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Angelica Berrie, an Edgewater resident and president of the Russell Berrie Foundation, is one of the most generous philanthropists in Bergen County and in America. Serving on numerous non-profit boards of directors, Angelica also assumed the role of vice chair and CEO of the global gift company Russ Berrie & Co. in 2002, after the death of her husband, Russ. An in-demand speaker and world traveler, Angelica somehow found time to co-author the recently released

BC:   Have you always been involved in philanthropy? 

AB:   No. I grew up in Catholic convent schools in the Philippines where the word “philanthropy” was not a part of my vocabulary. I entered a whole different world when I married New Jersey sales entrepreneur Russ Berrie. Coming from the Catholic tradition of giving anonymously in a charity box at Sunday Mass into a Jewish community that expected me to play an active and visible fundraising role was something of a culture shock.

BC:   How did you adjust to such a different role?

AB:   Russ was my mentor and my inspiration. His business success fueled our philanthropy. The introduction to my book has a dedication that reads: “To Russ, whose generous spirit touched so many lives and transformed mine forever.”

BC:   Other than your late husband, have you had other role models?

AB:   I admire a number of Bergen County community leaders and friends, such as Drs. Sandra and Arnold Gold and Elaine and Mike Adler. These people are outstanding philanthropists.

BC:   Why do men seem to outnumber women in the field of philanthropy?  

AB:    It’s interesting that you should ask that. In reality, women control 60% of the wealth in America. In 40 years, as wealthy husbands pass away, women will be in charge of trillions of dollars of multigenerational wealth. So, the issue is not that more women are not philanthropists, but rather the fact that women do not give publicly the way that men do. Women’s gifts are often larger than those of men, but they are much lower key about their donations. For example, they will rarely name a building after themselves and they tend to collaborate as opposed to taking sole credit for a philanthropic project.

BC:   Do you see this imbalance between men and women in other economic areas as well?

AB:   Absolutely! Women account for 70% of the poverty in the world. In order to break that circle of poverty, we need to shift that balance. Women need to give to women, and for that to happen, education is critical.

BC:   Has the economic downturn hurt philanthropy? 

AB:   You might think so, but current reports state otherwise. In fact, America’s top 50 donors gave more than three times as much as the previous year! So, the economic crisis has not significantly affected donations. People today are still giving, regardless of their resources. It is amazing to see what people are willing to do with whatever they have. In essence, philanthropy is less about the economy than about the spirit of the community and the individuals.

BC:   What do you feel are the Berrie Foundation’s most important contributions?

AB:   The most important gifts are those with lasting impact in mission areas closest to Russ’s and my hearts: diabetes care and research through the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center at Columbia; the Berrie Program, Be’eri (Hebrew name for “my well”) Program, at Shalom Hartman Institute, a Jewish identity program in over a hundred secular high schools through the Shalom Hartman Institute; the Russ Berrie Nanotechnology Institute at the Technion and the Pope John Paul II Center for Inter-religious Understanding at the Angelicum in Rome. These were transformational grants, quality gifts that resulted in breakthroughs and innovations.

BC:   What charitable projects bring you the most joy and fulfillment?                                  

AB:   Those that bring me in contact with human beings who inspire me; individuals, as well as groups, I felt have a real purpose that they can fulfill. I get satisfaction in connecting the dots between people, ideas and issues that I am passionate about. Many philanthropists only give to large projects with millionaires behind them, but I am also drawn to everyday heroes. I love to see the power of one person to make a difference.

BC:   What brought about your new book?

AB:   I was invited to co-write the book and I had only four months to do so.  It was quite a challenge! I accepted the offer because I saw it as a venue to pay a tribute to Russ.

BC:   What is the most important advice you would offer to people seeking to establish a charitable foundation?  

AB:   Think of a charitable foundation as a value investor, and your gifts should be treated like social investments, with appropriate due diligence, measurement and evaluation. As we we do in a business, you should maximize impact by leveraging your gift.

BC:   What questions should potential donors ask and what documentation should they see to determine if a charity is legitimate?

AB:   First and foremost, do your homework! Check out the organization on Internet sites like www.CharityNavigator.org. Check the organization’s credibility, track record and sustainability, and ensure that it has a respectable board of directors. Also, before making a gift, don’t be afraid to ask tough questions and set conditions. For example, know how your dollars will be spent, what impact and result comes from your gift and whether your gift will make a difference.

BC:   How did you meet your remarkable late husband to whom you were married ten years? 

AB:   I owned and operated a company in the Philippines that was a supplier for Russ’s company. I met him when he came to the Philippines to tour the factories with which he did business. When we started to talk, he remarked, “Your English is very good,” which, of course, I found very amusing. He then asked me to meet him in New York to see The Tales of Hoffman at the Metropolitan Opera House. I kept that date, but it wasn’t until a year later!

BC:   How did you deal with the fact that Russ was Jewish and you were Catholic?

