For a decade, children from HoHo-Kus Public School and ECLC have built community, inclusion and lasting friendships together.
With her embroidery business affectionately named after her grandmother, Erin Medico makes one of a kind pieces.
TASTES
Slice of Italy in Ho-Ho-Kus
Located in Ridgewood and bordering Ho-Ho-Kus, Tapestry Hairdressing Salon is a warm, welcoming full-service salon offering personalized care and expert results. Marcos and Sandy lead a talented team committed to helping you look and feel your best.
We provide precision haircuts for women, men, teens, and children tailored to suit your style and lifestyle with the stylist you want.
Color is our passion – from subtle enhancements to bold changes, we specialize in:
Single Process Color | Partial & Full Highlights Toners & Gloss Treatments | Corrective Color
To enhance and smooth your hair, we also offer professional Keratin Blowout treatments and a full range of signature blowouts–perfect for special occasions or a confidence boost any day of the week.
Gift Certificates - Walk-ins Welcome Hours: Tue-Fri: 10-5 | Thu: 10-8 | Sat: 9-5 599 North Maple Ave, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 201-670-4416 Visit our Facebook! @TapestryRidgewood
6:00 P.M.-9:00 P.M. Edgewood Country Club River Vale, NJ
A Slice of Italy in Ho-Ho-Kus
The family-run 081 Café offers authentic Italian cuisine just like the owners’ ancestors used to make in Naples.
BY SARAH NOLAN
FOR DOMENICK ESPOSITO, the key to becoming a successful restaurateur and chef is sticking to your roots and traditions. That’s why, when pondering a name for his family-run spot in HoHo-Kus, he chose 081 Café, referencing the area code of Naples, Italy, where his ancestors are from.
The family has a long history of opening premier eateries in their local Italian communities, serving the finest old-school dishes from generational recipes. Now, Esposito and his sons, Joseph and Sonny, proudly continue the tradition here in Ho-Ho-Kus.
Born in the United States, Esposito says he moved to his ancestral homeland in Naples when he was 15 and would spend the next 20 years expanding his knowledge on the art of cooking Italian cuisine.
“I started cooking as a kid; I was always with my mom in the kitchen,
especially on Sunday when she used to make meatballs and ragu,” he says. “That’s where my passion began.”
He returned to the United States in his mid-30s and started his adventure in the business, first in New York City operating a restaurant and pizzeria. He would move on to Hoboken where his restaurant was also called 081 Café, then to Maywood where he partnered with another owner.
It was about three years ago when
Esposito and his sons were cruising down Maple Avenue in Ho-Ho-Kus when they saw that the old Sicilian Sun, a longtime borough institution, was up for sale.
Esposito said he lived in Hillsdale as a kid and always liked the area. The corner spot in the heart of downtown Ho-Ho-Kus was appealing, so they went in, spoke to the former owners and made a deal.
The family updated the restaurant, including the kitchen, before opening.
Opposite page: 081 Café serves a variety of authentic brick oven pizzas. This page, clockwise from top left: Domenick Esposito and his sons Sonny and Joseph (pictured) own 081 Café. The restaurant is located at 604 N Maple Ave. and offers outdoor seating along with a cozy and inviting dining room experience.
AN ITALIAN TRADITION
Esposito says his focus has always been on cooking “real Italian” cuisine. Recipes draw inspiration from Naples, Salerno and the Amalfi Coast in general, where dishes are based around fresh fish and pasta.
The restaurant offers brick oven pizza, a variety of pasta and main dishes along with soups and salads. Paninis are available at lunchtime.
Esposito says customer favorites include Truffle Pappardelle with homemade wide noodles, porcini, portobello and cremini mushrooms topped with black truffle oil; Squid Ink
Linguini featuring crab meat, shrimp, cherry tomatoes and garlic; and Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe.
Cap off your meal in the inviting and cozy space with an authentic espresso and classic Italian desserts.
