Lawrence Ledger | 2-12-2021 by centraljersey.com - NEWSPAPERS

VOL. 53, NO. 7

Friday, February 12, 2021

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St. Baldrick’s Foundation head-shaving fundraiser supports children with cancer

By Lea Kahn Staff Writer

Dr. Michael McCue had always felt badly for the young children who had lost their hair while they were undergoing chemotherapy treatment for childhood cancers. So when McCue saw an advertisement for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which raises money for childhood cancer research, he was intrigued – especially by its signature fundraiser, which is a head-shaving event. McCue, who opened a chiropractic practice in Lawrence Township in 2008, jumped at the chance to organize a St. Baldrick’s Foundation fundraiser in Lawrence. He has been at it ever since, even when it had to be held virtually last year because of COVID-19. Despite the pandemic forcing Lawrence Township’s annual fundraiser to go virtual last year, McCue has set March 13 as the date for this year’s 14th annual St. Baldrick’s Foundation’s fundraiser – virtually, of course. Volunteers – “shavees,” in St. Baldrick’s speak – seek pledges from supporters in exchange for shaving their heads for the fundraiser, which is timed to occur around St. Patrick’s Day in March. Lawrence Township’s 2021 virtual head-shaving event aims to raise $25,000 in donations for the

St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which funds childhood cancer research. The Lawrence head-shaving event has generated more than $1.5 million in pledges since the first one was held in 2008. “I got involved with St. Baldrick’s because it was, and still is, a unique charity,” said McCue, who organizes the event with his wife, Melissa McCue. “I loved the fact that it funded childhood cancer research, and that participants shave their heads in solidarity with the kids that lose their hair during treatments,” McCue said. As the number of participants in Lawrence has grown over the years, “it has really made an impact in awareness to see everyone run around bald around the third week of March,” he said. Although the 2021 fundraising goal is $25,000, the annual event has raised significantly more each year – and in fact, the Lawrence Township event is one of the top fundraisers in the United States, according to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. By the time last year’s fundraiser was canceled because of COVID-19 concerns, more than $114,000 had been pledged. When the last dollar was collected, the Lawrence head-shaving event generated more than $145,000. In 2019, Lawrence shavees raised more than $159,000 for

the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. The shavees who took part in the 2018 fundraiser generated nearly $200,000, which was turned over to the foundation. According to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a child is diagnosed with cancer every two minutes worldwide. In the United States, cancer kills 1 of every 5 children who have been diagnosed with the disease. The most common childhood

cancer is acute lymphoblastic leukemia, according to the foundation. Myeloid leukemia is not as common, but is more difficult to treat. Other childhood cancers include Ewing’s sarcoma, which is a bone tumor; retinoblastoma, which is a cancer of the retina of the eye; and Wilms tumor, which is a kidney cancer. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation and its head-shaving fundraiser grew out of a challenge issued by

one successful businessman to his equally successful friends in 1999. He asked them what they would do to give back to the community. The men agreed to shave their heads to raise money for children with cancer. The first head-shaving fundraiser was held around St. Patrick’s Day in 2000, giving rise to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. For information about the fundraiser, visit www.stbaldricks. org

PHOTO COURTESY OF MATTHEW FREEDMAN

Snow blankets the Princessville Cemetery, which holds the graves of several Black Civil War soldiers who served in the U.S. Colored Troops, and other Black residents, on Princeton Pike. The cemetery was in use between 1846 and 1921.

Zoning Board hopes to complete RPM Development affordable housing hearing By Lea Kahn Staff Writer

Lawrence Township residents may finally get a chance to comment on RPM Development LLC’s proposed affordable housing development on Texas Avenue, as the Lawrence Township Zoning Board of Adjustment plans to wrap up a public hearing on the application at its Feb. 17 meeting. The township zoning board, whose virtual meeting begins at 7 p.m., expects to conclude the public hearing on the use variance application. The meeting is the fourth one since the application was presented to the zoning board in September. RPM Development LLC wants to build a 70-unit affordable housing rental development on 4.3 acres of land at the rear of the Lawrence

Shopping Center, off Texas Avenue. All of the units would be affordable to low- and moderate-income households, with the exception of one unit that would be set aside for the site supervisor. RPM Development LLC needs a use variance because duplex and multi-family developments are not permitted in the Highway Commercial and R-4 residential zones. Most of the land is zoned Highway Commercial, but there is a sliver of land that is zoned R-4. The density of development – at 17.9 units per acre – exceeds the maximum of 10 units per acre in the R-4 zone. The proposed development consists of a trio of three-story apartment buildings and six two-story duplexes. The apartment buildings are at the rear of the Lawrence Shopping Center, and the six duplex

units are on Texas Avenue. The 70-unit affordable housing development will help Lawrence Township meet its obligation to provide affordable housing. The township, along with many New Jersey towns, was sued by the Fair Share Housing Center for failing to provide its fair share of affordable housing. At its Jan. 20 meeting, the zoning board spent more than two hours discussing some of the finer points of the proposed development, parsing over details such as the height of the apartment buildings, the size of the apartments and the overall site aesthetics. The apartment buildings will be 39 feet tall, which exceeds the 35foot height limit. The height will not be noticeable from the street, because the land slopes downward

by 13 feet from its highest point on Texas Avenue, said Charles Latini, the applicant’s planner. However, some zoning board members were concerned about the buildings’ height and their aesthetic impact. Zoning Board member Peter Kreme suggested a “balloon” test, in which a balloon or similar object would be suspended at 39 feet to provide a clearer, visual representation. Since the apartment buildings will face the back wall and loading docks of the Lawrence Shopping Center, it was also suggested that a mural could be painted on the back wall of the shopping center buildings. Questioned about the size of the apartments, project architect Anthony D’Agosta said they would exceed the minimum square footage

required by the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, which will provide funding for the development. The state agency requires onebedroom apartments to be at least 600 square feet, and to have at least 1,050 square feet for a three-bedroom apartment, D’Agosta said. But RPM Development LLC’s one-bedroom apartment would be 850 square feet, and its two-bedroom apartments would range between 1,020 square feet and 1,040 square feet. A three-bedroom apartment would be about 1,300 square feet. Kevin Kavanaugh, RPM Development LLC’s vice president of development, said the units proposed for the Lawrence Township size are “oversized” as compared to what the company typically builds.

