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Did you know that more than 40% of adults in the United States suffer from obesity? Unfortunately, there is no miracle cure for this condition. Perhaps worse is that more and more adults and children are gaining weight across the country, choosing the convenience of fast and nutrition-deficient foods over healthy eating, exercise, and positive life choices. From an aesthetic standpoint, being overweight is a struggle - clothes don't fit right, people make uncomfortable comments about how you look, and everyday activities are less appealing.
From a health and wellness standpoint, however, being obese is much worse. Your life is literally on the line. The people who love you and depend on you to be in their lives could lose you sooner than you expect. With time, you have a higher chance of suffering from significant, life-changing issues such as:
While obesity is a serious problem, a new medication on the market is giving hope to millions of men and women across the U.S. This game-changing treatment is called Semaglutide in River Edge, NJ. This anti-obesity medication is unique because it treats obesity as a chronic metabolic disease, rather than a problem that can be solved through sheer willpower. The best part? Semaglutide and other medical weight-loss peptides are now available at Global Life Rejuvenation.
At Global Life Rejuvenation, we understand that losing weight is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Our medical weight loss clinic offers custom medical weight loss plans tailored to your body, rather than plans based solely on your age or weight. In fact, our team of doctors and practitioners provides personalized guidance to help you achieve real results and live a healthier life.
Because the truth is maintaining good health and fitness are crucial in the modern world. Research has shown that viruses and diseases are more likely to affect those who are overweight and unhealthy. At Global Life Rejuvenation, we take a comprehensive, custom approach to medical weight loss that includes peptide therapy and more. We then work with you to make positive lifestyle changes, so you can lose weight, get healthy, and boost your wellbeing permanently - not for a few weeks or months.
If you're ready to get back to loving your life with more energy, confidence, and positivity, medical weight loss with peptide therapy may be for you. But to truly understand the benefits of peptides like Semaglutide, it's important you grasp what peptide therapy is and how it benefits your body.
Many individuals turn to peptide therapy to enhance their overall wellbeing by boosting hormones. Different types of peptides can target different areas of health, such as collagen peptides that can help improve skin, hair, and gut health.
Other peptides, such as AOD 9604, CJC 1295, and Semaglutide in River Edge, NJ, are incredibly beneficial for losing weight. Compared to vitamin supplements, peptide therapy works differently as peptides are already part of the proteins in our bodies, making them easier to absorb and benefit from. Conversely, our bodies can sometimes fail to absorb all the nutrients present in multivitamins, leading to their excretion through urine.
However, it's important to note that weight loss is a complex process that involves various factors like age, genetics, lifestyle, exercise, and diet. While peptides like Semaglutide can provide much-needed assistance in achieving your weight loss goals, they are most effective when combined with healthy dietary choices, regular exercise routines, and overall healthier lifestyle choices.
If you've already tried different weight loss plans and diets but haven't had any success, medical weight loss with peptide therapy may provide that extra boost you need to realize your goals.
If you're looking to lose weight and keep it off, diet and exercise are important, but it can be difficult to stick to a routine. For busy adults and parents, Semaglutide can be a helpful tool for weight loss. This injection, approved by the FDA for diabetes and obesity, works by stimulating GLP-1 receptors in the brain to aid in weight loss and improve long-term health.
You may be wondering to yourself, "That sounds great, but how does this type of peptide work?" Semaglutide acts like glucagon in your body, which signals to your brain that you're full and don't need to eat anymore. When you take Semaglutide, and you try to overeat, your body waves a proverbial red flag as if to say, "That's enough."
Semaglutide also slows down digestion, reducing unnecessary snacking throughout the day. By reducing glucose spikes after meals, it reduces inflammation, which is important for overall health. Additionally, Semaglutide helps your pancreas secrete insulin, regulates the glucose levels in your body, and even has anti-aging and longevity properties. If you're struggling to lose weight, peptide therapies for weight loss like Semaglutide can be an invaluable addition to your weight loss plan from Global Life Rejuvenation.
