Aging is inevitable, and for many, it signals the beginning of a new chapter - one where you cross off bucket list items and live life to the fullest, on your own terms. However, for some men, aging is a horrible prospect, filled with chronic fatigue, irritability, and inability to perform in the bedroom. If you're concerned about life in middle age and beyond, we've got great news: there are easy, proven steps that you can take to help stop the negative effect of aging.
Global Life Rejuvenation was founded to give men a new lease on life - one that includes less body fat, fewer mood swings, and more energy as you age. If you're ready to look and feel younger, it's time to consider TRT (testosterone replacement therapy), and growth hormone peptides. These therapies for men are effective, safe, and customized to fit your goals, so you can keep loving life as you get older.
TRT, and growth hormone peptide therapies bridge the gap between your old life and the more vibrant, happier version of you. With a simple click or call, you can be well on your way to a brighter future. After all, you deserve to be the one in charge of your wellness and health. Now, you have the tools to do so - backed by science and applied by our team of TRT and HRT experts with more than 13 years of experience.
For men, getting older comes with its perks, like living life on their own terms and not having to "sweat the small stuff" day in and day out. At the same time, there are aspects of aging that men dread, like hormonal changes. Yes, you read that right – men, not just women, go through hormonal changes as they age. For men, the biggest change involves a drop in testosterone.
Lower levels of testosterone can wreak havoc on a male's mind and body and when left untreated, can result in symptoms like:
Those symptoms are concerning, but with testosterone replacement therapy and anti-aging medicine, many males improve their quality of life with age. The good news is that TRT and anti-aging meds aren't only reserved for "old guys." In fact, there's no magic age at which men should start thinking about hormone replacement therapy. Everyone's body is different, so if you're experiencing the above conditions in your mid-30s, TRT could be a viable solution when you consult with a doctor.
Testosterone is a crucial hormone for men and plays an important role throughout the male lifespan. Most of a male's testosterone is produced through the testicles. Also called the male sex hormone, testosterone starts playing its part during puberty.
When a male goes through puberty, testosterone helps males develop:
As boys turn to men and men grow older, testosterone levels deplete naturally. Sometimes, events like injuries and chronic health conditions like diabetes can lower testosterone levels. Unfortunately, when a man loses too much T, it results in hypogonadism. When this happens, the testosterone must be replaced, or the male will suffer from symptoms like muscle loss, low libido, and even depression.
TRT is exactly what it sounds like: a treatment option for men that replaces testosterone so that your body regulates hormones properly and restores balance to your life. Also called androgen replacement therapy, TRT alleviates the symptoms that men experience with low T.
Originally lab-synthesized in 1935, testosterone has grown in popularity since it was produced. Today, TRT and other testosterone treatments are among the most popular prescriptions in the U.S.
Without getting too deep into the science, TRT works by giving your body the essential testosterone it needs to function correctly. As the primary androgen for both males and females, testosterone impacts many of the body's natural processes – especially those needed for overall health. For example, men with low T are more prone to serious problems like cardiovascular disease and even type-2 diabetes.
When your body quits making enough testosterone, it causes your health to suffer until a solution is presented. That's where TRT and anti-aging medicine for men can help. TRT helps balance your hormones and replenish your depleted testosterone. With time, your body will begin to heal, and many symptoms like low libido and irritability begin to diminish.
For men, aging is the biggest contributor to lower testosterone levels, though there are other causes like obesity, drug abuse, testicular injuries, and certain prescribed medications. Sometimes, long-term health conditions like AIDS, cirrhosis of the liver, and kidney disease can lower testosterone levels.
When a man's testosterone levels drop significantly, it alters his body's ratio of estrogen and testosterone. Lower testosterone levels cause more abdominal fat, which in turn results in increased aromatase, which converts even more testosterone into estrogen.
If you're concerned that you might have low T, you're not alone. Millions of men in the U.S. feel the same way. The best way to find out if your testosterone is low is to get your levels tested.
