Tenafly November 2023

Tenaf ly

November 2023

GOLDSTEIN JEWELERS:

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

BEHIND THE SCENES

WITH ADAM COHEN

HOME-BAKED SWEET TREATS

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NOVEMBER 2023

Contents

12

16 8

20 IN EVE RY ISSU E

26

4

Publisher’s Note CHANGE IS IN THE AIR

6

Mayor’s Corner HOLIDAY EVENTS

8

Q&A HOMETOWN HERO MATTHEW WEISS

26 Local Tastes KEEP IT SWEET DESSERTS 30 Better Health BEAT WINTER WEATHER WOES 32 Photo Op HOOP HOPES

F E AT U R ES

12 16

Jewelers for Generations

Over multiple decades and locations, Goldstein Jewelers has become a tristate legend—and one of Tenafly’s must-stop shops.

A Vision for Better Biking

Tenafly Bicycle Workshop’s Shepard Grinker puts customers first, both in his shops and on the trail.

20 Behind the Scenes

O N T HE COVER

Shepard Grinker, owner of Tenafly Bicycle Workshop, offers friendly service in his shops and promotes local riding.

PHOTOGRAPH BY CHRIS MARKSBURY

How Tenafly resident Adam Cohen rediscovered a passion for theater and launched a new career as a Broadway producer

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Change Is in the Air

PHOTOGRAPH BY MIKE FRANCAVILLA

a book about it called “We Don’t Want You, Uncle Sam: Examining the Military Recruiting Crisis with Generation Z.” His roots in the Tenafly community are as strong as his connection to the military, where he became a mentor to a variety of people. His book deals with convincing more young people to consider the military because it provides purpose, meaning and camaraderie.

After 20 years in New Jersey and almost 75 years in business, Goldstein Jewelers is the place to purchase delicate and exquisite pieces of jewelry and hand-sketched custom designs, and to reimagine or update family pieces. Owned by Stefanie Cohen Brenner (granddaughter of the founder) and Susan Shapiro, and helped by Abby Schwarz, “the Goldstein girls” bring three different opinions regarding jewelry to the table, resulting in something for everyone. Previously specializing in women’s jewelry, the store will debut a dedicated men’s showcase of sterling silver and 18-carat gold pieces starting in November.

Longtime Tenafly resident Adam Cohen had a decades-old passion for Broadway that he turned into a producing career after he saw “Mr. Saturday Night” in the Berkshires. Partnering with other producers who mentored him, he became involved in a Barry Manilow musical, a show about suffragettes called “Suffs” and a stage production of “Water for Elephants.” He chooses his productions based on whether or not they have heart and humanity.

What makes any day instantly better is an assortment of cookies, blondies and brownies! Lauren Lilling’s Keep It Sweet Desserts does just that. Her cookies have been featured on “Today” and in Star Magazine, and are available through catering and popups throughout Tenafly.

We hope you enjoy this issue, and we wish everyone an early happy holiday season!

The days are getting colder, the color of the leaves bolder—hello, Novem…brrr.

The trees that a short time ago seemingly would be green forever have now lost their leaves, signaling the advent of a new season. It’s always comforting when the seasons change because it means something new is about to happen.

When Shepard Grinker acquired Tenafly Bicycle Workshop in 2014, he and his business partner, Kevin Balay, brought a wealth of cycling knowledge and a vision for their retail experience.

Over time, Shepard redefined his vision for his customers to include the Palisades MTB advocacy group, which has spawned the building of multiuse trails for hiking, biking, running and horseback riding. Still having some free time, Shepard cofounded the Palisades Cyclones, a cycling team for youth, and has grown the New Jersey division of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association to 400 riders. His vision now is that he has made a place for future generations to ride.

After growing up in Tenafly, Matthew Weiss’ next step was to join the Marines and then write

Leslie Hoenninger Publisher

Tenaf ly

MAGAZINE

Editor & Publisher Leslie Hoenninger Art Director Sue Park Copy Editor Nancy Fass Writers Jenna Demmer AnnMarie Martin Photographer Chris Marksbury WAINSCOT MEDIA Chairman Carroll V. Dowden President and CEO Mark Dowden VP, Group Publisher, Regional Thomas Flannery VP, Content Strategy Maria Regan Creative Director Kijoo Kim Advertising Services Director Jacquelynn Fischer Operations Director Catherine Rosario Production Designer Chris Ferrante Print Production Manager Fern Meshulam Advertising Production Associate Griff Dowden

Tenafly magazine is published by Wainscot Media. Serving residents of Tenafly, the magazine is distributed monthly via U.S. mail. Articles and advertisements contained herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Copyright 2023 by Wainscot Media LLC. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent.