When combined with healthy lifestyle choices like diet and exercise, Semaglutide can help provide:
There are multiple medications available to combat obesity by suppressing appetite and promoting weight loss. However, Semaglutide stands out as an exceptional option.
A recent study of 2,000 obese adults examined the effects of Semaglutide when combined with a diet and exercise program. The results were compared to those who only made lifestyle changes without taking Semaglutide. After 68 weeks, it was found that half of the participants using Semaglutide lost 15% of their body weight, with nearly a third losing 20%. In contrast, those who only made lifestyle changes lost an average of 2.4% of their weight.
It's obvious, then, that Semaglutide is a safe and effective supplement for your weight loss journey with Global Life Rejuvenation. But who is the ideal patient who should be taking it?
If you have a body mass index (BMI) of 27kg/m2 or higher and at least one weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol, or if your BMI is 30kg/m2 or higher, the FDA recommends Semaglutide for weight loss.
As medical weight loss experts, one thing our doctors and practitioners know at Global Life Rejuvenation is that true weight loss isn't dictated by medicines. It's achieved by sticking to a combo of exercise, healthy life choices, and healthy eating habits. From there, peptides like Semaglutide in River Edge, NJ are great for taking your weight loss efforts to the next level of success.
One area where many patients fail in this process is with their diet. If you're considering Semaglutide treatment, keep these diet tips in mind.
To enhance your dietary habits, a practical approach is to concentrate on consuming whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats. These food items are rich in nutrients and can provide a feeling of fullness and satisfaction while also promoting your overall wellbeing.
Eating mindfully involves being fully present and engaged during meals. This entails taking the time to enjoy the flavor of your food, being aware of your body's hunger and fullness signals, and avoiding distractions like electronics or television.
To maintain good health and support weight loss, it's crucial to drink plenty of water. It's recommended to drink at least 8-10 cups of water daily. You may also try adding low-calorie drinks like herbal tea or infused water to keep things interesting.
Planning your meals in advance is an effective approach to maintaining a healthy diet. Set aside some time each week to plan your meals and snacks, keeping in mind to incorporate a balance of protein, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats. This will prevent impulsive food choices and guarantee that you have nutritious options available when hunger strikes.
Unlike many medical weight loss clinics, which only offer cookie-cutter weight loss plans and one or two additional fat-busting solutions, Global Life Rejuvenation provides access to new, innovative supplements and medicines. If you're used to fad diets and "quick" weight loss plans, peptides like AOD 9604 and others may be new to you. To help build your foundation of healthy living knowledge, let's take a look at a few of the most popular weight-loss peptides and medicines available at Global Life Rejuvenation.
Often combined with Semaglutide regimens, AOD 9604 is known to promote fat breakdown, inhibit lipogenesis, and support tendons and cartilage. However, most recently, it has gained popularity due to its ability to boost metabolism and aid in burning fat.
What sets AOD 9604 apart is that it stimulates the pituitary gland without affecting tissue growth or blood sugar levels. Additionally, it can burn fat without causing overeating, making it a viable option for obese men and women who are trying to implement better eating habits.
Interestingly, AOD 9604 activates your body's fat-burning processes without requiring an HGH receptor. It also releases obese fat cells and reduces the accumulation of new fat cells. By helping to regulate blood sugar and manage insulin levels, AOD 9604 is excellent for weight loss but also for other maladies like inflammation.
Some conditions that this powerful peptide can help address include the following:
This medical weight loss supplement Is technically a combo of two peptides. These substances work by stimulating your pituitary gland to produce more of your body's natural human growth hormone, which is secreted during both waking and sleeping periods.
This results in increased protein synthesis and levels of insulin-like growth factors. As hormone secretagogues, they help release hormones into circulation while mimicking the pituitary gland's production. Extensive research has been conducted on the effects of CJC 1295 and Ipamorelin. As a tool for medical weight loss, it has shown very promising results.