Man who killed another at Applebee’s pleads guilty to manslaughter By Lea Kahn Staff Writer

Noel Powell III, a former Lawrence Township resident, has pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter for shooting another man in the head as the victim sat at the bar at Appleebee’s restaurant on Route 1 in Lawrence in 2017. Powell’s plea to second-degree manslaughter was made during a Feb. 3 hearing before Mercer County Superior Court Judge Darlene Pereksta. He was represented by defense attorney Robin Lord. Powell will be sentenced by Pereksta on March 11. Powell had been indicted on a charge of first-degree murder for killing Devin Smith, who also lived in Lawrence, but he was allowed to plead to the lesser charge of second-degree manslaughter in a plea bargain reached between the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office and his attorney. At the Feb. 3 hearing, Assistant Prosecutor Michael Nardelli proposed amending the indictment from first-degree murder to second-degree manslaughter. The amended indictment was agreed to by Lord and accepted by Pereksta in the virtual court session. Both the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office and Lord, Powell’s defense attor-

ney, obtained expert evaluations of Powell, according to a spokesman for the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office. The spokesman said that based on the experts’ opinions regarding Powell’s state of mind at the time of the shooting, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office felt it was unlikely to successfully approve firstdegree murder to a jury. The result was a plea bargain. The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office has recommended a prison sentence of seven years under the No Early Release Act. This means Powell must serve 85% of his prison term, or five years and 11 months, before he would be eligible for release. If Powell is released, he will be on parole supervision for three

years. If he violates the terms of the supervised parole, he will be returned to prison to serve out the remainder of the three-year parole term. The sentence will be determined by Pereksta at the March 11 court session. The judge is not bound by recommendation of the the Mercer

County Prosecutor’s Office. Powell could be sentenced for up to 10 years in prison. According to police, Powell entered the Applebee’s restaurant, which sits in front of the Quaker Bridge Mall, and walked up to the bar where Smith was sitting, shortly after midnight on Nov. 14, 2017. He

shot Smith in the head and fled. Smith, who also lived in Lawrence Township, was pronounced dead at the scene. Powell was arrested five days later in Trenton by members of the Mercer County Homicide Task Force and the U.S. Marshal’s NY/ NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force.

Publication of Time Off section temporarily suspended

The publication of the Time Off section has been temporarily suspended. Articles that run in the Time Off section will be published in the main section of this newspaper.

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CALENDAR Ongoing

French American School Princeton (FASP) is accepting enrollment. At FASP, students in preschool (3 years old) through grade 8 benefit from a rigorous bilingual curriculum accredited by the Middle State Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools and the French Ministry of Education; personalized attention thanks to small class sizes; and a multicultural community with more than 30 nationalities represented. FAPS is located at 75 Mapleton Road, Princeton. Visit ecoleprinceton.org, call 609-4303001 or email admissions@ecoleprinceton. org. McCarter Theatre Center presents Fireside Chats to “spark” conversation in the community. Filmed on the front lawn of the Princeton theater, student activities, Pulitzer Prize-winners, local business owners and others are interviewed by Artistic Director Sarah Rasmussen. To catch up on past episodes or to subscribe to the free YouTube channel, and to be notified when new episodes become available, visit www.youtube.com/ watch?v=GI3dS2j-mQA&list=PLqL4nAGy r4JT6UYYM99VHLHlmB2wXqSrF

Friday, Feb. 12 to Feb. 14

Join wine makers from Terhune Vineyard and Winery in Princeton for a special Valentine’s Wine & Chocolate Virtual Tasting, offered at 7 p.m. Feb. 12, 3 p.m. Feb. 13 and 3 p.m. Feb. 14, pairing the Harvest Blues and Rooster Red wines with Terhune homemade chocolate cookies in a special assortment along with chocolate truffles. Enjoy a virtual tour of Terhune vineyard and winery along with the guided tasting. Inquire by emailing tmount@terhuneorchards.com On Feb. 13 and 14, the farm will be open for socially distanced seating with heaters and firepits. Wine tasting flights, hot mulled wine and chocolate treats will be available along with light fare. All can enjoy s’more and hot cocoa kits. Masks are required on premise unless seated, and groups are limited to six guests. The event is weather dependent, so call ahead. Terhune is located at 330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton.

Sunday, Feb. 14

The MOSAIC Cultural Series of Adath Israel Congregation in Lawrenceville will present Ronnit Vaserman, founder of Art Connect Group, with a talk on “Warhol Women” at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 14. Participants will discover the many famous women Andy Warhol painted. BYOB: Bring Your Own Brunch. Registrants will receive recipes for 15 Minutes of Frame Eggs, The Factory French Toast and MOMA MOSA. To register, call 609-896-4977.

The Dryden Ensemble will present a Valentine’s Day concert, Leycester Lyra Viol Lessons, featuring Lisa Terry, at 4 p.m. Feb. 14. Terry plays the bass viol “lyra-way,” with melodies and chordal accompaniment just like a lute with a bow, in these 17th century lessons collected by English gentleman Peter Leycester. Listen to typical Baroque dance movements like allemande, courante and sarabande, a few settings of folk songs, and some engaging character pieces. The suggested donation is $10 general admission, $25 for supporters or $50 for patrons. For more information, visit https://drydenensemble.org/ Lisa Terry will present a lecture-recital titled “Leycester Lyra Viol Lessons” at 4 p.m. Feb. 14 courtesy of the Dryden Ensemble. Ticket prices range from $10-$50. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit drydenensemble.org.

Sat., Feb. 13 & Sun., Feb. 14

The Latino Mental Health Association of New Jersey will hold its 2021 annual conference virtually on Feb. 19 and 20. Find meaning across Latinx identities and adapt to changing times affecting racism, colorist and invisibility. To register, visit www.latinomentalhealthnj.org Co-sponsored by Horizon NJ Health and Rutgers School of Social Work.

