Ho-Ho-Kus
EMBRACING THE SUPERNATURAL AT THE HERMITAGE RAMEN LOVERS REJOICE
TOJO’S RESTAURANT REOPENS
Spooky Streets THE ANNUAL HALLOWEEN HOUSE TOUR
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historic property is the place to be for fans of the supernatural looking to get spooked this season.
Pocus
annual Halloween House Tour returns for its sixth year to delight residents of all ages with a spooktacular experience.
Photograph by Adam Paray
hHAPPY FALL, HO-HO-KUS! October really ushers in the beauty of this season, with the leaves changing colors, the morning air pleasantly crisp, and the anticipation of celebrations and traditions to come.
At the risk of sounding “basic,” it is for sure my favorite time of year. Bring on the flannel, pumpkin-everything, and cooler temps that call for cozy evenings under a throw blanket. I love the “Anne of Green Gables” quote: “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” How true.
This month, we’re delving into spooky season and featuring events that have become synonymous with October in HoHo-Kus, where Halloween is such a joyous holiday—not only for kids, but adults, too.
Sisters Missy McCloskey and Cassie Cavallo started the Halloween House Tour five years ago when the pandemic was in full swing and people weren’t sure how to safely go about celebrating Halloween. It has since become one of the borough’s most treasured events. Back for its sixth year, residents that decorate their homes are ready to delight crowds once again with their impressive displays—some scarier than others!
And over at the Hermitage, workers and volunteers are ready to lean into the legends and lore that surround the history of the old Victorian mansion with many events planned, including a Murder Mystery Dinner Party and Ghost Tours & Spiritual Channeling with medium Craig McManus.
Speaking of McManus, the renowned psychic medium and author is featured in our Q&A this month. I think it’s pretty cool that such a sought-after medium calls Ho-Ho-Kus home (he’s booked for small group readings for the next four years). Read more about how he ended up in the field and what he has to say to skeptics.
We’re also happy to welcome back Tojo’s Restaurant, which reopened following last year’s fire. The ramen hot spot is featured in our Local Tastes section.
We hope you enjoy this magical, mysterious month. And remember: It’s all just a bunch of Ho-Ho-Kus Pocus!
Sarah Nolan Editor
Ho-Ho-Kus MAGAZINE
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Laney McCrossin
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Ho-Ho-Kus Magazine is published by Wainscot Media. Serving residents of Ho-Ho-Kus, the magazine is distributed monthly via U.S. mail. Articles and advertisements contained herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publishers. Copyright 2025 by Wainscot Media LLC. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent.
PHOTOGRAPH
Welcome, Fall!
October kicks off the fun and festive season. Here are just a few happenings around Ho-Ho-Kus.
RICHARD’S RUN
The Ho-Ho-Kus Education Foundation will present Richard’s Run on Sunday, Oct. 5. This 5K race has been a longstanding tradition in Ho-Ho-Kus, bringing the community together through health, wellness, and philanthropy. Proceeds raised from the race will directly benefit the Foundation and support its mission to enhance the quality of education in the Ho-Ho-Kus Public School. A portion of the proceeds will also be donated to Go4TheGoal, in support of pediatric cancer, to honor the legacy and align with the mission of Richard’s Run.
This fun, fast, family race winds through the beautiful town of Ho-Ho-Kus finishing with an always talked about post-race party right in the center of town. Don’t miss out on a great day!
For more information on the Ho-Ho-Kus Education Foundation visit www.hhkef.org, and for more information on Go4TheGoal visit www.go4thegoal.org.
PARENT & ME PUMPKIN PICKING
The Ho-Ho-Kus Community Garden will host Parent & Me Pumpkin Picking on Friday, Oct. 17 at 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. Participate in fall festivities like picking a pumpkin and enjoying donuts and cider. Additionally, there will be games, a read-aloud, and more. Come in costume to kick off Halloween early with the Ho-Ho-Kus community.
For more information visit www.hhkborough.com.
THE MARKETPLACE AT THE HERMITAGE
Step into a world of wonder and holiday cheer at our Holiday Marketplace Gift Shop, your go-to destination for unforgettable shopping. Featuring a curated collection of handpicked and handmade treasures, our shop promises something magical for everyone on your list.
The grand opening will be held Saturday, Nov. 15 at noon. Hours of operation will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. on weekends (closed Mondays).
Discover unique creations from talented local artisans and beloved brands. Find the perfect present and discover one-ofa-kind items you won’t find anywhere else. As an added bonus, you’ll be supporting local artisans; every purchase helps uplift small businesses and craftspeople in our community. There’s no admission fee to shop.
To inquire about becoming a vendor, contact Joan Adams at jadams50@aol.com or email the Hermitage office at cblaylock @thehermitage.org.
