Inside this issue: February 2010
A month after my son began high school, the parents of all 9th graders were asked to attend a seminar to learn about what impresses colleges. The information session didn’t strike me as premature. After all, a Manhattan friend had hired a tutor to ensure that her two-year-old daughter aced a nursery school interview...

Inside this issue: Winter 2009
My children are only a few years out of their teens, so I understand why parents find relief even in the mildest of jokes, such as, "Raising teenagers is like nailing Jell-O to a tree." If I hadn’t laughed, I couldn’t have survived those roller-coaster years either—when one day I was my daughter’s best friend and the next I was-and this is an exact quote-"the worst horrible mother, EVER..."

Inside this issue: November 2009
We’ve all heard the jokes about New Jersey—where potholes are as common as mosquitoes, and everyone can name all the flavors of saltwater taffy... yada, yada, yada. Let them laugh. Those of us who live here enjoy the open spaces and cosmopolitan atmosphere, the proximity to Manhattan and the culture in our own towns...

Inside this issue: October 2009
A chilly morning breeze through the window, the quieting of cicadas at night... like the crunch of leaves beneath your feet, they all herald fall’s arrival. And despite a flicker of sadness at summer’s end, I’m grateful to live where the seasons change, each time igniting anew the feeling that new beginnings are always possible.

Inside this issue: September 2009
Think back to your school years. How would you describe them? I doubt the word "formative" came to mind. Although accurate, the adjective is too stiff , too bland to capture the emotions that our school memories ignite.

Inside this issue: Summer 2009
Ah, summer... that ice cream–flavored, suntan-lotion–scented time when worries drift away in pretty white puffs. But wait... those worries are still hanging around, and those puffs look more like heavy gray clouds of winter. It's time to chase them away-and that’s what this issue of Vicinity Magazine is all about...

Inside this issue: June 2009
When was the last time you went an entire day without thinking about money? If you can’t recall, you’re not alone. The recession is taking a toll on our national psyche—creating stress-related illnesses and sleepless nights. We’re anxious and fearful. Our optimism has waned...

Inside this issue: May 2009
Recently I stopped by my favorite boutique in town—and a saleswoman rushed to tell me that a purple cashmere sweater I’d loved was going on sale. “I put it aside to see if you wanted it,” she told me. Thrilled, I thanked her—and bought the fabulous sweater. Although it was getting a great bargain on the beautiful item, I felt even better about the personal care I’d been shown. That’s a special feeling you can’t get anywhere but in your own hometown...

Inside this issue: April 2009
April 15 usually conjures up one image—and it doesn't come in glorious colors or heavenly scents. But I still think of April 15 as the exact date that my parents’ magnolia tree blossomed, its intoxicating perfume wafting through our windows...

Inside this issue: March 2009
"Mr. and Mrs. Jones, I’m afraid I have some bad news…." Imagine you discover that your perfect little boy—the curly-haired little wonder who opened your hearts wider than you ever imagined possible—is autistic. He’s... what? After the stunned silence, what would you say? How would you feel? And, perhaps most importantly, what would you do?

Inside this issue: February 2009
Even before our first child was out of diapers, we started researching schools. Obsessive? Perhaps. But we weren’t alone. Education is so vital that many parents willingly relocate, put off vacations, and even puzzle over algebra (again), after a long day at work. Why? It’s simple—we want the best for our children. And luckily for parents in the Vicinity Magazine area, the “best” is all around; local schools consistently rank among the top in statewide surveys. There’s just one little problem with having such a rich cluster of fine schools available. With so many good choices—public, private, and independent—how do you choose?

Inside this issue: Winter 2008
My first ferry ride to Manhattan was on a bleak, drizzly afternoon, and I was as jittery as a gerbil, worried about my first day on a new job. But as the boat set off from Weehawken and began to glide across the water, I was suddenly mesmerized, staring like a wide-eyed Texan at a city that appeared as glamorous as a Tiffany’s window.

Inside this issue: November 2008

Recently, a friend asked me to write a letter to inspire donations to an orphanage. I’m ashamed to admit it, but my first thought was: I’m too busy! Luckily, the words that came out of my mouth were: "Sure, I’d be happy to."

Inside this issue: October 2008

With the cooler weather of October, evenings at the theater seem even more enticing. And it’s nice knowing that just across the Hudson we can take in a Broadway musical or seek the existential meaning in an East Village play. But how often do we actually make it to a New York show? Twice, maybe three times a year, at most?

Inside this issue: September 2008

I'm a decorating addict. Though far from an expert, like many of us, I can’t resist a design magazine. We imagine the possibilities—that soft yellow chair in the living room, that sky-blue paint for the bedroom. Some dream of their perfect home, and are always in the process of creating it. As you’ll see in our feature on Home Makeovers, dreams can become reality.