Sun., Feb. 14 to Sun., Feb. 21

HomeFront’s Week of Hope from Feb. 14-21 will spread the Valentine’s spirit of caring to local homeless families. Kick off with “Share The Love” from noon to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 14. Participants will decorate hearts, adorn them with poetry and add inspirational quotes that will be displayed at HomeFront’s Family Campus, a temporary shelter for 38 local homeless families in Ewing. “Welcome to HomeFront” orientation will be held from 11 a.m. to noon Feb. 15; then a virtual tour of HomeFront’s pantry, FreeStore, ArtSpace and Furnish the Future program will be held from 1-2 p.m. Join a virtual Snack & Activity Bag “Packing Event” from 10 a.m. to noon or from 2-3 p.m. Feb. 16 via Zoom. Community members can shop for, pack up and deliver snack and activity bags for local homeless families. Attend HomeFront’s virtual Lunch & Learn with CEO Connie Mercer and COO Sarah Steward from 12-1:30 p.m. Feb. 17. Join the discussion on local homelessness and hunger, solutions and how to get involved. HomeFront and the Princeton Public Library will co-host a virtual panel discussion “Homelessness and Hunger in the Time of COVID-19” at 6 p.m. Feb. 18. Moderated by Connie Mercer, CEO of HomeFront, with panelists Bernie Flynn, CEO of Mercer Street Friends; Emily Lemmerman of

The Present Day Club is pleased to present: AN EVENING WITH ERIN BROCKOVICH March 2 ~ 7pm Register at presentdayclub.org

Environmental activist Erin Brockovich has been ﬁghting for clean water for decades. Today, Brockovich says there is a larger threat facing water’s very existence: climate change. She’ll discuss what’s at stake and how we can create meaningful change.

Princeton University’s Eviction Lab; Crystol Thompson-Dyous, Trenton School District parent liaison and former HomeFront client; Sarah Steward, chief of Operations at Homefront; and Gregory Stankiewicz, statewide coordinator of the NJ Community Schools Coalition. Take a Zoom tour of HomeFront’s headquarters, including its food pantry, FreeStore, Furnish the Future program and ArtSpace, from 10-11 a.m. Feb. 19. Volunteer on site in the Diaper Resource Center from 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 20 at the HomeFront Family Campus, 101 Celia Way, Ewing. View the short film created by Force for Good about the Tiny House project and homelessness at 7 p.m. Feb. 21. A panel discussion, in which HomeFront will take part, will follow the film. Register for all events at www.homefrontnj.org

Tuesday, Feb. 16

Morven Museum & Garden in Princeton will present a Black History Month tribute to Frank Johnson’s music at noon on Feb. 16. Colonialism and its legacies, including slavery, were part of the lives of several generations of the Stockton family at Morven. For Black History Month, independent scholar John Burkhalter and pianist Sheldon Eldridge explore the link between Robert Field Stockton (1795-1866) the “Commodore” and the free Black composer Francis “Frank” Johnson. Johnson (1792-1844), now considered one of America’s most prominent musicians during the Federal period, was the first African American to publish sheet music, and to perform an integrated concert, among other firsts. He composed and dedicated a work for Commodore Stockton entitled the “Princeton Gallopade” to be performed on Morven’s 1863 Steinway Grand Piano. The virtual presentation will be followed by Q&A. The cost is $10, or $5 for general admission. A recording will be sent to all ticket holders. Registration is required. Visit www. eventbrite.com/e/black-history-month-tribute-to-frank-johnsons-music-at-morven-virtual-prog-tickets-137677207233

Wednesday, Feb. 17

Reading in Translation: New Student Work, presented by the Lewis Center for the Arts’ Program in Creative Writing, will be held via Zoom at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 17. Six Princeton students studying literary translation will read from their recent work, hosted by faulty member Larissa Kyzer. Free and open to the public. Viewers in need of access accommodations should email LewisCenter@princeton. edu For more information and the Zoom link, visit https://arts.princeton.edu/events/reading-in-translation-new-student-work/ Danielle Allen, a widely-recognized public policy expert and political philosopher, will be the featured speaker at People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos annual benefit from 6-7:30 p.m. Feb. 17. She will be joined by her Harvard University colleague, David Kidd, to discuss “Reinvigorating Civic Education for the Nation,” an exploration of how their work has grown into a resource for rebuilding civic education nationally. Allen, a self-described “democracy advocate” and “policy innovator,” is currently James Bryant Conant University professor at Harvard University, and director of Harvard’s Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics. She is also the principal investigator for the Demo-

cratic Knowledge Project, a research and action lab at Harvard that works to strengthen the knowledge and skills democratic citizens need to succeed at operating their democracy. Allen is currently exploring a candidacy for Massachusetts governor in 2022. A Princeton University graduate and a former faculty member at the Institute for Advanced Study, Allen holds PhDs from both Cambridge University (in classics) and Harvard University (in government). The non-partisan Lawrence League of Women Voters invites the public to attend a special online public program from 7-8 p.m. Feb. 17. “NJ Government & Politics: What You Want & Need to Know” features guest speaker Ingrid Reed, a major player promoting transparency in New Jersey politics. Reed will talk about how to address public issues in a manner that can get results. She is currently chair of the NJTV Community Advisory Board and a former director of the New Jersey Project at Rutgers’ Eagleton Institute of Politics. In the Q&A portion of the program, Reed will respond to pre-submitted questions. The public can go LWVofLawrence@gmail.com to submit questions by Feb. 7. Online link and live-streaming options will be posted at www.LWVLT.org. For more information email LWVofLawrence@gmail.com or call 609-301-0401. A Black History Month discussion about famous inventors will take place at 6 p.m. Feb. 17 courtesy of the Mercer County Library, Lawrence headquarters branch. Learn who discovered the traffic light, who was responsible for changing blood to blood plasma, who created safety gates at the approaches of bridges, plus more. Recommended for children ages 6-12. Registration with an email is required in order to receive the link via GoToMeeting. Email hopeprogs@mcl.org

Thursdays, Feb. 18 & 25

Aerobic hikes for preteens to adults will be held on Thursdays, Feb. 18 and 25 at 1 p.m., weather permitting. Meet at The Nature Center at Washington Crossing State Park, 355 Washington Crossing Pennington Road, in the Titusville section of Hopewell Township. The routes of the 2-3.5 mile brisk guided hikes on selected trails in the state park will be determined. Bring a water bottle and wear hiking shoes. The trails are quite wet in sections. Advanced registration required in order to ensure social distancing. Face coverings are required. Attendance is limited and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. All children must be accompanied by an adult. In the event of inclement weather, some programs might be canceled. It is advisable to call ahead before coming out. Call 609737-0609.

Thursdays, Feb. 18 to March 4

The Princeton University Art Museum and the Arts Council of Princeton will offer free online art-making experiences on Thursdays through March 4. Weekly classes are taught via Zoom so participants can join live workshops, using materials available at home. Each week’s lesson features works from the museum’s collections and is introduced by a student tour guide. Feb. 18 is “Unique Cropping.” This live art-making class is inspired by Edward Hopper’s “Universalist Church.” In this partial

See CALENDAR, Page 5A

20 BRAND NEW AFFORDABLE CONDOS FOR SALE AT ABERDEEN PLACE Homes are located at Athens Way, Cliffwood, NJ 07721. The ﬁrst two Condos will be available in the summer of 2021. HOA fees are $117.67 per month.