AB:   Marriage was the beginning of our interfaith adventure. We celebrated the Jewish high holidays, lit candles on Shabbat, visited Israel almost every year, and attended midnight mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Christmas Eve. Our mingled faiths led to the founding of the Center for Interreligious Studies with Rabbi Jack Bemporad, senior rabbinical scholar at Chavurah Beth Shalom in Alpine, NJ. Rabbi Bemporad taught us that “to be religious is to be interreligious.”

 BC:  Given your demanding lifestyle and commitments, how do you make time for family and friends?

 AB:  I prioritize, and stay true to what is important to me. I will drop everything to be with my family. But, I also stay flexible. Rabbi Jack Bemporad once told me something that still resonates with me, that “the worst kind of slavery is your slavery to habit.”

 BC:  How do you say “no” to high-powered people and organizations?

 AB:  After Russ’s death, I learned how important it is to use every moment to do only what makes me feel alive, because life is too short to do things out of a sense of obligation. So, I learned to not be afraid of saying “no.” It is human nature to be afraid to say “no.” We are afraid that people won’t like us if we do. After Russ died, I was particularly vulnerable to that fear. People descended upon me and tried to get me to commit to unrealistic obligations. I was inundated with advice that began with the words, “Russ would have wanted you to…” when in fact, these people, even the well-intentioned ones, were serving their own agendas. It got to a point where I finally had to assert myself and put away fear of rejection and I emerged stronger for it.

 BC:  How do you keep your energy in high gear?

  AB: I do meditation twice a day. I was fortunate to learn to meditate from an outstanding expert, Thom Knoles, who trained in India. I also like to do sports that push the limit, such as skydiving and rappelling. When I was in Peru recently, I climbed Machu Picchu. 

  BC: Do you have a mantra that you live by?

  AB:  A continuing challenge with a busy life is “being in the moment.” Life is too short to waste my energy doing what I am not deeply connected to. I have found that the best way to live in the moment is to do what makes me feel alive and what I am most passionate about.

  BC: What are your passions?

  AB: I love travel the most and I co-founded a travel design business called Global Nomad with my brother in Hong Kong. Travel is my outlet for opening my eyes to discover the world anew.

  BC:          You’ve traveled extensively throughout the world, but are there still countries you wish to visit? 

  AB: I would like to visit someplace very remote and exotic, like Mongolia. I would also like to take a sabbatical for a year in a country where I can live amongst people who know nothing about me. I would like to immerse myself in that culture, learn the language and connect with the local community.

  BC: How many years have you lived in Bergen County? 

  AB: Twenty two and counting.  I love the lifestyle here, particularly in Englewood.  I love to walk in the forested areas and breathe the fresh air.

  BC: What do you tell admirers who want to follow in your philanthropic footsteps?

  AB: I tell them that true leadership is the gift that you leave behind. I tell them to think in terms of planting seeds that will continue to blossom hundreds of years from now. I hope that this will be my personal legacy and that of the Berrie Foundation.

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Hillary Viders, an international award-winning author and journalist, has been published in numerous print and online sources, including the FOX News website.

Raffaele Lauretta was the first Lauretta to learn about menswear. As a teenager in Vittoria, Sicily, Raffaele absorbed as much information as he could and gradually perfected the art of tailoring and creating clothes from scratch.

“He loved to be in the clothing business,” said Sal, 67. “That’s the only trade that he learned, and that’s how he started.”

When he was only 12, Sal started working alongside his father at the shop in Sicily. He learned this craft from the bottom up. Sal would fire up the coals that would heat the irons, and would attach sleeves to jackets. At a young age, he could discern which fabrics were best suited for what occasions, and how to fit someone properly given their body dimensions. It wasn’t easy, but he was a natural and he was learning from his old man.

“I’d go to school, and go back to the shop and learn the business,” said Sal.

In 1962, the entire Lauretta family moved to America, and brought with them their keen sense of Sicilian style. For ten years, Raffaele and Sal worked in the clothing business. In time, the opportunity was ripe for them to get started together. Raffaele never wanted to work for someone else. He wanted to be his own man, and to make a name for himself, so in 1971, once he and Sal saved enough money, they opened a dry cleaning business right around the corner from where Sal Lauretta for Men is located today.

After a few years of running the dry cleaning business, they were successful enough to open up the clothing store in 1974. It has been in that same location for decades and has grown in size.

Ralph wasn’t even born when the store first opened. Representing the third generation of Lauretta men in the clothing business, Ralph didn’t even know that this was his true calling. But he always looked sharp. Always. In high school, his peers named him best dressed.

Fifteen years ago, Ralph started to work at the store in earnest. In a way, Ralph was his father’s apprentice. Just as Sal learned by watching Raffaele, Ralph gradually began doing smaller tasks before handling much, much bigger ones like buying from designers.

“I learned a lot—almost everything I know—from my father,” said Ralph.

