SOMA Living December 2021

VOL. 6-12 DECEMBER 2021 MAGAZINE

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PUBLICATION TEAM

FACES IN THE CROWD

Natalie Farrell, one of the sponsors of the 18th Annual Studio Tour in South Orange and Maplewood, stopped for a picture with Anne Niles amid the stunning artwork. With over 60 artists participating, it was an amaz ing day celebrating the artistic talent in SOMA.

Founders & Co-Publishers: Michael E. Goldberg & Juliet Bowen

Editor: Brenda Langan Director of Human Resources: Fudge P. Goldberg

Advertising Sales Michael E. Goldberg I 973.271.4306 somalivingmagazine@gmail.com Contributors: Cathy Roma, Kate Elliott, Dr. Stephen Levine, Sarah Maloney, Kim Kassnove Elizabeth Kubany, Gary T. Jones, Dr. Daniel Roig, Yoni Kreger

PET OF THE MONTH

Design by: GRANDSTAND DESIGN

I’m Penny! I’m a 5-year-old Hound/Shepherd mix, originally born in Texas. I was rescued and took a long road trip to meet my fur-ev er parents in Jersey City. Since moving to Maplewood, I’ve gotten accustomed to bark ing at delivery people (sorry!) running up and down the stairs and finding every pos sible twig in the backyard to bring inside. I love playing fetch with my dad, cuddling with my mom and dragging both of them for walks. See you around town and wishing you Happy Howl-idays!

(973) 232-6025 www.grandstanddesign.com

Family Photography by: LIVE LOVE LENS PHOTOGRAPHY

jamie@livelovelens.com www.livelovelens.com

Kristine Foley

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THE LEADING BOUTIQUE BROKERAGE IN SOUTH ORANGE AND MAPLEWOOD

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DECEMBER 2021 | SOMA LIVING 5

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MEET THE FAMILY

Photography by Jamie Meier

“We met as dance partners at the Goodspeed Opera House in Connecti cut 21 years ago and have been together since. The director of the show noticed our chemistry and jokingly asked for an invitation to our wed ding,” Marc Kessler warmly recalled on meeting his wife Casey Hushion. The talented couple were both living in mid-town Manhattan and working on and off Broadway as actors at the time. Casey added, “I started dancing at age 2, did my first musical at age five and I’ve been doing shows ever since. After graduating from NYU, I transitioned into directing and I started working on Broadway in 2005. I have so many favorite shows that I’ve worked on but Mean Girls, The Prom, Aladdin, In the Heights and The Drowsy Chaperone rank at the top. Coming up next, I am looking forward to directing two shows at Paper Mill Playhouse this season, Jolly Holiday: Celebrating Disney’s Broadway Hits and Clue. I am thrilled to be back at Paper Mill, it is truly one of the best theatres in the country and I love that it’s right in our backyard! Jolly Holiday opens in early December and it will be a fun, festive concert, full of incredible talent and all of your favorite Disney songs. And following that, we open the new hit play Clue, a hilarious murder mystery based on the cult classic film, in late January.” When asked the favorite part of her career, Casey quickly answered that it is the collaboration and the strong bonds with other artists. “The connections you make, the moments you share when you are creating shows, the families that you form during the process, it’s a very special thing. I also love the leadership aspect of my job and being able to create a safe, inclusive and joyful space for artists to do their best work.” After twenty years in theater, Marc made a career shift to segue into teaching middle school math and is currently at Maplewood Middle School. After both performing on Broadway and conceiving the hit Off-Broadway musical Altar Boyz, he was ready for a career transition that would help balance the freelance artist lifestyle for his family and would challenge him in new ways.

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Marc, known as Mr. Kessler to many, is well-known for the creativity that he couples with math and it’s a natural fit bringing his performer side to the front of the classroom. “This year I am also fortunate to take over as director of the musical at MMS. I am thrilled to call upon my theatre background and help these talented kids make SpongeBob SquarePants a must-see production,” Marc shared. The dynamic duo leads an active family life with their three kids Lincoln, age 14, Violet, age 11 and Jane, age 8. The kids are rising through the ranks of Tuscan, MMS and CHS. Lincoln is on the freshman soccer team, plays flag football and loves sports overall. The girls play soccer in the Cougar Soccer Club along with basketball at St. Joseph’s CYO. Vio let is in the Social Justice Club and Student Council at MMS and is hoping to be cast by her dad in the school musical. Lastly, Jane takes breakdancing lessons, enjoys skateboard ing and performing in the Tuscan Show. As a family they enjoy traveling, hiking, summer trips to As bury Park and spending time with their family and friends. Like many SOMA neighbors, they frequent Maplewood Vil lage with many favorite haunts such as Village Ice Cream, Able Baker, Words, Kim’s Nail Salon, Perch Home and No. 165 to name a few. “Finding a town that had all of these families in the arts was like finding our true home. The understanding of the lifestyle and the support from our community has been amazing. We are so grateful for the memories we have made - raising our kids here and being able to laugh and share all of it with good friends over the years- that has really meant the world to us.” Casey warmly shared. The couple concur that they have a wonderfully high qual ity of life living in Maplewood. They look forward to many more years creating memories with their strong social net works and to meeting new friends.

