McCain, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.S.

20 Prospect Avenue, Suite 603, Hackensack, NJ 07601 • 201-342-1010 • DrDonaldMcCain.com Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

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C H I LT O N

MEDICAL CENTER IS AGAIN, ONE OF THE SAFEST HOSPITALS IN THE COUNTRY, RIGHT HERE IN THE COMMUNITY

“A” is the highest grade given by the Leapfrog Group, an organization dedicated to patient safety.

What’s more, Chilton Medical Center was voted #1 mid-size hospital by New Jersey doctors five years in a row. Atlantic Health System is proud to bring our best to the communities we ser ve.

Source: The Leapfrog Group, a national patient safety group

To learn more visit atlantichealth.org/chilton

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Health care from anywhere Can’t get to a health care provider right now? Holy Name has you covered with North Jersey Telemedicine. You get the care you need, right from home—or wherever you may be. Not sure if it’s allergies or a cold? Worried that scrape or burn might be infected? Need a medication refill? Our primary care and specialty physicians and nurse practitioners are ready to see you, safely and conveniently.

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Visit NorthJerseyTelemedicine.com to learn more and link to a Holy Name telemedicine provider.

Holy Name Medical Center 718 Teaneck Road, Teaneck, NJ 07666 - Tel: (201) 833-3000 Copyright © 2020 Holy Name Medical Center, All rights reserved.

{ HEALTH NEWS } TUNE IN TO ENDURE

Researchers found that music can increase endurance by 15 percent, so put on your playlist before you start your workout.

1 IN 5

That’s the number of kids and young adults who reported not having a single drop of water on a given day. To help youngsters get the fluids they need and to ensure they stay hydrated, encourage them to refill their water bottles hourly.

—JAMA Pediatrics

‘I HAVE A HEADACHE’

—Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology

During perimenopause, women are 60 percent more likely to have frequent headaches. One study showed that taking 600 milligrams of magnesium citrate daily may help.

—Headache

HOLD THE FRIES

Eating fried foods one to three times weekly could increase your risk of stroke and heart attack by as much as 7 percent. Eat it daily and the risk doubles to 14 percent.

—Clinical Nutrition

BOOKS ARE BETTER

When it comes to reading to kids, real books are better than tablets. One study showed that children were more engaged and less likely to fidget when parents were turning the pages of a book versus scrolling on a device.

—JAMA Pediatrics

FIBER FACTS

We know that dietary fiber found in fruits, veggies and legumes is a key to good health. But how much fiber is enough? Researchers have determined that consuming 25 to 29 grams of fiber daily is adequate to lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes and colon cancer.

—Lancet

STATIN NEWS

NEIGHBORLY LOVE

There’s good news for folks with diabetes and heart disease who take statins to reduce “bad” cholesterol.

A study showed a slower decline in brain function affecting memory and cognition among statin users compared with nonusers of the medication.

—Journal of the American College of Cardiology

Here’s another reason to be on good terms with the people next door. A study shows that having a good relationship with neighbors appears to make adolescents more resilient.

—Psychological Medicine

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{ HEALTH }

WHAT TO EAT FOR

A HEALTHY IMMUNE SYSTEM You can support your body’s infection-fighting system by eating these healthy foods.

First, the facts: Science hasn’t discovered a food or supplement that will guarantee you won’t get an illness. And until there are studies evaluating the impact of nutrients and overall diets on COVID-19 outcomes, “we cannot yet make medical nutrition evidence-based recommendations to consider for treatment,” says Elizabeth Hanna, R.D., clinical nutrition manager for Hackensack University Medical Center.

What research has determined, however, is that a nutrient-rich diet will keep the body’s immune system functioning at its best, ready to fight off bacterial and viral invaders.

When it comes to supporting the immune system, some nutrients are more equal than others. The best way to get them, experts say, is almost always through the food you eat, rather than through supplements.

Here are seven nutrients that are especially beneficial for the immune system, and what to eat to be sure you get enough of them.

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BETA CAROTENE, a red-orange pigment found in some plants, converts into vitamin A in the body. Beta carotene is an antioxidant, a type of substance that protects cells against damage. It’s found naturally in sweet potatoes, carrots, red and green peppers, dark, leafy vegetables like kale, spinach and broccoli, liver and fish oils.

against respiratory infections. Milk and other dairy products, orange juice and some breakfast cereals are fortified with vitamin D. Those with dietary restrictions can find the vitamin in wild mushrooms, eggs, salmon, tuna, fortified tofu and plant-based milks, Hanna says. For most people, the best way to get enough vitamin D is to take a supplement.

VITAMIN B6 is important, especially in older individuals, in helping the body produce antibodies, blood proteins that are formed to attack bacteria and viruses, Hanna says.

Good sources include tuna and salmon, canned chickpeas, bananas, beef liver, chicken breast, potatoes, whole grains and fortified cereal.

VITAMIN E is an antioxidant that helps maintain the immune system. Find it in almonds, hazelnuts and peanuts, wheat germ oil, sunflower seeds and oil, safflower oil, corn oil and salmon steak.

VITAMIN C also helps the immune system by stimulating the formation of antibodies.

Find it in citrus fruits such as oranges, grapefruit, lemons and tangerines, strawberries, melons, tomatoes, red bell pepper, broccoli and cauliflower.

VITAMIN D’s link to the immune system is not yet well understood, but recent studies indicate it has a protective effect

IRON is needed for the development of immune cells. Good sources of this mineral include beef and chicken liver, clams and mussels, beef, poultry, ham, halibut, haddock, perch, salmon and tuna, cooked beans, tofu and enriched breakfast cereals.

ZINC is a mineral the body needs to activate T cells (also called lymphocytes), which are important in finding and destroying foreign substances in the body. Zinc can be consumed in oyster, crabs and lobster, beef, poultry, pork, beans, pumpkin seeds, nuts and fortified breakfast cereals.