081 Café is open seven days a week, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The BYOB establishment offers both indoor and outdoor dining when weather allows.
For more information on 081 Café, visit 081cafe.com or the restaurant’s Instagram page, @081cafe_hohokus.
Clockwise from top right: Mussels; Fettucine Lobster; Pennone Short Rib; Mozzarella di Bufala
Check out these opportunities to celebrate the borough’s history, take in a play and learn something new right here in town.
HO-HO-KUS COMMUNITY GARDEN EVENTS
The Ho-Ho-Kus Community Garden has a series of events planned to bring community members together in the space for fun and educational demonstrations. Upcoming events this summer include:
• Meet a Beekeeper & Farm Stand
Thursday, July 17 at 6 p.m. Learn more about beekeeping and pick up some organic veggies, flowers and honey.
• Make Mozzarella with Jimmy Mozz & Farm Stand
Thursday, Aug. 14 at 6 p.m. Learn more about the art of making mozzarella and head home with some of your own, along with organic veggies and flowers. The Community Garden is always looking for volunteers to help plant and harvest organic vegetables, which will be donated to those in need. No experience is required, and all are welcome to join. Visit hhkborough.com/ ho-ho-kus-community-garden for more information.
VOLUNTEER FOR THE AMBULANCE CORPS
If you are considering a career in the medical field, joining the Ho-Ho-Kus Volunteer Ambulance Corps is an excellent first step. The Corps can guide you through the process of becoming an EMT at your own pace. To enroll in the EMS program, you must be at least 16 years old. The Corps partner with the Bergen County EMS Training Center, which offers classes three times a year, as well as the Less Stress Training Center, which hosts classes every two months. The Corps will work with you to review your schedule and availability, ensuring that you find a class that meets your needs. For more information, visit hhkvac.org or email hohokusambulance@gmail.com.
REVOLUTIONARY WAR REENACTMENT
The Hermitage will host an up-close look into American History on Saturday, July 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a reenactment of the time that George Washington and his troops stayed at the Hermitage in 1778. To accompany the reenactment there will be a blacksmith, a lace maker, cooks and more historic demonstrations. It’s a perfect event for the whole family and gives the community a tiny piece of American and town history. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Kids under age 6 are free. For more information, visit thehermitage.org/events.
TOM SAWYER BY FIRST FLIGHT THEATRE COMPANY
The Hermitage and the First Flight Theatre Company will host an outdoor production of “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” on Saturday, July 26 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, July 27 at 6 p.m. Visit firstflighttheatreco.com or thehermitage. org/events for more information.
Rebecca Bleich is a graduate of Ramapo College, where she majored in journalism and writing. She writes articles on news, arts, sports and viewpoints.
KEEPING HO-HO-KUS CLEAN
The fifth annual Ho-Ho-Kus Litter Clean Up was held recently, with around 100 residents, young and old, gathering to keep the borough pristine.
“We are so proud to be doing this for the fifth year in a row,” says Missy McCloskey, who chairs the event along with Katie Raschdorf.
“With the help of our amazing community members, we have collected hundreds of pounds of litter from our streets, sidewalks, woods and waterways.”
The Ho-Ho-Kus Volunteer Fire Department hosted a BBQ following the clean-up, and the Girl Scouts not only helped pick up litter, but distributed tree saplings to help tie in the event with Arbor Day.
The clean-up was sponsored by the Friends of Ho-Ho-Kus, a new nonprofit, which also runs the Halloween House Tour. Photographs courtesy of Missy McCloskey.
The Ripple Effect
Students form lasting bonds through a partnership that celebrates inclusion and understanding despite differences.
BY SARAH NOLAN
JJUST ONE MILE down the road from each other in Ho-Ho-Kus are two schools. One, ECLC of New Jersey, serves the needs of students ages 5 to 21 with a range of special needs, primarily autism, Down syndrome and multiple disabilities. The other, Ho-Ho-Kus Public School, serves pre-K through eighth graders with typical needs.