For sustainable testosterone replacement therapy benefits, you must consult with hormone doctors and experts like those you can find at Global Life Rejuvenation. That way, you can find the root cause of your hormone problems, and our team can craft a personalized HRT plan tailored to your needs.
Are you used to blasting through a productive day and accomplishing all your daily goals? Do you find yourself losing muscle mass and the craving to be intimate with your partner? Does your partner complain about how irritable you have become? If you're not usually a curmudgeon, your body could be giving you a sign. It could be time to speak with a doctor about TRT and anti-aging medicine for men in Garfield, NJ.
If you're experiencing any of the following symptoms, you might be battling against low testosterone:
One of the most common reasons that men choose TRT is because they have lost that "spark" with their partner. It's not easy for a man to hear that they're not performing like they used to. Intimacy is a powerful part of any relationship. When a once-healthy sex life dwindles, it can cause serious relationship issues.
The good news is that low libido doesn't have to be a permanent problem. TRT and anti-aging medicines help revert hormone levels back into their normal range. When this happens, many men have a more enjoyable life full of intimacy and sex drive.
Weak erections – it's an uncomfortable subject for many men in the U.S. to talk about. It's even worse to experience first-hand. You're in the midst of an intimate moment, and you can't do your part. Despite being perfectly normal, many men put blame and shame upon themselves when they can't achieve an erection. And while the inability to perform sexually can be caused by poor diet, obesity, and chronic health conditions, low testosterone is often a contributing factor.
Fortunately, weak erections are a treatable condition. The best way to regain your confidence and ability in bed is to speak with your doctor. Once any underlying conditions are discovered, options like TRT may be the best course of treatment.
Hair Loss
Do you find it harder and harder to work out and lift weights in the gym? Are you having problems lifting heavy items that you once had no problem lifting?
Recent studies show that when men are inactive, they lose .5% of muscle strength every year, from ages 25 to 60. After 60, muscle loss doubles every decade. While some muscle loss is common as men age, a significant portion can be tied to low testosterone levels. When a man's T levels drop, so does his muscle mass.
Testosterone is a much-needed component used in gaining and retaining muscle mass. That's why many doctors prescribe TRT Garfield, NJ, for men having problems with strength. One recent study found that men who increased their testosterone levels using TRT gained as much as 2.5 pounds of muscle mass.
Whether your gym performance is lacking, or you can't lift heavy items like you used to, don't blame it all on age. You could be suffering from hypogonadism.
If you're like millions of other men in their late 20s and 30s, dealing with hair loss is a reality you don't want to face. Closely related to testosterone decline and hormone imbalances, hair loss is distressing for many men. This common symptom is often related to a derivative of testosterone called DHT. Excess amounts of DHT cause hair follicles to halt their production, causing follicles to die.
Because hair located at the front and crown is more sensitive to DHT, it grows slower than other follicles and eventually stops growing permanently. Thankfully, TRT and anti-aging treatments for men in Garfield, NJ, is now available to address hair loss for good.
While it's true that you can't change your genes, you can change the effects of low testosterone on your body. Whether you're suffering from thinning hair or hair loss across your entire head, TRT and other hormone therapies can stop hair loss and even reverse the process.
Also called "man boobs," gynecomastia is essentially the enlargement of male breast tissue. This increase in fatty tissue is often caused by hormonal imbalances and an increase in estrogen. For men, estrogen levels are elevated during andropause. Also called male menopause, andropause usually happens because of a lack of testosterone.
If you're a man between the ages of 40 and 55, and you're embarrassed by having large breasts, don't lose hope. TRT is a safe, effective way to eliminate the underlying cause of gynecomastia without invasive surgery. With a custom HRT and fitness program, you can bring your testosterone and estrogen levels back to normal before you know it.
Decreased energy was once considered a normal part of aging. Today, many doctors know better. Advances in technology and our understanding of testosterone show that low T and lack of energy often go hand-in-hand.
If you're struggling to enjoy activities like playing with your kids or hiking in a park due to lack of energy, it could be a sign of low T. Of course, getting tired is perfectly normal for any man. But if you're suffering from continual fatigue, a lack of enjoyment, or a decrease in energy, it might be time to speak with a doctor.