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MAYOR’S CORNER

Looking Ahead to the Holidays Tenafly’s mayor—a 20-year resident—highlights happenings in our local community.

BY MARK ZINNA

As the leaves fall and we start thinking about winter snow, I would like to give a shout-out to Michael Cassidy, the director of our Public Works Department, and our Public Works employees who perform an outstanding job keeping our streets clean, potholes filled, parks beautiful, leaves picked up and snow plowed. If you have an opportunity to say hello and thank one of them, please do. Public Works is involved in all aspects of the borough, and its people deserve three cheers!

The Tenafly Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Committee are hosting a Tenafly Holiday Fair on Saturday, December 2, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Peace Plaza adjacent to the library. This artisan market and community concert will feature local vendors, festive food and plenty of kids’ activities.

Free entry! I’m looking forward to seeing you there.

The Nature Center invites you to experience its Winter Solstice Campfire and Night Hike celebrating the changing season, followed by a toasty campfire with s’mores! This program is for adults and families with children 4 and up. The event will be held entirely outdoors, so please dress appropriately. The adventure takes place on December 16 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Visit www.tenaflync.org for details and sign-up.

We are into the holiday season, and this is a perfect time to visit one or all of Tenafly’s fabulous restaurants for dinner. Whether you enjoy outstanding steaks, seafood, paella, Asian or Indian cuisine, you will have a world of choices served up from the dining opportunities in Tenafly. On top of the great food is the chance to meet friends and support our loyal local proprietors.

Happy holidays, everyone!

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Q &a

Hometown Hero Marine Corps intelligence officer and author Matthew Weiss talks about growing up in Tenafly and how his local roots set the stage for his military career.

BY ANNMARIE MARTIN

INTERVIEW WITH

MATTHEW WEISS

Calling in bright and early from the other side of the world (5 a.m. in Darwin, Australia, to be exact), selfproclaimed “Tenafly son” Matthew Weiss has a lot on his plate. Not only did he begin his military career just a short year and a half ago, but he also decided to write a book about it.

“We Don’t Want You, Uncle Sam: Examining the Military Recruiting Crisis with Generation Z” is available on Amazon, and you can learn and hear more from Weiss at unclesambook.org.

We recently chatted with him to learn how his hometown set the stage for the start of a meaningful military career that he hopes other young people will consider.

What does being raised in Tenafly mean to you?

I grew up there for 16 years, and it was the best part of my life. I went to the JCC for preschool and Smith School for elementary; I was president of both the middle and high school. I played varsity soccer and ice hockey. I’d love for my children to one day have a similar upbringing. I’ve been all around the world and over the past year have lived in about eight different places, but there’s no place like home. People don’t realize that we truly have this beautiful little community.

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Matthew Weiss (opposite page, with his parents Peter and Louise Weiss) proudly wears the uniform of the United States Marine Corps and encourages other young people to participate in military service.

How did your local upbringing help you segue into a military career?

The connections you make in Tenafly are really strong. Similarly, the connections you make in the military are like no other.

You become a mentor as you lead a group of people from all different backgrounds.

My book is really about how we get more people to do this job.

With so many young people struggling in modern society, especially young men, the military provides purpose, meaning, camaraderie. So while I might be disconnected from the rest of the world, I get that similar bond with these people I’m living with, eating every meal with and going up against the enemy with.

What does your role as an intelligence officer entail?

It’s a very intense, very unique job experience.

Military intelligence is about gaining an upper hand over the enemy by understanding what they plan to do. It’s about discovering facts that are not apparent, that are not out in the open. The Marine Corps exists to win our nation’s battles and develop and execute a battle plan.

Why is Gen Z posing such a recruitment problem?