Since getting more involved in the business, Ralph has helped shape the store to what it is today. Sal Lauretta for Men offers a wide selection of high-end suits and menswear. Unlike stores that you might pass on the highway, the Lauretta establishment offers superior customer service, and the best tailors in the area. All tailoring is done on the premises. Tailors are also available to come to your home or office to take measurements if you don’t have the time to stop by the store.

Ralph and his workers can do wardrobe consultations as well. He’s a strong proponent of pushing the boundaries of modern menswear.

“We really try to introduce new things without pushing people out of their comfort zone,” Ralph noted.

Ralph is not going to take a Hickey Freeman kind of man and tell him to try out a custom slim fit Hugo Boss suit. Sometimes, he’ll suggest a new look; maybe someone who dresses more conservatively would look good in a new Robert Graham shirt, for instance. But it all depends on the man, and the Lauretta pros have that innate ability to read their customers.

Sal Lauretta for Men has upwards of 3,000 fabrics to choose from, Ralph noted. They have a boys department that has threads from Joseph Abboud and Ragazzo. Generations of Bergen County residents have shopped here.

“Because we’ve been here so long, we’ve gotten to the point where I’m helping the grandson of someone who shopped here when we opened,” Ralph explained.

As Ralph began to prove himself, Sal let him take on more and more responsibility. Six years ago, the store underwent a complete renovation to give the store a more modern look and sensibility. Still, Ralph knew that he wanted to maintain an old-school feel. He kept a lot of wooden and golden accents. Sal approved.

Ralph has also perfected his buying skills. He knows what his customer base wants, and purchases the right merchandise during January and February, and then June, July and August. Much of his time during these months is spent in Manhattan showrooms.

“I don’t think anyone can be taught how to be a buyer as far as the fashion part; either you have it or you don’t,” said Ralph.

And Sal knows that after all the years, and generations, his son has got it. Apart from the hard work, there is an innate quality in the Lauretta men that makes them so adept at making people look stylish.

“You have to be born with that. You can’t teach anybody that,” said the elder Lauretta.

Aside from outfitting some of Bergen County’s finest, Sal Lauretta for Men has done its part to give back to the community. On May 21, the store will sponsor a fashion show that will benefit Eva’s Village, a charitable organization based in Paterson.

With almost four decades in Bergen County, Sal Lauretta for Men has become an institution. Some men might cringe at the idea of working for their dad. But in this case, it’s not so much working for, but working with. The two listen to one another to find out the best combination of old school and new style. Their service and expertise, as well as drive would make Raffaele Lauretta proud. They enjoy their loyal, down-to-earth customers, who over the years have become friends.

“The nice part about this business is you really get to know people,” said Ralph.

And if they keep this up, Sal Lauretta for Men will be here for many years to come.

Yet while Braverman may have lost out in the leading role department, her girls, Heather, age 15, and Julia, age 13, have certainly made up for that. The two talented and aspiring singers/songwriters/musicians have garnered a slew of principal theatrical and musical roles in their own right.

 Sister Act

Take Heather, who fell in love with entertaining at a very young age, and according to her mom, as a toddler was so mesmerized with the movie Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat and its lead, Donny Osmond, that she would dance around the family room singing songs about the “coat of many colors.”

“By age five, Dream Coat was replaced by The People Garden, a musical about a kindergarten class,” recalls Braverman, who was politely informed by her little performer that she wanted to be on that show.

On a whim, the atypical stage mother called the director, secured an audition and mom and daughter were off to an open casting call, which resulted in Heather landing a two-year stint in the Off-Broadway musical.

Following closely behind, Julia was born into a home where there was constant music and singing.  “As a baby she always had the beat,” explains Braverman. “She moved her hands in a musical way, and in nursery school would run to the corner where there was a piano and started tapping away.”

When the family purchased a piano for their living room, which nobody knew how to play by the way, Julia, with her keen ear and a few years of study, became the household’s official player.

As the girls grew, Heather landed a role at the American Girl Place’s musical show, Circle of Friends, in New York City, performing approximately six shows per week. The promising singer/actress has since appeared in stage, movies and TV, including guest starring roles on Law and Order SVU and the film Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life, to name a few.

Julia continued musical lessons and when the School of Rock opened in Tenafly, she was introduced to a whole new environment. “One of the musical directors handed her a bass guitar and she instantly found a new passion,” recalls her mom.  Jules, as many of the musicians call her, has been in the house band since, performing at the Blender and The Highline Ballroom in New York City, Mexicali Live, and Maxwells in Hoboken, WFDU radio and at various charity events.

“I enjoy being part of a band, singing, and playing bass and keyboards, especially when I get to belt out on lead vocals and jam on the bass,” Julia says.

Heather and Julia love to perform together as well. With Heather on vocals and guitar, Julia on vocals and keyboard or bass, they are quite the duo. This winter Julia accompanied her sister on the piano for the final round of Englewood Idol where Heather sang You and I by Lady Gaga. By all accounts, the Braverman girls brought the house down.

Nothing to Sneeze At

Talent is not the only thing that runs in the family, however. Heather and Julia are troupers of another kind when it comes to living with life-threatening food allergies, a condition first noted when Heather was about two years old on a visit to the local TCBY.