DECEMBER 2021 | SOMA LIVING 9

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BEAUTY

HOLIDAY HAIR GUIDE

There’s a longstanding dictum in hairstyling trends that’s lingered for years: go lighter in the summer, and darker in the winter. What this adage doesn’t convey, however, is that it doesn’t necessarily mean darker in color per se; you can harness the spirit of this trend by creating tone and dimension. For those who love be ing on the lighter side (and this goes for blondes and brunettes), make the seasonal trend work for you by adding depth. Since summer sun and chlorine-filled pools have likely oxidized your color, now is the per fect time to reverse that damage and make your color pop again. Low lighting is a technique where your stylist will perfectly place a deeper color throughout your hair to give your hair the illusion of having more depth and contrast. This could mean going for a color that matches your natural level and breaks up the bright ness on the bottom. Or it could mean applying a col or that is lighter than your natural tone but still deeper than your highlighted hair. The master colorist has plenty of strategies and techniques at their disposal. For those that absolutely love being light and do not want any contrast to break up that color, a toner or gloss can help restore the shine that summer’s unfa vorable elements have stripped. Toner and gloss are used to either enhance or remove unwanted tones, such as the yellowing look of last season’s blonde, or the “washed out” look for brunettes that strikes at this time of year Low Lights, High Spirits The Gloss Effect

Merry and Bright

For this holiday season, lots of our clients are choosing to be on the warmer side— think golds, chestnuts, and caramel. In darker hair, these warm highlights create a very soft, natural, dimensional brunette. For our blondes, the holiday trend is warmer hair as well—gold and creamy tones make their hair appear brighter and luminous. For our redheads, we are finding joy in creating rich cinnamon colors that are still natural, yet vibrant. All of us need to treat our hair with a little extra care after the hot summer, which wreaked havoc on hairs’ porosity. After all, healthy hair “takes” to color treatment much better. Salon-grade conditioning treatments, such as hair botox or olaplex, restores the integrity of your hair, making your investment in your salon visit more resilient. It is also absolutely vital to incorporate at-home care, too, to ensure the best, most long-lasting results. With so much on your plates—both literal and figurative—this holiday season, don’t forget to care for yourself, too. Amidst the bustle of gift shopping, meal prepping, gathering planning, and all the other joyous (yet stressful) activities going on, your hair deserves a little of that love and attention, too. Conditioning is Caring

973-632-0302

Yoni Kreger 973-762-2900 info@yonikregersalon.com yonikregersalon.com

Improving South Orange/Maplewood one house at a time We offer weekly maintenance plans, landscape design services and hardscape construction www.slevingroupnj.com

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RECIPE OF THE MONTH

HAM & CHEDDAR CRUSTLESS QUICHE Prep Time: 10 min • Cook Time: 40 min • Servings: 6 Christmas morning breakfast solved! Throw together this ham and cheddar crustless quiche and pop it into the oven to bake while you’re busy unwrapping gifts under the tree. As much as I adore a flaky pastry pie crust, on Christmas morning even I don’t feel like breaking out the rolling pin. Instead I scatter diced ham and sautéed onions on the bottom of a pie plate, then sprinkle shredded cheddar over that and pour the egg mixture on top. It bakes up so light and fluffy and the ham almost acts like a bottom crust. And the best part is it only takes minutes to whip up. It’s great for a weeknight dinner too when paired with a green salad and a hunk of crusty bread.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and grease a 9-inch pie plate (preferably glass or ceramic) 2.Heat butter in a large nonstick skillet. Add the onion and ham and cook until golden, about 8-10 min. 3.In a large bowl, whisk to combine the eggs, milk, heavy cream, salt, pepper, nutmeg and chives. 4.Sprinkle the cooked ham and onions evenly in the bottom of the prepared pie plate. Sprinkle the cheese over the ham and then pour the egg mixture over the top. 5.Bake about 40 min or until the quiche is just set in the center.