TOOLS OF THE GARDENING TRADE
Join the Ho-Ho-Kus Garden Club for an exclusive event with gardening artist Paul Sisko on Monday, Oct. 27 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at Sycamore Community Church (32 Sycamore Ave.). Sisko will review the maintenance of commonly used garden tools such as hand pruners, loppers, shears, etc. Learn about various watering systems from basic hoses and nozzles, and an array of timing devices to make your watering life easier. Pruning and hedging tips will also be discussed.
For more information, visit www.hohokusgardenclub.com.
Rebecca Bleich is a graduate of Ramapo College, where she majored in journalism and writing. She writes articles on news, arts, sports, and viewpoints.
Hometown Pride
Hundreds of residents gathered downtown for a day of fun at the fourth annual Ho-Ho-Kus Day.
Ho-Ho-Kus Day featured tons of entertainment, including a rock wall, a bubble show, a balloon artist, a zipline, and a bouncy house. Restaurants like St. Eve’s served up delicacies at the event, which also featured food trucks and a beer and wine tent by Ho-Ho-Kus Inn & Tavern.
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Ramen Lovers Rejoice
Tojo’s Restaurant is back after being forced to close for months due to a fire. People often come for the noodles but find so much more to love at the family-owned eatery.
BY SARAH NOLAN
NINE MONTHS AFTER a fire devastated the building on North Franklin Turnpike where Tojo’s Restaurant is located, the eatery has reopened with a fresh interior look and exciting menu updates, signaling a new beginning for the family-owned business known for its upscale ramen and Japanese small bites.
Husband and wife team Satoshi Tojo and Olive Ho are excited to be back at the borough location; they also own Tojo’s Kitchen at Garden State Plaza in Paramus.
Ho says though her husband graduated with a law degree from a university in his home country of Japan, he just couldn’t shake his side passion for cooking. He took some culinary courses there before moving to the United States about 12 years ago.
LOCAL TASTES
He began doing marketing for Kinoene sake, which is brewed in Japan, and was at a trade show promoting it when he met Ho, who was also there as a marketing professional.
With his recipes and her business acumen, the pair decided to hit the road, bringing their cuisine to different food festivals. It started off as a side job, Ho says, and the focus was on karaage, Japanese-style friend chicken.
“We got really popular—no one was making it at the time,” Ho says. “People weren’t exposed to that kind of food.”
They were invited to do a pop-up at Garden State Plaza in Paramus, and it did so well that they were asked to stay. The one ask? Could they add ramen to their menu? They could certainly try, Ho says they answered. They took the space and opened their doors in the mall in 2019.
A TASTE FOR GOOD FOOD
Tojo develops all the recipes, while Ho handles the backend business and marketing. Ramen is now Tojo’s top menu category. Their homemade chicken and pork broth simmers for 72 hours before it reaches creamy perfection.
Shoyu Whiskey Ramen is one of their most popular dishes, with its wavy noodles and house made shoyu sauce with chicken and pork broth topped with egg, menma, pork belly and pork shoulder chashu, nori, wakame, black garlic oil, and scallion.
Tan Tan Ramen also makes the list, featuring rich pork broth with house made spicy sesame miso sauce, nikumiso (ground pork with miso sauce), egg, menma, scallions, takanazuke (Japanese spicy pickles), taberu
Left: Satoshi Tojo and Olive Ho. Above: Tojo’s Restaurant is located at 5 N. Franklin Turnpike.
rayu (house made spicy oil), sesame, and bok choy.
Ho says their sauces are particularly special, using several types of Japanese soy sauces and other authentic ingredients. Tojo carefully trains chefs in their preparation.
Karaage continues to be a hit at Tojo’s. Other menu categories include Donburi (rice bowls with different toppings) and Onigiri (Japanese rice balls), along with many small bites/ appetizers.
Tojo’s was forced to close after a fire broke out in an apartment on the second floor of their building, displacing tenants and business
owners due to fire, smoke, and water damage. The refurbished space offers patrons a clean and modern dining experience, now with counter seating where they can peek into the kitchen and see their food being prepared.
When asked what it’s like working with her husband, Ho just laughed, adding: “You have to be very confident in your relationship.”
But with two restaurants, the pair are afforded a bit of space from one another; Tojo spends most of his time in Ho-Ho-Kus while Ho is usually in Paramus.
The couple also calls Ho-Ho-Kus home. They live with their two French
bulldogs only a five-minute walk from the restaurant. Ho says the dogs are a sort of mascot for the restaurant, with desserts shaped like their faces.
The small community and genuine care that neighbors show for one another are what the restaurateurs like most about the borough.
“Everyone knows each other, and our neighbors are really friendly— people reached to express their concern after the fire,” Ho says. “It’s a welcoming vibe.”
For more about Tojo’s Restaurant, visit tojorestaurant.com or the Instagram page @tojorestaurant.
Tojo serves up a bowl of ramen; it has become the restaurant’s most popular menu category.
A Balancing Act
Fall sports are in full swing, maxing out students’ free time. Highlanders say it’s worth it, thanks to the lessons learned and connections made.