“Heather pointed to peanut butter chips to put on her yogurt, but after taking just one bite of her confection, she began to vomit violently,” remembers her mom. Shaken and confused over the incident, Braverman at first thought it may have been caused by an allergic reaction, but rather than speculate, she decided a visit to an allergist.

“To my surprise, other than a confirmation that Heather had an allergy to peanuts, we left the doctor’s office much the same as when we had entered,” Braverman states. “I still didn’t fully understand what allergies were all about, or the potential severity of the problem. And since he didn’t even prescribe an Epi-pen (an emergency auto-injector), we committed to avoiding peanuts and left it at that.”

That is until a few years later when Julia had a severe attack that landed her in the emergency room with major swelling and breathing difficulties.

“It was so scary,” Braverman recalls. “She was in pre-school at the time. A well-meaning parent had brought in snacks for the class. And while peanuts were listed as a major ingredient, the teacher said that Julia hadn’t even eaten one, only handled it and then probably put her hand to her mouth. In a matter of seconds, she didn’t look like the same person.”

That episode—a parent’s nightmare by any standard—became the motivating force behind the Braverman’s proactive search for guidance about dealing with their children’s life threatening food allergies, a decision that ultimately brought them to the Food Allergy Initiative (FAI) in New York City, the world’s largest private source of funding for food allergy research.

“Finding FAI was a godsend for our family,” says the now co-chair of that organization’s Spring Luncheon, which raised over $750,000 last year. “It gave us the opportunity to meet other families who were coping similarly, get the most up-to-date, reliable information, and most importantly, help raise funds to find a cure,” Braverman notes.

Making it a true family affair, Braverman, husband Steve, and their two girls all play active roles in supporting the organization. Working hard for the cause, the couple co-chairs FAI’s Annual Food Allergy Ball. Steve also serves on the board, while Julia performs and speaks regularly at FAI functions and fundraisers, and Heather has been a featured speaker at FAI’s Annual Teen Summit in Washington, D.C.

“Both girls live with their allergies and, at times, find it challenging to navigate through safe eating as they attempt to lead ‘normal’ lives,” says Braverman. “When they were younger, we tried to monitor the ingredients of their food choices. Now, as teens, they are on their own so much and we have to trust that they will speak to the wait staff in restaurants as to the safety of what they are to eat. It can be scary, but my husband and I are constantly reminding them how important communication is.”

Toward that end, the couple tries to educate their daughters, their peers and educators about how to live safely with food allergies and have even supplied the girls with personalized allergy information cards to give to waiters, which highlight forbidden foods and include pictures of their allergens in case the chef doesn’t speak English.

There are other concessions that must be made, too, especially as Heather and Julia branch out further from home-based security.

“As a teenager, I am just beginning to face new challenges,” Heather says. “I started dating, which means I have to be sure my boyfriend hasn’t eaten nuts or shellfish for at least 24 hours (residue can stay in the mouth that long) or I can possibly have a reaction from a kiss. That can be very frustrating!”

The girls are not alone in their struggles. According to FAI, food allergies affect 15 million Americans, including 5.9 million children, which is about two kids in every classroom.

“Our family strongly believes in the work of the Food Allergy Initiative,” says Braverman. “We feel like our hard work and efforts will greatly impact the health and safety of our girls’ futures and look forward to the organization calling us one day soon with wonderful news—that they have discovered a cure for life-threatening food allergies.”

Louise B. Hafesh, an award-winning artist and journalist, is president of AdVantage Publications, Inc., an international editorial syndicate. She can be reached at www.artworks-site.com. 

Today, the young Demarest wasn’t delivering any grain but the letter he was carrying to General Henry Knox would impact the Continental Army as much as the several bags of grain expected at the new bridge crossing. The moment he arrived in camp without a wagon in tow, they would realize something was wrong.

“Just GO, Jesse,” John said to the horse, which had turned his head again, as if imploring John to go back.

The horse wasn’t familiar with this portion of Kinderkamack Road; he was used to turning off on Old Hook and kept looking back as if he knew John was making a terrible mistake.

The firm, muscular grip on the reins told Jesse to give up. It wasn’t until John forced the bay-colored shire down the long hill to the river’s edge that the animal understood. Jesse was used to towing wagons. Unhitched and with a rider, he didn’t respond instantly to instructions dictated by a steel bit.

The same volley of British musket fire that had taken his father had torn into his right shoulder. He wanted to stay and fight, trying to convince the officers that the wound wasn’t that serious, but they knew better. John’s departure from the Continental Army came before his first 90-day hitch expired but had the blessing of no less than General Knox, a family friend familiar with John’s situation. Boston was several days’ ride from Bergen County and John could not bear the thought that the rout at Bunker Hill meant they could not recover the bodies of his family until after the war had ended. Who knew when or if that would happen? He returned home with two different kinds of wounds, only one visible. John was now his mother’s sole support. He would fight the war from his home, in his own way.

