Tenafly October 2023

Tenaf ly

October 2023

A CHARMING CAFÉ IN HISTORIC TENAFLY

TEACHER OF THE YEAR

GARY WHITEHEAD

COMPLETE

PHARMACY CARE

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OCTOBER 2023

Contents

28 18

22

14 IN EVE RY ISSU E

26

6

Publisher’s Note HELLO, FALL!

8

Mayor’s Corner SEASONAL SCENE

12

Q&A MORE THAN MEDICATION

26 Local Tastes FRESH, FAST AND FABULOUS F E AT U RES

14 18

All Aboard the Flavor Express

28 Home Front EXPERT HOME-SELLING TIPS 32 Photo Op AUTUMN IS IN SESSION

At Cafe Angelique, old-world European charm meets historic Tenafly in a surprising setting.

Where Fashion Meets Sustainability

Ave Lumi reflects Jenny Jackson Miller’s fashion-industry odyssey from Austin to Brooklyn to Tenafly.

22 Meet the Teacher of the Year

English teacher Gary Whitehead has been named a top educator not only of Tenafly High School but all of Bergen County.

O N T HE COVER

Jenny Jackson Miller curates sustainable products at Ave Lumi.

PHOTOGRAPH BY CHRIS MARKSBURY

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Hello, Fall!

PHOTOGRAPH BY MIKE FRANCAVILLA

monthly contribution, Mayor’s Corner, where he’ll talk about town events and provide insight into what’s happening in Tenafly.

In this issue’s cover story, we highlight Ave Lumi, a unique boutique specializing in women’s and children’s clothing made from sustainable fabrics curated by owner Jenny Jackson Miller.

The historic and iconic Tenafly train station, designed in 1872, became Café Angelique, the vision of Isaac Ben-Avraham, in 2004. Always crowded, the restaurant has been there ever since, serving a light menu of pastries, sandwiches and other scrumptious treats.

We interviewed Gary Whitehead, 2022 Tenafly High School teacher of the year and 2023 Bergen County Teacher of the Year. He started his teaching journey at Tenafly High School in 1997. He inspires his students who want to do well by sharing with them examples of his writing.

In our Home Front department, Orly Chen, sales associate at RE/MAX, explains what your house should look like on the outside and how to stage the inside to get it ready for sale.

We hope you enjoy this issue. We’d love to hear from you about any stories you’d like to see in future editions. Please feel free to email me at hello@tenaflymagazine.com.

My best,

It’s finally getting cooler, signaling both a change in seasons and the advent of new activities and experiences.

One recent new experience was the first issue of Tenafly Magazine. We have had such a positive response to our inaugural issue. Many residents have written expressing how excited they were to get the magazine and see what is happening in town. Others have reached out suggesting stories they’d like to see in future issues; some have offered to contribute stories to those issues; and still others have asked how they can advertise.

It gives me inordinate pleasure to welcome Mayor Mark Zinna’s

Leslie Hoenninger Publisher

Tenaf ly

MAGAZINE

Editor & Publisher Leslie Hoenninger Art Director Sue Park Copy Editor Nancy Fass Writers Randi Corbo Jenna Demmer Diana R. Flynn Lawrence Lewitinn 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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It’s more than a Pool, it’s a Lifestyle.

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MAYOR’S CORNER

Seasonal Scene In a new column, Tenafly’s mayor—a 20-year resident—highlights happenings in our local community.

BY MARK ZINNA

Some of the most enjoyable things about

Tenafly are the numerous activities for residents to experience. The best way to learn about what’s going on is to visit the Borough website at www.tenaflynj.org. From there, you can connect to services and programs related to seniors, recreation, nature, parks and community events such as these.

• Residents who have not yet done so should consider signing up for Code Red to receive timely news, community updates and my weekly Friday Mayor’s message via email or voicemail. The signup link for Code Red is located at the bottom of the home page of the Borough website.

• The Haunted Forest at the Tenafly Nature Center has been a community favorite for over 20 years.