BY LANEY MCCROSSIN
THE START OF THE school year can be overwhelming. Coming off the slower days of summer, many Highlanders are adjusting to hours on end of cramming their brains with eight subjects’ worth of content. When the final bell rings, there’s homework, clubs, jobs, and household responsibilities to tend to. And, for a select group of students, this everyday stress is amplified by their participation in high school sports—a big part of life at Northern Highlands. The school boasts a total of 31 varsity sports teams. Students who participate in school sports at a varsity or sub-varsity level are expected to dedicate a tremendous amount of time and energy to their sports.
It’s intense, but many student athletes find that, thanks to having to juggle so much, they can manage their time more diligently.
For senior cross-country runner and Ho-Ho-Kus alumnus Alex Kao, this is established through understanding his team’s predetermined schedule and being flexible with his life around that.
“Managing my time as a student athlete is as simple as knowing my priorities: mainly, competitive meets and practices,” says Kao. “My team has the luxury of having a premade schedule of upcoming practices and meets so that we can better plan for the future.”
For example, in one instance, Kao had to move a college visit to another week because of a cross-country meet scheduled that same day.
Another senior from Ho-Ho-Kus, Allie Reilly, who has played on the varsity volleyball team since her sophomore year, takes her balancing act day-by-day.
“After school, I have practice where I am 100% locked in,” explains Reilly.
“Immediately after, I go home and spend time on schoolwork. This is crucial to the student athlete life balance to keep yourself successful in both sports and school.”
Both Reilly and Kao agree on the importance of teamwork in high school sports. When asked to define the student athlete experience in one word, Kao says “selfless.”
“Setting and reaching personal goals is an integral part of a team sport, but the motivation to focus on one’s performance is based on the teammates around you,” he says. “In cross-country, when you run as a group, you are indirectly pushing each other to your limits, all while actively encouraging each other to persevere. When reaching a personal milestone, you are far more excited to share it with others than to keep it to yourself.”
Reilly agrees on the importance of camaraderie, noting how working with her team to create winning moments is one of the most rewarding aspects of volleyball. She remarks how her
team’s motto this year is “we more than me” — athletes put the team before any personal problems they may have.
Despite the intensity of high school sports, it’s important for student athletes to take time to focus on school and themselves.
“My advice for somebody beginning a fall sport is to keep your focus on school, while maintaining a good balance with sports,” says Reilly. “It is crucial to start off the school year focused and working hard on both aspects of your fall season.”
Kao says it’s key to be realistic and not put too much pressure on oneself.
“It’s unrealistic to have expectations when it means literally predicting four years of training and its outcome,” he says.
For all high school athletes, it can be daunting to embark on such an unknown journey, but athletes agree: The time, dedication, and sweat is all worth it in the end because of the friends and development made along the way.
Laney McCrossin is a senior at Northern Highlands Regional High School. She has lived in Ho-Ho-Kus her whole life and is excited to share high school news and feature stories with the town.
Opposite page: Cross-country runner Alex Kao with his coach, Joel DeStaso. This page, from left: Kao practices on the Northern Highlands track. Seniors on the Northern Highlands varsity volleyball team. Kao hits his stride.
Halloween at the Hermitage
The historic property is the place to be for fans of the supernatural looking to get spooked this season.
BY SARAH NOLAN
RRIGHT HERE IN Ho-Ho-Kus, an absolute historical gem sits on Franklin Turnpike, set back from the road. The Hermitage is a history buff’s delight, perhaps best known as a stop for George Washington and his troops during the Revolutionary War and the site of Aaron Burr and Theodosia Prevost’s wedding.
And with all that history (along with a notably ominous presence that the Gothic Revival style Victorian home commands) there are bound to be some rumors of hauntings.
Take it from Hermitage Events and
Services Manager Christine Blaylock:
“It’s a creepy old house,” she says. “Year round, people want to hear about the ghosts and the hauntings. Inevitably, on some tour every single week someone will ask.”
And October is the time for those that love macabre stories to visit. For many years, it was taboo to speak about ghosts and hauntings (the property is owned by the state of New Jersey, and it was frowned upon). But during the month of Halloween, they get a pass.
After all, ghost stories are really part of the fabric of the Hermitage.
The Rosencrantz family occupied the house for 163 years over four generations. Members Aunt Bess and Mary Elizabeth were known to regale guests with tales of hauntings.
“People love it! Absolutely anything supernatural or paranormal, they eat it up,” Blaylock says.
Having spent a lot of time on the property, she’s experienced her fair share of suspicious activity: hearing footsteps and whispers while alone in the house, noticing lights on that she’s certain were left off, and cabinets open that she knows were shut.
“There are things that happen regularly that you just can’t explain,” she says. “Whether or not that’s actually a ghost, who’s to say? But there’s no reasonable explanation.”
Blaylock and Hermitage Director of Development Julie Zier say 80 to 90% of people that come on regular tours, held throughout the year, say they drive by the property every day and had no idea what it was until they decided to stop in one day.