That's because when growth hormone levels increase, nutrients are transported through the body faster, more fat is burned, and weight management becomes simpler. Additionally, because CJC 1295 and Ipamorelin increase the amount of growth hormone in your body, it stimulates the breakdown of triglycerides in adipocytes, leading to improved fat metabolism and reduced abdominal fat.
Benefits of CJC 1295 and Ipamorelin for weight loss include:
A Methionine Inositol Choline (MIC) injection is a mixture of lipotropics that aid in fat breakdown. The key components - methionine, inositol, and choline - work together to metabolize fat cells and eliminate stored fat deposits in the liver and body. Methionine is an important amino acid, inositol contributes to proper cell formation, and choline is a water-soluble nutrient that promotes healthy liver function. When combined, these compounds may help reduce body fat.
When used in conjunction with a medical weight loss plan from Global Life Rejuvenation, MIC injections can be a powerful addition to reclaiming your health and wellbeing.
Request AppointmentLike other weight loss peptides and medicines on this page, Phentermine can help you lose weight when you stick to a medical weight loss plan that includes dieting, exercise, and smart life choices. It does so by reducing your appetite, which limits the number of calories you eat every day.
As is the case with Semaglutide, Phentermine has been approved by the FDA and is supported by clinical studies that show it can support weight loss. With time, patience, and healthy living, this supplement may help you reach your wellness goals sooner than you thought possible.
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In the body, 7-keto-DHEA is produced from dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which is a hormone made by glands near your kidneys. However, unlike DHEA, 7-keto-DHEA is not converted into androgen and estrogen in your body. Instead, 7-keto-DHEA is used orally or topically to boost your body's metabolism. It also helps convert more of your energy into heat, instead of storing it in your body as fat, which can accumulate with time and lifestyle choices.
Much like Semaglutide treatment in River Edge, NJ, 7-keto-DHEA has been shown to be very effective for weight loss as well as a host of other issues. Additional benefits of taking 7-keto-DHEA may include the following:
Have you tried everything under the sun to try and eliminate the cellulite on your legs, arms, and other areas of your body? If you're like most people, getting rid of cellulite isn't just difficult - it's nearly impossible. Fortunately, those days are over. Lipo Sculpt Cream from Global Life Rejuvenation can help reduce the unsightly appearance of cellulite while also refining your figure and firming up your skin.
The active ingredients in this product have the ability to reduce and prevent the growth of fatty tissue while also improving microcirculation. They work together to treat both adipose and aqueous cellulite, and aid in the elimination of fatty deposits and excess water stored in the tissues. This results in a reduction of dimples and an overall improvement in the appearance of your skin.
If you have experienced success with a medical weight loss plan and reached your target weight but still suffer from cellulite, Lipo Sculpt Cream is a fantastic choice to consider. A few of the most common benefits include:
Are you craving a productive life at a healthy weight? Are you ready to make a meaningful difference in your life and the lives of your loved ones? The pathway to wellbeing starts by contacting our office for an in-depth consultation, where we'll learn more about your weight-loss goals and needs.
From there, we'll create a custom weight-loss plan tailored to your body. This plan will map out the steps of your weight-loss journey, including peptide therapies like Semaglutide in River Edge, NJ. Though every person's weight management goals are different, when you're a patient at Global Life Rejuvenation, you benefit from dedicated doctors and practitioners committed to improving your weight and, in turn, your health.
Whether your health is on the line, or you don't like how being overweight makes you look and feel, our team is ready to guide you toward long-term health and happiness. This way, you can get healthy, stay in shape, and fall in love with your newfound body.
Call Us 866.793.9933
RIVER EDGE/ORADELL, NJ —Most Americans don’t think twice about drinking a glass of water. A report released Wednesday, though, found more than 270 harmful contaminants in local drinking water across the nation, including in River Edge and Oradell. The substances are linked to cancer, damage to the brain and nervous system, hormonal disruption, problems in pregnancy and other serious health conditions.The nonprofit Environmental Working Group, collaborating with outside scientists, aggregated and analyzed data from almost 5...