Perhaps this is the year for you and the kids to experience this Halloween tradition? There will be live animals, games and crafts. Tours begin at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 29, and continue into the evening. Visit the Nature Center website for details, www.tenaflync.org.

• It is always exciting when new ventures open up shop in Tenafly. With a soft opening in September, proprietors Nisreen and Nasser Ayoub of Apothecure RX celebrated their grand opening in early October. One of Tenafly’s newest businesses, Apothecure RX is both a traditional prescription pharmacy and an apothecary offering natural and holistic health and wellness choices. When you have a chance, visit Apothecure RX at 1 Highwood Ave. and introduce yourself to Nisreen; she would love to meet you.

Enjoy the fall weather!

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BICYCLE WORKSHOP STORES BERGEN COUNTY’S PREMIER BIKE STORES FOR ALL YOUR CYCLING NEEDS

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Got a great image for Photo-Op?

Email your photo and a short description to

Leslie.Hoenninger@tenaflymagazine.com

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Top Nails Spa II An elegant and hospitable one stop shop for all things beauty & wellness in Closter.

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Tenaf ly T y enaf ly l f a n Te September 2023

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9:40 AM

Tigers Tig s Welcome a elcomer New Coach NWew ea ALONSO ESCALANTE

Coach

ALONSO ESCAL ANTE

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9/11/23

9:40 AM

Saturday October Saturday October 28th28th Saturday October 28th 11:00AM - 1:00PM

11:00AM - 1:00PM

11:00AM - 1:00PM No tricks here! 😁😁😁😁😁😁 😁😁😁😁Join us for some happy fall fun outdoors!

No tricks We here! 😁😁😁😁😁😁tricks 😁😁😁😁Join us for some happy fall fun outdoors! know yourhere! family love from car to carfun enjoying No 😁😁😁😁😁😁 will 😁😁😁😁Join uswalking for some happy fall outdoors! exciting decorations and (of course) treats!

We know your family will love walking from carlots to of car enjoying We know your family will love walking from car to car enjoying

exciting decorations and (of course) of treats! exciting CRAFTS decorations and (oflots course) lots of treats!

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To advertise, contact us at hello@tenaflymagazine.com.

10/11/23 2:45 PM

Congratulations to Leslie Hoenninger on the publishing launch of

Tenafly Magazine “Thanks for being part of our community!”

- Mayor Mark Zinna

Vote on Tuesday, November 7 www.markzinna2023.com

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Q &a

More than Medication Apothecure RX has your prescription—but also brings a holistic approach to health and wellness.

BY ANNMARIE MARTIN

INTERVIEW WITH

After eight years as a pharmacist, Nisreen Fardos Ayoub decided, with her husband, Nasser Ayoub, to pool their experience in retail, nutrition and beauty into the opening of Apothecure RX. We caught up with Nisreen as she and Nasser prepared to celebrate their grand opening in October to learn more about what customers can expect from this new breed of pharmacy.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY LESLIE HOENNINGER

NISREEN FARDOS AYOUB

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Apothecure RX provides not only traditional pharmacy services such as filling prescriptions but also products and advice to help mitigate side effects and promote healthier living. Offering compounding services allows the pharmacy to fine-tune medications in ways that can help patients.

Why did you choose to open Apothecure in Tenafly?

We stumbled upon Tenafly a few years ago while working on a real estate project and fell in love with it. The people in this town have been so nice and welcoming, and I’m excited to meet more.

What sets your business apart from big chain pharmacies?

We worked with a Bergen County designer to make the space different. We want patients to feel better when they walk in, so they can expect a thoughtfully designed space with harder-to-find, cleaner products in addition to health necessities.

We have the prescription you need just like any other pharmacy, but we want to be more than that. Health starts with prevention, and the brands we carry can help you stay healthier longer.

What is your approach to health, and how do you apply it to your business?

What else can customers find at Apothecure, and what can they look forward to?

I have a passion for nutrition and am working toward getting my certification in functional medicine.

Our focus here is to create a balance between mainstream and holistic, and to focus on each patient’s case.