“The Halloween events are a good time to get people here—it expands our audience significantly,” Blaylock says. “They come for the ghosts but are blown away by the history here. They’ll say, ‘Wait, the George Washington? The Aaron Burr?’ They want to hear more.”
Throughout the spooky season, the Hermitage will host a variety of events that are sure to thrill Halloween (and history) lovers. Make sure you visit the Hermitage website early to check ticket availability. Many of these events are incredibly popular and sell out quickly.
Above: The Hermitage has a “creepy” vibe, thanks to its Gothic Revival Victorian style. Hermitage Director of Development Julie Zier and Events and Services Manager Christine Blaylock. Opposite page: The grave of a member of the Rosencrantz family, generations of which occupied the Hermitage for 163 years. Some members were known to tell ghost stories about the old mansion.
MURDER MYSTERY DINNER PARTY
When: Saturday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m.
Tickets: $90 per person or $170 for a pair at thehermitage.org/events. The Hermitage and Murder Café present a Murder Mystery Dinner Party, where attendees are invited to dine with William Rosencrantz and his gracious wife Mary Warner at their stately Hermitage estate. Get swept into a night of laughter, gossip, and high society secrets—until the evening takes a chilling turn. Can you unravel the mystery before the final course is served? The evening will feature a buffet dinner, cash bar, entertainment, and prizes.
LEGENDS & LORE
When: Oct. 18, 19, 24, and 26 at 6:30 and 7:45 p.m.
Tickets: $25 at thehermitage.org/events. This spine-tingling candlelight journey through the Hermitage is sure to captivate attendees, as docents share chilling tales of unexplained happenings at the home that have been whispered through generations and are still recounted today. Is it legend? Memory? Or something still alive in the silence of the night?
GHOST TOURS & SPIRITUAL CHANNELING WITH CRAIG MCMANUS
When: Oct. 24 and 26 at 9 p.m.
Tickets: $75 at thehermitage.org/events. Step into the shadows of our enchanting Victorian mansion for unforgettable ghost tours led by the renowned spiritual medium Craig McManus. Wander candlelit halls, hear chilling tales of restless spirits, and gather in the opulent front parlor to perhaps connect with voices from beyond. Are you ready to meet the other side? Note: 90-minute tours include walking and stairs and are dimly lit. This event is not recommended for those under age 16.
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD: THE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE
When: Oct. 25 at 7 p.m.
Tickets: $20 at thehermitage.org/events. Enter a world turned upside down in “Night of the Living Dead,” a play inspired by the iconic zombie horror film. This gripping performance plunges audience members into a pulse-raising struggle for survival as the flesh-hungry creatures close in. No one is merely a spectator in this immersive experience that Blaylock describes as “campy creepy.” About 20 actors from First Flight Theatre Company will put on this show, with help from the audience.
AN AFTERNOON OF CHANNELING WITH MEDIUM CRAIG MCMANUS
When: Sunday, Nov. 16, from 2 to 4 p.m.
Tickets: $80 at thehermitage.org/events. Join Ho-Ho-Kus medium Craig McManus for a powerful and uplifting group gathering devoted to connecting attendees with loved ones who have crossed over. This event is sure to offer messages of love, hope, inspiration, and healing, providing meaningful evidence of life after life. Attendance does not guarantee a reading, and seating is limited. The event is not recommended for those under age 16. Light snacks and beverages will be served.
Ho-Ho-Kus Pocus
The annual Halloween House Tour returns for its sixth year to delight residents of all ages with a spooktacular experience.
BY SARAH NOLAN
IIT WAS THE FALL
of 2020 and more than six months into the pandemic when sisters Missy McCloskey and Cassie Cavallo began to worry about the fate of Halloween.
The usual celebrations and gatherings were off, and social distancing would make trickor-treating…well, tricky. But at a time when people really needed lighthearted fun and some kind of connection, they were determined to come up with something.
A Halloween House Tour, where residents volunteered to decorate their homes and friends and neighbors could see decorations
from the safety of their cars fit the bill. The sisters thought maybe a handful of people would join in.
To their surprise, more than 32 homeowners signed up, many going all out with incredible displays.
“It quickly turned into something magical for all ages and showed us how special Ho-Ho-Kus is—full of families willing to embrace a fun, whimsical idea,” McCloskey says. “Since then, the tradition has only grown bigger and better each year.”
This year’s tour will be especially thrilling, since it will take place the night before Halloween—Thursday, Oct. 30—a scary good way to kick off the holiday weekend.
A ‘BOO’-TIFUL TRADITION
McCloskey and Cavallo say each year, between 20 and 30 houses participate, making for about an hour-long driving tour. Anyone can sign up, and over the years, the decorations have only gotten more creative, they say.
On tour night, ticket holders will receive an email with pickup instructions for their map and route so everyone can follow along. People vote for their favorite houses and this year five winners will receive cash prizes.