1 Tbsp unsalted butter 1 cup ham diced 1 medium onion diced (about 1 cup) 8 eggs 1/2 cup whole milk 2/3 cup heavy cream 1 tsp kosher salt 1/4 tsp black pepper 1/4 tsp nutmeg 1 Tbsp chives minced 1 1/2 cups mild cheddar INGREDIENTS

www.WHATSHOULDIMAKEFOR.com

Cathy Roma’s food philosophy is simple: everything in moderation. She’s worked in restaurants, owned an online bakery, has a bordering-on-problematic cookbook obsession and is the writer, photographer and recipe developer for the blog whatshouldimakefor.com. She lives in South Orange with her well-fed family, overstocked pantry and mildly excessive collection of cookie cutters.

DECEMBER 2021 | SOMA LIVING 11

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CHARITABLE ACTS The word Rotary is familiar to many of us but at the same time, somewhat unknown. As a 100+ international service club, the Rotary’s purpose is to bring together community and business leaders to do humanitarian services. Rotary International is one of the oldest and largest service organizations in the world. All Rotary clubs share a key mission: “Service above Self.” It is energetic in fundraising, community contributions and networking activities. The Rotarians are hard at work planning their annual Christmas tree sales at the Maplewood Community Pool. Every year, they sell high-quality Christmas trees, wreathes and other decorative items. You will love the fresh quality trees and you’ll be helping a great community project. 100% of net sales go back to community projects. Details for Christmas tree sales: • Sales start Saturday November 27th at 9AM • Maplewood Community Pool at 187 Boyden Avenue • Weekly hours are Thurs: 6-8PM; Fri: 6-8PM, Sat 9AM – 6PM and Sun 9AM – 6PM The Maplewood chapter is always looking for new members. Contact David Beni at 201.401.9541 or dbbestway@aol.com to learn more about this dynamic group.

CALL TODAY TO SCHEDULE A FREE ESTIMATE!

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ATHLETE OF THE MONTH SPONSORED BY BASS FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC

DYLAN - 10th grade at Columbia, EMERSON - 8th grade MMS, BECKETT - 6th grade MMS, PEYTON - 3rd grade Jefferson

• Treatment and Rehabilitation for Headaches • Neck and Back Pain • Sports and Gym Related Activities • Disc Problems and Neck Problems • Auto Injuries • Pregnancy Related Aches BASS FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC

Beckett - My goal is simple to keep swimming and get faster! Emerson - Do my best and continue to drop time in my events. Dylan - I am very close to breaking 1 minute in the 100 fly!! I started doing Triathlons this past year and want to do more – swimming is a big part of it! What is your favorite post meet meal? Peyton - Pizza Beckett - Pesto pasta Emerson - Turkey burger & French fries

All 4 of the Meda kids are competitive swimmers for Scarlet Elite and Dylan swims Varsity for Columbia HS. What do you think makes you good swimmers? Peyton - My love for it. I look forward to going to practice every time. Beckett - Lots of practice and working really hard. Even though it can be really hard, I always try my best and give 100%.

Emerson - My determination to reach my goals and work hard. I never give up. Dylan - I am passionate about swimming. I always look forward to going and work hard every time. What stroke is your favorite? Peyton - Backstroke Beckett - Freestyle Emerson - Freestyle Dylan - 100 butterfly, for sure! What are your goals when it comes to swimming? Peyton - To always improve on my technique and racing. I want to make the Junior Olympics so I am working on getting faster!

Dylan - Burgers What do you think makes you a good team mate? Peyton - I like to support and cheer on my friends and teammates. Beckett - I always want everyone to do well and love to support my teammates. Emerson - I am supportive. It is fun to cheer every one on. That is part of what makes it all so fun. Dylan - I am supportive and I try to lead by example. I try to lift my teammates up if they’ve had a tough race.

ABOUT DR. BASS If one word were used to describe Dr. Wayne J. Bass, it would be “community.” As one who has served on the Maplewood Chamber of Commerce for a number of years, Dr. Bass understands the needs of the community and strives to achieve excellence with every appointment. In fact, his business was founded on the principle of excellence in the community in 2006. While there are many chiropractors out there, Dr. Bass is one who truly cares about the well-being of patients.

(973) 378-2277 BASSFAMILYCHIRO.COM 491B VALLEY ST, MAPLEWOOD, NJ 07040

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REAL ESTATE HOLIDAY HOUSE HACKS

If your house is anything like mine, your front porch is a practical daily display of deliveries. Since being home-bound, many people have become reliant on online shopping, grocery delivery and even sneaking in some extra Instagram ad inspired purchases. If we’re going to be stuck at home, why not make sure we have all of the creature comforts at hand? That said, I’m in a new “no stuff” mood. This holiday season I want to seize the spirit and decorate, but I want to do it without spending a buck or adding to our personal possessions. Here are some Holiday Hacks that will impress your guests without punching your pocketbook.