We have skincare products such as Dr. Barbara Sturm and Perricone MD. We also carry candles, teas and baby products like Mustela, and we’re working on carrying Genexa.

Take, for example, when a patient sees a doctor about a bacterial infection. They get prescribed an antibiotic that will fix the problem and kill the bacteria causing the infection. What many people may not realize is that it will also kill good bacteria. Having a pharmacy that will look at the good and the bad of drugs would help you realize that taking the right probiotic as a supplement to the antibiotic can help prevent other issues that the antibiotic could and would cause.

We’ll be offering compounding services that go beyond what most typical chains could do. As the parents of four kids, we know how hard it is to have children take their meds. Compounding can create flavored meds that can help ensure kids get what they need.

Same-day delivery service is also something we’ll have, as we know how hard it is for people to run out to the store between work, school and family.

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

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All Aboard the Flavor Express At Café Angelique, old-world European charm meets historic Tenafly in a surprising setting.

The elegant setting of Café Angelique

on Piermont Road is truly unmatched.

Patrons might think they are seated on the piazza outside the Duomo di Milano in Italy, perched on basket weave-framed seats underneath beautifully arched ceilings featuring intricate molding and a modernized, rectangular version of a candelabra chandelier. They’re surrounded by steepled windows that mimic the ceiling, oil paintings, an antique mirror and handwritten menus on the wall.

But it’s another element that brings diners back to reality: a large, restored map of the local railroad from the Library of Commerce that wraps around a curved wall next to the glass encasement of fresh pastries and mind-blowing confections.

It highlights the fact that the café is located within one of Tenafly’s most noted historical landmarks—the old train station.

“The building is magnificent,” says Isaac Ben-Avraham, owner of this family-run business. “It’s one of the reasons we wanted to open here, and the way it is now is the way we always envisioned it from the beginning.”

Most of the station was kept intact to preserve the connection back to its former life—and the ticket window that still remains does this quite well. “We just wanted a place centered in town for everyone to come and enjoy—to be the center of the community,” Ben-Avraham says.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHRIS MARKSBURY

BY ANNMARIE MARTIN

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OCTOBER 2023

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Brewed Beginnings Gearing up to celebrate its local 20-year anniversary next year, Café Angelique opened in Tenafly in 2004.

A few other locations existed in New York City but eventually closed so the owners could focus on the closer-tohome Tenafly site.

Prior to that, it all started when they decided to open a coffee shop within a clothing store they owned, and the rest, as they say, is history.

“The coffee is something out of this world,” Ben-Avraham says. The process starts with a high-quality Italian brand of coffee that baristas are properly trained to prepare through all steps, from steaming to grinding and filtering, serving it with a more European flare.

Ben-Avraham reports that customers

have taken to both the more oldfashioned sips such as cappuccinos and lattes as well as newer offerings like cold brew, nitro and matcha.

Tastes of the Mediterranean From its inception in New York City in 2000, Café Angelique has always had a decidedly Mediterranean menu.

Recipes have been developed both inhouse and in collaboration with other chefs, offering a variety of Greek, Israeli and some French dishes.

Today’s location focuses on breakfast and lunch, serving soups, salads, sandwiches and appetizers.

Ben-Avraham says plans are in place to extend hours in the near future to expand on the dinner menu. The café is currently open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.,

Monday through Thursday; 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday; and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday.

Café Angelique features outdoor seating for warmer months that are starting to slip away from us and hosts a live jazz band weekly (Wednesdays and Saturdays outdoors during the summer; Wednesdays indoors during the winter).

And just to get the rumor mill working a bit, word around the station is that Ben-Avraham and his team are developing yet another space in town for residents to enjoy. In the meantime, go grab an espresso while you’re waiting and pretend you’re on the European vacation of your dreams.

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

“The building is magnificent. It’s one of the reasons we wanted to open here, and the way it is now is the way we always envisioned it from the beginning.”

- Isaac Ben-Avraham

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Tapping extensive experience in fashion merchandising, Jenny Jackson Miller curates both products and her Ave Lumi space to promote sustainability and delight.

