In her upcoming book, Martha Stewart offers a new design for living.

By Sarah Rossbach

There’s no way to avoid the fact that life is finite. And so it’s wise, at some juncture, to ponder how to live life well. My parents and in-laws were wonderful prototypes: engaged, nurturing grandparents. Sadly this isn’t always the case. In my twenties, I discovered a frightening breed of wizened elderly who emerged from their apartments on Senior Tuesdays to terrorize the local supermarket—crabby crones elbowing and shoving over produce, grumpy old geezers maneuvering walkers and canes that accidentally, on purpose, tripped up fellow shoppers. It was a veritable gerontological demolition derby. What happened to make these people forget their humanity and behave so badly in their old age? If only those crusty, complaining, miserable folks had been able to read Martha Stewart’s new book on aging gracefully, Living the Good Long Life.

The name, the brand, the media empire. Martha Stewart, like her or not, brings to mind weddings, entertaining, do-it-yourself craft projects, seasonal recipes—all aspects of living graciously. Now in her eighth decade (Martha’s 72 years old), she has departed from her signature material approach to life and penned a 400-plus-page instructional, a practical guide to aging gracefully.

Martha draws on the collective insight of assorted experts, including her mother and herself, to provide lucid advice, step-by-step exercises and helpful medical information that every aging person will find useful. It reads like a trusted older friend dispensing wisdom. Encouraging us to be the “CEO” of our own wellness, Martha covers nutrition, exercise, cosmetic health and caring for a loved one. No subject is too embarrassing or off-limits. From incontinence, hormone replacement and prostate, to plastic surgery (she hasn’t had it, yet), fillers like Restylane, and Botox—and everything in-between, including sex—Martha tackles it all in a simple, clear, straightforward way.

Given how the Baby Boom generation is advancing toward the rocking chair, this is a very timely and useful book. Many a qualified gerontologist is probably kicking him/herself for not coming up with this idea.  But I doubt they could have written such an approachable book. Martha and her team have sifted through mountains of medical studies, heaps of lore and practical information and organized the relevant data in this easy-to-use and digest resource. While I’m sure some will quibble that she’s left out this or that, I imagine Living the Good Long Life will serve nicely as a sort of What to Expect When You’re Elderly, as well as a valuable resource for children caring for an elderly parent.

That being said, this is hardly textbook Martha Stewart. On the contrary, in many respects it is a departure from the Martha stereotype. Of all the areas she covers, her focus on mind, attitude and spirit strikes me as being most different. She approaches life and its challenges on a far deeper level than in her previous books. She provides the information and approach that are critical in determining whether you age positively or miserably.  Over and over, she stresses a positive outlook and offers suggestions on how to enjoy your later years with grace, love and a sense of adventure.

While diet, eating healthy fresh produce, sensible exercise and good habits enhance our bodies, how do we feed and enrich our soul? To this end, the love of pets, offspring and friends, volunteerism and openness to the new play a large role. Martha draws much of her inspiration not only from reflecting on her own life, but also from her positive relationship and experience with her mother as she aged. Her love and admiration is palpable in these pages.

I’ll be curious how this wonderful book is received by the broader public. While Living the Good Long Life was written with the best intentions, a more jaded reader might wonder if a whole new Martha brand for marketing to the aging will emerge: Martha vitamins, Martha hearing aids, Martha walkers, Martha diapers, even Martha dentures (for the record, she prefers dental implants). If so, bring it on!

Over the years, Martha Stewart has given us meticulous, easy-to-follow instructions for a range of delicious dishes from coq au vin to boeuf bourguignon to valentine cookies to the perfect piecrust. Now, more importantly, in this new book, she gives us her most treasured recipe of all—the one for growing old in happiness, good health and grace.

Editor’s Note: Living the Good Long Life ($35.00, Clarkson Potter/Publishers, a division of Random House, Inc.) will be available on May 7th. For the latest news, photos, and recipes from Martha— delivered daily—log onto marthastewart.com.

Photo credit: Reprinted from the book Living the Good Long Life. Copyright © 2013 by Martha Stew-art Living Omnimedia, Inc. Published by Clarkson Potter/Publishers, a division of Random House, Inc.

Far from the familiar—and a million miles away from life in the Garden State—intrepid travelers are discovering there’s a whole new meaning to ‘Living on a Prayer’

By Douglas MacPherson

We instinctively seek a paradisiacal and special place on earth…because we know in our inmost hearts that the earth was given to us in order that we might find meaning, order, truth and salvation in it.” So wrote Thomas Merton, a Trappist monk who was a lifelong seeker of just such paradisiacal and special places. There are times when we deliberately journey to a “special place” in search of spiritual fulfillment. Humankind has been making such journeys since the dawn of time. We call them pilgrimages.

But then there are times when we come across places that have been invested with spiritual significance by people whose beliefs seem worlds apart from our own. Such times are rare and much to be valued, for none of us can know in what place and at what time in our lives we may be touched by a presence well beyond our understanding.

MACHU PICHU • PERU

In the ancient Andean language of Quechua (spoken by the Incan people long before their subversion by Spanish conquistadores), Machu Pichu means Place of Peace and Power. Today, the rocky remains of what once was a thriving holy city draw scholars from all over the world. They come intent on broadening their archaeological knowledge of pre-Columbian life in the New World. The hillside ruins, located at an altitude of 9,000 feet in the Vilabamba range of the Andes, overlook the Urubamba River. This dramatic site comprises Peru’s most visited tourist attraction. But to the descendants of the Incan peoples, whose forefathers constructed Machu Pichu, the gray granite rows speak with a powerful eloquence of a long-ago grandeur and puissance, when the Incan Kingdom embraced an area larger than the Roman Empire. So ingeniously was Machu Pichu constructed that even though some of the stones weigh more than 50 tons, it is not possible to insert the very thinnest of knife blades between one stone and another.

The ancients among the local Indian people repeat the legend as it was told to them: The sacred Intihuatana Stone, focal point of Machu Pichu, is recognized as the hitching post of the Sun. Twice a year, at the summer and winter equinoxes, it is poised on the tip of that sacred stone. It’s a moment that bespeaks the dependency of the people on the life-sustaining power of the sun. In the thin clear air of Machu Pichu, even the most indifferent of visitors is aware of a force that is as vital a presence as the ancient granite stones themselves.

ISE SHRINE • JAPAN

In southern Honshu, in Japan’s Mie prefecture near the city of Ose can be found what many Japanese consider the most sacred place on earth. It is called the Ise Shrine. Its spiritual powers date back as far as 680 A.D., to the time of Emperor Temmu. This Shinto place of worship, meditation and healing stands amidst an ancient forest of Japanese cedar. Even the surrounding trees themselves are thought to be invested with a life-affirming force. The mystic powers, so reverently sought by visitors—be they Shinto or Christian, Buddhist or Confucian—are evenly divided between the Inner Shrine and the Outer Shrine. The Ise Shrine, beloved by millions of the faithful, embraces a belief rooted in wabi-sabi which holds that all things tangible must inevitably be impermanent. This conviction is dramatically reaffirmed every 20 years by the total dismantling of one of the sacred structures. Once dismantled it is ceremoniously rebuilt on an adjacent sacred piece of land in strict adherence to techniques and designs laid down many centuries ago. It is a powerful reminder of human mortality and the necessarily transient nature of life.

BLUE LAKE • NEW MEXICO

High in the snow-capped peaks of the Sangre de Christo mountains, above Taos, is the Blue Lake, a natural wonder of inestimable beauty. It’s a sanctuary sacred to the Pueblo Indians. In 1906, Teddy Roosevelt decreed that the Blue Lake and its surrounding woodlands should be incorporated into the nation’s national park system. But the local Pueblo Indians took exception to TR’s ruling. The lake, they declared, was sacred—and had been recognized as such since long before white men ever set foot in the region. Furthermore, it was the dwelling place of Great Spirits. To open the area to park visitors would be a sacrilege. Theirs was a long and often seemingly hopeless battle.

On December 15, 1970, Richard Nixon, with the approval of Congress, restored Blue Lake and 48,000 surrounding acres to be henceforth and forever private Pueblo Indian property. Today, it can be visited only with permission of Pueblo authorities. On rare occasions outsiders may be invited to attend sacred rituals performed at Blue Lake. Those fortunate enough to have attended these rituals attest to the mystical powers of the lake.

SHEMBE SHRINE • SOUTH AFRICA

Because the diminutive town of Ekuphakameni in the Natal province of South Africa is the burial place of Isaiah Shembe, it is venerated as a shrine by members of the Shembe faith. Shembe was a Zulu. In the Zulu language, Ekuphakameni means Place of Spiritual Uplift. It was in 1916 that Isaiah experienced divine revelation, which inspired him to found the Shembe Church. Today, Shembe is regarded as the largest independent, indigenous church in all of Africa and counts more than three million members, most of them Zulu. Shembe teaches peace, healing and a deep reverence for all living things, both plant and animal. At the beginning of every new year, 20,000 barefoot pilgrims, dressed in white robes, make a three-day pilgrimage along an 80-miles route to Ekuphakameni. Religious observances last a minimum of three days and consist largely of hymn singing and the performing of age-old dances. Unlike many African religious rites, the Shembe worshippers invite visitors to participate or, if they prefer, simply to observe. Everyone without exception is welcome and is accorded the high level of hospitality which is such a scrupulous principle of the Zulu people.

BAHA’I HANGING GARDENS • ISRAEL

The Baha’i Hanging Gardens in Haifa constitute one of Israel’s most visited tourist attractions. They have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Gardens are dedicated to the 19th century founders of the Baha’I Faith and, as such, are revered as the spiritual center of that Faith. Yet people of any faith (or of no faith whatsoever) are welcome to visit all year round. Built in a series of terraces on the slopes of Mt. Carmel, they are generally conceded to be among the most spectacular gardens in the world. They attract garden-lovers, botanists, landscape designers and students of many disciplines.

The Baha’i, who are independent of both Christian and Judaic teachings, believe in a God who seeks to enlighten all people through his prophets or messengers, among them Moses, Abraham, Zoroaster, Krishna, Buddha, Christ and Mohammed. They view all prophets to be of equal significance, though divinity is ascribed to none. The Baha’i hold that life is synonymous with the obligation to seek truth through the study of religion, science, the arts and public service. Baha’i Faith teaches the oneness of all people, undivided by race, language, or gender. The religion was born in 19th century Persia as monotheistic, eternal, without beginning or end. Its leaders have long suffered persecution at the hands of Islamic leaders, who hold the Baha’i to be apostates. Although the Baha’i Faith is well established in 247countries around the world, and its teachings have been translated into hundreds of languages, its primary center is in Haifa.

ULURU • AUSTRALIA

In Australia, the area best known to tourists as Ayers Rock has been considered sacred by the Aboriginal peoples of that country since the dawn of time. The rock is honeycombed with caves that are covered with Aboriginal paintings. Located in the center of Australia, southwest of Alice Springs, it was given the name of Ayers Rock by the first European explorers who knew nothing of its sacred connotations. Ayers Rock stands in the center of the Uluru-Kata Tjuata National Park, which covers 512 square miles. The rock itself is 1,141 feet high. A steep one-mile trail enables visitors to climb to the rock’s summit.

To those who hold Ayers Rock sacred it is known as Uluru. The beliefs that are ascribed to Uluru are integral to what is called The Dreaming—which holds that the spirits of human ancestors came to earth to create the land and all its features. Once their work was completed, those same spirits remained and changed from human form into stars, sunsets, rocks, rivers, shrubs, trees, stones and animals. As such they are ever-present. For Aboriginal believers, The Dreaming is never-ending, linking the past and the present, the people and the land; all that is sacred is in the land.

Knowledge of sacred sites is learned through initiation and the teaching of Aboriginal law. It is, by definition, not public knowledge. This is why the existence of many sites might not be shared with the wider world, lest they be violated. The Aboriginal owners of Uluru call themselves Anangu and ask visitors to do so, too.

NEWGRANGE • IRELAND

One kilometer north of the River Boyne, in County Meath, one of Ireland’s most sacred sites can be found. Newgrange, historians theorize, was built about 3200 BC, during the Neolithic period. It predates Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids. Visitors today view a large circular mound faced by a stone retaining wall. A stone passageway penetrates into the interior of the mound, with numerous chambers opening off the main passageway. Its exact origins are shrouded in mystery. There is no consensus about the type of rites enacted within and around the mound, although all agree that they were of religious significance. The mound is aligned with the rising sun and its light floods the interior chamber on the winter solstice.

For reasons unknown, the entry into the mound was closed and sealed for many centuries and was only re-discovered in the 17th century. Allusions to the mound are found in Irish mythology and ancient folk tales. Despite the obscurity that surrounds the origins of Newgrange, it bears a striking resemblance to Neolithic sites found in Scotland, Wales and other part of western Europe. In the 1970’s, controversial reconstruction was undertaken that redefined the entryway into the interior. The authenticity of that reconstruction remains, to this day, a source of endless debate among historians. Yet archaeologist Colin Renfrew writes that Newgrange “is long unhesitatingly regarded by the prehistorian as the great national monument of Ireland.”

ALLAHABAD, INDIA

Once every 12 years, Hindus from all over India congregate in Allahabad, at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna Rivers in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. They come to celebrate the Kumbh Mela Festival, which coincides with the alignment of Jupiter and the Moon. Hindu scripture teaches that, at this time, anyone bathing in the river waters will receive a blessing that can be passed down from one generation to another. Kumbh Mela translates roughly as fair pitcher; it is said that Allahabad (which is also known as Prayag) is one of four places in the country where drops of nectar once fell from the pitcher carried by Hindu gods.

During the 55 days that the festival lasts, countless millions journey to and from Allahabad to partake in the festivities. And countless is exactly the right word here; no one has a clue even how to tally the mass of humanity involved. One thing can be said with absolute certainty, however: Kumbh Mela is the largest gathering of religious pilgrims on the face of the earth.

