Wayne, NJ February 2026

S E R V I N G U P Y O U R

S E R V I N G U P Y O U R

B R A N D I N S T Y L E .

B R A N D I N S T Y L E .

February- Love Local Everyone!

There’s a special magic when we choose to look at our communities as more than just “where we live”. As we settled into this month’s theme of "Love Local," I found myself driving the familiar stretches of Route 23 and 46, as well as the winding backroads connecting Wayne, Fairfield, Montville, and Towaco, and it really hit me how fortunate we are to be in a place that has such a wonderful blend of charm and cutting edge; a perfect mix of backroad and downtown with people that show both southern hospitality and NYC savvy.

Take Diane Grimes, for example. Diane owns Just A Little Somethin in Pompton Plains where she makes some of the most delectable desserts and treats imaginable, ranging from chocolate-covered strawberries to ornate candy apples. I’ve had cupcakes to die for and chocolate-covered brownies that may actually have you consider giving up the gym, as well as much more. Diane isn’t just a baker or chocolatier, but Diane is the 2025 NATIONAL CAKE POP CHAMPION. You are a fool if you don’t try one (or ten).

Loving local isn’t just a tagline; it’s the lifeblood of our community. It’s grabbing your morning coffee at PJ’s, or walking your kids into the Boys and Girls Club. It’s watching the newest reel from Johnny Drinks along with millions of others, but knowing it’s different for you because John lives down the street from you. When we support the businesses around us, we aren’t just making a transaction— we are investing in our neighbors’ dreams and ensuring the unique character of our towns remains vibrant.

We also celebrate the crowning of 4 new queens for the USOA Miss New Jersey Pageants with extra pride knowing that Ms. New Jersey lives right here in Passaic County.

For the “Love Month”, we wrote a short article to help you discover what love is to you plus a few ideas for at-home “Date Nights’.

February is also the month we announce our next Wayne Lifestyle “Picture This” Student Photo Contest for high school age kids who live in or attend school in our towns. This has been such a great opportunity for them, and I am proud to see it grow bigger and better every year.

So, this month, I encourage you to try one new local spot you’ve always driven past. You might just find your new favorite tradition. Thank you for being part of this community with me.

February 2026

PUBLISHER

Phillip Barone | phillip.barone@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Don Seaman | don.seaman@citylifestyle.com

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Officially Social | jamie@officiallysocial.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Don Seaman, Jennifer Gallo, Phillip Barone, Amalia (Amy) Loli, Bailey Hall, Cassie Suppes

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

John Agnello, Ed Leonard, Eddia Jane Photography, Diane Grimes, Noa Turro, Cassie Suppes, Ava Renner, Amalia (Amy) Loli

PHILLIP BARONE, PUBLISHER

Corporate Team

CEO Steven Schowengerdt

President Matthew Perry

COO David Stetler

CRO Jamie Pentz

CoS Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Rachel Otto

LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsi Southard

QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Hannah Leimkuhler

Learn how to start your own publication at citylifestyle.com/franchise.

Realtor Alley

Be cautious on what you read in the news and on real estate websites. A lot of what they are predicting is for most of the country, but would not include New Jersey. We are still struggling with low inventory and increased home prices.

Here are a few key trends to expect in 2026 for NJ: More Inventory than we had last year (2025 was worse than 2024 in many cases)

Stable mortgage rates that should stick around 6.1% to 6.33%

A new chair for the Federal Reserve should increase interest rate cuts and the size of the cuts.

Slower price growth (prices will still rise but at a slower pace)

If Rates go below 6%, I think that will be huge and it could happen if inflation can get below 2.5%.

Mortgage Corner

In a world of online applications and out-of-state call centers, there’s something to be said for working with someone who actually knows your neighborhood. New Jersey isn’t like other states. Property taxes can swing dramatically from one town to the next. New condo regulations have changed how certain properties qualify for financing. These aren’t things a lender in Arizona is thinking about when they’re processing your file.

