Morris Essex April/May 2020

APRIL/MAY 2020 | $3.95 | MSXHEALTHANDLIFE.COM | VOLUME 19 ISSUE 2

HEALTH & LIFE

HEALTH & LIFE

THE HOME ISSUE

HOME SWEET HOME

■ RUNWAY-INSPIRED ROOMS ■ BIRD BATHS: SPLASH & STYLE ■ CLOSET CASES: 6 WARDROBES THAT WOW

VOLUME 19 ISSUE 2 | APRIL/MAY 2020

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FAMILY-FRIENDLY SPACE THE COUNTIES’ TOP REAL ESTATE AGENTS

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CONTENTS

{ APRIL/MAY 2020 }

Features High Risk, High Reward | 26

A Saint Barnabas Medical Center program to identify and monitor high-risk patients helps reduce the chances of developing breast cancer.

More Than a Transplant, a New Friendship | 28

Radio personality Bob Williams marks one year with a new kidney—with his donor.

Getting a ‘Jump Start’ on Exercise | 30

The Jump Start Program at SBMC helps those new to exercise learn how to do it safely and effectively.

A Room Made New | 32

RUNWAYINSPIRED ROOMS

These stunning rooms pay homage to recent works from your favorite ateliers’ new collections.

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The three girls were older now. It was time to turn their playroom into a tranquil space the whole family could enjoy.

IN EVERY ISSUE

8 Welcome Letter 10 Editor’s Note

ON THE COVER: Designer Julie Liepold transformed a former playroom into a space for the entire family.

Photography by Erica Moffitt.

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CONTENTS

Departments Morris/Essex Buzz | 12

Our guide to new ideas, tips, trends and things we love in the counties.

For Men Only | 14

Not all menswear is neutral this season. Brighten your look with pieces that pop in blue.

Style Watch | 16

Keep your style in check with smart pieces in this beloved preppy pattern, houndstooth.

Jewelry Box | 18

Go wild over these fierce fine-jewelry pieces, inspired by creatures big and small.

Home Front | 20

Keep your clothes in a closet that’s just as classy as they (and you) are.

Home Front | 22

Bird is the word when it comes to this season’s hottest outdoor décor.

Talk of the Town | 24

One of the Garden State’s youngest townships, East Hanover serves as the idyllic small town while housing some of the world’s biggest makers.

Tastes | 38

What could be easier than piling protein and spices plus veggies into a pot for a hearty meal?

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Power Food | 61

Move over, orange. The ube, a nutty-tasting root vegetable from the Philippines, has hit the big time.

Gatherings | 62

Whether it’s at a fundraiser or a volunteering event, Morris/Essex residents always show up to support their friends and neighbors.

Restaurant Review | 63

Tucked away in a Lincoln Park strip mall is a small eatery with a big reputation. Could it live up to the hype?

A Morris/Essex Moment | 64

A little one finds beauty in the blossoming flora at The Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morristown.

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HEALTH & LIFE

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Senior Associate Editor DARIUS AMOS Lifestyle Editor HALEY LONGMAN Editorial Assistant GIANNA BARONE Contributing Editor DAVID LEVINE ART

Art Director MICHAEL FORTE Contributing Designers EILEEN CRABILL, KARA KABLACK Contributing Photographer ERICA MOFFITT

Consultations are Complimentary!

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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CORPORATE GIFTS | PARTY FAVORS | HOLIDAY FAVORITES EASTER IS APRIL 12TH! Over 100 different styles of HOMEMADE Hollow Chocolate Bunnies on display Ready Made EASTER BASKETS, or Everything you need to make your own EASTER BASKET! Solid Chocolate Bunnies and Lollipops, Jelly Beans Chocolate Foil wrapped Eggs HOMEMADE Coconut Eggs and Peanut Butter Eggs COME IN OR ORDER ONLINE EARLY FOR THE BEST SELECTION

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BE SOCIAL Join our online community!

LIKE us on Facebook: MorrisHealthandLife FOLLOW us on Twitter: @MsxHandL SEE our photos on Instagram: @HealthNLife VIEW our boards on Pinterest: HealthandLife SEND YOUR FEEDBACK AND IDEAS TO: Editor, Morris/Essex Health & Life, 1 Maynard Dr., Park Ridge, NJ 07656; fax 201.746.8650; email editor@ wainscotmedia.com. Morris/Essex Health & Life assumes no responsibility for the return of unsolicited manuscripts or art materials.

Morris/Essex Health & Life is published 6 times a year by Wainscot Media, 1 Maynard Dr., Park Ridge, NJ 07656. This is Volume 19, Issue 2. © 2020 by Wainscot Media LLC. All rights reserved. Subscriptions in U.S. outside of Morris and Essex counties: $14 for one year. Single copies: $3.95.

Material contained herein is intended for informational purposes only. If you have medical concerns, seek the guidance of a healthcare professional.

Publisher THOMAS FLANNERY ADVERTISING

Account Executives MARY LIMA, MAURA HUNTER TEMPLETON Director, Special Programs LAURA A. DOWDEN MARKETING, DIGITAL & OPERATIONS

Director of Marketing and Digital Media NIGEL EDELSHAIN Director of Advertising Services JACQUELYNN FISCHER Controller AGNES ALVES Senior Staff Accountant MEGAN FRANK Junior Accountants KASIE CARLETON, KATIE TORRE Communications Manager CATHERINE ROSARIO Executive Assistant PENNY GLASS BOAG PUBLISHED BY WAINSCOT MEDIA

Chairman CARROLL V. DOWDEN President & CEO MARK DOWDEN

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Senior Vice Presidents SHAE MARCUS CARL OLSEN Vice Presidents NIGEL EDELSHAIN THOMAS FLANNERY RITA GUARNA DIANE VOJCANIN

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Please contact Thomas Flannery at 201.571.2252 or thomas.flannery@wainscotmedia.com.

SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES To inquire about a subscription, to change an address or to purchase a back issue or a reprint of an article, please write to Morris/Essex Health & Life, Circulation Department, 1 Maynard Dr., Park Ridge, NJ 07656; telephone 201.573.5541.

1.800.CALL GPS | shopgps.com Bayonne | Bergenfield | Eatontown | Edison | Flemington | Green Brook Hawthorne | Lakewood | Matawan | Morris Plains | Orange | Paramus For additional locations please visit our website.

{ WELCOME LETTER }

R W J BARNABAS HEALTH PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER RWJBARNABAS HEALTH BARRY H. OS TROWS KY

SAINT BARNABAS MEDICAL CENTER

PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER SAINT BARNABAS MEDICAL CENTER S TEPHEN P. ZI ENI EWI CZ, FAC HE SENIOR DIRECTOR STRATEGIC MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS SAINT BARNABAS MEDICAL CENTER S AL LY MAL ECH, MPH, RD ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS SAINT BARNABAS MEDICAL CENTER S AMANTHA ANTON

STAYING HEALTHY AT SBMC Here at Saint Barnabas Medical Center (SBMC), the well-being of our patients is and always has been of utmost importance. It is especially imperative in a time like this amid the COVID-19 pandemic that we prioritize health above all else. SBMC always emphasizes the betterment of our patients and staff, and we are diligently abiding by the CDC’s recommendations to wash our hands for at least 20 seconds and maintain a “social distance” from others whenever possible.

With so much going on, it’s nice to read positive stories, and you’ll get just that in this issue of Morris/Essex Health & Life. Bob Williams, a local radio personality, found both a new kidney and a new friend in Kim Roumes, his organ donor. Read their inspiring story—and the serendipitous way Bob found out his acquaintance was being tested— on page 28.

Another article, found on page 26, discusses an important monitoring program in breast cancer care at the Center for Breast Health at the Barnabas Health Ambulatory Care Center. This program observes high-risk patients so that if they do have cancer, it is caught as early as possible.

And lastly, you might be thinking about starting an exercise routine but don’t know where to begin and/or have little background when it comes to working out. Flip to page 30 to learn more about SBMC’s Jump Start program, an introductory class that helps participants learn how to exercise properly and how activity helps to manage a variety of health issues, from obesity to osteoporosis. This program and others at SBMC will be back up and running once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

We hope first and foremost that you and your family are staying healthy and safe, and that you take comfort in knowing we are here if and when you need us.

In good health,

S AI NT BARNABAS MEDI CAL C ENT E R

94 Old Shor t Hills Road, Livingston, NJ 07039 973.322.5000 or 1.888.724.7123 For more infor mation about Saint Bar nabas facilities and ser vices, please visit r wjbh.org/sbmc.

BARRY H. OSTROWSKY President and Chief Executive Officer RWJBARNABAS HEALTH

PUBLISHED BY

WAINSCOT MEDIA

STEPHEN P. ZIENIEWICZ, FACHE President and Chief Executive Officer SAINT BARNABAS MEDICAL CENTER

FOR A DDITIONAL INFORM ATION ABOUT SA INT BA R NABAS MEDICAL CENTER, V ISIT OU R W EBSITE AT RWJBH.ORG/ SBMC.

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{ EDITOR’S NOTE }

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The Importance of Home “…You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone…”

Joni Mitchell’s lyrics ring in my ears as I sit at home at my work computer. It’s one thing to have an option to work from home; it’s another to have to work from home. And who hasn’t had to cancel dinner plans due to a scheduling conflict? But having to postpone because the restaurant is shut down— well, that’s novel. In the past few days, I’ve seen colleagues cancel weddings and vacations. Watched as others talked of remote learning for their kids and begged loved ones not to check their 401(k)s as I was tempted to peek at my own. (In the end, I was too chicken.)

Longtime residents are no strangers to crisis. I recall working with colleagues around a U-shaped table near a specially transported computer server at a local hotel back when Superstorm Sandy hit.

We’ve had our share of storms, blackouts and gasoline rationing.

But this is different: COVID-19 has changed everything. Well, almost everything. Happily, what isn’t different is our response as a community. I’ve seen friends and acquaintances share information and supplies. We’ve offered to pick up medicine for elderly neighbors and run errands for those in self-quarantine.

Of course, there’s a great deal of stress and anxiety. When will the economy recover? When will we return to normal? As we go to press, Morris County has 119 reported cases of the virus while Essex has 172, with several dozen more presumptive positives. As a monthly publication, we prepare articles long before you read them; thus this issue was conceived before the major U.S. outbreak. But in a way, perhaps the timing is fitting. This is our HOME issue, and now that most of us are home working and nesting, we see the importance of home—and the way it reflects who we are—as never before.

This is an unprecedented time, for sure. My hope is that we’ll come out of it stronger and more grateful for what we’ve “got.” And that it’s not really “gone,” just postponed.

Rita Guarna Editor in Chief editor@wainscotmedia.com

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{ BUZZ }

OUR GUIDE TO NEW IDEAS, TIPS, TRENDS AND THINGS WE LOVE IN OUR COUNTIES.

BEST IN THE BIZ

The employees have spoken! This year’s list of NJBiz’s “Best Places to Work in New Jersey” is out, and we’re happy to report that 27 businesses based in Morris and Essex counties made the grade. The company’s annual report categorizes winners by company size and tabulates results based on an anonymous survey of its own employees conducted by an independent third party. Though the official rankings won’t be revealed until April 21, here are some companies in our counties garnering praise: SMALL (15–49 EMPLOYEES): Cullari Carrico LLC, Fairfield; Foster McKay, Florham Park; Kraus Marketing, Morristown; Leaf Saltzman, Fairfield; Matthijssen Business Systems, Cedar Knolls; Northpass, Parsippany; The Garibaldi Group, Chatham.

MEDIUM-SIZED (50–249): ADD Systems, Flanders; Corra, Montclair; DMW&H, Fairfield; JConnelly, Parsippany; Kessler Foundation, East Hanover; Porzio, Bromberg & Newman P.C., Morristown; RegentAtlantic, Morristown; Sectigo, Roseland; Sherman Wells Sylvester & Stamelman LLP, Florham Park; Simon Quick Advisors, Morristown; Sobel & Co. LLC CPAs, Livingston.

LARGE (250 OR MORE): Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC, West Orange; Citrin Cooperman & Co. LLP, Livingston; Damascus Bakery, Newark; Gensler Architecture/ Design Inc., Morristown; Gibbons PC, Newark; Langan Engineering and Environmental Services Inc., Parsippany; Lowenstein Sandler LLP, Roseland; Managed Health Care Associates, Florham Park; Transwestern Commercial Services, Florham Park; Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Parsippany.

Cookie Celebrities Who are those girls featured on Girl Scout cookie boxes? They’re Montclair’s own Samiyah Abubakr, a high school junior (on Lemon-Ups), and Christel Burrell, a freshman at The College of New Jersey (on Thin Mints). The two were chosen from thousands of applicants to be among those featured on the boxes for the two popular treats, which are distributed nationally with the likes of Samoas and Tagalongs.

For Parents and Kids, a Win-Win

Tired moms and dads in need of a little relaxation owe a lot to the owners of Jumping Beans Play Café. A physical therapist and a school counselor have just opened the new indoor play space in Livingston, which has a snack and coffee shop directly across from the climbing structures so that parents can keep an eye on their kids while enjoying a bit of down time.

And Jumping Beans’ play area caters to kids of all abilities, with a “sensory room” full of toys for all ages and climbing equipment for specialneeds children.

Jumping Beans Play Café, 615 S. Livingston Ave., Suite 5, Livingston, 973.500.4550

RIGHT ON, TARGET

Next time you’re at Target, check out a men’s skincare line called Scotch Porter. The brand, targeted to “underserved” men of color, was started in the Newark kitchen of local businessman Calvin Quallis. It has since expanded to a factory in East Orange and now has earned national renown as its products have been sold at the retail chain. And Quallis was featured in February in the company’s national Black History Month campaign, which highlighted black employees and business owners affiliated with Target. Scotch Porter has beard creams, face lotions, serums and more.

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CULINARY CORNER What were those three main food groups again—coffee, pastry and chocolate? Three new or planned establishments in Morris and Essex counties promise sustenance for the soul in these delicious categories, and—when national conditions permit—they deserve a visit:

Where do we rank?

—Eight boroughs in Morris and Essex counties made Property Shark’s ranking of New Jersey’s top 40 towns from which to commute into New York City. The real estate data and research website factored bus, rail and auto travel, as well as housing costs, crime and school quality, into its study, which looked at towns with populations above 25,000 that are within a 30-mile

radius of downtown Manhattan.

The great eight? Newark (#6), Nutley (#7), West Orange (#15), East Orange (#19), Parsippany (#24), Maplewood (#30), Montclair (#37) and Livingston (#39).

—Short Hills snagged the No. 6 spot on this year’s Bloomberg list of the nation’s “richest places” with an average household income of $388,760. Two other Morris/Essex towns made the top 50 as well; Glen Ridge (#41) and Upper Montclair (#45).