You might think that despite the short distance between these campuses, students’ experiences are a world apart. But thanks to a partnership between them that celebrates inclusion, awareness and understanding, a bridge has
been gapped, creating lasting and meaningful friendships and a sense of goodwill that has spread waves of pride throughout the greater community.
It’s called The Ripple Effect, a name that draws inspiration from the Dalai Lama quote: Just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water, the actions of individuals can have far-reaching effects.
Students and staff members recently gathered at the Ho-Ho-Kus Community Garden to celebrate 10 years of the collaboration, with students from both schools singing Bruno Mars’ “Count on Me” side-by-side before helping one another plant vegetables.
“Seeing each other through eyes not blurred by preconceived attitudes, the students have created not only friendships but a mutual understanding of each other,” ECLC Principal Vicki Lindorff says.
Ho-Ho-Kus School Principal Martha Walsh added that while the schools are different in some ways, those differences strengthen the community.
“When students from both schools connect, they learn that inclusion isn’t just a value, it’s an action,” she says. “These actions are shaping a generation that sees beyond labels and embraces diversity and builds community wherever they go.”
Ho-Ho-Kus Public School and ECLC of New Jersey students first connected for a walkathon to raise money for a new playground, pictured above. The partnership has continued to grow ever since.
AN ORGANIC CONNECTION
The Ripple Effect was born a decade ago, when Lindorff and former Ho-HoKus School Principal Alexis Eckert had a vision to foster a bond between their students, not through academics, but through hands on activities and events to promote awareness and sensitivity to each other.
It all started with a walkathon to raise money for a playground at ECLC. Eckert, who retired from the Ho-HoKus School in 2021, says she thought it would provide a great opportunity for her students to branch out from their pre-K-8 district.
“It was a beautiful day, both climate-
wise and emotionally,” she says. “It was a purely organic connection— ECLC students and our students just started walking and talking together. There was a synergy that made us all want to do more. Success, smiles and subsequent planning meetings were the outcome of this initial encounter.”
The schools would partner for classroom and school-wide experiences like a pen pal exchange, an art show, a Special Olympics torch run, field day, Jump Rope for Heart, STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) programs and a Zumba-thon.
Eckert says through its focus on Character Education curriculum,
Ho-Ho-Kus would introduce a word of the month. ECLC adopted the program and word, and the students would do an activity surrounding the theme.
One month, the word was “respect,” and the students had a lively pep rally together singing Aretha Franklin’s infamous version of the song. During the holidays, it was “generosity,” and the students collected and packaged goods for those in need.
School leaders say through each project or celebration, the students learned more about each other and began to realize that while they might have differences, the desire to be treated with kindness and respect and
Clockwise from top left: Students from both schools connected for the Heart Foundation’s Jump Rope for Heart. Students gathered at Barnes & Noble to read and spend time together. Alexis Eckert, the former principal at Ho-Ho-Kus Public School, and ECLC Principal Vicki Lindorff spearheaded The Ripple Effect partnership 10 years ago. Students have connected through music over the years, performing in a traditional choir and bell choir together.
to have fun with friends was shared.
“We know how important having a good academic program is, but how do we marry that and being a good person?” Eckert says.
“Sometimes that high level of pressure and stress to achieve takes over. But it’s programs like The Ripple Effect that ground our kids in being good people and opening their eyes to others’ experiences.”
Music has also provided a space for students to connect, Lindorff and Eckert say. The Ho-Ho-Kus School jazz band and chorus perform at ECLC’s assemblies and graduations, and the schools participate in a blended bell choir that is incredibly popular amongst students from both schools.
“The bell choir takes complete
concentration for every student, and together, the members of this ensemble make it work by treating each other with dignity and compassion,” Eckert says.
LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER
Ho-Ho-Kus School eighth grader
Brooke Einhorn says fostering friendships with people that might have different abilities than she and her classmates is incredibly valuable.