1. Stack your books! What better idea for a homemade Christmas Tree than dusting off those dustcovers and stringing lights around your eye catching “evergreen”? 2. What’s the draw? Use that wall you cleverly painted with chalkboard paint or string up some chalk packing paper to draw a fabulous fireplace next to your coziest place to sit together. 3. Cinnamon Sticks for the win! Grab some twine from your basement and bust out those cinnamon sticks from the pantry. Glue them to the outside of a thick candle and tie with the twine to finish off this rustic look that will make your house smell amazing. 4. Be a Wrap Star. Grab a roll of mailing paper and get to work with stencils, stamps, stickers or anything that alters the paper to present each gift as a custom work of art. The kids will love the gift of giving even more when they spent the time to tailor each box! You can find all sorts of ways to make your home Holiday Chic by using things you already own. We would love to see what you come up with! Send us a message with your fave DIY Holiday hack and we we’ll send you a holiday treat from The Kate Elliott Team! Cheers!

Kate Elliott is the leader of The Kate Elliott Team at Coldwell Banker 646-662-6655 Kate.elliott@cbmoves.com Insta: @KeyToNewJersey

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ARTIST OF THE MONTH

Jennifer Malone is a painter who has lived and worked in Maplewood for more than 7 years. Last month she won first place in the 2021 Art Walk. I caught up with her to ask her about her career.

Please describe your work, your medium/media, and your tools. I am a representational painter. I work solely in oil on stretched canvas. What is your process of creation? I am always observing the world through an artist’s lens. When I see a subject, scene, object of interest, I work to portray it in a way that is interesting to me by way of composition/design, color and contrast. Much of my work focuses on light and shadow which lends itself to being the skeleton of my compositions. What is your inspiration? My inspiration to paint comes from a lifelong love of art. Having been raised in New York, museum visits were routine. The New York art scene when I was growing up in the eighties was very youth-oriented, which made it easy to love contemporary art. And my husband and I have been collecting for nearly 30 years. Once I began painting and finding my voice, I honed in on artists who portray subjects in ways that speak to me. They include Cezanne, Sargent, Sorolla, Picasso, Morandi and Hopper. Do you work at home? I paint in two places. One is at home. The other is at ArtSpace, where various artists have studio space. I have been taking classes for more than ten years from Julie Friedman, who is the owner, as well as a being an artist, educator and friend. At home I work in a spare bedroom converted into a studio. I added a sink so I could contain the mess. Do you live with your work? Until recently, I would not hang my paintings in our living space. But I think as I have become fonder of my work, I am more comfortable having them around. So, I do have one or two hanging at home now. Do you collect/barter with other artists? I do. I have several paintings by Julie Friedman. My kitchen is dedicated to work by people who I have painted with in classes. We have a Wolf Khan print. We also have several paintings by Jean Jack. Hers were the first in our collection.

JENNIFER MALONE

What other artists do you draw inspiration from or are you interested in? There are so many fabulous artists working right now. Lisa Breslow, Ben Aronson, Kara Walker, Carole Rabe, Carlos San Milan, Antonio Barahona, Maggie Siner, Kim English, Jean Jack. I am an admirer of Banksy. His disruptive nature appeals to me. How long have you been working as a full-time artist? About 5 years. What did you do before? I worked in finance for ten years before deciding to change direction. I had planned on retooling to work in design in some capacity. This was delayed by the onset of parenthood. Have you always wanted to be an artist? No. I knew I appreciated art and that I would always seek it out as a viewer. It was by far one of the best decisions of my life to pursue a career in art. Not only is it a wonderful outlet, it is very rewarding. Not much is better than having someone connect with your work. That, and the art community I belong to is utterly fulfilling!

Elizabeth Harrison Kubany is founder of KUBANY, LLC, a communications firm established on her lifelong belief in the power of architecture, design, and art to make the world a better, more beautiful, and more equitable place. She is also the co- founder, with her husband, of Winterhouse Projects, an online gallery platform that promotes the work of emerging artists. @ElizabethKubany

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• New Garages • Foundations • French Drains • Waterproofing Interior & Exterior • Asphalt & Paving