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This virtual event is free and open to the public. Registration is required to receive a link to the live-stream video.

Join the Aberdeen ownership waiting list at www.AffordableHomesNewJersey.com by April 19, 2021 to be included in the ﬁrst random number drawing. If you do not have an email address, call 609-664-2769 extension 5.

The Present Day Club is a private women’s club created as an intellectual and social center for spirited and engaged women who want to share diverse and enriching experiences. Please visit our website to learn more about the club or the process of applying for membership. The Present Day Club 72 Stockton Street, Princeton, NJ 08540 (609) 924-1014 ~ www.presentdayclub.org NM-00452566

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Advancement of women continues to top of mind for local network of Realtors By Andrew Harrison Staff Writer

Even through the pandemic, the Women’s Council of Realtors – Mercer County Network has continued its mission of advancing women and professionals in the industry. The network not only works to advance women and professionals in the industry, but in business and their communities as well, according to the Mercer County Network. The local network provides leadership training and education programs/presentations, once a month, on topics such as business and real estate. “It is really an educational organization. The idea is that they have constant, especially on a national level, educational courses that you can take on leadership,” said Brigitte Sabar, secretary for the Mercer County Network and Realtor at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach. “When we pay our dues, we pay a portion to the national organization and smaller amounts to the state and local networks.” The Mercer County Network is part of the Women’s Council of Realtors national organization headquartered in Illinois that has a New Jersey state organization, which currently consists of seven Women’s Council Networks within the state. “There are very few organizations in the realty world that bring different women and men together. Ten percent of our membership is men, because most of the time it stays within brokerages,” Sabar said. “This is one of the few ways that different brokerages can get together in a neutral environment and not feel competitive at that time.” A group from the Princeton area started this Mercer County Network, which focuses on promoting professionals in the community. “Mercer County is such a mishmash. The network is centrally located to where we support Mercer County first, but we end up doing things a little bit of everywhere,” she added. “We have had people join our group from the shore, Plainsboro and West Windsor.” When the pandemic changed normal life in March 2020, the network had to quickly adapt to the new reality. “In January of 2020, as a network, we had all of our programs set for the year and what was left was juggling with what to do with one in December, because of the Tri-

State Convention in Atlantic City for Realtors,” Sabar said. “Of course, come March, all of that went out of the window. Everything we could convert to Zoom, we converted to Zoom.” By January of last year, annual dues had already been collected for membership within the network. “We felt horrible about that, so we completely had to reverse the way we did things. Most of the speakers that we had arranged were able to be switched to Zoom. In terms of what the content was, obviously we talked about people purchasing homes with just looking online,” she added. “We relied heavily on our strategic partners.” One of the programs that occurred from

the networks sponsors had been on the topic of how to make lemonade from lemons. “They got on there and spoke about what they had to do, most of it extremely positive, in order to keep their businesses going and change from operating in offices to obviously working from home,” Sabar said. “A lot of discussions and topics were about how you deal with this at home and then also what you need to do as a Realtor to protect yourself, when you are out meeting strangers.” For 2021, the network decided to pay full membership fees for those who were members last year and attended the Zoom meetings. The Mercer County Network paid for 31 members to be members in 2021.

“We got every one of the programs we wanted to completed last year. We have been lenient about who can attend these meetings and opened up to non-members. It is a challenge, but we did it,” Sabar said. “I think the biggest advantage of this network, to me, is that I am getting to know people out of my brokerage. We are building relationships and getting educated in things I would not have time to look into.” The next program for the Women’s Council of Realtors – Mercer County Network will be on the topic of real estate appraising on March 4. For more information on the Zoom meetings and networking, visit wrc.org and search for the Mercer County Network.

Penn Medicine Princeton Health names new CEO The University of Pennsylvania Health System has named James Demetriades CEO of Penn Medicine Princeton Health. He will begin his new role on March 1. Demetriades has been with Penn Medicine Princeton Health for 17 years, and currently serves as senior vice president and chief operating officer. He has been a key player in some of Princeton Health’s most important milestones over the past several years — a transformative time that included joining the University of Pennsylvania Health System, according to a statement provided by Penn Medicine Princeton Healthy. Demetriades succeeds Barry Rabner, who has served as president and CEO since 2002. “James is a proven leader who we are excited to elevate into a role in which he will help chart and execute Penn Medicine Princeton Health’s journey forward as an institution that sets the highest standards in care for patients and the community in New Jersey,” University of Pennsylvania Health System CEO Kevin B. Mahoney said in the statement. Demetriades led the overall system planning and execution process to become part of the University of Pennsylvania Health System, collaborating with other senior leaders to execute the Medical Staff Development Plan and serving as the management liaison to the Princeton Health Board of Trustees’ Strategic Planning Committee that developed a five-year strategic plan for 2020-25, according to the statement.

James Demetriades

In addition to his ongoing responsibilities for clinical departments and ancillary and support services, he also provides leadership for emergency management at Princeton Health, including the comprehensive work done throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. “The knowledge and experience James brings to this role will be invaluable as he leads the organization toward even greater achievements in clinical outcomes, quality, patient and employee engagement, medical staff alignment and community relations,” Anthony Kuczinski, chair of the Princeton Health Board, said in the statement. “We

are excited about the combination of James’ strategic thinking and the passion he has for the organization, our patients and community we serve.” Previously, Demetriades also served as vice president for Professional Services, and has had operational responsibility for Surgical Services, Laboratory Services, Radiology/Imaging, Cancer Program and many other clinical and non-clinical areas. He has also held roles at organizations including the Reading Hospital and Medical Center in West Reading, Pennsylvania, and HealthSouth Corporation in North Brunswick. “I am honored to be given the opportunity to serve Penn Medicine Princeton Health as the CEO. I have spent 17 years here because I believe it is an outstanding organization and I hope to provide the kind of strategic leadership that will continue to propel us forward,” Demetriades said in the statement. “I am grateful to have a team of very knowledgeable and caring colleagues, the guidance of a highly committed board and the strength of the entire Penn Medicine system supporting our work.” Demetriades earned his Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration from the University of Scranton and holds a Master’s of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration from the Temple University Fox School of Business in Philadelphia. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a Reserve Medical Service Corps Officer in the United States Navy.