SEEN BY CELINE

“You’re amazing,” said the superstar to the amateur—and maybe you’ve seen the by now well-traveled video. When a fan spotted French Canadian singer Celine Dion recently as Dion’s SUV was departing from New York’s Four Seasons Hotel, she serenaded the star with an impromptu rendition of her hit “I Surrender.” Dion had the driver slow the vehicle and acknowledged the tribute with a fist bump (the COVID-19-era equivalent of a handshake) and a gracious “thank you.” Turns out the serenader was 22-yearold Freida Solomon of Short Hills.

Congrats, Freida, on your pipes—and your presence of mind!

GOOD FOOD IN THE ’HOOD

If you’re looking for your next date-night spot or a new brunch place to try (when life resumes to normal, that is), there’s double good news from the national foodie website The Daily Meal. In two categories, it has chosen our area’s eateries as the best in Jersey: • Restaurateur Michael Cetrulo’s Scalini Fedeli in Chatham was named Best Special Occasion Restaurant.

• The Tops Diner in East Newark won the accolade for Best Brunch.

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KEEP CALM AND EAT CHOCOLATE Vesta Chocolate is more than just your average candy shop. The husband-andwife culinary-experts-turned-owners hand-make the chocolate used in each bonbon, bar, marshmallow and caramel. Only a few pure ingredients are used in each product (coffee beans among them); plus there’s a drink bar with Instagrammable beverages such as a foamy latte, a hot chocolate or a mocha coffee.

Vesta Chocolate, 598 Valley Rd., Upper Montclair, 973.860.7136; vestachocolate.com

A CHATHAM BAKERY, FRENCH STYLE Chatham resident Patrica Khawand is setting up a French-style shop, Fleur de Sel Patisserie, in the former home of Helen’s Dressmaking Shop on Main Street, where she’ll sell homemade pastries, tarts, pies, coffee and tea and light bites. Like Khawand’s catering business, Fleur de Sel— Entertain in Style, the bistro will make special-occasion, made-to-order cakes, as well as do catering. She’s shooting for a summer opening, but stay tuned!

Fleur de Sel Patisserie, 265 Main St., Chatham; fdspatisserie.com

CAWFEE BREAK If you’ve ever dreamt of sipping an espresso with Tony and company from the New Jersey crime drama The Sopranos, we’ve got the next best thing. Say “Ciao!” to Bada Bean Cawfee, a local coffee roaster inspired by the hit HBO series. The brainchild of Drew Adelman and Peter Pannullo, it’s set to open four cafes in the state—including one in Newark—that will serve up mob-inspired specialty drinks (ranging from the appropriately named “soldier,” “capo” and “boss” sizes) like “Fugetaboutit,” a café latte, “Paisan Petey,” a traditional Americano, and “protein shakedowns,” which is self-explanatory. All four spots will also pay homage to Jersey in their décor and overall ambience, with mug shots from popular films such as The Godfather on the walls and small signs from the New Jersey Turnpike placed into specific food items. COVID-19 permitting, Bada Bean is slated to open at the start of the summer.

{ FOR MEN ONLY }

Shade of Spring Not all menswear is neutral this season. Brighten your look with blue pieces that pop.

Clockwise from top: button-up shirt by Faherty, Willow St., Morristown, 973.267.6510; jeans by Hudson, Lord + Taylor, Rockaway, 973.328.9000; sunglasses

by Krewe, Bloomingdale’s, Short Hills, 973.548.2200; bow tie by R. Hanauer, bowties.com; sneaker by Common Projects, Nordstrom, Short Hills, 973.467.1500; pocket square by Eton, Saks OFF 5th, East Hanover, 973.434.0346; belt by Torino, Nordstrom, Short Hills; button-up shirt by Ermenegildo Zegna, Neiman Marcus, Short Hills, 973.912.0080.

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WILLIAM LAUFER has been providing strong and trustworthy divorce services to the people of New Jersey for over 40 years. A long-standing member of the American Trial Lawyers Association and the American Academy of Matrimonial Attorneys, Laufer prides himself on his record of success as a litigator in the courtroom.

But he also recognizes the toll that litigation takes on his clients’ emotions as well as their assets, and has long been a proponent of mediation and arbitration. One of New Jersey’s first certified mediators, he has mediated more than 100 divorce cases, with more than a 90 percent record of success.

Laufer, Dalena, Jensen, Bradley & Doran LLC is a full-

service law firm. The matrimonial department is one of the largest in the state, providing familyrelated services, including complex divorce litigation, adoption, mediation, custody, domestic violence and the drafting and negotiation of premarital agreements.

Both in the legal community and in the community at large, Laufer actively donates his time and skills, serving on the Morris County Bar Association Early Settlement Panel for matrimonial litigation. In addition, he is a founding member and president of the New Jersey D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program, recently winning the “Future of New Jersey” award for his service to the community.

Divorce Attorney / Mediator

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LELE SADOUGHI ORANGE HOUNDSTOOTH KNOTTED HEADBAND Table Leg, Montclair, 973.449.4328

HOUNDSTOOTH PLEATED KNIT MIDI SKIRT Banana Republic, Denville, 973.328.3558

A.L.C. JAMES PANT Neiman Marcus, Short Hills, 973.912.0080

CHARLES BY CHARLES DAVID VENUS BOOTIE DSW, Livingston, 862.245.5002

LIKELY MALLORY DRESS South Moon Under, Montclair, 973.233.1320 MSXHEALTHANDLIFE.COM

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DEBORAH NELSON HAS PRACTICED FAMILY LAW WITH INTEGRITY FOR 29 YEARS. Deb’s Family Law practice includes adoptions, child and adult guardianships, pre-marital agreements; divorces, enforcement of judgments and appeals.

Some cases must go to trial, like the international kidnapping case that Deb tried in Court for 12 days. Most cases, however, can and should be resolved amicably. Deb is a Family Law mediator and arbitrator, and is certified in collaborative law. dnelson@csglaw.com 973.530.2390 830 Morris Turnpike ◆ 4th Floor ◆ Short Hills, New Jersey One Boland Drive ◆ West Orange, New Jersey Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

{ JEWELRY BOX }

STELLA & DOT ROAR PENDANT NECKLACE Nordstrom, Short Hills, 973.467.1500

Animal Instincts

GOLD BUTTERFLY RING Michael Anthony Jewelers, West Caldwell, 973.226.2726

SIMON G. QUEEN BEE NECKLACE Aires Jewelers, Morris Plains, 973.292.0950

Go wild over these fierce jewelry pieces, inspired by creatures big and small.

EFFY SAFARI MIX DIAMONDS AND RUBY PEACOCK RING Littman Jewelers, Rockaway, 973.442.3069

MIGNONNE GAVIGAN MADELINE BEADED STATEMENT EARRINGS Neiman Marcus, Short Hills, 973.912.0080 1980 VINTAGE RUBY AND DIAMOND SNAKE RING Sidney Thomas, Short Hills, 973.379.5500

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{ HOME FRONT }

New Wardrobe Keep your clothes in a closet that’s just as classy as they (and you) are.

TRISHA YEARWOOD HOME COLLECTION

BY KLAUSSNER JASPER COUNTY MADISON MIRRORED ARMOIRE Suburban Furniture, Succasunna, 973.927.7100

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UNIVERSAL FURNITURE ARMSTRONG ARMOIRE universalfurniture.com

HOOKER FURNITURE SANTA MONICA WARDROBE Stickley Audi & Co., East Hanover, 862.701.3551

WALLACE CANE AND OAK ARMOIRE Anthropologie, Montclair, 973.509.0213

ANIKA ARMOIRE arhaus.com

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JONATHAN ADLER TALITHA ARMOIRE Neiman Marcus, Short Hills, 973.912.0080

CARACOLE WATERCOLOURS ARMOIRE Safavieh, Livingston, 973.629.5800

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Take a Bath Be kind to your feathered friends with these decorative garden accessories.

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{ HOME FRONT }

BIRDS CHOICE SIMPLY ELEGANCE BELLFLOWER BLUE CLAY BIRD BATH Home Depot, Parsippany-Troy Hills, 973.335.5917

COPPER SPIRAL HANGING BIRDFEEDER amazon.com

VAGABOND HOUSE SONG BIRD BATH WOOD BOWL vagabondhouse.com

25-INCH RESIN COMPLETE BIRD BATH Lowe’s, Morris Plains, 973.775.5910

RABBIT RAISED BIRD BATH Pier 1, East Hanover, 973.428.1062

SPI BIRD AND TWIG BIRD BATH Walpole Outdoors, Morris Plains, 973.370.9139

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{ TALK OF THE TOWN }

WELCOME TO

East Hanover

DINING OUT

One of the Garden State’s youngest townships serves as the idyllic small town while housing some of the world’s biggest makers.

GATE OF HEAVEN CEMETERY

ESTABLISHED: 1928 POPULATION: 11,234 WEBSITE: EASTHANOVERTOWNSHIP.COM

The most historic spot in East Hanover is Gate of Heaven Cemetery, located in the heart of town off of Ridgedale Avenue. The grounds are directly associated with the Archdiocese of Newark, and some of the Garden State’s most important names are buried here, including former New York Yankees catcher Lawrence “Yogi” Berra and guitarist Tony Mottola, who played alongside Frank Sinatra in the late 1980s. Its mausoleum is considered one of the most scenic and spectacular in the state.

It’s true that East Hanover hasn’t been around, say, as long as neighboring Livingston or Hanover—the township is a mere 92 years old, after all—but what this metaphorical new kid on the block lacks in historic imprint it makes up for in bustling businesses and small-town charm. New Jersey’s 20th youngest township serves as the quiet home of white collar workers, active families and retirees alike, while simultaneously housing the headquarters of some of the world’s biggest brands. Read on to learn how this tiny town truly does it all.

PARK IT!

Outdoorsy types are sure to find the perfect spot to perch and ponder at East Hanover’s Lurker Park, located at the intersection of Ridgedale and Eagle Rock avenues. The hot spot has a baseball diamond, bocce courts and lots of events to get out and get active with. During the warmer months, the park is also home to town-wide activities like fireworks shows and a summer concert series.

HOME SWEET HOME Thinking about buying or selling a home here?

The median home value here is $546,270, a 2 percent increase from last year.

Home values are predicted to rise 2.5 percent in the next year, according to Zillow.

FAMOUS FACES

KID-APPROVED FUN There’s no shortage of fun in East Hanover—especially if you have your youngsters in tow. At the center of the township’s family friendly attractions is The Funplex, where you and the kiddos will find hours of entertainment between high-speed rides, laser tag, a bowling alley and outdoor water park Splashplex (when it reopens for the season on May 23). For the littler ones, Imagine That! Children’s Museum is conveniently located in town and provides educational and extraordinary exhibits like a mock grocery store and a music studio.

GIANTS OF INDUSTRY

Don’t let the lush parks and family friendly fun fool you—East Hanover means business. For decades, some of the world’s most successful consumer brands have planted roots in town: Novartis, a leader in the pharmaceutical industry, has called East Hanover its home base since 1999; Mondelez International, formerly Kraft Foods and before that, Nabisco, runs its snack empire out of an office on Deforest Avenue; and Weiss-Aug, an industrial stamp and metalworks manufacturer, is also based in town.

Despite its small size, East Hanover has housed some big names in the media.

Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, best known for MTV’s Jersey Shore and the show’s Family Vacation spin-off, held her wedding in town and briefly resided here with her in-laws while her Florham Park mansion was being built. Television personality and “Cake Boss” Buddy Valastro Jr., who is at the helm of the Carlo’s Bakery franchise, called East Hanover home before moving to Montville in 2014.

And Linda Tripp, the White House employee who played a major role in the Clinton-Lewinsky presidential scandal of the mid-90s, grew up in East Hanover and is an alumna of Hanover Park High School.

East Hanover should consider renaming itself to “Eat” Hanover with all of its culinary options! If you find yourself hankering for a classic American breakfast, stop by the East Hanover Diner for a short stack of pancakes with all of the fixings. Lunch and dinner can be covered at ethnic spots like Saigon Pho, which serves up traditional Vietnamese pho bowls, and The Godfather Seafood Bar & Grill, where you’ll find fish-focused Italian dishes and their famous brick oven pizza. End your foodie trip on a sweet note with a pastry from Sorrento Bakery or a scoop of homemade mint chocolate chip ice cream from Last Licks.

DID YOU KNOW? At one point in time, there were more dead people than living ones in East Hanover. Based on data collected by The New York Times for a 1972 report, the ratio of deceased to living residents was approximately 9 to 1.

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{ HEALTH NEWS } A CHOCOLATE HIGH Packed with minerals and antioxidants, dark chocolate is known to be good for you, and now researchers add that it also produces a feel-good effect. In a study of more than 13,000 people, those folks who ate just half an ounce of dark chocolate were 70 percent less likely to report symptoms of depression. Researchers say it’s because dark chocolate contains phenylethylamine, a neuromodulator that helps regulate mood.

—University College London

EYE SEE

Eating foods high on the glycemic index, such as refined starches and sugars, could contribute to the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in adults over age 60. Experts suggest eating a variety of nutritional foods for both eye and overall health.

—American Journal of Clinical Medicine

TOWEL DRY

When washing your hands in public restrooms, consider drying with paper towels. Why? Research shows that high-speed jet air dryers dispersed 20 times more germs than warm air dryers and 190 times more than paper towels.

—University of Westminster, London

26 MILLION

The number of adults in the U.S. who have food allergies. Half of those people developed an allergy after age 18.

SOB AWAY HEALTH WOES

—JAMA Network Open

Researchers who followed 729 people for 12 years discovered that those who suppressed emotions were at a greater risk for dying early. They speculate that holding in negative emotions can lead to producing too much cortisol, a stress hormone that can wreak havoc on your immune system, over time.

—University of Rochester and Columbia University

CLEAN THAT BEARD! A Swiss study found that a man’s beard carries more germs than a dog’s fur.

—Hirslanden Clinic

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3 REASONS TO READ BEFORE BEDTIME To read, perchance to sleep? A recent survey found that people who read before bedtime have 9 percent higher annual incomes than nonreaders. In addition, the readers got better sleep quality and felt more satisfied with their lives. —Sleep Junkie

The number of additional miles folks logged over a nine-month period when they used the competition mode on their trackers versus just recording steps. Researchers posit that the thought of competition provides motivation to push harder.

—University of Pennsylvania MSXHEALTHANDLIFE.COM

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—Compiled by Paul Rance Jr.

{ IN GOOD HEALTH }

HIGH RISK, HIGH REWARD A Saint Barnabas Medical Center program to identify and monitor high-risk patients helps reduce the chances of developing breast cancer.