Whether you're having a tough time getting through your day or can't finish activities you used to love, TRT could help.
A study from 2011 showed that men who lose a week's worth of sleep can experience lowered testosterone levels – as much as 15%, according to experts. Additional research into the topic found almost 15% of workers only get five hours of sleep (or less) per night. These findings suggest that sleep loss negatively impacts T levels and wellbeing.
The bottom line is that men who have trouble sleeping often suffer from lower testosterone levels as a result. If you find yourself exhausted at the end of the day but toss and turn all night long, you might have low T.
TRT and anti-aging medicines can restore your T levels back to normal, which can help you sleep better with proper diet and exercise.
You're feeling down about everything, and there's no solid explanation for why you're in such a crummy mood. Your daily life is great and full of success, but you can't help but feel unexcited and unmotivated. If you're experiencing symptoms like these, you may be depressed – and it may stem from low testosterone.
A research study from Munich found that men with depression also commonly had low testosterone levels. This same study also found that depressed men had cortisol levels that were 67% higher than other men. Because higher cortisol levels lead to lower levels of testosterone, the chances of severe depression increase.
Depression is a very real disorder and should always be diagnosed and treated by your doctor. One treatment option gaining in popularity is TRT for depression. Studies show that when TRT is used to restore hormone levels, men enjoy a lighter, more improved mood. That's great news for men who are depressed and have not had success with other treatments like anti-depression medicines, which alter the brain's chemistry.
Ask anyone over the age of 50 how their memory is, and they'll tell you it wasn't what it used to be. Memory loss and lack of concentration occur naturally as we age – these aren't always signs of dementia or Alzheimer's.
However, what many men consider a symptom of age may be caused by low testosterone. A 2006 study found that males with low T levels performed poorly on cognitive skill tests. These results suggest that low testosterone may play a part in reducing cognitive ability. If you're having trouble staying on task or remembering what your schedule is for the day, it might not be due to your age. It might be because your testosterone levels are too low. If you're having trouble concentrating or remembering daily tasks, it could be time to talk to your doctor.
Why? The aforementioned study found that participating men experienced improved cognitive skills when using TRT.
Even though today's society is more inclusive of large people, few adults enjoy gaining weight as they age. Despite their best efforts, many men just can't shed the extra pounds around their midsections, increasing their risk of heart disease and cancer.
Often, male weight gain is caused by hormone imbalances that slow the metabolism and cause weight to pile on. This phase of life is called andropause and happens when there is a lack of testosterone in the body. Couple that with high cortisol levels, and you've got a recipe for flabby guts and double chins.
Fortunately, TRT treatments and physician-led weight loss programs can correct hormone imbalances and lead to healthy weight loss for men.
The benefits of hormone replacement therapy for men are numerous. TRT not only grants relief from low-T symptoms but can help give protection against age-related diseases. Additionally, doctors now recognize male testosterone as an important role in alleviating depression.
Some of the most exciting benefits of TRT can include:
Because men do not go through a specific period of hormonal changes like women do (called menopause), many doctors refer to "male menopause" as androgen decline. This is just another term for low testosterone, but like female menopause, the symptoms can be serious and affect your quality of life.
The best way to fight back against male menopause is with male HRT treatment from Global Life Rejuvenation. We provide the following HRT treatments for men:
Our treatment options are personalized for your body and are available as creams, gels, injectables, and implantable pellets. To find out if testosterone replacement therapy is safe for you, contact Global Life Rejuvenation today to schedule your comprehensive testing and anti-aging treatment consultation.
Growth hormone peptides are an innovative therapy that boosts the natural human growth hormone production in a person's body. These exciting treatment options help slow down the aging process and give you a chance at restoring your youth.
Sermorelin is a synthetic hormone peptide, like GHRH, which triggers the release of growth hormones. When used under the care of a qualified physician, Sermorelin can help you lose weight, increase your energy levels, and help you feel much younger.