“Families spend weeks planning, building, and decorating, all to create a night where kids and adults light
Sisters Tina and Cindy Smith, pictured, have become known for a “Hocus Pocus” theme, decorating the old farmhouse they grew up in to the nines.
up with excitement,” Cavallo says. “We love seeing carloads of families, kids in the backseat with grandparents or friends, laughing, pointing, and smiling the whole way through.”
The tour comes with a booklet including descriptions of each stop on the tour, noting which houses are deemed particularly scary in case families choose to skip those.
The Rosato family, referred to as “Halloween royalty” in last year’s booklet, is one such stop, having won Scariest House five years in a row, featuring themes like “Slaughterhouse Five,” “The Dead End,” “The Freakshow,” and “Toy Trunk.” And on the more kidfriendly end are displays like 2024’s “It’s the Great Pumpkin…Ho-Ho-Kus!” by the Foster-Moore family (which took home the award for Most Fun display) and “Skeleton Olympics” by the Im family, which took home the Best Details award.
While some participants change their theme each year, others stick with the same concept; those stops have become fun traditions that people look forward to, McCloskey says. Like the Smith sisters, Tina and Cindy, with a “Hocus Pocus” theme that’s sure to make visitors feel like they’ve stepped into the 1993 cult classic movie.
Tina says she’s always loved the fun of Halloween and the movie “Hocus Pocus.” She grew up in the borough and fondly remembers the Ragamuffin Parade at Ho-Ho-Kus School and the Halloween Window Painting downtown. Overall, they love making people smile as “friendly witches.” Cindy says their display looks like what you’d imagine “if Halloween threw up.”
“We see something fun or interesting and get it—there’s really no rhyme or reason to our decorating,” Tina says. “There’s lots to look at: different colors, lights and
combinations. We take a childlike view with our decorations. It’s spooky not scary; we don’t like being scared.”
McCloskey and Cavallo say each year excitement builds, with certain families becoming “can’t miss” stops. Chattering amongst borough kids about what each house might do also builds anticipation and magic.
“What started as a neighborhood experiment has become a beloved town-wide tradition that people genuinely look forward to,” McCloskey says.
The founders say the families who decorate are the true stars of the tour. They’ve built everything from full-scale pirate ships to haunted graveyards and silly, playful displays that make the little ones laugh.
“Each family brings their own personality into it,” Cavallo says. “The creativity is amazing, but what really shines through is the sense of
This page, clockwise from top left: Residents that will be decorating their homes at this year’s Halloween House Tour gathered at a home on Franklin Turnpike to discuss ideas and get in the spirit. A sign from a 2024 display warns of werewolf danger ahead. The Kelly family outside of their home in 2023, when they had Super Mario Brothers-themed display. Opposite page, top: Spooky decorations from previous years’ tours. Bottom: Founders and sisters Missy McCloskey and Cassie Cavallo pictured with Halloween decor.
generosity. These families aren’t just decorating for themselves; they’re putting in all that effort so that hundreds of kids and parents can have a magical night. Their energy is contagious, and it’s what makes the tour such a success.”
Each year the event relies on sponsors that the sisters say are an essential part of making the Halloween House Tour happen. From local businesses to community organizations, their support helps cover the costs of running the event—things like signage, safety measures, prizes, and logistics.
McCloskey and Cavallo started a 501(c)(3) in 2024 called Friends of Ho-Ho-Kus. Its mission is to take the proceeds from the tour and put them directly back into meaningful projects for the town.
Funds raised from the 2024 and 2025 tour will go toward the creation of a new garden and landscaped space at Ho-Ho-Kus School— something the entire community can enjoy for years to come, the sisters say.
McCloskey and Cavallo grew up in Saddle River and each returned to New Jersey with their families within the past 10 years. They have six kids between them, ranging from pre-K
to 7th grade and say they’ve found a “gem” of a community in Ho-Ho-Kus.
“It’s closeknit, family-oriented and full of traditions,” McCloskey says. “At the same time, it embraces new ones, like the Halloween House Tour, with open arms.”
“What makes Ho-Ho-Kus so special, without question, are the families who live here,” Cavallo adds. “The Halloween House Tour is just one more example of how this town comes together to create lasting memories for everyone.”
To buy tickets to the Halloween House Tour, visit www.friendsofhhk.com. For more information, visit the event’s Instagram page @hhkhalloween.
Fostering Otherworldly Connections
Ho-Ho-Kus’s Craig McManus opens up about his journey to becoming an esteemed psychic medium and author.
INTERVIEW WITH
When did you first know you had a gift, and how did it present to you?
When I was very young, I used to sense things that would frighten me, but my mom would always say, “It’s just your imagination!” I was quite afraid of the dark, and the long basement in our ranch house in Demarest where I grew up was particularly creepy. I remember several times as a child having vivid dreams of people I did not recognize just standing there, staring at me. Sometimes I would hear echoing voices with the dreams. All these things were chalked up to a little kid’s bad dreams. As a young boy, I was always intrigued with ghosts and hauntings. I loved haunted house movies but just didn’t want my house to be haunted!
Years later, when I was in my teens, I became more interested
in the paranormal and psychic ability. I found out psychic/intuitive abilities seemed to run in my family.