On a national scale, breast cancer develops in about 1 in 8 women. But that doesn’t mean every individual woman has a 1-in-8 chance of getting the disease. Each woman has her own risk factors, which can, if lucky, give her very low chances of ever developing the disease. Others, though, have risk factors that can put their odds of getting breast cancer as high as 60 to 80 percent.

For these women, the Center for Breast Health and Disease Management, a RWJBarnabas Health medical group practice located at Barnabas Health Ambulatory Center at Saint Barnabas Medical Center, offers a program that pays closer attention to their individual risks in

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order to start treatment sooner, when cancer is most easily controlled.

In many cases, it can even stop the disease before it ever starts.

“The goal is to impact patients and prevent cancer, not just treat cancer in early stages,” says M. Michele Blackwood, M.D., medical director at the Center. “We can reduce the risk from 50 to 90 percent, depending on the tools we use.”

The program recently expanded with the addition of more surgeons, physician assistants, nurse navigators and other team members. “This program can be likened to primary care for the breasts,” Dr. Blackwood says.

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M. Michele Blackwood, M.D.

It’s also a one-stop shop, she adds, with all the specialties involved in breast health—imaging, biopsy, surgery, medical oncology, genetic testing—under one roof. “We have all the pieces of the puzzle here,” she says. These professionals also have the knowledge that less specialized physicians lack. “Breast cancer risk has not been on the radar for most

internists and primary care physicians,” she says. “I don’t blame them.

Things are changing so fast, and there is no one-size-fits-all guideline.”

If normal risk is 1 in 8, or about 12 percent, high risk is considered having a 20 percent or greater chance of developing breast cancer. Unfortunately, many women may be high risk and not realize it. “When we show them they have a 60 to 80 percent chance of cancer, they may change their mind about whether or not they want prevention,” she says.

Some risk factors are well known. These include genetic mutations like the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Others, such as BRIP1, Lynch syndrome and a number of newly identified genetic anomalies also increase risk, sometimes dramatically.

In addition, certain types of breast tissue are more likely to become cancerous than others. “You can have a benign biopsy but, like a PAP smear, that can reveal tissue at high risk,” Dr. Blackwood says. “This means there are areas in the tissue that are abnormal.”

Breast tissue can be defined as dense, which increases cancer risk as well. Initially, it was thought that this was because dense tissue made it harder to see abnormal growths on a mammogram. Now, however, it is understood that dense tissue itself increases the odds of developing cancer. New Jersey law states that if a woman is deemed to have 50 percent or more of dense breast tissue, she is at substantially higher risk for cancer and is eligible for more detailed screenings to be covered by insurance.

Even the number of biopsies a woman has can increase risk. “Someone can have six biopsies, and even if they are all benign, when added up they suggest a 60 percent lifetime risk of getting cancer,” Dr. Blackwood says.

These risk percentages are calculated with complicated statistical models that account for each woman’s particular factors. They can be determined by the woman’s own personal physician or gynecologist, or at The Breast Center at BHACC. If she is in the high risk category, she will be screened with a mammogram and breast MRI every year, either at the same time or spread out six months apart. She also will be examined by a breast specialist like Dr. Blackwood twice a year. “We also add in a discussion about reducing their risk,” she says. “Medication can help, as can surgery if it’s an extreme situation.” By that she means women can opt for prophylactic mastectomy, or the surgical removal of one or both breasts, if the odds of developing cancer are extremely high. “We give patients the options to figure out what works for them,” she says.

Women as young as their 20s have qualified for the program, and sometimes what they learn can help their own daughters. “We had one woman with 32-year-old twin daughters, and one of them was diagnosed with very early stage cancer, and it was easily treated,” Dr. Blackwood says. The biggest part to the program, she says, is education. “Risk is a very important piece of one’s health. A lot of people understand breast cancer but don’t understand risk and what is high risk. I have patients who assume they will absolutely get breast cancer, and I can tell them, not really. I have other patients and can say, it’s not a matter of if, but when.”

To schedule an appointment at the Center for Breast Health and Disease Management at the Barnabas Health Ambulatory Care Center or to learn more about high-risk factors, call 973.322.7020.

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{ IN GOOD HEALTH }

MORE THAN A TRANSPLANT, A NEW FRIENDSHIP

Radio personality Bob Williams marks one year with a new kidney—with his donor.

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Every April, we recognize National Donate Life Month, which is meant to encourage all Americans to register as an organ and tissue donor and to celebrate those who have saved lives through the gift of donation. No one is happier to do that than Bob Williams.

Williams, the well-known traffic reporter for two local radio stations including 101.5 FM, celebrated the one-year anniversary of his lifesaving kidney transplant this past February. He celebrated, in fact, with the woman who gave him his new kidney, and that story is worth celebrating as well.

Williams has been living with Type 2 diabetes for years. It was well controlled until 2016, when the disease began to damage his kidney function. By 2018, his kidneys were so compromised that his doctors recommended he register for a transplant.

But there aren’t nearly enough people who agree to donate their organs after death to meet the demand. “The wait list was three to five years at that point,” says Williams, who lives in Roxbury with his wife, Kathleen. “My wife said I should look into finding a living donor.”

Living donation has been an option for many years, says Francis Weng, M.D., chief of the Renal and Pancreas Transplant Division at Saint Barnabas Medical Center. “We encourage transplant candidates to see if they have family members or friends interested in learning more about living donation.”

And the advantages are clear. “First and foremost, they can get a transplant right away. As soon as the donor and recipient are ready, we can schedule the operation in a few weeks, rather than wait several years,” Dr. Weng says. “Second, transplants from a living donor tend to last longer, and the kidney works right away 99 percent of the time, which is not so with deceased donation.

Third, the living donor transplant is elective, so the recipient knows ahead of time when the operation will occur—they can plan for the operation.

And finally, living donation even helps other people waiting for a kidney,” he says, because it frees up more organs from deceased donors.

Williams, however, was reluctant at first. “I said, ‘I can’t do that. I’d be embarrassed, mortified.

Who would do that for me?’ But my wife said I had to. I wouldn’t make it without going on dialysis, and that worsens your health.” He relented, and in October 2018 his wife wrote and he posted the message on his Facebook page asking for help.

“We had a lot of likes and shares, and about six or eight people came forward to inquire about it but were not qualified. I was humbled anyone would do that,” he says. But with no matches and his kidney function rapidly declining, he also grew despondent. “About six weeks after posting, I was losing hope of finding a donor. It was getting to a critical point where my doctor wanted to start dialysis,” he says. “Then the hospital called and said there was one more person being tested.”

This was on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. The next day Williams was picking up some soup for Thanksgiving dinner when he ran into an old acquaintance, Kim Roumes. Their kids had

Bob Williams and his kidney donor, Kim Roumes

played youth sports together, and they knew each other casually but hadn’t seen each other in about two years. “She looked at me stunned, her jaw dropped, and she said, ‘I have to talk to you.’”

Roumes was the person being tested as his potential donor match.

“I had read the Facebook post that explained how sick Bob was, and [a living donation] was one of their last resorts,” says Roumes, a dental hygienist who lives in Succasunna with her husband, John. “I immediately clicked on the link in the post to Saint Barnabas Medical Center and filled out the application. Something in my heart told me it was the right thing to do. Bob is the most kind, caring, giving person, and I thought, ‘Why is it fair that I get to live my life to the fullest, see my kids grow, possibly [see my] grandchildren? Why can’t Bob have that as well?’”

Williams grabbed her in a big hug, then went to his car and began to cry. “That was God talking to me, reassuring me everything was going to be OK,” he says.

He was right. Roumes turned out to be a match, and she gifted him with her kidney in February 2019. Both donor and recipient recovered normally and are in excellent health. Perhaps best of all, they have become close friends. “Since the surgery we have become like family,” Roumes says. “We speak or text very often, we walk together, socialize together, and we celebrated one year together. I am so thankful I have Bob as my recipient because we have developed such a great relationship.”

“I see ourselves being close friends the rest of our lives,” Williams says. “I have been a Mets fan all my life, and now that I have a Yankee kidney in me I am rooting for two teams!” he laughs. “I don’t just love what she did for me, I love her. She is a very special person, and I am eternally grateful.”

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Francis Weng, M.D.

“This is the only operation in medicine where the donor derives no physical benefit, but there is often an emotional benefit of seeing a loved one recover. Some of the most gratifying patient encounters I have are with these good-hearted people who see the need and want to help.”

To learn more about living donation, call Saint Barnabas Medical Center’s kidney transplant division at 1.888.409.4707 and to become a registered organ donor, visit registerme.org/ SaintBarnabas.

{ IN GOOD HEALTH }

GETTING A ‘JUMP START’ ON EXERCISE

The Jump Start Program at SBMC helps those new to exercise learn how to do it safely and effectively.

Dena Amtman wanted to lose weight and be healthier. “I knew I needed to take better care of myself, especially as I am getting older,” says Amtman, 72, a retired New York City school teacher who lives in North Bergen. She had bariatric surgery about two years ago. As part of her weight-loss program, she consulted with a nutritionist and learned how to eat a healthier diet. “What was missing,” she adds, “was exercise.”

Amtman was a frequent walker, but felt like she needed more. While attending a bariatric surgery support group at Saint Barnabas Medical Center, she noticed a flyer promoting something called the Jump Start program. This was a very basic introduction to exercise class for people MSXHEALTHANDLIFE.COM

with little or no background in exercising. The aim is to get them comfortable with exercise and teach them how to do it properly in order to help manage a variety of health issues, from high blood pressure and high cholesterol to diabetes and weight control. “It was perfect to go along with my aim to be healthy,” Amtman says.

Barnabas Health Ambulatory Care Center offers a variety of programming for the community that includes a robust and comprehensive plan linking nutritional counseling as well as preventative exercise classes.

Along with the Jump Start program, special exercise classes include Risk Factor Modification (for those who have two or more risk factors for

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The classes meet at the Center for Health and Wellness at the Ambulatory Care Center twice a week and are in small groups of 10 or less. Participants in small group training not only build confidence in exercise ability, but build strong and motivational relationships. Classes like those offered in the Jump Start program are a great way to commit to change. The focus is on functional exercise with a range of activities that include low- to high-level fitness goals, each based on participant needs.

The exercise physiologists teach members how to exercise and use the equipment safely based on a participant’s limitations and issues. They find creative ways to adapt your fitness goals from simple to complex fitness needs. They also maintain an open dialogue with members to help them understand their bodies as well as why one needs to improve their fitness and health.

After members complete the Jump Start program, they are then ready to move up to a more structured and advanced 12-week clinical prevention program to further improve their particular health issue.

The program was launched in September 2019 because the exercise physiologists saw a need for those whom the full 12-week class was beyond their scope. Amtman says joining the program gave her the motivation she needed to commit to exercise. “It gave me things that joining a gym club wasn’t going to give me,” she says. “The accountability of going has helped me do it, to make a commitment to myself and my future. I can’t tell you how much better my whole outlook has been from doing this.

I have gotten in really good shape, my stamina is better and it is helping from the weight end of it.

I was recently able to go hiking—I am doing things I didn’t think I could do.”

heart disease), Women’s Health (for those who have osteoporosis or osteopenia), Joint Instability and Balance, Rock Steady Boxing for Parkinson’s and cancer wellness. Getting started is as easy as getting in contact with their team of bachelors or master-level exercise physiologists for a complimentary prescreening. Armed with that assessment, the physiologist can create an exercise program tailored to each patient’s needs and strive to achieve everyone’s individualized goals.

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To join the Jump Start program at SBMC, please call to schedule your free complimentary pre-screening and to have staff navigate you to the appropriate program.

For more information, call 973-322-7014.

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JUMP START YOUR FITNESS If you have never exercised before, if it has been awhile since you’ve considered yourself active or if you are not sure how to start an exercise regimen, Saint Barnabas Medical Center’s Jump Start program is an introductory fitness class that focuses on learning the importance of exercise and how it relates to your overall health.

The program meets in the Center for Health and Wellness at the Barnabas Health Ambulatory Care Center.

The Jump Start classes offer: • Flexible class times with rolling enrollment options.

• Instruction provided by bachelors- and masters-prepared exercise physiologists.

• Introduction to small group training.

• Exercise programming that assists with decreasing risk factors for heart disease.

• Preparation for the 12week programming and disease modification-based classes.

The classes focus on: • Safe parameters for exercise, individualized for your needs.

• Fitness goal setting.

• Functional exercises to help with everyday activities.

• Posture and core exercises.

• Weight bearing strength training.

• Cardiovascular health.

• Balance.

By Haley Longman Design by Julie Liepold Photography by Erica Moffitt, Naki Studios

The three girls were older now. It was time to turn their playroom into a tranquil space the whole family could enjoy.

A ROOM MADE NEW

{ PERSONAL SPACE }

This page: Millburn-based designer Julie Liepold converted her Glen Ridge clients’ pink playroom into a functional, grown-up space for the couple and their three growing daughters. Opposite page: The lady of the house was “drawn toward circles and patterns,” prompting Liepold to find decorative items such as wall art, round vases and ceramic succulents.

The three sisters who lived in a Glen Ridge home had outgrown their “chaotic” pink-on-pink playroom. So their parents hired designer Julie Liepold of Millburnbased Liepold Design Group to help transform the upstairs rec area into a “completely fresh” multi-use enclave the whole family could spend time in.

“The first priority was to open up the space and make it more user-friendly,” says Liepold, whose team began by getting rid of the built-ins that made the room look smaller and took away from its architecture. She then helped her clients choose a “relaxing, tranquil color scheme [of blues and golds] that was anything but pink.”

From there, Liepold focused on adding function.

There is an upholstered Duralee sleeper sofa for when the girls have overnight guests, a trio of tables

by Uttermost that can easily be shuffled around and a Vanguard Furniture console table with pull-out seating underneath for one of the daughters who MSXHEALTHANDLIFE.COM

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likes to draw and paint. “There are also plenty of areas for reading, and the parents can easily use the room for entertaining too,” she adds.

To boost visual interest along with the muted color palette, the designer incorporated a variation of textures with accessories and accent pieces.

This is apparent in the chenille-upholstered sofa, the mixture of wood patterns in the side and coffee tables and the overall geometric motif exemplified in the Duralee loveseat, the Callisto Home throw pillows and the wall panel duo and half-circle floor lamp, both by Uttermost.

What resulted was the just-right rejuvenated room for the homeowners and their inner circle.

“The goal was trying to blend the things that made my clients happy and create a space that they could walk into and feel relaxed in at the end of the day,” says Liepold. “It’s always rewarding to see a happy client.”

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Interior designs that take their cue from the latest eye-popping garments? Très chic! These stunning rooms pay homage to recent works from your favorite ateliers’ new collections. Can you see how these catwalk creations have served as a springboard for some seriously stylish spaces?