His stint in the army had been brief but harsh. The filth, starvation and watching people die in front of him had hardened young Demarest, and he stopped questioning whether he should continue fighting. Thinking he had a possible future with Emeline allowed him to continue this nasty business of war; the new country’s future was irreversibly intertwined with his own.

“Cut it out Jesse, darn it all.” John stood up in his stirrups and pulled on the reins with all the strength his good shoulder could muster. The horse stopped dead at the turnoff, despite John urging him to the left.

“This is stupid. I’m yelling at a horse.” He thought of the irony of his situation. The lights were not yet on in the kitchens he passed along the way, and John wanted to get to the encampment unnoticed. Even though a rutted, dirt wagon trail, Kinderkamack Road was a main thoroughfare and closely watched. In the near silence of the pre-dawn, he was shouting at a horse.

The battlefield in Bergen County was different. Instead of an open field or a contested hill, the revolution here turned into a civil war, neighbor against neighbor and frequently, relative against relative. What would be left of the county for the victor when neighbors sold out their friends and partners, and families were irreparably damaged?

Emeline’s path had crossed with his many times in the past three years.  Whenever he dropped off deliveries, she never seemed far away, either visiting the office or waving to him, crossing the courtyard. He originally endeared himself to her, caring for her family dog when it was struck by another wagon. He calmed the dog, resetting a dislocated leg and then calmed a nearly hysterical Emeline who initially thought the dog was mortally injured. After he returned from Boston, he saw her more frequently. She seemed genuinely concerned about his injuries and something about her touched that small part of him still undamaged by the war.

In his position as supply officer for General Knox, he funneled grain from the fertile Pascack Valley farms through Zabriskie’s Mill and then to Washington’s army, wherever it was in the field. Many times it meant commandeering food from starving friends. He had been reared to share his bounty, and now he regretted making decisions contrary to everything his father taught him growing up. He found it nearly impossible to look people in the eye and tell them he was taking their food except that the cause he believed in demanded it. He was stealing people’s immediate sustenance for a revolution whose future was tentative at best.

He tried to explain this once to Emeline because he heard some of the stories circulating about him; a young man whom everyone had admired had become a filthy rebel.

Every day brought more news that the fight was not going well. There were brief moments of elation, like Ethan Allen capturing Ticonderoga, or Washington’s surprise victory in Trenton on Christmas Day, moments when John could imagine a bright future with Emeline.

The rest of the time seemed like a long slow slide into surrender. The family deaths three years ago cemented John’s place on the rebel side and he had determined to stick it out. Still, he shuddered—not only against the early morning dampness—but when he admitted to himself that his neck could end up in a British noose.

Making matters worse, he discovered an anomaly on his last invoice. Something not ordered had been on the bill. Normally, just a mistake, but this time it hinted that Zabriskie wasn’t passing on all the grain that John delivered. Someone else—it had to be a Tory—was getting some of the millings. In the damp chill of the Hackensack River fog, John planned to deliver this evidence to General Knox. Zabriskie’s transgression could be punishable by incarceration or in the extreme, by death. Washington was drawing a line in the sand these days. After Nathan Hale had been executed, Washington had refused an exchange for British Major John André, sending him to the gallows on Tappan Hill. John had been in that crowd of witnesses, not by choice, but required by Washington. Despite André’s protests when captured, he was an officer clothed in civilian garb, the very definition of a spy, so Washington’s decision was not a surprise. Zabriskie was a civilian, albeit a probable spy. For John, there was a reason for his untenable situation: Jacob Zabriskie was Emeline’s father.

“Jesse, I envy you,” John whispered to his horse. “You have enough sense to turn back.”

Greg Miller

Two days after she was born, weighing just two pounds, Keira, who had been delivered by emergency C-section two and one half months early, arrived at Englewood Hospital. Critically ill upon arrival, the infant would leave for home seven weeks later, healthy and robust at almost four pounds.

The events leading to this happy occasion began when her parents requested her transfer to Englewood Hospital. The happiness that new parents experience had been dampened by the New York hospital’s refusal to treat Keira without blood transfusions, which are out of the question due to their religious convictions. Well aware of Englewood Hospital’s expertise in transfusion-free medicine, the couple entrusted their daughter to the team that would give her a superb start in life by employing protocols that never necessitated giving Keira blood.

TLC for All Mothers

Keira’s story could be said to be both extraordinary and ordinary, as was the tender loving care her mother, Ileana Valle, received during her daughter’s hospitalization. Englewood Hospital provides award-winning services for pregnant women before, during and after the delivery.

“You would have thought I was a superstar,” Valle said. “They spoke to me about (my baby) from head to toe. They were able to soothe my fears without the words coming out of my mouth.”

The healthcare team’s priorities included encouraging breastfeeding, providing extensive parenting education and keeping the family well informed.

