SOMA Living November 2021

VOL. 6-11 NOVEMBER 2021 MAGAZINE

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NOVEMBER 2021

PUBLICATION TEAM

FACES IN THE CROWD

Matt Servitto, South Orange resident and Sopranos actor stopped for a picture with Michael Gandolfini and Patrick Wilson at the recent screening and debut event of The Many Saints of Newark: A Sopranos Story at SOPAC.

Advertising Sales Michael E. Goldberg I 973.271.4306 somalivingmagazine@gmail.com Contributors: Cathy Roma, Kate Elliott, Dr. Stephen Levine, Sarah Maloney, Gary T. Jones, Dr. Daniel Roig, Yoni Kreger, Editor: Brenda Langan Director of Human Resources: Fudge P. Goldberg Director of Public Relations: Marli Craig Founders & Co-Publishers: Michael E. Goldberg & Juliet Bowen

Photo Credit: Joy Yagid

PET OF THE MONTH

Design by: GRANDSTAND DESIGN

“Gretta is 15 years old and happily resides in Maplewood. Her walks have gotten shorter and her naps have gotten longer but she still loves tennis balls, sticks, swimming, belly rubs and people! She tolerates her younger furry sibling, adores her humans and misses peanut butter...her tummy just can’t handle it anymore. Her favorite thing is to be out and about collecting love from neighbors and strangers. She’s the best and we are lucky to have her!” -The Fishers

(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

MEET OUR TEAM REALTOR-ASSOCIATES

Daria Knarvik 973-704-6718

Vaughn Smith 973-876-0544

Dustin Steiner 646-306-1539

Jacqueline Hunter 973-634-1357

Jennifer “Jen” Lieberman 973-477-2301

Randy Goldstein 917-685-9175

Laura Auer 908-577-7821

Nancy Gould 917-626-2176

Rodney Fontil 914-473-7493

Valarie Tart-Williams 973-641-3358

Lichtman Rabney Group Francine Lichtman, Randy Rabney & Mary Ellen Dawkins 646-734-3718

Distinctive Properties Group Carrie Schwartz, Kathleen Nittolo,

Nichole Mariette, Maggie Axelrod-Calister, Mark Truscinski, Chris Danuser, Laura Wilson 973-368-3188

Over 250 Homes Sold in 2020! Thank you for supporting your local boutique real estate brokerage. Industry leading technology, advertising and marketing. 0% Seller Home Repair Financing Program Selling? Contact us for a consultation today!

Joshua Jacobs, Broker of Record Office: 973-913-5055 • www.HearthRealtyGroup.com

Hundreds of

Reviews

If you are in an exclusive brokerage relationship with another agency, this is not intended as a solicitation. All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. *Financing provided through Hearth Financing. 0% for those who qualify. Terms and conditions apply. Market position for offices physically located in South Orange or Maplewood 1/1/2020-12/31/2020 according to Marketview Broker via GSMLS. Boutique Brokerage with no franchise or corporate affiliations.

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NOVEMBER 2021

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NOVEMBER 2021

MEET THE BRITT FAMILY

Photography by Jamie Meier

“We consider ourselves an unlikely and very lucky story. Just like that, he walked into my life,” Marta said. Tom added, “It was 2007, I was 29 and just moved back home to Brooklyn after living in Santa Monica for a few years. I was working in Finance and living the Cali dream. Then the market crashed and I moved back to New York to reinvent myself.” Marta jumped in, “I was 24 and working my first real job at an investment bank in Midtown Manhattan. I was thrilled and relieved to finally work in an office instead of a Trading Floor. Just before I was a floor reporter for the commodities markets on the New York Board of Trade. It was still live trading, just before everything turned electronic and it was like being in a lion’s den. Fun but chaotic and uncertain. Then the markets crashed. In my new office job, everyone was worried. One Friday afternoon, I was reluctantly setting up this new guy’s office - some bachelor from Cali - not realizing that come Monday morning, I was going to meet my future husband.” “We were drawn to each other right away and moved in together in Long Island City, Queens four months later,” Tom laughed. Going back in time, Marta was born in Warsaw, Poland followed by living in Rome, Italy to then landing in Queens at age 7. She expanded “An interesting tidbit is that I lived in John Gotti’s neighborhood when he was in power and Tom likes to tease that this has influenced my demeanor. But all joking aside, you’ll never take the Queens or New York out of me. I went to high school in Manhattan, college at NYU, and am currently finishing my second BA at Parsons in NYC for interior design, so I’ve stayed local since making the move from Europe to the NYC area many years ago.” Tom added, “I grew up in Brooklyn in a close-knit community of family and friends. I went to Xaverian HS, an all-boys Catholic school in Bay Ridge mainly because it was the only high school in Brooklyn with an ice hockey team. Ice Hockey has always been a passion of mine from the time I first laced up my ice skates at age 4 and well into my late 30s in old man beer leagues. I’m proud to say, our older daughters Lucy and Cassie also enjoy playing hockey and rooting on the New York Rangers.”