• Patios • Decks • Excavation • Mulching • Soil & Seed • Tree Removal • Top Soil

DECEMBER 2021 | SOMA LIVING 15

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FINANCIAL FOCUS

BE PREPARED FOR LONG-TERM CARE COSTS

Like everyone, you’d like to enjoy a long, healthy, independent life. But the future is unknowable, so it’s a good idea to prepare for a variety of outcomes – including the possible need for long-term care. Consider the following: • Someone turning age 65 today has almost a 70% chance of eventually needing some type of long-term care service, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. • The median annual cost for a private room in a nursing home is about $105,000, and it’s almost $55,000 for home health aide services, according to the insurance company Genworth. While everyone’s situation is different, you may want to budget for two to three years’ worth of long-term care expenses. But how can you prepare for these costs? Essentially, you’ve got three options: • You could self-insure. If you would like to cover the costs of long-term care out of your own pocket, you’ll need to consider a few issues: How will these potential costs affect your family? How might your other goals be affected, or even altered, by your decision to self-insure? Will you have to adjust your investment mix or designate certain investments to help achieve your self-funding objectives? None of these questions should dissuade you from trying to self-fund for long-term care, but they can help you clarify the significance of this choice within your overall financial strategy. • You could combine self-insurance with an insurance policy. You could plan to self-insure for long-term care for a limited time – perhaps one year’s worth of anticipated costs – and then buy enough insurance for additional expenses. This technique could involve some juggling on your part, in terms of where to direct your money, but it might prove to be a workable compromise between self-insurance and putting all your long term care resources into an insurance policy. Which of these methods is right for you? There’s no one “right” answer for everyone. But whichever route you choose, you’ll be helping to protect yourself – and possibly your grown children or other family members – from the potentially huge costs of long-term care. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by Gary T Jones, your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. To learn more contact me at g.jones@edwardjones.com

Gary T. Jones 973.821.4900 • g.jones@EdwardJones.com

With over 25 years of experience, I work with individuals and businesses to help you achieve your financial goals. As a longtime resident of SOMA I am proud to serve the local community. To learn more about the content of this article or schedule an appointment to talk about your goals, please contact me in my Maplewood office.

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THE SMART WAY TO DO LAUNDRY

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email us at AtlanticConcepts@hotmail.com to schedule a free estimate www.atlantic-concepts.com (386) 344-3894 Atlantic Concepts is a family owned business that has been serving the SOMA community for over 10 years. Its founder, Eddie Cevallos and family are proud residents of Maplewood. Specializing in kitchens, bathrooms, additions, etc, Atlantic Concepts would love to hear your ideas for your projects. Please give us a call for a free estimate.

DECEMBER 2021 | SOMA LIVING 17

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THEATER SPOTLIGHT

Don’t ask Sandy Rustin to choose her favorite Disney song - the actor and playwright says it’s impossible to pick just one.

“I have like a thousand favorite Disney songs,” says Rustin, who lives in Maplewood with her husband and two sons. “I’ve seen every Disney movie, every Disney show on Broadway. I am a Disney fan.” Now, Rustin is working with Disney and Paper Mill Playhouse to bring some of the most beloved Disney songs to life in a new musical revue – A Jolly Holiday: Celebrating Disney’s Broadway Hits. That production, which opens in December, is the first of two shows penned by Rustin that will be produced at the recently reopened Millburn theater this season.

SANDY RUSTIN

“I’ve seen so many shows at Paper Mill, and I have been eagerly awaiting the just-right opportunity to work there,” Rustin

says. “To get to work there on two shows in a row this season, especially after a pandemic, is especially wonderful.”

After Jolly Holiday, Paper Mill will present Clue, which Rustin adapted for the stage from the cult-hit film. Both productions will be directed by Rustin’s friend and frequent collaborator (and fellow Maplewood resident), Casey Hushion, whose Broadway credits include The Prom, Mean Girls and Aladdin. “We have a friendship as a basis of our partnership, so there’s an automatic understanding and kindness between us, which in creative partnerships is wonderful,” Rustin says of Hushion. “Our brains kind of gel when we get into that creative mode together, and it’s really fun.” With Clue, Rustin gets to tap into one of her other loves: comedy. From her sketch comedy musical Rated P for Parenthood to her Noel Coward– inspired romantic comedy Cottage, much of Rustin’s work is infused with hilarity. “I love comedy, but sometimes it can get a bum rap; it can feel like the ugly stepsister to drama,” she says. “But I think during this pandemic we all saw that that’s not true – all we wanted was to have a comedy. For me, it has felt really validating and gratifying to be in a position where I’m writing and creating stuff for the stage that makes people laugh.” —Written By Michelle Vames

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FROM THE DOCTOR

DO I HAVE A GROIN PULL?