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Where Fashion Meets Sustainability Ave Lumi reflects Jenny Jackson Miller’s fashion-industry odyssey from Austin to Brooklyn to Tenafly.

BY LAWRENCE LEWITINN

PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHRIS MARKSBURY

Hidden on Jay Street is a small store

with a large virtual presence and an even larger vision for promoting sustainability and quality in ahead-of-trend prêt-à-porter fashion.

If those walking into Ave Lumi feel they’ve stepped into a Brooklyn boutique, that’s because in many ways they have. The music, the styles, even the toys and décor that are also for sale—all are fashionforward. More importantly, they are also sustainable.

“Sustainable fashion is something that can be defined, in one way, as ‘slow fashion’ pieces that you can invest in, have a really long life and can have a secondhand market,” explains the store’s proprietor, Jenny Jackson Miller.

It also means a production process that promotes the ethical treatment and payment of employees as well as the sourcing of fabrics that are environmentally friendlier than what’s found in large, fast-fashion retailers.

Jackson Miller avoids products containing bleached cottons, which are made using a process that is a leading water polluter. She sells clothes made with mulesing-free merino wool, which entails more humane treatment of sheep. On

Ave Lumi’s racks, one can even find vegan leather goods made from mushrooms.

Yet Jackson Miller knows such features are not what bring customers to her store.

“Even if they say they only buy ‘sustainable,’ which is a tiny percentage of the market, what they want to buy has to look amazing and fit well,” she says.

Ave Lumi also strives to be more than four walls with clothes in it. “I want people to walk in with whatever they were experiencing in the day—good, bad or otherwise—and walk out feeling elevated,” says Jackson Miller. “I tried to curate the space as well as the clothing in that way.”

The Fashion Grind How Ave Lumi ended up in Tenafly is a story almost as intriguing as that of its proprietor. As her accent unmistakably attests, Jackson Miller was born and raised in Texas, growing up in the suburbs of Houston. “My mom really loved shopping and my dad really liked ranching, so I had some of both,” she says.

She studied fashion merchandising at the University of Texas amid the quirky, vibrant atmosphere of Austin.

But the fashion capital of New York City beckoned, and Jackson Miller was

accepted for an internship at Lacoste for her last semester in college.

Six weeks before her stint at that major label began, she also took an internship at Love Brigade, a Brooklyn-based indie fashion collective popular with bands, deejays and artists on the Lower East Side and Williamsburg. “I was doing what I loved,” she says. “I produced Love Brigade’s fashion shows, curated the music and refined their lines and product development.”

But with a subsequent stint as a merchandising coordinator at Calvin Klein, Jackson Miller became increasingly aware of many things wrong in massmarket clothing. Charging more while lowering costs often meant sacrificing fabric quality and moving production to factories overseas. “It’s just so transient,” she says. “There’s a lot of waste every season.”

Jackson Miller eventually walked away from the New York pressure cooker to learn yoga instruction at an ashram in Sullivan County. There, she met her husband, Steven, now a critical care doctor at RWJBarnabas Health, and began thinking about how to inject sustainability into fashion.

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Doing Things Right After earning an MBA in management and sustainable business at Baruch College, Jackson Miller taught yoga and developed a recycling program for children in the Caribbean while thinking through her business plan.

When Steve got a hospital residency in Brooklyn, the couple moved to Windsor Terrace and, after their second child was born, she went full throttle on executing the plan.

“I really want to do things right,” Jackson Miller says. Through the

unfolding of events, she gradually came to realize that this meant instilling healthy habits into her own life—and eventually leaving the city.

In 2019, Jackson Miller started Ave Norden, a distributor, to give small Scandinavian brands entry to the New York market. To her surprise, a few brands were reluctant.

“Some of these companies said, ‘We are happy with the size that we are— we don’t need to grow into the U.S. market,” Jackson Miller recalls. “They have a great quality of life. Why would

you need more than that? I had to learn that lesson.”

With her Windsor Terrace apartment bursting with inventory, she opened a showroom in Sunset Park’s Industry City, an e-commerce site and a Brooklyn pop-up shop. Ave Norden was expanding rapidly.