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Now married 12 years, they have expanded to include Lucy age 7, Cassie age 6, and Stella age 3 describing themselves as a sporty family. “Lucy has taken up golf as a member of the Maple Leaf’s Junior PGA and has a sweet lefty swing. Both Lucy and Cassie take weekly tennis lessons and I play regular tennis as well while Tom is an avid golfer and spends countless hours on the golf course. As Stella is too young to really get involved in sports, her hobby is torturing her sisters and being the boss of the house. All of the girls also love dancing at our Friday night family dance parties with our vintage 70’s disco ball,” Marta shared. “Our crew also loves taking long walks and gardening has become a big deal with our first vegetable garden this past year. We appreciate all of the activity on our street with people walking and biking by so we often sit out front and people watch. We call it ‘stoop life’ like we had growing up in Brooklyn and Queens without backyards. With that said, it’s nice to have more outdoor space to entertain family and friends on the weekends,” Marta warmly said. Walking into Maplewood Village is a favorite activity for the family as well. Tom is a loyal regular at St. James Gate where this interview enjoyably took place. “Cassie and I are also regulars at Freeman’s Fish Market where we check out the live lobsters in the back and pick up the fresh catch to grill. If you’re looking for Marta, you’ll probably find her at Kim’s Nails or Village Coffee. But have I mentioned that I love The Gate?” Tom joked. Just as it was love at first sight for Marta and Tom at the office, it was love at first sight when they stumbled upon Maplewood. “We had never really spent much time in New Jersey and hadn’t considered it in our home search until we went to a friend’s party in Maplewood. We had been looking at homes in Westchester and Long Island but just couldn’t find the right house in the right town. The week after visiting our friends we came back for an Open House and found the right house in the right town for us within a week.” Marta recollected. Tom ended with, “We never forget how lucky we are that we visited our friends in Maplewood that day.

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NOVEMBER 2021

BEAUTY

Face it: at one point or another, you’ve probably considered getting bangs. You may even have attempted them once or twice, possibly with less-than ideal results. That’s because bangs—like all hair cutting techniques and styles—are entirely dependent on your face shape, facial features, and hair type. First off, the diversity of bang styles has grown considerably since that unfortunate attempt you may have had in the early 90s (thanks, Jeannine Garofalo). Back then, there were only two types of styles: straight-across, thick bangs or off to the side. Today, sophisticated stylists have an array of possibilities to work with, again, depending on your natural features. One classic that has been perfected over the years is the side bang. Nearly any length of haircut can work great with a side bang. This option may be perfect if you want to try something different without the maintenance commitment of full-frontal bangs. This style works best with more rounded face shapes. It creates length to a rounded face by making it appear more oval. BADA BING BADA BANGS!

While all side bangs are cut at an angle, you and your stylist may choose to exaggerate the angle for face shapes with a high forehead. Strategic placement of your hair part determines which facial features you want to highlight, since bangs draw the eye’s attention. For instance, a diagonally angled side bang focuses the beholder’s eye on your center features, like your eyes and your lips.