“There are stereotypes about what these kids can and cannot do, and they aren’t necessarily true,” she says. “They’re beautiful human beings and they can do wonderful things.”
Parent Chris Batt attended the 10year anniversary celebration—her daughters, who have since graduated
from Ho-Ho-Kus School, were part of the Ripple Effect partnership and she was on the Board of Trustees of ECLC for a period.
“It’s been an amazing journey, from a handful of students to multiple programs now between the two schools,” Batt says. “It’s clear the kids are learning from each other. My girls are still in touch with the friends they made at ECLC, years and years later. It’s a great partnership for our community, and it means so much for our family to be a part of it.”
In 2017, The Ripple Effect won the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office “Be Wise” contest for innovative school programming dealing with topical issues.
“The most predominant aspect of this partnership is how the feelings and
School and town officials were on hand for the 10-year celebration of The Ripple Effect, held at the Ho-Ho-Kus Community Garden in May.
Above: Students show off their harvest from the day. Left: Allie Lim, who spearheaded the Community Garden, hands off some freshly picked vegetables to students.
mindsets of the students have developed and grown,” Eckert wrote in the nomination letter. “The innovations and advances between two school settings are rooted in relationships. These relationships that were fostered are solid and will remain the undercurrent for future successful learning experiences and precious life lessons.”
Eckart noted that the benefits are mutual—ECLC students no longer worry that they may be judged by their peers at a typical school but feel accepted and like the sky is the limit; there are no boundaries. Ho-Ho-Kus School students see ECLC students as “courageous individuals and everyday champions,” Eckart says, with one student saying they
“push through everyday struggles and are an inspiration.”
“Even though we go to different schools, we enjoy our times together when we visit,” says ECLC student Jaclara Goycochea. “We are friends.”
Through the program, ECLC students have also had the opportunity to work at the Ho-Ho-Kus School and will also now work from time to time in the Community Garden. ECLC stands for Education, Careers & Lifelong Community. The school has a renowned Transition Program that begins at age 14 with in-house work experience and eventually places students into actual workplaces.
Eileen Shea, the skills teacher at
ECLC, said she has seen firsthand how this partnership has benefited students and is excited to have them continue their work in the garden.
“The Ho-Ho-Kus Community Garden will serve as a hub for not only growing veggies but for nurturing friendships and developing a strong community network,” she says.
Principal Walsh says that as programs between the schools continue to grow and thrive, it’s evident that The Ripple Effect is just getting started.
“Let’s continue to create those waves of growth, empathy and friendship that exist far beyond our classroom,” she says.
Ho-Ho-Kus School Principal Martha Walsh, left, in the garden with students from Ho-Ho-Kus School and ECLC. Opposite: Students from Ho-Ho-Kus Public School and ECLC of New Jersey planted together in the Ho-Ho-Kus Community Garden following a ceremony to recognize the 10th anniversary of the partnership.
Erin Medico in her Ho-Ho-Kus living room.
CreatingKeepsakes
Erin Medico taps into her artistic side through her embroidery business, Lily & Dot, named for her late grandmother and mentor.
BY SARAH NOLAN
SSITTING IN HER living room, surrounded by bins of yarn and embroidery floss, Erin Medico works diligently to create her next personalized keepsake for a lucky customer as nostalgia tugs at her heartstrings. It was her grandmother who taught her to sew, knit and crochet, and Medico cherishes the memories she has of simply being beside her, learning the craft.
Medico picked up stitching again for the first time since college just over a year ago, and she found it brought her the same peace it had earlier in her life. And so, when her resurrected hobby transformed into a small business practically overnight, it was only fitting to honor her grandma in the name: Lily & Dot.
“Her name was Dorothy; my grandfather would call her Dot,” Medico says. “She also loved to garden. I would garden with her and still really enjoy it. Around her property she had Lily of the Valley. Lily & Dot is for her.”
HOBBY TURNED SIDE HUSTLE
Medico decided to return to stitching and embroidery in an effort to set aside some time for herself. As a mom of three and a teacher, she felt lost in this season of always giving and doing for others and wanted to reawaken artistic passions that had given her joy in the past.