There’s an identity, knowledge and trust gap. Most Gen Z’ers don’t know what the military actually does. Many of us can struggle with PTSD, and they see how we don’t always treat our veterans perfectly.

The country also has a good job market, so lots of compounding issues are keeping people away. But at the same time, I think the value proposition of the military is extremely strong, and a lot more people should be thinking about it, regardless of one’s background. It’s the No. 1 leadership factory in the entirety of the world, and there’s a huge demand for leaders today.

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Q &a

What do you hope people take away from reading your book?

Weiss’ roots in Tenafly (where he played sports such as hockey and soccer) and his military service provide perspective for his book (left), which examines factors behind low volunteer rates for U.S. armed forces and addresses how to fix the recruitment challenges.

My biggest goal with the book is to have more American households engaged in this conversation. We are all collecting on the good of national self-defense. People take for granted that we are in a peaceful time in our history, and that is only because we have a strong military offering deterrents against other nations.

We should all be thinking a little more than we do about that.

The army is missing its goals by 10,000 recruits, and that has to change. The only way it will change is if more people have this conversation and we start permeating that awareness into general society.

AnnMarie Martin is a writer, editor and published author based in Bergen County.

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Jewelers for Generations

Helping to carry forward a business started by her grandfather in 1949, co-owner Stefanie Cohen Brenner (second from left) operates Goldstein Jewelers with (from left) Jaime Ceitlin, co-owner Susan Shapiro and Abby Schwarz.

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Over multiple decades and locations, Goldstein Jewelers has become a tristate legend—and one of Tenafly’s must-stop shops.

BY ANNMARIE MARTIN

PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHRIS MARKSBURY

As if celebrating its 20th anniversary in New Jersey this

year wasn’t enough, Tenafly’s Goldstein Jewelers will boast a whopping 75 years in business come 2024.

Co-owner Stefanie Cohen Brenner’s grandfather, Sam Goldstein, originally opened the store on 47th Street in New York City’s diamond district in 1949. Upon Sam’s passing in 1980, Brenner’s grandmother Rose Goldstein, mom Devy Fleishman and aunt Susan Shapiro took over and were affectionately known thereafter as “the Goldstein girls.”

Post-9/11, the business moved to Englewood, then on to Tenafly in 2015, and is now located between Mel’s Butcher Box and Tenafly Bicycle Workshop on West Railroad Avenue.

Brenner came to work at the store in November 2004, almost immediately upon graduating college. With a background in fashion design, she planned to make her job at the jeweler a temporary stop—but it has become a permanent one.

She now owns the business with Shapiro, and the two run it along with family friend Abby Schwarz. All three actively help clients and customers as well as handle buying for the shop.

Brenner and Shapiro also manage a robust custom design arm, where family heirlooms can be reimagined for everyday wear. Consultations are by special appointment and might last up to one hour. All design options are then hand sketched.

“It’s our specialty,” Brenner says. “I love working with the people in Tenafly, and every person is different. We can work off of pictures for inspiration, but we typically try to do things as original as possible, and it all depends on what items—such as an old eternity band or a grouping of colored stones—someone wants to redo.”

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Wide Appeal Broad strokes characterize the store’s current inventory, with something for everyone in terms of both style and price point—even selling (by special order only) lab-grown diamonds.

“Our goal is to make everyone feel unique, so I try not to sell the same thing to too many people,” Brenner says.

Goldstein Jewelers offers registries that can be set up for bat mitzvahs, sweet 16s, graduations and more. From demi-fine pieces like sterling silver with diamonds or precious gemstones to 5-carat engagement rings, modern to classic, Goldstein Jewelers caters to each customer’s tastes and needs.

“We have the opinions of three different ages,” says Brenner. “Our rule of thumb is that two out of the three of us have to like something in order to bring it into the store. Most of what we have here we all like and would wear ourselves.”

Discerning Tastes You can get to know today’s Goldstein girls better on their social media platforms, which include both Instagram and TikTok. Videos spotlight new available pieces and offer how-tos on mixing metals, layering necklaces, placing an ear cuff and even best practices on polishing silver at home.

The trio tends to be ahead of the curve when it comes to trends (for example, beating out the rose gold craze years ago). They see chunky golds as having their 15 minutes right now, along with the practice of stacking three to five bracelets at a time. Engagement rings are leaning toward oval shaped and emerald cut, Brenner says.