WHAT IS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM? Throughout the day, we’re exposed to germs and bacteria in various ways— for example, on doorknobs, through bug bites or via a cough or sneeze from an infected person. The immune system, a highly complex network of tissues, cells and organs, first blocks these invaders from getting into the body through skin and other tissues. If foreign agents do enter the body, the immune system works to get rid of them through a variety of tools, including: • White blood cells (including B cells and T cells) that destroy the invaders • The lymphatic system, a network of fine tubes that collects dead cells and germs from tissues • Antibodies, which lock onto foreign substances and kill them, or flag them so that other cells can do the job of killing them Studies have shown that, in addition to a healthy diet, people can keep their immune systems strong through regular physical activity, getting enough sleep (seven to eight hours a night), reducing stress and staying well-hydrated with water or other noncaloric liquids.

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SIMPLE WAYS TO STAY ON TRACK

Elizabeth Hanna, R.D., clinical nutrition manager for Hackensack University Medical Center, recommends the following steps to support an overall healthy immune system.

• Eat a variety of whole foods throughout the day, with a focus on making half of your plate at each meal filled with an array of fruits and vegetables.

• Reduce the frequency with which you dine out or order in. Eating more often at home will ensure you consume less processed foods and gives you control over the ingredients you are using so you are able to choose nutrient-dense meals and snacks.

• Trade junk foods for fruits and veggies. Choose fruits and vegetables as snacks instead of highly processed foods like sugary and salty snacks, desserts and packaged mixes.

• Consume healthy antiinflammatory fats such as Omega-3s from fish like salmon, mackerel and tuna and monounsaturated fats from oils like extra virgin olive oil.

• Avoid sweetened beverages and stick to flavorful alternatives such as home-brewed teas and waters flavored or infused with fruit.

{ COVID BABIES }

NEW MOMS TELL ALL

They were expecting, but they weren’t expecting this: childbirth during a pandemic!

As told to Haley Longman

If you’re planning a big gathering and a virus comes along and compels everyone to keep their distance from everyone else, you can always say, “Let’s postpone.” But try telling that to the stork.

On the following pages, five local moms (and one special grandma) share with BERGEN the birth stories of their families’ newest additions—including two sets of multiples—who came into this world during the scariest health crisis of our lifetimes. These heartwarming tales prove that even during a period riddled with uncertainty and fear, there are things to be joyful about—and that life goes on.

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Nicole Percelli, Hawthorne Mom of twins Domenic and Noelle, born February 27 “I was admitted to Valley Hospital at 23 weeks for preterm labor and was on bedrest for seven weeks— six in the hospital, one at home.

I delivered my boy/girl twins via C-section at 30 weeks and three days on February 27. They were born at 3.8 pounds and 2.12 pounds and were slated for a sixto-eight-week stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

“At first our experience was normal, but as COVID-19 started becoming more of a concern, the NICU started scaling back—allowing only parents to visit, for example. As social distancing was implemented about two weeks after birth, further measures were put into place; there were no longer in-person support classes for new parents, NICU regulations got stricter and visits were shortened. Masks were worn, temperatures were taken. Before entry we needed to take off all outer layers, no long sleeves, no watches, no phones. As the hours and visits became more restricted, my husband Matthew and I called the NICU each morning and evening to get a progress update on the babies, and were also allowed

to see them via NICU cameras.

“The back-and-forth from the hospital added an extra layer of stress. We so desperately wanted to see our babies, but also knew we were walking into a ‘hot zone’ every time. We were going to the hospital during the peak of the virus! There were many unknowns, cases and deaths were doubling each day, and anyone we came across could’ve been infected.

“I cried a lot. It was very difficult to leave the hospital without the babies, and as restrictions were put in place it was tough.

However, I generally tried to reassure myself that they were in the best place, getting the best care and tucked away from some of the early chaos. Valley’s NICU provided amazing support and put us at ease.

“The twins came home on April 7, six weeks after they were born (and almost a month before my May 4 due date). Aside from my parents’ initial visits at the NICU, the babies have yet to meet any of our family members other than through our picture window.

But our twins are doing well. Ultimately, that’s all that matters.”

Jenny Berberich, Ramsey Mom of Grayson, born March 8 “When I gave birth to our third son at Valley Hospital, there was some talk about coronavirus, but it was only really in Washington state at that point. Two days later, there was a rumor and major news coverage about potential school/work closures in New Jersey.

“I can still feel the pit in my stomach and my anxiety as we were discharged on March 11—we stayed in the hospital an extra day because Grayson’s bilirubin levels were high. We took the elevator, and I had to wait in the lobby for about 10 minutes while my husband Adam retrieved our car.

We were so weary of everyone coming in and out; I waited in a small isolated corner, shielding Grayson in his car seat as I watched people rolling in. I was eyeing people up and down, mentally assessing if they could’ve had COVID-19. I put hand sanitizer on at least five times during the transition from lobby to car and immediately changed clothes when we got home. Once home, we had a sweet nurse come to us and take Grayson’s blood and check his vitals so we could avoid returning to the hospital.

“By March 12, schools were declared closed starting the following BERGENMAG.COM

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Monday. With my nerves around flu and coronavirus, we decided to pull our older two boys out of school immediately. Because of my husband’s great paternity leave at his job, we were excited about being home together, enjoying our new babe during the day, having lunch dates with local family and then having our afternoons with our whole family. But we had only six hours to ourselves and Grayson before having to homeschool the older kids.

“I cried every day for the first two weeks out of fear and ‘mourning’ my maternity leave on top of postpartum hormones. I felt guilty feeling those things, as we were fortunate compared with others, but I am still mourning, angry and counting down the seconds until this is over. I don’t want to fastforward time because Grayson is our last baby. But at the same time, these days are endlessly long. Only a few family members have met the baby. We have sent mailable hugs to my parents in Massachusetts because my dad hasn’t met or held him yet. It seems pathetic, but it feels good sending him something that could give him a feel of his grandbaby.”

Kristin Norris, River Vale Mom of Dakota, born March 17 “About a week before the birth of my third child, Holy Name Medical Center, where I was scheduled to deliver via C-section, became the epicenter for coronavirus in Bergen County. My anxiety going into delivery was at an all-time high.

Of course, I’d been nervous and scared with my first pregnancy; I hadn’t known what to expect.

With my second, I was on bedrest at 16 weeks due to placenta previa, resulting in an emergency C-section at 33 weeks.