RIVER EDGE/ORADELL, NJ —Most Americans don’t think twice about drinking a glass of water. A report released Wednesday, though, found more than 270 harmful contaminants in local drinking water across the nation, including in River Edge and Oradell. The substances are linked to cancer, damage to the brain and nervous system, hormonal disruption, problems in pregnancy and other serious health conditions.
The nonprofit Environmental Working Group, collaborating with outside scientists, aggregated and analyzed data from almost 50,000 local water utilities in all 50 states.
Read more on the Environmental Working Group’s data sources and methodology.
The organization found a troubling discrepancy between the current legal limits for contaminants and the most recent authoritative studies of what is safe to consume.
"Legal does not necessarily equal safe," Sydney Evans, a science analyst at the environmental group, told Patch.
"A lot of these legal limits are outdated and not necessarily the safe level, and the EWG really wants to fill that gap," Evans said. "The federal government has not been able to, or is not willing to, set those new regulations to protect public health. We’re trying to fill the gap to let people know, based on the latest science, what the safe levels of contaminants in water are."
In River Edge and Oradell, the group found seven contaminants across our water supply between 2012 and 2017.
United Water New Jersey serves 792,713 people, according to the environmental group.
The following contaminants were detected above the environmental group’s own recommended health guidelines in River Edge and Oradell:
1. Arsenic
2. Bromate
3. Chloroform
4. Chromium (hexavalent)
5. Dichloroacetic acid
6. Nitrate and nitrite
7. Trichloroacetic acid
In the case of polyfluorinated substances, or PFAs, the environmental group estimated up to 110 million Americans could have the potentially cancer-causing, immune-system damaging contaminant in their drinking water. Yet the EPA requires drinking water utilities across the country to test for only six of 14 known substances in the category.
A variety of other contaminants often found in the water of millions of Americans can profoundly impact health. They include lead, which has been linked to brain damage in small children; arsenic, which can cause cancer; and copper, which can be harmful to infants.
The EPA did not respond to numerous requests by Patch seeking comment on the findings of the study.
According to the environmental group, many of the 270-plus contaminants detected through water sampling are at levels deemed legal under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, yet are above levels that recent studies have found to pose possible health risks.
Visit the environmental group’s web page for River Edge and Oradell to see the recommended ways to combat the specific substances in your drinking water and the risks that they pose.
The environmental group has a clear opinion on the federal government’s handling of water safety.
"The regulatory system meant to ensure the safety of America’s drinking water is broken. The inexcusable failure of the federal government’s responsibility to protect public health means there are no legal limits for more than 160 unregulated contaminants in U.S. tap water," Environmental Working Group researchers stated in its "State of American Drinking Water."
A focal point of the organization’s concern is the Environmental Protection Agency’s refusal to add a single new contaminant to the toxic chemicals list covered by the Safe Drinking Water Act in almost 20 years.
Independent experts agree.
"With the science on what we call 'emerging contaminants' continuing to grow, it is clear that there are components of our tap water that can be improved," Kristin Strock, professor of Environmental Science at Dickinson College, told Patch.
Strock, who is not affiliated with the environmental group, also emphasized the challenges in the process of federally regulating harmful contaminants, suggesting the current system is somewhat backward.
"The road to regulating harmful contaminants is difficult, as our current construct for ensuring clean water is based on 'proving' that something is harmful before it is regulated as opposed to assuming contaminants could be harmful and ‘proving’ them safe before allowing them to go into industrial production and, as a result, our environment," she said. "The EPA has been working on identifying safe limits for a number of these emerging contaminants and continues to work on the problem."
The Environmental Working Group also noted that the every-day person is frustratingly helpless to the chemicals going into their water supply, and the subsequent costs associated with different water filtering techniques.
Olga Naidenko, vice president of science investigation at the group, further explained, "Industries and companies that released PFAS into the environment and drinking water sources — should be responsible to covering such costs, as it is unfair for homeowners to be saddled with costs for pollution they did not create."