Customers also love Goldstein’s guidance in building an “ear story”—selecting earrings to go all the way up the ear. The store even offers “permanent” bracelets with the Evermore collection. A special machine welds the chain together so there’s no clasp. Come have one applied in the shop or make them a feature at your next event!

Starting in November, customers can also look forward to a dedicated men’s showcase with sterling silver, 18-carat gold pieces and much more.

“They love our taste,” says Brenner of the store’s clientele, many of whom have been shopping at Goldstein Jewelers for decades, despite a few moves. “And that’s a testament to what people think of our business. We’ve become quite close with the people in the neighborhood and are a true local jeweler.”

AnnMarie Martin is a Bergen County-based writer, editor and author.

Co-owners Stefanie Cohen Brennan (top, at left, with Jaime Ceitlin) and Susan Shapiro (above) offer a carefully curated inventory and personalized service including custom designs to ensure their store can provide something for everyone.

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A Vision for Better Biking Tenafly Bicycle Workshop’s Shepard Grinker puts customers first, both in his shops and on the trail.

When Shepard Grinker purchased Tenafly Bicycle Workshop in March 2014, he came armed with a fresh perspective on the business—not just as a machinist and manufacturing engineer but also, more importantly, as a bike shop and cycling enthusiast.

After many biking trips with business partner Kevin Balay over the span of several decades and up and down both coasts (where they would frequent every bike shop they could find), Grinker knew what he wanted to offer in a retail experience.

“Kev and I built this shop into what we always wished we had gone to as

consumers,” Grinker says. Along with head mechanic Danny Santora, Grinker and Balay provide nothing but good, friendly, all-knowing vibes in their shop at 175 County Road.

“You’re immediately greeted when you walk in the door; we don’t have condescending employees,” Grinker says. “A lot of times when you go into a pro shop, you can be made to feel stupid right off the bat, and we really try our best to make sure people feel like every question is a good question. We try to guide them through the buying process, which can be difficult these days.”

PHOTOGRAPH BY CHRIS MARKSBURY

BY ANNMARIE MARTIN

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Tenafly Bicycle Workshop owner Shepard Grinker believes in providing friendly, welcoming service at his two local shops and supporting riders by building nearby trails and getting more young people on bikes.

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Dedicated Customers Bicycle Workshop’s approach has resulted in family customers who come from across the tristate area and keep coming back through multiple generations, greeted by the same faces year after year. The atmosphere is also conducive to having very loyal employees (whose children will often help out around the shop on Fridays and during summer months).

A curated product selection can be found in the pro shop’s open floor design. Once they took over, Grinker and Balay gutted the space and built it back up.

The most unique element within Workshop is the “bar,” where one can sit and watch the mechanics work, and even interact with them.

Balay did much of the interior construction himself, including the lighting and signage.

Eventually it came time for a second location where all family, kid and hybrid bikes were moved to at 9 West Railroad Avenue—less than a mile from the pro shop, where all high-end bike sales take place. This allowed the business to double its square footage while also keeping the original location that cycling enthusiasts have enjoyed since the 1970s.

But as the years went on and the business grew, so did online retail and Amazon Prime, accelerated by the cabin fever during the COVID-19 pandemic that drove a bike-buying boom.

“Bergen County had no places to mountain bike, and we’re a mountain bike store. It became important for me to try and find more places to ride.”

- Shepard Grinker

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Realizing that supporting customers means more than selling bikes, Shepard Grinker started a rider advocacy group called Palisades MTB, which has helped build miles of multiuse trails suitable for mountain biking in nearby Tuxedo Park, New York. He also co-founded the Palisades Cyclones, a middle and high school mountain bike team.

Building Community— and Trails The impact of online commerce prompted Grinker to redefine his ideas on how to build a community for his customers, which he reasoned had to go beyond shopping. So the Palisades MTB advocacy group was born.

“Bergen County had no places to mountain bike, and we’re a mountain bike store,” Grinker explains. “Lots of our customers are riding unsanctioned, illegal trails, so it became important for me to try and find more places to ride.”