Another classic Is the front bang. The common front bang is a softened look, falling evenly across the face. This is ideal for people with an oval face shape. By creating a more textured, softer bang—not heavy and blunt—this creates more of a motion on the face. For those with more of a square jawline or thinner hair, long layered bangs can work beautifully by creating more volume and making the hair appear thicker and balancing the features on the face. Micro blunt bangs—think Krysten Ritter from Breaking Bad, or even Amèlie from the namesake French film— Is a gorgeously chic look for the ages. They can be precision straight or more textured. These types of bangs are ideal for someone with a rounded face and smaller forehead. By creating negative space between the bottom of the fringe (typically above the eyebrow) and the top of the nose, it visually elongates the forehead. Lastly, we have the crescent moon bang, or the arch bang. With long outer edges and slightly shorter in the middle, crescent moons have a very textured, soft look that creates a soft, feathery, 70s style fall. If you’re ready to try creating the ultimate optical illusion with fringe, your stylist can help you pick the perfect one that fits you, your lifestyle, and your natural features. Who knows? You might just get a bang out of playing with this style.

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

ROAST TURKEY IN PARTS

INSTRUCTIONS

DRY BRINE • Combine all of the ingredients together in a spice grinder and pulse to grind. Alternatively, grind the black pepper from a pepper grinder and mix together all of the spices. Roast Turkey in Parts •I recommend having your butcher cut up the turkey for you, reserving the neck and backbone (cut into pieces) for stock. The turkey should be cut into the following pieces: 2 wings, whole breast intact (don’t separate the two), two thighs, and two drumsticks. If you’re breaking down your own bird, cut off each wing at the socket. Next, cut off each leg at the socket, then sepearate the thigh from drumstick. Use sturdy kitchen shears to cut and remove the backbone. • Place the turkey pieces, skin-side up on a wire rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet. Rub the dry brine liberally all over each piece of the bird, covering completely.

• Place the rack, uncovered, in the refrigerator to chill for at least 24 hours or up to 48 hours. • Remove the turkey on the wire rack from the baking sheet and clean the baking sheet. Line the back sheet with three sheets of heavy duty foil and set the rack back into the pan. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and let the turkey sit, uncovered, at room temperature for at least an hour. • Rub the turkey with the olive oil and pour 1 cup stock into the bottom of the pan. Roast for 20 mins, then reduce the temperature to 300 degrees F. • Roast the turkey, rotating the pan occassionally, until the breast registers 150 degrees F and the thighs are 170 degrees F, about 1 hour 15 mins more. Use a turkey baster to baste the turkey every 20 mins or so with the juices collected in the baking sheet. Add additional stock and water if the pan begins to dry out. •Remove the turkey from the oven and tent loosely with foil to keep warm. Allow the turkey to rest 30-45 mins before carving and serving.

• Prep Time: 15 min • Brining Time: 1 day • Cook Time: 1 hr 35 min • Servings: 8

INGREDIENTS

DRY BRINE 1/3 cup kosher salt 2 Tbsp sugar 2 Tbsp whole black peppercorns 2 Tbsp dried rosemary

1 Tbsp dried sage 1 Tbsp dried thyme

2 Tbsp garlic powder 1 Tbsp dried mustard DRY BRINE 14 lb whole turkey, cut into parts (see below) 1/3 cup olive oil

2 cups turkey stock water, as needed

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.

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NOVEMBER 2021

DRINK OF THE MONTH

Simple apple margaritas with spiced sugar and salt rims! These cocktails would go over great at holiday parties and Mexican SPICED APPLE MARGARITAS