So, in early 2024, she bought a couple of kits online to stitch sweaters for her daughter, Avery—one with her name in script, another with her first initial decorated with flowers.
Medico didn’t think anything of it when she proudly posted a picture of her work on social media. But the next day, a co-worker at a Saddle
Brook school, where Medico teaches fifth grade math and science, said she needed one for her daughter.
“She must’ve spread the word, because the next day I had about 12 coworkers that wanted sweaters for their kids and I thought, ‘OK, maybe this could be something on the side.’”
Since then, her side hustle has grown through word of mouth. Medico says it’s after her kids are in bed, and the house is quiet, that her evenings begin (usually around 10 p.m.). She stitches for an hour or two, often losing track of time. She also finds moments to work on pieces during her busy days.
“I love it because it’s so portable,” Medico says. “My boys play baseball,
Medico and her family, husband Mike, sons Jackson, 10, and Weston, 8, and daughter Avery, 5.
and I can take a project with me to work on while I sit in the bleachers watching their games. Or I can stitch while my daughter’s in the pool for swim lessons.”
She’s personalized everything from jean jackets, sweaters and baby blankets to slippers and even pillowcases for a realtor to give to clients when they close.
“You can really embroider anything—I pick up dresses at Target and add designs like bows or hearts, or I pick up things like vintage jean jackets at the thrift store and embroider them.”
COLLABORATING WITH CLIENTS
Medico says stitching has always come naturally to her, but with the growth
of her business she’s been able to hone her craft, gaining speed as she goes and networking with other stitchers on social media.
Her designs and fonts are freehand, meaning she doesn’t trace computer fonts, making them truly unique. A simple name sweater typically takes only about an hour; but more intricate designs take up to three hours or more. Medico loves the idea of creating something for clients that might become a keepsake.
“It’s special,” she says. “I have all different things that I’ve made for my daughter. I pack them away and think about showing them to her when she’s older. It’s nice to make something so personalized for people.”
Collaboration is key for Medico. She enjoys the process of going back and forth with clients to narrow in on what exactly they want in a piece. “It’s really nice because they have a hand in the design process too,” she says.
Client and friend Jess Furnari described working with Medico as easy and fun. “Her passion and creativity shines in every customized piece she has made for me,” Furnari says. “She is detail oriented from start to finish, even including washing instructions to prevent the yarn from fraying. We are so lucky to have access to her talent right in our town!”
Carolina Szegda, who has ordered from Lily & Dot multiple times, agrees. “The quality of the embroidery is
Medico works to personalize a client’s jean jacket.
outstanding—clean, detailed and clearly made with so much care. Everything we’ve received has been not only beautifully crafted but also incredibly durable. You can tell Erin pours her heart into her work.”
And while selling her products on Etsy has occurred to her, Medico says she’s worried she’d miss out on the close interactions she has with clients now, and that it might take away some of the fun for her if it should start to feel like work.
Featuring her goods at a craft show, hosting a Sip & Stitch to connect with others that enjoy embroidery, or perhaps collaborating with local
businesses to sell her goods are ways to grow her business that do appeal to Medico right now, as she looks to the future of Lily & Dot.
More than anything, Medico has truly enjoyed returning to this creative outlet. “Even though there are late nights, and at times I feel a little overwhelmed by projects, it’s something for me that I can do and really get into the zone,” she says.
And, sitting in her Ho-Ho-Kus home, it’s not just stitching that recalls memories of her grandmother. Dot, formally Dorothy Evans, and her husband Joseph, moved from New York City to Ho-Ho-Kus to raise their
family in the mid-1950s and lived in the borough until her grandmother passed in 2005.
Medico even spent her teenage years living with her grandmother and attended Northern Highlands Regional High School.