When your realtor, lender, and attorney all understand the local landscape, transactions move more smoothly and surprises become rare. I’ll admit, as much as we live in a digital world, I still love the face-to-face moments. I make it a point to attend closings whenever I can. Sometimes that’s my only chance to meet the families I’ve been working with, and those handshakes mean something.

If you’d like to learn how local expertise can make a difference in your homebuying journey, I’d love to connect.

Long

The Queens

city scene

by Ed Leonard

Wayne Lifestyle's "Picture This" 2026 Student Photo Contest

We are excited to once again announce our annual "Picture This" student photo contest. Each year we receive hundreds of submitted entries, but mostly from a handful of schools. We would love to speak with the photography or art teacher from your child's high school, so please help make that connection between us.

To be eligible for the contest, entrants must be 14 years of age or older and must be high school, private school, or home-schooled students (grades 9-12) within the Wayne, Fairfield, Montville or Towaco towns and/or school districts.

Each photo requires a model and photography release form signed by all individuals who are personally and/or substantially identifiable in the photo, as well as by the photographer or the parent/guardian authorizing Wayne Lifestyle to display and advertise the submitted photos. Photos submitted without a completed model and photography release form will not be accepted. Model and photography release forms are available on bit.ly/PictureThis2026

ALLOWING OUR KIDS TO SEE A BETTER SIDE OF THE WORLD

ARTICLE BY PHILLIP BARONE PHOTOGRAPHY BY AVA RENNER

The content of photos must be family-friendly and is not limited to any particular subject.

All entry photos must be oriented as portrait (vertical), not landscape (horizontal) and be submitted in .jpeg or .pdf formats with a DPI of at least 300 (600 preferred), image dimensions of at least 2550 wide x 3300 high, and be between 1-13 MB in size.

There will be 3 winners chosen in each of the following categories: 1) “straight” photography and 2) digitally manipulated photography. Students can submit 1 photo per category.

Winning photos will be digitally displayed on social media as well as in an upcoming issue of Wayne Lifestyle.  Photos previously entered are not eligible.

Winners will be chosen by a panel appointed by Wayne Lifestyle. Original digital files and release forms, must be sent via email to wayne@citylifestyle.com and are due no later than April 15, 2026.

Keep the exciting photos coming!

LONG LIVE THE QUEENS

THE

USOA MISS NEW JERSEY

PAGEANT CROWNS A LOCAL WINNER

ARTICLE BY JENNIFER GALLO PHOTOGRAPHY BY EDDIA JANE PHOTOGRAPHY

I would like to tell you a story. A story that marries fairy tale aspirations with tenacity, self-actualization, and practical life-skill training.

No, this isn’t the Marines. This is The United States of America New Jersey Pageants. It was held on November 2, 2025, and our four queens will take their crowns to Las Vegas, Nevada in March to compete for their respective national titles.

This impressive event was overseen by USOA Pageants Executive Director of New York and New Jersey, Dayaneiris Burton, herself winner of USOA Ms. New Jersey in 2023. Dayaneiris manages all 4 divisions of the state-wide

pageant which recognizes Mrs., Miss, Ms., and Teen New Jersey. Under her tutelage contestants aspire to showcase their talents and individuality in support of a cause near to their hearts. “Everyone has their own values and purpose in life,” she tells me, “and this platform provides the opportunity to demonstrate that purpose on a bigger scale, giving you a voice to speak up for what’s important to you. It allows you to showcase not only who you are, but to leverage that into what you can do.”

One misconception is that pageants are only about beauty, but these queens also exude passion, confidence, and eloquence  with respect to their advocacy platforms, all of which lend themselves to greater diversity in our community. Because the pageant attracts exceptional women focused on inclusivity and empowerment, it is a true

celebration of sisterhood, providing an aspirational platform for personal advocacy and excellence. Is it any wonder that Wayne Lifestyle is the official magazine of the USOA’s New Jersey Pageants? With our focus on dynamic leaders that foster solidarity in our community, we are honored to applaud this year’s winners.

USOA Mrs. New Jersey, Kelsey Rosenberg, arrived to pageant weekend on the heels of a series of traumatic events. But the bond of sisterhood forged over the course of that  weekend ignited a healing process she hadn’t even known she needed.