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TOWN FORUM 

The Lawrence Ledger

HEALTH MATTERS

rda erar  

By Svetlana Jayson, APN-C

Give Your Heart Some Love Today and Every Day

he heart is the workhorse of the body, beating about 2.5 billion times over an average lifetime. Staying heart healthy is essential to overall good health and to reducing your risk of developing heart disease or having a heart attack or stroke. More than 30 million Americans have heart disease, the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In celebration of American Heart Month, show your heart some love with these lifestyle tips. Eat a Heart-Healthy Diet In general, a heart-healthy diet consists primarily of whole foods and mainly of fresh fruit and vegetables. In other words, the food is largely unprocessed. An apple is an apple. A piece of fish is a piece of fish. Broccoli is — you guessed it — is broccoli. The American Heart Association recommends following a Mediterranean-style diet, which typically includes: • Plenty of fruits, vegetables, bread and other grains, potatoes, beans, nuts and seeds. • Olive oil as a primary fat source. • Dairy products, eggs, fish and poultry in low to moderate amounts. A heart-healthy diet also takes into account portion sizes. As the American Heart Association notes, portion sizes have increased dramatically over the past 40 years, and adults consume an average 300 more calories a day than they did in 1985. These extra calories can add up and contribute to obesity, one of the main risk factors for heart disease. Want to control portion sizes? Give yourself a hand. Literally. Your hand is a good representation for how much you should eat at each meal. Your open palm is equivalent to a 3-4 ounce serving of protein like chicken or fish, while a closed fist represents a cup of vegetables. Limit fats to the size of the tip of your thumb, and starches like pasta or rice should fit in a cupped hand. To help you feel full longer, eat high fiber foods like beans, nuts and whole grains. Move More Just like other muscles in your body, your heart needs

exercise to stay strong and work efficiently. Moreover, exercise also helps you maintain a healthy weight, manage blood pressure, and reduce cholesterol, all of which are good for your heart. The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week. However, if just reading that is enough to make your heart rate go up, start slow. Try taking a walk around the neighborhood a few times a day or hopping on your bike for a ride around the park. Take an online fitness class. Find an activity you enjoy and work up to the recommended goal. The most important thing is to move more. Stress Less While stress hasn’t been directly linked to heart disease, there’s no question that it contributes to risk factors such as high blood pressure, overeating, smoking and physical inactivity. When you’re stressed you may not be as mindful of your diet and turn to high-fat, low-nutrient food to cope. Your exercise routine may fall to the wayside. Some people drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes to manage stress — these behaviors can increase blood pressure and damage artery walls. Avoiding stress is easier said than done, but certain actions can help manage stress, including: • Take 15 minutes each day to do something you enjoy. Whether it’s reading a book, looking at art or dancing around your kitchen, do something that makes you happy. • Head outdoors. Getting outside in nature helps you to get outside of your head. • Practice relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or meditation. • Work out. Though you may not feel like hitting that treadmill after a long, stressful day, exercise is a proven stress-buster. • Get enough sleep. More on that below. Get Your ZZZs Most adults need at least seven hours of sleep each night. However, according to the CDC, more than 1 in 3 say they don’t get the recommended amount of ZZZs. Lack of sleep is linked to high blood pressure and can

THE STATE WE’RE IN

lead to unhealthy weight gain. It can also leave you more vulnerable to stress and its damaging effects. To get better sleep, the CDC recommends that you: • Stick to a regular sleep schedule. Go to bed at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning, including on the weekends. • Get enough natural light, especially earlier in the day. Try going for a morning or lunchtime walk. • Get enough physical activity during the day. Try not to exercise within a few hours of bedtime. • Avoid artificial light, especially within a few hours of bedtime. Use a blue light filter on your computer or smartphone. • Don’t eat or drink within a few hours of bedtime; avoid alcohol and foods high in fat or sugar in particular. • Keep your bedroom cool, dark and quiet.

Stop Smoking In simplest terms, smoking damages your blood vessels and is one of the greatest risk factors for a range of cardiovascular conditions, including heart disease and stroke. In fact, smoking is behind 1 in every 4 deaths from cardiovascular disease. If you smoke, talk to your doctor about how you can quit.

Find Support Healthy choices are easier to make when everyone’s heart is in it. Make leading a heart-healthy lifestyle a family affair. Cook healthy meals together. Play outside. Go for a hike. Friends and colleagues can also support each other. Studies show that having positive, close relationships and feeling connected to others helps blood pressure, weight and overall health. Additionally, annual physical exams as well as following the advice of your primary care doctor and cardiologist are also keys to a healthy heart. To find a primary care physician affiliated with Penn Medicine Princeton Health, call 1-888-742-7496 or visit www.princetonhcs.org. Svetlana Jayson, APN-C, is a board certiﬁed advanced practice nurse on staff at Penn Medicine Princeton Health.

By Michele S. Byers

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surroundings that help our patients relax in a pleasant atmosphere. What has been keeping you from keeping on top of your dental profile? Anxiety? Apprehension? Those are relics of the past at Montgomery Knoll, 192 Tamarack Circle, Skillman, where we are committed to providing gentle dental care of the highest standards. Call us at 609-924-8300. “Our commitment is to relationships of partnership, respect, and appreciation.” “We offer cosmetic and family dentistry as well as Zoom!® and Invisalign®.” Please e-mail your questions or comments to: drjamescally@yahoo.com P.S. Even though microdentistry often involves more than one appointment, the cost is usually less than that of a regular cavity restoration.

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n his 2016 book, “Half Earth: Our Planet’s Fight for Life,” biologist and author Edward O. Wilson made a strong case for preserving half the planet – both land and oceans – for nature. This, he argued, is the best way to prevent a mass extinction of species that could lead to the collapse of humanity. The nature-saving idea was energized in 2018 when Swiss philanthropist Hansjörg Wyss donated a billion dollars to launch the Wyss Campaign for Nature, aimed at achieving 30% conservation by 2030. Later that year, several large conservation groups added their voices, calling for 30% of the planet to be protected by 2030 and 50% to be protected by 2050. With a new president committed to tackling the climate crisis, the United States is now on the same path to preserving a significant percentage of our land and oceans. President Biden recently signed executive orders pledging to conserve at least 30% of the nation’s land and coastal waters by 2030, less than a decade from now. The “30 by 30” vision was announced a week after the president kicked off his climate agenda by rejoining the Paris Agreement to limit global warming, and launching a review of the previous administration’s rollbacks of environmental protections for air, water and land. The Biden administration’s plan to conserve at least 30% of U.S. lands and oceans by 2030 is ambitious but critical if we are to save the planet’s diversity of species and buffer against the worst impacts of climate change by protecting ecosystems that absorb and store carbon. It comes at a time when the United States is losing the equivalent of two football fields of natural land every minute, or about 1.5 million acres a year. According to the Center for American Progress, only about 12% of the country’s land has been conserved as national parks, wilderness areas, permanent conservation easements, state parks, national wildlife refuges, national monuments and other protected areas. The Center for American Progress found that 26% of U.S. controlled oceans are safeguarded from the most intense extractive uses such as drilling for oil and gas – but most of these protected waters are in the remote western Pacific Ocean or northwestern Hawaii. There are no U.S. waters in the Gulf of