“I love the small-town feel; everybody knows each other and both the kids, and my husband and I have a really nice network of friends,” Medico says. “My grandparents were drawn to the town decades ago and so were we; we knew we wanted to raise our kids here.”
For more about Lily & Dot, visit the Instagram page @lilyndot.
Good Old-Fashioned Fun
The Country Fair returns for its 57th year.
THE HO-HO-KUS HOME & School Association hosted its annual Country Fair in May. The time-honored tradition sees the Ho-Ho-Kus Public School grounds transformed into a carnival for the afternoon, featuring inflatables, a DJ, a dunk tank, carnival and tabletop games, face painting and more, along with treats like burgers and hotdogs and snow cones. It was a fun-filled day for all!
Pre-K-eighth grade students at Ho-Ho-Kus School spent time with friends at the annual Country Fair this spring, enjoying rides, like the inflatable slide pictured, face-painting, tabletop and carnival games and much more.
Mahalo to Our Tiki-riffic Teachers
THIS YEAR’S TEACHER & Staff
Appreciation Week was a vibrant celebration of the incredible educators and staff who make the Ho-Ho-Kus Public School so special. The Home & School Association planned a Hawaiian-themed week full of tropical cheer, heartfelt gratitude and generous community support. Special thanks to local businesses and families for donating prizes for daily raffles, food and more. These include: Graze Brunch Kitchen, Albert’s, Spavia, Beets Juice, Chick-fil-A, Abma’s Farm, Gina Cottrell of Gifted Favors, the Wall Family, Wellness & Pain and Ridgewood Hot Bagels.
The Home & School Association decorated the school, providing special meals and treats each day and other gifts to show educators just how much they mean to the community.
Stop for a Bite to Eat in Ho-Ho-Kus
Having a meal close to home is one of life’s little joys. Stop by some of our town’s local eateries for a tasty bite this spring!
Graze Brunch Kitchen
611 North Maple Ave.
Stop in for “brunchie things,” sandwiches, soups and salads and an drink menu that’s sure to delight.
@graze_brunch_kitchen (201) 543-0144 grazehhk.com
Sunny Wok
604 North Maple Ave.
Get takeout or eat in at Ho-HoKus’s authentic Chinese restaurant, which offers an extensive array of meat, vegetarian and seafood dishes to try. (201) 602-8811 sunnywokonline.com
St. Eve’s Restaurant
611 North Maple Ave.
Seasonal dining options abound at St. Eve’s, which provides Ho-Ho-Kus residents with an elevated dining experience that embraces each stage of the year.
@stevesnj (201) 875-4717 stevesnj.com
catchy. Cafe & Catering
614 North Maple Ave.
A unique selection of options awaits cutomers at the catchy. Cafe, including nutritious bowls, sandwiches and homemade ice
cream. Feeling like delivery or catering? catchy. has you covered there, too.
@catchy.hhk (201) 445-6400 thecatchycaterer.com
081 Cafe
601 North Maple Ave.
Delicious and hearty Italian food is a pleasure for diners to indulge in at 081 Cafe. Dig into specialty pastas, brick-oven pizzas and tasty appetizers.
@081cafe_hohokus (201) 347-9335 081cafe.com
Ho-Ho-Kus Inn & Tavern
1 East Franklin Turnpike
With an expansive menu covering everything from salads to pastas and burgers, the Ho-Ho-Kus Inn & Tavern has something for every eater. But the real star is the drink menu, which boasts an impressive list of wines, beers and specialty cocktails.
@hohokusinnandtavern (201) 445-4115
Hohokusinn.com
Graze Brunch Kitchen
Alt Eats Cafe
622 North Maple Ave.
Plant-based, gluten-free and organic eats is the name of the game at Alt Eats Cafe, where healthy food is good for you and tastes delicious. Stop in for breakfast, buddha bowls or create your own salad while you sip on a tasty latte (that can be made dairyfree!).