The water group does offer information, though, on filtering technologies that you can use to dramatically reduce water contamination. Filtering technology will help. Carbon filters, for example, will reduce many, but not all, contaminants.
How to Check Contaminants In Your Water:
The environmental group’s public database catalogues contaminants in every water system in the country — the first such database of its kind. First, select the state where you live, and you’ll see state-level data. For more local information, enter your ZIP code.
After you enter your ZIP code, you’ll be directed to a page showing the name of your water utility system. Select "View Utility" to see which contaminants were identified in your area.
What You Can Do
For those with concerns, the environmental group provides a guide to buying water filters. If you find your local water supply has a particularly high level of a dangerous chemical, you can search for a filter that best blocks the specific substance.
While water filters are important, the group also acknowledges they are more of a Band-Aid solution than an actual fix.
"We really want to iterate that’s a first-line, temporary measure," Evans told Patch. "It's what you can do today to protect yourself, but really we want long-term permanent change, and that's going to happen at the community level."
Subsequently, the environmental group has created a set of seven questions to ask your elected officials about tap water.
The organization strongly believes that everyone can help in the battle to improve tap water safety.
"We absolutely believe in the power of personal advocacy — for individuals to reach out to their local elected officials of all levels. The power of people can come into play," Naidenko said.
Where The Environmental Working Group Gets Its Funding:
The majority of the group’s funding comes from private charitable foundations, here’s a partial list of the organization’s largest backers.
More detailed information on the organization’s funding and annual reports are available on its website.
Email: [email protected]
Affinity Federal Credit Union is celebrating the grand opening of its new branch in River Edge, with a community celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 27.Located at 913 Kinderkamack Road, this is the credit union’s 13th branch in the Garden State and reinforces Affinity’s longstanding commitment to supporting the financial well-being of its members and deepening its roots in Bergen County.“We believe that a strong community is b...
Affinity Federal Credit Union is celebrating the grand opening of its new branch in River Edge, with a community celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 27.
Located at 913 Kinderkamack Road, this is the credit union’s 13th branch in the Garden State and reinforces Affinity’s longstanding commitment to supporting the financial well-being of its members and deepening its roots in Bergen County.
“We believe that a strong community is built upon the foundation of people helping people,” Kevin Brauer, CEO and president of Affinity, said. “Whether it’s opening a high-yield savings account, seeking an auto loan or needing assistance with a resume, we are excited about supporting the well-being of those in River Edge and its surrounding communities.”
“I am thrilled to witness our vision for this new branch become a reality,” Shawn Lubitz, vice president, retail and digital branches at Affinity, said. “Our commitment to empowering individuals, families and local businesses with tools and expertise to better their financial lives are at the heart of this endeavor. We look forward to servicing new and existing members at our River Edge branch.”
Summit-based Simplicity Group Holdings has acquired the Dempsey Cos., a a nationally recognized insurance brokerage that operates under the Dempsey brand, according to a Monday announcement.
With this transaction, Kay Dempsey becomes a Simplicity partner.
“We are thrilled to welcome Kay Dempsey and her team, who are nationally recognized for their years of service, successfully navigating effective solutions for advisers to high net worth families and businesses,” Bruce Donaldson, CEO and president of Simplicity, said. “Kay’s stature and accomplishments in our industry has earned a reputation of being a fierce advocate for financial advisers and the complex risks of their clients. We look forward to her leadership in our goal of building the leading financial services distribution organization in the U.S.”
“The opportunity to join Simplicity and access diversified resources and expertise will allow us to bring greater value to financial advisers in the differentiation and growth of their practices. I am very excited for my colleagues, Michael Gayman and John Peterson, who will become equity partners in Simplicity, as a part of the transaction,” Kay Dempsey said.
Donaldson said Simplicity has built an integrated financial products distribution business by combining the best of annuity, life insurance, wealth products and support functions.