Kelsey, a devoted wife and mother, is also a child study team member and learning disabilities teaching consultant. She advocates for students who may potentially require services. Her passion stems from her own challenges with a reading comprehension disability as a girl. Kelsey is a fierce advocate for inclusive education, which is how her platform “Every Child Can Belong” came into being. She’s written a children’s book entitled The Light of Belonging, and is currently working on a sequel. “It was those educators who offered me opportunities that wouldn’t have been unavailable to me otherwise. I strive to do the same for others.”

Kelsey also won this year’s Miss Congeniality title, awarded across all 4 divisions. She spoke at length about the USOA pageant motto: Empower, Inspire, Uplift. “Being new to the pageant world, I was definitely out of my comfort zone. Then you meet another woman who inspires you and suddenly you’re restored. That spark gets lit and you level yourself up.”

When I asked what success means to her, she didn’t hesitate. “Impact. Not titles and trophies. I showed up and someone else felt seen and empowered? I struggled in silence with my own disability, so for me success is about creating those spaces where people can grow and thrive.” Kelsey has aspirations to create an inclusive pageant that would further substantiate her mission to Empower, Inspire, Uplift.

USOA Miss New Jersey 2026, Nishka Dhawan, moved from India to America at age 17 to pursue Theatre at NYU. But theatre wasn’t her first love. At 14, she published a book of poetry and short stories entitled Love a Million Shades. She went on to work at CNN, Rolling Stone, NBC, and ABC. But finding camaraderie and support in such a competitive, fast-paced industry was difficult and Nishka longed to address and alleviate this isolation.

Just this year, she launched her own magazine, Nakhra (www. nakhramag.com), a lifestyle and consumer magazine written through a South-Asian lens. Nishka also founded the Women without Borders Community, which is a safe space for women of color to discuss issues that affect them in their personal and professional lives. Nishka is working towards building a community that asks the question: “how are you doing mentally – and how can we help?” She tells me, “the crown isn’t for me. It’s a symbol of achievement for girls like me. I won the title, but it belongs to everyone around me!” Of her fellow contestants she says, “we’re competing individually, but we’re winning together.”

For USOA Ms. New Jersey, Dania Martinez, being crowned a champion is nothing new. In 2025 she was named Ms. Passaic County (how’s that for local celebrity)?! Born and raised in Paterson, she tells me that she’s thrilled to be representing New Jersey and looks forward to competing nationally. “We didn’t grow up with a lot of opportunities and we had to fight to achieve our dreams. But pageants have taught me that if you work hard, you can accomplish anything.”

When Dania isn’t working as a school social worker and adjunct professor in Ramapo College’s Master of Social Work program, she’s advocating for her platform, Women’s HERstory: Leading by Empowerment, an organization that works with and for special education students from elementary school age through high school.

This year’s youngest winner, USOA Teen New Jersey, Ira Agarwal, is a junior at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South. She plans to pursue a career in business and politics. She talked to me about her platform, The Model Mindset

The patriotic competition offered personal insight into each competitors pride for the USA

– a movement that empowers children and teens to take steps towards body positivity.

In the throes of a busy year as an 11th grader, she’s found the time to create a guidebook to teach others to 1) Accept, 2) Appreciate, 3) Activate, and 4) Approach the difficult work of self-acceptance. Ira has been raising awareness for this project through community outreach and events that she plans to kick up to the next level in the year ahead. When I asked her what she loves most about being USOA Teen New Jersey, she told me it was “making appearances, knowing that there are so many people in our local community for whom we can make a positive impact. Honestly, that’s just so cool. Success is different for everyone but for me it’s about achieving my goals. It’s also about finding ways to be happy. With all the stress I could be experiencing with school, college on the horizon, I was able to find this happy space where I could be myself and do what I love.”

This fairy tale, as it turns out, has no ending at all, only interesting and impactful beginnings. Watch this space for exciting updates on what’s to come for all 4 of this year’s remarkable winners.