“We cut into the half-bird, dipped the meat and crispy skin into the sunset-color butter, and wondered why we weren’t doing this at home.”

by Andrea Clurfeld

Hamilton’s Grill Room

8 Coryell St., Lambertville • 609.397.4343

Hours: Open for lunch Thursday through Monday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; reserva-tions not necessary. Open for dinner Monday through Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m., Sunday from 5 to 9 p.m.; reservations recommended. BYOB, though should you forget to bring along wine, it can be purchased at The Boat-house just across the courtyard in The Porkyard complex.

Prices: Appetizers: $9 to $17. Soups and salads: $3.50 to $14.50. Entrees: $22 to $39. Sides: $6.50. All major credit cards accepted.

It’s the late 1970s, and Jim Hamilton is zipping around an alleyway off Coryell Street in Lambertville. He’s in the process of converting a semi-crumbling former sausage factory back here into… well, I’ll recreate the gist of it much as he spoke:

“An antiques shop, galleries, maybe an art studio,” Hamilton says with a sweep of his arm. “A cluster of spaces.” He speaks of the need for creative souls to have room to work by the canal and the river (that’d be the Delaware), as well as a supportive community. “A restaurant, we’ll put the restaurant back here. There has to be a restaurant, a place for people to come together. Simple food, fresh food.”

At this point, Hamilton stops moving and looks at the novice reporter (me) whose scribbling cannot keep pace with his free-flowing storm of ideas. We’ll freeze this frame, a la Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life on the face of Jim Hamilton, award-winning Broadway set designer. His eyes bright and focused, his mouth offering a half-moon smile, his body now in a half-lean against some half-beam, he is convinced that Lambertville—his old hometown, the place he has come back to for its good bones and endless potential—is going to someday be one of the most desirable destinations in all of New Jersey; visually arresting, creatively energetic, spiritually satisfying. He convinces 20-something me.

I move there.

Every time I return, I start at The Porkyard, the name Hamilton gave to the old sausage factory that did, indeed, become exactly what he dreamed, and then some. The Porkyard jump-started Lambertville’s renaissance as the city (it’s New Jersey’s smallest) with the most to look at per square inch. Around every corner is a design gem, be it a detail or a top-to-toe restoration.

Today, The Porkyard, a must-stop in the diverse, design-centric downtown commercial district, is flourishing. There are antiques, art and a tiny and inviting two-story Mecca for drinks called The Boathouse, all of which are anchored by Hamilton’s Grill Room, the restaurant Jim opened more than 20 years ago. With his daughter Melissa then at the open-kitchen grill, it set the pace for a new style of restaurant dining: food and setting that are all about elegant simplicity and casual sophistication.

Chef Mark Miller fell into step with the distinctive Hamilton style several years ago when he took charge of the kitchen. The seamless transition means the romantic rusticity of the dining rooms can be appreciated without reservation. There’s the high-ceilinged, banqueted Gallery Room, along the canal; the twinkling-lights Garden Room; the private-for-a-party, mural-filled, post-and-beamed Delaware Room, warmed in winter by a Franklin fireplace; the airy and open Grill Room; and the intimate Bishops Room, with a framed mirror on the ceiling and angels painted on bead-board walls. In milder months, outdoor seating along the canal is the prime place to perch at Hamilton’s Grill Room, sipping wines you tote along and reveling in Jim Hamilton’s dreams come true…and food true to Hamilton’s roots as a home cook who believes in the integrity of basic Mediterranean food and using ingredients locally sourced.

You’d be wise to start with an appetizer called “Jim’s Cannelloni,” for this thin sheet of pasta cosseting moist ground pork, a film of tomato and something that’s akin to a breeze of mild, melting cheese is all about casual done right in the kitchen. It’s the gentlest of segues from the slam-bam world of in-your-face flavors to what Hamilton’s cooking is about.

But don’t assume anyone here is afraid of feisty flavors. Take the grilled shrimp, super-sized and moist as served in their shells, which are plied with potent anchovy butter. Long a signature dish, they show how vigorous ingredients such as anchovies can work in accenting roles when properly applied. Speaking of proper, few can do a textbook-correct, pastry-crusted country pate, a sturdy, subtle mélange of meats plated generously with cornichons and spicy mustard. It’s a salute to the kitchen’s core sensibilities.

A toss of romaine hearts, slices of avocado and chunks of ruby grapefruit are a salute to off-season salads. An extra-cost add-on of jumbo-lump bluefin crab is a luxe touch.

To experience Hamilton’s at its best, snag entrees from the grill. A whole bronzino is a thing of beauty here—seared-skin fish you can fillet yourself, or have the kitchen whisk away the bones. If full-service is your wish, just ask to see the whole fish first so you can appreciate its beauty. On the night of our visit, the firm-fleshed fish was very Med in style, served with a compote of olive tapenade that provided just the right punch of salinity to the mild finfish.

Grilled cowboy steak, cooked a little past the requested medium-rare, also was given an equally appropriate schmear to add interest: Creamy blue cheese, piquant and portioned just right, is a classic for the best beef, for sure, but seems to strike some chefs as just not enough. Too bad.

It will be too bad for you if you miss the downright terrific rotisserie chicken here, especially if when you visit it’s given a wash of tomato butter. We cut into the half-bird, dipped the meat and crispy skin into the sunset-color butter, and wondered why we weren’t doing this at home. Again, another oh-so-right moment at Hamilton’s Grill Room.

Then, there are those details, which must be in the Hamilton genes. Each entrée came with roasted cauliflower dusted with sharp, nutty grated Parmigano-Reggiano. We could not get enough of the stuff. We also wished we’d double-ordered the separate sides, particularly the creamy, charred leeks braised with a marinara that resonated San Marzano tomatoes, and the just-for-fun skinny pommes frites.

I remember much about previous suppers here at Hamilton’s Grill Room (sturgeon, mighty sturgeon; my first encounter with the vivacious shrimp-in-anchovy butter; a primo pork chop, flush with warm chutney; a cassoulet, plumped with duck confit), but I don’t recall too many sweets that have left the kind of impression as the savory dishes. On this night we love the perfect-pitch pecan pie, for its crust is light and flaky and it’s happily not too sweet.

I’m having the sweetest memories as we amble out of Hamilton’s Grill Room, knowing the restaurant’s defining chef Melissa Hamilton (she worked as food editor at Saveur, Cook’s Illustrated and Martha Stewart Living magazines) is nearby in Lambertville, now shepherding Canal House Books with her equally talented and food savvy co-conspirator, the writer-photographer Christopher Hirsheimer. I’m remembering going to a minuscule East Village restaurant called Prune shortly after it opened a decade or so ago, loving its food and meeting its chef-owner, who turned out to be Gabrielle Hamilton, also Jim’s daughter. (Gabrielle has won a James Beard Best Chef Award and written the also-award-winning memoir Blood, Bones & Butter.)

Mostly I’m remembering trying to keep up with Jim Hamilton (who, now well into his 80s, still lives in this countrified city) as he told me on that day 35 years ago of all that Lambertville could be. He was right, he tends to be, and it’s fine with me to continue to gasp at the heels of a man who understands the art of living beautifully.

Editor’s Note: Andy Clurfeld is a former editor of Zagat New Jersey. The longtime food critic for the Asbury Park Press also has been published in Gourmet, Saveur and Town & Country, and on epicurious.com. Her post-Sandy stories for NBCNewYork.com rank among the finest media reporting on the superstorm’s aftermath and recovery.

Cooking…By Design

Canal House Cooking is the series of cookery books that brings home the “Essential Hamilton Eating and Cooking Experience.” They’re the brainchild of two like-minded women, Melissa Hamilton, former chef at Hamilton’s Grill Room, and her cooking partner Christopher Hirsheimer.

“Every day we cook,” they write. “‘Canal House Cooking’ is home cooking by home cooks for home cooks.”

The books, published periodically in decidedly un-coffee-table size, are available at Hamilton’s Grill Room. They’re designed by “a group of artists who collaborate on design projects.” The photography is ethereally elegant, yet the food in the photos looks down-home real.

Volume No. 6, for example, is subtitled “The Grocery Store,” and its recipes are inspired by grocery stores grand and esoteric, and also ubiquitous suburban supermarkets that can be at once meh and marvelous. Mostly, though, it’s about cooking from common ingredients, lots of pantry staples, with seasonal stuff as the kick-starter, and includes cocktail bites such as “Cheddar with Mango Chutney,” as well as “Any Night Linguine with Clam Sauce” and “Winter Summer Pudding.”

The cooks’ decision to rent a house for a spell in Tuscany and shop and cook there gave shape to Volume No. 7, “La Dolce Vita.” Living amid Italians, cooking like Italians prompted the women to divine “Meatballs with Mint & Parsley,” “Stuffed Onions Piedmontese” and “Christmas Soup,” with chicken and escarole.

Dinner, anyone?

Surf’s Up! What’s your Beach IQ?

Countless thousands of Garden Staters will head to the Jersey Shore this summer to enjoy a day at the beach. For an unlucky few, that will translate into a night in the ER. Or worse. Truth be told, luck has very little to do with beach-related emergencies. Playing it smart while you play in the water not only keeps you and your family safe, it can help prevent long-term medical issues, too.

How much sun is too much sun?

Emergency Department physicians deal with the pain experienced by patients who have gotten too much sun exposure. I’ve heard some dermatologists say, “A good tan could be the first sign of skin cancer.” That is an extreme statement, but the sun’s ultraviolet rays can damage unprotected skin in as little as 15 minutes. Wear sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection with a Sun Protective Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher, and reapply it often.

How often is often?

Every 2 to 4 hours, especially after swimming or sweating. That’s also true far from the beach, particularly at higher elevations.

What other precautions should I take?

Seek shade, especially during the midday hours [10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) when the sun is strongest. Wear a hat to protect your head and clothing to protect exposed skin. Also, wear sunglasses with UV ray protection to protect your eyes.

How about kids?

Keep babies less than 6 months of age out of the sun, and do not put sunblock on them. The chemicals in sunblock could potentially harm babies. Otherwise, the same basic sunscreen and sun-exposure rules for adults apply to children. It’s really important, by the way, to teach them the importance of protecting their skin, because you won’t always be supervising them when they are outdoors.

How dangerous is the water along the Atlantic Coast?

I worked in Florida for the first 6 years of my career and had the unfortunate experience of witnessing the unthinkable, so trust me when I say never, ever turn your back on the ocean, or underestimate its power—even on the most placid beach days. Drowning is the fifth-leading cause of unintentional injury death in the United States. It is the leading cause of death among boys 5 to 14 years of age worldwide and the second-leading cause of injury-related death among children 1 to 4 years of age in the United States.

What are some precautions I can take when my kids are in the water?

Supervise young children at all times, even when they are only near the water. And by water I am including creeks, canals, rivers, lakes, hot tubs, pools and bathtubs. It can take only a matter of seconds for a child to accidentally drown. At the beach, make sure each child is swimming with a “buddy”—not another child, but an adult who is designated to enter the water with them. Obviously, you want to teach children to swim and make sure they understand basic water safety. For example, they should know that if they are swept up by a rip current to swim parallel to the shore instead of fighting against it. Adults should know this, too. Many don’t.

In a potential drowning emergency, what do I do?

Identify your surroundings and call for help—make sure a lifeguard or someone with a phone calls 911 to initiate an emergency response medical team. If an unconscious victim is in shallow water (where you can stand) administer five short rescue breaths while still in the water and then proceed to land. Once on land, the victim should be placed on his or her back, airway open. Check to see if the victim is breathing. If not, give another 5 rescue breaths and check for a pulse. If there is no pulse, begin CPR: 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths, then repeat the cycle. If vomiting occurs, turn victim onto his side to clear the airway.

Wait, I have to learn CPR?

Yes. Not only for your children’s sake, but for the safety of everyone at the beach. You don’t have to become an expert in ocean rescues—remember, you need to be a strong swimmer before attempting to rescue a swimmer in distress or you could become a victim yourself—but you should be able to administer CPR to a near drowning victim.

Isn’t that the lifeguard’s job?

Yes, again. Which is why you want to swim near areas that have lifeguards on duty whenever possible. But there could come a time when you are the person standing between life and death, and it might be a friend or family member in need of attention.

What are some common water safety mistakes boaters make?

Alcohol consumption is a big one. Consuming alcohol impairs cognitive function which can lead to poor judgment. Another is not having a sufficient number of Coast Guard approved life jackets for the passengers aboard. Make sure there are age-appropriate life jackets for children, and do not accept foam toys or air-filled toys as substitutes for life jackets. A classic mistake boaters make is not checking the weather conditions before heading to the water.

RED MENACE

When it comes to protecting the skin from the sun, some people need to be more cautious than others. You are likely to be at highest risk for melanoma—the third most common skin cancer—if you have…

• a history of multiple sunburns
• lighter skin color*
• red or blond color hair
• multiple moles on your skin
• a suppressed immune system
• a personal history of skin cancer
• a family history of skin cancer

* The risk of melanoma is 10 percent greater for light-skinned people than for dark-skinned people, but everyone should protect their skin— and schedule routine skin exams by a physician or dermatologist.

Did You Know?

Your eyes are covered with ‘skin’ called the cornea. It too, can burn and suffer irreparable sun damage. A good pair of sunglasses in summer should be as important as carrying your cell phone.

Editor’s Note: John D’Angelo, DO, is the Chairman of Emergency Medicine at Trinitas Regional Medical Center. He has been instrumental in introducing key emergency medical protocols at Trinitas, including the life-saving Code STemi, which significantly reduces the amount of time it takes for cardiac patients to move from the emergency setting to the cardiac catheterization lab for treatment.

EDGE takes you inside the area’s most creative kitchens.

The Office Beer Bar & Grill • Asian Burger 

728 Thompson Ave. • BRIDGEWATER

(732) 469-0066 • office-beerbar.com/locations/bridgewater

Our Signature Sirloin burger, topped with an Asian vegetable slaw, sesame ginger aioli, lettuce, and tomato. 