Mexico, the mid-Atlantic, or the North Pacific that are highly or fully protected. What about New Jersey? The Garden State has been a national leader in land preservation for decades and has already met the 30% target. This state we’re in covers about five million acres, of which about a third are preserved, a third are either developed or planned for development, and a third are up for grabs. With a sound base of preserved lands already secured, New Jersey can get to work on reaching the 50% advocated by E.O. Wilson and others. Since the early 1960s, New Jerseyans have enthusiastically voted to support every land preservation ballot question. And in 2014, New Jersey adopted a permanent and sustainable source of land preservation funding from a portion of the Corporate Business Tax. By continuing to preserve lands that support wildlife habitat and biodiversity, and absorb harmful carbon emissions from the atmosphere, New Jersey will continue to lead the nation. And by conserving 30&#215;30, the United States will re-establish itself as a leader in conserving nature, leveraging nature to address climate change and making more outdoor spaces available to all Americans. The path to conserving 30% nationally, and 50% in New Jersey, will require partnerships and coordination between government agencies, private landowners and communitybased nonprofit organizations known as land trusts. And it’s imperative that conservation projects embrace an inclusive and equitable vision that reflects the values of all Americans, including urban residents and communities of color. Clean air and water, a stable climate, abundant food supplies, a diversity of plant and animal life, a strong economy and a habitable planet are essential. These bold plans are huge steps in the right direction. To learn more about E.O. Wilson’s Half Earth project, go to https://eowilsonfoundation.org/ Michele S. Byers is the executive director of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, Far Hills. She may be reached at info@njconservation.org

Read Digital Issues Online

Packet Media LLC is offering a new way for readers to access their news each week. Visit www.centraljersey.com, go to the “Papers” tab and scroll to the bottom to “Read Digital Issues Online.” Outside of the breaking news and updates we post each day on the website, you'll be able to “flip through” each week’s newspapers in their actual format. It’s the next best thing to holding your newspaper in your hands!

Friday, February 12, 2021

The Lawrence Ledger 5A

www.thelawrenceledger.com

Calendar Continued from Page 1A view of an 18th-century Universalist church in Gloucester, Massachusetts, Hopper shows only the elegant white spire, obscuring the rest of the building with intervening houses. The lines of the roofs adjacent to the church lead the eye across both axes of the image to the steeple. This class will focus on creating a unique architectural composition by cropping the image and closely focusing on one aspect of a scene. Storytelling with Collage, a live art-making class inspired by Jacob Lawrence’s “The 1920s … The Migrants Arrive and Cast Their Ballots” will be held Feb. 25. Lawrence’s expressive style conveys the scene with exaggerated geometries, angular figures, and blocks of color. This class will focus on visual storytelling and creating collage composi-

SOLUTIONS

tions using basic shapes and blocks of color. “Rendering Clothing and Drapery” on March 4 is inspired by a Greek Statuette of Nike from the Hellenistic period. In this sculpture, the goddess of victory wears a clinging chiton with a long overfold that reveals the lines of her voluptuous body. This class will focus on the basic shapes of clothing and the anatomy of folds to better understand the mechanics of drapery. Details and free registration for each class are available at https://artmuseum.princeton. edu/calendar/2021-02/art-making-drawingcollections-capturing-winter-scene

Thursday, Feb. 18

A new Westminster Conservatory at

By Huck Fairman

Electric Vehicles Begin to Address Emissions Issue

he climate challenges we all face are known by many around the world. What is uncertain is whether or not we as a species will respond in time to maintain the environments we depend on. Last week there was some good news: General Motors announced it will be manufacturing electric vehicles (EV) only in the coming decades. Volkswagen and Ford may get there ahead of them. In New Jersey, and undoubtedly elsewhere, vehicle emissions are the greatest source of carbon dioxide. Turning to EVs will be an important step. California has been formulating similar steps. Europe, together the third largest economy, and polluter, is also adopting such measures. China, with us a top-two emitter, is turning to EVs. How widely they are doing this has not been reported, but we must hope that together we will do what we need to. But scientists warn that the world needs to substantially reduce emissions by 2030, and reach an emissions-free world by 2050. Can we make it? Among the real problems many nations face are that heat and dryness from their changing climates are making agriculture unsustainable. With no food, people start moving elsewhere. “Sierra” magazine reports that Guatemala and El Salvador are ranked by researchers as being among the most vulnerable nations to natural disasters. Dry spells in those countries are lasting longer and rainy seasons are growing shorter. (Parts of our country face these same changes.) Additionally, those Central American countries face problems of crime and corruption – a confluence of problems not unknown in other South American, African and Asian nations. In this country, and elsewhere, other changes, in addition to EVs, are being adopted. Wind, solar and even wave-power are increasingly being adopted as their costs are reduced and the need increases. Our governor is encouraging the manufacture and installment of an offshore wind farm. It is another example of how the public and private sectors can, and need to, work together, as occurred in the development of Silicon Valley, the Space Program, the Internet, and going back to World War II and the Great Depression. What is increasingly evident is the absolute need for this coordination. In addition to the coronavirus sweeping much of the world, other plagues are devastating trees, as spreading heat allows insects, viruses and germs to move globally. Many