RUNWAY-INSPIRED ROOMS

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{ PERSONAL SPACE } “Fashion often dictates inspiration for hue, color combinations, texture, pattern play and style in interior design. For instance, the classic lines of this saturated blue jumpsuit are mirrored in the traditional lines of the furniture in this room.”

—Jodie O’Connor, Jodie O’ Designs, Whippany

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All eyes were on this liquid satin jumpsuit at the debut of Sies Marjan’s Spring 2020 Ready-to-Wear Collection in downtown Manhattan this past September. The model’s slinky jumper lends its color to this living room’s rich sapphire walls, intricately patterned furnishings and hand-painted ceramic vases. Iterations of the hue grace nearly every inch of this space for a design that’s true-blue balanced.

{ PERSONAL SPACE }

“Much like this dress, this bedroom uses black to ground the room but lightens up the space with damask pillows and window panels to infer the lace.”

—Risha Walden, Walden Interiors, Millburn

Moto meets maiden in this chic lace-leather dress, in which a model struts down the runway at the Alexander McQueen Spring/Summer 2020 Ready-to-Wear fashion show in Paris. Similarly, this black-and-white boudoir juxtaposes feminine floral curtains and a crystal chandelier with an otherwise strong simplicity to make for the ultimate lovers’ suite.

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“Fashion and interior design can bring a color like chartreuse back on the radar. The fun part is you can incorporate it any way you’d like in your home, from paint to pillows to bold backsplashes.”

—Beth Diana Smith, Beth Diana Smith Interior Design

It’s surely no coincidence that this totally retro long-sleeve slit dress made its way into Gucci’s Spring/Summer 2020 show in Milan just before Etsy declared chartreuse its 2020 Color of the Year. The trendy, not-quite-green shade adds unexpected boldness to a minimalist kitchen. With a backsplash this loud, you don’t even need décor!

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ONE-POT PROTEINS

What could be easier than piling protein and spices plus veggies into a pot for a hearty meal?

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{ TASTES }

LAMB & PEARL BARLEY STEW WITH FRESH HERB GREMOLATA Yields 8-10 servings

INGREDIENTS

n1 2 oz. unsmoked (green) bacon n 4 lbs. gigot or rack chops from a shoulder of lamb, not less than 1 inch thick n well-seasoned all-purpose flour, for dusting n extra virgin olive oil n 12 oz. mushrooms, thinly sliced n 1 lb. 9 oz. whole small onions n 12 oz. carrots, peeled and thickly sliced n 5½ oz. parsnips, peeled and thickly sliced n scant 2¼ cups pearl barley n 3 qts. lamb or chicken stock n sprig of thyme n sea salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper FOR THE GREMOLATA: n 4 Tbs. chopped mixed herbs (such as flat-leaf parsley, chervil and mint) n 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped n 1 generous tsp. lemon zest, grated or finely chopped n sea salt flakes, to taste

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350°F. First make the stew. Cut the rind off the bacon (if necessary) and cut into approximate ½-inch cubes. Divide the lamb into eight pieces and roll in the well-seasoned flour.

Heat a little oil in a 10-inch/3-quart casserole dish over medium heat and sauté the bacon until crisp. Remove to a plate. Sauté the mushrooms, season well and set aside.

Add the lamb to the casserole dish in batches, with a little more olive oil if necessary, and sauté until golden.

Heat control is crucial here: The pan mustn’t burn, yet it must be hot enough to sauté the lamb. Remove the lamb to a plate. Add another splash of olive oil to the pan and sauté the onions, carrots and parsnips until golden.

Return the bacon and lamb to the casserole dish, together with the pearl barley. Season well, pour in stock, add the thyme and bring to a simmer. Cover with a lid and transfer to the oven for 1-1¼ hours until meltingly tender; the cooking time will depend on the age of the lamb and how long it was sautéed for. Add the mushrooms about 30 minutes before the end.

Meanwhile, make the gremolata. Mix together the chopped herbs and garlic in a small bowl, add the lemon zest and season to taste with a pinch of salt.

Once the casserole is cooked, remove the thyme and season to taste. Leave the casserole to sit for 15-30 minutes to allow the pearl barley to swell. (If necessary, the casserole can be reheated later in the day or the next day.) Serve bubbling hot, sprinkled with the gremolata.

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Ideally, cook all the components of this dish separately to make the flavors shine. Do not skip on adding a burst of green herbs to capture the freshness of the new season!”

—Michele Vaccari Harriott, executive chef, Horseneck Tavern, North Caldwell

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{ TASTES }

ROAST CAULIFLOWER WITH SAFFRON, BAY LEAVES & CRISPY CHICKEN Yields 4 servings

INGREDIENTS

n 4-8 organic, free-range chicken thighs or drumsticks, depending on the size n extra virgin olive oil n ½-1 tsp. rosemary, chopped n 2 pinches of saffron strands n 1 large or 2 small cauliflowers, leaves snapped off, broken into florets and stalk chopped roughly n 2 medium onions, finely sliced n 1 Tbs. Aleppo pepper or a good pinch of dried chili flakes n 3 bay leaves n 1/3 cup golden raisins, soaked in hot water to plump up n 1 /3 cup almonds, coarsely chopped n sea salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper n 2 Tbs. flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped n 4 scallions, sliced on the diagonal

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Slash the chicken drumsticks. Drizzle with a little extra virgin olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with chopped rosemary, toss and arrange in a single-layer roasting pan. Roast for 30-45 minutes, depending on the size, while you prepare the cauliflower.

Put the saffron into a small bowl, cover it with a few teaspoons of boiling water and leave it to steep. Put the cauliflower, onions, chili flakes and bay leaves into a bowl and season with salt and pepper.

Once the saffron has steeped, add to the cauliflower mixture with the drained golden raisins and almonds.

Transfer to the roasting pan and cover loosely with parchment paper to protect from burning. Bake for 20 minutes.

Remove the parchment and roast for a further 10-15 minutes until the edges are nicely caramelized, the cauliflower is tender and the chicken is cooked. Move into a shallow serving dish.

Sprinkle with the chopped parsley and scallions. Serve.

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Saffron is an exotic pantry staple. If you’re in a pinch, substitute it with a mix of seasonings like paprika, lemon salt, Italian or French herbs, or even some good ol’ Adobo!

You also could add some sautéed red bell pepper strips, marinated roasted peppers or chopped vinegar peppers to this dish.”

—Michele Vaccari Harriott, executive chef, Horseneck Tavern, North Caldwell

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{ TASTES }

ANDALUSIAN SHELLFISH STEW Yields 6 servings

INGREDIENTS

n ½ tsp. saffron strands n 2½ cups chicken stock n Approximately 6 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil n 2 onions, chopped n 2 garlic cloves, crushed n 1 large red bell pepper, seeded and sliced n 1 large green bell pepper, seeded and sliced n 6-12 waxy potatoes, cut into 1-inch dice n 3¾ oz. piece of Serrano ham, cut into ½-inch dice n 14-oz. can of lima beans or cannellini beans n 4 lbs. cockles or mussels, or a mixture, scrubbed and washed really well n sea salt flakes and freshly ground pepper n 4-6 ripe tomatoes, peeled and very finely chopped n sprigs of flat-leaf parsley

DIRECTIONS

Put the saffron into a bowl and cover with 2-3 tablespoons of chicken stock. Set aside to infuse.

Heat the olive oil in a 10-inch sauté pan over gentle heat and sweat the onions and garlic for 4-5 minutes until soft and slightly colored. Add the sliced peppers, season with salt and pepper and continue to cook over medium heat for 6-8 minutes until the peppers are beginning to soften.

Add the diced potato, Serrano ham and lima beans and pour in the chicken stock and saffron-infused stock. Bring to a boil and season to taste. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes until the potatoes are cooked. The stew can be prepared to this point ahead of time.

Just before you are about to serve, return the pan to the heat and tip in the cockles or mussels. Cover with a lid.

They will open in the heat. Cook for 2-4 minutes. Taste the sauce and season with salt and pepper.

Serve in deep soup bowls, topped with finely chopped fresh tomato and parsley. Accompany with crusty sourdough bread to mop up the juices.

All recipes and photos are reprinted with permission from One Pot Feeds All: 100 New One-Dish Recipes From Roasts to Desserts by Darina Allen. Photos by Lizzie Mayson © Octopus Publishing.

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This shellfish stew is a great way to turn simple mussels and clams into a complete meal. The cured ham adds smokiness, the potatoes add heartiness and the white beans add richness. This stew can even be jazzed up with some chorizo or diced bacon as well.”

—Michele Vaccari Harriott, executive chef, Horseneck Tavern, North Caldwell

LISTINGS TOP REAL ESTATE

MORRIS COUNTY TOP REAL ESTATE AGENTS, ELITE

SPECIAL SECTION

MORRIS

COUNTY

TOP REAL ESTATE AGENTS

2020 MORRIS COUNTY IS HOME TO SOME OF THE MOST SEASONED AND TALENTED REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS IN THE COUNTRY. To help readers find the best agents to work with, Morris/ Essex Health & Life contracted DataJoe Research of Boulder, Colorado to facilitate a multi.faceted research campaign. It consisted of an online survey delivered directly to agents across Morris County via email as well as internet research. In the survey, real estate agents were asked to provide sales volume ranges and also nominate their peers. In the internet campaign, DataJoe consulted a variety of websites to build richer knowledge of individual licensed real estate agents across the county.

DataJoe checked and confirmed that each published winner had, at the time of review, a current, active license status with the appropriate state regulatory board. If they were not able to find evidence of a real estate agent’s current, active registration with the state regulatory board, that real estate agent was excluded from the list. Finally, DataJoe presented the tallied results to Morris/Essex Health & Life for final review.

We recognize that there are many good real estate agents who are not shown on the representative list. This is only a sampling of the huge array of talented professionals within the county.

TopRealtor_SS_MorrisEssex_0420_Final.indd 44

CHATHAM Mary Weichert Weichert Realtors 64 Main St. 973.635.5000 201.532.0788 Debbie Woerner Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 135 Main St. 973.635.8200 973.500.3032 CHESTER Debra Burke Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 191 Main St., Suite 2 908.879.4900 201.230.4725 Isabelle Famularo Weichert Realtors 142 Main St. 908.879.7010 908.399.1540 Marlene Ginsberg Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 191 Main St., Suite 2 908.879.4900 201.230.7697 Maryann Johnston Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 191 Main St., Suite 2 908.879.4900 201.924.6451 Jeffrey Kalafut Weichert Realtors 142 Main St. 908.879.7010 973.886.6797 Meeka Kulkarni Weichert Realtors 142 Main St. 908.879.7010 908.334.4605 Ted Miller II Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 191 Main St., Suite 2 973.879.4900 973.713.3077

DENVILLE

MORRIS PLAINS

Barbara K. Tarchak RE/MAX American Dream 3108 Route 10 West 973.361.7700 973.886.3484

Kimberly Brechka Weichert Realtors 1625 Route 10 East 973.984.1400 917.597.1768

EAST HANOVER

Mara Glauberg Weichert Realtors 1625 Route 10 East 973.984.1400 917.733.3304

Jen Bassolino Coccia Real Estate Group, LLC 435 Ridgedale Ave. 973.887.2500 973.202.2103 Tracey Franco Coccia Real Estate Group, LLC 435 Ridgedale Ave. 973.887.2500 Elvira Green Coccia Real Estate Group, LLC 435 Ridgedale Ave. 973.887.2500 Christine Nagy Coccia Real Estate Group, LLC 435 Ridgedale Ave. 732.887.2500 MADISON Marlene Vegter Weichert Realtors 15 Prospect St. 973.377.4460 973.271.4400 MENDHAM Eileen Scott Weichert Realtors 21 W. Main St. 973.543.6511 201 317.6338 Diane Tolley Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 106A E. Main St. 973.543.2552 973.219.6064 MONTVILLE Triveni Gurikar RE/MAX Neighborhood Properties 381 Main Rd. 973.334.3341 973.727.9418 Lisa Motisi RE/MAX Neighborhood Properties 381 Main Rd. 973.334.3341 973.477.9877

Gloria LaForgia Weichert Realtors 1625 Route 10 East 973.984.1400 973.477.4632 Jacqueline Scura Weichert Realtors 1625 Route 10 East 973.984.1400 973.214.9488 MORRISTOWN Gordon Crawford Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 55 Madison Ave. 973.867.1150 973.714.3085 Ryan G. Dawson Weichert Realtors 20 Madison Ave. 973.539.8000 973.768.7468 Ryan Dougherty RE/MAX Select One Madison Ave. East Building 973.539.6300 973.309.6178 Denise Flanagan Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 211 South St. 973.267.8990 973.420.4590 Ronnie Glomb Your Town Realty, LLC 5 Maple Ave. 855.600.2465 973.865.5050 Jeremy Gulish Keller Williams Towne Square Realty 55 Madison Ave. 973.539.1120 908.303.0926

3/24/20 4:35 PM

Sima Wolf Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 55 Madison Ave. 973.539.1120 201.874.2218

Kevin Karcich Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 44 Whippany Rd. 973.539.1120 862.432.3409

MOUNTAIN LAKES

Donna Lerner Weichert Realtors 20 Madison Ave. 973.539.8000 973.945.9969 Michelle Pereira Weichert Realtors 20 Madison Ave. 973.539.8000 201.841.4413 Elzbieta Ravin Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 211 South St. 973.267.8990 973.479.0787 Jill Southren Weichert Realtors 20 Madison Ave. 973.539.8000 201.650.3722 Erica Travis Weichert Realtors 20 Madison Ave. 973.539.8000 908.370.8695 Olga Tsiavos Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 44 Whippany Rd. 973.539.1120 973.219.5102 Douglas J. Tucker RE/MAX Select One Madison Ave. East Building 973.539.6300 973.769.1563

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Anne Fisher Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Route 46 and Crane Rd. 973.263.0400 201.602.1304 Ilene Horowitz Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Route 46 and Crane Rd. 973.263.0400 973.229.0087 Patricia L. Malpere Weichert Realtors Route 46 at Cherry Hill Rd. 973.334.9400 973.714.7880 Mary K. Sheeran Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 333 Route 46 West, Suite 103 973.539.1120 201.412.9155 RANDOLPH Doreen Grembowitz Weichert Realtors 284 Route 10 973.328.7800 973.722.8863 Angela McNiece Weichert Realtors 284 Route 10 973.328.7800 973.296.0912 ROCKAWAY Lori A. Caruso RE/MAX Select 20 W. Main St. 973.625.0450 973.219.3789 Christopher L. Leiva RE/MAX Select 20 W. Main St. 973.625.0450