— Kevin Felice, 40North Executive Chef

Paragon Tap & Table • Lobster Ravioli with Chipotle Shrimp Sauce 

77 Central Ave. • CLARK

(732) 931-1776 • paragonnj.com

This house made lobster ravioli is made with semolina flour and filled with a combination of fresh lobster and mascarpone cheese, it’s then topped with a light but flavorful sauce made with shallots, chipotle pepper, broken shrimp and a touch of light cream. This light but flavored dish exemplifies the seasonal menu at Paragon Tap and Table.  

— Eric B. LeVine, Chef/Partner

A Toute Heure/100 Steps Supper Club & Raw Bar

232 Centennial Avenue / 215 Centennial Avenue • CRANFORD

(908) 276-6600 • localrootscranford.com

Spring is finally here!  We are featuring the best “spring” ingredients like local ramps, asparagus, and spring berries!  At 100 Steps, you might find local ramps in the mignonette paired with great NJ oysters!  Or, at A Toute Heure, you might sample ramps on our daily flatbread pizza or crostini!    

— A Toute Heure – Robyn Reiss, Executive Chef / 100 Steps – Kara Decker, Executive Chef

The Office Beer Bar & Grill • Tex-Mex Crunch Burger 

1–7 South Ave. • CRANFORD

(908) 272-3888 • office-beerbar.com/locations/cranford

Sirloin Burger topped with guacamole, crispy tortilla strips, pepper jack cheese, lettuce and tomato. 

— Kevin Felice, 40North Executive Chef

The Black Horse Tavern & Pub • Summer Smoked Pork Chop 

1 West Main Street • MENDHAM

(963) 543–7300 • blackhorsenj.com

A succulent house-smoked chop served with micro spring herbs and Jersey blueberry gastrique.

— Kevin Felice, 40North Executive Chef

Piattino Neighborhood Bistro • Amalfi Seafood Pasta 

88 East Main Street • MENDHAM

(973) 543-0025 • piattinonj.com

Sautéed shrimp and clams, tomato, roasted garlic, spinach and white wine lobster broth over linguine.

— Kevin Felice, 40North Executive Chef

The Office Beer Bar & Grill • Jersey “ Wake Up” Call 

619 Bloomfield Ave. • MONTCLAIR

(973) 783-2929 • office-beerbar.com/locations/montclair

Sirloin Burger topped with pork roll, American cheese and a fried egg. Lettuce, tomato and onion! 

— Kevin Felice, 40North Executive Chef

George and Martha’s American Grille • Sliced Hanger Steak 

67 Morris Street • MORRISTOWN

(973) 267-4700 • georgeandmarthas.com

Served atop a sweet potato purée, with a wild mushroom demi-glaze and pan-roasted asparagus.

— Kevin Felice, 40North Executive Chef

The Office Tavern Grill • Slow Roasted Chicken Tacos

3 South Street • MORRISTOWN

(973) 285-0220 • officetaverngrill.com

Grilled flour tortilla, achiote spice, guacamole, queso fresco, cilantro and lime. 

— Kevin Felice, 40North Executive Chef

Arirang Hibachi Steakhouse • Pan Seared Scallops 

1230 Route 22 West • MOUNTAINSIDE

(908) 518-9733 • partyonthegrill.com

Most guests think to visit us for an amazing hibachi meal, but we offer amazing traditional Japanese style dishes such as the Pan Seared Scallops, served with a edamame purée, truffle scented greens, miso lime dressing and bok choy. We also offer the freshest sushi in the area.

Daimatsu • Wild Caught Sushi

860 Mountain Ave. • MOUNTAINSIDE

(908) 233-7888 • daimatsusushibar.com

We are excited to introduce seasonal wild-caught fish from Japan, including (from left) Isaki from SW Japan served with ginger & scallions, Kamasu from Shikoku seared on the skin with sweet yuzu pepper and cured with kombu seaweed,  and Ni-Anago eel braised tender in soy and sweet sake broth.  

— Momo, Chef

Publick House • Grilled Swordfish 

899 Mountain Ave. • MOUNTAINSIDE

(908) 233-2355 • publickhousenj.com

The grilled swordfish is a perfect addition to our menu this Spring. Served over a fresh cut watermelon salad of red onion, pan-roasted brussel sprouts, feta cheese and tossed in a red wine vinaigrette. The swordfish is topped with lemon zest. The balance of flavors and diversity in textures makes this dish a true star. 

— Danilo Ayala, Executive Chef 

Morris Tap & Grill • Smoked Scallops with Corn Risotto

500 Route 10 West • RANDOLPH

(973) 891-1776 • morristapandgrill.com

The house smoked scallop dish balances the delicate flavored of smoked scallops served on a fresh corn risotto. The scallops are then topped with crispy celery root chips and finished with charcoal salt adding the perfect balance to this light dish.

— Eric B LeVine, Chef/Partner

Thai Amarin • Gang Phed Ped Yang

201 Morris Ave. • SPRINGFIELD

(973) 376-6300, (973) 376-6301 • thaiamarinnj.net

A customer favorite, our Gang Phed Ped Yang perfectly blends a spicy and savory red curry base with delicious coconut milk and fresh tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, and pineapples. All of these fantastic flavors are served over our exceptionally crispy duck.  

— Amy Thana, Owner

Café Z • Cappellini Arugula del Gamberoni 

2333 Morris Avenue • UNION

(908) 686-4321 • CafeZNJ.com

Angel hair pasta tossed with rock shrimp, arugula, diced tomatoes, garlic and marinara with a touch of cream. The combination of authentic flavors in each of our fresh, homemade entrées is nothing less than culinary perfection!

— Patricia Inghilleri, Owner

Chestnut Chateau • Gifts from the Sea

649 Chestnut Street • UNION

(908) 964-8696 • chestnutchateaunj.com

Not only does the summer bring beautiful blue skies, warm weather and longer days it also brings great seafood in our area. The fresh scallops, shrimp and fish are abundant and delicious. The Chestnut Chateau is the only area restaurant that offers fresh, local and wild seafood. 

— George Niotis, Chef 

Mario’s Tutto Bene • Vinegar Pork Chops 

495 Chestnut Street • UNION

(908) 687-3250 • mariostuttobene.com

Our vinegar pork chops feature three thin-cut Frenched chops that are coated with Italian breadcrumbs and sautéed with sweet vinegar peppers, prosciutto and garlic. They arrive with house-made roasted or mashed potatoes. Our regulars love this entrée.   

— John Garofalo, Owner

Rio Rodizio • Brazilian Meats

2185 Rte. 22 West • UNION

(908) 206-0060 • riorodiziounion.com

We offer an “All-You-Can-Eat” dining experience transported straight from the streets of Rio de Janeiro to your tableside. Each customer gets to witness a never-ending parade of freshly roasted meat and poultry. Our authentic Gaucho chefs carve these melt-in-your-mouth meats to your liking.

— Paul Seabra, Owner

The Manor • Seared Atlantic Salmon

111 Prospect Avenue • WEST ORANGE

(973) 731-2360 • themanorrestaurant.com

Among the varied entrées served in The Manor’s Terrace Lounge dining room is this perfectly-seared fresh Atlantic salmon. The crispy skin and delicate texture are accented with a flavorful almond and pumpkin couscous. Along with asparagus tips, a roasted tomato beurre blanc offers a rich, buttery compliment to this layered and refined dish.

— Mario Russo, Chef de Cuisine

The Office Beer Bar & Grill • Pacific Island Ahi Tuna Burger 

411 North Ave. West • WESTFIELD

(908) 232-1207 • office-beerbar.com/locations/westfield

Our pan-seared ahi tuna burger is finished with spring vegetables, Asian mayo, lettuce and tomato.  

— Kevin Felice, 40North Executive Chef

When Jane Kelly is angry with people, she kills them.

That is just one of the many perks of being a mystery writer. “There was a person in my life who I disliked very much,” Jane Kelly says of her first book, authored in the mid-1990s. “So I killed him in a story. I found it to be a much safer, more legal way to vent my frustrations, and most importantly, I discovered that I really enjoyed writing.”

The author of the popular New Jersey Shore-based fiction series featuring sleuth and heroine Meg Daniels, Kelly will release the fourth installment of a series that includes Killing Time in Ocean City, Cape Mayhem, and Wrong Beach Island later this fall. That first book, for the record, never found a publisher. Nevertheless, Kelly (then in her 40s) didn’t give up. After a conversation with Tom Hogan, Sr., president of Medford-based Plexus Publishing, she was encouraged to try writing about something she knew a lot about. That’s when the focus of her next mystery became the Jersey Shore; Kelly had been vacationing at the beach from the age of five months, and has returned every year since.

“I was most familiar with Ocean City, so that’s where I started…and Killing Time in Ocean City was actually published,” she recalls. “But since bodies don’t wash up at the Jersey Shore every day, I thought it would be best to come up with mysteries for Meg to solve in other towns I knew and loved, like Cape May and Long Beach Island…and now Atlantic City.”

Kelly’s most recent novel isn’t entirely focused on casinos or gambling. She’s more inclined to sink $20 in video poker and go home than she is to drop hundreds of dollars at the tables. Instead, she infuses her work with other sources of personal inspiration. “I’m not a big gambler, but there is a part of me that always wanted to be a singer—even though I have no talent whatsoever,” she smiles. “So that’s why I made one of the main characters a frustrated lounge singer.”

In Missing You in Atlantic City, Meg is vacationing in Atlantic City while her boyfriend (recurring character Andy Beck) is busy working at his job in hotel casino security. She finds herself spending a lot less time with her toes in the sand than she had hoped when she decides to dig into a disappearance that occurred in the 1960s. The 50-year-old mystery revolves around a chance encounter with Johnny Boyle, a lounge singer and Frank Sinatra impersonator known as Johnny Angelini, and his long-lost mother, Betty Boyle, who went missing when he was an infant.

Like Kelly, Meg has always written from the perspective of a tourist at the Jersey Shore. As she listens to Johnny’s tragic tale, she vows to help him find out what happened to his mother once and for all. “My first thought was that, as someone who comes to visit the beach, you never expect anything bad to happen.” Kelly says. “Yet, somehow, Meg always knows how to find trouble. After three books, you’d think she would have figured that out by now.”

As Meg attempts to interview a tangled web of surviving witnesses in the mysterious disappearance of Betty Boyle—and ultimately reveals a twisted cover-up in the process—the story delves into the sordid world of politics in 1964, when the Democratic National Convention rolled into town and was held at Boardwalk Hall. “The reason Meg is so successful at what she does,” says Kelly, “ is that she really cares. She genuinely wants to help people, and she finds herself completely caught up in this story of the son who was left behind. My books are supposed to be light, fun beach reads. But they also have that additional emotion and depth regarding the crime itself.”

Prior to becoming an author, Kelly’s life didn’t have quite as much drama as her heroine’s. She graduated from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, earned a Master’s of Science degree in information studies from Drexel University, and added a Master’s of Philosophy in Popular Literature from Trinity College at the University of Dublin. She went on to work in online information (“Before people even knew what the Internet was,” she says), consulting, and facilities management—in which she still has a day job, traveling to New York, Washington, DC, Chicago, Boston and other cities as part of her work.

Actually, it was when writing her graduate thesis on political fiction when Kelly first began researching the historical events that ultimately would set the stage for the plot of Missing You in Atlantic City. “I became completely fascinated with history, and started reading exclusively non-fiction about the early Cold War period,” she recalls. “That’s when I had the idea of having a crime that was committed in the past, and combining it with my memories of all my visits to Atlantic City growing up.”

Kelly did some sleuthing herself. Not only did she spend time wandering the boardwalk and casinos of Atlantic City, she took her research a step further and tracked down an assortment of people who had lived during that time. “I had a friend who actually went to hear Bobby Kennedy speak at the convention. Times were different back then, and I know Betty Boyle would have been able to do the same thing.”

Looking ahead, Kelly hopes to continue to be able to explore the past when it comes time to dream up her next mystery. “I like to learn about the history of the years that I’ve been alive,” she says. “You don’t have to live in Atlantic City or have grown up in the 1960s to know what was going on back then, and I think people will enjoy reading about something that was so important to our history and that happened right here in our backyard.”

Meg Daniels will continue solving crimes, Kelly expects. However, there are plans in the works for new characters. Devising the complex plots in her novels almost comes naturally to Kelly now, but it’s her characters that make each book special. “If I were only concerned with plot, I’d be publishing books a lot more quickly,” she says. “The characters always end up taking on a life of their own…and if I can’t ‘hear’ them in m

The 25 books all New Jerseyans should have in their homes

Am I missing something? How did being “book-smart” become a bad thing? More to the point, when did TV and the Internet become more reliable sources of ideas and information than a well-written, proofed and edited book? Honestly, sometimes I wonder if we’ve all become a little book-stupid. As a transplanted Manhattanite who put down roots in the Garden State more than three decades ago, I made it my mission to learn as much as I could about New Jersey as quickly as possible. Thirty-one years later, I am still turning pages (and keeping my local Barnes & Noble afloat) with no end in sight.

Where all of that reading has gotten me is to the realization that New Jersey is a land of multiple personalities and myriad identities. The deeper one drills down into the history or the culture or the literary heritage of the state, the more utterly new and fascinating stories begin to reveal themselves. I was probably in my 40s when it finally dawned on me that I would never be able to synthesize all of the information trapped in the 200 or so books (now 300 or so) I owned that are relevant to New Jersey.

Not long ago, I was discussing this very point with a visitor to my home—a relatively recent transplant in the Garden State. How, he asked, would I characterize exactly what it means to be a New Jerseyan? Well, I replied, you won’t find your answer online. It’s somewhere on these bookshelves. Then he asked the better question: Which 25 would you pull off the shelves to get me started?