Find more information about USOA New Jersey Pageants at: usoamissnewjersey.com ; on Instagram at usoamissnj; on Facebook at usoanewjerseypageants

WAYNE

LIFESTYLE

Picture This Student Photo Bonus

“Beach Haven”

MADELYN FRANK

Wayne Valley High School

STRAIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY

This Month’s Student Photo Is Presented By

ARTICLE BY DON SEAMAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN AGNELLO AND DIANE GRIMES

THE POPS TOPS OF

In case you haven’t heard, we have a national champion among us, and you can stop by nearly any time to see for yourself why she made it to the top of her game in such a short time. Diane Grimes won this year’s Cake Pop Championship at the national What’s Popping Conference in Kent, Ohio, taking home the Grand Prize over dozens of competitors from across the country. The theme for the contest was Cinco de Mayo, which happens to be Diane’s favorite holiday.

If you’re picturing a little round ball with green, white, and red sprinkles, buckle up. That’s not how you win a championship - and that’s not all that cake pops are.

She created a 3-D cake pop, made to look like a sombrero with a bowl of guacamole, a bowl of salsa, nacho chips, an ice bucket with a little Corona bottle at the top - all made from chocolate.

And that is how you win a cake pop championship.

The hardest part was probably getting it there.

“I had to make it here in New Jersey, then find a way to transport it to Ohio in one piece. It took some ingenuity, styrofoam, rigging up a Starbucks tumbler with a stand and some ice, but we made it through security,” explains Diane. “Somehow, we got it there in one piece.”

Diane’s base of operations is her chocolate shop in Pompton Plains called Just A Little Somethin’ that she owns with her husband, Joe. They like to call it “The Sweetest Spot in Town”, but that might be selling it short. It’s not just another chocolate shop - it’s a real, small-town place where the artistry and creativity she puts into her products takes “sweet” to another level.

“The artistry that goes into a cake pop is what drew my attention to it all,” Diane says about how she became interested in making cake pops. “I just kept at it, and it just became second nature to me. Now, I just build on my creativity with some cake pop dough and some chocolate to turn it into a Power Ranger or a mermaid or something out of your imagination. It just snowballed from there.”

It’s not just cake pops in the shop, though. They have gourmet stuffed cookies that will make you forget Crumbl exists. Their Triple Threat Brownie (brownie, Oreo, and chocolate chip cookie, topped with edible cookie dough), stuffed Oreos, and cupcakes are otherworldly. And they have all the standard offerings you’d expect from a chocolate shop - chocolate candies, chocolate covered pretzels, strawberries, gourmet apples, and everything else - but nearly everything is homemade to gourmet levels.

The dessert creativity is off the charts. And it’s all hand made, all from scratch.

For many of the things in the shop, it’s simply edible art.

“One of the best compliments Diane gets is that people say ‘this is almost too pretty to eat.’ They literally want to save it, because it’s a conversation piece,” says Joe.

“We’re bringing the candy shop into the modern age. We look to elevate the experience with what we do. It’s all small-batch - nothing mass-produced, sitting in trays forever. It’s all made in-house with our own flair. We add upgrades that we think bring it to the next level from your standard chocolate shops.”

“We do a lot of dessert tables at events, parties, weddings that we’ll make custom things for. For our own daughter’s wedding, we made place settings with picture frames that looked like you’d buy in a high-end store, but were all edible, made from chocolate. People wanted to take them home and keep them rather than eat them.”

Creativity has always been at the core of who Diane is. She was a dance instructor and competitive choreographer for most of her life. But as a mom, she started making treats for her kids and sharing them with other parents, and in 2012 started a home-based commercial creating her treats due to the response she’d received. Her creativity had taken a dance step over to the kitchen.

By 2022, it was time for a real change. They decided to open up a shop, and found it right in their hometown that they love.  But her heart of a dancer still beats strong, as her husband Joe admits. He says that she can often be seen dancing through the store as she’s making her treats.

It’s hard not to picture this cake pop champ as a chocolate version of Mary Poppins - or should that be Cake Poppins? Or maybe Wanda Wonka, as the preschool kids she visited on career day called her when she gave her cake pop demonstration.