Americans living in the eastern half of the country know that chestnut, elm, hemlock and ash trees have been greatly reduced in number by insects or fungi. In addition to simply killing trees, these diseases and insects indirectly contribute to the increasing carbon dioxide levels through emissions escaping trees’ rotting remains. This level of emissions approximates the emissions from wildfires – another repercussion from warming and drying climates. A new disease in California, “sudden oak death,” caused by a “non-native fungus-like pathogen” was noticed first in the 1990s. According to a “NY Times” article, “it has killed millions of trees” and has had “devastating effects on coastal forests in California and Oregon.” Moreover, the resulting deforestation “increases the chances that humans will be exposed to more dangerous pathogens.” Locally the efforts of the D&R Greenway Land Trust to preserve undeveloped lands and forests take on an additional urgency with this understanding of the environmental and health benefits from preserving trees. Creating and nurturing tiny, pocket forests is another step neighborhoods and towns can take to benefit environments, and human health. Fortunately, a number of positive steps have been adopted by the Biden Administration, including rejoining the Paris Climate Accord and reinstating a number of former President Barack Obama’s Environmental Protection Agency initiatives and standards. It is to be hoped that the unnecessary and destructive drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will be prevented as the need for fossil fuels is reduced. And likewise, the Canadian oil pipeline will be canceled. As the nation adopts EVs, it will also need to update and redesign its electric grid system, adapting it to more localized solar, wind or water power sources. At the same time, it will, as some municipalities already have, establish cleaner transportation systems, encourage pedestrians and biking, while encouraging and helping businesses and residents install green energy and improved insulation. In short, there is much needed to be done at all levels of international and local communities. Citizens need to get involved. There is much that they can do. Voters need to make clear to their representatives that this substantial range of changes is essential for our wellbeing. Science warns us that our timeframe is short.

Nassau video will be available on the church website at 12:15 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month and remain available for viewing. The artist on Feb. 18 will be Marvin Rosen on piano. To view the concert, visit www.nassauchurch.org/westminster-conservatory-recitals/ “Losing Picasso: The Challenges of Condensing a Life” will be a film lecture presented by the Princeton University Art Museum at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 18. The filmmakers, Ismail Merchant and James Ivory, faced almost insurmountable challenges in producing the film“Surviving Picasso,” which takes as its subject the relationship between Pablo Picasso and his companion Françoise Gilot. This lecture with Caroline Harris, associate director for education, investigates the resulting depiction of the painter, providing a larger context for the period portrayed. Watch the film at your leisure, then join the group on Zoom on Feb. 18 for the live lecture. Presented in partnership with the Princeton Garden Theatre. Details and free registration available at https://artmuseum.princeton.edu/calendar/2021-02/lecture-losing-picasso-challenges-condensing-life. “In Nature’s Realm: The Art of Gerard Rutgers Hardenbergh” will hold its virtual opening reception and curator walk at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 18. The exhibition examines the work of Hardenbergh (1856–1915), born in New Brunswick, the great-great-grandson of the Rev. Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh (1736–90), the first president of Queens College (Rutgers University), a self-taught artist and ornithologist. Curator and Deputy Director Elizabeth Allan takes viewers on a virtual tour inside Morven Museum & Garden’s latest exhibition. In Nature’s Realm is on view Feb. 19 through Jan. 9, 2022, at Morven, 55 Stockton St., Princeton. This virtual recording will include a Q&A session. A recording will be sent to all ticket registrants. Free, but registration is required.

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“Abandoned Ruins on Public Lands in New Jersey: Forgotten and Unknown Pasts” will be presented at 7 p.m. Feb. 18 courtesy of The Mercer County Library, Lawrence headquarters branch. Scattered throughout New Jersey are remnants of history that are being reclaimed by nature or destroyed by vandals. In this program, author and photographer Kathleen Butler will rediscover the little-known history of these forgotten places. Discover ruins from iron-making industries, mills, the railroad, and more. Registration with an email is required in order to receive the link via GoToMeeting. Email hopeprogs@mcl.org

Friday, Feb. 19

“The Pandemic and Hopewell Valley Schools: Challenge, Response, Lessons Learned” will be presented by Dr. Thomas A. Smith, superintendent of the Hopewell Valley Regional School District, from 1-2 p.m. Feb. 19. The Zoom room will open at 12:45 p.m. The program is designed to inform those who do not have connections with the school system about the ways in which the schools grappled with the pandemic over the past year to maximize both learning and safety. The program is offered by the Older Adult Ministry Committee of the Pennington Presbyterian Church, as part of its Brown Bag Lunch Program series. Call the church office at 609-737-1221 to register and receive the Zoom link.

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LIFESTYLE 

The Lawrence Ledger

LOOSE ENDS

rda erar  

By Pam Hersh

Arts Council of Princeton artists Ken Lewis and Kal ‘El Dream Livingston

his past year of virtual reality has been filled with bizarre reality. For example: 1. I am a COVID-shot seeking psycho, who as a kid was so terrified of getting a “shot” that I had a recurring paranoid anti-vax nightmare that Nikita Khrushchev was inoculating Americans with poison from his headquarters in my family’s garage. 2. Instead of going to a Super Bowl party virtually, I had more fun reality-watching people line up in their cars on Spring Street in a blizzard in order to pick up their Buffalo Wings from Chuck’s for their virtual (I hope) Super Bowl party. 3. I have a grandma crush on a tween-aged kid who is not related to me, who may be related to Superman, and whom I have only met virtually. I will expand on bizarre reality example No. 3, because it is ranks No. 1 in a pandemic year filled with a lot of zeros. Eleven-year-old Kal ‘El Dream Livingston from Trenton is an extremely talented artist, introduced to me through the Arts Council of Princeton. For the superhero ignorant (as I was until I met Kal), Superman’s real name is Kal-El, son of Jor-El. The suffix El means “of God” in Hebrew, with Kal-El defined by some as “Voice of God.” Before Krypton’s doom, Kal-El’s (Superman’s) parents put him in a Moses-like basket and sent him down the Nile of intergalactic space until he landed safely on Earth. Kal ‘El Dream Livingston, however, is a real kid with super artistic powers and with a dream (like his middle name). He is converting his dream into a reality and in the process convincing pandemic-weary grandmas, among others, that maybe the world is not coming to an end. For nearly 30 years, Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) staff members have convened to review and jury artist applications for ACP’s holiday art market, called Sauce for the Goose. Over the years, this Princeton tradition has grown and evolved and now receives applications from across the state. In 2020, in spite of the pandemic, the Arts Council received nearly 50 applications from individual artists who wanted to participate in the holiday market. One application featured a collection of colorful draw-