A pulled groin or better known as a groin strain results from putting too much stress on muscles in your groin and inner thigh. If these muscles are tensed too forcefully or too suddenly, they can get over-stretched or torn. Groin pulls typically happen to people who play sports with a lot of lateral movement, such as soccer and basketball as well as tennis. Another form of this injury can happen when you suddenly jump or change direction. Some of the associated symptoms can be pain and tenderness in the groin and the inside of the thigh, pain when you bring your legs together, pain when you raise your knee and a popping or snapping feeling during the injury followed by severe pain. A patient can typically experience all of these symptoms or just a few however they are all centrally located on the inner thigh going up to the groin. To classify the severity of the groin pull or strain there are 3 categories of strains that a patient can have. 1st degree: Mild pain, but little loss of strength or movement, 2nd degree: Moderate pain, mild to moderate strength loss and some tissue damage and 3rd degree: Severe pain, severe loss of strength and function due to a complete tear of the muscle. With 3rd degree pulls there may be some bruising of the inner thigh. To properly diagnose a strain, an exam is performed by either an MD or a PT however some patients will undergo some form of imaging such as MRI or X-rays to rule out other issues in the area. If this injury is not properly addressed, it can become a more chronic problem and it can become recurrent as well. This is why a proper treatment plan should be developed by a PT and hips and lower back should be screened to rule out muscle imbalances as well as weakness that may be adding to the groin stress. Some patients take 4 to 6 weeks to recover but it all depends on your healing. When your injured side feels as strong and as the pain free side the patient can slowly resume running and jumping in a slow controlled manner. To avoid this injury from happening, the patient should warm up before playing sports which includes stretching out all of the hip muscles and making sure proper footwear is worn. It is advised to slowly increase your sport activities once you are warm and loose. Strengthening muscles in your hips, thighs, and glutes to help with pelvic stability can also help prevent this kind of injury from returning. It is always best to consult with your therapist about your progress and restrictions.

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DECEMBER 2021 | SOMA LIVING 19

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LIFE COACHING

What would it be like to go into 2022 knowing you were going to finally figure it out? And when I say “figure it out”, I don’t mean creating nonsense goals like: •I’m going to lose weight! •I’ll wake up at 5am and go to the gym 5 days a week! •I’ll stop ordering takeout!

KIM KASSNOVE

•I’ll get a new job! Those don’t sound like goals to me - they sound like recipes for failure. Research shows that 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail, and why is that? Well, eventually the chocolate cake looks too good, the bed is too warm to leave, you’re too tired from the 5am wake ups to cook dinner, and there aren’t any jobs that sound better than the one you have already. Goal setters don’t spend enough time on why their goals matter to them, or what’s getting in the way of achieving it. Most importantly, they fail to uncover what would be possible for themselves if they did achieve their goal! They don’t spend time on the internal work of cultivating their purpose in order to achieve their desired results. Make 2022 the year of purpose! If you know you want to *figure it out*, but you don’t know what *it* is, reach out! My clients span sectors and circumstances. The one thing they have in common is they feel stuck in some way, and they want something new for themselves! I work with my clients to mine their values, lean into their passion and step into a new reality. My clients have gone on to create new businesses, shift sectors, pursue higher education, and bring passion to the center of their world. My clients not only meet their goals, they exceed their own expectations. I’ve opened my books for hour-long complimentary discovery sessions in December for individuals who are curious to learn more. Only a few sessions remain in this offer. Identify what you want for yourself in the new year, and begin to try on something new. Don’t set goals this year, create your purpose. Only a few spots remain for FREE discoveries, so schedule yours today! http://kimkassnovecoaching.com. Reach out with questions at kim@kimkassnovecoaching.com.

ROBERT HUBSMITH, CLTC Financial Services Professional

I help my clients (at no cost to them) get the best Medicare insurance plan to fit their unique health care needs and at the best price. Navigating the Medicare system can be confus ing and overwhelming, whether you are currently enrolled in Medicare or are newly eligible, so let me answer your ques tions, create a knowledge-based foundation, analyze options and ultimately guide you to an informed decision.

(201) 704-7872 rhubsmith@thejgagency.com

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DRINK OF THE MONTH

Get out your blenders for a delish Frozen Drink - The Naughty Rudolph is fun and festive - the perfect Christmas Cocktail! Fabulous holiday drink! THE NAUGHTY RUDOLPH

The Naughty Rudolph is a fun, festive cocktail that everyone will gobble up (you can make this in a non-alcoholic version for the kiddies if you’d like). Make it for one or for a big group. Either way? it’s always the best drink to mix up! The holidays should be entertaining and fun. The Naughty Rudolph accomplishes that in just one little-blended cocktail. It’s fruity, it’s festive,

it’s fun, it’s cute! INGREDIENTS: • 2 Cups ice • 1 Cup ginger ale • 1/4-1/2 Cup Mario Cherries with the stems pulled off • 3 ounces vanilla vodka • Cherry and pretzels for garnish INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Add all ingredients to the blender 2. Blend until smooth 3. Garnish with “red nose” and “antlers” 4. Bottoms up!