Palisades MTB has managed to build four miles of multiuse trails (suitable for hiking, biking, running and horseback riding) in Sterling Forest State Park in nearby Tuxedo

Park, New York, in just two years’ time.

Proposals are out for another 3.5 miles, and Palisades MTB has been able to expedite the process with a newer, mechanized way of building out trails.

Grinker also co-founded one of the first cycling teams for youth in the state: the Palisades Cyclones, a local National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) middle and high school mountain bike team.

With a simple goal to “get more kids on bikes,” it’s open to all abilities.

The organization has helped to grow the New Jersey division of NICA to approximately 400 riders. To find out how your 6th-12th grader can join, email palisadescyclones@gmail.com.

Volunteer hours on behalf of both

these organizations has taken Grinker away from the shop more, but it’s time well spent he says, especially with a staff that’s always supportive.

As he wrote in a recent blog post that can be found on Workshop’s website, “While the bike shop may not be here when our grandchildren are adults, the places we make for them to ride will most likely be. This is what we cherish most, and this is what drives us.”

Keep up with all Tenafly Bicycle Workshop’s product offerings and advocacy work at www. bicycleworkshop.com, and on Facebook and Instagram.

AnnMarie Martin is a writer, editor and published author based in Bergen County.

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PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHRIS MARKSBURY; “HARMONY” PRODUCTION PHOTO BY JULIETA CERVANTES

Adam Cohen (left) has worked as a producer on numerous Broadway shows, including “Harmony” (above), a musical featuring songs by Barry Manilow.

How Tenafly resident Adam Cohen rediscovered a passion for theater and launched a new career as a Broadway producer

BY JENNA DEMMER

When you think of Broadway, the first faces and names that come to mind may be those of actors and playwrights—but the reality is that no Broadway show would exist without producers.

Their efforts may go largely unseen as they work tirelessly behind the scenes, but producers really are the glue that holds a production together. And it turns out that we have one of these unsung heroes right here in Tenafly.

Adam Cohen is a town resident and Broadway producer who has contributed to works such as the critically acclaimed “Fat Ham,” which received five Tony Award nominations.

Cohen’s passion for theater goes back decades. Growing up, he was a “theater kid,” taking part in a lot of productions—mainly writing and directing, but also a little bit of acting—throughout middle and high school.

This engagement started to dwindle during college, and after grad school he stuck to

being part of the audience for many years.

Up until a few years ago, Cohen worked as a technology marketer. He may have placed his passion for theater on the back burner for decades, but it never died. When Cohen was around 50, he and his daughter saw the production of “Mr. Saturday Night” in the Berkshires, which brought his fascination with theater back to the surface.

“When they announced it for Broadway, I started emailing producers,” Cohen says. “I struck up a relationship with the first one to respond, and we started investing in shows.

Since then, I’ve been lucky enough to work with a couple of really strong mentors who have helped guide me along the ins and outs of Broadway.”

Cohen went on to become involved in productions such as “Harmony,” a new Barry Manilow musical; “Suffs,” a musical about women fighting for the right to vote; and “Water for Elephants,” based on the bestselling novel.

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Life on Broadway Since settling into the field of Broadway production, Cohen spends much of his time in meetings, mainly with investors and creative teams. He works with designers to make sure that pieces are both captivating and economically viable.

“There are a lot of marketing meetings as we refine pitches and try to build a community of people who not only appreciate the music as they hear it but interact with the actors and other personnel in the show

and hopefully are compelled to buy tickets,” Cohen says.

It can be challenging for a Broadway producer to choose which shows to get involved with, but for Cohen, this decision boils down to two major factors—heart and humanity. He asks: “Does it tell a story that’s really compelling in a way that will appeal to an audience but also touch their hearts and minds in unique ways?”

An example of a show with these qualities, according to Cohen, is

“Kimberly Akimbo.” This musical, which is largely set in Bergen County, offers a unique perspective on family—and supplies plenty of laughs in the process.

Although a lot goes into being a Broadway producer, Cohen finds joy in just about every phase of the job from the beginning to the end of a production. For Cohen, the most rewarding aspects of his role include discovering new works and talent, and sitting in the audience and watching the crowd’s reaction to a show.

“[A show needs to] tell a story that’s really compelling in a way that will appeal to an audience but also touch their hearts and minds in unique ways.”