themed dinners.. INGREDIENTS SPICED APPLE MARGARITA (per cocktail) • 2 ounces reposado tequila • 1 ½ to 2 ounces apple juice or cider, preferably organic • ¾ ounce fresh lime juice (about 1 medium lime, juiced) • 1 teaspoon honey simple syrup (recipe below) or ¾ teaspoon agave nectar • ¼ cup honey • ¼ cup water CINNAMON/SUGAR/SALT RIM BLEND AND GARNISH • 1 teaspoon sugar (I used coconut sugar, but cane sugar or turbinado sugar will also do) • Dash ground cinnamon HONEY SIMPLE SYRUP 1. First, prepare the honey simple syrup by combining the water and honey in a small saucepan. Warm over medium heat, stirring frequently, just until the honey is dissolved in the water. Remove pan from heat and set aside. 2. On a small plate, use a fork to blend the sugar, salt and cinnamon. Run a wedge of lime around the top of each drinking glass, then turn the glass down at a 45-degree angle and roll the top of the glass through the cinnamon, sugar and salt blend. Fill the glasses with ice and set them aside. 3. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Feel free to make 2 to 3 drinks at once. Pour in the tequila, apple juice or cider, lime juice, honey simple syrup and cinnamon. Put on the lid and shake the cocktail for about 20 seconds. Strain the cocktail into the prepared glass(es) and add a star of anise if you’d like. Cheers! NOTES CHANGE IT UP: This cocktail would be great with whiskey/bourbon in place of the tequila, in which case use lemon juice instead of lime. MAKE IT VEGAN: Use agave nectar in place of the honey mixture. MAKE IT GLUTEN FREE: Be sure to use 100% agave tequila. HONEY SIMPLE SYRUP STORAGE: This simple syrup will keep well in an air-tight container in the fridge for a couple of weeks. • 1 teaspoon kosher salt or sea salt • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon • Lime wedges • Optional garnish: 1 star of anise per drink INSTRUCTIONS

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.

HOLIDAY PARTIES

DJ

B.

my

Jim

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.

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ATHLETE OF THE MONTH SPONSORED BY BASS FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC

Sebastien Thomson 8th grade at SOMS

Lucas Thomson 6th grade at SOMS

Rex Thomson 4th grade at Clinton

• 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

WHAT MAKES YOU A GOOD ATHLETE? REX: My skill, personality and hard work. LUCAS: I work hard and put a lot of time into practicing. SEBASTIEN: I’m willing to keep working hard even when others quit. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SPORT AND WHAT POSITION DO YOU PLAY? REX: My favorite sport is soccer and I play right back. LUCAS: My favorite sport is soccer and I play right wing or left wing. SEBASTIEN: My favorite sport is soccer and I play center back. WHAT OTHER SPORT WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLAY BESIDES SOCCER? REX: I would like to play football. LUCAS: I wouldn’t want to play any other sport except soccer. SEBASTIEN: I would like to play basketball. WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT PLAYING ON A TEAM AND WHAT MAKES YOU A GOOD TEAMMATE? REX: What I like about playing on a team is that when I make a mistake my teammates are there to help me. I think I’m a good teammate because I’m positive when my teammates make mistakes.

LUCAS: I like playing on a team because everyone has their own style. I think I’m a good teammate because I help my teammates and show them new things. SEBASTIEN: I like playing on a team because I love being competitive. I think I’m a good teammate because I bring energy to the field and make the atmosphere competitive.

Lucas, Sebastien and Rex

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE PLAYER AND WHY?

REX: My favorite player of all time is Pelé because he learned soccer with the basics, he was creative, and he focused on simple skills more than trying to be fancy. LUCAS: My favorite soccer player is Messi be cause he has great field vision, great passing and dribbling skills. SEBASTIEN: My favorite player is Sergio Ramos because of his work ethic and because he’s the greatest center back. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE POST GAME MEAL? REX: Toro Loco! LUCAS: Steak cooked medium rare SEBASTIEN: Sautéed chicken and rice

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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NOVEMBER 2021