Ultimately, I didn’t have time to even think or have anxiety because it all happened so fast.

With this birth, though, it was actual fear.

“The thought of entering the hospital, the epicenter, was absolutely terrifying. What if I get COVID? What if my newborn gets it? What if I ended up in

Elaine Frawley, River Edge Grandma of Liam, born April 6 “My husband Tom had been at Valley Hospital for a CT scan the second week of March. He had an allergic reaction to the dye and had to return to the hospital for IV Benadryl, prednisone and fluids. After three days, I brought him home with oral medication, but he became extremely fatigued, couldn’t eat and could barely get out of bed.

He was back to the hospital a third time for blood work, which we hoped would be a quick visit. But he was admitted for pneumonia, and then doctors determined he had contracted COVID-19. He died in the hospital on April 2.

“Meanwhile, my stepson Patrick and daughter-in-law Brittany were scheduled to have their third baby via C-section at the same hospital on April 8. On the morning of the 6th, when my husband was to be entombed, Brittany’s water broke two days ahead of schedule. They did not

get to say a final goodbye to Tom. How much more emotion could our family bear?

“The hospital kept everything very clean, but the fear of getting sick and knowing that Tom had passed away on the floor above them was very unnerving for my stepson. He was anxious to get his family out of the hospital. But two hours after Tom was laid to rest, our grandson Liam Thomas Frawley was born. He is a beautiful, healthy baby named for his ‘pop.’

“I have only been able to gaze at Liam from a distance in my driveway, but we have meals together each from our own homes over FaceTime. He looks so much like Tom—and I’m not the only one who thinks so! This is truly the circle of life for our family. I hope that all of the genuine goodness and the love of family that Tom had was passed onto Liam.”

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the ICU due to my compromised immune system? Luckily, I didn’t have to do it alone because my husband John was allowed in the delivery room with me and could come and go during my stay. But he was screened and questioned each time before entering. Neither of us had to wear masks, as that rule hadn’t been enforced yet, and neither of us was tested for COVID. It was a little bit of a blessing not to have other visitors during my stay, but I was sad that my older kids couldn’t meet their new sister until days later. None of our other family has met Dakota as of yet other than via FaceTime, through a window or from the curb in front of our home. It’s hard, but everyone understands, and it will be an even more special moment when we are all actually together again.”

{ COVID BABIES } Tira Smid, Ramsey Mom of triplets—a girl, Haven, and identical twin boys, Blaise and Leo—born April 10 “After waiting for what seemed an eternity, I finally found Joseph, the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. We got married in 2016 and, due to my being in my mid-40s, we went through IVF (in vitro fertilization) for two years before discovering in September 2019 that our hope for one beautiful baby magically became three!

My pregnancy for the most part went well considering I was highrisk for both multiples and my age.

But life became very scary in early March when the reality of the virus hit. It was especially troublesome because not only is my husband a pilot who must travel quite a bit, but my mother came to stay with us to help with the babies and she is auto-immune compromised.

“On Good Friday, at my 34-week prenatal appointment, we were told that our baby boy Blaise was in a bit of distress and it was go time. Luckily, Joseph was allowed at the birth with me, and my Csection went well. I was originally scheduled to leave two days after my C-section, but since I had three preemies, I was allowed to stay for a third day. But Blaise stayed

behind in the NICU for two-anda-half weeks because he was a few ounces smaller than our other two; Haven stayed in the NICU for a total of two weeks, and Leo came home one day later. The NICU was packed. I recall holding my babies and listening to a nurse phoning different hospitals looking for additional isolettes and monitors. I think there may have been several premature births due to the anxiety brought on by this crazy pandemic—not good for a mom’s mental health.

“Even so, it was eerily quiet being in the hospital. I felt like I was being hospitalized during a zombie apocalypse; there was no wandering outside your room, and I had to wear a mask when staff came into the room. Every once in a while I heard a baby cry, though, and that would bring a smile to my face. Now we have all three babies home and the real fun begins.

Thank goodness our neighbors have been absolutely incredible, generous and supportive, and my mom is helping—and exhausted.

Our triplets are a blessing, but quite a bit of work!”

Cayla Carapezza, Oakland Mom of Lucy, born May 2 “My third child’s birth had been very fast and traumatic—he was born only an hour after my water broke. So, this time, with my fourth, my doctor and I picked a day she was on call for me to have the baby. Because of the pandemic, doctors at Valley Hospital were working shifts to reduce their exposure—so one doctor would deliver all the babies for eight hours until the next doctor came in—and she wanted to admit me and break my water so labor could be controlled. This allowed me enough time to get childcare for my older three children, and I was able to get an epidural as I had wanted. I also avoided delivering in the car on the way to the hospital, which I was very much afraid of doing since my previous labor had been so fast.

“I work at the hospital as a nurse in diagnostic imaging, so I was familiar with its protocols.

When we arrived for my delivery, neither my husband Ben nor I was tested for COVID, but the staff asked us some ques-

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tions, such as if we had traveled or had symptoms, and they took our temperatures before letting us upstairs. I went through labor, pushed and did skin-toskin with my daughter with a mask on. But honestly, I was so wrapped up in the moment and emotions of everything going on, I forgot I was wearing it.

“Although this hospital stay was a bit different than my previous ones—we had no visitors and no hospital photographers and were not able to place an order for meals—at times I forgot there was a pandemic happening. The only reminder was the masks that everyone who entered our room wore. So far, the only person outside of our household who has met Lucy is my mom, who came to take care of our three older kids.

Obviously, protecting our health and our family’s health is most important, but it’s hard not to get upset thinking about all the time [relatives and friends] are missing out on while my kids are so young.”

{ ROOMS THAT WORK }

HOME

OFFICE SPACE Quarantined? Or has home long been your 9-to5 HQ? Either way, here’s inspiration for an office so stylish you’ll be glad you live there.

By Haley Longman

Photography by Vic Wahby

Maybe your home office looks as if Oscar Madison works there. Or you’re banging out business emails these days in a corner of a room that does double duty. But one thing is clear: Tech has made “working from home” an enduring thing, and for many of us it will endure—at least as an option—when the COVID-19 pandemic is a mere memory.