I was amazed how quickly I was able to narrow down my collection. What I ended up with was a mix of works covering history, culture and fiction—most of them recently published, some very well known, a few not. You may find my Top 25 light on dirty politics, organized crime, pollution, gambling and diners—five themes that certainly have generated their fair share of books—but hey, this is my list. Go make your own!

No, really. Pick your own Top 25. In fact, I hope you get to the end of this story and disagree with at least half of my choices. Because, truth be told, that’s what being book-smart is all about. Happy hunting!

1609: A Country That Was Never Lost

History • Kevin Wright • 2009

Forget everything you learned in school about the Lenni-Lenape. Kevin Wright unearthed original documents from the 1600s and 1700s for 1609, which repaints the picture of colonial New Jersey in some eye-opening ways.

American Pastoral

Fiction • Philip Roth • 1997

Roth’s novels are very New Jersey-centric, so any of his award-winning books technically could make this list. American Pastoral focuses on the tumultuous life of a former athletic star modeled on Newark’s legendary Swede Masin.

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret

Young Adult Fiction • Judy Blume • 1970

Margaret is a sixth grader who moves from New York City to the New Jersey suburbs, where she begins an unforgettable search for spiritual answers. Is there a girl under the age of 50 who hasn’t read this book?

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

Fiction • Junot Diaz • 2007

Much of this Pulitzer-winning novel is set in the Dominican Republic, but the central character, Oscar, is a Paterson teenager trying to balance love, life and a sci-fi obsession with his family heritage.

Bruce

Biography • Peter Ames Carlin • 2012

EDGE interviewed Peter right after his Springsteen bio came out, and it has since been heralded as the “Best on Bruce” by his legion of fans.

Eddie and the Cruisers

Fiction • P.F. Kluge • 1980

This novel, set in South Jersey during the early 1960s, has been called the Citizen Kane of rock & roll. No argument here. The movie was very good; the book is even better.

Encyclopedia of New Jersey

Reference • Marc Mappen • 2004

Keep this 900-plus-page book within reach at all times. Though a decade out of date, it still provides a superb starting point for virtually anything you need to know about the Garden State. Mappen’s books and newspaper pieces on Jersey culture and history are legendary.

Freedom Not Far Distant

History • Clement Price • 1980

A scholarly work on the African-American experience in New Jersey by the Rutgers U. professor who was recently named City Historian of Newark.

Howl and Other Poems

Poetry • Allen Ginsburg • 1956

This collection includes Ginsburg’s two best-known poems, Howl and A Supermarket in California. Though not specifically tied to New Jersey—and more famous for its influence on the Beat Generation—this book presents the Newark-born poet at the height of his literary powers…and was just too hard to put back on the bookshelf once I pulled it off.

The Idea Factory: Bell Labs and the Great Age of American Innovation

Non-Fiction • John Gertner • 2013

I have come to know many now-retired scientists who worked at Bell Labs. What they accomplished—and how they attacked the problem-solving process—is truly humbling. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book.

Independence Day

Fiction • Richard Ford • 1995

No, it’s not a book about an alien invasion. Independence Day is one of Ford’s three novels staring New Jersey real estate agent Frank Bascombe. Each is a Faulkner-esque masterpiece in its own right, but this book won a Pulitzer, so it’s the one I’m going with.

Jernigan

Fiction • David Gates • 1991

As first novels go, this one by David Gates is nearly un-improvable. Central character Peter Jernigan sounds like an adult version of Holden Caulfield, with suburban New Jersey as a backdrop.

The Jersey Game: The History of Modern Baseball from Its Birth to the Big Leagues in the Garden State

Sports • James Di Clercio • 1993

Truth be told, I have yet to discover a great, scholarly book covering the history of New Jersey sports. This one makes the list for its sharp focus on baseball in the 19th century.

Leaves of Grass

Poetry • Walt Whitman • 1891

Whitman actually published the first collection of his writing under this title in 1855. He constantly reworked the poems and kept adding more until the final version, published prior to his passing in Camden in 1892. He had moved to the Garden State in the 1870s. Leaves of Grass praises the wonders of nature and the human spirit.

New Jersey: A History of the Garden State

History • Maxine Lurie & Richard Veit, Editors • 2012

As essay collections go, this is the one I now reach for when I need to bone up on my regional history. It is structured chronologically and features an introduction by Marc Mappen.

The North Side: African Americans and the Creation of Atlantic City

History • Nelson Johnson • 2010

We all know what happened to Johnson’s earlier book, Boardwalk Empire. I pick this one, however, because it presents a side of the same story that was underexplored in the HBO series.

Past and Promise: Lives of New Jersey Women

History • Joan Burstyn • 1997

This work of collective biography does an excellent job of highlighting the achievements and contributions of New Jersey women from colonial times up through the late 20th century. I’d love to see a second, updated edition.

Paterson

Poetry • William Carlos Williams • 1963

Williams began publishing his poems about Paterson in the years after World War II. They were finally collected in a 1963 volume. Williams approached his subject as a reporter might, and then transformed his research into a sometimes-eccentric new form of American poetry.

The Pine Barrens

Non-Fiction • John McPhee • 1968

This book was originally published as nine articles in The New Yorker. It is an incredible snapshot of an untouched wilderness in the shadow of two major urban centers. If you are trying to decide which book on this list you should read first, strongly consider McPhee’s.

Rebellion In Newark

Non-Fiction • Tom Hayden • 1967

Were the infamous Newark Riots riots at all? Hayden’s detailed account of the events leading up to and during the six days of murder and mayhem still stands up after all these years—and raises a number of troubling questions about New Jersey’s darkest hour.

This Is New Jersey

History • John Cunningham • 2012

Some version of this book was probably your textbook in 4th or 5th Grade. Cunningham was the state’s unofficial popular historian for nearly seven decades from the 1940s until his passing in 2012.

This Side of Paradise

Fiction • F. Scott Fitzgerald • 1920

The heck with The Great Gatsby. This was the novel that catapulted Fitzgerald into the post-WWI literary scene. The story of Amory Blaine (a thinly disguised F. Scott) explores love, greed and social climbing among the Princeton elite. The initial printing sold out in three days.

Toy Bulldog: The Fighting Life and Times of Mickey Walker

Biography • John Jarrett • 2013

The story of boxing in New Jersey intersects with so many other themes that I had to include one book on the sport. Mickey Walker wins a split decision over the better-known Jimmy Braddock story, Cinderella Man. Though both stories are compelling, Walker’s takes place during the Prohibition Era and is far more colorful.

Weird N.J.

Non-Fiction • Mark Moran & Mark Sceurman • 2003

You’ve probably come across the magazine created by these two guys a million times. Their first book hit the stores a little over a decade ago. If you ever have a hankering to root around abandoned psychiatric hospitals and the like, consider this your travel guide.

A Woman’s Crusade: Alice Paul and the Battle

for the Ballot

Biography • Mary Walton • 2010

After more than a half-century of steady-but-slow progress by the women’s suffrage movement, New Jersey’s Alice Paul rolled up her sleeves and finished the job by employing an out-of-the-box brand of civil disobedience that forever changed the way Americans stand up to their own government.

Editor’s Note: Mark Stewart has authored six books on his adopted home state, all published by The Heinemann Library, as well as a history of the New Jersey Devils. None made the cut. Which book just missed squeezing into the list? “Number 26” was the 2001 suspense novel set in Spring Lake, On the Street Where You Live, by Mary Higgins Clark. Anyone who’s thinking of digging a backyard swimming pool might first want to check out this supernatural cautionary tale!

The Cover Story
(76) Houghton Mifflin; (77) Riverhead Books; Touchstone Publishing; (78) Penguin Books; Alfred A. Knopf; (79) Upper Case; Rutgers University Press; Plexus Publishing; (80) New Directions; Scribner Publishing; (81) McFarland & Company.

According to leading New Jersey educators, the case for a challenging literature curriculum is open-and-shut.

A couple of months ago, I convened five of my old school girlfriends during our annual reunion to discuss our all-time favorite middle-school (we called it “junior high” back then) Summer Reading List titles. There was an immediate consensus about Catcher in the Rye, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. These novels represented our first foray into more serious, more adult fiction, offering themes of rebellious angst, social injustice, and seemingly insurmountable challenges. We also agreed that, as parents (and now grandparents), we were all too familiar with the moaning and groaning of subsequent generations when presented with the dreaded list. Perhaps it’s overscheduling or shorter vacations or digital distractions, but it seems as if the “I can’t wait to read it” treasures of our early teens have become the “Do I have to read it?” chores for a lot of kids today.

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For generations the great literary safety net has been supplied by our schools. Whether reading comes naturally to a student or is a bit of a forced march, every child is exposed to the enlightening qualities of a great book sometime in the vicinity of 6th Grade, and in most systems the rubber meets the road in 7th. By high school, kids have been introduced to literature in a meaningful way; they get why reading matters. For some it sticks, for others it doesn’t.

The responsibility of educators is to inspire their students to read. (It’s up to authors to keep readers reading.) Some school systems in New Jersey do a magnificent job. Others have become less demanding of their students, and even of their teachers. In assessing the relative merits of a child’s educational options, parents would be wise to ask questions about how great literature fits into a school’s overall philosophy. We put this question to a number of top schools in the Garden State.

“The job of a teacher is not just to find the right book, but to start a student on a lifetime of reading pleasure.”

—Dr. Peter Lewis • Head of School The Winston School • Short Hills

Dr. Lewis defines the basic literacy goal for all students as “getting pleasure out of print,” adding that “with literature, we need to find a theme that will spark interest—but first we need to provide the techniques and strategy to decode the words, starting in the lower grades.” At Winston, non-fiction is typically factored in during the Middle School grades. Often the hero is a very ordinary human being who rises to meet and overcome challenges. For example, Mountains Beyond Mountains, by Tracy Kidder, is a book about Dr. Paul Farmer and his inspiring quest to cure infectious diseases around the world.

Be it fiction or non-fiction, Dr. Lewis believes that, from an academic perspective, all literature is still fundamentally “text,” and the challenge is to keep students enraptured by the written word rather than put off by the hurdles of decoding them. That effort includes booking author visits to add a living component to the books students are reading. On a school trip to see Orlando Bloom in Romeo and Juliet on Broadway, Bloom met with Winston students and explained that although he had been dyslexic as a child, he had managed to overcome his early challenges to pursue and achieve his lifelong dream of becoming a modern-day Shakespearean actor. Dr. Lewis used the opportunity to emphasize to his students that “Just because it’s hard to do, doesn’t mean you can’t do it.”

“Avid readers make awesome writers.”

—Mary Schoendorf • Middle School Literature Coordinator St. Bartholomew Academy • Scotch Plains

The kids at St. Bartholomew are in a “trilogy mode,” particularly by authors Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games) and Veronica Roth (Divergent). Schoendorf has noticed that this popular reading genre has been influencing her students’ writing, which is immensely gratifying. Middle schoolers she notes, tend to be a bit unfocused in their writing. Often her role is to help fine-tune their efforts and come more quickly to the point they want to make.

To inspire her students’ interest in literature, Schoendorf regularly offers video clips about the authors to help bring them to life. She also insists on “web quests,” where students are required to research the author’s life and time—all before they even open the book. “This way,” she points out, “the book itself becomes the reward…and one that they can’t wait to start reading.”

Schoendorf also tries to nudge them out of their literary comfort zone into other genres (e.g., the classics). In doing so, she assesses class profiles in order to determine the most appropriate literature for the grade level, beginning with what she believes a class can emotionally handle. For example, she would ordinarily avoid Edgar Allan Poe, at least until the 7th Grade. For her 6th Graders, she might substitute The Hatchet, a young-adult wilderness survival novel by Gary Paulsen—an adventure story that is not as dark as Poe’s work, but offers all the same basic literary suspense elements. Recently, Schoendorf successfully introduced the 7th Graders to The Wednesday Wars, by Gary Schmidt—a coming-of-age story about a 7th grader. Her students were so impressed by the protagonist’s interest in Shakespeare that they asked for a Shakespeare unit in their own classroom, which is now known as Shakespeare Wednesdays. In fact, they even volunteered to give up half their recess for more class time with the Bard…which only proves her favorite point: “Get them interested, and they’ll bite.”

“Many of the most popular books fall into the category of dystopian literature, where the person who saves the world is a young adult.”

—Barbara Dellanno • Dean of Academic and Faith Formation Union Catholic High School • Scotch Plains

Dellanno, who doubles as Union Catholic’s Humanities Curriculum Specialist, sees the goal of both parents and teachers when it comes to young adult literature as “getting them hooked on reading for pleasure.” Her opinion about much of the YAL being written today is that it does just that. In fact, she admits to getting hooked herself on such contemporary classics as the Harry Potter series. Dellanno also believes it’s a positive for young readers to form their own tastes and reading habits. “I think that it is important that teachers and parents allow them to choose what they want to read,” she says, adding that there’s no harm in an occasional comic book or sports magazine.

The point is to get them reading and, once they develop the habit, they are more easily encouraged to branch out into serious literature, even the classics. Not surprisingly, Dellanno gives a thumbs-up to trending series literature, such as The Hunger Games, Twilight, Maze Runner, Divergent, Gone, and Park Service. As for singular novels, she favors The Book Thief and Wonder, as well as novels like Fahrenheit 451 and Persepolis. As for popular authors, continued on page 68 she lists Jerry Spinelli, Walter Dean Myers (a recently deceased resident of Jersey City), Sarah Dressen (for girls), and Elizabeth Wein (for historical fiction). “Dystopian-themed novels,” Dellanno notes, “are empowering and reflect a way for the younger generation to cope in a healthy way with our post-9/11 world.”

When asked why To Kill a Mockingbird seems to top everyone’s list of Middle School classics, Dellanno explains that it is a great tool to teach the important elements of fiction (setting, point of view, foreshadowing and symbolism), and that the 1962 film starring Gregory Peck enables students to compare and contrast great writing and great filmmaking techniques. “Also, the essential questions raised by the novel grip students and make them think and want to discuss what they have read with one another,” she says. The 1960 novel by Harper Lee happens to be Dellanno’s all-time favorite.