MORRIS COUNTY TOP REAL ESTATE AGENTS BUTLER Laura Bellini Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 1450 Route 23 North 973.838.9300 973.650.2357 Cindy Gallagher Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 1450 Route 23 North 973.838.9300 973.714.3897 William Perry Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 1450 Route 23 North 973.838.9300 CHATHAM Amy Ball Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 135 Main St. 973.635.8200 973.224.2385 Katherine Catanzaro Weichert Realtors 64 Main St. 973.635.5000 908.403.3244 Carrie Conte Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 135 Main St. 973.635.8200 973.462.2901 Joseph Eberle Weichert Realtors 64 Main St. 973.635.5000 908.868.4800 Valarie Friedman RE/MAX Achievers 400 Main St. 973.701.1200 973.610.3855 Christine Hagis Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 135 Main St. 973.635.8200 973.722.7730

Marta Knauff Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 135 Main St. 973.635.8200 908.507.9594

Patricia Finnegan Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 191 Main St., Suite 2 973.879.4900 908.507.2294

Karen Torrente Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 135 Main St. 973.635.8200 973.476.7100

Colleen Meloro Weichert Realtors 142 Main St. 908.879.7010 908.625.0610

John C. Tunny Weichert Realtors 64 Main St. 973.635.5000 973.454.0500 Kristin Winter Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 135 Main St. 973.635.8200 973.214.3828 CHESTER Carol Borman RE/MAX Heritage Properties 259 Main St. 908.879.4700 908.581.9205 Michael Burke Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 191 Main St., Suite 2 973.879.4900 973.919.2902 Kelly Carey Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 191 Main St., Suite 2 973.879.4900 973.214.3791 Christopher Americo Cleffi RE/MAX Heritage Properties 259 Main St. 908.879.4700 973.714.9005 Catherine Conway Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 191 Main St., Suite 2 973.879.4900 201.412.9537 Susan Dalgleish Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 191 Main St., Suite 2 973.879.4900 973.769.1072

Cynthia M. Ruggiero RE/MAX Heritage Properties 259 Main St. 908.879.4700 908.399.3408 William Stillman Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 191 Main St., Suite 2 908.879.4900 973.713.6054

LISTINGS

Dorota Kundera Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 44 Whippany Rd. 973.539.1120 973.867.8134

Kathleen Caldwell Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Route 46 and Crane Rd. 973.263.0400 973.727.2921

Joseph Morreale RE/MAX Select 20 W. Main St. 973.625.0450 973.390.3326

TOP REAL ESTATE

Kelly Holmquist Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 55 Madison Ave. 973.539.1120 908.451.4676

Erica Tattersal Weichert Realtors 142 Main St. 908.879.7010 John Varriano Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 191 Main St., Suite 2 908.879.4900 973.464.6418 DENVILLE Sunita Kozik RE/MAX American Dream 3108 Route 10 West 973.361.7700 201.874.6206 Rick Ruotolo RE/MAX American Dream 3108 Route 10 West 973.361.7700 973.723.7777 DOVER Jose Cruz Realty Executives 32 E. Blackwell St. 973.361.9090 908.507.2698 Joanna Patereck Realty Executives 34 E. Blackwell St. 973.361.9090 862.266.7359

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LISTINGS TOP REAL ESTATE

EAST HANOVER Annette Capo Coccia Real Estate Group, LLC 435 Ridgedale Ave. 973.887.2500 714.944.5487 Terrie K.O. Neuman TKO Properties 296 Route 10 973.428.8400 201.323.1986 FLORHAM PARK James Postell Transwestern New Jersey 180 Park Ave., First Floor 973.947.9200 973.947.9201 KINNELON Kristen DeLeo Realty Executives 1167 Route 23 South 973.838.6990 973.519.4093 MADISON Judy Carlsson Kienlen Lattmann Sotheby’s International Realty 223 Main St. 973.377.7785 973.214.6164 Robert Chapman Weichert Realtors 15 Prospect St. 973.377.4460 201.400.0840 Alisa Cohan Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 49 Main St. 973.377.4444 973.229.0012

James Mattina Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 49 Main St. 973.377.4444 973.229.8368

Pamela Tishman Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 106A E. Main St. 973.543.2552 973.271.9079

Bernadette McDonough Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 49 Main St. 973.377.4444 973.951.5859

MONTVILLE

Maureen Mount Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 49 Main St. 973.377.4444 973.769.3970 Jen Nielsen Kienlen Lattmann Sotheby’s International Realty 223 Main St. 973.493.9414 973.377.7785 Paloma Reis Weichert Realtors 15 Prospect St. 973.377.4460 MENDHAM Jill A. Cardullo Weichert Realtors 21 W. Main St. 973.543.6511 973.879.8443 Susan Eagan Corona Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 106A E. Main St. 973.543.2552 908.963.1112

Debra Cunningham Weichert Realtors 15 Prospect St. 973.377.4460

Patrice Farris Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 106A E. Main St. 973.543.2552 973.219.3265

Brian Hart Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 49 Main St. 973.377.4444 973.714.4344

Lou Ann Fellers Kienlen Lattmann Sotheby’s International Realty 20 E. Main St. 973.543.3500 908.930.9564

Donna Mattina Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 49 Main St. 973.377.4444 973.214.2929

Sandra Laughlin Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 106A E. Main St. 973.543.2552 973.615.5640

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Randi Bennett RE/MAX Neighborhood Properties 381 Main Rd. 973.334.3341 973.610.7123 Diane Brady RE/MAX Neighborhood Properties 381 Main Rd. 973.334.3341 973.885.3797 Richard Heim Heim Realty LLC 6 Mullbrook Ln. 973.335.0811 Sally Novak RE/MAX Neighborhood Properties 381 Main Rd. 973.334.3341 973.819.9820 Cheryl A. Schuck RE/MAX Neighborhood Properties 381 Main Rd. 973.334.3341 973.727.7626 Tracy Warsaw RE/MAX Neighborhood Properties 381 Main Rd. 973.334.3341 973.722.8801 MORRIS PLAINS Patricia Abrusia Weichert Realtors 1625 Route 10 East 973.984.1400 862.754.9426 Katherine Adcock Weichert Realtors 1625 Route 10 East 973.652.5597 Vinod Datwani Weichert Realtors 1625 Route 10 East 973.984.1400 973.271.1940

Nancy Doyne Weichert Realtors 1625 Route 10 East 973.984.1400 201.400.0347 Robert Falzarano Weichert Realtors 1625 Route 10 East 973.984.1400 201.400.7817 Lori Kaplan Weichert Realtors 1625 Route 10 East 973.984.1400 973.879.3888 Brenda Lee Weichert Realtors 1625 Route 10 East 973.984.1400 646.402.2002 Dominique Scura Weichert Realtors 1625 Route 10 East 973.532.4429 973.219.8909

Stephanie Blumert Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 211 South St. 973.267.8990 973.220.4756 Ryan Bruen Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 211 South St. 973.267.8990 973.294.8887 David Cadmore Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Rand Realty 973.532.5727 407.456.3165 Yinna Chih Weichert Realtors 20 Madison Ave. 973.539.8000

MORRISTOWN

Douglas Collinson Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 55 Madison Ave. 973.539.1120 973.214.0347

Amanda Abdelsayed Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 44 Whippany Rd. 973.539.1120 201.230.7515

Jane Conway Keller Williams Realty 55 Madison Ave. 973.539.1120 201.400.2707

Christine Altamuro Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 55 Madison Ave. 973.539.1120 973.557.5026 Lim Bances Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 44 Whippany Rd. 973.539.1120 908.267.0002 Joan Barbarula Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 211 South St. 973.267.8990 973.220.1135 Carolyn Bardach Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices 264 South St. 973.538.5555 973.229.2851

Holly A. Daniel Weichert Realtors 20 Madison Ave. 973.539.8000 973.769.1649 Valerie J. Delaney Weichert Realtors 20 Madison Ave. 973.539.8000 Jill DiGrazio Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 55 Madison Ave. 908.766.0085 908.309.2925 Michael Elms RE/MAX Select One Madison Ave. East Building 973.539.6300 973.960.1950 Lorraine First West End Residential 109 Washington St. 973.285.9526 617.320.1822

3/24/20 4:35 PM

Elizabeth Harper Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 44 Whippany Rd. 973.539.1120 201.317.1118

Jason Olmo Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 55 Madison Ave. 973.539.1120 908.591.8899

Christer Holmquist Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 55 Madison Ave. 973.539.1120 908.797.3944

Evduza Ramaj Your Town Realty, LLC 5 Maple Ave. 855.600.2465 973.400.1818

Edwin Kalinka Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 44 Whippany Rd. 973.539.1120 973.670.8338 Keith Kirkwood Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Rand Realty 163 Madison Ave., Suite 110 973.532.5727 407.488.0312

Shelby Rhodes Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 55 Madison Ave. 973.539.1120 973.945.9494 Josephine Samarro Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices 264 South St. 973.538.5555 862.266.4949

Beth Lohner Weichert Realtors 20 Madison Ave. 973.539.8000 973.460.1387

Kathleen A. Sorkin RE/MAX Select One Madison Ave. East Building 973.539.6300 973.479.9177

Patricia Lopez RE/MAX Select One Madison Ave. East Building 973.539.6300 973.476.2236

Andrew Walker Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 55 Madison Ave. 973.539.1120 201.424.8628

Kathryn Masters Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 55 Madison Ave. 973.539.1120 973.229.4500

Ian Wolf Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 44 Whippany Rd. 973.539.1120 201.838.6367

Cheryl McCauley Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices 264 South St. 973.538.5555 201.323.1176

MOUNT ARLINGTON

Lisa Molinari Weichert Realtors 20 Madison Ave. 973.539.8000 908.337.1748

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Ronald J. Frost RE/MAX House Values 180 Howard Blvd.

973.601.1212 973.919.0024

Diana C. Marcus RE/MAX House Values 180 Howard Blvd.

973.601.1212 973.713.5103 Lynn Martini RE/MAX House Values 180 Howard Blvd.

973.601.1212 973.945.2880 Susin J. Wintermute RE/MAX House Values 180 Howard Blvd.

973.601.1212 973.713.7165 MOUNTAIN LAKES Barbara Applebaum Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices 355 Route 46 West 973.627.2270 201.602.4696 Romila Bajaj Weichert Realtors Route 46 at Cherry Hill Rd. 973.334.9400 956.844.6612 Keith Bochner Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Route 46 and Crane Rd. 973.263.0400 973.476.2089 Virginia L. Cassidy RE/MAX Neighborhood Properties 115 Route 46 West, Building F 973.334.3500 201.230.5539 Leonard Cipkins Weichert Realtors Route 46 at Cherry Hill Rd. 973.334.9400 973.229.8740 Anna De Grossi Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Route 46 and Crane Rd. 973.263.0400 973.886.4507 Jo Ann Delaney Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Route 46 and Crane Rd. 973.263.0400 973.945.0015

Anthony Frederico Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Route 46 and Crane Rd. 973.263.0400 201.274.3327

Ann Rodriguez Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Route 46 and Crane Rd. 973.263.0400 973.727.0241

Susan Gerardo Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices 355 Route 46 West 973.627.2270 973.879.5299

Deborah Sprung Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Route 46 and Crane Rd. 973.263.0400 973.479.9007

Mahalakshmi Gullapalli Weichert Realtors Route 46 at Cherry Hill Rd. 973.334.9400

Sueanne Sylvester Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Route 46 and Crane Rd. 973.263.0400 973.219.8845

Shashi Gupta Weichert Realtors Route 46 at Cherry Hill Rd. 973.334.9400 973.727.3529 Jennifer Hyatt Weichert Realtors Route 46 at Cherry Hill Rd. 973.334.9400 973.876.4675 Margaret Lefsky Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Route 46 and Crane Rd. 973.263.0400 973.727.0795 Goran Matlijoski Weichert Realtors Route 46 at Cherry Hill Rd. 973.334.9400 973.452.3771 Stephen McCauley Jr. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Route 46 and Crane Rd. 973.263.0400 Timothy Nees Weichert Realtors Route 46 at Cherry Hill Rd. 973.334.9400 973.464.6319 Joseph Polizzi Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 333 Route 46 West 973.219.7984

Natalie Wallach Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Route 46 and Crane Rd. 973.263.0400 973.214.3187

LISTINGS

Denise Mortenson Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 55 Madison Ave. 973.539.1120 973.714.1309

TOP REAL ESTATE

Jesse Flowers Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 211 South St. 973.267.8990 908.301.6070

PARSIPPANY Cynthia Cook Century 21 Cardinal Enterprises 979 Littleton Rd. 973.267.9500 973.713.0241 Barry Coopersmith RE/MAX First Choice 1160 Route 46 West 973.335.4600 201.919.2896 Michelle Miller Realty Executives 113 Parsippany Rd. 973.462.6486 RANDOLPH Ken Berard Weichert Realtors 284 Route 10 973.328.7800 973.337.3166 John W. Donnelly Weichert Realtors 284 Route 10 973.328.7800 973.960.4473

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LISTINGS TOP REAL ESTATE

Andrea E. Duda Weichert Realtors 284 Route 10 973.328.7800 201.602.1856

Nicole Fletcher RE/MAX Select 20 W. Main St. 973.625.0450 973.934.9095

Karen Graney Realty Executives 419 Route 10 East 973.598.1200 201.317.6462

Toni Kaufmann Century 21 Christel Realty 165 East Main St. 973.627.6800 973.809.0800

Teresa Maegerlein Realty Executives 419 Route 10 East Randolph, NJ 07869 973.598.1200 201. 826.1462

Ellen Klein Century 21 Christel Realty 165 East Main St. 973.627.6800 973.713.7816

Javier Millan Realty Executives 419 Route 10 East 973.598.1200 973.390.5361 Deborah Riska RE/MAX House Values 1176 Sussex Tpke., Suite 2 973.442.2224 201.486.5566 Julie Williams Weichert Realtors 284 Route 10 973.328.7800 973.277.0059 ROCKAWAY Andrew Allen Century 21 Christel Realty 165 East Main St. 973.627.6800 973.349.0459 Noree Barilla Century 21 Christel Realty 165 East Main St. 973.627.6800 973.214.9125 Eileen Quiles Beighley Century 21 Christel Realty 165 East Main St. 973.627.6800 973.224.3541 Marian Bloete Century 21 Christel Realty 165 East Main St. 973.627.6800 973.714.4662 Teresa Drapczuk Century 21 Christel Realty 165 East Main St. 973.627.6800 609.220.0933

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WAYNE Walter Weiss Keller Williams Realty Prosperity 1700 Route 23 North 973.696.0077 973.570.2824

Tulio Portal RE/MAX Select 20 W. Main St. 973.625.0450 973.775.2319 Jennifer Taylor Century 21 Christel Realty 165 East Main St. 973.627.6800 856.816.1543 Julia Torsiello Century 21 Christel Realty 165 East Main St. 973.627.6800 973.907.4938 Susan Wadleigh EXIT Classic Realty 1 Bank St. 973.386.9900 201.936.8804 David Wainwright RE/MAX Select 20 W. Main St. 973.625.0450 973.818.7100 TOWACO Christina Wheeler Century 21 The Crossing 8 Whitehall Rd. 973.227.7000 OUTSIDE MORRIS BASKING RIDGE Marie Young Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 1 S. Finley Ave. 908.766.0808 908.938.2525

3/24/20 4:35 PM

TOP REAL ESTATE AGENTS

Coccia Real Estate Group ELVIRA GREEN, Realtor 435 Ridgedale Ave., East Hanover, NJ 07936 Office: 973.887.2500 | Cell: 201.230.9313 cocciarealestate.com/elvira-green AS A LIFETIME RESIDENT OF FLORHAM PARK AND MADISON, Elvira Green has deep connections to this desirable area where she also chose to raise her family. That’s just one reason why she’s a most trusted and top-selling Realtor in Morris County. Elvira’s clients find that there’s no substitute for her invaluable financial background, expert negotiating skills and proven results when it comes to having a smooth, stress-free real estate experience.