At some point I was given a pack of Tarot cards as a birthday gift by a friend. Each time I would focus and try to do a card reading for friends, I started to feel a presence or presences around. Names would pop into my head with each visit. I first assumed I was attracting some ghostly presence in the house, but later I started mentioning the names and feelings to people and they all recognized the people as close family members who had passed. It happened every time. This intrigued me to read up on psychic ability and mediumship. This was preinternet, so my learning curve was slow.
I feel many people have some degree of psychic or intuitive ability, but a lot of these people choose to either ignore it or block it. In my case, I wish psychic ability came with a user’s manual, but unfortunately, it doesn’t.
Eventually, people started asking for readings, but I was only doing these for friends and friends of friends. I finally got up the nerve to start doing phone sessions. One of my first clients was a friend’s sister who was a public relations agent in the record industry. She loved the phone session and told all of her friends. So, I suddenly had a long list of phone clients. My career as a medium was only supposed to be a part-time gig but was now becoming a second job.
How did you foster your psychic ability/learn to be more attuned to it?
Psychic ability needs to be used to keep it working at its full potential. The more phone sessions I did, the sharper the ability became. Eventually I started doing in-person sessions as
CRAIG MCMANUS
well. I was drawn to using the ability like someone who plays the piano is drawn to a piano in a room. It was a pull that I can’t explain. Again, there was no user manual for all this. I had a few mediums come into my life who helped give me some direction, but for the most part, I was on my own. It was all field experience. Channeling (the term used for mediums bringing messages from spirits to those here) presented many different types of client situations. The job became part medium, part life counselor. Every session is different. A medium’s job is to bring through the messages as they come, then to help the client interpret what they mean and how they can help that person on their life path.
When did you begin doing readings full-time? Tell me the types of readings/events you do now. I spent 30 years in the wine business where I started in high school as a delivery boy and worked my way up to a partnership in my own store. During this time, I was honing my skills as a medium, reading for friends and acquaintances. When I started doing professional phone sessions, years later, I found working all day in retail and coming home and working with clients was burning me out, so I stopped working as a medium for a few years. Eventually, I found that as much as I loved the wine business, I wanted something more from life. I made the decision to work full-time as a medium.
Are there any tips you might give to someone coming to one of your readings? How can they be more open to the process?
I always tell people to stay open to possibilities. It is OK to be skeptical, but don’t be cynical when attending a session or event as that will close down your energy. I also tell attendees that loved ones are always around us in spirit. People can talk to those who are now gone. You don’t need a medium to do that. A medium is there to communicate the messages back to the living, but many
Sometimes the most skeptical person in my small groups gets the strongest reading. Other times people manage to find a way to block any ounce of evidence that there is more to life than what we see around us. I am at the point in my career where I just ask people to stay open; it’s not my job to convince the skeptics. I just do my thing and hope it brings through positive energy that can help people on their life paths.
You’re an author of several books about ghosts, particularly in Cape May. Can you tell me about the energy in the town and why you feel it’s home to so many ghosts/haunted places?
Craig McManus sensing energies at the Hermitage, where he will hold group readings this month and next.
people also possess the gift and will have dreams, get feelings, or actually understand what loved ones are telling them. We all have a lot of good energy around us; we just have to be open to it.
In addition to private group sessions for one to 10 people, I do larger channeling dinners for up to 100 people. I have been doing dinners at the Iron Horse in Westwood, and at the Inn of Cape May. I also do fundraisers throughout the year. These events sell out quickly.
What would you say to skeptics?
I have had my share of skeptics and people who just don’t like what I do, but everyone can have their own opinions. The only thing that will convince a skeptic (and even this sometimes doesn’t do it) is first-hand experience.
In the early 1970s, when I was young, we spent summer weeks in Cape May at my great aunt and uncle’s new home there. I was all about the beach and the Wildwood amusement piers back then. When I went back for a visit as a young adult in the mid-1990s, I realized something had changed. There were three walking ghost tours in town, something not present in the 1970s. I began returning and taking the ghost tours repeatedly. Eventually I started staying at some of the bed and breakfasts, inns, and hotels on the tours. I got to know the people who owned these locations and when they heard I was a medium and interested in ghosts, they opened up about everything going on in each place. Cape May was a blank slate for paranormal experiences. It seemed like every other house was haunted! Years of ghost investigations led me to start a column in Exit Zero magazine in Cape May called “The Ghost Writer.” From these columns I published my first “Ghosts of Cape May” book. I wrote a total of five books on the ghosts of Cape May. I also partnered with Cape May MAC (Museums. Arts. Culture.) to develop a Ghosts of Cape May trolley tour that still runs daily,
today. In October, I also do a weekend of ghost walks.
Cape May has a very special energy, a good energy. It is also a paranormal hotspot.