REAL ESTATE HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

The overarching attitude towards buying or selling between Thanksgiving and New Year’s is, at a maximum, Meh. Regardless of the COVID-induced lapse in seasonal real estate shifts, we suggest an attitude adjustment for both buyers AND sellers during Holiday times. Both parties have an opportunity to make merry in the coldest and darkest months of the year. Here’s how: As a seller you go through the mill to get your house show-ready. Your Realtor is now recommending that you do 37 years worth of Spring cleaning before Spring. All of the deferred maintenance that you’ve sworn you’ll get to every Saturday is translating into a frantic and un-romantic relationship with Home Depot. Remember when you promised to have your in-laws in from Sweden for 10 days? You’re going to have to ask them to put their fancy Nordic socks back on and head out for every showing and Open House during their visit. Is it worth the blood, sweat and in-law tears? Could be! As annoying as it is for you and your family to leave for a few hours, it can be just as much of an effort for buyers to shimmy out in the bad weather and during the Holidays. The warmer seasons may bring you droves of Open House buyers, but many of them have no urgency to move. They could have read that SOMA is Brooklyn West, or they could just be bored and thinking of becoming Better Off Burbs. You may have 100 people through your Open House, but likely only some of them are educated, motivated and not just killing a gorgeous Sunday looking around when their lease isn’t up for 11 months. The prospective buyers coming out at the end of the year are actually (or metaphorically equivalent to being) 7 1/2 months pregnant and determined to be settled in their home before the “baby.” These buyers are pre-approved, motivated and ready. Plus, you have less competition because other sellers don’t have your commitment to keeping a perfect house in bad weather and company (bad or good.) We get it. You’ve either been in the market for some time and have had your soul crushed during bidding wars, or you’re just starting your search and are feeling timid about dipping your toe into the competitive market. Either way, we hear people saying they want to cool their heels during the winter market because inventory is low. Well…stuff a hot pad in those gloves and get out there. Just as sellers have less competition, so do you! You’re the ones who are hardcore (literally or metaphorically) 7 1/2 months pregnant and determined to settle into your new home before the “baby.” Other buyers who have less urgency to move are skipping the season. While you have fewer homes on the market to view, guess what? Those sellers are willing to ask their visiting in-laws to put their fancy Nordic socks back on and leave for showings because they want to sell. Also, other buyers don’t have your commitment to viewing houses in any kind of weather (good or bad.) QUANTITY VERSUS QUALITY: SELLERS QUANTITY VERSUS QUALITY: BUYERS

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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• Steps • Concrete Work • Fencing • Sidewalks & Curbs • Bluestone • Brick & Block • Retaining Walls • Railroad Ties • Keystone • Belgian Block • Stone Work • Masonry • Porches

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

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

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NOVEMBER 2021

FROM THE DOCTOR

COULD IT BE A SLIPPED DISC?

The reality is the Disc does not slip. The term slipped disc can actually be a bulging disc, a herniated disc or possibly a disc protrusion or prolapsed disc. This information is obtained from the MRI and the interpretation by the radiologist and the ordering doctor. According to statistics, “slipped discs” affect 5-20 people for every 1,000 adults, mostly those between the ages of 30 to 50 years old. In fact, it’s one of the most common conditions that lead people to seek the help of a chiropractor. But what actually is a slipped disc? The term “slipped” disc is a misnomer for what’s happening to your vertebrae when you have this condition--in reality, it’s a herniation of the disc or a type of herniation as described above. There are 23 discs in the spine – 6 in the neck, 12 in the middle of the back, and 5 in the lower back. They are essential to the function of your spine as they help keep it flexible while providing strength, provide shock absorption, and keep your vertebrae from grinding together. However, for a variety of reasons, a crack can occur in the tough outer layer of the disc and allow some of the softer nucleus to protrude out of the disc. This condition is commonly known as a “slipped” disc even though the disc hasn’t slipped at all. Instead, only the small area where the crack in the exterior is located is affected, creating a herniated disc. Back pain, whether from a slipped disc or some other injury, can limit your ability to perform everyday activities. The good news is that most slipped discs can be treated fairly easily. Many seek help from a chiropractor to relieve the pain of a herniated disc. After taking a thorough history and evaluation, your chiropractor will create a treatment plan that could include spinal manipulations, manual therapy, and therapeutic exercises such as stretching exercises. At times it is recommended to implement Spinal decompression along with physical therapy and cold laser. The type of care to be administered is based on age; weight; severity of injury; acute or chronic history and the clinical evaluation with appropriate imaging. To learn more about the symptoms and treatment for slipped discs, read our new blog post, “What Really Is a Slipped Disc?”, found at southorangechiropractic. com, then schedule an appointment with your chiropractor to get to the bottom of your back pain.

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

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NOVEMBER 2021

FROM THE DOCTOR

RAISE THE ROOF!

WHAT IS “IT” BAND SYNDROME?