@alteatscafe (201) 444-1300 alteatscafe.com
Ho-Ho-Kus Sushi Cafe
29 Sheridan Ave.
If you have a craving for sushi, this is the place to go. Enjoy a roll from the full-service sushi bar offering fish, squid, octopus and more or enjoy a few rolls a la carte. Ho-Ho-Kus Sushi Cafe also has a lunch special, where you can snag a tasty Bento Box. (201) 607-7677 hohokussushicafe.com
Albert’s
4 Sycamore Ave.
A charming cafe with new American and Italian food, perfect for a cozy weekend meal. @albertshohokus (201) 389-6377 albertshohokus.com
Garbo’s
7 Sheridan Ave.
Family-owned Italian deli and pizzeria; a local staple for 35 years! Garbo’s is known for tasty food and fantastic service. @garbositaliandeli 201-652-4494 garbositaliandeli.com
Just Janice
23 Sheridan Ave.
Offers a varied menu for brunch, lunch and dinner. Gluten-friendly options are available. A sweet spot to enjoy indoor or al fresco dining. @justjanicenj (201)-445-2666 justjanicenj.com
Garbo’s
Just Janice
Beach Reads: The Perfect Summer Escape
Four authors that get the genre right.
BY WENDY LEES AND LIZZIE MOORE ON BEHALF OF THE WORTH-PINKHAM MEMORIAL LIBRARY
BEACH READS ARE as easy to sink into as a shady hammock or a beachside lounge chair. They come in as many varieties as saltwater taffy. And just like that sweet treat, there’s something about them that feels especially made for summer.
They can be easy-breezy like a coastal wind, sun-kissed with romance. Their page-turning plots may start with a
ELIN HILDERBRAND
Queen of the Summer Scene
You’ve just landed as a VIP guest on Nantucket, where the island spills all its secrets. The air may get salty, but the immersive setting and endearing characters make Hilderbrand’s novels the quintessential summer escape.
ripple then crash like a wave or strap you in from the onset like the thrills and twists of a boardwalk roller coaster. Whether you’re headed down the shore, jetting off to an island vacation or taking some sunshine me-time at SRV, Spring Lake or your own backyard…grab one of these authors’ books for your tote.
SALLY HEPWORTH Suspense
Served with a Twist
Even in sunny suburbs, something unsettling is happening within the white picket fence. The family that looks perfect on social media has secrets that won’t stay buried. Hepworth’s bingeable plots and blindsiding twists may keep you reading way past sunset.
SOPHIE COUSENS
Rom-Coms Spritzed with Hope
Cousens’ rom-coms blend swoony romance, witty humor and undeniable chemistry. With tropes like second-chance love stories, meet-cute mishaps and twists of fate, they’re perfect for readers who want feel-good fiction with a romantic sparkle.
MICHAEL CONNELLY High-Stakes Thrillers
Connelly’s crime fiction packs a gritty punch, delivering taut tension and high-octane pacing. Like your thrillers raw and unfiltered? Grab a book from one of his razor-sharp series–you can dive in at any point.
Have a SAFE SUMMER
Simple steps can prevent these common causes of seasonal injury and illness.
SWIMMING AT THE beach, hiking in the woods: There’s no shortage of appealing summertime adventures. But spending more time outdoors also raises the risks for injuries. A little caution and use of sound judgment can help you make the most of the sunshine while avoiding any unnecessary trips to the emergency room.
Here are seven common warmweather emergencies— and tips on avoiding them.
1. SEVERE SUNBURN
While minor-to-moderate sunburns can be treated at home with overthe-counter remedies like aloe vera, severe sunburn can require
emergency treatment. Warning signs include blistering skin and uncontrollable pain. The true extent of a sunburn may take 12 to 24 hours to develop. Steps to prevent sunburn include using a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or more. Reapply it every two hours and every time you come out of the water. Also consider wearing a brimmed hat and sunglasses to protect the face and eyes.
2. HEAT ILLNESSES
Heat cramps and heat stroke represent a spectrum of illnesses that occur when the body begins to lose the ability to regulate its temperature.