You’ve done readings at the Hermitage; can you tell me a little bit about the energy there/potential ghosts? It took me years to get into the Hermitage and be able to research and investigate ghosts. After we moved into town, a friend and I took the house tour at the Hermitage. I told the docent I sensed “two sisters” in the back room. The young woman told me they were not allowed to mention ghosts on the tours. It was taboo. A few years later, I was asked to do a lecture about ghosts and hauntings in Jaqua Hall on the property, but I could not mention the Hermitage as being haunted. Nothing inspires me more than to be told not to talk to ghosts in a house! Eventually, I spent enough time in the house to realize there was a lot of energy there, all good. Generations of people living (and dying) and visiting the house can create a few ghosts in the mix. I also found a lot of historical evidence that the Rosencrantz family, who spent four generations in the home, also felt the
house was haunted. Mary Elizabeth Rosencrantz and her Aunt Bess ran a tearoom from the late teens through the early 1930s in the parlor where they told ghost stories about a Hessian soldier in the attic. Ghost stories are an entwined part of the history of the house.
I love the Hermitage. It is a national treasure and needs constant funding. The State of New Jersey owns the property, but the Friends of the Hermitage maintain the house and buildings on the property. In the days of younger generations not being interested in antiquities, ghost tours get them interested in this wonderful old house!
There’s a four year-long wait to get a small group reading with you. How does it feel for you to use your gift to help the many people that may be grieving and looking for connection with the dead?
It is a wonderful feeling when I hear from people who tell me their experience with me has brought them healing or helped them in some way. At a recent event, a woman in attendance handed me an envelope with a thank you card. She wrote that I saved her daughter’s life. She went on to write
that in a session seven years ago, her father came through and said not to let her daughter use the red truck. He was quite insistent that it would be dangerous. The following weekend her daughter was going back to school and needed the red truck to move furniture. The mother refused and told her to take the car. The daughter was upset that her mother was listening to a psychic, and it was messing up her plans. After the daughter left, the mother drove the red truck to the garage and asked the mechanic to check everything. He called her later that day and said, “Your daughter is lucky she listened to you, the front axle was breaking, and if she had taken that truck on the highway back to Pennsylvania, it would have snapped at the higher speed, and she would have lost control of the vehicle.”
Someone once told me the world needs more light workers. It is things like this story of the red truck that help me keep the faith and inspire me to keep on channeling. Channeling, especially for a large group, is extremely mentally draining. But if I can make a difference in even a few people’s lives for the positive, it is well worth the effort.
Above, left: McManus as a boy with a marionette from a show his father did for schools in the 1960s. He says he’s been fascinated by spooky stuff since he was young. Above, right: McManus on a walk through Valleau Cemetery in Ridgewood, where he was feeling some energies.
Future Leaders
Students learned the ins and outs of law enforcement at this year’s Junior Police Academy.
BY SARAH NOLAN
HO-HO-KUS STUDENTS had the opportunity to take part in the Junior Police Academy this summer for a week full of learning, teamwork, adventure, and fun.
Recruits had many unforgettable educational experiences, including a visit to the Bergen County Police Academy, a live demonstration from the Bergen County Bomb Squad, the landing of a New Jersey State Police helicopter on their very own school field, a boat ride on the Hudson River with the Palisades Interstate Parkway Police, a K-9 demonstration, and a chance to check out Ho-HoKus Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Volunteer Fire Department vehicles and gear.
The Junior Police Academy aims to instill respect for law enforcement and foster a sense of partnership among future leaders through mentorship and positive engagement.
Opposite page: Students experienced the landing of a New Jersey State Police helicopter on their school field as part of the program. This page: Students ran drills, watched a live demonstration by the Bergen County Bomb Squad, took a boat ride on the Hudson River with the Palisades Interstate Parkway Police, and experienced a K-9 demonstration. It was a fun and educational week for all.
Spooky Season Spotlight
Five new books for those who dare to be scared.
BY WENDY LEES ON BEHALF OF THE WORTH-PINKHAM MEMORIAL LIBRARY
DOES SPOOKY SEASON have you craving books on the scarier side? From haunting tales with humor to historical horror, these five 2025 releases are sure to send a shiver down your spine. Just don’t blame the library if your October electric bill goes up. It’s not our fault if you decide to sleep with your lights on.
PLAY NICE
By Rachel Harrison
Fiendishly funny, with slow-burn suspense
After the death of her estranged mother, an internet influencer inherits her childhood home and turns the renovation into social media content. Her mother’s claims that the house was possessed were just the rantings of a madwoman, weren’t they? But the demons that lurk within a dysfunctional family cannot be wallpapered over.
BAT EATER AND OTHER NAMES FOR CORA ZENG
By Kylie Lee Baker
Wry and raw, steeped in real-world malice
A serial killer is targeting young Asian women in pandemic-era New York City. Cora was right there when the killer struck, but a surgical mask hid his face. Are the vague shadows and whispers her grief talking, or are ghosts trying to tell her something? As a crimescene cleaner, Cora keeps encountering murders that darkly mirror the one that shattered her life.