Putting mothers like Valle at ease is vitally important, noted Dr. Elizabeth B. Carlin, chief of neonatology at the Medical Center. “We meet with the family on a daily basis to discuss the day’s plan and long-term goals, and to keep the lines of communication open. We also strive to make sure the parents feel comfortable when they take the baby home,” Dr. Carlin explained.

Valle was supported and encouraged at every turn, and well prepared by the staff to take care of Keira at home. The remarkable attention she experienced was deeply appreciated. “When I was leaving with my child, I did not feel the strain of anxiety people often have with a preemie,” Valle noted.

Less Stress for Moms

Englewood Hospital offers pregnant women more than exceptional clinical care, according to Dr. Faith Frieden, the hospital’s chief of OB/GYN. Women can choose from varied educational and fitness programs and support groups as early as a few months into pregnancy.

“The love and bonding come on their own, but other things need to be learned. New moms especially sometimes wonder, ‘What am I going to do with this little creature?’” explained Dr. Frieden, remembering her own experience as a first-time mother, when she had many questions about caring for her baby.

Fitness classes tailored to the needs of pregnant women not only make women healthier, they also offer fun and relaxation, an opportunity to share some time with other expecting mothers and stress reduction.

Managing stress during pregnancy is very important, said Dr. Frieden, who noted that stress in pregnant women can raise blood pressure and blood sugar levels, impair fetal growth and cause pre-term labor.

“Although we have always understood that stress can have a negative effect on mothers and their babies, recent findings have demonstrated with greater clarity the extent to which this matters,” Dr. Frieden said.

“Knowing that you are receiving good medical care is the first step toward lessening stress,” she continued. “Programs and services that make you feel assured of your ability to care of your baby are valuable, too. Also, although the vast majority of pregnancies are uneventful, women can feel confident in the hospital’s state-of-the-art care for mothers or babies who encounter difficulties.” For example, pediatric specialists are available to care for babies even before they are born.

Concierge Services

Ines Serna coordinates many of the non-clinical services offered to pregnant women through the Childbirth Education Program. Serna gives tours of the hospital, assists women in selecting classes, delivers gift baskets to new mothers and answers a host of questions on any given day. Herself a mother who delivered her baby at Englewood Hospital, Serna is pleased to be part of something that makes mothers healthier and happier. “This is my dream job,” she said.

The program offers basic courses, including childbirth class and a Lamaze refresher, as well as more unusual ones such as pre/postnatal yoga and Bellymamas: The Prenatal Bellydance Workout. Serna also produces special events, including the Best Baby Shower Ever! and Mom’s 1^st Night Out, both of which provide a complimentary evening of fun, pampering, gifts and relaxation. This year, she will make additions to the annual calendar, including a “shower” for grandparents, which will cover important topics such as using today’s car seats.

                  The hospital’s Center for Integrative Healing offers mothers therapeutic massages before and after delivery. Licensed therapists certified in pregnancy massage provide the service. For massage therapist Zen Holmes, a mother of five who knows well the challenges of childbirth and child rearing, these sessions are not just a matter of pampering.  She noted that therapeutic massages have physical benefits, such as stress reduction, improved circulation and relief from leg cramps, back discomfort and fatigue.

“Women find a massage after the rigors of childbirth to be an amazing experience. I dim the lights slightly, play soothing music such as Native American flute and New Age chakra healing music and use lavender oil to set the mood,” said Holmes, adding that she also performs Reiki, a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation. Dad is welcome to stay and the baby is almost always in the room, making for a special time for everyone involved, including Holmes. “I love babies, mothers and children,” she said.

Skill to Be Learned

Mothering mom means helping her succeed at breastfeeding, which is sometimes described as a mother’s reward. Unrivaled for its advantages for babies, breastfeeding benefits mothers as well, explained educator Dr. Maryelena Vargas, who holds a doctoral degree in nursing and international board certification as a lactation consultant. For example, breastfeeding, in addition to saving the high cost of formula, has been linked to weight loss for mothers, decreases in postpartum bleeding and breast and ovarian cancer, and fewer absences from the workplace to care for a sick child.

Part of a large team that is helping women breastfeed successfully, Dr. Vargas can speak from personal experience, having nursed two children into toddlerhood. Breastfeeding is an ancient art, but it is also a skill to be learned. “I can’t say it was easy when I tried on my own, but with assistance, it got easier as I practiced more and more,” she recalled. “In retrospect, it was definitely a fear of the unknown that caused my doubts. The help that I received so impressed me that it motivated me to become a lactation consultant.”

Approximately 90 percent of mothers leave Englewood Hospital breastfeeding, with the balance bottle-feeding for medical reasons or by personal choice, said Shaija George, patient care director for the hospital’s mother-baby unit. Techniques to encourage breastfeeding include discouraging the use of pacifiers, formula and water; extensive patient education; initiating breastfeeding within an hour of birth; and Kangaroo care, in which mothers and babies have skin-to-skin contact.