So it’s time to make your home work space work for you.

On the following pages, you’ll see how four New Jersey families created home offices (with the help of design pros) that reflect their needs and tastes. Let these “rooms” spark your own creativity—in whatever space in your home you dedicate to getting down to business.

OUR DESIGNERS:

Nancy Lucas N. Lucas Interiors, Sea Girt

Lisa Schiller Scotch Plains

Judy Sturdevant Freeman Hall Design, Westfield

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Jennifer Pacca Jennifer Pacca Interiors, Hillsdale

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A PLACE OF HER OWN This home office is one bright, contemporary room in this family’s secondary residence in Sea Girt, where they spend summers and holidays. (Their main residence is in Britain’s capital.) Nine years after purchasing the “dark and overly ornate” French-country-style home, they hired Nancy Lucas of N. Lucas Interiors and Decorating Den Interiors in Monmouth County to turn this room into a “bright and streamlined” space.

This office is located in the master bedroom suite, a haven for the parents of four. But the man of the house has his own separate work area—this one is designated for the matriarch, who wanted a space dedicated exclusively to her in which she could do her finance work and also just unwind (hence the plush sofa). “She didn’t want drawers or anything like that,” the designer says. “She just wanted to be able to have her laptop and a really clean space that was bright, airy and comfortable.” Mission accomplished.

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LESS IS MORE Designer Lisa Schiller sought two main qualities when planning her own home office in Scotch Plains. It had to be “far away from the main living area” and “open, bright and free of clutter” so as not to hinder her creativity.

So she transformed her sunroom, located 60 feet down the hall from the living room in her ranch-style home, into her own personal hideaway (though she admits her husband sneaks in on the weekends to watch TV away from the kids). Schiller designed around meaningful pieces—“the couch and desk were 25 years old and from my apartment in New York City,” she says—and added in stylistic elements she loves, such as a neutral palette with bursts of bold animal prints and stripes.

Her advice for others designing their own home office? “It doesn’t have to be a room with bookshelves, a big desk and a computer,” she says. “Now, thanks to technology, we can have the bare minimum of what we need to work.”

A HOME RUN Why not make a favorite hobby or passion the design inspiration for your personalized workspace? That’s what designer Judy Sturdevant of Freeman Hall Design in Westfield did in this Summit bedroom for her clients’ 23-year-old son, who visits on weekends and needed a room where he could both sleep and get some work done (his employer is a technology consulting firm).

“Our clients requested an open plan that would create ample desk and storage space,” Sturdevant says, “as well as showcase their son’s beloved autographed Yankees memorabilia collection.” Using the baseball team’s bold blue hue as inspiration, she built a bespoke desk by the windowsill to make the most of the natural light.

“Choose somewhere [for a home office] that the lighting and/or view will impact your productivity and well-being most positively,” the designer advises. She also installed shelving units flanking the desk on both sides. Gold accents in the drawer hardware, brass fittings and lighting elements add contrast and a more modern vibe. “A clean and pleasing aesthetic was of utmost importance to our client,” says Sturdevant.

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{ ROOMS THAT WORK }

MASCULINE RETREAT Style meets function in this blue-and-white home office situated on the main floor of a house in Bergenfield. It was designed for the husband in finance, who works from home quite often even during ordinary times. Hillsdale-based designer Jennifer Pacca says it needed to be both “handsome and pretty. We thought the navy-and-white lent itself to this; it has a masculine feel, yet the white keeps it bright.”

The clients wanted built-ins and concealed storage, which they got in the bookcase behind the desk, as well as ample seating, present in the form of two additional desk chairs and a cushioned window seat. “It’s not that big a room but we maximized the space by keeping the walls and shelving light,” Pacca says, “and just using the pieces we needed.”

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{ BACKYARD BLISS }

SMALL YARD, BIG CHANGE

A Ridgewood family’s outdoor turf was neither sizable nor usable. Now it’s Fun Central. By Darius Amos

Landscape design by Thomas Flint Photography by Adam Pass

Landscape designer Thomas Flint used a Ridgewood corner lot’s small size to create intimate spaces that gratify the family’s love of entertaining and enjoying the outdoors.

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{ BACKYARD BLISS }

to entertain family, friends and their two kids’ friends. Instead of an open-canopy pergola, Flint custom built a small-scale pavilion at the water’s edge with a firepit in the middle. “These days people try to avoid too much sun exposure,” he says. “They have their TVs outside and stay outdoors as long as they can. That creates the need for a covered structure.” The team completed the hardscape with a stone patio that wrapped around one end of the pool.

“We wanted to keep everything in proportion,” Flint recalls. “There are a lot of unique yards in Ridgewood, small and large. Several advantages can be unearthed in a smaller lot—they allow us to create intimate spaces.”

Landscaping covers the other half of the yard, with plant life extending from the property line to the end of the pool. Not only did this satisfy the town’s ordinances, it met “the clients’ style, grass coming to the edge of the water,” says Flint, who also planted hydrangeas that “spill over the pool.”

“The overall design was inspired by the family’s love of simplicity,” he says, adding that the project took about two and a half months to complete. “The clients were thrilled with it, and their reactions are not something we take lightly. We get a lot of pleasure when they send us photos and social media posts of them out in their yard—and using it!”

It wasn’t a pandemic that kept a Ridgewood family indoors most of the time; it was their “meh!” backyard. Outdoors enthusiasts all, they decided that their outside space was underused because it was uninviting. So they asked Waldwick-based Thomas Flint Landscape Design & Development to give the property a much-needed facelift. The location, on a corner of a bucolic street, came with several hurdles, the most notable being the lot’s small size and the municipality’s regulations limiting impervious surfaces.

“We had to connect the dots and create an area that brought the family outside,” recalls Flint, owner of the eponymous firm. “But we came up with a concept with everything they were looking for.”

When designing an in-ground swimming pool for the confined space, Flint and his team considered the husband and wife’s preference for clean lines. “The tight building envelope drove the design and details, so the rectangular pool really doesn’t have a lot of length,” he says. The solution was to add an adjoining spa, which made the pool appear longer. For more visual drama, they installed a hydraulic system in the pool that reduces turbulence on the water’s surface and creates a mirror-like surface.