Before entering the real estate market as a Realtor, Elvira was a mortgage associate with Wells Fargo Mortgage working with top producers and helping borrowers understand loan options. She also worked as a compliance specialist for Merrill Lynch & Co. managing retirement investment plans for Fortune 500 companies. Elvira’s BA in business from Caldwell University adds to her strong skill sets. Elvira’s clients have full confidence in

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her expertise, efficiency and abilities to spot red flags and educate them about financial options. As a result, her clients trust her that she’ll always have their best interests at heart.

Elvira gets the most satisfaction from seeing her clients happy. Because she always put her clients’ interests above her own, Elvira’s business is solidly built on referrals. She’s now herself a top producer, having received the NJAR® Circle of Excellence Sales Awards, receiving Silver or Gold, for the last six years in a row, and she has closed $12 million in sales in 2019 alone.

On top of excelling at sales, Elvira takes the time to give back to her community by organizing the Toys for Tots program for her office every year since 2015. She’s clearly set the bar high with her top-notch professionalism and passion for excellence, providing superior service and attention to every client.

3/24/20 4:36 PM

AGENTS TOP REAL ESTATE

Weichert Realtors Corporate Headquarters GLORIA LA FORGIA, Sales Associate, CRS 1625 Route 10 East, Morris Plains, NJ 07950 Cell: 973.477.4632 glorialaforgia.com

RANKED AMONG THE TOP 1% OF WEICHERT AGENTS and an annual recipient of the NJ 5-Star Award since 2014, Gloria loves her career.

Gloria began her real estate career in 1994 and enjoys working with buyers and sellers, from first-time home buyers to luxury buyers and renters.

An expert in Morris and Essex Counties, Gloria is “The East Hanover Specialist.” She has built The La-Forgia Group, consisting of two buyers’ agents along with her son, the group’s photographer and videographer. Business has grown rapidly, largely as a result of referrals and returning clients.

Gloria’s clients can count on her to guide them through each step of a real estate transaction and receive quick responses to all forms of messaging.

She understands that a real estate transaction may be the largest financial transaction clients will ever make and is dedicated to developing client relationships based on trust.

In addition to Gloria’s knowledge of her market, she is an internet specialist and a formidable negotiator, all of which helps her sellers achieve faster sales at optimal prices.

Keller Williams Metropolitan DOROTA KUNDERA, Sales Associate Certified Residential Specialist 44 Whippany Rd., Suite 230, Morristown, NJ 07960

Office: 973.539.1120 | Cell: 973.867.8134 dorotakundera.kw.com

HELPING CLIENTS SELL AND BUY A HOME WITH FIVE-STAR SERVICE is what Dorota Kundera does. Dorota knows the process can be life-changing and stressful. A member of the Crawford Home Selling Team, Keller Williams Metropolitan, Dorota is a seasoned real estate professional with one goal in mind: To know her clients and make sure they realize they come first.

With an MBA in Business Management, Dorota possesses a strong skill set, which gives clients confidence in her ability and expertise. Licensed since 1999, she earned the Certified Residential Specialist designation and was honored by NJ Realtors® Circle of Excellence Sales Award for years, reaching gold level in 2017, 2018 and 2019. This is her second year as a Top Realtor for Morris/Essex Health and Life Magazine.

Believing that integrity, personalized care, and experience are prerequisites for successful business relationships, Dorota has never veered off her plan. She delivers superior service to every client, from local sellers and buyers to relocation clients and investors, using her knowledge of the market, along with current marketing tools.

Dorota enjoys many things about her career but gets her greatest satisfaction from seeing her clients happy.

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TOP REAL ESTATE AGENTS

Coccia Real Estate Group CHRISTINE NAGY Sellers Representative Specialist Accredited Buyer Representative Circle of Excellence Award 2010-2019 973.615.9878 | Christine@cocciarealestate.com chrisnagy.com | zillow.com/profile/cnagy25 CHRISTINE NAGY HAS BEEN A REALTOR FOR 15 YEARS at Coccia Real Estate Group and an East Hanover resident for 29 years. In 2019, she had 14 East Hanover real estate transactions totaling 8 MILLION DOLLARS IN EAST HANOVER SALES ALONE! Combining total sales, she had 27 transactions in 2019 totaling almost 14 Million Dollars! In her career she has sold over 130 MILLION DOLLARS IN REAL ESTATE! She has been a member of the NJ REALTORS Circle of Excellence Award from 2010 through 2019 and a member of the Distinguished Sales Club, where 10 years of Circle of Excellence Award achievement is required. Christine is a Seller Representative Specialist, completing advanced training in seller representation and is also an Accredited Buyer Representative, taking courses in advanced skills for home buyer representation. “It’s very important for me to make sure I am accessible and patient to help my buyers find the

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perfect home. For my sellers, I take it very personally when someone chooses me to help them in the sale of their home. I make sure I go the extra steps to make sure my sellers get the best results”. Christine has stayed with one office throughout her career. She attributes that decision to the great Coccia Real Estate environment between the other realtors, staff and Christopher Coccia, the broker of the office. “I love what I do, whether it’s a first time buyer finding their new home, or a seller who needs more space or is downsizing to a smaller home. I am happy that they have trust in me to help them move on to the next chapter of their lives. “This year Coccia Real Estate moved to our new beautiful East Hanover office. Our 2020 spring market has been amazing! We appreciate our wonderful community and are very excited for continued success in the future”.

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AGENTS TOP REAL ESTATE

Weichert Realtors MARY T. WEICHERT, Broker/Salesperson SRES, ABR, CRS, CLHMS 64 Main St., Chatham, NJ 07928 Office: 201.532.0788 maryweichert@weichert.com

AN AWARD-WINNING REAL ESTATE BROKER and member of the well-known and highly respected Weichert real estate family, Mary Weichert has been a top-producing real estate concierge in northern New Jersey for more than 20 years. Her expertise includes buying, listing, relocating, consulting, and managing properties in Basking Ridge, Chatham Borough, Chatham Township, Harding Township, Madison, Morristown, Summit and Short Hills.

As a result of her in-depth knowledge and outstanding productivity, Mary has consistently earned the prestigious Weichert Realtors™ Top Chatham Office Producer Award and Five-star Real Estate Agent Award since the early 2000s. She is a member of the Weichert Realtors™ President’s Club and New Jersey Association of Realtors Circle of Excellence Platinum Level. Mary also is a board chair for Weichert Realtors™. Weichert Realtors recently named Mary the #1 company-wide associate in December 2019 sales and resale volume. She is a designated real estate specialist, accredited buyer representative, certified residential specialist and luxury home marketing specialist. To her credit, Mary ranks among Weichert Realtors™ top half a percent of real estate agents.

Weichert Realtors R.M. FALZARANO, Sales Representative, ABR, SRES NCJAR Circle of Excellence (2015-2019) 1625 Route 10 East, Morris Plains, NJ 07950 Office: 973.984.1400 Cell: 201.400.7817 Bobfalzarano@yahoo.com Bobfalzarano.com

BOB FALZARANO’S GOAL: TO EXCEED EXPECTATIONS. As a real estate sales representative, Bob is committed to his clients from their initial meeting through the end of their transaction, but also staying in touch beyond that, a primary reason for his strong referral business.

One of many excellent client reviews on Zillow states, “I’ve used Bob three times now. Honest, friendly and thorough. I’ve also received compliments about him from my attorney & mortgage associate.”

Bob believes that clients deserve outstanding service and a commitment to excellence. He promises timely responses to all communication and is a skilled problem solver.

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Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage DENISE FLANAGAN, Broker Sales Associate 211 South Street Morristown, NJ 07960 Office: 973.267.8990 Cell: 973.420.4590

SUCCESS COMES FROM a good plan, flexibility and hard work.

Denise has a proven track record of success not only as a Broker Sales Associate, but as a former Coldwell Banker Manager, Real Estate Commissioner 2001-2008, a consistent recipient of the National Association of Realtors Circle of Excellence awards at the Gold and Platinum levels, a Five Star Real Estate Agent 2013-2018, Distinguished Sales Club 1997-2018, and member of Coldwell Banker’s International Sterling Society 2018. However, her biggest and proudest accomplishments have been selling over 1000 homes, and her sustained relationships with her clients over the years.

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KIMBERLY BRECHKA, Agent, Weichert’s Ambassador’s Club, Weichert Corporate Headquarters 1625 Route 10 East, Morris Plains, NJ 07950 Office: 973.984.1400 Cell: 917.597.1768 kimberlybrechka.com

Joe Pollizzi Keller Williams Metropolitan

WITH 34+ YEARS of real estate experience, Joe Polizzi has built a super strong foundation with his buyers and sellers. The method is proven; Team Polizzi consistently earns trust, referrals, and repeat customers. 85% of their business derives from their robust network.

From 1986-2019, Joe has won the NJ Realtors® Circle of Excellence Sales Award and was awarded a lifetime membership in the NJR Distinguished Sales Club®.

Real estate is engrained in Team Polizzi; they treat clients like they’re family. The team includes Joe’s daughter, Jessica, whose skills as an Emmy Award-winning television producer only elevate their business.

ATTENTION TO DETAIL is the core of Kimberly Brechka’s approach to successful real estate transactions.

A licensed agent with Weichert and a member of the NJ Realtors Circle of Excellence for 2018 and 2019, Kimberly chose real estate after an acclaimed television career. She transferred her skills from her broadcasting days and created a career that reflects her passion for creating aesthetically pleasing homes with a knack for matching a client to the right house.

Committed to personal service, Kimberly treats every client with professionalism, using extensive knowledge of the Morris and Essex markets to help clients acquire their dream homes.

AGENTS

JOE POLIZZI, Associate Broker 333 Route 46 West, Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046 973.219.7984 | teampolizzi.com

TOP REAL ESTATE

Weichert Realtors

TOP REAL ESTATE

HOMES OF DISTINCTION

2 WOODED ACRES LN., MENDHAM, NJ

Expect spectacular perfection!

A grand entrance invites you into the bright and airy open layout home with huge windows and plenty of natural light. First fl features a true chef’s kitchen w/center island & breakfast room, formal dining room, 2 story living room w/fire place, family room overlooking beautiful pool area, office, powder room.

Keller Williams Metropolitan Cell: 973.867.8134 | Office: 973.539.1120 Dorota Kundera, Sales Associate

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$900,000

Custom Built Colonial Magnificent home nestled on a quiet cul-de-sac. Numerous upgrades throughout. Approx. 3700 sq. ft on .82 acre, built in 2000. Truly a show and sell home.

Weichert Realtors Corp Headquarters Cell: 973.477.4632 | Office: 973.984.1400 Gloria La Forgia, Sales Associate

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HOMES OF DISTINCTION TOP REAL ESTATE

$819,000 24 GROVE AVE., EAST HANOVER, NJ

$1,100,000 107 EDGEWOOD DR, FLORHAM PARK, NJ

Magnificent Colonial! 5 BR, 3 1/2 bath home. 2 story

Foyer with 9 Foot Ceilings on 1st floor! Stunning Kitchen with VIKING appliances, Granite, butlers pantry, & Center Island! Amazing outdoor Trex deck & Paver Patio with built in fire pit and private wooded views.

Bright & Spacious, gleams with owner pride!

Spectacular

Custom Colonial Built in 2006! Picture perfect 5 bedroom 3 1/2 bath custom colonial built in 2006. Almost 4000 square feet plus finished basement! Grand circular paver driveway & add’l driveway leading to oversized 2 car garage.

$1,419,000 107 EDGEWOOD DR, FLORHAM PARK, NJ

New Construction!

Fabulous 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths home with over 4,200 sq ft of living space on 3 finished floors! Two story foyer!

Gourmet kitchen with Viking appliances. Master suite with luxurious bath and tray ceilings. Walk finished 3rd floor. Luxury at its best with this spectacular home!

Coccia Real Estate Group, LLC 201.230.9313 Elvira Green, Realtor

6 ORA COURT, EAST HANOVER, NJ

Recently Sold! This home was sold in late 2019. Picture Perfect Home in Great Neighborhood.

Coccia Real Estate Group Cell: 973.615.9878 Christine Nagy, Realtor

Join Us for the Summer Issue!

FREE SUBSCRIPTIONS TO NJ RESIDENTS AT NJHOMEMAG.COM. For advertising information, call Publisher Tom Flannery at 201.571.2252 or email at thomas.flannery@wainscotmedia.com.

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$609,900 SUCCASUNNA, NJ

Stunning Colonial. Immaculate 6-year young home with 4

bedrooms & 3.5 Baths and an exquisite full-finished basement and an amazing stone patio. Prepare to be impressed!

Weichert Realtors Cell: 201.400.7817 | Office: 973.984.1400 Robert “Bob” Falzarano, Sales Associate

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SPECIAL SECTION

ESSEX

COUNTY

TOP REAL ESTATE 2020 TO HELP READERS FIND THE BEST REAL ESTATE AGENTS TO WORK WITH IN ESSEX COUNTY, Morris/Essex Health & Life contracted DataJoe Research of Boulder, Colorado to facilitate a multi-faceted research campaign. It consisted of an online survey delivered directly to agents across Essex County via email as well as internet research. In the survey, real estate agents were asked to provide sales volume ranges and also nominate their peers. In the internet campaign, DataJoe consulted a variety of websites to build richer knowledge of individual licensed real estate agents across the county.

DataJoe checked and confirmed that each published winner had, at the time of review, a current, active license status with the appropriate state regulatory board. If they were not able to find evidence of a real estate agent’s current, active registration with the state regulatory board, that real estate agent was excluded from the list. Finally, DataJoe presented the tallied results to Morris/Essex Health & Life for final review.

We recognize that there are many good real estate agents who are not shown on the representative list. This is only a sampling of the huge array of talented professionals within the county.