Then came the COVID-19 pandemic. Steve worked long shifts at the hospital. Daily activities such as grocery shopping became almost impossible. Brooklyn felt like a prison they needed to escape. But where?

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“Tenafly has great people who are very talented, lead interesting lives, have interesting jobs and have high expectations for their families and themselves.”

- Jenny Jackson Miller

Avenue of Light The couple wanted a place where Steve could readily commute to Brooklyn by bike. Attracted by Tenafly’s schools, they rented a house in the Atwood Park Historic District with a large yard and space for Jackson Miller’s e-commerce business.

After opening a pop-up shop in Englewood, a fortuitous relationship with Jeanne Rivkin-Mermelshtayn, who runs the ThisIsTenafly Instagram account and is with the Downtown Committee, brought Jackson Miller to open a shop in her new hometown.

Rivkin-Mermelshtayn had often promoted Jackson Miller’s business on social media, even tagging her account whenever an influencer showed products that Ave Norden would carry.

“Immediately, I’d get 50 orders,” Jackson Miller says. “I was like, ‘This woman is so kind.’”

In Tenafly, Jackson Miller rebranded Ave Norden as Ave Lumi—avenue of light. Having her store close to where she lives has brought her closer to her community and spurred even more admiration of her neighbors as well as natural resources such as Tenafly Nature Center and parks by the Palisades.

“Tenafly has great people who are very talented, lead interesting lives, have interesting jobs and have high expectations for their families and themselves,” she says. “People here are really family-oriented and communityoriented. They aren’t just thinking about themselves.”

Lawrence Lewitinn is co-host of CoinDesk TV’s flagship show First Mover. He has worked at leading media outlets such as CNBC, TheStreet, Yahoo and the New York Observer, as well as the crypto publication Modern Consensus.

OCTOBER 2023

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PHOTOGRAPHS BY TO COME

Gary Whitehead shares with students some of his personal enthusiasms, such as mushroom hunting, to help add interest to classroom discussions.

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Meet the Teacher of the Year English teacher Gary Whitehead has been named a top educator not only of Tenafly High School but all of Bergen County.

BY JENNA DEMMER

When English language arts teacher

Gary Whitehead learned in fall 2022 that he was selected Tenafly High School’s teacher of the year, it came as a surprise. It was perhaps less astonishing, however, to many of his students and colleagues, who immediately clapped for him when his award was announced over the loudspeaker.

“The principal stepped into my room and picked up the phone—you can use the PA system through the phone—and I thought he was going to call a lockdown,” Whitehead recalls of the moment.

It was the first time he had been selected teacher of the year in his 26 years at Tenafly High School. But just months later, he would receive an even greater honor.

In August, the New Jersey Department of Education recognized Whitehead as Bergen County’s Teacher of the Year. This award recognizes the most skilled, inspirational and well-respected teachers in the county.

Expanding Horizons Deciding on a career path, Whitehead took inspiration from several teachers and professors, along with his own father, who was a high school teacher. Whitehead obtained a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in teaching English from Rhode Island College, as well as a master’s degree in English from Iowa State University.

In fall 1997, Whitehead was offered a full-time teaching position at Tenafly High School, where he has been ever since.

Whitehead tries to impart a bit of personality into his teaching, making classes fun by sharing interests such as playing pickleball, hunting mushrooms and doing crosswords. He also likes to share his journey as a writer.

“When I have any new poems or stories published, I share that with students, and it empowers them in their own writing to see an English teacher who actually publishes writing,” he says.

Whitehead feels so strongly about writing that he helped change the dynamic of writing classes at Tenafly High School.

While students could initially take only one year of creative writing, Whitehead successfully fought for higher levels of creative writing so that students could take up to four years—and some students have done just that.

Whitehead also served as advisor of Tenafly High School’s literary journal, Omega, for many years, and has advised the school newspaper, The Echo, since 2017.

He revamped The Echo from a print paper that was published only a few times a year to a digital publication that updates regularly.

Around the same time, he launched the school’s first journalism class.