“The effort behind this accomplishment has involved much thought and planning, and many dedicated professionals,” said George. In addition to a nursing staff specially trained in breastfeeding support, there are four lactation consultants who work with nursing mothers.

 How, Not Why

“In the past, it was a challenge just to convince mothers breastfeeding was best, but now we are more focused on teaching them how it is done,” said lactation consultant Teresa Mancuso, who coordinates the lactation assistance program. In addition to working with mothers at the hospital, lactation consultants staff Warm Line, a free phone-in service that nursing mothers can call with their questions and problems after being discharged from the hospital. “A lactation consultant made the difference for me when I nursed my first child,” she said. “Having help made all the difference.”

An experienced professional in other areas of the childbirth experience as well, Mancuso “found her calling” in being a lactation consultant. Perhaps it is the uniqueness of nursing mothers that engaged her. “Breastfeeding is one of the things only mothers can do,” she said. “Their contribution to their babies cannot be matched.”

In today’s world, technology keeps progressing at lightning speed. Whether it’s the release of the newest versions of cell phones, laptops, televisions and cars to advances in the Internet and advertising, or even the latest iPhone app, new developments make it exceedingly difficult to stay on top of all the cutting-edge trends.

It is no different for the pool and pool landscaping industry. Just imagine leaving work on a summer evening and, as you head home, being able to turn on your spa, pool lights and adjust the water temperature all from your cell phone. Everything is ready for you to enjoy the moment you arrive home. No longer an imaginary scenario, this and similar types of situations are growing more and more commonplace for homeowners.

Controlling your own spa and pool system, lighting and temperature controls and outdoor music systems can all be as simple as the push of a button.

Pool Possibilities

Across the northeast region, the perception of pools has vastly expanded. Rather than a simple, basic pool, homeowners are now opting for more intricate designs and creating an entire outdoor oasis within the confines of their own backyards. With a talented landscape architect, a creative vision and an experienced installation crew, the possibilities for design are virtually unlimited.

Many pool style trends have shifted to include more glass tiles and the use of all natural stones. The planting of palm trees is now a common development, and helps to transform a New Jersey swimming pool by giving it a much more tropical feel.

The use of diving boards has evolved into employing diving rocks instead. Pools are now user-friendlier and include a spa-like setup, complete with beach entry sundecks. And with water levels not as deep, the pools offer more recreational and sports potential.

A pool, in essence, is the start to creating an entirely new outdoor living space for your home.  The addition of patios, outdoor fire pits, barbeques, bars, kitchens and televisions is a popular New Jersey trend that is spreading quickly. Poolside additions are a vital factor to consider in planning your backyard.  All of these outdoors additions transform your pool from something that’s merely for swimming into an entire new outdoor room for your family and friends to enjoy.

Spectacular Spas

Another area growing in popularity, spas, which offer many health and relaxation benefits, can be enjoyed all year round. Benches can be built into the inner walls for places to sit in the water, and the addition of a waterfall from the spa into the pool adds a nice relaxing, luxury feel to it as well.

Aside from the pool itself, the area that surrounds your new pool addition is another important factor. Your pool and your backyard need to be tied together with a patio and the appropriate surrounding landscaping. A patio provides a way to blend the outside of your home to the pool, avoiding any damage to your grass. It provides an outdoor area to allow seating, lounging and entertaining.

Bars and outdoor kitchens are common when looking to convert your backyard to a new pool area with an entire outdoor living space. Being able to cook dinner outside and enjoy a nighttime swim are wonderful family perks to savor in the summertime.

Environmental Elements

In addition, many companies are opting to work with more green friendly materials and products. Most companies have created more energy efficient equipment, such as multispeed pumps and motors. The use of LED lighting in pools as well as natural stones is an attractive option for many environmentally minded homeowners, who also appreciate features such as the ability to turn the pool on or off from a remote location in order to conserve electricity.

In terms of design elements, clients in northern New Jersey have demanding and sophisticated tastes. Pergolas built over the pool for rainfall, water fountains built out of wine bottles and palm trees surrounding a free form pool are all unique requests, but very feasible options.

“When it comes to the design and functionality of your pool, the possibilities are limitless,” says Mitch Knapp, owner of Tranquility Pools, which caters to clients inspired by high-end luxury pools with intricate designs tailored to seamlessly blend into their yards. “You dream it, and we can create it. Every home and each family has different needs and ideas as to what would work best for their lifestyles. Be sure to communicate your own visions and become involved. The process can be enjoyable and entirely tailored to your requests.”

The important thing to remember is that you have the ability to be creative, according to Knapp. Standards in pool designs and functionality have greatly expanded over the past couple of years. From being able to control your own backyard right from your smart phone to creating a pool that is more energy efficient, you now have the ability to envision and create an entire outdoor oasis steps outside of your home.

Heather Knapp is a freelance writer who often covers outdoor landscaping and design trends.

