Liandra and Michael Hamburg are very happy being residents of Wyckoff and some of their neighbors have that feeling too.
“Like a good neighbor, Mike is here, laughs Liandra.”He is always stopping to talk to the neighbors and taking in their mail and garbage cans.”
Their embrace of "a cup of sugar, neighbor” philosophy has them enjoying the people they have met and the wholesome family activities Wyckoff is loved for.
“We have attended the Memorial Day Parade and annual fireworks with our children Sydney and Mason,” said Liandra. “We are looking forward to the Menorah Lighting event at Town Hall in celebration of Chanukah."
A self-described foodie, Michael embraces the varied local cuisine.
“We love to eat at new places and support local businesses," said Michael.
The couple were living in Manhattan in 2020 when the pandemic hit their neighborhood.
“There were cases in our building so we decided to move out and we moved in with Michael's parents in Englewood Cliffs,” said Liandra.
Michael didn’t know too much about Wyckoff but as they were putting an offer on their house they started learning about its good reputation.
“When we talk to people everyone had something great to say about it,” said Michael. We moved here in 2021.
They became members of Temple Beth Rishon.
“It immediately became a warm built-in community for us,” said Michael. “It is a place that connects people with other people.”
Making a connection is what also brought Liandra and Michael together.
They met on the dating app Hinge.
“Our first date in the West Village, at Amelie Wine Bar” said Michael.
After traveling downtown for their date, they quickly discovered they were neighbors on the Upper East Side.
“We lived three blocks apart and could literally walk in the subway station tunnel to get to each other’s apartment building and never have to go outside," said Liandra.
Michael said Liandra was different from the other women he had dated.
“She is a kind soul and so easy to talk to,” said Michael. “We hit it off immediately."
Liandra calls Michael “a mensch.”
“We are both only children but we also both have step-siblings,” said Liandra. “We really related to one another.”
After their wedding was postponed in 2020 due to the pandemic, Liandra and Michael were married in 2021.
Michael was raised in Englewood Cliffs and graduated from River Dell High School.
He graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications.
He is employed at the cybersecurity company, Panorays and previously worked for Press Ganey, a company that helped health care organizations build their online reputation.
“I enjoy meaningful relationships with my customers, neighbors, friends,” said Michael.
Liandra was raised in Roslyn, New York, and graduated from Roslyn High School.
She graduated with a degree in psychology and a minor in education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
“My mother is a psychologist and I have always been interested in helping and making a difference in people's lives,” said Liandra.
Liandra continued her education and received a master’s degree in social work from Columbia University.
A Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Liandra spent nine years in education working in both Manhattan and Bergen County before working in private practice full time.
“I wanted to be able to help not only adolescents, but everyone and in a deeper more clinical nature ” said Liandra.
She then worked part-time for a private practice.
“I was clinically able to help more people,” said Liandra. “It also provided a work-life balance."
She opened her own psychotherapy practice, Liandra Aptekar Hamburg, where she treats adolescents to older adults.
“Something that was positive from the pandemic was that psychotherapists could now have virtual sessions with their patients," said Liandra. “The barrier of time and location has made care more accessible.”
Liandra says virtual sessions can be life-changing using her solution focused approach.to make virtual sessions effective..
“They give people who might have been apprehensive to try therapy, a less intimidating way to access support.”
Liandra’s interest in psychology influences her leisure time.
“I love to read psychological thrillers,” said Liandra. “I am an advocate for print books and like holding a book in my hands."
She also enjoys being active.
“I play tennis and pickle ball and is learning to play mahjong,” said Liandra. “I enjoy trying different types of exercises and wellness activities. This is part of my individual practice of self-care and something I try to prioritize and find balance while working, taking care of my children and socializing."
Michael is also active, playing Wyckoff Men's Softball and pick-up basketball games at Eisenhower Middle School.
“I play on the Tigers softball team,” said Michael. “We will go out to Blue Moon after a game.”
Liandra said watching the men’s softball games is a family affair and something they all look forward to.
“The families attend the games played on Sunday and cheer on the players," said Liandra.
The Hamburgs enjoy taking walks at the Environmental Center as well as in their neighborhood with their dog, Ellie.
“Ellie is a 7-year-old Poodle mix,” said Liandra. “We adopted her from a rescue group based in Puerto Rico.”
Liandra and Michael refer to Ellie as “their first child.”
“We adopted her before we got engaged,” said Liandra.
Their "second and third” children, Sydney and Mason, have not slowed Liandra and Michael's
love of travel.
“We traveled to Japan before we had children and loved it," said Michael. “We are fortunate to have J Mart in Ridgewood to get great sushi.
Their honeymoon was spent on a few Greek Islands. A “second honeymoon” was a memorable safari in South Africa.
“South Africa was where we were originally supposed to go on our honeymoon but couldn’t because of COVID,” said Liandra.
Domestically, they love to explore Upstate New York and trips to Florida.
“We love taking group trips with friends and family,” said Liandra."
This month they are preparing for Chanukah by incorporating timeless traditions with a new spin on gift-giving.
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“We each have our own menorah to light each evening,” said Liandra. “We will also eat latkes and decorate cookies.”
The new tradition adds to the celebration.
“I use different size boxes to wrap the gifts so that everyone is tricked on what is inside the box when they start to unwrap,” laughs Michael.
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