By Martha Morley PublishedApril 13, 2023 at 11:55 AMA new capital campaign to raise funds for the construction of a new history museum at Historic New Bridge Landing in River Edge, NJ has been announced by the Bergen County Historical Society. The goal is to build a world-class permanent museum that will herald and display a collective history of New Jersey. Funding is needed for the new building, groundbreaking exhibits and the new educational programming that will happen in ...
By Martha Morley
PublishedApril 13, 2023 at 11:55 AM
A new capital campaign to raise funds for the construction of a new history museum at Historic New Bridge Landing in River Edge, NJ has been announced by the Bergen County Historical Society. The goal is to build a world-class permanent museum that will herald and display a collective history of New Jersey. Funding is needed for the new building, groundbreaking exhibits and the new educational programming that will happen in the new space.
The site plans have been completed and approved by the DEP. The design plans for the new museum were unveiled in October 2023 and call for a 3,850 square -foot barn-styled building which will fit with the other historic buildings on the 13 acre site along the Hackensack River. BCHS is working with G3 Architecture and the site plan includes a solar panel roof. The future museum will provide temperature controlled exhibit and storage space, a theater and orientation gathering space. Some of the exhibit space will include hands-on, interactive exhibits and be digitalized to enhance learning. The new museum will allow for new programming and educational opportunities for schools including field trips for underserved communities. The BCHS hopes to raise 3 million through this capital campaign.
“The new museum will be a place to explore, document and showcase over 4,000 original objects that span several centuries” commented Museum Chair and Bergen County Historical Society past President and Deborah Powell. “It will serve to educate the public on the important role our area played as a Native American and Colonial Settlement and also as a fort, encampment ground and military headquarters during in the American Revolutionary War.”
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The museum will also be utilized as a meeting space for the community and can host events in its event spaces which can accommodate up to 100 people. “The new museum will also help to grow attendance to more than the current 100,000 visitors we receive each year” added Powell. In addition to corporate donors and foundations, the campaign also hopes to attract new members too.
The Bergen County Historical Society is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization. We do not receive public funding and 100% of donations are tax-deductible contributions that go to fulfilling the mission that is ten years in the making of building a new museum.
For more information or to set up a site visit please contact Martha Morley at (201) 493-7996. For information on BCHS visit www.bergencountyhistory.org. Donations can be made online at www.bergencountyhistory.org/donate.
Upcoming events at Historic New Bridge Landing:
April 16, 2023: 1:00pm t0 4:30pm: Chwame Gischuch, Under the Shad Moon.
Join the Bergen County Historical Society as we celebrate Chwame Gischuch: Under the Shad Moon. The Lenape New Year.
Event Details: Chwame Gischurch is celebrated when the Shad runs in the rivers. The event will feature 2 presenters, Primitive Technologist Steve Adams and Arthur Kirmss who will demonstrate the Native American and Colonial craft of wampum making. Imagine a distant time when highways were footpaths, the only flights in the sky were flown by animals, and rivers were crystal clear as we ponder the Prehistoric life ways of our ancestors and particularly of the place we now call New Bridge Landing. Observe the methods by which everyday tasks were anchored in Nature, when a good living came directly from animal, vegetable and mineral resources. Watch wild plants being processed into twine and hear the crack of rocks being fractured and shaped into tools with antler, wood and other stones. Join Primitive Technologist Steve Adams as he offers a discussion and demonstration on the hardware that provided food, clothing and shelter with comfort in Pre-Contact cultures and Arthur Kirmss who will demonstrate the Native American and Colonial craft of wampum making.
The Society's extensive Native American collection, including wampum will be on exhibit at the Steuben House. The Steuben House, the Campbell-Christie, the Demarest House Museum and the Westervelt-Thomas Barn will be open for tours. Refreshments will be available including donuts, cornbread and lemonade throughout the day. Broom making demonstrations will take place in the barn and our cooks in the out kitchen will feature shad and corn. Children activities include cornhusk doll making and a scavenger hunt with prizes.
Admission is $12 adults, $7 students. BCHS members are free. Free parking is available on site. Visit www.bergencountyhistory.org for more information.