Originally from the Bronx, Dr. Hartzband always knew that he wanted to be a doctor. Many orthopedic surgeons pick their medical specialty because of a football or lacrosse injury sustained in high school or college. Not Dr. Hartzband. A modest man, he insists he was always one of the last chosen in gym class. He loved biology and anatomy, and when it came to medicine, he just didn’t know what specialty he would ultimately choose. At one point, he almost became an ear, nose and throat surgeon. Though he would have been great in that field, thousands of men and women across the country who have had their hips or knees replaced by Dr. Hartzband can be thankful that he didn’t opt for the ENT route.

Dr. Hartzband estimates that he’s done between five and ten thousand hip replacements, and an equal number of knee replacements. That’s a lot. It’s his specialty. The Hartzband Center team does more hip and knee replacements than any other private practice in the northeast. At his peak, Dr. Hartzband was performing about 45 surgeries per week.

“When I look back on it, it’s just insane,” says Dr. Hartzband, a resident of Franklin Lakes.

Of course he means that in a good way. This is truly what he loves, and he’s been doing it for almost 30 years.

After receiving his M.D. from McGill University in Montreal back in the late 1970s, Dr. Hartzband moved back to the tri-state area to complete his internship and residency at the Montfiore Medical Center in the Bronx. Once he became certified as an orthopedic surgeon in 1984, Dr. Hartzband began working in private practice and accepted a position with Hackensack University Medical Center in its orthopedic surgery department back when it was only a 250-bed hospital. In 1998, he became the director of joint replacement services at Hackensack, a position he holds to this day. More recently, Dr. Hartzband also joined the staff at Holy Name Medical Center.

Over the years, Dr. Hartzband has perfected his craft, becoming a major innovator in knee and hip replacement techniques. He has lectured everywhere from South Africa to Spain on hips and knees, and has been a major contributor to modern medicine.

The first in his family to graduate college, Dr. Hartzband has pioneered ways to limit incisions while performing surgery so that patients can can experience less pain and anguish, and return to work quicker. A hip or knee replacement is not the most pleasant experience. Dr. Hartzband has made it his life’s work to make it more tolerable.

People come from all over to have Dr. Hartzband operate on them. His expertise in performing two-incision hip replacement and quadriceps sparing knee replacement has garnered him quite a reputation.

“Now as these minimally invasive and outpatient procedures have evolved, we have people who literally go back to work the next week, who drive the next week, with hips in particular,” noted Dr. Hartzband.

Less is more when it comes to operating. When Dr. Hartzband and other orthopedic surgeons were learning the craft, they were taught to use massive incisions that would cause patients to be out of commission for very long periods of time. Dr. Hartzband challenged the norm.

“Although you can’t be married to a small approach, it’s satisfying and challenging to figure out different ways to avoid doing what we were taught 25 or 30 years ago,” he said.

Dr. Hartzband’s ability to push the status quo has made life easier for thousands of people. He never stops his search for a better technique, or a more effective implant. For instance, women were typically much more dissatisfied with knee replacement surgeries than their male counterparts. According to Dr. Hartzband, women represent the majority of the knee market at about 60 percent. In the past, women were given a smaller version of the same knee. However, after analyzing thousands of cadaver knees with several other leading doctors, Dr. Hartzband realized that this was not a correct approach to female knee replacement. He determined that the female knee has three critical differences in geometry, and was part of the team that designed an implant that would better serve those needs.

Since then, women receiving the surgery have been happier.

“Women had a higher rate of dissatisfaction and more stiffness than men relative to their pre-operative range of motion,” Dr. Hartzband explained. “And when these knees were modified, those things all went away.”

Why be content with simply being a good doctor when there is so much more to learn and to contribute? Why not be great? An avid reader, Dr. Hartzband spends hours poring over medical journals to keep his mind active when he’s not at the operating table.

“There are people who think more out of the box by nature,” said Dr. Hartzband. “I guess I’m one of those.”

Although he has performed thousands of procedures, Dr. Hartzband says each one is different. No person’s body is exactly the same. Complications arise, and it’s the doctor’s job to address them swiftly and effectively.

“The muscles are bigger. The anatomy is a little different. Things are in different places. Bone is harder. Bone is softer. There are things conspiring to make you do something wrong at every body. Your job is to navigate around what you have,” emphasized Dr. Hartzband.

And he does a very good job at doing that. He’s been doing this for 28 years, but still, nothing about it bores him in the slightest.

“For me the whole human body is fascinating,” said Dr. Hartzband. “I enjoy getting really deeply into one thing.”

A busy man, Dr. Hartzband still makes time for his family. In the summer, he heads down to the Jersey shore to take in the sun. He plays guitar, and also enjoys horseback riding with his family.

If there is such thing as a perfect knee and hip replacement surgeon, than Dr. Hartzband is that guy. He’s not a golfer, but he still draws the comparison:

“People talk about that perfect driver, that perfect ‘whack’—hitting the ball right in the center of the club.”

Dr. Hartzband gets as close as one can to that swing.

Justin Davidson, contributing editor to Talk of the Town magazine, is also a regular contributor to BC THE MAGAZINE.