“The classics speak to the human condition and teach lessons about life to which all people can relate.”

—Dr. Martine Gubernat • Chair of English Department St. Joseph High School • Metuchen

The freshmen boys at St. Joe’s dive right into great literature in English I, including short stories, nonfiction, drama, novels, mythology and poetry. During a typical year, they’ll digest Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Inherit the Wind and The Call of the Wild. This sets the stage for English II, which focuses on American literature; English III, which transports young readers across the ocean for a year of British lit.; and finally to English IV and AP classes that feature challenging selections of world literature.

According to Dr. Gubernat, classic literature is at the heart of the English curriculum all four years. “The classics,” she says, “help readers to consider the impact of events—both large and small, positive and negative—on ordinary people.” The “noble language” of the classics, she adds, serves as the basis for student analysis and evaluation of the written word.

“The written language is still king.”

—Whitney Slade • Head of School

The Rumson Country Day School • Rumson

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The 2014–15 school year will be Slade’s first at RCDS, an independent K–8 school in Monmouth County with a strong historical commitment to fostering an appreciation of literature. The nature of how great writing is delivered, he notes, is changing…and with change comes trepidation on the part of parents and educators. “With the advent of the Internet and social media there is fear—real or imagined—that students will be distracted from reading and the joys of literature,” he says.

Slade believes that it is incumbent upon teachers, parents and caregivers to foster reading whenever possible. However, it needs to be on the young person’s terms. Whether reading an online version of a novel or a well-written publication, engaging in a worthy blog, or simply making a monthly visit to the bookstore, exposure is key. The form it comes in, he insists, should be irrelevant. “Good writing is as important as ever in binding us together, sharing a common history, fostering creativity, and developing skills for an unpredictable workplace,” Slade says.

“Books can evolve with you and your understanding of them can evolve, too…that’s just one wonderful thing about my job.”

—Lou Scerra • English Department Chair Newark Academy • Livingston

At first glance, the literary spread between 6th and 12th Grades at Newark Academy seems extremely ambitious. The 6th Graders are reading A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Nothing But the Truth, a novel about a boy suspended for humming the national anthem. The seniors are tackling

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Alison Bechdel’s 2006 graphic memoir, Fun Home, Junot Diaz’s Pulitzer-winning 2008 novel The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Virginia Woolf’s 1925 Mrs. Dalloway, and the playwright Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia. In between, students are introduced to Harper Lee, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Walt Whitman, Toni Morrison and John Green.

Serra, who heads the school’s literature-based English Department, points out that much of the literature he assigns is driven by story and character. He meticulously selects texts that are developmentally appropriate in terms of form and content, saying, “I’d like to think we have a nice blend of traditional classics and contemporary literature that all speak to the concerns of the 21st century world. We’re always eager to add new texts into the curriculum and we also try to listen to student input.”

Serra’s personal favorite is The Great Gatsby—the subject, as it happens, of his undergraduate thesis. Interestingly, he credits his sophomores with having helped him to “see the characters, the story, and the novel itself in a new way.”

Inside the Numbers

The U.S. publishing world generated $27.01 billion in net revenue in 2013, selling 2.59 billion units according to a recent report from the Association of American Publishers and BISG (Book Industry Study Group). A large chunk of that business is attributable to YAL. In December of last year, a report on CBS News indicated YAL sales were up 24 percent since 2010, making it the fastest-growing publishing market sector. Long overlooked by the big publishers, these books have actually become popular with adults, too; the report estimated that about 80 percent of YAL buyers are over 18…and not all of them are buying for kids.

www.thinkstockphotos.com

In terms of embracing non-paper delivery methods, the news is also positive. An article in New York Magazine last year entitled “YAL by the Numbers” showed that, in 2002, fewer than 5,000 YA titles were published—of which only 143 were ebooks. By 2012, the number of titles had more than doubled over 10,000, of which 40 percent were of the ebook variety.

Good literature comes in many shapes and sizes—from traditionally leather-bound library tomes to dog-eared and page-worn paperbacks to the latest palm-held backlit digital readers. There are some among us who would never trade that special feeling that comes from physically opening a “real” book and thumbing through it page-by-page. On the other hand, the popularity of audio and ebooks, whether delivered to a Kindle, a Nook, or some other experience-enhancing device, has expanded exponentially, especially among the younger generation. Whatever or however a person prefers to read, it is the actual commitment to read that really matters. And for that we count on our educators—more heavily now than ever.

SO YOU WANT TO WRITE A YOUNG ADULT BEST-SELLER…

In a recent article in Atlantic Magazine by Nolan Feeney, “The 8 Habits of Highly Successful Young-Adult Fiction Authors,” several recognized authors shared their secrets to success. To be a winner, a YA book of fiction must be:

• Attention-grabbing…from the minute the book is opened until the last page is read.
• Age-appropriate…with someone in the book being a peer of the targeted reader.
• Relatable…to teenage experiences, even some that may be dark, but familiar.
• Meaningful…inspirational but in a realistic way.
• Believable…from an author who can think like a young teen and sound like one, too.
• Respectful…with no patronizing or “dumbing down” of information.

DIRTY DOZEN

John F. Kennedy once said that libraries should be open to everyone—“except the censors.” At one time or another, some of the great works of American Literature were included on official lists of Banned Books for public schools and libraries, including the 12 below. All, by the way, made it onto another list: the Library of Congress Books That Shaped America…

The Scarlet Letter • Nathaniel Hawthorne (1850)

Moby Dick • Herman Melville (1851)

Leaves of Grass • Walt Whitman (1855)

The Red Badge of Courage • Stephen Crane (1895)

The Call of the Wild • Jack London (1903)

The Great Gatsby • F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925)

Gone with the Wind • Margaret Mitchell (1936)

The Grapes of Wrath • John Steinbeck (1939)

For Whom the Bell Tolls • Ernest Hemingway (1940)

The Catcher in the Rye • J. D. Salinger (1951)

To Kill a Mockingbird • Harper Lee (1960)

Where the Wild Things Are • Maurice Sendak (1963)

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS

Benedictine Academy, an all-female, private, Catholic college-preparatory school for grades 9-12 in Elizabeth, celebrates its Centennial this September through April 2015. A Mass and reception on September 21 kick off a year-long calendar of celebrations, including renowned speakers and a grand finale gala. Check the Academy website (benedictineacad.org) for more information or call 908-352-0670 x 105/106. A four-time Jefferson Award-winning, 21st Century learning environment, the Academy emphasizes rigorous academics, including honors and AP courses, and offers five varsity sports—plus service outreach, clubs and extracurricular activities for every interest. Technology includes personal laptops (provided), campus-wide wi-fi, interactive SMARTBoards, and a state-of-the-art science lab. Scholarships and tuition assistance are available.

Westfield native leaves California in quest of advanced surgery at Trinitas.

When Sena O’Connor-McLellan embarks on her regular daily run along the trails of the Diablo Mountains of California’s Bay Area, she is doing something her West Coast doctors said would never happen: regaining the physically active lifestyle she enjoyed before uterine prolapse began slowing her down. A native of Westfield and an avid runner, O’Connor-McLellan initially consulted with her California physicians, who recommended a radical solution.

“They said I’d have to have my cervix removed and give up running,” she recalls. “That didn’t feel right to me. That’s when I called Dr. Riachi.”

Dr. Labib Riachi, Chairman, OB/GYN, and Director of Robotics at Trinitas Regional Medical Center, had treated O’Connor-McLellan for a separate condition in 2009, using a robotics-assisted procedure that she says resulted in a smoother-than-anticipated recuperation. The surgical scars were practically unnoticeable, and the discomfort was minimal. After a phone call to Dr. Riachi, she boarded a plane back to New Jersey, consulted with him at his office, and was scheduled for surgery the next day. Once again, the robotics-assisted procedure delivered results.

“Four small incisions—that’s all it took,” says O’Connor-McLellan, a mother of four sons ages 15 to 20. “So unobtrusive, so simple. It wasn’t painful to roll over and I could pull myself up to get out of bed. Within a week, I was on a plane back to California. By two weeks, I was completely back to being myself.”

The procedure, which is performed using the daVinci Surgical System, is called a robotic cervicosacropexy. It involves the insertion of an abdominal mesh to relieve the prolapse and in most cases is a permanent solution with few if any lingering effects. After six weeks, as Dr. Riachi promised, O’Connor-McLellan was able to restart her trail work with a slow jog. “It is very rewarding to see people such as Sena benefit from this minimally invasive technology,” he says. “The daVinci system enables us to perform delicate surgeries in a faster and more secure way. It allows us to be more aggressive in how we treat, while giving us almost unlimited access within the surgical field.”

Labib Riachi, MD
Chairman, OB/GYN, and Director of Robotics
at Trinitas Regional Medical Center
908.282.2000

The daVinci system allows a surgeon working at a console to manipulate four robotic “arms” that maneuver a camera and carry out cutting, holding and coagulating all through a single or multi-port precise abdominal incision. Dr. Riachi has used the system to perform corrective surgeries for conditions such as prolapse, bleeding, fibroids, uterine cancer, and endometriosis. He now trains other surgeons to do the same. In all, he has carried out more than 800 robotic procedures since 2009.

“I call him the rock star,” O’Connor-McLellan says. “I would still go back to New Jersey if I needed another procedure, and I recommend anyone else to make that trip as well. I wouldn’t trust anyone else; I wouldn’t put my health in anyone else’s hands. I feel that strongly about what he can do, and about robotics in surgery. People shouldn’t be afraid of it. The healing is incredible.”

NO COMPARISON

In 2007, Sena O’Connor-McLellan (below and on page 46) underwent a non-robotic laparoscopic procedure to treat Crohn’s Disease. “The recuperation was longer, more painful, and generally much worse,” she reports, adding that she hopes that her experience will lead other women to explore the benefits of robotics-assisted surgery. “Women put off things like [prolapse correction] because they think they can’t get it done and get back to life. You think the only option is surgery that will put you on your back for two weeks. But the robotics option gets you back on your way in a few days. The flu will put you down for longer!”

Editor’s Note: Sena O’Connor-McLellan is back to enjoying the lifestyle she loves, hitting the trails every day for a running routine which, less than a year ago, she was advised to give up. Every mile she covers is a testament to the difference Dr. Riachi and the daVinci system can make. Next up for O’Connor-McLellan is the Rock & Roll Half-Marathon for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America in November on the Las

New diagnostic devices are taking gastroenterologists on a fantastic voyage

Imagine possessing the ability to enter the body to conduct reconnaissance, diagnose and perhaps save a life without traditional invasive measures. In 1966, sci-fi authors imagined—and Hollywood created—that exciting scenario. In Fantastic Voyage, a CIA agent, a surgeon and three others are charged with removing a life-threatening blood clot from the brain of a comatose Soviet scientist, who barely survived an assassination attempt while defecting to the West.

You probably know the story. The CIA shrinks the crew and its submarine down to one micrometer and inserts the vessel into the scientist’s body. It’s a race against time, as the effects of miniaturizing begin wearing off after an hour.

Pretty exciting stuff back then—not to mention a field day for the special effects team.

Miniaturization took a more humorous turn in the 1987 film Innerspace, when an experimental craft piloted by a naval aviator is miniaturized and—through a series of unlikely events—injected into a hypochondriacal grocery clerk, played by Martin Short. For the record, both Fantastic Voyage and Innerspace won Oscars for Best Visual Effects.

Fast-forward a few decades. People, submarines and aircraft aren’t miniaturized, but medical devices complete with cameras and data retrieval capabilities are.

In 2006, MIT Technology Review reported on a then recently-FDA-approved diagnostic device the size of a vitamin pill, which could be ingested. Once inside the body, the device for diagnosis of gastroenterological conditions could gather information along its way through the digestive system. The sensor could then transmit information to an external receiver, about the size of a cell phone, worn by the patient. Once its data gathering was complete, the diagnostic device was excreted through normal bodily functions. The patient could then return to the gastroenterologist’s office with the external receiver for data analysis.

While being interviewed for this article, Dr. Neil Kheterpal described the intricacies of the PillCam SB 3 to writer Kathryn Salamone.

At that time, such a device gave gastroenterologists information on digestive disorders that could not be easily obtained through previous methods. Before the advent of this type of diagnostic sensor, taking a look at the twists and turns of the intestines was both invasive and unpleasant for the patient. In less than a decade, these devices have become a valuable tool for gastroenterologists in diagnosing digestive disorders. They make exploring the 25 feet of the small and large intestines almost as easy as using a GPS device.

Dr. Neil Kheterpal, gastroenterologist at Trinitas Regional Medical Center, has been using the PillCam line of medical diagnostic devices—developed and manufactured by Israel-based Given Imaging—since 2007. He is confident that the latest generation, the PillCam SB 3, will be of great benefit to the diagnostic procedures he performs on his patients at Trinitas.

“This technology has played a major role in our better understanding of the small intestines,” Dr. Kheterpal explains.  “The mobility of the device has made viewing the intestines much easier and has improved our diagnostic capabilities as a result.  I have found it to be an exceptionally valuable tool in my role as a diagnostician.”

Equipped with a sophisticated camera and sensors, the latest generation offers diagnosticians two new benefits, notes Dr. Kheterpal.  “I have used the two earlier generations of the PillCam in the past seven years.  They offered images of excellent quality.  But, this latest version exceeds that level with images of even higher resolution, a 30 percent improvement over the PillCam SB 2.”

Also, the device now has the capability of capturing images at varying rates of speed through an adaptive frame rate technology.  In other words, while traveling through the intestinal track, sensors will respond when the capsule is moving slowly or quickly. Slow movement will allow the camera to capture images at two frames per second, while faster movement will capture up to six images per second.