- Adam Cohen

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A full life: Theater has been a family interest for Cohen and his daughter, Molly, who joined him at the Tony Awards (above) and, with a friend, met actor George Salazar from “Be More Chill” (top right). In addition to producing, Cohen finished the 2022 New York City Marathon (right).

Tenafly’s Role Cohen has lived in Tenafly for the better part of 20 years. He first came to Tenafly because family lived in the area, and he was enthralled by its green spaces and small-town feel.

The town’s incredible schools were another major draw.

Living in Tenafly has served Cohen well as a Broadway producer. The town offers an easy commute to and from New York City, and its quiet

and bucolic nature allows Cohen a peaceful respite when he gets home after a long day of work. Tenafly also boasts a wealth of talent, along with smart people and a beautiful community that Cohen expects to play a role in his future projects.

“There are a couple of other projects that I’m working on, and some new voices that I’m helping to develop and shepherd,” Cohen says.

“Some young writers I’m working

with I’m very excited about because I feel they have important things to say and I want to help build the network to get their voices heard.”

As of now, Cohen is looking forward to the openings of “Water for Elephants” and “Suffs” in 2024. He is particularly excited about “Water for Elephants”—a musical that he praises as “amazingly beautiful” and “one of the most unique theater pieces audiences will ever encounter.”

Jenna Demmer has lived in Bergen County for as long as she can remember. She is a freelance writer and editor who has contributed to eight different outlets.

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LOCAL TASTES

Brownies, Blondies and Beyond Lauren Lilling’s home-based bakery, Keep It Sweet Desserts, offers delectable treats through pop-ups and catering.

BY JENNA DEMMER

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Opposite page: Lauren Lilling works from her kitchen to produce flavorful treats that she once sold by mail nationwide but now offers through local outlets.

Examples from her Keep It Sweet Desserts include (above, from left) blondies, s’mores cookies and peppermint mocha holiday cookies.

When Lauren Lilling decided to

move to Tenafly seven years ago, she was a new mom with her eyes set on the town’s excellent school district.

Tenafly turned out to be incredible for more than just education, though—it also provided a tight-knit community of friends.

Lilling’s new network provided an outpouring of support as she launched a pop-up bakery called Keep It Sweet Desserts a year and a half ago.

As it turns out, the bakery that Lilling launched in 2012 is a local version of a national phenomenon.

Keep It Sweet Desserts was initially a mail-order bakery that shipped delicious treats—including cookies, brownies and blondies—all over the country. Lilling’s black and white blondies were featured on “Today” and in Star Magazine.

Lilling put a pause on her business

in 2014 to focus on her family, and when she revived it in 2022, she kept it local.

While Keep It Sweet Desserts is run primarily out of Lilling’s home, she offers catering and runs pop-ups throughout Tenafly and beyond. You may have spotted her, for example, with her decadent treats at Ave Lumi, the boutique in town.

A Focus on Flavors Like her business history, Lilling’s sweets are unique. In fact, they aren’t as sweet as you might expect from baked goods.

“Usually, bakery desserts are pretty standard,” Lilling says. “The major flavor is generally sweet. I focus on highlighting the flavors when I make my baked goods. I make sure the salt is balanced.”

Lilling’s offerings are based on a

mixture of seasonal themes—such as pumpkin pie chocolate chip blondies—and flavors that she’s just really excited about, like caramel chocolate chip cookies. This season, customers can expect treats such as cranberry crumb cake and peppermint mocha cookies.

Giving Back Lilling knew nothing of the community and its people when she first moved to Tenafly and was pleasantly surprised at how many friends she made.

Her local community has given her a tremendous amount of support, and she wants to return the favor with delectable baked pleasures.

“There’s a lot going on in the world right now,” she says. “So if I can bring someone else joy with desserts, then I want to do that.”

Jenna Demmer has lived in Bergen County for as long as she can remember. She is a freelance writer and editor who has contributed to eight different outlets.

NOVEMBER 2023

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BETTER HEALTH

Beating Winter Weather Woes Our tips for family fun will help keep kids happy when the weather keeps them indoors. make-believe prom. Turn back the clock to the glory days of disco, and you’re sure to get the whole family moving.

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