April 20, 2023: 7:00pm to 8:30pm. Lecture on the Charleville Musket Found at New Bridge Landing
Event Details: 5 Presenters discuss the conservation and history of the Charleville musket which was discovered by the banks of the Hackensack River at New Bridge Landing and professionally X-rayed and examined. This will be a Zoom lecture.
Link will be sent upon registration.
Editor's Note: This advertorial content is being published by TAPinto.net as a service for its marketing partners. For more information about how to market your business or nonprofit on TAPinto, please visit TAPintoMarketing.net or email [email protected]. The opinions expressed herein, if any, are the writer's alone, and do not reflect the opinions of TAPinto.net or anyone who works for TAPinto.net. TAPinto.net is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by the writer.
2-min readNorthJersey.com0:001:52ADBodies in the Seats. That's rule no. 1 for any venue — whether its a theater, cinema, concert hall, or The First Congregational Church of River Edge.Like many places, they've experienced a decline in attendance, post-COVID.Unlike many paces, they're doing something about it. Something interesting.The River Crossing Concerts, a series of classical and jazz p...
NorthJersey.com
Bodies in the Seats. That's rule no. 1 for any venue — whether its a theater, cinema, concert hall, or The First Congregational Church of River Edge.
Like many places, they've experienced a decline in attendance, post-COVID.
Unlike many paces, they're doing something about it. Something interesting.
The River Crossing Concerts, a series of classical and jazz performances that have been hosted by the church for a year and a half, are many things. They are art. They are entertainment. They are a way to showcase the talents of Slavina Zhelezova, the internationally-known concert pianist who became the church's musical director in 2021. She's played some of the concerts, and curated all of them.
Not least, they are a way to reintroduce people to the church. Perhaps remind them of how much they miss it.
"Churches right now are going through a very difficult time, trying to get people back in the pews," said Bert Stratford, one of a foursome of church members who are producing the events.
As of 2023, they've ramped up to four shows a year. The next one, on June 4, will be something of a joyous potpourri: the Nicole Zuraitis Trio (jazz originals and Broadway standards), Alí Bello and the Sweet Wire Band (Latin Jazz), City Winds Trio (ragtime), the Tri-county Irish War Pipe Band (traditional Irish music from River Edge), Batalá (an all-female percussion group), and Zhelezova's own GZ Piano Duo (tango, classical, Hungarian dances).
The free 12 to 6 P.M. concert — donations accepted — will, weather permitting, be outdoors. But a congregation is a congregation. No matter whether the roof they're sitting under is man's, or God's.
"Something's going on in this country, where there's a decline in worship services," said Stratford, a River Edge resident. "I think everybody's being affected by it. It's a complex situation. We want to get people back to the church."
Zhelezova, it turns out, was just the one to help.
In addition to being a high profile concert pianist who has toured Europe, Mexico, China and Taiwan with her performing partner, pianist Citlalli Guevara, she was also the music director for a Bronxville church at the time COVID suddenly forced people into lockdown.
Her concert engagements stopped, abruptly. All that was left were the Sunday services — conducted virtually. She suddenly discovered how much music means to people. And also how much people mean to a performer.
"Literally overnight, we went to live-streaming services," she said. "I was playing in an empty church, for a camera. We pianists sometimes have our heads in the sand — practicing, practicing, practicing. We don't realize how much the connection with the audience means to us. The euphoria, the energy of the crowds, the applause. You don't realize how much it means until it's not there."
Local:River Edge school reconfiguration will not happen this fall. Here's why
Equally, she learned that people are thirsty for music. She suddenly felt needed, in a way she never had before.
"I don't think if I had cancelled a concert before, anyone would have cared," said Zhelezova, originally from Bulgaria (she now lives in New York). "But if I missed a Sunday, folks knew it. I suddenly realized how meaningful this is to people."
So when the world began to open up — cautiously — in 2021, Zhelezova knew just what would draw people to her new professional home, The First Congregational Church. Her first concert there, a four-hand piano recital with her partner Guevara, featured Schubert, Poulenc, some Brahms Hungarian Dances, and some Astor Piazzolla tangos. And folks beat a path to the church door.