Human growth hormone (HGH) therapy has been used for years to treat hormone deficiencies. Unlike HGH, which directly replaces declining human growth hormone levels, Sermorelin addresses the underlying cause of decreased HGH, stimulating the pituitary gland naturally. This approach keeps the mechanisms of growth hormone production active.
Benefits of Sermorelin include:
Ipamorelin helps to release growth hormones in a person's body by mimicking a peptide called ghrelin. Ghrelin is one of three hormones which work together to regulate the growth hormone levels released by the pituitary gland. Because Ipamorelin stimulates the body to produce growth hormone, your body won't stop its natural growth hormone production, which occurs with synthetic HGH.
Ipamorelin causes growth hormone secretion that resembles natural release patterns rather than being constantly elevated from HGH. Because ipamorelin stimulates the natural production of growth hormone, our patients can use this treatment long-term with fewer health risks.
One of the biggest benefits of Ipamorelin is that it is suitable for both men and women. It provides significant short and long-term benefits in age management therapies, boosting patients' overall health, wellbeing, and outlook on life. When growth hormone is produced by the pituitary gland using Ipamorelin, clients report amazing benefits.
Some of those benefits include:
Whether you are considering our TRT services, HRT for women, or our growth hormone peptide services, we are here to help. The first step to turning back the hand of time starts by contacting Global Life Rejuvenation.
Our friendly, knowledgeable TRT and HRT experts can help answer your questions and walk you through our procedures. From there, we'll figure out which treatments are right for you. Before you know it, you'll be well on your way to looking and feeling better than you have in years!
866-793-9933
He may be small but he is mighty: A South Jersey toddler who is battling leukemia will be featured on the pizza boxes at a local joint.A portion of every pizza purchased during the month of April at Genova Pizza in Audobon will go toward Callen's family.Hey everyone! Wanted to touch base with all of you. Meet Callen a superhero who is battling leukemia at the age of two years old. Over the past few weeks Genova Pizza has worked closely with his parents to create his own animated character that will be featured on all of our Gra...
He may be small but he is mighty: A South Jersey toddler who is battling leukemia will be featured on the pizza boxes at a local joint.
A portion of every pizza purchased during the month of April at Genova Pizza in Audobon will go toward Callen's family.
Hey everyone! Wanted to touch base with all of you. Meet Callen a superhero who is battling leukemia at the age of two years old. Over the past few weeks Genova Pizza has worked closely with his parents to create his own animated character that will be featured on all of our Grandma pizza boxes during the month of April. A portion of all proceeds will go directly to his family to pay for medical costs that are racking up. Every 3 months, we will be honoring a new local hero w...
Genova Pizza
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Genova created Callen's very own animated character that will be featured on all of the Grandma pizza boxes during the month of April.
Callen's pies kick off Genova's new campaign to honor a local superhero every three months.
Callen, otherwise known as "Super Cal" — was diagnosed with leukemia in February but has been fighting bravely ever since, his godmother said on a GoFundMe campaign.
"Callen's name is of Gaelic origin and means 'rock' or 'brave little battler,'" Becky Sarlo writes.
"Days after only his second birthday, he's already living up to that name, being an inspiration to everyone around him. As he embarks on this challenging journey, we are reminded that sometimes the bravest battles are fought by the smallest warriors."
Click here to donate and here for the Genova Pizza website.
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Led by Outstanding Wrestling Award winner Ismael Verterdor, Passaic Tech placed nine wrestlers in the top four and won the team championship at the 47th Frank Dawson Memorial tournament at Garfield last Saturday.Vertedor won his title at 120 pounds. Adam Hamdeh (139), Ricardo Balanzategui (150), Adam Suzay (165) and Sultan Seddik (215) also won individual titles.Vertedor, who was a 10-4 winner of Devin Longaker of Elmwood Park in the title bout was given the Sal Scaglione Memorial Award as the MOW.Passaic Tech finished w...
Led by Outstanding Wrestling Award winner Ismael Verterdor, Passaic Tech placed nine wrestlers in the top four and won the team championship at the 47th Frank Dawson Memorial tournament at Garfield last Saturday.