One of the most annoying injuries as a runner is an injury to your IT band or Ilio-Tibial Band. This can cause pain and discomfort which affects patients hip’s as well as knees. Your IT band is a thick bunch of fibers that runs from the outside of your hips to the outside of your thigh and knee down to the top of your shinbone. IT band syndrome also occurs most often in runners who cover long distances. The condition occurs when your IT band, a ligament that runs down your outer thigh, rubs on your thigh bone repeatedly causing inflammation. The syndrome usually causes pain in the knee, hip, or both places. If you get this condition it could take a while to treat. If you run, make sure you build core and hip strength to avoid the problem. Stretching it out is also advisable and should the condition worsen see your local physical therapist. Now that we know what we are dealing with let’s discuss how we put ourselves at risk for it. The biggest cause is not using the right training techniques, not doing enough to stretch, warm up, and cool down, pushing too hard -- you go too far or for too long, not resting long enough between workouts, wearing worn-out sneakers, running or training on the wrong surfaces, running downhill, running only on one side of the road. The road is sloped towards the curb throwing your hips off. Let’s go into some symptoms you may experience if you do have it. The main symptom is pain on the outer side of your knee, just above the joint. This pain can go away however when you warm up however it can get worse over time. Other symptoms include, aching, burning, or tenderness on the outside of your knee, feeling a click, pop, or snap on the outside of your knee, pain up and down your leg along the area of the IT band and warmth and redness on the outside of your knee. To prevent IT band syndrome you can Allow plenty of time to properly stretch, warm up, and cool down, give your body enough time to recover between workouts or events, run with a shorter stride, run on flat surfaces or alternate which side of the road you run on, replace your shoes regularly, stretch your IT band, hip muscles, thigh muscles, and hamstrings often and use a foam roller to loosen up your IT band. All of those above ideas can be helped by a physical therapist. They can design a treatment plan that is tailored around your needs to address your pain. PT’s can also help you choose the right footwear that would be best suited for your foot. There are also modalities such as Ice, ultra sound, cold laser and massage techniques that can be used to treat this condition. As always discuss any issues with your PT prior to starting a rehab or training program.

INTRODUCTORY HOME EQUITY LOAN RATES AS LOW AS

FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS

15 Scotland Road in South Orange, NJ

*All loans subject to approval. Rate determined by credit score. Garden Savings is an equal opportunity lender.

Dr. Daniel Roig South Orange Rehab Wellness SouthOrangeRehab.com 973-761-0077

WWW.SCALORA.COM 973.313.3912

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LIFE COACHING

Meet John, he’s one of the many SOMA residents about to re-enter the workplace. He has the same job, same title, same commute and same colleagues he had in February of 2020. Since February of 2020, John added a new baby to his family! She’s walking, eating, and the other day she cuddled up next to him and said, “Daddy, book!” and handed him her favorite title from the

KIM KASSNOVE

bookshelf. His heart turned to mush. During the pandemic, John became a gardener. This summer he would turn on the sprinklers, weed the flowerbeds, make his 10:00 am all team meeting, host his 1:1 check ins, and harvest his tomatoes all before getting the family settled for dinner. John is MISERABLE. His office required re-entry for all, and frankly, John doesn’t want to miss anything at home. He’s ready for change, but doesn’t know what it is. He’s been at the same company for twenty years! He knows he has tons of experience, transferable skills, and he never wants to miss a chance to dig in the mud, or read to his kids again! Sound familiar? Could you replace John’s name with yours? Have you realized that you don’t want to “go back”? If you know you want a change, but can’t figure out what it is, reach out! My clients span sectors and circumstances. The one thing they have in common is they feel stuck, and 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 their passion to the center of their worlds. I am opening my books for hour-long complimentary discovery sessions in November and December for individuals who are curious to learn more. This is a great opportunity to identify where you are stuck, and begin to try on something new. You don’t have to “go back”. You can choose to “go forward”. There are only 11 spots available for these FREE discoveries, so schedule yours today! http://kimkassnovecoaching.com or 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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NOVEMBER 2021

STUDIO TOUR

The annual South Orange Maplewood Artists Studio Tour, presented by ArtSOMA: The Artist Community of South Orange & Maplewood, NJ, will be held on November 6 and 7, from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm, like it has for the past 18 years.

But this year, it almost didn’t happen.