Diane has  embraced the sweetness vibe wholeheartedly. It shows in the love that she has for what she’s doing, for her community, and the legacy she’s trying to create.

For all the bougie vibe that goes into what she’s making, it’s still rooted in that throwback memory of all that a candy shop should be.

Candy shops are nostalgic for all of us - there’s a reason that we have the phrase “like a kid in a candy shop “. Most of us have our favorites that we remember going to as children. For many of us in Wayne, it was Nagel’s Candy Barn. “We’d love to have a similar legacy,” according to Diane and Joe. “10, 15 years from now, having that same type of longevity that we’re trying to build - to become someone’s great childhood memory of what a candy shop should be.”

Just A Little Somethin’ is located at 591 Newark Pompton Turnpike in Pompton Plains. They’re open until 6PM on Weekdays and 4PM on Saturdays.

“The

Date Night

AT HOME

THREE CREATIVE IDEAS TO CELEBRATE LOVE

ARTICLE BY BAILEY HALL

Not every date night needs to involve reservations or an elaborate itinerary. With a little creativity, you can create magical moments right at home. Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day or just want to reconnect, here are three ideas for unforgettable at-home date nights.

ROMANTIC PICNIC UNDER THE STARS

Transform your backyard or balcony into a dreamy picnic spot! Spread out a cozy blanket, add a few fluffy pillows, and hang string lights or fairy lights for ambiance. A small fire pit or lanterns can also add a romantic glow.

Pack a picnic basket with finger foods and a bottle of wine or sparkling water. Don’t forget a decadent dessert like chocolate-dipped strawberries. Lay back and stargaze, identifying constellations or making wishes on shooting starts. To make it extra romantic, bring a bluetooth speaker and play soft music.

BREAKFAST IN BED

Start the day with love by turning breakfast into an indulgent experience. Prepare a tray with a DIY breakfast charcuterie board. Include mini pancakes, waffles, fresh fruit, yogurt, granola, bacon, and pastries. Add small bowls of toppings like syrup, Nutella, or whipped cream.

Mix up mimosas or serve coffee with flavored syrups and whipped cream for a café vibe. Then, snuggle up in bed and watch a favorite movie or TV series.

PAINT AND CREATE TOGETHER

Unleash your inner artists with one of these three fun and interactive dates. Grab some inexpensive canvases, brushes, and acrylic paints from the craft store. Don’t forget aprons or old clothes to protect against spills!

• Paint each other’s portraits for a mix of laughter and creativity.

• Work on a collaborative painting - each person adds their own touch to a single canvas.

• Try a themed painting challenge, like recreating your favorite memory together.

Pair this date with a cheese platter and wine and don’t worry about being “good’ at paintingit’s all about enjoying the process together.

A SALAD REC IPE TO LOV E

A GORGEOUS, FRESH AND SIMPLE DISH

PEAR, PROSCIUTTO,

Burrata Salad

INGREDIENTS

• Ripe Pear

• Prosciutto

• Burrata

• Lemon Zest

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil

• Dried Figs

• Red Pepper Flakes

DIRECTIONS

1. Slice the ripe pear into thin slices.

2. Arrange pear slices on a plate, creating a base for the salad.

3. Nestle slices of prosciutto in-between pear slices, a perfect combo of sweet and savory.

4. Tear the burrata into bite-sized pieces and scatter them over the salad adding a velvety creaminess to the ensemble.

5. Grate fresh lemon zest over the entire salad, infusing it with citrus flavor.

6. Top with fresh basil, figs and pepper flakes.

7. Finish by generously drizzling extra virgin olive oil over the salad, creating a silky texture that ties it all together.

PERMISSION to be

cheesy

VALENTINE’S DAY CHEESECAKE

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY CASSIE SUPPES

Valentine’s Day is all about showing your loved one just how much you care. Rather than opting for the predictable chocolates and flowers, why not showcase your culinary prowess and create a one-of-a-kind cheesecake? Not only will this delectable treat demonstrate your affection, but it will also add a personal and luxurious touch to the holiday celebration. Make this Valentine’s Day truly memorable by going above and beyond with a heartfelt, homemade gift. Cheesecake is the perfect dessert for two because it’s both rich and indulgent, but not too heavy. Plus, it can be easily customized to fit your own personal taste and it’s much easier than you think!

