WESTFIELD, NJ — An essential quality for all successful athletes is the possession of a strong work ethic and intense will to improve. For those attributes, Westfield High School varsity baseball player Chris Wagner is this week’s Ron Bansky and Associates Allstate Westfield Athlete of the Week. “Chris has put a lot of time in the weight room getting stronger, and has spent a ton of time in the batting cages working on his swing mechanics,” assistant coach Brian Sloan said of the senior. “No matter how much he ...

Is your child attending camp this summer? Is it their first experience away?  If yes, it can be an experience causing anxiety for you, for the parent and the child.  This experience can be frightening to your child if it is their first time and it is so important that they do not see your worry or anxiety about leaving home for the first time… especially if it is sleep away camp. Oftentimes, we project our own concern onto our children and this causes more tension and worry. Your child may sense your anxiety ...

Summer is in the air, and the latest episode of AtlantiCast is ready to help you enjoy some fun outdoors while staying safe! This week’s episode opens with tips for sunscreen usage from Atlantic Health System’s Chief Medical and Academic Officer, Dr. Jan Schwarz-Miller. You’ll also learn about how Atlantic Health System is advancing the future of health care through two exciting, new clinical trials, see how the communities around Hackettstown, Newton and Chilton medical centers are all helping build on the high ...

Carotid artery dissection. It’s one of the most common causes of stroke in younger adults. And while you might not associate the word “stroke” with younger patients, the condition – if not treated immediately – could lead to paralysis and even death. Lindsey Singh can attest to the importance of immediacy. The 31-year-old mother of two from Flanders experienced vision disturbances in her right eye during a spin class on April 7, 2017. “I knew right away something wasn’t right,” says ...

Richard DeLuca of the Lindabury, McCormick, Estabrook & Cooper law firm has joined the board of the Greater Westfield Area Chamber of Commerce (GWACC). “We are fortunate to have Mr. Richard DeLuca join our board of directors. His experience will complement those of the current board members and I am sure that he will be a very active member and bring new and fresh ideas to all of us,” said Executive Director Gene Jannotti. DeLuca is the director of business development and marketing at Lindabury. Prior to that, he ...

1. My employer is obligated to come up with a good reason before they can fire me. WRONG – If you are an at-will employee, the vast majority of the time, your employer will not need a reason to fire you. Nor is your employer obligated to let you know what that reason is. 2. If I can refute the employer’s reason for terminating me, I am entitled under the law to get my job back. WRONG – If you are an at-will employee, even if you can prove that your employer’s reason for firing you is wrong, most of the time, ...

Westfield third graders recently received top honors for three mock court cases they presented at the New Jersey Bar Foundation Law Fair. “I am proud that, out of 84 entries submitted, our third grade students (now fourth graders) in the Gifted Program have won 1st Place, 2nd Place and Honorable Mention in the 3rd Grade category [of the Law Fair competition],” said Esther Van Riper, gifted education teacher for students in grades three through seven. The New Jersey State Bar Foundation (NJSBF) ...

 With the recent storms passing through the area I thought I'd share some of the storm safety tips I shared with my customers this week. Unfortunately, there is no safe place outside when thunderstorms are in the area. If you hear thunder, you are likely within striking distance of the storm. Just remember, When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors. Too many people wait far too long to get to a safe place when thunderstorms approach. Unfortunately, these delayed actions lead to many of the lightning deaths and injuries in the United ...

Ambassador Yoram Ettinger (ret.), an insider on U.S.-Israel relations and consultant to Israel’s cabinet and legislators, will speak at the JCC of Central NJ, 1391 Martine Ave., Scotch Plains on Monday, Feb. 15, at 4 p.m. Ettinger served as Minister for Congressional Affairs at the Israeli Embassy in Washington DC and regularly briefs the U.S. Congress and their staff on issues of bilateral concern. He will talk about Israel, the "Arab demographic tsunami," Israel’s isolation in the world, and its defense ...

As the summer temperatures rise, home cooling costs rise as well. But there are ways to help save money without sweating the heat: To increase your cooling system’s efficiency by as much as 20%, get it checked out for summer.  A technician will clean the condenser, make sure you have the optimal amount of refrigerant, and ensure the airflow over the coil is adequate.  Have your duct system looked at as well, to ensure that up to 30% of the cooled air isn’t leaking out from unsealed ducts before it ever ...

Lindabury, McCormick, Estabrook & Cooper is pleased to announce that John H. Schmidt has once again been recognized by “Chambers USA” in their annual list of leading lawyers for business. Chambers and Partners, which produces “Chambers USA,” is a client referral organization that researches and subjectively ranks attorneys and law firm practice groups nationwide and globally. “Chambers USA” ranks firms and lawyers who are considered leaders in their profession. Law firms and individual lawyers are ...

