President’s Message, Winter 2026
Happy New Year to our members, family, friends, and colleagues. Time has flown since our last newsletter. I always feel like we hit November and we quickly run through the rest of the year in the blink of an eye. Thanksgiving, then Hanukkah and Christmas, then New Years and we ask ourselves where did the year go? It went so fast! And now what? We start a new year – filled with hope for peace, for prosperity, and for kindness. A new year brings a clean slate so we can start fresh.
As we look ahead to 2026, let’s take a quick look at what we have been doing at WLIB since our last newsletter. We hosted our annual Law Clerk Luncheon for the new Bergen County Law Clerks and their judges. The lunch is always a great event. Not only do we get to meet the new law clerks, but we also get to chat with all the judges. I have said this so many times over the years, and I will gladly repeat myself now – we in Bergen County are very lucky for the wonderful relationship attorneys have with our esteemed judiciary. It makes practicing in Bergen County special.
WLIB then hosted another annual event, the Meet and Mingle with Female Elected Officials. We had a wonderful turnout at Forte Restaurant and had an interesting Q&A with our guests.
We hosted the Judicial Reception at the end of October. We honored eight (8)
newly appointed judges and awarded each with a crystal gavel. Congratulations to our honorees: Judge Capano (JSC), Judge Conlon (JSC), Judge Corriston (JSC), Judge Marose (JSC), Judge Ortega (ALJ), Judge Gilmore (JWC), Judge Herbert (JMC), and Judge O’Shea-Criscione (JMC). We all had a wonderful time and a perfect evening at the Indian Trail Club.
Finally, we celebrated the holidays at Fresh and Fancy Farms.
2026 is going to be a big year for WLIB – our 50th Anniversary! The Annual Dinner committee is just starting to make plans. Please reach out to one of the Board members if you would like to get involved.
As we look toward the new year, I wanted to highlight an article called “A Tale of Two Grandmothers” by David Hochman. The author compares his two grandmothers, one who he describes as “ma[king] aging look easy” while the other “endured life more than reveled in it.” Both lived to the ripe age of 104. There are many recommendations out there for living a long life: eat well, get sleep, and exercise. But the author’s grandmothers, being polar opposites, demonstrate that there must be more to it…genetics aside. New research into the area of longevity shows that mentally resilient people live longer – they stay calm under pressure and carry on in the face of adversity. Love, or a strong social connection, is another actor that lends itself to a long life. The last piece of the longevity puzzle, according to the author, is Faith. Having a belief system, whether it be religious or spiritual, gives people guidance and something meaningful to believe in.
Our goal at WLIB is to support each other both professionally and personally. If resilience, love, and faith are the keys to a long life, then I hope that WLIB brings a bit of that to the table for all our members and the legal community. And, if you find yourself in need of support during this holiday season or throughout the year, WLIB is here for you.
May you all be blessed with peace and love for the new year.
Until next time…. namaste.