“It’s so great to see kids racking up their publication credits,” Whitehead says. “Some kids, by the time they’ve graduated, have taken journalism for a few years and have been involved with the Echo Club. They’ve published 30-plus stories.”

OCTOBER 2023

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Top: Gary Whitehead (front row, far left) joins other educators named 2023 Teacher of the Year at the county or state level.

Bottom: Whitehead (center) holds his Bergen County Teacher of the Year award on recognition day with (from left) Michael Ben-David, Superintendent of Tenafly Schools; Angelica Allen-McMillan, Acting New Jersey Commissioner of Education; Kathy Goldenberg, President of the New Jersey State Board of Education; and Jim Morrison, Principal of Tenafly High School.

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Among other activities that Gary Whitehead enjoys when not teaching or writing is spending time with nieces Emma (left) and Lucy Cohen.

Thriving in Tenafly Whitehead considers Tenafly a fantastic town with excellent schools, nice restaurants and an appealing downtown.

“My kids often complain about it because they live there,” Whitehead said. “They don’t realize until they’re graduated from college that it’s such a great town.”

Just as much as he loves the town of Tenafly, Whitehead loves his school, his colleagues and his students. “Most of the kids at Tenafly High School want to do well,” he observes. “I feel like half the battle is won, having that sort of motivation.”

Tenafly High School offers phenomenal music and drama programs, and boasts alumni such as Ed Harris, Lea

Michele and Hope Davis. Whitehead also enjoys the school’s big and vibrant library, special education program and guidance program.

“All of these things working together just make it a really good school and a really great place to work,” he says.

Whitehead has also had fond memories at the school, ranging from trips abroad early in his career to notable field trips more recently.

In particular, Whitehead recalls taking his students on a field trip to see “To Kill a Mockingbird” on Broadway right before the COVID-19 lockdown. Ed Harris, who had taken the role of Atticus Finch, agreed to talk to Whitehead’s students about his time at Tenafly High

School—a powerful experience for everyone involved.

Whitehead’s meetings with his fellow county Teachers of the Year as well as a fellowship with a nonprofit called the New Jersey Campaign for Achievement Now ( JerseyCAN) have focused his sights beyond his own classroom and into the broader realm of education more generally.

“I’m looking forward to learning a lot more about some of the issues that New Jersey faces in education and doing my part to make it better,” says Whitehead.

“The county Teacher of the Year win has made me think about maybe doing something in retirement that has to do with educational policy.”

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 seven different publications.

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LOCAL TASTES

High-quality burgers are among many highlights at Mel’s Butcher Box. Owner Mel Landano (above and far left, with general manager Gina Landano), enjoys the establishment’s fresh meats, breads and other menu favorites almost as much as her customers.

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Fresh, Fast and Fabulous Mel Landano parlayed a management career into a restaurant that delivers high-end fast casual favorites.

BY RANDI CORBO

Mel’s Butcher Box offers up mouthwa-

tering food and a whole lot more.

From its food truck roots, Mel’s is now a two-year-old, brick-and-mortar restaurant located at 10 West Railroad Ave. in Tenafly—and has quickly become one of the town’s favorite eateries.

Bakery partner Balthazar delivers fresh bread daily; wholesaler Pat LaFrieda Meat Purveyors supplies the burgers, which are an incredible combination of brisket, rib eye and sirloin. The addictive in-house chips are made fresh every morning, and all steaks are butchered every night.

From Fitness to Food Owner Mel Landano is a true creative genius. Originally from the Bensonhurst neighborhood of Brooklyn, she got her first job at the early age of 11 at an amusement park. She quickly learned how to meet people’s needs and deliver what they wanted.

Later, after graduating college, Landano worked for Disney in Florida and then moved on to Bally Total Fitness, where

she served as the head of marketing and managed 46 locations. During this time, she lost more than 100 pounds, became a personal trainer and landed a spot as a Bally spokesperson, appearing on many of its commercials.

Eventually Landano moved back up north and found a home in Tenafly, where she says she “fell in love instantly.”