In his years of using the earlier generations of PillCam, Dr. Kheterpal has recognized the high standards of the device. He considers the PillCam “the pioneer” in diagnostic devices for gastroenterologists. “What started out as a promising concept and purpose has shown its worth in successive generations as these refinements demonstrate,” he observes.

Neil Kheterpal, DO Gastroenterologist, TRMC 908.282.0500

However, Dr. Kheterpal stresses that the PillCam SB 3 or any future generations of this device will not replace tradi-tional colonoscopies. “The PillCam SB 3 and its predecessors have given us a view of the intestinal track that we didn’t have before. It’s just one of the tools that we have in the arsenal of disease diagnosis that ultimately helps in diagnosis and in recommending potential disease treatment, helping to contribute to the best possible outcomes for patients. Treatment will continue to be the domain of other more invasive procedures. Diagnosis is the one thing that this device is designed for and it does it exceptionally well.”

WATCH WHAT YOU EAT

As in the case of many chronic conditions, diet can play an important role relieving the impact of various digestive disorders. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, these strategies can help ease symptoms…

• Eating small amounts of food throughout the day.
• Drinking lots of water (drink small amounts often throughout the day).
• Avoiding high-fiber foods (bran, beans, nuts, seeds, and popcorn).
• Avoiding fatty, greasy or fried foods and sauces (butter, margarine, and heavy cream).
• Limiting dairy products if you have problems digesting dairy fats.

Try low-lactose cheeses, such as Swiss and cheddar, and an enzyme product, such as Lactaid, to help break down lactose.

• Avoiding foods that you know cause gas, such as beans.

Also, ask your doctor about extra vitamins and minerals you may need, such as iron supplements (if you are anemic), calcium and vitamin D supplements to help keep your bones strong, and vitamin B12 to prevent anemia.

A Trinitas Family Spans Three Generations

What’s in a name? Every day, we pass by buildings and parks and other public spaces that bear the names of people we know little or nothing about. In the case of the new Thomas and Yoshiko Hackett Ambulatory Surgery Center at Trinitas Regional Medical Center, there’s more to those names than perhaps anyone knows.

The Hacketts have left behind a thriving legacy of a hardworking family which has remembered its roots. Tom Hackett was born in Elizabeth to Irish immigrants. He served in the Air Force during the Korean War, and while overseas he met his future wife, Yoshiko, in Japan. The Hacketts lived in Elizabeth for three decades, raising eight children, all of whom were born in St. Elizabeth Hospital. They moved to Roselle Park and then Clark in 2007. Tom was a letter carrier for the U.S. Post Office in Elizabeth for 35 years. He also worked many part time jobs in order to provide for his family of 10. Yoshiko worked part time for the Elizabeth Board of Education for a number of years. Tom passed away in 2010 and Yoshiko earlier this year.

During their lifetimes, Tom and Yoshiko were longtime supporters of Trinitas. Their legacy lives on since their generosity has made it possible for Trinitas to realize a vision for better health care for the community. In 2014, the family’s generosity and devotion was recognized with the opening of the Ambulatory Surgery Center bearing their names. The 9,500 square foot outpatient facility has already proven vital to the community, and has reduced the demands on the hospital’s busy main operating rooms.

As Gary S. Horan, President and Chief Executive of Trinitas, explains, “The measure of a man is often based on what he does in his lifetime and in the legacy he leaves behind. Tom and Yoshiko Hackett loved Elizabeth and never forgot the City in which they lived, worked and raised their family. They passed along that abiding love and regard for their hometown to their children who, like their parents, are committed to supporting programs and initiatives that help Trinitas meet the health care demands of the communities it serves.”

Their daughter, Eileen, is currently a member of the Trinitas family, working in the Information Technology department, and their son, Patrick, serves on the Trinitas Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees. Eileen and Patrick’s siblings—Ali, Faith, Tom, John, Michael and Mary Catherine—have also remained connected to the hospital in various ways, including annual giving to the Trinitas Health Foundation. A third generation is also involved with Trinitas as several of Tom and Yoshiko’s 19 grandchildren are donors and event volunteers.

“Our parents were hard-working and very caring, and taught all of us the importance of helping each other and supporting others in the community,” says Patrick Hackett. “We are so pleased to have the opportunity to honor them at Trinitas, an organization they had such important connections to and that meant so much to them.”

The Hackett family’s connection to Trinitas—now three generations and growing—continues to move the medical center forward. More important, it will benefit the people in Union County and beyond for generations to come. EDGE

Editor’s Note: In addition to the Ambulatory Surgery Center, Thomas and Yoshiko’s names also grace the Trinitas Emergency Services headquarters (right) in the Center for Regional Education (CORE) on Elizabeth Avenue in midtown Elizabeth. Nick Schoendorf, Communications Supervisor, (right) represents his fellow EMTs.

Bright Ideas for Book Lovers

SUPER HEROIC

Who says literary jewelry has tobe high-brow? The Marvel Comic Book Bracelet turns mini-comic charms into high fashion.    Available at sweettreatsjewelry.com.

A LEG UP

The design on these Bookworm Unisex Socks is woven right into the fabric. Available at alwaysfits.com.

PLAYFUL PLASTERS

Archie McPhee’s latex-free Jane Austen Bandages turn “owies“ into teachable moments—and come with a free prize inside!Available at mcphee.com.

WRAP-AROUND

The Shakespeare Brass Cuff Bracelet  features famous quotes from the legendary playwright. Available at alwaysfits.com.

BARELY LEGAL

The Banned Book Bracelet by Carolyn Forsman is a true conversation piece. Available at loc.gov/shop.

COMPOSING ROOM

Shoes of Note flats turn those dreaded composition notebooks from junior high into an adult fashion statement. Available at modcloth.com.

PAGE TURNER

Luciana Frigerio transforms hardcovers into Folded Book sculptural works of art. Available at lucianapaper.com.

GREAT OUTDOORS

The Fully Booked Tent  can accommodate two campers and is built to withstand Tempest conditions. Available at fieldcandy.com.

O TRUE APOTHECARY!

The Shakespeare Pill Box by Unemployed Philosophers Guild features one of the Bard’s better quips about the medical profession. Available at philosophersguild.com.

GOING PUBLIC

The New York Public Library marble Lion Bookends celebrate one of the literary world’s most iconic Beaux Art works of art. Available at nytstore.com.

COVER TO COVER

Heather Alston designed these metal Fairy Tale Bookends, which feature hand-cut silhouettes of a prince, princess and castle.  Available at notonthehighstreet.com.

ALL KEYED UP

Laptops may have replaced trusty Smith-Coronas, but their spirit lives on in the Typewriter Satchel.  Available at theliterarygiftcompany.com.

EDGE takes you inside the area’s most creative kitchens.

The Office Beer Bar & Grill • Grilled Bratwurst

728 Thompson Ave. • BRIDGEWATER 32–34 Chestnut St. • RIDGEWOOD 1–7 South Ave. • CRANFORD 61 Union Pl. • SUMMIT

619 Bloomfield Ave. • MONTCLAIR 411 North Ave. West • WESTFIELD

We fire finish our beer-braised bratwurst on the grill and serve it with sautéed onions and peppers on a char-grilled garlic-infused baguette.

— Kevin Felice, 40North Executive Chef

Paragon Tap & Table • Butternut Squash Ravioli

77 Central Ave. • CLARK

(732) 931-1776 • paragonnj.com

Our new restaurant blends hand-crafted ravioli preparations with creative twists on classics. A popular addition to the fall menu at our new restaurant has been the butternut squash ravioli served, which we sautée with butternut squash and sage sauce. 

— Eric B LeVine, Chef/Partner

The Black Horse Tavern & Pub • Bone-in Ham Chop

1 West Main Street • MENDHAM

(963) 543–7300 • blackhorsenj.com

Our ham chop is served bone-in, with a bing cherry compote, and is accompanied by celery root purée and citrus-sautéed spinach.

— Kevin Felice, 40North Executive Chef

Piattino Neighborhood Bistro • Neapolitan Pizza

88 East Main Street • MENDHAM

(973) 543-0025 • piattinonj.com

Our house special Neapolitan-style Piattino pizza is stone-fired and topped with roasted chicken, basil-and-pine-nut pesto, pecorino romano cheese, fresh-pulled mozzarella, braised onions and tomatoes.

— Kevin Felice, 40North Executive Chef

George and Martha’s American Grille • Maple Pumpkin Pie

67 Morris Street • MORRISTOWN

(973) 267-4700 • georgeandmarthas.com

This season we are featuring maple pumpkin pie. It’s a maple-infused, spiced pumpkin pie topped with cinnamon and fresh whipped cream.

— Kevin Felice, 40North Executive Chef

The Office Tavern Grill • Belgium-Style Stout Braised Mussels

3 South Street • MORRISTOWN

(973) 285-0220 • officetaverngrill.com

We braise Prince Edward Island mussels in a local craft ale, with garlic and onions. They’re finished with herbs and served with fresh-cut fries.

— Kevin Felice, 40North Executive Chef

Daimatsu • Tuna Tataki

860 Mountain Ave. • MOUNTAINSIDE

(908) 233-7888 • daimatsusushibar.com

The must-try favorite on our appetizer menu is tuna tataki—diced tuna marinated in sesame-flavored soy sauce and mixed with finely chopped onion, spicy sprouts and nori on top.

— Momo, Chef

Publick House • Sesame-Crusted Ahi Tuna

899 Mountain Ave. • MOUNTAINSIDE

(908) 233-2355 • publickhousenj.com

This has been one of our signature dishes since we opened in 2009. For the Fall season, the tuna is crusted in black and white sesame seeds and seared rare. It is sliced and served over a medley of stir-fried vegetables, which are cooked in soy sauce. The dish is finished with scallions and accompanied with a side of wasabi.

— Bernie Goncalves, Owner

Morris Tap & Grill • Roasted Pork Tenderloin

500 Route 10 West • RANDOLPH

(973) 891-1776 • morristapandgrill.com

We serve our seasonal roasted pork tenderloin with roasted Brussels sprouts and finish it with a port wine demi. We pair all of our dishes with selections from our best-in-the-state craft beer menu for an ever-evolving craft-beer and food experience.

— Eric B LeVine, Chef/Partner

Thai Amarin • Curry Beef Short Ribs

201 Morris Ave. • SPRINGFIELD

(973) 376-6300, (973) 376-6301 • thaiamarinnj.net

Our juicy beef short ribs, cooked to perfection with rich, mild Massaman curry—emphatically the king of curries—is perhaps the king of all foods. Spicy, coco-nutty, sweet and savory, its combination of flavors has more personality than a Thai election! 

— Amy Thana, Owner

Café Z • Chicken Rapa

2333 Morris Avenue • UNION

(908) 686-4321 • CafeZNJ.com

One of our crowd favorites is our Chicken Rapa. We prepare a boneless chicken breast with sundried tomatoes, fresh diced tomatoes, broccoli rabe and serve it over capellini with a white wine, oil and garlic sauce.

— Patricia Inghilleri, Owner

Chestnut Chateau • Smoked Meats

649 Chestnut Street • UNION

(908) 964-8696 • chestnutchateaunj.com

With football season in full swing, we’ve added smoked certified angus meats to our menu, while cooking up the best brisket, ribs, pork bellies and butts north of the Mason-Dixon Line. Our baby back ribs fall off the bone and with my homemade barbecue sauce a loss by your favorite team won’t matter anymore. 

— George Niotis, Chef

Mario’s Tutto Bene • Vinegar Pork Chops

495 Chestnut Street • UNION

(908) 687-3250 • mariostuttobene.com

Our vinegar pork chops feature three thin-cut Frenched chops that are coated with Italian breadcrumbs and sautéed with sweet vinegar peppers, prosciutto and garlic. They arrive with house-made roasted or mashed potatoes. Our regulars love this entrée.  

— John Garofalo, Owner

Rio Rodizio • Brazilian Meats

2185 Rte. 22 West • UNION

(908) 206-0060 • riorodiziounion.com

We offer an “All-You-Can-Eat” dining experience transported straight from the streets of Rio de Janeiro to your tableside. Each customer gets to witness a never-ending parade of freshly roasted meat and poultry. Our authentic Gaucho chefs carve these melt-in-your-mouth meats to your liking.

— Paul Seabra, Owner

The Manor • Herb-Crusted Rack of Lamb

111 Prospect Avenue • WEST ORANGE

(973) 731-2360 • themanorrestaurant.com

Our herb-crusted rack of lamb is moist, tender and full of flavor—and contrasted with a wonderfully seasoned,crispy exterior texture. The dish is served with a rosemary-mint demi-glace on the side. To complement the lamb, we add a decorative potato basket featuring an array of seasonal vegetables and a rich eggplant caponata.

In search of the ultimate Generation Z vacation

Can spring vacation be just around the corner? For families who embrace the idea of advanced planning, it most certainly is. In decades past, New Jerseyites typically targeted Florida, the Bahamas or the Caribbean. But with the startling growth of eco-tourism industry—and the development of top-of-the-line sustainable and responsible luxury resorts—there is now no reason not to consider a different kind of spring break.

Children today are growing up in a different world than their parents did. From an environmental perspective, it’s a world that past generations have done a remarkable job screwing up. Plant and animal species are being extinguished from the planet at an unprecedented rate and the job of reversing this biodiversity crash will soon fall upon our kids. What better way to foster an appreciation of the natural world than to combine it with an unforgettable family vacation?

Both sustainable tourism and responsible tourism are centered on “sustainable development,” which is shorthand for meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria establishes the minimum global standards for what qualifies as sustainable or “green” tourism practices, and there are a total of 23 criteria that lodging and tour operators must meet. They fall into four major categories:

• Demonstrate effective sustainable management.
• Maximize social and economic benefits to the local community and minimize negative impacts.
• Maximize benefits to cultural heritage and minimize negative impact.
• Maximize benefits to the environment and minimize negative impact.

The broader concept of ecotourism ties together the values of sustainable tourism, conservation, and nature-based tourism—and is roughly defined as “travel to natural places.” The International Ecotourism Society defines ecotourim as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.”