In the past, the town of South Orange sponsored the tour under the direction of the Director of Cultural Arts who organized volunteers, worked with the two towns to identify venues for artists who didn’t want to show in their homes, identified funders and many other day to day activities involved in making an event like this happen. But when the Baird closed, that position was eliminated and the artists were left leaderless. So the artists reached out to their friends and networks with a request for volunteers. Artists in South Orange and Maplewood come together every year to open their studios to visitors, friends, collectors and anyone curious about how people in the visual arts make their work. Artists may be emerging, mid-career or established, and create in all kinds of media. The Tour, now in its 18th year, typically features more than 70 artists showing work in their home studios and public venues. Like last year, this year’s event is the “Covid-edition” meaning artists will once again choose how to share their art: some will display their work outside, some will schedule Zoom tours from their studios, some will welcome masked, socially distanced visitors (mostly via appointment), and others will have work on display at local businesses.

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EDUCATION A question our community has been asking for many years is “Why do Black students in our district consistently have significantly poorer educational outcomes than other students?” Reports about and lawsuits against our school district dating back to at least 2014 chronicle a history of de-facto segregation and academic tracking. The gaps between Black students and the districtwide average in math and ELA tends to hover around 20 percentage points. While lawsuits and parent group demands may shift the structure that produces these undesirable outcomes for students generally over time, parents, particularly Black parents must put a plan in place to secure the educational outcomes and futures of their own children. As a parent said to me recently, “I thought the school had a plan for my child. I was incorrect.” Any experienced parent can tell you that year-to-year, what happens in schools and within classrooms can be the “(un)luck of the draw” for their child(ren). Thus, individual families need to invest their time and energy in developing a proactive, long-term plan that charts a success pathway for their child that is independent of the school their child attends or classroom their child lands in. The pathway they develop should incorporate the hopes, goals, values, and expectations they have for (and later develop with) their child(ren) in the future. Little kids grow up quickly and a year or even a marking period where things “slip” academically can be very difficult and painful to make up. When academic competencies slip, students can suffer emotionally, lose confidence, and disengage from their school experience. It happens far too often here and disproportionately among students of color. Parents also suffer as they struggle to understand what’s missing from their child’s ability to read, write or work with mathematical concepts. When I was a young parent, I didn’t know what was missing for my son. Having a Harvard Ph.D. did not help me navigate us through this district. Socio demographic differences do not fully explain the performance disparities that plague our district, and emphasize the necessity that local families develop their own plans that are proactive and forward looking to support their own children’s academics. To be most effective, these plans must be consistent, have high standards, and include supports for literacy and numeracy which are the keys that unlock learning for their students.

Dr. Alissa Gardenhire is the president of Kids Win, Inc., an educational consultancy. Local to SOMA for over 20 years, a long-time parent in this district, and an educational researcher and now educator, she is passionate about learning, retention, and mastery of words and numbers for K-12 students for their growth, confidence, and freedom. Follow her blog at www.kidswininc.com.

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NOVEMBER 2021

CHARITABLE ACTS The Friends of the South Orange Public Library will hold a Holiday Jewelry Sale to benefit the South Orange Public Library on Saturday November 13, 2021, 1-4pm, in the Loft of the South Orange Performing Arts Center/SOPAC (One SOPAC Way, South Orange, NJ 07079).

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The sale will feature a large selection of vintage and costume jewelry in a moderate range of prices. Pick up holiday gifts and support the South Orange Public Library at the same time! Pre-sale for SOPL Friends members and donors from 12 noon to 1pm. Sandra Dickerson, Friends member and Jewelry Sale organizer, said “The first Friends Jewelry Sale took place in June 2021 and was so popular that we had to bring it back. Our November sale will have a huge selection of costume, fine and vintage pieces, offering something for everyone. Come and check out our selection of earrings, necklaces, bracelets, brooches, rings, charms, watches, and miscellaneous gift items. You will find beautiful pieces at exceptional value for women, men and children! Make plans to attend the sale and encourage your family and friends to do the same. See you at the sale!” “This will definitely be a fun way to buy holiday gifts,” said Tonia Moore, Friends President. All jewelry donated. Sale proceeds will fund Library services for the South Orange community.

Cash or credit/debit cards only. Face masks, proof of vaccination and ID required.