TO MAKE THE PERFECT CHEESECAKE, YOU’LL NEED:

• 1 pound cream cheese, softened

• 1 cup sugar

• 3 eggs

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1/2 cup sour cream

• 1/2 cup heavy cream

• 1 prepared graham cracker crust

Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together the cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract. Next, add in the sour cream and heavy cream and mix until everything is well combined. Pour the mixture into the prepared graham cracker crust and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the cheesecake is set. Let cool completely before serving.   For this recipe, we decided to add berries and honey to the top of our cheesecake. Take the time to make yours special to your relationship. With toppings such as chocolate, jelly, whip cream, berries, fruit, or whatever your partner’s favorite is you’re sure to make them smile. Make things colorful by adding food coloring to the mix, it can even be made in their favorite color. You can also change things up by making your own crust with Oreos or cinnamon crackers.

To elevate this recipe to the next level, consider using high-quality ingredients such as grass-fed cream cheese and locally sourced honey. For added luxury, try using a blend of different types of berries, or even substituting the graham cracker crust with a crust made of crushed pistachios or hazelnuts.

In addition to adding a variety of toppings, you can also get creative with the presentation. For example, try using a springform pan to create a heart-shaped cheesecake, or using cookie cutters to create fun shapes out of the cheesecake slices. You can also garnish the cheesecake with edible flowers or a sprinkle of edible gold dust for a truly indulgent experience.

It started with a simple question from a college student’s social psychology project: What is your definition of love?

Let’s just get it out of the way immediately when you hear the words “what is love?” - if you don’t instantly say “Baby, don’t hurt me…”, I just don’t know what you’re thinking. And I was rather proud/ disappointed in myself that I hadn’t succumbed to that knee-jerk reaction.

When she asked me this question, about 10,000 things pinged inside my head in an instant. It really isn’t a simple question to answer comprehensively. I can’t boil it down to one executive-summaried sentence.

So after a 10-minute response window to think about it, here’s what I gave her. But now it’s an open question to you, our Wayne Lifestyle family. How do you define love? Let us know - we’d love to know your thoughts on love.

WHAT IS MY DEFINITION OF LOVE?

Love is one of those amorphous things that is ill-defined by mortals. It can be all-encompassing, fleeting, singular, boundless, stratified, eternal, confusing, misdirected, and a myriad of other things.

Left: 2024 Wayne Lifestyle "Picture This" Student Photography Winner Noa Turro gave us a visual interpretation of defining love with the photo "Reading-Is-A-Portal".

What Is LOVE?

ARTICLE BY DON SEAMAN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY NOA TURRO

It’s a word that gets thrown around a lot without deeper meaning attached to it. You might mean that you love a certain movie, or this muffin you’re eating, or a place that holds special meaning to you - or even just a particular sunset that will fade in mere moments. Is the love you have for your hamster the same you have for your dog? Is your love for a particular shade of purple equal to the love that you have for your parents?

How does that sudden wellspring of unrelenting, all-encompassing love for your newborn begin? Yet there is no limit to what you’d do for this person that didn’t exist a minute ago.

Love is confusing. Love is complicated. Love is simple.

It is an outbound feeling that makes you shine internally. It at once can bring joy and sorrow, pain and bliss, comfort and regret.

Ultimately, I think that love is a tacit acknowledgment of something special that is beyond yourself. It is in being selfless, recognizing that there is beauty beyond your physical body. Chemically, it’s about dopamine, adrenaline, and serotonin. However, it’s the soul - that likewise hard-to-define entity that makes us human - which binds that with the spirit and transforms it into something wonderful.

Love is soaring poetry and simple acts. Love is kindness. Love is compassion. Love is wanting better for others. Love makes the world bearable.

Love is the universe’s greatest invisible gift.

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