Vertedor won his title at 120 pounds. Adam Hamdeh (139), Ricardo Balanzategui (150), Adam Suzay (165) and Sultan Seddik (215) also won individual titles.
Vertedor, who was a 10-4 winner of Devin Longaker of Elmwood Park in the title bout was given the Sal Scaglione Memorial Award as the MOW.
Passaic Tech finished with 161.5 team points followed by Westwood (133) and Hawthorne (88.5).
Omar Tareky (157) was second for Passaic Tech.
Also winning individual titles were: Omar (106) and Malik Asfour (113) from Lodi; Chris Valerio (120) of Leonia-Palisades Park; Luis Salomon (126) of Becton-Wood Ridge; Anthony Moreno of St. Mary (Ruth.) (144), Westwood’s Gavin Seller (157), Elmwood Park’s David Rojas (175); Garfield’s Daniel Ferriera (190) and Hawthorne heavyweight Antonio Sangarno.
Team Scores
Passaic Tech (PCTI) 161.5, Westwood (WW) 133, Hawthorne (H) 88.5, Hasbrouck Heights (HH) 87.5, Bogota/Ridgefield Park (BRP) 80, Lodi (L) 71.5, Becton/Wood Ridge (BWR) 57, Elmwood Park (EP) 54, Leonia/Pal Park (LPP) 49, St. Mary’s (Rutherford) (STM) 34, Garfield (G) 22
Finals
106 -Omar Asfour (LODI) pin Nico Nipitella (HH) 3:58
113 – Malik Asfour (LODI) pin Anthony Lavenzzola (WW) 0:22
120 – Ismael Vertedor (PCTI) dec. Devin Longaker (EP) 10
126 – Chris Valerio (LPP) dec. Jaden Rodriguez (BRP) 5-2
132 – Luis Salomon (BWR) dec. Conor Sklavounous (WW) 14-7
138 – Adam Hamdeh (PCTI) dec. Derek Rodriguez (BRP) 2-0
144 – Anthony Moreno (STM) dec. Tommy Kousis (WW) 9-3
150 – Ricardo Balanzategui (PCTI) tech fall Elijah Bell (BWR) 17-0 4:55
157 – Gavin Seiler (WW) dec. Omar Tareky (PCTI) 9-3
165 – Adam Suzay (PCTI) pin Josh Gesmundo (BRP) 5:30
175 – David Rojas (EP) pin Aidan Dugan (WW) 0:56
190 – Haniel Ferriera (G) pin Adam Habib (H) 4:30
215 – Sultan Seddik (PCTI) pin Arman Mahajan (HH) 0:51
285 – Antonio Sangarno (H) dec. Dante Downey (WW) 2-0
Sal Scaglione Memorial Most Outstanding Wrestler: Ismael Vertedor (Passaic Tech)
Third-place consolations
106 – Derek Bauernschmidt (BRP) pin D’Var David (STM) 1:12
113 – Kaleb Ambrose (H) tech fall Talan Mangasi (PCTI) 17-0
120 – Kyle Von Sidelmann (HH) dec. Ryan Armstrong (LPP) 3-1
126 – Hugh Shortway (H) dec. Sultan Mussadik (PCTI) 8-1
132 – Dean Sinisgali (BRP) dec. Naseem Abdelaziz (PCTI) 12-6
138 – Brandon DiMase (BWR) dec. Andrew Parente (HH) 3-1
144 – Nick Castaneda (LODI) dec. Cormac Smith (H) 1-0
150 – Stav Frominos (LPP) pin Mikey Lombardo (EP) 5:30
157 – Oliver Fermin (HH) tech. fall Stalin Caban- Guzman (EP) (17-2) 5:10
165 – David Drezek (HH) dec. George Kabezian (WW) 4-2
175 – Conor Scuilla (HH) pin Kendrick Gynnafi (LODI) 3:15
190 – Lior Kohen (WW) dec. Joe Berrios (WW) 3-1
215 – Matt Martinez (H) pin Gianluca Gomez (STM) 5:43
285 – Jason Dixon (PCTI) dec. Gabe Jang (LPP) 5-3
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Joe Zedalis covers Shore Conference and Greater Middlesex Conference wrestling for NJ.com. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @Josephzedalis
New York Jets receivers coach Miles Austin has been suspended for a minimum of a year by the NFL for violating the league's gambling policy, it was announced Friday night.Austin, 38, a Garfield (NJ) High School and Monmouth College graduate who once played wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys and later the Philadelphia Eagles, is appealing the decision, various sources reported on Dec. 23.ESPN's Adam Schefter and Rich Cimini broke the news.The National Football League, in turn, issued a statement confirming the suspensio...