WHEN THE WOLF COMES HOME
By Nat Cassidy
Savagely brilliant with an ending you won’t see coming
This book evolves into so much more than the cover would imply. Server/ struggling actress Jess finds a small boy outside her apartment hiding from his raging father. How far will she go to protect the young runaway, and what happens when the monster is one she can’t outrun? Buddy read with a nonsqueamish friend because the jawdropping conclusion is one you’ll be dying to talk about.
THE BUFFALO HUNTER HUNTER
By
Stephen Graham Jones
Dark and unflinching, rooted in historic atrocity
THE UNVEILING
By Quan Barry
A pastor’s century-old journal is found in the walls of a church. In it, he records the brutal confessions of Good Stab, a member of the Blackfeet Nation who’s spent decades exacting vengeance. As his violent history unfolds, the pastor’s dread grows. Is the mysterious stranger truly seeking absolution, or are the unsolved local murders all part of his ongoing revenge?
Lyrical prose with a frightening revelation
A luxury cruise to Antarctica turns chilling when a freak accident leaves a film scout and a handful of wealthy tourists stranded on a remote island. As they struggle to survive the hostile landscape, the thawing ice seems to unearth ghosts of past explorers and the darkest secrets of the living. Barry’s literary horror blurs the line between the supernatural and the terrors within.
Library Events
EVENTS FOR KIDS
LEGO Builders
LEGO Builders is a STEM program that gives children the opportunity to use LEGO bricks to tackle challenges and make inventive creations! This program aids children in developing problem solving and motor control skills. The group will meet on Thursday, Oct. 16 from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m.
STEAM Challenge: Moving Sculptures
In this STEAM program, children will design and build moving sculptures inspired by the artistic style of Alexander Calder, presented by Challenge Island. Skills include: creativity, collaboration, engineering, problem-solving, and artistic design. Registration is required for participating children only. This event will be held on Thursday, Oct. 23 from 4 to 5 p.m. at Sycamore Community Church, 32 Sycamore Ave.
Toddler Imaginative Play
Imaginative play fosters creativity and problem-solving. Children will
enhance their social skills, empathy, and language in our stimulating environment. This is a great chance for toddlers to engage with peers and caregivers to connect with each other. Toddler Imaginative Play is held Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to noon.
Story Time
Story time is valuable for the development of early literacy skills, including sound recognition and vocabulary. It also enhances children’s focus, social interaction, communication, and emotional recognition. This month, Story Time is on Monday Oct. 6 and 27 from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Each regular story time is followed by a craft or activity.
Baby Story Time
Story time for babies! The focus will be on developmental skills such as motor control and color and shape recognition. Registration is only required for children; caregivers do not need to register. This month, Baby Story Time will be held Wednesday, Oct. 8 from 10:30 to 11 a.m.
EVENTS FOR ADULTS
Jane Austen Book Club
Celebrate Jane Austen’s 250th birthday with us. Registration is required for each meeting. The book for October is “Sense and Sensibility” (meeting is Thursday, Oct. 9 from 7 to 8 p.m.) and the book for November is “Persuasion” (meeting is Thursday, Nov. 13 from 7 to 8 p.m.).
Neighborhood Book Club
A book club for adults who live or work in Allendale or Ho-Ho-Kus. Meetings are held at Ho-Ho-Kus Inn. This month, the club will meet on Oct. 15. To join, please register at: www.bit.ly/ Joinbookclub.
Millennial Book Club
Millennial Book Club, cosponsored with the Glen Rock Public Library, is geared toward individuals born between 1980 and 1995. New members are always welcome! Our meetings are typically on the fourth Wednesday of the month at the Glen Rock Inn in Glen Rock. This month, the club will meet on Oct. 22. The next book is announced at the end of the meeting. To stay in the loop and find out what we are reading, join our Facebook group: facebook. com/groups/millennialsbookclub.
Many library events require registration. Please visit the calendar at hohokuslibrary.org to check availability and register.
ARTIST Kristina Filler snapped this shot, focusing on just one of hundreds of zinnias that grow along the perimeter of the Ho-Ho-Kus Community Garden. The flowers serve as a cheerful and colorful welcome to those visiting the inviting space.
Have a great image for Photo Op?
Submit your high-resolution shot to editor@ hohokusmagazine.com.
PHOTOGRAPH BY KRISTINA FILLER
PHOTO OP BRIGHT AND BOLD
LOCAL
Take the First Step Toward Recovery from Substance Use
Valley Health System now offers inpatient withdrawal management (also known as detox) services through our Recovery and Wellness Unit as part of our comprehensive substance use treatment.
Valley’s medically supervised program provides a comfortable, structured, and compassionate environment to begin recovery. Around-theclock medical care, a multidisciplinary team, and a holistic, evidence-based approach ensures personalized support for each patient.
Valley’s program offers:
n Medically supervised and comfortable withdrawal
n An expert, multidisciplinary team
n Holistic, evidence-based treatment
n Seamless transition to recovery
n Confidential and compassionate support