In order to experience and support true ecotourism practices, vacationing families must focus on the following objectives:

• Minimize impact.
• Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect.
• Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts.
• Provide direct financial benefits for conservation.
• Provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people.
• Raise sensitivity to host countries’ political, environmental, and social climate.

Every year, the range and depth of ecotourism possibilities increases. There are destinations for older vacationers, singles and adrenaline junkies. Great options for families are out there, too. Safety and security are, obviously, of paramount concern and in this regard many families will opt for highly rated properties that offer a blend of traditional amenities along with natural-world experiences. Needless to say, these internationally recognized eco-resorts and lodges tend to be pricey. They are, however, excellent starting points for planning a truly unforgettable spring vacation. Among the best are…

Lapa Rios • Osa Peninsula • Costa Rica

LapaRios.com • 506–2735–5130

Tiny Costa Rica claims a full five percent of the planet’s biodiversity, and has developed a thriving ecotourism industry. In 2012, the country earned the #1 ranking in the Americas (and #5 in the world) on the Environmental Performance Index and has been cited by the United Nations Development Program for “attaining high human development and equality as well as environmental sustainability.” Located near Corcovado National Park, Lapa Rios is ranked among National Geographic’s Top 50 Ecolodges, Forbes Traveler’s Hotels with the Most Beautiful Views, and is one of the best hotels in the world according to both Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler. Lapa Rios has also been awarded the Rainforest Alliance’s Sustainable Standard-Setters Award, as well as the 5 Leaf Award Certificate of Sustainable Tourism.

The property’s luxurious eco-resort rainforest bungalows feature views of the Pacific Ocean and wake-up calls from howler monkeys and the inescapable aroma of Costa Rican coffee. Coatamundis, sloths, bats, scarlet macaws, toucans, lizards, geckos, and crabs are regular sights around the resort, as well as the occasional puma, jaguar, ocelot, river otter, crocodile, sea turtle, dolphin, or whale. Family activities include bird watching, cooling off in waterfalls, a local medicine tour, hikes and nature walks along beaches and in the jungle, surfing, kayaking, horseback riding, zip lines, dolphin-spotting tours, and excursions through Corcovado National Park by plane or land vehicle.

SUMMER FUN

Some of the best eco-resorts are situated outside the tropics and thus are a better choice for a summer adventure. Sadie Cove Wilderness Lodge in Alaska’s Kachemak Bay State Park, has been recognized both locally and internationally for its ecological efforts, ranking among North America’s Top 10 Eco Resorts and earning the title of “United States’ Leading Green Resort.” The lodge runs on non-polluting wind and hydropower and is completely self-sustaining, receiving the Alaska Green Star Award for recycling and sustainable tourism efforts.

Situated on a private beach across the bay from the town of Homer, Sadie Cove provides families with the opportunity to experience some of Alaska’s most stunning natural scenery and wildlife firsthand. The area is considered the bear-viewing capital of the world and is also home to humpback and beluga whales, seals, sea lions, sea otters, marmots, coyotes, wolves, and foxes.

This is a particularly appealing destination for kids interested in outdoor adventures, including wildlife photography, bird watching, mountain biking, hiking, berry picking, sea kayaking, fishing, clamming or simply beach combing. The lodge arranges a wide range of guided tours, chartered sailboat excursions, seaplane trips to a nearby volcanic island, kayak expeditions between glaciers and river rafting.

A special feature of this lodge is the Sailboat Cabin, a separate private guest lodge built into a refurbished classic old sailboat. Your children may take it personally if you don’t book these particular accommodations.(SadieCove.com • (888) 283–7234)

Campi ya Kanzi • Mtito Andei • Kenya

Maasai.com • 254–45–622516

Ecotourism Kenya recently conferred its “gold” rating on Campi ya Kanzi, which is probably the most honored vacation lodge in East Africa. The property has received the Skaal Ecotourism Award, the Tourism for Tomorrow Award, the Eco-Warrior Award, and the Condé Nast World Savers Award. Campi ya Kanzi is also a Long Run Alliance Member, recognized for “significantly influencing the management of a natural area of conservation value.”

Campi ya Kanzi sits on 280,000 acres of wilderness, which actually boasts a greater diversity of species than the typical national Park, with elephants, buffalos, rhinos, lions, leopards, gazelles, impalas, hippos, baboons, hyenas, foxes, wart hogs, cheetahs, porcupines, and aardvarks playing starring roles. Guests can explore the area in a number of ways, including game drives and walks, forest walks, bird watching, scenic flights, and Maasai village visits. A view of Mt. Kilimanjaro—as well as a gathering of dozens of species of animals and birds at the nearby watering hole—is literally as close as one’s veranda.

Campi ya Kanzi utilizes ecotourism to support environmental conservation and sustainable community development, partnering with and advocating for the local Maasai community. The lodge uses rain cropping for water, gathers electricity and hot water from solar panels, and cooks all food with eco-friendly charcoal. Guests can choose between a luxury canvas-tented cottage or a private villa in the bush (which is larger and more family-friendly). In addition to the cost of housing each day, visitors pay a $100 conservation fee to the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust, which is used to compensate Massai landlords for livestock losses to predators. In essence, every family visiting the property is paying the locals not to shoot lions and other big cats, which is the definition of money well spent.

ECOTOURISM TIPS

• Think like an Ecotourist- Find reputable, nature-friendly lodging and tour activities that promote conservation. Choose protected or World Heritage sites. Visit government-run game preserves over private ones, which may be for-profit—meaning that the money does not actually go toward conservation.
• Research your destination- Before you push the PAY button, learn as much as you can about the region, country, flora and fauna. This will enable you to make a smart, informed decisions, minimizing stress once you arrive.
• Pack light- Limit the amount of packaging you bring with you. This will only become waste and you can save more room for souvenirs.
• Travel green- Travelling by bus, train, coach, bicycles, or even on foot greatly reduces your carbon emissions and allows you to take in more of the scenery along the way. It’s also fun for the kids.
• Respect the wildlife- Coach your kids in advance not to disturb the plants or animals they may encounter, and to maintain a careful distance.
• Eat smart- Opt for local, in-season produce and avoid foods you suspect have been flown in from great distances. Obviously, avoid any endangered species that may be on the menu.
• Choose souvenirs carefully- Never purchase products made from endangered species and avoid plant species that may become invasive to your homeland and native wildlife.
• Get involved- Often, you can become a member of local sustainable organizations or conservations programs at your destination. This will create a lasting memory for your children, and demonstrate how they can continue to have a positive impact on the region they visited.

Al-Maha Desert Resort & Spa • Dubai

Al-Maha.com • 971–4–832–9900

The Al-Maha Desert Resort & Spa achieves a tricky balance of ecofriendly, sustainable practices and luxurious accommodations, helping it to earn the Middle East’s Responsible Tourism Award and a Top 50 Ecolodge ranking from National Geographic. The family won’t be roughing it here. Al-Maha is a 5-star resort that has been singled out in a couple of Internet surveys as the top resort in the Middle East.

Situated in a palm oasis within the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, Al-Maha celebrates the cultural heritage and architecture of the Bedouins. The spa uses holistic treatments from Middle Eastern and South Asian traditions, such as rhassoul mud bath chambers. Each meal includes organic international and indigenous delicacies served amongst the dunes (or poolside, if preferred). Al-Maha also offers vacationers two desert activities each day, such as archery, camel and horse rides, falconry and safaris.

The resort recycles 100% of its water, has a seed bank of over 6,000 species of trees, shrubs, and grasses, and is a major contributor to the conservation effort at the reserve—most notably the Arabian Oryx, which was nearly hunted into extinction. The largest free-roaming herd of Arabian Oryx now inhabits Al-Maha. Other native species include gazelles, foxes, hedgehogs, “sand fish,” side-winding vipers, colorful parakeets, eagles, ospreys, owls, and falcons.

Satwa Elephant Eco Lodge

Lampung Province/Sumatra • Indonesia SatwaEcoLodge.com • 62–361–7474-205

Located just outside the Way Kambas National Park, a sprawling protected lowland rain forest, Satwa Elephant Eco Lodge helps fund a program to protect the endangered Sumatran elephant and rare Sumatran tiger and rhino. The lodge itself is set inside a walled garden of fruit trees, and includes four cottages, which are ideally suited for a family of four. The cottages are powered by solar energy, as is the lodge. The lodge is dedicated to empowering local communities in long-term conservation and sustainable development.

Satwa is not a conventional resort in terms of opulence and luxury; the show is 500 meters down the road in Way Kambas, where the wildlife includes sun bears, tapirs, gibbons, macaques and more than 300 bird species. Tiger sightings are a rarity, but all of the other park residents—including elephants and rhinos—are commonly encountered on the lodge’s land and river tours. Satwa Elephant Eco Lodge has been recognized by Sustainable Travel International, is Green Globe certified, and is part of network of eco-lodges on the Indonesian islands of Borneo and Bali.

FORE FOR FOURS

(Left photo) Bill Murray, Mike Hannan, Eugene Kennedy, MD, Chair-man of Radiology at Trinitas and Co-Chair of the Trinitas Health Foundation Golf/Spa Classic, and Michael Pantony were among the golfers who helped raise more than $175,000 at this year’s event.

(Right photo) Nick Brown, Tom Pennimpede, Joseph Santo, Principal, Premier Energy Group, LLC, Middlesex and Co-Chairman of the Trinitas Health Foundation Golf/Spa Classic, and Chuck Wilk, paused on the greens at Echo Lake Golf Club in Westfield during the event at which former heavy weight contender Gerry Cooney was a special guest.

WITH TAX TIME AROUND THE CORNER, THERE’S A WAY TO REAP BENEFITS OF GIVING

It’s not too late to cash in on tax savings for 2014!  Consider making a tax-effective, high impact gift to Trinitas Health Foundation.

You can qualify for your tax deduction with a gift today or by creating a Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA) that can earn high-interest income for life (and for a second beneficiary, if you  c  h o  o s e ).  Through a CGA established with cash, stocks or bonds, you will enjoy an immediate and a long-term tax benefit.  If you make a gift of appreciated property, you will only pay capital gains tax on part of the appreciation (which will be spread out over years if you are the annuitant).

Wondering what your tax deduction and annual high-interest income might be from a CGA? Call Andi Koenig-Feldman at (908) 994-8249 to find out today.

A SOLID INVESTMENT

Bank of America continues its support of the Trinitas Health Careers Exploration Program through a $15,000 grant. The bank has made an investment in thousands of young people in Elizabeth and other Union County communities.  The ROI?: Thousands of students given the opportunity to explore career opportunities. More than a few successful doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals got their start through this program. Goreti M. Muñoz of Bank of America (center) proudly presented the check representing the Bank’s latest grant to (from left), Lisa Liss, Director of Volunteer Services, Eileen Mulroy, Coordinator of Health Occupations at Trinitas, Nadine Brechner, Chief Development Officer and Vice President, Trinitas Health Foundation, and Jasmine Jones and Kristian Adap, students at Union County Vocational Technical High School who are recent participants in the Health Careers Exploration Program. Photo courtesy of Debbie Jones

AMAZON SMILE

If you shop at Amazon.com, you can help Trinitas. Just go to http://smile.amazon.com/ch/22-2353773 and Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases to Trinitas Health Foundation.  We’re all grins.

IT’S BLACK FRIDAY SOON, SO GIVING TUESDAY CAN’T BE FAR BEHIND…

This holiday shopping season consider opening your wallet to give a special gift to a deserving child.

On Giving Tuesday, December 2, (#GivingTuesday 2014), you can join the Trinitas Health Foundation at the kick off of the Giving season by making a donation by giving the gift of health to less fortunate children.

Your $25 Gift will help provide the quality care that pediatric patients at Trinitas deserve!

Please visit https://www.genestorasp.com/trinitasdonations/secured.aspx. Contact the Trinitas Health Foundatio

News, views and insights on maintaining a healthy edge.

Brown Bagging It

Is your child’s packed lunch getting the job done? A recent report by the Boston Nutrition Obesity Research Center and the National Institutes of Health suggests that it may not. Only 27 percent of lunches brought to school by the 3rd and 4th graders in the study satisfy minimum standards of one ounce of protein, a half-cup of fruit or vegetables, a half-cup of grains and a cup of milk. What’s interesting about these numbers is that the study focused primarily on upper-income families with college-educated parents. In this case, poor food choices are not a function of affluence or education. Among the suggestions nutrition experts offer are packing the lunch the night before, when there is less of a time crunch, and a dedicated section of your fridge for school lunch ingredients.

Is Obesity the New Normal?

With all the talk of stemming America’s childhood obesity epidemic, one crucial component has actually gone underreported: the failure of parents to recognize that their child has a weight problem. A 2014 study published in Pediatrics revealed that the percentage of parents who believe their child is “about the right weight” has risen considerably compared to the previous generation—despite irrefutable evidence to the contrary. Parents of girls in a n earlier study (1988 to 1994) said their kids were about the right weight, as opposed to 78 percent of current parents. The increase was not as dramatic for boys (78 percent to 83 percent). However, 37 percent of parents of obese boys said their weight was about right. These numbers worry researchers because children are less likely to lose weight if their parents don’t see a problem. One contributing factor may be that the percentage of obese adults is double the number of obese children.

Deep 6 BPA

Despite the fact the FDA has declared Biphenol A (BPA) to be safe, mounting concern about its long-term effects on the brains and behavior of young children has many parents opting to be safe rather than sorry. “Technology has given us many advances in the food and beverage industry,” says Dr. Kevin Lukenda of Trinitas Regional Medical Center. “Responsible parents need to stay on top of—and be aware of—the possible downside of these conveniences. We need to always remind ourselves that certain products may make our lives easier…but need to know which of these advances can be a risk to our health.”