She worked at Maxfit fitness studio as a spin instructor and followed that by going to work for Pat LaFrieda as a senior project director. In fact, she still oversees all the meat purveyer’s locations, including Citi Field, where the New York Mets play.

At LaFrieda, she realized she wanted to pivot and do something community-oriented for herself.

Risky Business After 14 years here, Landano decided to open a food truck during the COVID-19 pandemic—a move many would consider risky. After a year, it became the brick-andmortar Mel’s Butcher Box restaurant.

The concept, which Landano describes

as “high-end fast casual,” delivers a little bit of everything: burgers, steaks, greens, sandwiches, mozzarella sticks, onion rings, fries and shakes, to name just a few menu favorites.

And Tenafly pride is celebrated at Mel’s all year long. In fact, in October, everyone is invited to a Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, where you can bring the whole family for fun, music, costume contests, giveaways and, of course, amazing food!

For more information, follow @melsbutcherbox on Instagram.

When Landano isn’t at Mel’s, her sister, Gina, is on-site running things—along with the restaurant’s mascot, Zucchini the dog. Truly family-oriented and charitable, Mel’s Butcher Box supplies school lunches for local towns, handles catering for Tenafly’s soccer and football teams, and has fast become a fixture around the area.

Randi Corbo is a Bergen County resident and a proud mother of four. She has a long history in fashion editorial work, writing for several publications over her years in the business.

OCTOBER 2023

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HOME FRONT

Expert Home-Selling Tips Local real estate pro Orly Chen says great exterior photography and interior staging can lead to a quick, profitable sale—no matter the season.

BY DIANA R. FLYNN

Forbes magazine reports that a

combination of high interest rates and neck-straining home prices have slowed the market from its pandemic-era high.

But Tenafly looks likely to repeat last year’s financial acrobatics, maintaining its favorable housing market even as other areas cool off.

Speaking of cooling off, there is one thing that Tenafly homeowners hoping for a winter closing should do: Get

those exterior photos, and don’t wait.

That’s especially important when demand for homes in Tenafly remains very strong even given our average house price of $1 million.

Much of this comes from the town’s easy access to Manhattan and especially its beautiful plots of land. Those properties do a better job of wooing buyers if photographed before flower beds die back and greenery grays.

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“One hundred percent, invest in a professional photographer, and don’t cut corners.”

- Orly Chen

Professionals Add Polish “In a few weeks, it’s going to look miserable outside,” warns Orly Chen of the Orly Chen Team, a Tenafly-based real estate agency. “One hundred percent, invest in a professional photographer, and don’t cut corners.”

Advances in cell phone and consumer camera technology may tempt experienced selfie-takers toward DIY, but hiring a professional pays off, especially in Tenafly.

The town’s proximity to the Hudson River Palisades means elevation can range

from nearly sea level to 500 feet. This affects lighting in counterintuitive ways.

A professional may realize that a given house is best photographed at sunrise or from a specific angle while a similar home a few streets over shines in the afternoon.

Making Spaces Inviting Homeowners have more time when it comes to preparing a home’s interior, which should focus on removing clutter.

Not every buyer can see a house’s bones or potential through the things

that make it someone else’s comfort zone.

Messy rooms, personal decorations and idiosyncratic art can make it harder for buyers to put themselves into the space.

Again, Chen had good things to say about professionals, pointing out how a staging team can give buyers more reasons to say yes and fewer reasons to say no.

Even in the offseason, Tenafly sellers should not despair. “Buying a house in Tenafly is never a mistake,” says Chen, who has seen families and young couples from Edgewater, Hoboken and New York City explore options here. “It’s a very solid town. Even in a bad market, Tenafly outperforms other towns.”

Diana R. Flynn is a board-certified life science editor from Bergen County.

OCTOBER 2023

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 Let’s Get Social!

Join our online community.

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Want to learn more about advertising in our pages?

Contact us at hello@tenaflymagazine.com

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PHOTO OP

Autumn Is in Session

A bountiful display of fall flowers

and symbols of the season add color and a festive spirit to a door at Malcolm Mackay Elementary School.

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