‘Turning Off the Morning News’ tackles today’s issues with a comic twist By Liz Keill PRINCETON, N J – Despite the late night comics, no one quite captures the insanity of the political/social status world like Christopher Durang. His latest play, “Turning off the Morning News” hit the ground running.  John Pankow as Jimmy addresses the audience, debating whether to kill himself or go to a mall and kill lots of other people as well. His wife, the incomparable Kristine Nielsen as Polly, is ...

Did you know…. there was a time when Chatham kids could ice skate from downtown Chatham all the way to Florham Park? And that a toboggan ride could last from the top of Fairmount Avenue down to Main Street and beyond? Those were the days! This was back in the early to mid-1900s. The Passaic River meandered through grassy meadows and woods on the north side of Chatham. The marshy flood basin surrounding the Passaic, the freshet, provided acres and acres of open space to skate on. Reportedly half the town could be found skating on ...

Exotic green bird spotted on Hazel Avenue in Westfield Sunday. Call 201-741-6666.

Name: Anna Mastroianni Years in Westfield: 16 Work: Owner Sole Fine Italian Shoes, 201 East Broad Street, 908-654-7800 Anna Mastoianni has filled some pretty big shoes in her day and not just because she’s the owner of the exquisite Italian shoe store Sole in Downtown Westfield. Turns out the Hollywood stunt double has a resume that would make your head spin, literally. “One of my first jobs was racing a cherry red ’57 Chevy and stopping just inches away from a mailbox for the daytime drama Another World,” ...

The old adage in the investment world is that it is not what you make, but what you keep that counts.  Investors often overlook the ultimate deflator of portfolio returns – the taxman. An astute global asset allocation should be the number one priority for investors.  However, there are preferred ways to distribute this asset allocation over the spectrum of taxable and tax-deferred accounts to minimize the tax bite. How to Allocate Holdings to Take Advantage of Tax Rules:   The general rule is that more conservative ...

Thirty-three Homes sold from June 10 to June 17, 2018, in Westfield, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Cranford and Mountainside.*   TOWN         ADDRESS                      STYLE                  RMS      BRS        ...

Undeniably, divorce will have a significant effect on your life and especially your finances. There are around 800,000 divorces in the United States each year, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Here's how to enter into the situation financially informed. Know The Costs Sooner Rather Than Later It’s never too early to gather information on how much money you’ll need to cover legal and other fees related to divorce. Plan ahead to be in a better financial situation once the divorce is finalized. Start by ...

This week's feature will focus on TAPinto Paterson's franchisee, Steve Lenox. Find out how the current owner of a public affairs firm went from a former State Director for Senator Frank Lautenberg to a proud TAPinto franchisee for New Jersey's third largest city.   Q. When did you join TAPinto.net? I joined TAPinto.net in September, 2017.  Because TAPinto Paterson existed under previous owners the site was already live, allowing me to get more comfortable with content creation and ...

If you are facing your first holiday after an important person in your life has died, it’s not too early to come up with a plan. Watching others who are feeling thankful and are celebrating when we feel overwhelmed, lonely or sad can be very painful. Holidays force us to realize how much our lives have been changed by the loss of our loved one.    The first step in coping with grief at the holidays is to acknowledge that the first holiday season is difficult and then to prepare for it in advance by making specific plans ...

The last week of January marks Catholic Schools Week across the country.  It is a time to celebrate the unique traditions and academic excellence of Catholic schools.   Catholic schools allow parents to educate their children in a faith- based environment.   At Saint Joseph High School, the administration practices a holistic approach to education, nurturing not only the academic side of the scholastic experience, but tending to the spiritual, physical and emotional requirements of each young man. “We ...

Facebook recently announced it will be changing its feed and algorithms so that news from publishers and posts from businesses will be relegated in favor of posts about your neighbor’s cat.  Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that Facebook is making these changes because he is concerned about his legacy and that of the company he founded. If Mark Zuckerberg is truly worried about his legacy and that of Facebook, casting legitimate news publishers and businesses into the abyss will only further tarnish ...

In honor of the Lubavitcher Rebbe's (of righteous memory) 24th  Yahrtzeit (anniversary of his passing) this coming Saturday the 16th. Excerpts from an address given by Nobel-laureate Elie Wiesel on April 7, 1992, at a congressional dinner held in Washington on the occasion of the Rebbe's 90th birthday. Some of you are aware of my admiration, not only for the Rebbe, but also for his education and work. The fact that he knew whom to send where, to G‑d forsaken places, simply to bring a word ...

Are you looking to make a wise investment? Who isn’t? We all want to make wise investments. Investing in your children is one of the most important things you can do. Many families at this time of year are either looking to enroll their children in school for the first time, thinking through a transition to middle school, high school, or college, or simply just wanting something different – something better -- for their children. So why not consider making a wise investment in a Catholic ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — More than 100 Healthy U champions and partners from YMCAs and schools from all over the state gathered at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on May 18 to celebrate 10 years of community impact. Healthy U was also formally presented with the 2017 CATCH® Award for Excellence in State Health.  CATCH (Coordinated Approach to Child Health) is the nationally-recognized curriculum used in the program. This award recognizes the partnership between the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey and the New Jersey ...