BPA is an industrial chemical used to create rigid plastic products—including food and beverage containers, as well as some dental sealants and register receipts.  A number of studies are under way, but until their results are in, here are some basic precautions parents can take:

• Never microwave in plastic containers.
• Get rid of any container marked with a #7 or marked PC.
• Store food in glass, ceramic or steel containers instead of plastic.
• Cut down on processed food purchases at the grocery store—most come in plastic packaging.
• Bring your own bags to the store. California recently banned plastic ones. New Jersey should, too.

E-Lim-I-Nate the Negative

A recent study conducted at Carnegie Mellon University found that too many negative social interactions can trigger bouts of inflammation that overwhelm a person’s adaptive system and lead to hypertension in older adults. The study (which focused on subjects 50 and older) defined these interactions as involving excessive demands, criticism, disappointment, or other unpleasantness with partners, children, family members, and friends. The effects appear to be more serious among individuals between 51 and 64, and among women in general. One way to manage these situations—besides avoiding them, if possible—is to practice stress-management techniques, including paced breathing and meditation. “The research coming from Carnegie Mellon indicating that unpleasant or demanding interpersonal encounters increase hypertension risk among older adults should come as no surprise to any of us,” points out Rodger Goddard, PhD, Chief Psychologist and Director of Wellness Management Services at Trinitas. Dr. Goddard adds that controlling stress should be very high on one’s priority list. “We cannot become monks and live in a cave in the mountains, so we need to deal productively with what is in our lives,” he says. Stress management involves using both passive and active tools and skills.  Passive skills involve improving the capacity to calm our body and muscles down all throughout the day, and involve deep-breathing, stretching, muscle softening and self-calming thoughts all day long. Active skills involves using:

• Tough Thinking to fight against and banish our negative worries and emotions
• PIPS (Problem Identification Problem Solving) to dwell on the solutions to our difficulties and not on the problems
• Radical Self-Support to build social skills, avoid the negative interactions cited in the study, nurture ourselves, resolve conflict and get our need for love and support filled

Your Germs, My Germs

The next time you check into a hotel or motel and start thinking about all the icky-sticky bacteria you’re being exposed to, consider this: Within 24 hours of check-in, that room will be microbiologically identical to your home. According to the recently released Home Microbiome Study by the Argonne National Lab in Chicago, the bacteria you carry with you does a remarkable job wiping out whatever the previous occupant left behind. “Those who travel regularly, or even just occasionally, tend to be very suspicious of their environment when they check into a hotel, whether it’s in Des Moines or Dubai,” observes Michelle Gillis-Harry, RN, MPH, CIC, Director of Infection Prevention and Control at Trinitas. “By using a sanitizing spray or a disinfectant wipe that kills germs, you create a line of defense against germs that others leave behind. But, based on the findings of this study, as you close the hotel door behind you, you’re leaving your own unique microbial imprint. Simply put, we all leave our mark on the places we live, visit, work or play. It’s part of being human and living within the complex environment we call the Earth.” The true potential of the Chicago study (and others in the works) may be in forensics, since microbiological evidence left by humans may be more useful than fingerprints.

Trinitas Joins Elite Group of Palliative Care Programs

Earlier this year, Trinitas received the Joint Commission’s Advanced Certification status for its Palliative Care Program, becoming just the fifth medical center in New Jersey to attain this distinction. TRMC’s multidisciplinary team—which includes medical specialists, nurses, pain management specialists, chaplains, social workers respiratory/physical/speech therapists and nutritionists—was singled out for having demonstrated exceptional patient- and family-centered care, optimizing the quality of life for patients with serious illness. Gary S. Horan, President and Chief Executive Officer, praised the work of the team, noting that their commitment to achieving the Advanced Palliative Care Certification was “a tribute to their dedication to these patients and families who need this highly specialized compassionate care. ”According to Valerie Ramsberger, RN, MSN, ACHP—who initiated, developed and directed the Palliative Care Program—in recent years, palliative care has become a specialty that melds the unique skills of a broad spectrum of healthcare professionals dedicated to relieving pain and other symptoms in the most challenging of circumstances. Ramsberger (at center, above), who recently retired as Director of Palliative Care at Trinitas, began the qualifying process more than three years ago by participating in collaborative activities with the Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYHA), Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), and the New Jersey Hospital Association. Geraldine “Magie” Cruz, RN, MSN, CCRN—an ICU staff

FLU SEASON

It’s that time of the year again. Winter is around the corner and flu season—which can stretch from October to May—is already well under way. As Benjamin Franklin once stated, “ An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” The key to avoiding the flu is prevention. The cornerstones of flu management are based on a three-pronged approach: getting vaccinated, washing hands well and often, and protecting others by staying at home if infected. Once you’ve contracted the influenza virus, the best cure is time. The virus will typically last from 7 to 10 days. It’s important to manage a fever with acetaminophen or ibuprofen and to keep well-hydrated. Antiviral therapy (for example, Tamiflu) started within two days of symptom onset has been reported to decrease the length of the flu by one or two days. However, there is much debate within the medical community as to whether or not antivirals play any role at all. Consult your healthcare provider to determine the appropriate plan of action in your scenario. But first things first…

Who should get vaccinated?

If you are reading this, the answer is almost certainly You. The exceptions would be babies under 6 months, people with allergies and active asthma—need to discuss their options with their physician to determine an appropriate plan of action (i.e., those with an egg allergy)—and those with weakened immune systems, who might be best served to receive the Inactivated Influenza Vaccine (IAV) as opposed to the Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV).

So there are more than one kind of flu shot available?

Yes. You will need to discuss the most appropriate option for yourself with your physician, taking your age and medical history into account. The most common options are:

1. Standard Dose Trivalent Shot (Contains Killed Viruses). This shot is approved for people ages 6 months and older.
2. High-Dose Trivalent Shot (Contains Killed Viruses). This shot is approved for people ages 65 and older. As we age, our immune system becomes less robust. The aging immune system can lack the necessary immune response to combat the flu. The high dose flu-shot contains three times the exposure (antigen) to the virus resulting in a more immunogenic response to the flu.
3. Trivalent Shot (Standard) contains 2 Influenza A strains and 1 Influenza B strain
4. Quadrivalent Shot contains 2 Influenza A strains and Influenza B strains
5. Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine (Contains Live Viruses). The CDC recommends this as an option for healthy children from ages 2 through 8 years old, as studies have shown that nasal sprays are more efficacious than the flu shot in children in this age group.

Do I need to get vaccinated every year?

Yes, you do. Researchers isolate the top three flu viruses that will be most prevalent each season and create one flu vaccine. Therefore, you need to get a new flu shot every year to make sure that you are protected. Ninety percent of deaths related to the flu occur in people 65 years of age or older, so it is especially important for this group to get annual vaccinations.

How does the flu actually spread?

The flu virus is contained in droplets. The flu is spread when an infected person with the flu sneezes, coughs or talks. As with most viruses, it spreads from our hands to our nasal and oral cavities.

What’s the best way to avoid getting the flu?

If you are sick, stay home from work, school or daycare. It is imperative to practice excellent hand-washing hygiene in order to prevent the spread of the flu. A helpful tip is to wash your hands with soap and water for approximately 15 seconds—the same time it takes to sing the Happy Birthday song. You can also use an alcohol-based hand rub.

What are the common symptoms that tell me I’ve got the flu?

Cough, runny nose, stuffy nose, sore throat, fever, fatigue, muscle aches, vomiting and diarrhea.

How do I know when to seek medical attention?

If you are at the extremes of age, pregnant or have multiple co-morbid conditions such as diabetes, COPD, asthma—or if you are immuno-compromised—get to the doctor the instant you suspect you have the flu.

Editor’s Note: John D’Angelo, DO, is the Chairman of Emergency Medicine at Trinitas Regional Medical Center. He has been instrumental in introducing key emergency medical protocols at Trinitas, including the life-saving Code STemi, which significantly reduces the amount of time it takes for cardiac patients to move from the emergency setting to the cardiac catheterization lab for treatment.

EV-D68

Enterovirus-D68 was first detected in California in 1962. It occurs less frequently than other types of Enteroviruses (EV), which can be difficult to distinguish from any of the viruses that cause the common cold.

The viruses are called “Entero” because they enter the body through the stomach or intestinal tract. There are over 100 types of EV, which affect 10-15 million people each year in the U.S. The strain in question was identified as D68 in August by the CDC. More than 40 states have confirmed respiratory cases caused by EV-D68. In the state of NJ, there are a total of nine laboratory-confirmed cases as of October 3. The counties affected included are: Sussex, Essex. Passaic, Middlesex, Mercer, Morris, Camden and Burlington counties. EV-D68 was detected in specimens from four patients who have died and had samples submitted.

What are symptoms of EV-D68 infection and how is it spread?

Symptoms are nearly indistinguishable from the common cold—cough runny nose, sneezing, body aches and sometimes fever. Severe symptoms include difficulty breathing, wheezing and worsening of asthma. Enteroviruses can be found in secretions from the nose, mouth and through the entire gastrointestinal tract. The virus spreads from person to person via fecal oral contamination, coughing, sneezing or by touching your hands to your face after touching infected surfaces.

Are children at particular risk?

They are. Little ones get their hands in everything. Children are in close contact with one another. Whereas most adults have been exposed to the many types of Enterovirus—and over time, our immunity strengthens and we are able to combat the assailant—infants, children and adolescents lack the immunity necessary to fight the virus. Children with reactive airway disease are particularly susceptible to EV-D68. Parents of children with asthma should use particular vigilance. If their child becomes ill or has increase in his/her work of breathing they should consult their healthcare provider. Adults can contract the virus, of course, but are less likely to become very ill. Even so, EV-D68 can masquerade as the flu or any other “cold-like” illness. Medical professionals view EV-D68 as a possible cause of severe respiratory illness. If you, a member of your family or community experience a new onset of difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, please seek medical attention.

Can it be treated with antibiotics?

No. Antibiotics treat bacteria, not viruses. A patient will be treated by supportive care—namely medications for breathing, fever control and hydration. Practicing proper hand hygiene is paramount to protecting yourself and others. Wash with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after changing diapers. Hand sanitizers are not effective against Enterovirus. Avoid contacting your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Cough or sneeze into a tissue or an elbow as opposed to an uncovered space. Keep your children or yourself at home if you are not feeling well. Disinfect high-traffic household items such as bathroom surfaces, countertops and toys with bleach-based household cleaners. EV is resistant to alcohol disinfectants. Look for products that list “Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride” as the active ingredient on the label. The product should state that it kills norovirus and rhinovirus.

Should my child stay home from school if I suspect EV?

Parents should never send a sick child to school. And they should not return to school until they are symptom-free and fever-free, meaning a temperature less than 100 degrees for 24 hours without fever-reducing medications.

Breast cancer ‘co-pilots’ help to steer the ship through treatment and recovery. 

Too often, cancer treatment is complex and the added stress of making one’s way through myriad mazes of treatment options, insurance forms, doctors’ appointments, and various medical procedures can sap a person’s energy that would be better spent on fighting the disease. Several years ago, Trinitas Comprehensive Cancer Center recognized that many women with breast cancer were in need of a “navigator service” that would help them cut through the red tape surrounding their treatment.  Breast cancer patients, Trinitas administrators surmised, would be able to best articulate their concerns and challenges to compassionate healthcare professionals, who could then direct them toward resources designed to help manage the disease. An innovative program was initiated, which showed promising results. Two years ago, the program was revamped to sharpen its focus, resulting in the Breast Cancer Patient Navigator program.

Veronica C. Vasquez, MHA, CN-BA, (left) heads the Breast Cancer Patient Navigator program at Trinitas and works to provide seamless care coordination while considering the unique needs of each patient. “The program helps facilitate patients’ access to doctors’ appointments, deal with insurance claims, and directs them to complimentary transportation and other supportive services,” she says. “Finally, a breast cancer patient navigator offers much-needed emotional support to patients at all phases of breast cancer treatment.”

One of the most frustrating parts of any medical treatment is getting answers to questions in a prompt manner. The Breast Cancer Patient Navigator program helps patients obtain answers to their queries regarding screening, diagnosis, treatment, insurance claims, follow-up visits, clinical trial participation, referrals, transportation, supportive services, and any other concern that may arise. It also assists patients in finding information on self-education resources, and with accessing community resources and cancer management services.

“We also direct patients to support groups that have been shown to help boost emotional well-being while providing coping mechanisms from others who have gone through cancer treatment,” adds Vasquez.

Breast Cancer Navigator, Veronica Vasquez, brings thoughtful caring and support to patients, as shown in the photo on page 44. From her office that overlooks the City of Elizabeth, she manages each patient’s case during their treatment at Trinitas.

Breast Cancer Navigator, Veronica Vasquez, brings thoughtful caring and support to patients, as shown in the photo on page 44. From her office that overlooks the City of Elizabeth, she manages each patient’s case during their treatment at Trinitas.

Dacia Gaillard, 43, who was diagnosed with breast cancer this past August, calls the Navigator program “a godsend.” Referred to the program by her physician, she gave it high marks and said it has enabled her to cope with a potentially overwhelming and stressful situation.  “I am amazed by the amount of compassion I receive,” she says. “I feel reassured that I am not just a name or a number.”

In addition to helping navigate her way through doctors’ visits and insurance queries, Gaillard explains that she can count on Vasquez to “hold her hand” throughout the often long, and arduous, process. Vasquez had her first personal encounter with breast cancer in 2011, when a beloved aunt was diagnosed with Stage III IBC (inflammatory breast cancer). “Not only was it a life altering moment for her but for the entire family, as she was the first member of the family to receive a cancer diagnosis,” she recalls. “She passed away in 2012, but her legacy lives within all those she encountered, forever.”

At the time, Vasquez—who earned her master’s degree in health care administration from Seton Hall—never dreamed that she would have the position that she holds today. “Having had a close family member diagnosed with breast cancer, I hold the work I do to help these women in high regard,” she says. “I dedicate the work I do in loving memory of my aunt, who I miss greatly.”