The addition of the spa produced an ideal location for a shade structure, another necessary outdoor component for the homeowners who like BERGENMAG.COM

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This page, top right: Flint surrounded the hardscape features with plenty of plants, including white hydrangeas that spill over the edge of the pool. This page, bottom: A custom-built pavilion on the water’s edge is an entertainment spot, complete with a roof, a firepit and a television.

Opposite page: The glass-like reflection off the water is the result of the pool’s hydraulic system, which eliminates waves and turbulence.

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{ OUTDOOR SPACES }

ANYTHING WAS POSSIBLE An Allendale family’s yard could become whatever they wanted. That was the tough part.

By Darius Amos

Design by Rich Cording Sr.

Photography by Front Door Photography

“Everyone verbalizes their wants the best they can,” Cording says.

“We have to take a Socratic approach. Everyone has a design idea inside them; we just have to pull it out.”

Instead of placing the pool on one end of the lot, where the designers initially planned, it was installed by The Pool Boss of Wayne in the middle of the yard. CLC then wrapped the pool with a brick paver patio that extends to the porch area. Lounge chairs surround the shallow end of the pool so that sunbathing adults can keep an eye on little ones splashing in the water.

“The patio setup grew out of how they wanted to use the space and the pool,” Cording says. “That’s the same thinking we used when we designed the porch.”

Built by Park Ridge-based Cavalucci Construction, the covered porch is an extension of the home’s kitchen and dining room, which are acces-

Is there such a thing as having too many options? For Rich Cording Sr., owner of CLC Landscape Design in Ringwood, the roughly half-acre backyard of an Allendale home was filled with creative opportunities— the land was flat and open—and that almost became a hurdle.

“It was nothing but a seeded lawn,” Cording recalls. “We do tons of jobs working around existing features, but a blank slate is definitely exciting. This one was difficult because there were so many possibilities to deliberate over.”

The homeowners, the Distaulos, were a small but growing family, and an in-ground swimming pool and entertainment area were at the top of their wish list. But checking things off didn’t come quickly.

Months of back-and-forth questions and answers went by before the CLC team came up with the perfect plan that maximized the space and met the family’s expectations.

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This page, from top: CLC Landscape Design added a pool and patio as well as new plant features to the perimeter of this Allendale backyard, which was once an open area of grass. With a fireplace, a TV, Arhaus sofas, Frontgate cocktail table and Ralph Lauren rug, the covered porch brings indoor entertainment to the outside. The concrete dining table by Tommy Bahama Outdoor and chairs by Moe’s Home Collection and RH are both elegant and durable.

sible via sliding glass doors. Wicker sofas with plush cushions, selected by decorator Dana Mole’ Flynn of her eponymous Ridgewood firm, serve as seating for guests wishing to warm up by the outdoor fireplace, while the adjacent dining area has room for eight alfresco diners. And there’s no need to haul food from the inside—Eastern Outdoor Furnishings of Totowa constructed an outdoor kitchen, complete with grill and pizza oven.

“We wanted to create an inviting space and bring the inside out,” owner Ondrea Distaulo says. “I didn’t really want the pizza oven—that was my husband—but he uses it all the time.”

Cording’s team also developed a carefully considered landscape plan that enhanced the property’s privacy. They created a 3-foot-tall berm around the perimeter of the yard using dirt excavated from the pool project. On top of the berm, Cording planted trees and evergreens. “Essentially, if you have a 7-foot tree, it will look like it’s 10 feet tall,” he says. “That’s important because there are a couple of neighboring houses that peek through the woods.”

Finished at last, this outdoor space became Exhibit A for taking the time to figure out what you want and get it right—even when the canvas you begin with refuses to make any of your decisions for you.

“We love our yard,” Distaulo says.

“It turned out amazing. It’s more than we ever imagined.”

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{ PERFECT PATIOS }

ETCHED IN STONE

After a stunning makeover with a firepit, a grilling area and a bar, a Paramus patio rocks.

By Haley Longman

Design by Richard Andreu

Photography by Frank Gassib

The Exclusive Stoneworks team also made from scratch a diving board—aka a “dive rock”—to give the existing pool parallel to the entertaining area some character. “It was definitely the most challenging feature that we had to build; matching all the radiuses and keeping within the setback of the pool and the side yard,” the designer says. “I hadn’t done something like that before, and it’s definitely my favorite feature.”

Though a lot of work went into the design and execution of this twomonth-long project, maintaining these hardscapes will be a walk in the park for the homeowners. “I don’t want to say it’s maintenance-free, but it’s minimal,” the pro says. “Just wash down the pavers and the stone.”

An essential feature of this design is the firepit, which Andreu says is a must-have when upgrading or reconfiguring one’s outdoor space. “A firepit sets the mood if you go out there at nighttime,” he says. “If you have a gas firepit, you won’t ever want to leave.”

A backyard with an ordinary concrete patio and a pool was just fine for a pair of Paramus empty-nesters, but why settle for fine when you can have fantastic? They hired Richard Andreu of Exclusive Stoneworks in Lyndhurst to give them the outdoor living space they had always envisioned, one that was perfect for mingling and entertaining.

“They wanted to have everything encapsulated into one structure,” Andreu says, “so you could be sitting around the firepit but interacting with people at the bar and with people cooking.” So Andreu got to work on the conceptual design aspect of the project, and figured out a way to give his clients a built-in firepit, a grilling area and a four-seater bar that would all flow into each other seamlessly. The structure itself is made of cultured stone veneer, a man-made product designed to resemble natural stone, and the countertop is two-inch bluestone that the team fabricated on-site. “We bought raw slabs of stones and hand-chiseled the edges,” he says.

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HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH PHYSICIANS OFFER TELEMEDICINE APPOINTMENTS Patients can connect with a physician without leaving home using a smartphone, tablet or computer. This practical way of consulting with a health care provider allows you to stay healthy and engaged in your health care from the comfort of your own home. *For health care issues that require an in-person visit, our providers are also available. Please be assured that we’ve instituted CDC recommended, infection control protocols and safety precautions at our practices to ensure our patients’ safety.