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Jorge Velasquez RE/MAX Professionals I 264 Washington Ave. 973.450.4000 973.418.0425 LIVINGSTON Ellen Gonik Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 2 E . Mount Pleasant Ave. 973.994.4323 973.879.9467 Douglass Holmes Striker Realty 58 E. Mount Pleasant Ave. 973.740.1881 973.568.2224 Lisa Lang Keller Williams Suburban Realty 4245 Town Center Way 973.251.0100 973.951.5729 MAPLEWOOD Peter DeCicco Keller Williams Mid-Town Direct 181 Maplewood Ave. 973.762.5400 973.420.4401 Natalie Farrell Weichert Realtors 697 Valley St. 973.762.3300 917.514.7541

MONTCLAIR Nancy Chu Keller Williams NJ Metro Group 237 Lorraine Ave. 973.783.7400 917.992.3098 James Hughes Keller Williams NJ Metro Group 237 Lorraine Ave. 973.233.7862 201.675.1210 Sam Joseph Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices 695 Bloomfield Ave. 973.744.5544 917.359.8990 Kathleen Kulik Keller Williams NJ Metro Group 237 Lorraine Ave. 973.783.7400 973.454.3563 VERONA Lauren Orsini Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices 538 Bloomfield Ave. 973.239.7700 973.650.1683 ESSEX COUNTY TOP REAL ESTATE AGENTS BELLEVILLE

Robert Northfield Keller Williams Mid-Town Direct 181 Maplewood Ave. 973.554.8001 973.489.3417

Brian Flores RE/MAX Professionals I 264 Washington Ave. 973.450.4000 862.944.0802

Amy Paternite Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 973.378.8300 917.442.5130

Ascensao Gutierrez RE/MAX Professionals I 264 Washington Ave. 973.450.4000 973.207.0956

Mark Slade Keller Williams Mid-Town Direct 181 Maplewood Ave. 973.762.5400 917.797.5059

Carmen Jimenez RE/MAX Professionals I 264 Washington Ave. 973.450.4000 201.919.2878

Manuel Rosa Rosa Agency Realtors 18 Bloomfield Ave. 973.751.1000 Felix Rosario RE/MAX Professionals I 264 Washington Ave. 973.450.4000 201.491.3262 CALDWELL Francis Busby Lattimer Realty 327 Bloomfield Ave. 973.226.1717 973.865.2889 Tracy Chan Century 21 Cedarcrest Realty, Inc 460 Bloomfield Ave. 973.228.1050 973.476.8097

LISTINGS

AGENTS

BELLEVILLE

Allison Ziefert Keller Williams Mid-Town Direct 181 Maplewood Ave. 973.762.5400 917.751.0448

TOP REAL ESTATE

ESSEX COUNTY TOP REAL ESTATE AGENTS, ELITE

Deborah DeVito Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 484 Bloomfield Ave. 973.226.2577 973.632.3052 Helene Harrison Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 484 Bloomfield Ave. 973.226.2577 973.714.8975 Jeffrey Lattimer Jr. Lattimer Realty 327 Bloomfield Ave. 973.226.1717 973.768.2942 Patrese Lattimer Lattimer Realty 327 Bloomfield Ave. 973.226.1717 973.632.3564 Rick Lodato Century 21 Cedarcrest Realty, Inc 460 Bloomfield Ave. 973.228.1050 973.239.3535 Kathleen Milinkovich Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 484 Bloomfield Ave. 973.226.2577 973.610.4207

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LISTINGS TOP REAL ESTATE

Maria Rampinelli Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices 14 Forest Ave. 973.228.5525 973.868.2931

Elizabeth Bergman Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 2 E. Mount Pleasant Ave. 973.994.4323 201.417.9665

Joey Scotto Century 21 Cedarcrest Realty, Inc 460 Bloomfield Ave. 973.228.1050 201.575.1456

Ilona Berlaga Keller Williams Suburban Realty 4245 Town Center Way 973.251.0100 973.464.8507

FAIRFIELD

Marsha Bowen Washington Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 2 E. Mount Pleasant Ave. 973.994.4323 646.249.6212

Vito Contuzzi Century 21 Wessex Realty 435 Hollywood Ave. 973.227.7000 973.652.9303 Janice Corsilli Lattimer Realty 397 Route 46 West 973.575.1200 973.632.4644 Michael Lattimer Lattimer Realty 397 Route 46 West 973.575.1200 973.886.5544 LIVINGSTON Sajimon Antony Elite Realtors of New Jersey 160 S. Livingston Ave. 973.994.9009 862.438.2361 Bonita Areman Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 2 E. Mount Pleasant Ave. 973.994.4323 973.568.0341 Michael Auer Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 2 E. Mount Pleasant Ave. 973.994.4323 201.259.2306 Sharon Avram Keller Williams Suburban Realty 4245 Town Center Way 973.251.0100 201.738.3158 Russel Barling Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 2 E. Mount Pleasant Ave. 973.994.4323 973.868.6792

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Frank Conturso Keller Williams Suburban Realty 4245 Town Center Way 973.251.0100 201.213.0952 Madalin Crawford Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 2 E. Mount Pleasant Ave. 973.994.4323 973.650.7505 Angela D’Aries Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices 79 South Livingston Ave. 973.992.6363 973.650.8898 Dana Dang Garden Home Realty LLC 513 W. Mount Pleasant Ave., Suite 300 973.533.0880 973.698.1004 Roman Drukarov Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices 79 South Livingston Ave. 973.992.6363 973.454.3218 Carol Eisenstein Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices 79 South Livingston Ave. 973.992.6363 973.879.3282 Jane Greene Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 2 E. Mount Pleasant Ave. 973.994.4323 973.727.0158

Mark Harris Archie Schwartz Co. Realtors 354 Eisenhower Pkwy., Suite 2250 973.758.0600 Dianne Houmis Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 2 E. Mount Pleasant Ave. 973.994.4323 973.723.5816 Amna F. Khawaja Weichert Realtors 35 N. Livingston Ave. 973.994.4884 917.716.1227 Myrna Klein Keller Williams Suburban Realty 4245 Town Center Way 973.251.0100 973.768.4954

Lauren Stone Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 2 E. Mount Pleasant Ave. 973.994.4323 973.951.6698

Caroline Farnsworth Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 145 Maplewood Ave. 973.378.8300 973.698.0737

Pamela Taylor Jordan Baris Realtors 250 Livingston Ave. 973.994.1234

Benjamin Garrison Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 145 Maplewood Ave. 973.378.8300 917.940.3158

Frank Vazquez Elite Realtors of New Jersey 160 S. Livingston Ave. 973.453.0494 973.529.8075 Robert Zebaida Keller Williams Suburban Realty 4245 Town Center Way 973.251.0100 917.992.4430 MAPLEWOOD

Jennifer Kotler Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices 79 South Livingston Ave. 973.992.6363 201.803.2828

Susan Blodgett Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 145 Maplewood Ave. 973.378.8300 973.214.4636

Kyle Kovats Keller Williams Suburban Realty 4245 Town Center Way 973.251.0100

Irving Cham Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 145 Maplewood Ave. 973.378.8300 973.445.7010

Stanley Rubin Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 2 E. Mount Pleasant Ave. 973.994.4323 973.856.4305 Donna Semplenski Weichert Realtors 35 N. Livingston Ave. 973.994.4884 973.985.1261 Ceola Shelton Elite Realtors of New Jersey 160 S. Livingston Ave. 973.994.9009 973.444.5593 Jamie Silverman Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 2 E. Mount Pleasant Ave. 973.994.4323 973.632.9913

David Corsini Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 145 Maplewood Ave. 973.378.8300 862.215.7820 Donna Dickson Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 145 Maplewood Ave. 973.378.8300 201.978.0430 Elaine Ehrenkranz Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 145 Maplewood Ave. 973.378.8300 973.220.3040 Katherine Elliott Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 145 Maplewood Ave. 973.378.8300 646.662.6655

Kendra Gil-Barnes GoodBuy Homes NJ Realty 1939 Springfield Ave. Maplewood, NJ 07040 973.843.9804 973.800.5755 Maria Hartley Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 145 Maplewood Ave. 973.378.8300 201.618.7684 Lara Liquori Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 145 Maplewood Ave. 973.378.8300 973.382.5386 N. Marie Lundi Keller Williams Mid-Town Direct 181 Maplewood Ave. 973.762.5400 201.362.7168 Jennifer McManus Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 145 Maplewood Ave. 973.378.8300 917.837.2192 Andrea Northfield Keller Williams Mid-Town Direct 181 Maplewood Ave. 973.762.5400 973.641.6775 Michael Pennisi Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 145 Maplewood Ave. 973.378.8300 908.656.3858 Viktoriya Robertson Keller Williams Mid-Town Direct 181 Maplewood Ave. 973.762.5400 973.970.5553

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Pamela Jill Sockwell Keller Williams Mid-Town Direct 181 Maplewood Ave. 973.762.5400 917.657.8800 MONTCLAIR

Sandra Bolcar Keller Williams NJ Metro Group 237 Lorraine Ave. 973.783.7400 201.247.5768 Joseph Burgos EXIT Platinum Realty 200 Claremont Ave. 908.361.3984 Joseph Burris eXp Realty in New Jersey 28 Valley Rd., Suite 1 908.305.1583 Erica Campbell EXIT Platinum Realty 200 Claremont Ave. 973.277.3965 Karin Carson Keller Williams NJ Metro Group 237 Lorraine Ave. 973.783.7400 917.301.1681

Erin Crawford Keller Williams NJ Metro Group 237 Lorraine Ave. 973.783.7400 973.634.1017 Alan Ellenbogen RE/MAX Select 15 Bloomfield Ave. 973.739.8008 973.477.9270 Maria Carolina Forero Gomez eXp Realty in New Jersey 28 Valley Rd., Suite 1 973.250.4418 201.844.7234 Tamima Friedman Keller Williams NJ Metro Group 237 Lorraine Ave. 973.783.7400 201.306.0267 Donna Goode Keller Williams NJ Metro Group 237 Lorraine Ave. 973.783.7400 973.214.0817 Elizabeth A. Green Weichert Realtors 272 Bellevue Ave. 973.746.1515 973.432.1809 John Haydu Keller Williams NJ Metro Group 237 Lorraine Ave. 973.783.7400 973.868.8585

Betsy Ceccio Keller Williams NJ Metro Group 237 Lorraine Ave. 973.783.7400 917.755.7672

Susan Horowitz West of Hudson Realty Group 33 Plymouth St. 973.337.6035 201.803.4791

Michele Chiles-Hickman Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices 695 Bloomfield Ave. 973.744.5544 201.463.0958

Lorraine Hurlbut Keller Williams NJ Metro Group 237 Lorraine Ave. 973.783.7400 973.477.3987

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Puneeta Kalra Keller Williams NJ Metro Group 237 Lorraine Ave. 973.783.7400 201.780.3083 Jessica Keefe Keller Williams NJ Metro Group 237 Lorraine Ave. 973.783.7400 973.997.0535 Leslie Kunkin West of Hudson Realty Group 33 Plymouth St. 973.337.6035 917.674.3007 Kathryn Lemmer Keller Williams NJ Metro Group 237 Lorraine Ave. 973.783.7400 201.953.2059

Richard Stanton Stanton Company 49 North Mountain Ave. 973.746.1313 917.536.8257

Jennifer Lieberman Hearth Realty Group 22 First St. 973.477.2301

Jimmy Syros Keller Williams NJ Metro Group 237 Lorraine Ave. 973.783.7400

Patricia Bishop Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices 538 Bloomfield Ave. 973.239.7700 862.703.0219

Shelly White Prominent Properties Sotheby’s International Realty 32 Valley Rd. 973.783.6900 973.699.4633 NEWARK Michael Rosa Rosa Agency Ironbound, LLC 360 Lafayette St. 973.589.7550 908.432.1100 NUTLEY

VERONA

Jeanne Bongo Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices 538 Bloomfield Ave. 973.239.7700 201.709.6186 WEST CALDWELL Krysta L. Senek Weichert Realtors 777 Bloomfield Ave. 973.228.5656 646.303.9840

Eric Jon Melnikoff Keller Williams NJ Metro Group 237 Lorraine Ave. 973.783.7400 201.937.0329

Margaret A. Cozzarelli RE/MAX Park Square 244 Chestnut St. 973.667.3000 973.951.6705

Frede Mirenda Prominent Properties Sotheby’s International Realty 32 Valley Rd. 973.479.8787 973.783.6900

Renee Gialanella Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 527 Franklin Ave. 973.235.1312 973.766.5918

Tracy Nix Prominent Properties Sotheby’s International Realty 32 Valley Rd. 917.439.1832 973.783.6900

Carl R. Lordi RE/MAX Park Square 244 Chestnut St. 973.667.3000 973.477.5216

Dominick Farelli Weichert Realtors 460 Prospect Ave. 973.731.6064 973.590.7543

Mary Ryder Century 21 Award Agency 210 Franklin Ave. 973.661.3808

David Mohan RE/MAX Solutions 99 Northfield Ave., Suite 8 973.731.1200 973.517.2278

Amy Owens Keller Williams NJ Metro Group 237 Lorraine Ave. 973.783.7400 201.396.2927 Diane Russell Weichert Realtors 272 Bellevue Ave. 973.746.1515 Sean Shallis eXp Realty in New Jersey 28 Valley Rd., Suite 1 855.734.8788 973.461.6955

SHORT HILLS Stephanie Mallios Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 545 Millburn Ave. 973.376.5200 201.404.1972 SOUTH ORANGE Fran Lichtman The Lichtman.Rabney Group at Hearth Realty Group 22 First St. 973.919.5055 646.734.3718

LISTINGS

Roberta Baldwin Keller Williams NJ Metro Group 237 Lorraine Ave. 973.783.7400 973.420.9043

Ron Collins eXp Realty in New Jersey 28 Valley Rd., Suite 1 347.282.5069

TOP REAL ESTATE

Heather Rodriguez Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 145 Maplewood Ave. 973.378.8300 908.343.3163

WEST ORANGE Paul Anyanwu RE/MAX Solutions 99 Northfield Ave., Suite 8 973.731.1200 973.985.4013 Rehana Deshpande Weichert Realtors 460 Prospect Ave. 973.731.6064 917.497.5951

Gloria Perez Jordan Baris Realtors 50 Mount Pleasant Ave. 973.960.9640 Eric Schwartz Weichert Realtors 460 Prospect Ave. 973.731.6064 201.953.9994

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AGENTS TOP REAL ESTATE

Hearth Realty -The Lichtman Rabney Group FRAN LICHTMAN, Co-CEO, Broker, Sales Associate RANDY RABNEY, Co-CEO, Sales Associate 22 First St., South Orange, NJ 07079 Office: 973.913.5055 | Cell: 646.734.3718 NJisHome.com WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOU COMBINE A FORMER SENIOR EXEC AT ATLANTIC RECORDS with a former Manhattan attorney?