"Maybe 100 people showed up," Stratford said. "They did a full act, two hours. They were phenomenal. And this started us all thinking: with this ability and her talent and her contacts, let's start to do more of these. That's the germ that really set this off."
Stratford knows show business. He's had a long career as a theater and TV producer, and sometime Broadway actor. His wife, Lee Meredith — also a Congregational congregant — is well known from her roles on stage, film, and TV (she was the original Ulla in Mel Brooks' 1967 "The Producers"). The two have themselves done productions at the church, from time to time. All of which is to say, it takes talent to know talent. And Zhelezova is it.
"We were really lucky," he said. "Our organist had retired, and we were looking for a new one. She showed up and blew everybody away. She was one of the best pianists I've heard."
Previous shows have been all over the musical map: from vocal programs with tenor Errin Brooks and baritone Kyle Oliver, to a Women's History Month show that featured music by Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel (the more talented Mendelssohn, if you ask some). But the common denominator in all these attractions was the live audience.
"We're just bringing all these people back to in-person performances," Zhelezova said. "During COVID, you could feel this kind of distance, with people wearing masks and sitting six feet apart, and not really connecting. I wanted to do something about that. And then there's this civil war going on in this country. There was a need for some unifying experience. Music is the best cure for all of this."
River Crossing Concerts, featuring Nicole Zuraitis Trio, Alí Bello and the Sweet Wire Band, City Winds Trio, others. 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. June 4, First Congregational Church, 109 Continental Ave, River Edge. Free admission; donations accepted. rivercrossingconcerts.org
Three Bergen County towns made the top 5 places to live in New Jersey, and the U.S. list of the top 100. Find out where your town is ranked.|Updated Mon, Jul 31, 2023 at 8:02 am ETBERGEN COUNTY, NJ — The review site Niche recently released its 100 Best Places To Live in America rankings, which includes five towns in the Garden State, three of which are in Bergen County.They also released rankings of best towns to live in within New Jersey. Bergen County has three towns in the top 5 and six in the top 10.Sc...
|Updated Mon, Jul 31, 2023 at 8:02 am ET
BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — The review site Niche recently released its 100 Best Places To Live in America rankings, which includes five towns in the Garden State, three of which are in Bergen County.
They also released rankings of best towns to live in within New Jersey. Bergen County has three towns in the top 5 and six in the top 10.
Schools, safety, housing, and nearby amenities were all important criteria.
The new Niche list included, for each town, updated grades for public schools, housing, diversity, nightlife, crime and safety, and how good the neighborhood is for families.
For the national list, Ho-Ho-Kus, Ridgewood, and River Edge were among five New Jersey communities to make the top 100 in the entire country.
They also made the top 5 towns in New Jersey.
Other Bergen County towns were in the list of the top 25 in the Garden State, including Allendale, Closter, Glen Rock, Harrington Park, Haworth, and Old Tappan.
Here are the top 25 places to live in New Jersey, all with an overall A+ rating, according to Niche:
Niche used Census Bureau and FBI data to compile the list, which is intended to help everyone from young professionals to retirees decide where they want to live.
For instance, Ridgewood received an A+ for schools and also an A+ for "good for families." See the grades here.
Places in New Jersey that cracked the top 100 in the United States are:
Princeton Junction
Overall Niche grade: A+ Rank: 14 Public schools grade: A+ Population: 2,208
Princeton
Overall Niche grade: A+ Rank: 34 Public schools grade: A+ Population: 30,717
Ho-Ho-Kus
Overall Niche grade: A+ Rank: 47 Public schools grade: A+ Population: 4,248
Ridgewood
Overall Niche grade: A+ Rank: 69 Public schools grade: A+ Population: 25,991
River Edge
Overall Niche grade: A+ Rank: 74 Public schools grade: A+ Population: 12,204
Read more about the ratings and rankings here.
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