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{ PERSONAL SPACE }

A BASEMENT MANS UP

A rustic-industrial-inspired design creates a den so perfect for Dad that everyone else enjoys it too.

Text by Haley Guttenplan Design by Robert Zick Photography by Creative Design Construction & Remodeling

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This rustic-industrial basement redesign in Cresskill is just what the empty-nester homeowners and their three adult sons were hoping for. The freestanding bar is the focal point of the upgraded 2,000-square-foot living space.

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This page: A pair of mounted TVs in the bar area allow the guys to view two sporting events at once. The mom, dad and two of their three sons are Michigan alumni. Go Blue!

Opposite page, top: The lowmaintenance flooring throughout the basement is luxury vinyl from COREtec. “This is a free-floating interlocking product in very realistic wood grain,” designer Robert Zick says.

Opposite page, bottom: Bottles of alcohol are cleverly stored on industrial metal shelving with a reclaimed wood perimeter detail, says the designer. “Center glass inserts allow for strategically placed recessed and accent lighting.”

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{ PERSONAL SPACE }

While the “man cave” idea suggests hiding away, its aesthetic can sometimes give off the opposite vibe: “Come one, come all.” That’s what a Cresskill couple achieved when they set out to revamp their unfinished 2,000-square-foot basement. They found remodeling consultant Robert Zick of Creative Design Construction & Remodeling in Northvale and his team, and tasked them with creating a downstairs entertaining space for the pair and their three grown sons.

“They wanted a game area, a media area, a bar, a guest room and a gym,” Zick recalls. “They were empty nesters, and it was really important to them to have a welcoming space for their children when they visited.”

Zick and his crew began by presenting the homeowners with various design themes to see which style struck their fancy, and the winner by a landslide was the rustic-industrial look. They chose an elegant, masculine black-and gray-color palette incorporating many homey features, such as reclaimed wood detail on the bar’s island and a brick feature wall behind it. The team also included in the plans several “man cave” must-haves: For example, they placed two TVs flanking the bar’s exposed metal shelving to allow for viewing of difBERGENMAG.COM

ferent sports at once, and installed sound-reducing elements between the basement ceiling and upper floor in case gatherings got loud.

That bar is undoubtedly the room’s focal point, so it had to have some well-thought-out details. A fully functioning entertainment center with a wine fridge, a dishwasher, a microwave drawer and an ice maker allows for easy hosting. Matte-black, Shaker-style cabinets with matching millwork details paired with double-thick gray countertops with a step-up bar add visual appeal.

The billiards room next door contains a 12-foot shuffleboard table and a pool table, while “the gym exists off the bar entry to provide privacy,” Zick says. “The floor plan is open by design but separates spaces with strategically placed archways and millwork.”

The finished product is great for Dad, but a solitary hideaway this isn’t. Mom likes it too, and the clients got what they wanted in that the space is irresistible to their sons when they come by—and for guests as well. “The ‘boys’ are independent, busy professionals, but all enjoy the bar and game area when they visit,” says the designer. “Plenty of open space allows for large gatherings with family and friends.”

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TAKE IT OUTSIDE

Turn off the oven and fire up the grill! It’ll be easy thanks to these recipes— one meat, veggie and fish—from Bergen County chefs.

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{ TASTES }

KILLER KALBI

By Robert Austin Cho, owner, Kimchi Smoke, Westwood Yields 4 to 6 servings

INGREDIENTS:

n 4–5 lbs. flanken-cut short ribs n ½ cup soy sauce n ½ cup mirin n ½ cup water n ¼ cup sesame oil n 2 Tbs. sugar n 2 Tbs. sesame seeds n 2 tsp. ginger, minced n 2 Tbs. gochugaru (red pepper flakes) n 2 Tbs. garlic, minced n 1 onion n 3 scallion stalks, chopped n steamed rice, for serving n lettuce, for serving n kimchi, for serving

DIRECTIONS:

Cut and then grate onion in a food processor.

Add 1 Tbs. of water. In a large, non-reactive mixing bowl, add all the other ingredients, onion purée and scallions. Add short ribs.

Cover and allow the ribs to marinate in the refrigerator for at least two hours.

Heat grill for direct grilling. Place meat on the grill, turning every 2 minutes and making sure not to burn. Cooking time should be about 5-7 minutes. Allow meat to rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Serve with steamed rice, lettuce and kimchi.

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{ TASTES }

GRILLED CAULIFLOWER WITH GREEN TAHINI SAUCE

By Pamela Schulz, owner, True Food, Edgewater Yields 2 to 4 servings

INGREDIENTS

n 1 large head cauliflower n ¼ cup olive oil n 1 Tbs. garlic, grated n 1 Tbs. paprika n 1 Tbs. cumin n 1 lemon, zested and juiced n 1 tsp. sea salt n ½ tsp. black pepper n ½ bunch parsley n ½ bunch Italian parsley, for garnish n 2 limes, wedged, for garnish For the sauce: n 2 cups olive oil n ½ cup Tahini n ½ cup lemon juice n 1 Tbs. garlic n ½ bunch parsley n ½ bunch cilantro n ½ bunch spinach n 1 Tbs. sea salt n 1 Tbs. black pepper

DIRECTIONS:

For the sauce: Purée all sauce ingredients in a blender or food processor. Add water if needed to thin to desired drizzling consistency.

For the cauliflower: Season the olive oil by whisking in the grated garlic, paprika, cumin, lemon juice, sea salt and black pepper. Create cauliflower “steaks” by cutting the head in half down the center— do not remove the stem—then cut each half lengthwise so you have four steaks. Season both sides of the steaks with salt and pepper and brush with olive oil.

Grill the cauliflower steaks for 4–5 minutes on each side over medium flame (times will vary depending on size of cauliflower steaks).

Remove when steaks reach desired charring.

Plate the cauliflower and drizzle the sauce over each steak. Garnish with chopped Italian parsley and lime wedges, then serve.