New York Jets receivers coach Miles Austin has been suspended for a minimum of a year by the NFL for violating the league's gambling policy, it was announced Friday night.
Austin, 38, a Garfield (NJ) High School and Monmouth College graduate who once played wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys and later the Philadelphia Eagles, is appealing the decision, various sources reported on Dec. 23.
ESPN's Adam Schefter and Rich Cimini broke the news.
The National Football League, in turn, issued a statement confirming the suspension and Austin's plans to appeal.
"The league will have no further comment until that appeal has been resolved," the NFL's statement said.
The undrafted two-time Pro Bowler apparently must serve out his term of suspension before he's able to apply to be reinstated.
Austin's attorney and agent, William P. Deni Jr., told several media outlets that Austin didn't wager on NFL or college games.
"The NFL suspended Miles Austin for wagering from a legal mobile account on table games and non-NFL professional sports," Deni said. "Miles did not wager on any NFL game in violation of the gambling policy for NFL personnel. He has been fully cooperative with the NFL's investigation."
More on Jets’ wide receiver coach Miles Austin being suspended for at least one year for violating the NFL's gambling policy:https://t.co/oP9786KZCC
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 23, 2022
Sources confirmed Deni's contention while also noting that Austin was believed to have made the bets while at a team facility, which violates league rules.
They also said that Austin hasn't been around the team since Tuesday.
The news comes a day after a demoralizing loss at MetLife Stadium to the Jacksonville Jaguars in which the Jets managed just three points and quarterback Zack Wilson was (once again) booed and (once again) benched.
Austin, who retired from playing in 2015 after 10 seasons with three teams (the Cleveland Browns were the other) joined the Jets with new head coach Robert Saleh last season after being an offensive quality control coach with the San Francisco 49ers.
He's extremely well known in New Jersey for how much he gives back to the community, particularly when it involves youngsters.
The Lomo Truck, a food truck fleet, recently opened two new locations.Spots in Garfield at 517 River Dr. and Jersey City at 501 Central Ave. opened in early September.A grand opening ceremony for the Garfield spot will take place Oct. 14. Jersey City’s location held its grand opening last month.Paterson-born Cesar Valdivia, who helms the Peruvian eatery chain, started operating the first Lomo Truck in Paterson in 2016.The Lomo Truck grew in...
The Lomo Truck, a food truck fleet, recently opened two new locations.
Spots in Garfield at 517 River Dr. and Jersey City at 501 Central Ave. opened in early September.
A grand opening ceremony for the Garfield spot will take place Oct. 14. Jersey City’s location held its grand opening last month.
Paterson-born Cesar Valdivia, who helms the Peruvian eatery chain, started operating the first Lomo Truck in Paterson in 2016.
The Lomo Truck grew in popularity on Getty Avenue in Paterson — eventually making its way throughout Bergen, Essex and Passaic counties.
“I’m running this show with my nephews, my brother, my father, my partner, my best friends and childhood friends, who are now franchise partners and manage my locations,” Valdivia told NJ Advance Media.
The food truck offers a variety of Peruvian eats, like lomo saltado, arroz chaufa, tallarin saltado, salchipapa and ceviche.
The Lomo Truck was ranked seventh on NJ.com’s list of New Jersey’s 21 best restaurants of 2021.
The company also operates in Passaic and Woodland Park and has plans to expand outside of New Jersey.
