editor ’ s letter
Ihope I ’ mnot speaking too soon , and Idon ’ t want to tempt fate , but it feels as though this spring is going to be agreat one for getting out and about — trying new activities and places , and possibly new challenges that lead to fresh interests .
Some intrepid area residents have already distinguished themselves this way , CINDY
SCHWEICH and we ’ reproud tohighlight them in the HANDLER Montclair Magazine spring issue . Two examples : Our cover subject , Samsara Leela Yett , now has a major role in Netflix ’ s The Woman inthe House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window , amurder mystery satire executive-produced by co-star Kristen Bell . And Montclair native and MHS ’ 82 grad Meredith Bergmann has created the Women ’ s Rights Pioneers Monument depicting suffragists Susan B . Anthony , Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Sojourner Truth , which now stands proudly among the men of Central Park ’ s Literary Walk .
If you ’ re looking for new dining and shopping experiences around town , crack open our 9th Annual Readers ’ Choice Awards poll . It ’ s full of great places totry for the first time , as well as favorites you may not have visited in awhile due to you-know-what .
Happy spring , Montclair , from all of us to you and yours . ■
MAGAZINE
SPRING 2022
PUBLISHED BY North Jersey Media Group
advertising VICE PRESIDENT – SALES Kim Gergel
DIRECTOR – SALES
Jeramiah Martin ( 973 ) 569-7237
editorial
NEW JERSEY STATE EDITOR / USA TODAY NETWORK Hollis R . Towns
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Dan Sforza
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Liz Johnson
CREATIVE DIRECTOR John Flynn
EDITOR Cindy Schweich Handler
handler @ northjersey . com | montclair @ northjersey . com
ART DIRECTOR AND CONTENT CREATOR Joram Mushinske
CONTRIBUTORS Rebecca King , Julia Martin
EDITORIAL OFFICE 1 Garret Mountain Plaza Woodland Park , NJ 07424
CONTACT US montclair @ northjersey . com
EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS We welcome story ideas and submissions . We assume no responsibility for the return of unsolicited material .
advertising design & production
VICE PRESIDENT / PRODUCTION Glenn Garvie
ADVERTISING PRODUCTION COORDINATION Arlene Cruz , Colleen Parsons , Lenny Robinson
Summer
PROGRAMS
circulation M�������� M������� is published five times ayear with a100 % mailed circulation to more than 24,000 homes , businesses and physicians ’ offices . To purchase reprints of photos for personal use , visit northjerseyimages . com . To purchase PDF files ($ 99 each ) of individual pages for personal use only or to license content for editorial or commercial use , email your request to reprintsandpermissions @ northjersey . com .
BACK ISSUES Back issues of M�������� M������� can be purchased online by visiting www . shoptherecord . com / montclairmag . All contents © 2022 North Jersey Media Group . All rights reserved . No portion of M�������� M������� may be reproduced without permission .
ACADEMIC & ENRICHMENT
Co-ed programs for children in Grades K-12
MOTT-LEENEY BASEBALL CAMP
Co-ed program for ages 5-13
SCAN FOR MORE
newarka . edu / summer 91 South Orange Ave . Livingston NJ 973.992.7000 x217 Academic & Enrichment x211 Mott-Leeney
Please recycle this magazine .
ON THE COVER NINE-YEAR-OLD ACTRESS SAMSARA LEELA YETT PHOTO COURTESY OF ANNA PALMA FOR �ANIE AND �AC� SPRING 202�
JJ VP Creative : Dean Silbersack ; JJ Creative Direction : Tracy Skibo ; Production : The Lovely Works ; Hair : Clelia Bergonzoli ; Child Wrangler : Kaysh Shinn ; Stylist : Erika Piekarski ; Props : Steve Halterman
2 SPRING 2022 MONTCLAIR MAGAZINE