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{ TASTES }

PSARI SKARAS LADOLEMONO ME SPANAKORIZO (GRILLED FISH FILLET WITH OLIVE OIL, LEMON AND SPINACH RICE)

By Alex Gorant, executive chef, Axia Taverna, Tenafly Yields about 4 servings

INGREDIENTS:

n 4 lbs. Florida red snapper filets (approximately 1 lb. per person) n extra virgin olive oil, to coat fish n dry oregano, to taste n salt, to taste For the Ladolemono: n ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil n 1/3 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed n 1 Tbs. water n 1 Tbs. dry oregano (preferably Greek mountain oregano) n salt and pepper, to taste For the spanakorizo: n 3 white onions, finely chopped n 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped n 1 bunch scallions, sliced n 2 cups rice, rinsed n 3 lbs. spinach, trimmed n 1 bunch dill, chopped n 2 cups olive oil n lemon juice, to taste n salt and pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS:

To make the ladolemono: Slowly drizzle the olive oil into the lemon juice while whisking vigorously or using an immersion blender. Add salt, pepper and dried oregano. The result should be a thick viscous liquid.

To make the spanakorizo: Place 2 Tbs. of oil in a pot and coat 1 cup of rice.

Cover the rice with 2 cups of water and season with salt. Bring the water to a boil and then reduce to a simmer and cover for 18 minutes. After the rice cooks, fluff it with a fork.

Heat generous amounts of olive oil in a wide pot and sauté onions, scallions and garlic until soft but not brown. Add spinach in batches and stir down until all of it has been added. Add rice, dill and a splash of fresh lemon juice.

To make the fish: Be sure the fish is dry on the outside, especially if it has skin. Wipe the grates of a clean hot grill with an oil-soaked cloth for approximately one minute before placing fish. Use enough oil to coat the contact surface of the grates, but not enough to drip into the grill.

Season fish with salt and Greek mountain oregano.

(If the fish has skin, which when grilled comes out crisp and delicious, put three slits in the skin with a sharp knife to prevent it from curling.) Brush fish with olive oil and place it skin-side down on grill.

When the edges of the fish turn white and start to move toward the center, turn the fish by gently lifting the edge with a grill fork and sliding a spatula underneath. Do this slowly and gently to be sure the skin comes off the grill and does not rip.

After turning the fish, it should only need 1–2 minutes to finish. The fish will continue to cook with residual heat, and you don’t want it to dry out. Remove fish from heat and serve with spanakorizo and ladolemono on the side.

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It’s hard to care for someone with memory loss while in isolation.

We can help.

Christian Health Care Center’s trained experts and specially designed environments for individuals living with memory impairment and those who love them Three memory-support residences, including a newly renovated assisted-living community Ramapo Ridge Psychiatric Hospital: Only inpatient hospital in New Jersey and one of three in the country to earn the distinction of Disease-specific Care Certification in the Management of Dementia from The Joint Commission Outpatient counseling for caregivers who would benefit from professional therapy For more information or to schedule a future tour of our residences, contact Karen Hockstein at (201) 848-4463 or khockstein@chccnj.org.

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SPECIAL PROMOTION EDGEWOOD COUNTRY CLUB PREPARES, DONATES 300 MEALS TO AREA HEALTHCARE WORKERS Edgewood Country Club recently prepared and delivered lunch for healthcare workers at Pascack Valley Medical Center as part of the club’s efforts to support its local community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier, Edgewood prepared and delivered lunch to healthcare workers at Nyack Hospital. The club estimates it has prepared and donated 300 meals to the healthcare community in recent weeks.

According to Edgewood Country Club General Manager Daniel Somogyi, “Edgewood is an integral part of our local community, and we wanted to show support in one of the best ways we know how–-to prepare and deliver a delicious lunch to healthcare workers on the front line. We are so grateful to them and to all those who serve our community every day.”

EDGEWOOD COUNTRY CLUB 449 Rivervale Road, Rivervale, NJ 201.666.1200 | edgewoodnj.com

WE THANK YOU!

TO THE HEALTHCARE WORKERS & FIRST RESPONDERS

We thank you for your courage & we will continue to support you!

449 Rivervale Road, River Vale, NJ 07675 EdgewoodNJ.com

YOU ARE OUR HEREOS!

Assisted Living I Home Care I Memory Care I Alzheimer’s Day Care

THANK YOU to all of our healthcare heroes and frontline workers – we love you!

We never hesitate to care for our loved ones. Whatever it takes. But caregiving is a sacrifice. The hours are long, and the challenges are real. Remember, you’re not alone as a caregiver. We Didn’t Choose It, But We Will Overcome It! Let’s start with the most important conversation of all…the first.

Our campus has so much to offer. Inspiring education. Award-winning care.

People who are here to help your family make aging your ally.

The only real burden is the one we don’t share.

C A L L U S AT 1 - 8 0 0 - VA N - D Y K S

Va n D y k H e a l t h C a re . c o m

We Are Proud of Our Uncle Giuseppe’s Family!

Our teams have worked tirelessly to ensure our stores are cleaned, shelves are stocked, meals are prepared and every customer’s curbside deliveries are fulfilled. All with a smile on their faces.

We want to thank all of our customers for supporting us.

Visit Us Online at UncleG.com for Grocery Delivery, Curbside Pick up, and much more.

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84 Broadway, Hillsdale, NJ

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Pretty in Pink

{ SPIRITS }

Roses are red and violets are blue—but this cheerful and tart drink is perfect just for you!

RHUBARB 75 Serves 1

INGREDIENTS

■ 1½ oz. gin ■ ¾ oz. lemon juice, freshly squeezed and strained ■ ½ oz. rhubarb syrup (recipe below) ■ chilled Champagne or Cava to top ■ rhubarb ribbons, for garnish ■ lemon twist, for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

FOR THE SYRUP Combine ¾ lb. chopped rhubarb in a saucepan with 1 cup water, 1 cup cane sugar and 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise.

Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, then lower heat and cover. Let simmer gently for 5 minutes, then remove from heat. Stir in ¼ tsp. orange blossom water, replace lid and let cool to room temperature. Refrigerate overnight, then strain with a nut milk bag or a cheesecloth-covered sieve. Reserve the strained, broken down rhubarb for use as a compote, and store both syrup and compote in the fridge. (Note: Vanilla bean and orange blossom water are optional ingredients but recommended for full flavor.)