Ken Lewis with Kal ‘El

ings and small paintings with the added description “I like drawing different characters from various TV shows, movies and famous people!” ACP’s Artistic Director Maria Evans found this artist’s Instagram account and saw the artist – a young boy posed next to one of the paintings. Curious and inspired, Maria called Davina Livingston,

the mother of the artist, Kal ‘El Livingston. She confirmed that the application was indeed submitted by her son, an aspiring artist who has been drawing since he was 4 years old and who now draws continually on real paper and on virtual IPAD canvases. Lacking real exhibition space during the pandemic, Kal’s exhibition space is now Instagram. Apparently, Kal’s initial inspiration came from an Arts Council of Princeton event. Kal ‘El and the Livingston family attended a 2019 ACP exhibition called Inside Out, a group show featuring the work of Trenton artist Kenneth Lewis, renowned not only for his talent, but also for his mentoring. He is the Wynton Marsalis of the Trenton arts scene. Before COVID attacked, Ken continually hosted classes in his studio, schools, libraries, local YM/YWCAs, and coffeehouses, such as the Trenton Starbucks, where I first met him – and of course, purchased one of his prints. Kal was inspired by the beauty and colors of Ken’s work and by Ken’s journey as an artist – rather different from Kal’s. Ken Lewis, who completed his first painting on New Year’s Day 2008, had a successful business career as a property manager and an African American bookstore owner, before he embarked upon his life as an artist at the age of 47 years old. Kal ‘El, an arts protégée as a toddler, was 8 years old when he submitted his work to Trenton’s “Art All Night” festival. Adam Welch, the executive director of the Arts Council of Princeton, told me that Kal ‘El’s story “happens to be the physical manifestation of that proverbial spark you often hear about but seldom see firsthand: when curiosity, passion, enthusiasm and ability align and explode.” Particularly notable is the fact that both mentor Ken Lewis and mentee Kal ‘El Dream Livingston are artists who have managed to not only survive but also thrive during the pandemic, thanks to virtual platforms and a few real exhibitions and paint party events that comply with all COVID safe protocols. For me, the two artists using virtual tools have painted a very real picture of optimism and perseverance – a picture that will sustain me until I can meet them and their art in person. For more information on Kal ‘El Dream Livingston, visit www.instagram.com/kdl_the_artist/ For more information on Kenneth Lewis, visit www.instagram.com/kjlartist/?hl=en

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PETER PERROTTA

2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat

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2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat

“Off the hook.” The Durango, a three-row, If there is one phrase that full-sized SUV, now joins can best describe Dodge’s 2021 Dodge’s Challenger and ChareDurango SRT Hellcat, it would ger to be featured in Hellcat fhave to simply be: “Off the form. However, Dodge says that ,hook.” 2021 will be the only year it proo I know of no better way to duces a Hellcat Durango. According to the folks at say it folks. This souped-up sSUV – the most powerful SUV Dodge: the Durango SRT Hellyever – is capable of producing cat runs 0 to 60 miles per hour in t710 horsepower. 3.5 seconds; has a National Hot m It is flat out crazy fast and Rod Association (NHRA) certimfuriously aggressive in not only fied quarter-mile elapsed time Peter Perrotta of 11.5 seconds; is capable of a its performance but with its rervamped look – inside and out. top speed of 180 mph and runs n When I first jumped behind the wheel 1.5 seconds faster than the SRT 392 on a 2.1 eof this monster to begin my one-week test mile road course. For 2021, the entire Durango line now drive recently, I was almost afraid to punch tthe accelerator. I knew I was going to be in features an updated aggressive exterior with -for exhilarating jolt. I just wasn’t quite sure a forward leaning profile, a new front fascia, grille, rear spoiler and wheel options. how much of jolt. d Let me tell you friends, this “cat” is crazy A performance inspired interior now feaIfast. tures a new driver-oriented cockpit, includNot only does it plaster you back into ing a new instrument panel, wrapped and acyour contoured performance seat when you cent stitched mid-bolster and center console punch it, it does it with smoothness and an and upgraded door panels. It also features an upgraded U-Connect 5 accompanying sound that lets you know this system that controls all the functions of the is something very special. Powering this beast is a supercharged 6.2 10.1 inch touchscreen center command sysliter HEMI Hellcat V-8 engine that is paired tem that controls navigation, phone, music with a very smooth shifting eight speed and vehicle functions. The new look interior and exterior certransmission.

tainly works for me. I find it to be sporty and aggressive and much to my liking. There is plenty of head and leg room inside. The seats are comfortable and the overall sight lines are good as well. When it comes to power, needless to say, this Hellcat has plenty to offer. But, how does it ride? There are various different drive modes you can select for this Durango. For the most part I used the standard “auto” mode which will determine for you when to put it into 4 wheel drive mode. I also used the “sport” mode quite a bit which enhances this engine’s roar even more than it already is. I didn’t get a chance to take this Durango off road, however, since we were hit with a three-day snowstorm. I certainly took advantage of this vehicle’s “snow” mode. When you place this bear of an SUV in its “snow mode” it chews up any ice or snow underneath its feet with ease. Overall, the Durango has a good, solid ride to it. It handles quite smoothly for a big powerful SUV and despite all of its overwhelming power, you don’t ever feel you can’t control this SUV. It handles bumps and rough roads quite well.

However, in “sport” mode, it does stiffen the suspension a bit so you do feel the bumps in the road a little more. Needless to say, all of this power and luxury doesn’t come cheap. The base price of the 2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat comes in at $80,995. The bottom line sticker price of the Green Hellcat I tested came in at $92,655. Additional options included: $2,395 for a technology group package; $1,995 for a rear seat DVD entertainment system; $1,195 for an enhanced tow package; $2,495 for the premium interior upgrade package; $595 for a second row console; $995 for a Harmon Kardon sound system; $495 for blind spot detection and $1,495 for destination and delivery. The technology group package includes: advanced brake assist; lane departure warning; forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control. The premium interior group upgrade includes: suede headliner; a premium instrument panel and forged carbon fiber accents. The folks at Car and Driver gave the Durango Hellcat high marks for its “insane power and great body control.” It called the Hellcat “the ultimate schlepper.” Car and Driver gave the Hellcat low marks for its “horrific gas mileage” and said the “supercharger squeals ever at low rpms.” Yes, you can hear the blower doing its thing from time to time under the hood, but, to be honest, that really didn’t bother me much. As far as gas mileage goes, yes, this is not your typical “tree huggers” ride. What do you expect? The Durango has a huge 25-gallon gas tank and published reports rate its average gas mile rating as 12 miles per gallon in city driving and 17 mpg on the highway. Moreover, if you have a heavy foot and enjoy showing off the Hellcat’s demon like speed, I could guarantee you those gas mileage ratings won’t be that generous. At the end of the day, folks, this isn’t your everyday soccer mom or soccer dad SUV you tote the kids around in. To be honest, this is purely an expensive specialty vehicle that is simply a ton of fun to drive.

Peter Perrotta’s On The Road column appears weekly. For comments and questions he can be contacted at pperrotta@comcast.net.

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