Sarah Maloney is a longtime Maplewood resident who is known to make a refreshing drink. She is the Vice President of Mortgage Lending at Guaranteed Rate and enjoys spending time with her four children in her downtime.

DECEMBER 2021 | SOMA LIVING 21

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means you have an assigned project manager to your flooring project. Your assigned Carpet Girl is just a phone call away and ready to address all your installation needs.

SELECTION, SALES AND INSTALLATION

www.thecarpetgirl.com

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FROM THE DOCTOR

THE POSTURE LONGEVITY CONNECTION

Posture is one of the most overlooked aspects of good health and longevity. Research shows a clear connection between chiropractor posture correction vs. poor posture and diminished longevity and quality of life. The American Journal of Pain Management reported, “The effect of posture on health is becoming more evident. Spinal pain, headache, mood, blood pressure, pulse and lung capacity are among the functions most easily influenced by posture.”1Fitness guru Jack LaLanne, who was also a chiropractor, put it this way — “You are only as young as your spine.” Posture correction: anterior head movement As the head moves forward, all measures of health status are reduced. Rene Cailliet, director of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at USC, concluded that forward head posture can add up to 30 pounds of pressure on the spine and reduce lung capacity by as much as 30%, which can lead to heart and blood vascular disease. He determined a relationship between forward head posture and the digestive system as well as endorphin production affecting pain and the experience of pain.2 Here is a helpful analogy: Imagine your head was a bowling ball and your neck is the hand that holds that ball. Imagine letting the bowling ball sit in the palm of your hand with your arm tucked tight into your body. Now slowly move your arm away from your body while continuing to palm the ball. The weight of the ball will put more and more stress on your arm as it moves away from your body until the weight causes failure or injury to occur. Unlike the bowling ball that can be dropped to the floor when your arm gives out, your head must remain attached to your body and continues its forward and downward movement. Anterior head carriage has been exacerbated by the increased use of personal technology devices including smart phones, tablets and computers. This exaggerated forward-flexed posture of the neck results in neck and shoulder pain, stiffness and soreness. You see it everywhere, at home and in the office. It has resulted in an epidemic of “tech neck,” a problem that is getting worse. Posture correction comes from a proper posture assessment. Identifying where the key areas are that need posture correcting exercise is the difference between success and failure. Looking at ones lifestyle and the habits that go along with that is the first place to start. Breaking old bad habits and developing new ones may require some coaching and advice from an expert like your chiropractor. Visit our website at SouthOrangeChiropractic.com and look up the videos under “about us” and see the blog. Tips on how to stay fit while you sit may be of some help or contact us at the office for an evaluation.

Meet the Natural Pain Relievers at South Orange Chiropractic Center Moving people from pain to wellness. Dr. Stephen Levine • Dr. Mark Roczey • Dr. Mark Sielski 60 First Street, South Orange, NJ 07079 973-761-0022 Go to SouthOrangeChiropractic.com to download our FREE E-book on Health and Wellness

South Orange Rehabilitation & Wellness We provide professional, individualized and effective physical therapy. Our health and wellness interventions promote healthy living and enhanced quality of life for all athletes and patients.

Specializing in: • Post Surgical Knee & Shoulder • Spinal Decompression for Herniated and Bulging Discs • Cold Laser to Increase Healing

Stephen Levine D.C. South Orange Chiropractic Center SouthOrangeChiropractic.com Phone: 973.761.0022 Email: Docdad230@aol.com

SouthOrangeRehab.com (973) 761-0077 177 Valley Street, South Orange, New Jersey 07079