FOR THE COCKTAIL ■ Combine all but the Champagne in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

■ Shake hard for 5 seconds.

■ Pour into a Champagne flute and top with chilled Champagne to taste.

■ Garnish with rhubarb ribbons or a lemon twist.

Recipe courtesy of thegooddrink.com

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{ ON THE TOWN }

Gatherings

2

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

7

1

3

4 THE 1 COMMUNITY CHEST

THOMAS J. RILEY SENIOR CENTER

The Community Chest, an Englewood-based nonprofit, provides a platform for nonprofit agency leaders to identify solutions to COVID-19-related issues. For example, local organizations are attempting to meet the increased demand for services with decreased resources resulting from the pandemic. The Chest accepts donations and holds events like its annual gala to provide funding for groups in need. For more information, visit thecommunitychestebc.org.

1 Nonprofit leaders attend The Community Chest’s 2019 gala.

6

BERGEN COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY Though outdoor projects have temporarily been suspended, members of Habitat for Humanity continue to give back to the community.

The organization donated N95 masks and coveralls to Hackensack University Medical Center to aid in the hospital’s efforts to treat patients with COVID-19.

5 Volunteers unload medical supply donations.

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF NORTHERN VALLEY The League of Women Voters of Northern Valley (LWVNV) hosted a presentation and forum (before the pandemic) to celebrate the passage of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. The event also highlighted the 2020 U.S. Census reporting season, which kicked off April 1. Members of the LWVNV encourage residents to participate in the Census at 2020census.gov.

6 Nike Prieston Bach, Vicki Sidrow and Cynthia Forster hold a resolution from the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

5 4 BERGENMAG.COM

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1 Chris Marksbury, 2-4 Thomas J. Riley Senior Center, 5 Habitat for Humanity, 6 James Leynse

2

Residents throughout the county donated food and essentials to the Thomas J. Riley Senior Center in Westwood, which converted its community room into a makeshift food pantry. The donations were distributed to low-income senior citizens of Westwood House and Hillsdale House. 2–3 Volunteers at the Thomas J. Riley Senior Center 4 Donations from the community

Timeless Elegance in an Exquisite All-Brick Colonial Estate NESTLED HIGH IN THE EAST HILL OF CRESSKILL in picturesque Tammy Brook Hills, this home was custom built in 2000 with architectural millwork throughout; it has been meticulously kept by the original owner. Well over 8,000 Sq. Ft. of luxurious living space on the main and upper floors with 8 Bedrooms, 7 Bathrooms, 2 Half baths, and fully finished lower level with walk-out to the back yard.

Main floor features: Breathtaking 2-Story marble Entry Foyer with Ionic columns, Venetian plaster cathedral dome & bridal staircase, spectacular Great Room with 10’ ceilings & fireplace, Formal Living Room exuding Neo-Classical elegance, stately custom Mahogany Library with coffered ceilings, banquet-sized Formal Dining Room

with Butler’s Pantry, Chef’s Kitchen with dine-at-island & breakfast area, French doors opening to rear Patio & private park-like pathway to the landing in the hill, a Guest Suite, Laundry Room, Powder Room & 3-Car XL Garage with custom closets. Second floor features: Luxurious serene Master Suite with sitting area overlooking private lush gardens, fireplace, His & Hers wardrobe rooms, radiant heated modern marble Master Bathroom with double vanities, 4 Additional En-Suite Bedrooms & second floor Living Room. Walk-Out Lower level features: About 3,000 Sq. Ft. fully finished sprawling entertainment space complete with 9’ ceilings & modern Wet Bar, Billiards/Living Room, Exercise Room, Powder Room, 1 En-Suite Bedroom, lots of storage space.

For more details and private tour, contact Hyunjung Kim at 917.403.5683 PRICE UPON REQUEST

According to the New Jersey Multiple Listing Service Market Share report in 2019, Hyun was ranked: • Top 3 Market Share as an Individual Agent in Tenafly • Top 5 Market Share as an Individual Agent in Cresskill • Top 10 Market Share as an Individual Agent in Englewood Cliffs

BERGEN COUNTY’S

TOP

REAL ESTATE AGENTS

2020

Awards: • NJ REALTORS® Circle of Excellence Sales Award 2019 • RE/MAX Platinum Club Award 2019

She is a local expert and longtime resident of Bergen county.

Hyunjung Kim NJ Licensed Real Estate Broker Associate affiliated with RE/MAX Signature Homes ABR®, CNE, SFR®, ASP® O: 201.660.9933 | C: 917.403.5683 hyunkim@hyunkimrealty.com | www.hyunkimrealty.com

189 Homans Ave. Closter, NJ 07624

{ A BERGEN MOMENT }

“On my way back from picking up food at Sook Pastry in Ridgewood, I noticed a statue at Memorial Park in Van Neste Square wearing a “thank you” face mask. It was a cute but striking image, a reminder to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. I thought it was important to share the message and give others something to think about in these trying times.”

*

BERGEN Magazine Volume 20, Issue 6 (ISSN# 2573-8151 and USPS 025-351) is published 12 times a year by Wainscot Media, One Maynard Dr., Park Ridge, NJ 07656. Postmaster: Send address changes to Subscription Department, Wainscot Media, One Maynard Dr., Park Ridge, NJ 07656. Periodicals postage paid at Mahwah, N.J., and additional mailing offices.

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Send us your Bergen Moment! Email your photo and a short description to editor@wainscotmedia.com.

Photo courtesy of Michael A., Instagram: @snipppt

—Michael A., Hackensack

A New Kind of

Memory Care Is Now In Your Neighborhood If you find yourself helping a family member with more and more of the things they used to do for themselves, let us help!

Get to know The Artis Way: Exceptionally customized and respectful Memory Care in a cozy, neighborhood setting.

Take a virtual tour of our community from the comfort of your own home. Learn more by calling 845-474-2205 or visiting TheArtisWay.com/BergenMagazine

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