Rapid success.

In 2002, Fran Lichtman and her wife, Randy Rabney decided they wanted a change from their stressful careers and began their search for a place that could feel like home to them and their 2-year-old son. While house hunting and working closely with their Realtor, Fran and Randy were inspired to get their real estate licenses.

The Lichtman Rabney Group became top producers shortly after they moved their family to Maplewood from NYC. Although the group is a leader in sales volume, their goal is for the group to be known as agents who deliver the greatest value, not the largest number of transactions. Most of their business comes from the referrals of satisfied clients who have relied on Fran and Randy to educate and advise them accurately. They are dedicated to

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helping new clients find their best fit and often help them create a sense of community when moving into a new area by hosting dinners at their home.

Many of Fran and Randy’s clients are members of the LGBTQ community who seek them out for resources and information not often found elsewhere. They are strong supporters of North Jersey Pride and Family Equality, a national organization that protects LGBTQ headed households.

The Lichtman Rabney group believes in staying in touch with their clients and prospects. From a bi-weekly online newsletter to local cocktail parties or a quick visit with baked goods, Fran and Randy build relationships.

Testimonials like this one are clear, “Having Fran and Randy in your corner is like having your best friend, mother and world title heavyweight going to bat”.

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TOP REAL ESTATE

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage MARSHA BOWEN WASHINGTON 2 E. Mount Pleasant Ave., Livingston, NJ 07039 Cell: 646.249.6212 | Office: 973.994.4323 Marshabwashington@yahoo.com Marshasellsnjhomes.com

Prominent Properties Sotheby’s International Realty SHELLY WHITE, Realtor-Sales Associate, SRS, ABR 32 Valley Rd., Montclair, NJ 07042 Cell: 973.699.4633 Office: 973.783.6900 ShellyMovesMontclair.com

SHELLY HAS PROVEN STRATEGIES, which places her in the forefront of the local industry. She understands the complexity of her clients’ needs when selling and purchasing a home and negotiates tirelessly for their best interests.

Shelly is known for integrity, diplomacy, market knowledge, and sincere honesty in all her dealings. Since starting in the real estate business, she has strived to be someone in whom her clients and colleagues can put their trust and faith.

Shelly is a recipient of the NJ Realtors® Circle of Excellence Sales Award and respected specialist in Montclair, Glen Ridge, Maplewood and other commuter towns.

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AGENTS

MARSHA BOWEN WASHINGTON’S CLIENTS continue to hear from her months after they buy or sell their homes. That’s because after the 2008 mortgage industry meltdown, Marsha made it her top priority to educate clients on the responsibilities of homeownership so that no one would ever have to face foreclosure. As a result, Marsha’s clients are fiercely loyal. They appreciate her breadth of knowledge, professional guidance and honest perspective on what it takes to purchase, sell and own a home from start to finish.

With a marketing background and executive sales experience, Marsha honed her creative business skills that she uses to expertly navigate the real estate market.

During the housing crisis, she was able to assist over 300 New Jersey homeowners avoid home foreclosure through home preservation programs and short sales.

Marsha is an award-winning agent with a long and impressive list of designations spanning from certification as a distressed property expert to a senior real estate specialist. Her goal is to build business alliances and partnerships that advocate providing home ownership and wealth-building opportunities in local communities through real estate.

Help us market your homes digitally this Spring!

3 EMAIL BLASTS 3 SOCIAL MEDIA 3 BANNER ADS 3 WEBINARS 3 AND MORE!

For information, call Publisher Tom Flannery at 201.377.9841 or 862.377.9841; or email thomas.flannery@wainscotmedia.com.

3/24/20 4:37 PM

HOMES OF DISTINCTION TOP REAL ESTATE

251 WYOMING AVE., MAPLEWOOD, NJ

Style, Character, and Convenience... all describe this 5 bedroom, 4.1 CHC that sits above Roosevelt Estates. Amazing open kitchen. Just .6 miles to NYC train. Around the corner from reservation.

Beautiful, Healthy Smiles For Your Family!

365 HARDING DRIVE, SOUTH ORANGE NJ

Spacious, Gracious and Fully Renovated...

stone front 4 bedroom, 2.1 bath CHC on quiet street. Fantastic master suite, family room off open EIK, CAC, finished basement, private yard with patio.

Hearth Realty Group Cell: 646.734.3718

Fran Lichtman, The Lichtman Rabney Group

Since 1987, Aesthetic Smiles of New Jersey has improved the appearance of patients by providing highly personalized combinations of cosmetic and restorative dental procedures. With a smile makeover, you can fix broken or chipped teeth, stained or discolored teeth; crooked teeth, and other aesthetic issues important to you.

Aesthetic Smiles of New Jersey offers dentistry for the whole family, from the young to the young at heart. So whether you're thinking of finally having that sensational smile, improving your oral health, or remedying any dental issue; call our office today to learn more. Our world-class dentists and team are looking forward to providing the treatment you deserve.

Beautiful Victorian.

Renovated and restored, this five bedroom, three and one-half bath home awaits new owners that will appreciate a 20th century home with high ceilings, original crown and dental molding, decorative windows and fireplaces.

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Cell: 646.249.6212 | Office: 973.994.4323

Beautiful, Healthy Smiles For Your Family!

www.asnj.com | 973.285.5480

Marsha Bowen Washington

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{ POWER FOOD }

The Color Purple Move over orange. The ube, a nutty-tasting root vegetable from the Philippines, has hit the big time.

Wondering why you’re seeing so many purple desserts popping up all over Instagram? That would be thanks to the ube, a tuberous vegetable similar to a purple yam.

The root veggie has been a staple in Filipino cuisine for decades, often boiled, mashed and then baked into desserts or bread. But the brightly-hued potato is now making its way stateside, where it’s prized both for its sweet, nutty, vanilla-like flavor and for its undeniable social media appeal.

Pronounced “oo-beh” (though “oo-bae” is acceptable too), this distinctive tuber most closely resembles the standard sweet potato and, like its orange cousin, has a soft texture when cooked. But you may also confuse ube with taro, another lavender-skinned potato, despite the vast differences in the two spuds’ tastes and uses. The ube’s nuttiness makes it a godsend for adding flavor to desserts, and it grows from the ground, whereas taro has a more neutral flavor and grows on trees. (By the way, the taro is poisonous when eaten raw.) Besides being photogenic, the ube is nutritional and multi-purpose too, so it’s no wonder it’s become a majorly hot food commodity here in the United States.

POWER UP Like its sweet-potato pal, the richly textured ube is considered the good kind of carbohydrate. One cup is just 140 calories and provides nearly 40 percent of the recommended daily value of vitamin C. But while the orange hue of sweet potatoes signals a rich carotenoid content, the ube’s amethyst color indicates the presence of anthocyanins, which help fight inflammation. The ube is also considered a prebiotic fiber, which means it aids in diges-

tion and helps maintain a healthy immune system, and it has been found to contain more antioxidants than any other sweet potato. (Antioxidants protect our cells from damage and help keep blood pressure at bay, for starters.)

The ube is also a good choice for a post-workout snack, as it helps replenish the body with key minerals after exercise. Hmm—we’d say the Filipinos are onto something.

BUY/STORE/SERVE Fresh ubes are certainly harder to come by in your average store than other types of taters, but check your local farmers’ market, Whole Foods and Asian specialty markets like H Mart to see if they have it in stock. If you’re lucky enough to get your hands on the whole veggies, you can steam or purée them or prepare them as you would any other potatoes—mash them, bake them, roast them or fry them.

Ube also comes in powder form and in that way is added to cakes, cheesecakes and even pancake or waffle batter. Most commonly, though, it’s sold as a jam—referred to as ube halaya—and transformed into ice cream or spread onto donuts, flan, tarts, bread and other delicacies. Its largest claim to fame in the Philippines is in a yummy dessert called halo-halo, which contains shaved ice, evaporated milk, various fruits and other toppings over a scoop of ube ice cream.

Happily, we New Jerseyans needn’t travel to the Pacific to enjoy this trendy and healthful violet varietal—and photograph it for the ’gram, of course—right here in the comfort of home.

—Haley Longman

DID YOU KNOW? Dioscorea alata, the scientific name for this purple tuber, has had many reputed benefits in folk medicine; it was once used as a laxative and to treat fever, leprosy, tumors and other ailments.

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{ ON THE TOWN }

Gatherings Whether it’s a fundraiser or a volunteering event, Morris/Essex residents always show up to support their friends and neighbors.

3 ART GALLERY Dozens of friends and supporters attended the More Than Pink Walk Kick-Off Celebration and Journeys of Courage exhibit opening at 70 South Gallery in Morristown. The event raised 4 money and awareness for breast cancer research.

2 Deena Bernhardt, Tina Jacobs, Carmen Carlson 3 Ira Black, Deborah Q. Belfatto, Tim Dougherty, Perla Haltner

2 NEWARK TRUST FOR EDUCATION

MAKE-A-WISH NEW JERSEY Make-A-Wish New Jersey, which grants life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses in Bergen County and throughout the state, recently received a $16,000 donation from MJH Life Sciences. Since its inception in 1983, Make-A-Wish New Jersey has fulfilled nearly 11,000 wishes for children in every municipality.

1 Matthew McGovern, Mike Hennessy Jr., Jerry Murphy

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CONSERVE WILDLIFE FOUNDATION New Jersey-based ShopRite joined Procter & Gamble to support Conserve Wildlife Foundation’s (CWF) Eagle Monitoring Program in the Garden State.

The two corporations donated a combined $13,000 to the CWF’s campaign to manage and reduce disturbance in eagle habitats, especially around nest sites. In 2019, there were approximately 190 bald eagle nests in New Jersey—including Ridgefield Park—that produced 249 young.

6 Larissa Smith, Ron Doyle, Steve Neumann, Suzanne Forbes, Liz Silvernail

COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES Several Morris County volunteers were recently sworn in as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) of Morris and Sussex. To become a volunteer, candidates were required to complete a six-week course, which trained them to advocate for vulnerable children in court, ensure they receive medical and educational resources and find permanent, safe homes.

7 New CASA volunteers at their swearing-in ceremony at the Morris County Courthouse

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MJH Life Sciences (1), W Media Group (2–3), Rosica Communications (4–5), BML Public Relations (6), Court Appointed Special Advocates (7)

1

Newark Trust for Education recently hosted a program looking back on the organization’s past nine years.

Dozens attended the event, including parents, staff, education leaders, community advocates and supporters.

4 Antoinette Baskerville-Richardson, Roger Leon, Reginald Bledsoe 5 Kaleena Berryman, Barbara Reisman, Nicole T. Johnson

{ ON THE TOWN }

RESTAURANT REVIEW:

Kenko Sushi

Tucked away in a Lincoln Park strip mall is a small eatery with a big reputation.

Could it live up to the hype?

But any sushi fan knows the specialty rolls are what truly set your go-to spot apart from every other joint. Thankfully, Kenko has roughly 170 from which to choose.

We narrowed down our picks to a final trio: the “Dancing on Fire,” “Godzilla” and “Kenko Special” rolls. Our food arrived promptly and elegantly, arranged linearly on a wood plank (a presentation any Instagram foodie would be jealous of), and each absolutely breathtaking in its own right.

Most notable was the “Godzilla” roll’s main attraction: an enormous and rather filling “fin” comprised of crabmeat and fried tempura pieces.

This was our favorite of the bunch, but the others certainly did not disappoint. The “Kenko Special” roll was delicious but admittedly a little hard to eat—“mushy,” as my fellow diner put it—because it was topped with various sashimi pieces, making it pretty but not functional.

The “Dancing on Fire” was both light and flavorful, and perfect for any non-spicy eater, with stringy crab layered on top serving as a beautiful skirt for the roll. Stuffed, my dining companion and I passed on the manager’s offer of scoops of ice cream, but vowed to partake at our next visit—and there will certainly be one.

We ended our evening by leaving a miniature Post-It note on the wall, among a couple hundred similar messages customers have deposited on the interior walls of this hidden gem. It was hard to find one without a compliment: “Greatest sushi I’ve ever had,” “Sooooo delicious,” and the like. But one caught my eye on the way out: “Worth the wait.” Indeed, Kenko Sushi was just that—and on this evening, that was saying a lot.

—Gianna Barone

Photos courtesy of Gianna Barone, Kenko Sushi

When I called the front desk at Kenko Sushi on an ordinary Thursday afternoon to reserve a table for two for dinner that evening, I got some sagacious advice: “The best way to get a table is to come in, leave your name and number, and then wait for our call.” That’s overkill, I thought, as it was a hohum weeknight—what place could possibly be that busy?

However, word must’ve traveled fast that the small, unassuming restaurant recently ranked as the No. 1 sushi spot in the Garden State

by The Daily Meal—as well as being named as one of foodie favorite site Yelp’s “Top 100 Places to Eat” for several years now. Still, even with so much buzz, we doubted the wait would be too long. My guess was 30 minutes, but my dining companion and I ended up shooting the breeze in the car for a solid hour and a half until our number was called. In fact, when we arrived back at Kenko’s windowless, papercovered door (it’s sandwiched between an Ace Hardware store and a laundromat), there was a handwritten sign freshly taped onto it: “Maxed out for the evening.”

My partner, a tough sushi critic, and I started our fish-filled feast on the lighter side, opting for the avocado salad and a breaded softshell crab. Our crab was perfectly fried, not greasy, and came with complimentary onion rings underneath. The app begged for some sort of spicy mayo or traditional sauce, but was deliciously prepared nonetheless. It was after finishing our crustaceous starter that we saw a waiter walk toward us with a sauce-smothered roll. We warned him that we didn’t order that, but he simply shot us a grin and told us it was on the house. Turns out, Kenko follows the traditional sushi house rule of presenting good customers with free rolls (this time, a spicy fried California roll that was so fresh it was physically warm).

Kenko Sushi, 261 Comly Rd., #3, Lincoln Park, 973.633.5498, kenkosushinj.com

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“A day trip to the gorgeous Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morristown is a perfect thing to do with your girls in the springtime. My daughter Ariana, her godmother Oksana and I were blown away by the beauty of this flowerbed in full bloom.

Ariana’s joy is palpable here—in a way that only a child can so wonderfully express. Her surprise at the rich, vibrant colors of the flora in front of her is blatant on that adorable face!”

—Cathy Feliciano, Flanders

Morris/Essex Health & Life Volume 19, Issue 2 (ISSN# 2573-8151 and USPS 025-351) is published six 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, NJ, and additional mailing offices.

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

Photo courtesy of Oksana Dovgusheva, Instagram: @ksenia_romanovna87

{ A MORRIS/ESSEX MOMENT }

NA Admissions 2019 8_375 x 10_875.qxp_No Open Houses 5/30/19 11:37 AM Page 1

IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES

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