Heat exhaustion is marked by heavy sweating, dizziness, nausea and thirst. When heat exhaustion becomes heat stroke, it can cause confusion and even unconsciousness. Heat stroke is a medical emergency—call 911. Children and the elderly are typically more likely to suffer from heat stroke.
To limit your risk of heat-related illness, stay properly hydrated, especially with water and/or fluids with electrolytes. Limit soda and alcohol. Carry a reusable water bottle wherever you go. Thirst is a sign of dehydration: If you feel thirsty, it’s time to catch up on fluid intake. Avoid outdoor exercise or other physical activity during the hottest times of day.
3. FIREWORKS-RELATED INCIDENTS
Fireworks are a time-honored summer tradition, but when used improperly, they can lead to serious burns, deep cuts and eye injuries. Reduce your risks by using legal fireworks and following all safety guidelines on the package. Never light fireworks in your hand. Leave duds alone—don’t walk up to them to see why they didn’t ignite. Douse all used fireworks in a bucket of water. If you have any doubts about handling fireworks safely, attend a community event and leave the seasonal show to professionals.
4. SPORTS INJURIES
A little planning can help you stay on the field or court longer and avoid injuries like muscle sprains, muscle strains and twisted ankles. Always stretch and perform warmup exercises prior to starting any kind of physical activity. Give yourself time to cool down after you play. Stay properly hydrated. If you’re cycling, skateboarding or riding scooters, wear a helmet. Avoid aggressive speed and maneuvers when bicycling, riding a personal watercraft or operating any type of vehicle.
5. PLAYGROUND MISHAPS
Trips and falls on the playground can lead to scrapes, bruises and lacerations. Keep children safe by always supervising them and limiting running and horseplay as much as possible. Look for playgrounds with softer ground cover such as rubber or mulch instead of asphalt or concrete. Discourage high-risk activities such as pushing a child higher on a swing than they find comfortable. Check the temperature of playground surfaces such as slides before children begin playing on them.
6. TICK BITES
A tick bite can lead to a condition called babesiosis, a bloodstream infection that brings flulike symptoms such as body aches. Tick bites can also cause Lyme disease. The hallmark of Lyme disease is a rash that classically looks like a bullseye. It occurs on average in about seven days at the site of the tick bite and can cause fever, chills, headache, fatigue and muscle and joint soreness.
Ticks can bite not only in the woods but even in your backyard. Prevention includes wearing moisture-wicking,
long-sleeve shirts; long pants; and tall socks to cover your skin. Check yourself for ticks or signs of a bite when you step back indoors.
7.
BARBECUE HAZARDS
Never light a gas grill with the lid closed. If the grill doesn’t light immediately, let gas dissipate before attempting to light again. Use only the amount of lighter fluid you need to start a charcoal grill. Cook any meat, seafood or poultry thoroughly and to temperatures recommended by the USDA. Keep food—and guests—safe by refrigerating leftovers so they don’t spoil in the sun.
GUARD AGAINST DROWNING
Drownings are the leading cause of death among young children. Ways to reduce risks include:
• Be aware that small children can drown in shallow water.
• Make sure at least one adult swimmer provides constant supervision of any children near or in the water.
• Install fences and gates around home pools. Consider adding an alarm that alerts you anytime someone goes into the water.
• Prohibit children from running around the outside of pools to reduce the risk of slips and falls.
• Enroll children in swim lessons. Have them wear life jackets, vests and floaties in the water if they can’t swim.
• Never dive head-first into water unless you know how deep it is. Instead, wade in or jump in feet-first.
• Always swim near a lifeguard. Heed red-flag warnings for high rip currents at the shore. If you get caught in a rip current, swim parallel to the shore.
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PHOTOGRAPH BY JOHN DOYLE
PHOTO OP HONOR & REMEMBER
JOHN DOYLE captured this image of Ho-Ho-Kus Volunteer Fire Department members and trucks making their way down the parade route on Memorial Day.