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FINANCIAL FOCUS When you and your life partner work together to achieve your important long-term goals, such as a comfortable retirement lifestyle, the experience can be greatly rewarding. However, your success will require commitment and discipline. So, what steps should you take along the way? One key move is to decide early in your relationship how you will handle money. Many couples merge their finances and make joint decisions on major purchases. But some couples like to keep at least part of their finances distinct, perhaps by maintaining separate checking or savings accounts. There’s really no one correct solution for everyone, but whatever you decide, you’ll want to be assured that all the bills will be paid and that neither one of you feels the pressure of an unfair financial burden. Here’s another suggestion: Try to avoid keeping financial secrets from your partner. That means disclosing your debts, hidden funds or uncommon investments. These types of surprises can lead to difficulties and mistrust. Even if you’re entering the relationship carrying something like a heavy student loan, it’s best to get it out in the open right away so, together, you can strive to gradually eliminate it. Of course, there’s also a practical side to not keeping secrets. Your large student loan could affect your credit rating – an issue that may arise when you and your partner are seeking a mortgage or some other type of loan. Clearly, you both should be aware of this potential stumbling block before you begin the application process. Now, let’s consider your investments. You each may have your own IRA and 401(k) or similar employer-sponsored retirement plan, but you

might also share a joint investment account. However, you might not share the same risk tolerance – perhaps one of you tends to be more aggressive, willing to take more risks in exchange for potentially higher returns, while the other is more conservative, preferring to keep down the risk level of a portfolio, even if it means lesser capacity for growth. Again, neither you nor your partner is necessarily “right” or “wrong” in your views on investing – and nobody’s feelings about risk should be ignored. But once you’ve clearly identified your retirement goals and estimated their cost, you may find that compromise is possible. In other words, perhaps the conservative partner will realize that a too-cautious approach could hinder progress toward the desired retirement goal, while the partner who focuses on maximum growth will learn that a somewhat less aggressive approach can still yield the desired results. This type of compromise may affect the investment choices you make in your individual accounts as well as your joint accounts. And the way you choose your investments may even change over time, especially if your financial goals evolve. Ultimately, communication is the key. As long as you’re talking to each other and openly expressing your wishes and concerns, you and your partner can find a way to keep moving toward your mutual goals.

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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NOVEMBER 2021

HOLIDAY GUIDE

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NOVEMBER 2021

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CHARITY GALA

St. George’s Holiday Gala & Auction Eat, rink, Bid, & Be Merry! S at. N ovember 20 th , 7-10 pm St. George’s Episcopal Church, 550 Ridgewood Rd. Maplewood Online auction runs Nov 13th - 20th, Use QR code for auction details. Tickets for in person gala are $ 40 Funds raised by the Gala will help St. George’s Outreach Committee with their ongoing support of local organizations like MEND, Family Promise, North Porch, and First Friends. To reserve your place in the holiday fun or to bid from home, go to https://www.accelevents.com/estgeorgesholidaygala2021

‘Tis the season for a very merry gala and auction at St. George’s

Church! Santa’s sack can’t contain all the merriment and marvelous gifts

waiting for early-bird revelers on Nov. 20 when St. George’s Church,

Maplewood, unfolds its celebrated Holiday Gala and Auction.

This year guests will sip, shop, and bid on what Gala Chair Ciara McElroy

calls “a trove of remarkable collectibles, antiques, treasures, and ‘Great

Adventures.’ “

“The Holiday Gala is the place to find one-of-a-kind items like the antique

clock from the l890s that will be one of the highlights of our auction,” Ciara

points out. “Great Adventures” are also up for bidding, including week

long getaways to vacation homes in Maine, Florida, Cape Cod, and New

Jersey’s Seaside Heights. Cooking and fitness classes, a private tour of the

Met, a walking tour in NYC, tickets to “Clue” at the Papermill Playhouse,

portraits by a professional photographer, restaurant gift cards… “And

more, much more” will be featured at the auction, she reports.

Bidding on auction items opens on-line Nov.13 and will continue through

the evening of the live Gala on Nov. 20. Local Chef Roscoe Coleman is

catering the food for the festivities, which will feature a bar and live music.

In-person attendees can also make tasty purchases from a “Holiday Cake

Plate” and bid on a few live-only items.

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NOVEMBER 2021