“Florida and Texas, those are my goals. One location a year for the next six years,” Validivia said.
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A suggestion from an anxious young patient trying to make it through a CT scan caught the attention of the nurse taking care of her and ended up, months later, as a text message on Garfield High School biology teacher Victoria Derevyanik’s phone."Can you help get this done," texted Derevyanik’s longtime friend Joanne Taormina, a radiology technician at Hackensack University Medical Center. The hospital wanted ceiling tiles to distract and soothe young patients undergoing ultrasounds and scans; they...
A suggestion from an anxious young patient trying to make it through a CT scan caught the attention of the nurse taking care of her and ended up, months later, as a text message on Garfield High School biology teacher Victoria Derevyanik’s phone.
"Can you help get this done," texted Derevyanik’s longtime friend Joanne Taormina, a radiology technician at Hackensack University Medical Center. The hospital wanted ceiling tiles to distract and soothe young patients undergoing ultrasounds and scans; they were hoping a high school would take on the project.
The result, painted in exultant colors by a group of Garfield High School students, was 24 ceiling tiles now newly installed in rooms where patients undergo scans and procedures using radiology. Depictions of characters like Tom and Jerry, Elsa and Anna from the Disney movie "Frozen," and "The Incredibles" family charging fist-forward are among the painstakingly re-created images of beloved animated characters and encouraging quotes on tiles that patients' eyes would otherwise ignore. To the 13 Garfield high schoolers and their teachers visiting the radiology wing for the first time on a Thursday earlier this month, it was a moment of disbelief mixed with squeals of delight.
“Seeing it on the ceiling is kind of crazy, I guess. I’m like, wow. Speechless.” said one of the students, Bridgette Taipe.
Across the hall from her, the tiles made an impression on 66-year-old patient Bill Spahr, from Newburgh, New York, who said he loved the characters even though he is not the intended audience.
“I love it. It was just so different. God bless you,” he told the students.
The tiles are part of the Daisy Project, named after the young woman who mused about how nice it would be to have uplifting pictures on the ceiling for patients to look at during a procedure.
“She was on her back and looking up. We had old pictures on the ceiling that we wanted to redo, and it was helping her relieve her anxiety and stress. And she said we should have more of these. She was really the inspiration,” said Eileen Parapar, who coordinated the project with other radiology nurses as part of a community outreach group she runs. The nurses told the young woman they would name the project after her.
Funded by COVID-relief money, the project was part of Garfield’s Summer Arts Program, said teacher and program coordinator Rob Barbier. This is the second year that the school has provided the program, which includes yoga, art and other opportunities for creative enrichment as well as an academic credit-recovery program. Relief funds are set aside for two more years of summer programming, through 2024. School districts nationwide received three rounds of COVID funding between the Trump and Biden administrations, called ESSER, or Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief. The ceiling tiles program was funded by the second grant.
“The program is directly funded through an ESSER grant as a way of providing students an opportunity to be together — to bond. We thought it was very important for social growth, because they had missed some of that, and also it was a way for us to use the COVID money to teach students about being part of a larger community,” Barbier said. In addition to encouraging personal projects, the school picked community-focused art programs for the summer. Students painted murals in the school cafeteria in the summer of 2021. The highlight of the 2022 summer program was the Hackensack hospital's ceiling tiles.
“Each year we were able to pick out programs that will contribute something to the community in addition to their own artwork,” Barbier said.
Some students came to the program with a love for the arts. Others came looking for a way to escape the summer doldrums. Most of the artists picked a tile to complete, but everyone pitched in. Senior and football player Zuriel Vargas said he came to the program because art teacher Mike Garcia told him about it.
It was the kind of project that came together a little serendipitously but eventually reminded everyone involved that they mattered. Derevyanik, the biology teacher, brought the idea to the school from her friend and the radiology team at Hackensack. The Garfield school administrators lapped it up, and Barbier made it the star project for the summer arts program he runs. That was a relief for Garcia, who also loved the project but was worried about protecting and drying the brittle 2-by-2-foot tiles between classes during the busy school year.