DECEMBER 2021 | SOMA LIVING 23

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EDUCATION

MID-YEAR GOAL SETTING FOR 2022

We’re about one-third of the way through of this school year and parents should have a sense of how their child is doing in their classes, i.e., marking period grades are out and first parent teacher conferences have been had. Now is a great time for parents to mentally project forward to the end of the school year and create some academic goals for their children. 1. Improved reading fluency. You can measure this at home and work with your child’s teacher or tutor to chart a path to improvement. At home: Pick a passage in a book your child can read, but that has a bit of a challenge to it. Have your child read it to you, without your help, and take note of the areas that were difficult for them. Reassure them that this is not a test, and nothing is at stake. They may have trouble with phonics and sounding out words. They may skim over words that they don’t know and can’t easily decode. Whatever the issues are that you see, just take note of them, circle the challenging words or sections for your own reference. Carry on with whatever approach you have determined to be best to improve reading fluency (e.g. reading 30 minutes every night, reading to younger siblings or pets, reading to you, tutoring, or in class supports) especially targeting the issues you took note of. In June have them read the same passage to you. Look for the improvements and celebrate with your child! Tie their reading-based practices to the improvements you see. 1. Improved math fluency. Math fluency is important for all students, but particularly for those in 5th grade and below. Strong numerical fluency (quick access to math facts, number sense, order of operations, etc.) is the underpinning of applying math concepts to math problems. This will go far to ensure your student can both take on the math they are currently working on and confidently progress with more complex math as they move up in grade. Start by asking your child’s teacher whether they see any gaps in math skills in your child or if they are on level or ahead, what areas they can focus upon to facilitate greater fluency. Either way determining where there is an opportunity for improvement is important. At home: you can play math games with your child—card games with standard playing cards, counting up or down to larger and larger numbers, even the dreaded flash cards can be made fun and rewarding with the right approach. See how well they, for example, can “recite” the 6-, 7- or 8-times tables. Check now and check again in June. Again, celebrate any growth you see! Setting goals for improvement will leave you with an opportunity to plan now for success this school year. Your goals could include:

973-327-9775 www.bicedu.com/South-Orange

Dr. Alissa Gardenhire is the owner of Best in Class Education Center, named one of the three best tutoring centers in the region by 3 Best Rated dot com. Copyright 2021 © Dr. Alissa Gardenhire and Kids Win, Inc.

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HOLIDAY GUIDE

Your full-service, any carrier shipping, printing & business services store Graphic Design, banners & more (973) 275-1144 71 S Orange Ave • South Orange, NJ 07079

HOLIDAY PARTIES

DJ

B.

my

Jim

DECEMBER 2021 | SOMA LIVING 25

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HOLIDAY GUIDE

info@threedaughtersbakingco.com

Order online: gardenofedithfd.com 54 South Orange Ave South Orange, NJ 07079

www.sewleana.com

(973)327-4241

• New and pre-owned bikes for sale

• Repair services • Bike accessories • Skateboards

“ Locally Owned and Operated” WINTER HOURS: Thurs-Sun • 12–4 All other seasons: Tues-Sun • 12-5

1673 Springfield Ave., Maplewood • 973-996-2080 www.maplewoodbikeshed.com

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HOLIDAY GUIDE

SMART SYSTEMS

From a simple TV installation to a complete smart home system. FREE ESTIMATES

OFFERING LESSONS IN-PERSON & ONLINE

DECEMBER 2021 | SOMA LIVING 27

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HOLIDAY GUIDE

Supplier of exclusive, quality menswear made in the U.S and abroad

LOCATED IN THE HEART OF MAPLEWOOD VILLAGE

92 Baker St. • 973-577-2013

Open Tues-Sat 12-5; Sun 12-4

Cityworkshopmsc.com

@cityworkshopmsc

WE’VE GOT THE GIFTS YOU WANT TO GIVE!

SOMA’S unexpected, uniquely different, fun and fabulous retail shop!

Open 10 AM - 5:30 PM Daily 9 Village Plaza, S.O. Curbside & Home delivery (wkdys) Shop online at sparkhouse.net

1843 Springfield Avenue Suite C Phone: 973-327-9711

Wed -Sat: 11AM - 6PM Sun: 12PM - 5PM @ remerchllc

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HOLIDAY GUIDE

KCBcurated specializes in vintage barware, home decor and the unique gifts you love to give, but would rather keep for yourself.

Flexible Spending Account: Use it or lose it!

Large Seclection of Designer Frames Dawn Morano - Optician #D1627

Follow me on Instagram @KCBcurated to shop and for information on where to locate me around town. I can also be reached at kcbcurated@gmail.com

DECEMBER 2021 | SOMA LIVING 29

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HOLIDAY GUIDE

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HOLIDAY GUIDE

COBLE & ASSOCIATES, INC

CLAUDE COBLE Property and Casualty Group and Individual Life Insurance Voluntary Benefits

Such as: Accident

Hospitalization Critical Illness Disability Benefits

Call Us at 732-763-8013 Visit us online www.unbeatableinsurancequotes.com

Bring in this ad for 10% off and treat yourself!

hello creativity. www.apaperhat.com | 862-250-3129 94 Baker St., Maplewood | @apaperhatart

Neighborhood Cafe, Family Run & Local Ingredients

Breakfast, Lunch, Baked Goods & More www.truesalvagecafenj.com Wed - Sun: 8AM - 3PM 292 Elmwood Avenue Maplewood NJ

DECEMBER 2021 | SOMA LIVING 31

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