Filling the perforations on the tiles with paint while staying true to the original image was the hardest part. As for the perfect copies and sharply detailed text, the trick was to trace out a stencil of the original from a projector. Students sketched the pictures standing to the side after placing them on projectors so as not to cast shadows.
It took two days to complete the stencils.
“We had to do it lightly, too, in pencil. There was only one projector for six people, so you had to kind of wait your turn,” said senior Dafne Guachamin, who worked on Winnie the Pooh and Piglet.
Vargas said he worked on touch-ups and textures — he helped paint in the textures of a vest and a bubblegum-pink background on a painting of Shrek.
“We all found ourselves moving along to other tiles. If one person had a specific ability on realistic stuff, they would help, and if one person was good at mixing colors, they would go and help,” said Victoria Begoski, a junior.
Did they make mistakes?
“Oh, my God, yes! That was so frustrating,” said Guachamin. Erasing wasn’t possible, and despite the opacity of acrylics, the medium the students used, painting over wasn’t easy because a lot of time would be wasted drying. But it was worth it, because working to give something back to the community meant a great deal to all the students who participated.
“I really liked that we were doing something for the community. Not just in our town but for other people," said sophomore Emma-Lee Montalbano, who worked on Garfield and "Frozen." She described "the self-satisfaction of knowing that you're helping someone, even if it's just to brighten their day a little bit by using something that you already are good at.”
Would they do the program again?
“Definitely,” said Begoski, who painted murals in the school the previous summer. “I like the idea of giving back.”
And there was the joy of creating.
“It was fun, painting and just doing something that's creative. It’s not only giving us time to do something fun and stuff that we want to do, but it's also helping other people,” said sophomore Brianna Emanuel.
Eleventh graders Ashley Jimenez and Kaila Bradford joined because they love painting and art. Bradford so enjoyed painting murals the summer before that she knew she would be part of this program.
Both students said art is personally important to them. “Whenever I am feeling sad, or, like, anxious, I start drawing. It really helps me be calm,” Bradford said, adding that she draws characters from games and movies. “I think art just sends its own message outwards.”
“Personally, I paint animals, because I want to be a wildlife conservationist," Jimenez said. "I find that I always draw in nature, and my artwork sends that message.” It made sense, she said, that the students chose happy characters and bright colors, “to help calm the children.”
Hanging out with friends was a draw for everyone on the project.
Eleventh grader Majitha Gomez was so reduced to giggles with her friends Nia Stuart and Haley Mceachern that she could not provide a reason for picking the quote she painted: “Follow your dreams, they know the way.” The trio said they joined the program to do something interesting in the summer. “It was a fun thing to do to pass the time,” Gomez finally said, with as straight a face as she could muster.
“We were painting each other as well. Towards the end, when there was lots of paint, we would just paint on each other's hands,” Guachamin said.
“I just love art and being able to create,” Vargas said. He spoke about art teacher Garcia with a lot of regard. “I always talk to him after school,” he said. That’s when he learned about the program.
Helping kids feel happier by seeing art and beloved characters while going through the hardship of being a patient in a hospital meant something to Vargas, who said he had a seizure in middle school. Going to the hospital at the time was “definitely scary,” and he said the project made him feel he was walking in the current young patients' shoes.
The summer program was offered in the afternoon, so that students who were taking remedial courses in the morning could work on projects later in the day. The student painters were taking academic classes and other summer offerings, but they gave the hospital tile project their time; it drew them in and gave them a purpose, Garcia said. “The core group that I was getting was leaning towards the arts. They saw the big picture; there was a goal in mind. It wasn't just about finishing something,” he said.
The school received the tiles from the hospital in June and had to complete them in July. “I told them that guys, we have a deadline, we have to get this done, and they actually beat the deadline,” Garcia said.
“Even when the ceiling tiles were done, we still got to hang out with people that we enjoyed being around,” Montalbano said. “After we were done with the tiles, Nadia and I went up to the second floor and we were on the walls finishing the murals.”
Garfield Summer Arts Program “Daisy Project” students:
