11-22 HE

Enough is enough

DEP taking oversight role at Trenton Water Works after one too many issues

affecting the utility that concluded that it continues to struggle to meet water safety regulations.

BY BILL SANSERVINO

Enough is finally enough with Trenton Water Works.

The state Department of Environmental Protection is intervening in the daily operations of TWW, which has failed to address numerous problems in the provision of safe drinking water for many years.

The utility, which is owned and run by the city of Trenton, supplies approximately 29 million gallons of drinking water every day to more than 200,000 people—including all of Trenton and Ewing, and parts of Hamilton, Hopewell and Lawrence townships.

In 2020, the state attorney general and DEP filed a lawsuit against TWW—which was joined the municipalities served by the water utility—seeking to compel the City of Trenton and the water utility to take the necessary actions after failing to comply with Administrative Consent Orders to provide safe drinking water.

The takeover in TWW operations follows a months-long investigation by the DEP of conditions

The DEP takeover also comes amidst reports that Legionella— the bacteria that causes the sometimes-deadly Legionnaires’ disease—has been detected in the water systems of homes throughout TWW’s service area (see page 9).

In an announcement on Oct. 12, the governor’s office said that the state “will work with the city to enhance TWW’s technical and managerial capacity.” The goal is to improve the operations and maintenance of the utility.

“Since the outset of my administration, the provision of clean, affordable drinking water and the promotion of healthy communities have remained among our foremost priorities,” said Gov. Phil Murphy. “Under the leadership of the DEP and in coordination with the City of Trenton, we will work tirelessly to safeguard our residents and return water system quality to the level our communities deserve.”

DEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette said that the state needs to invest more time, attention and resources in struggling utilities like TWW. He added that the state will provide direct operational oversight to help TWW build the capacity necessary to better serve the public.

See WATER, Page

QB McKeown helps lead HoVal football to 8-0 start

BY RICH FISHER

It was Oct. 22, 2020; a Thursday night. And Hopewell Valley Central High sophomore Tim McKeown couldn’t fall asleep.

The Bulldogs starting quarterback, CJ Szafranski, had been injured the previous week, and McKeown was about to get his first varsity start on Friday against

Steinert.

“I grew up watching Hopewell Valley High School football, and I had the nerves, like, ‘My God, my time has finally come,’” McKeown said. “I remember laying in bed that night before the Steinert game, thinking, ‘Oh my God, I’m about to go play my first varsity game for the team I’ve been watching the last 10, 11 years.’”

Unfortunately for Hopewell, it wasn’t a fairy tale story where the lifelong fan guides the hometown team to victory. McKeown wasn’t terrible: he completed 10 of 19 passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception. But Hopewell lost 31-18. In fact, the Bulldogs dropped all four games that McKeown

See McKEOWN, Page 10

Hopewell Valley quarterback Tim McKeown, right, gets instructions from quarterbacks coach EJ Nemeth during a 53-21 home win over Notre Dame on Oct. 21, 2022. (Photo by Mike Schwartz/mikeschwartz.photo.)

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Healthy Holiday Eating

Thursday, November 17, 2022 | 6 p.m.

Location: Zoom Meeting

The holidays have the potential to throw you off your eating plan, so join Registered Dietitian LONI PERESZLENYI from the Capital Health Wellness Center for some clever tricks on how to navigate parties and family time and make smart food and drink choices. In addition to Loni’s creative holiday hacks, she will also share some of her favorite healthy holiday recipes.

Sourland nonprofits receive $75K NJ Historic Trust grant

Stoutsburg Sourland Afri can American Museum and the Sourland Conservancy have been selected to receive a $75,000 grant from the New Jer sey Historic Trust’s Preserve New Jersey Historical Preserva tion Fund.

The grant is for a historic site management project plan for the organizations’ jointly-owned True Farmstead on Hollow Road in Skillman. The Garden State Preservation Trust was expected to authorize the grant at its October meeting.

The Historic Site Manage ment Project supported by this grant award will include a preservation plan, a condition assessment, a national register nomination, architectural plans, cost estimates, an archaeologi cal investigation, a landscape report, a historic research report, a building system analy

sis, a disaster management plan and ADA accessibility planning.

Donnetta Bishop-Johnson, SSAAM’s executive director, says the project will help to “fill in the blanks” in American his tory. The True family lived at the Farmstead from 1881–1994. Their contributions ranged from service in the Civil War to playing a role in the life of the historic register-listed Mt. Zion AME Church and the historic Camp Meetings, held in sup port of Mt. Zion AME and the local community.

The organizations say that the grant will enable the Stouts burg Sourland African American Museum to bring to light the sig nificant contributions made by African-American families to the history and culture of the region.

The nonprofits say that the grant will also enable the Sour land Conservancy to provide a

model for land stewardship in the Sourland Mountain Region. This component of the preserva tion plan would include elimina tion of invasive plants from the

property, planting of indigenous plants and creating spaces for demonstrations and workshops related to ecology, history, the relationship between the two

and social and environmental justice.

“We’re looking forward to designing traditional-looking landscaping using native plants and hosting educational events to encourage visitors, residents and businesses to take steps to sustain wildlife, reduce pollu tion and flooding and improve human health,” said Laurie Cleveland, the Conservancy’s executive director.

Work is set to begin in 2023. Mills + Schnoering Architects, LLC, of Princeton, is set to develop the preservation plan and oversee the Historic Site Management Projects. Steward Green LLC, of Bridgewater, will prepare the True Farmstead Land Stewardship Plan. Hunter Research, Inc. of Trenton, is set to write the historic register nomination.

NEWS, Page 7

Representatives of Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum and the Sourland Conservancy John Buck, Elaine Buck, Bruce Daniels, Beverly Mills and Dante DiPirro. at the True Homestead. (Photo by Catherine Fulmer-Hogan.)

Hopewell

Hopewell

$2,450,000

Margaret Foley ‘Peggy’ Baldwin 609.306.2052

MLS# NJME2022652

Letter: the schools belong to us

There is enormous concern about where our dear nation is headed. A John Adams quote reads: “Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people.” Democracy can only endure when there is an educated citizenry.

Our schools and what is being taught are the keys to that success. We send our most precious possessions—our children and hard earned money—to provide that education. So I wonder why teacher unions and politicians are now telling us what they will teach.

Before this election, I urge you to find out what your school board candidates will demand in the way of a curriculum; what history and literature and math and science children will be taught. Recently, I asked a school board member what the study of literature was in K-12, and the reply was, “I’m not on that committee.”

Peters: My time to serve

In 2012, my wife drove through Hopewell Borough to visit her college friend in Pennsylvania. Within the year, we bought our first home and it was love at first sight; we would raise our family in Hopewell.

I’ve always been interested in serving, supporting, and being a part of solution making in our local community. Representation of ideas, values, beliefs, and opinions from the entire community is critical.

The best reflection of a community’s success is the product of our education system: Our children’s development, growth and success; the teachers’ and staff’s well being and commitment to achievement; A unified administration with an insatiable appetite for growth; and a board committed to being the megaphone of the residents.

Hopewell Township, NJ $3,300,000

Joan Loraine Otis 908.415.3062

MLS# NJME2006034

Elect responsible, caring, intelligent people who represent what you wish to pass on to your family. Remember, the schools belong to you.

Barbara B. Dollard

I come into the board with no agenda except one: A fervent commitment to ensuring our school system thrives in a realistic, pragmatic manner.

Please feel free to stop me while you’re in town getting coffee at Boro Bean or

We are

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11,000 copies of the

mailed or

businesses of Pennington, Hopewell Township and Hopewell Borough 12 times a year.

(609) 396-1511, ext. 110 or e-mail

Mark J. Peters

Hopewell Borough

the

running unop posed for Hopewell Borough’s seat on the HVRSD school board.

Support for PetersManning and Chait

politicians introduce themselves can tell you a lot about their values. Take the Republican candidates for Hopewell Township Committee. As of Oct. 17, the opening line of their website says, “As premier politicians since 2022, Jenn and Dan are here to pave the way to change in the lives of our families.”

Why do Jenn and Dan think Hopewell voters want their elected officials involved in the lives of their families? What kind of changes do these candidates have in mind? Do they think Hopewell families need the guidance of government to align with the changes these candidates desire?

Jenn and Dan have publicly campaigned with a Republican candidate for the U.S. Congress who not only denies the 2020 election results but participated in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol. Are these “Hopewell Values?” Do they plan to restrict what our kids can read and study in school? The congressional candidate openly states that “Abortion is unconsti tutional,” and pledges to use his office to “protect life.” Do Jenn and Dan have simi lar plans? This is the political company Jenn and Dan boast about keeping.

Democrats David Chait and Mayor

Courtney Peters-Manning have pre served acres of open space. They have implemented a best-in-class cannabis ordinance that keeps retail and cultivation away from schools, parks, and residential neighborhoods. They have reduced the property tax rate and exercised fiscal dis cipline. What they have not done is tried to “pave the way to change in the lives of our families.” Isn’t that for individual fam ilies to figure out?

Brian McInerney Hopewell Township

I have had the privilege of serving on the Hopewell Township Committee with Courtney Peters-Manning and David Chait.

Courtney is one of the hardest working people I know. No matter what the issue, she perseveres until she succeeds. Her leadership in demanding state involve ment with Trenton Water Works is a recent example.

As mayor, Courtney sometimes receives hostile emails. She and I have spoken about these kinds of communica tions, and I have seen some that I would ignore. But not Courtney. She picks up the phone or turns to the keyboard and reaches out. It is not always easy to take the heat, but that has never stopped Courtney from doing what is necessary.

David has truly contributed to the com mittee in his first year. He jumped in to every issue and offered thoughtful com ments and suggestions. For example, he reached out to mapping companies to ensure the GPS instructions for trucks show the restrictions on Bear Tavern Road. He was the driving force behind the township’s new no-knock ordinance, something that was suggested several

See INBOX, Page 6

years ago and resurrected under his lead ership. And unlike the rest of the commit tee, he was willing to take a turn in the dunk tank at National Night Out in August.

The fact that Courtney and David do so much for the community while holding full-time jobs and raising their families is even more impressive. I am fortunate to work with them and to learn from them. The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and not the Hopewell Township Committee.

Michael Ruger

Deputy Mayor, Hopewell Township

Did you know that property tax infor mation for every home in the Township is available on the Hopewell Township website?

I looked on the website the other day and learned something interesting. Both Republican candidates for Hopewell Township Committee will pay less in property taxes in 2022 than they paid in 2021. You can check for yourself—go to the Tax/Utility Bills section of the Town ship’s website and enter their names.

Why are they paying lower taxes?

Because the Hopewell Township Com mittee under the leadership of Mayor Courtney Peters-Manning and commit

tee member David Chait lowered the property tax rate for all Hopewell Town ship residents.

I always thought Republicans favored lower tax rates. There is a whisper cam paign that all residents did not benefit from this rate cut. It’s true that if your home was revalued this tax year, your taxes may have changed. But that’s because your house is worth more.

The whisper campaign may get louder. So, if someone suggests to you that Court ney and David did not lower the property tax rate, you now know the truth.

Bill Stolow

Hopewell Township

Stolow is chair of the Hopewell Town ship Democratic Committee.

Township Democrats state their case

It is an honor serving you, the resi dents of Hopewell Township, on the town ship committee, and we ask for your vote to continue to serve. As members of the committee, we understand the complex issues facing our residents and are proud of our record.

We are both raising our families here in Hopewell Township and know this is an incredible place to live. We are both local

employers and understand the impor tance of economic development. And we are both committed public servants and work tirelessly to improve the lives of all residents and this community, which we love so much.

As members of the township commit tee we are proud of our record. We have:

Decreased the property tax rate in 2022, the first decrease in 15 years; Remained focused on preservation, with 978 acres of open space and 240 acres of farmland preserved in three years; Successfully reinvented former BMS site as a hub for pharmaceutical busi nesses, creating new tax revenues; Secured over $1 million in grants for 911 upgrades and a new bandshell in Woolsey Park;

Promoted a highly qualified, commu nity-focused chief of police; Protected residents by implement ing solutions to illegal truck traffic and unwanted solicitation, and by adopting a best-in-class cannabis ordinance; Completed preliminary design for the Senior and Community Center and are now securing construction estimates.

We ask for your support and vote to continue to serve all residents.

Courtney Peters-Manning David Chait

911 upgrades welcomed

When my daughter was a year old, I woke up in the middle of the night to find her having a seizure due to a high fever. My husband and I were new parents, and when your young child is having a medi cal emergency, the situation is terrifying. Somehow, I managed to find my cell phone and dial 911. We told the dispatch operator that our daughter was having a sei zure. Every minute waiting for the ambu lance felt like an eternity. Finally, the EMTs arrived and were able to help our daughter. Luckily she has been able to grow out of her febrile seizures over the years.

I recently learned that Hopewell Town ship secured $600,000 in state grants to upgrade its 911 system. I felt relief know ing that if we ever needed to dial 911 again in the middle of the night, our call would not be lost in an antiquated system.

Thanks to Mayor Peters-Manning, committee member David Chait and oth ers, township administrator George Sny der, and the support of our Assembly representatives Anthony Verrrelli and Verlina Reynolds-Jackson and Sen. Shir ley Turner. I am grateful for these criti cal upgrades and improved safety for our children and all of our residents.

Helen Young Hopewell Township

‘Skillz Machine’ new books from local author

Local author Cris Maloney has released training guides for a new ice hockey and field hockey product called Skillz Machine.

The guides feature photographs of local players, explores how to use the product, includes a chapter on goal set ting, and a journal for athletes to track their progress over time. “I wrote these books to help players and coaches learn how to get the most out of Skillz Machine. It helps athletes develop their stick skills with fun and engaging games,” said Maloney, a retired field hockey player, coach, umpire, and author of several field hockey books.

The books are titled Skillz Machine Training for Ice Hockey and Skillz Machine Training for Field Hockey and are available on Amazon. Skillz Machine is available on skillzmachine.com.

Titusville author to present at Brown Bag Lunch Nov. 11

The Older Adult Ministry Team of Pen nington Presbyterian Church will cel ebrate Veterans Day on Friday, Nov. 11, with a Brown Bag Lunch Program featur

ing Charles Hunt, a lifelong Titusville resident and author of Through the Water and the Fire: A Swift Boat Sailor’s Story.

Hunt will share his experiences as a Petty Officer in the Navy Reserves serv ing in Vietnam in 1969. He spent 345 days as an engine man and aft gunner on a 50-foot patrol boat in the remote areas of the Mekong Delta and Ca Mau. He was awarded the Navy Commendation medal with Combat V for courage under fire.

The event at the church (13 S. Main St., Pennington) is open to the public. Guests are invited to bring their own lunch at 12:30 p.m. Beverages and light dessert will be provided. Hunt’s one-hour pro gram will begin at 1 p.m.

Chubby’s looking to Stomp Out Hunger Nov. 6

The Chubby’s Project, in partnership with the Hopewell Council of Churches, is planning to host a Stomp Out Hunger 5K walk on Sunday, Nov. 6 to support the nonprofit project, which delivers food and support to families in need in Hopewell Valley.

The walk will kick off at 9:30 a.m. in St. Michael’s Farm Preserve. For more information, to register for the walk, or to make a donation, go to thechubbysproject.org.

“Through this initiative, DEP and the city will more fully assess the system’s needs, meet its challenges, and ensure its long-term success for the benefit of the people of Trenton and the surrounding communities that this system serves,” the commissioner said.

The state said TWW is in need of sig nificant improvements to aging infra structure, including its 7-acre, openair reservoir that stores and provides already treated water to about 70 per cent of TWW’s distribution system. The reservoir is in violation of a federal requirement that all outside reservoirs be covered.

* *

The state takeover will be imple mented in two-phases to be carried out concurrently.

The first phase is the immediate reten tion and deployment of a “capacity-build ing force” of managerial and technical experts who will focus on improving rou tine operations and maintenance, as well as immediate capital needs.

As part of this, TWW will allow the direct oversight and monitoring of the system by the DEP and its consultants— including a third-party adviser who will monitor and assess all system opera tions and maintenance. The state will also

add necessary technical and managerial capacity to the system, and make techni cal, managerial and financial recommen dations necessary to bring the system into full compliance with applicable law.

The second phase is a full-scale assess ment and preparation of organizational and operational recommendations. Under this phase, the third-party adviser will conduct a comprehensive technical, managerial and financial capacity assess ment of the system. This will result in a report of organizational and operational recommendations, as well as short- and long-term asset management and capi tal improvement recommendations that will serve the basis of future action and investment.

“The DEP and the City will collaborate to ensure that the progress and outcomes of this initiative are open and transparent to the public,” said the state’s takeover announcement.

The state also said that as of Oct. 12, water quality sample results submitted to DEP by TWW reflected that the water system meets applicable water quality standards. “DEP will continue to closely monitor water quality parameters and other indicators of the status of the TWW system.”

“If TWW exceeds a regulatory stan dard for drinking water quality, or if DEP

otherwise determines that an acute risk to public health exists, the public noti fication would be issued to all TWW customers.”

* * *

It seems that the catalyst for the take over was a compliance report to Trenton on Sept. 27 that summarized the DEP’s observations and concerns after it con ducted inspections of TWW facilities last Oct. 26, Oct. 27 and Nov. 8, and Feb. 3 of this year. After that, the DEP continued to meet frequently with TWW representa tives and provided significant compliance assistance.

Although the 17-page report recog nized Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora’s efforts “to improve operating condi tions and advance long-overdue capital improvements,” DEP officials were “dis turbed by the current city council’s con tinuing failures or refusals to authorize resolutions necessary to advance critical capital improvements and ensure that ordinary maintenance and operations needs crucial to the protection of public health are met.”

The report states that TWW has “repeatedly failed to properly maintain critical treatment processes, monitor water quality as required by the U.S. Safe Water Drinking Act, employ adequately trained operating personnel, and invest in

required maintenance and capital needs...

Since 2012, the Department has identi fied at least 40 incidents, including 18 in the past 5 years, where TWW’s treatment plant was shut down for reasons includ ing brownouts, treatment failures, and high turbidity in the Delaware River.”

The full compliance report can be found at dep.nj.gov/trentonwater along with other DEP documents related TWW compliance issues.

Gusciora said he welcomes work ing with the DEP to resolve outstanding issues and ensure safe drinking water. He said that would announce a proposed plan to address the issues raised by the DEP “in the near future.”

The mayor has struggled since being elected in 2018 to right the ship at the util ity. Gusciora, as well as many state and local officials, have laid a large chunk of the blame at the feet of Trenton City Council, which has consistently failed to approve financing for improvements and infrastructure projects.

“As we’ve dealt with City Council obstruction, we are resolute and deter mined in our efforts to build on the sub stantial progress we’ve made, fulfilling the promise I made to modernize the TWW system to ensure clean and safe drinking water for our customers and service-area residents for generations to

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Getting

Meet the Minds Behind Ongoing GFS Exhibits ‘Night Forms’ and ‘The Village Potter’

BY DAN AUBREY

Editor’s Note: Both Aubrey’s “GFS ‘Klips’ Dark Season with Bright Dreams” and “The Village Potter Opens for Business at GFS” ran in previous issues of U.S. 1, Community News Service’s Princeton metro area paper, on Jan. 5 and May 18, respectively.

The articles have been edited and updated for currency, as well as general clarity.

GFS Admission Prices: adults (ages 18+), $20; seniors (ages 65+), active military/veterans (ID required), healthcare workers (w/ ID), $15; students (ages 6-17 or w/ ID), $10; children (ages 5 and under), members, free. 609-586-0616 or groundsforsculpture.org.

Klip Collective’s Night Forms: Dream Loop and Infinite Wave

On a chilly evening last November, Klip Collective’s Ricardo Rivera came to the podium for the press unveiling of “Night Forms:dreamloop”atGroundsForSculpture. in Hamilton.

“We have just finished the installation, and I’m a bit beat up,” he said about testing the

12-station suite of dramatic lighting, video, and music commissioned by GFS.

After daylight turned to darkness, “Dreamloop,” an exhibit by Klip Collective, ran from Nov. 26, 2021, to April 3, 2022. Now, ‘Infinite Wave,’ the second, expanded iteration of the project, will take its place in the coming month.

When Rivera first introduced the project a year prior, he said that the group “used the space as a canvas.”

“The site specificality of our work drives what we do. The music and color are being driven by the sculpture. The conversation

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Ricardo Rivera is Klip Collective’s founder and creative director.

between the existing sculpture is para mount,” continued Rivera, whose other work has included a light and sound instal lation at Longwood Gardens in Pennsylva nia and Philadelphia’s City Hall.

Then, the group of reporters walked into the night—and into Rivera’s dreams.

“Klip Collective is just a production company,” Rivera said at the group’s stu dio in South Philadelphia’s Bok Building, a renovated industrial art school, a few weeks after the press event. “I’d like to call it adhocracy, which means we build our teams per project and pull the rest of the resources we can for the project.”

Rivera said while he is the creative force behind the company, it is supported by a core team comprised of his coordinat ing director and wife, Michelle, as well as a studio assistant, sound technician and producer.

“It’s like a movie studio,” he explained. “They don’t have cinematographers and directors with them every day.”

“The studio is a place for me to experi ment and develop products. It was estab lished in 2003. We’ve evolved since then,” Rivera said.

The 46-year-old father of two daughters grew up in Delaware. His Puerto Rico-born father ended a military career in Dover, worked for the state, and then the federal government. He credits his Thai mother with

in

created home

That fascination also took him to the Uni versity of Delaware. While he said it was not the place to learn to make films, he got involved with theater and worked in a stu dent-run production company where he taught himself how to use the equipment, launched a film festival and “started having my own art shows.”

Rivera said his curiosity began when he and his college roommates rented a space over a Chinese laundry that “held art par ties,” then hung out with the bands featured there.

“One of the musicians was an electronic music producer, and all these DJs were coming [to his studio]. He said he had a projector and asked if I wanted to show vid eos,” Rivera said, then added he brought out some mixes, having just finished his second film with original music.

The result was that Rivera learned that he was part of a new vanguard in the music scene—a video jockey or VJ. He was also invited to illuminate shows and events in Baltimore.

“I wanted to be a filmmaker and also wanted to make art,” he said. Rivera thought about attending New York University film school, but chose his own path when Kevin Smith, the New Jersey-raised director of

“Clerks” and “Chasing Amy,” advised him to not pay thousands of dollars to create a film no one is going to see. Instead, he suggested to use a ‘do-it-yourself’ type of approach. Rivera, gesturing to his three-room studio, said, “It all came from this weird ride—doing raves” and using video clips—the genesis of the company’s name (with a K added to steer people away from thinking of the term “clip art”).

“We honor where we came from,” he said. Rivera met his future wife at the University of Delaware and then settled in her hometown of Philadelphia. “I learned a lot all those years and developed an aesthetic and a vibe. My production soul was born,” Rivera shared. Eventually, that vibe started getting him work in advertising with credits for Nike and

‘Arch II, Set II’ by Elizabeth Strong-Cuevas returns in Night Forms’ ‘Infinite Wave.’

in

took a ceramics class.

said he was drawn initially to the practice because he could meet other stu dents and have a college experience, but without having to write too much. He also appreciated the tactility of the materials because it reminded him of something he saw in his community—physical labor.

Then, he found something more.

“When I started working in pottery, it felt so right, and it was the first time people gave me encouragement,” Lugo said in an interview earlier this year.

However, he said, there was also doubt. “I realized that there weren’t a lot of people I know who were artists, and none who were potters. It made me realize how few people could make a living from the [pot ter’s] wheel. I tried to make functional, pro duction pottery, but I kept asking why peo ple would buy these when [mass-produced

pottery works] were cheap.”

Then, Lugo came across an edition of art magazine ‘Ceramics Monthly’ that featured a graffitied pot on the cover.

“[The piece] had a shape I had never seen before and used the wheel in a dif ferent way. It made so much sense to me, and I felt [at] that moment that I could do that, that I had something to contribute,” he said, additionally with the hope of repre senting the people and artists he could not see in the studio.

With an imagination fired by the thought of a career firing ceramics, Lugo began seeking out opportunities, and he decided to go to Kansas City Arts Institute.

Lugo knew he needed a portfolio of work, and enough money, to be accepted. With his kiln, determination and a broken back, Lugo sold about “$10 or $15” pottery pieces.

Afterwards, he applied to Pennsylva

nia State University to work with Chris Daly, whom Lugo called a legendary pot ter, educator and mentor whose “whole life is art.” Also at Penn State was Shannon Goff, an “influential mentor as a teacher, and the first person who understood what I wanted to say with my work, understood the content.”

As part of a tribute, Lugo included both Daly and Goff in an exhibition section devoted to the artists who mentored him, as well as those he similarly helped guide. “I wanted to show [that] it takes a village to make an artist,” he said.

While at Penn State, where he received an MFA, he took a leap that launched him into a gallery and into the art world; estab lished California-based documentary pho tographer Richard Ross was on campus to discuss his work photographing incarcer ated youth for a book, as well as to critique student work.

Lugo said that at the time, his brother had been arrested back in Kensington, and that Ross was planning an exhibition in Philadelphia. He decided to talk to him and ask him to assess his street-inspired pottery.

“He was the first person who was actu ally interacting with people from the neigh borhood that I was from,” Lugo explained. Ross asked him to be in an exhibition, the Crane Arts Center’s 2013 “Juvenile in Jus tice” in the Northern Liberties section of Philadelphia. Through that experience, Lugo put his blend of traditional pottery, street design, and social commentary on the art map.

His other opportunities were as an artistin-residence at the Clay Studio in Philadel phia, an instructor at Marlboro College in Vermont and a current faculty member of

GFS, continued from Page 5

Temple University’s Tyler School of Art. He also had a series of exhibitions. The artist’s 2016 Philadelphia display, “Defacing Adver sity,” served as a glimpse into his work.

Regarding the title, Lugo said, “I grew up doing graffiti art. It was my first art form. I never took art classes before I did pottery. People often see graffiti as just vandalism and use the word ‘defacing,’ so I thought of different ways of defacing. I thought of defacing adversity; I had lots of experiences growing up with racism, so making art in spite of it was defacing over it—defacing it and negative things.”

Lugo’s 2018 piece in the Smithsonian National Museum of African American His tory and Culture, “Reckoning: Protest. Defi ance. Resilience” extended that idea further.

According to the museum materials, “Lugo reframes the traditional color, form, and repetitive imagery of ancient Greek kraters to focus on the issue of violence that dispro portionately affects people of color in eco nomically disadvantaged urban communi ties, including violence at the hands of law enforcement.”

Represented in the composition are depic tions of kneeling figures, police officers clad in riot gear and pointed guns.

When speaking about the themes and images, Lugo said that while he focuses on urban situations, his intent is broader.

“I want to clarify that my entire experience is not negative; it’s about celebrating people who contributed. A lot of my work is a cele bration and rooted in that. Even in situations where you find yourself with different people of color, they all have different experiences. Poverty and race are distinct.”

“I approach art from the place I know—hip hop culture,” he said. To make the point, Lugo explained his affinity for the Staten Island hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan.

“They took a combination of Kung Fu movies and hip hop and synthesized them together to give a unique sound. They gave the beauty of how you can fuse two cultures.”

“I’m referencing and making connections, but I’m not trying to own that culture as an identity; my work is trying to synthesize, combine,” Lugo emphasized.

When he pulls from his interest in Royal Porcelain tea cups, for example, he also pulls from his memory.

“Both of my parents are from Puerto Rico,” Lugo said. His father was a Pentecostal min ister and spray painter, and his mother was a school cafeteria worker turned registered nurse.

“Culturally, I’m from the Indigenous peo ple from Puerto Rico, [as well as] Portuguese and Spanish. It’s a huge part of what I paint and draw,” explained Lugo, who has two sons, Theodore and Otto, with artist wife Ashley.

He also draws on these experiences as both a spoken word artist and a lecturer — during his 2015 National Council on Educa tion for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) emerging culture presentation, Lugo addressed an audience of approximately 3,000 ceramic educators with the following line: “We’re a culture that can change the world.”

Lugo noted that having the opportunity to deliver that speech was “the most influential” aspect of his work thus far.

He also explained that it started him on a different career trajectory to focus on con necting with exhibiting venues where his ceramics would be seen as “visual art and design and allowed me to take on unique

projects — like working here [at GFS].”

The decision also seemed to support Lugo’s approach to creating.

“With my particular practice, most of my time is spent painting pots. I take twice as long to paint. Part of my aesthetic is to [paint] over things. It comes from my graffiti days. I just paint over [the work] until it makes sense, and all that layering gives a depth to the piece that I find appealing.”

Yet despite his success, Lugo said, “I ask myself, ‘Do I have the agency to make the work that I do?’ I ask myself, ‘Why do I have the opportunities I do?’ I think a lot of the challenges. Pottery lends itself to patience and a lot of detail—two things I’m not good at. People are looking for a refinement of craft, but I fail in a lot of those ways. My obsessions are different, [but] I’m working on it. It’s a lifetime commitment.”

Looking at the exhibition, Lugo appreci ates that he is exhibiting next to Trenton and mentioned the city’s history as a major world ceramics producer.

While he hoped that connection would stimulate interest, he also bet on something bigger.

“One of the great things about this exhi bition is the 20-foot-tall vase,” Lugo said. “Usually, I make a vignette on one. But people can walk into this vase and be the vignette in the pottery and become part of the artwork. Part of the art is having people interact with it. It becomes about people remembering the big pot, not the artist. I never had the opportunity to make a piece like this, bigger than human size.”

Lugo shared one final thought: “I really hope that this exhibition makes Black and Brown communities feel that there is art here that connects with them. I hope to be a bridge and make connections. Going into any space and gallery can be intimidat ing, but going into any space where there’s familiarity can be less so.”

Roberto Lugo: The Village Potter Wednesday through Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 pm.

Lugo, right, is pictured beside two of his original sculptures — a design featuring Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, left, and a 20-foot-tall interactive vase, center — on display at his Grounds for Sculpture exhibit, “The Village Potter,” which opened on May 22, 2022, and runs until January 8, 2023.

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The Dental Difference

Mini Dental Implants: A True Innovation in Dentistry

Mini Dental Implants (MDIs) have changed the face of implant dentistry. Unlike traditional implant placement, where multiple dental visits are often required, MDIs can eliminate the need for extensive surgery. The most common use for MDIs is the stabilization of dentures and overdentures. MDIs firmly anchor the dental prosthesis, which means there is no longer a need to suffer with illfitting, loose and ANNOYING dentures!

MDIs are designed to eliminate elaborate bone grafting and to expedite treatment. Traditional implants may require significant bone grafting and a longer recovery period. The latent period allows the anchor of the implant to properly embed itself into the jawbone. The smaller size of MDIs means that no recovery period is possible, and the denture can be fitted the same day.

What are the advantages of MDI placement?

MDIs are a true innovation for people who are reluctant to have invasive dental surgery and who are suffering denture wearers. One significant advantage MDIs have over traditional implants is that they offer a viable treatment choice for patients who have experienced extensive bone loss. Depending on the quality and density of jawbone available at the implant site, four or more of these mini implants may be implanted at one time. The most common use for MDIs is to stabilize a lower denture, however they can be placed anywhere in the mouth.

Other advantages associated with MDIs may include:

• Better smelling breath

• More self-esteem

• Clearer speech

• Easier chewing and biting

• Easier cleaning

• Firmer denture fit

• Good success rate

• Less denture discomfort

• No cutting or sutures

• No need for adhesives or messy bonding agents

• No rotting food beneath the

denture

• No slipping or wobbling

• Quick treatment time

• Reduced costs

How are mini dental implants placed?

The whole mini dental implant placement procedure takes approximately one hour. Generally, in the case of lower jaw implants, four to six MDIs will be placed about 5mm apart. Prior to inserting MDIs, Dr. Mosmen will use many diagnostic and planning tools to find the optimal location to implant them.

After placement, a denture will be modified and affixed to the MDIs. The rubber O-ring on each MDI snaps into the designated spot on the denture, and the denture then rests snugly on the gum tissue. MDIs hold the denture comfortably in a tight-fitting way for the lifetime of that implant.

In almost all cases, no stitching is required, and no real discomfort is felt after the procedure. When the denture placement procedure is complete, light eating can be resumed. The denture can be removed and cleaned at will. MDIs enhance the natural

beauty of the smile and restore full functionality to the teeth.

If you have any questions about mini dental implants, please call Dr. Kevin Mosmen for a FREE consultation appointment to see if you’re a candidate for this procedure or traditional implants..

The Dental Difference – 2131 Route 33, Suite A, Hamilton, NJ 08690. 609-445-3577. www. thedentaldifference.com. See ad, page 11.

Dr. Kevin Mosmen

Acucare

A Personalized Approach to Your Health

By focusing on every dimension of your health and well-being, Medical Acucare aims to alleviate, if not reverse, the symptoms and progression of chronic diseases.

Dr. Qingdi Geng, the founder of Medical Acucare, is board certified in Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine. She works in the central New Jersey area and draws on over 10 years of clinical experience in treating a variety of medical conditions. Throughout her practice, she discovered that conventional medical treatments are effective in managing most acute conditions — like a broken bone or a stroke — but often fall short in improving chronic diseases.

This motivated her to pursue advanced training in Acupuncture and Functional Medicine. Now, she combines the best of conventional medicine, functional medicine, and acupuncture to identify the root causes of her patients’ chronic issues and optimize their health and wellness.

Promoting Women’s Health. Dr. Geng has a deep understanding of

the unique challenges that women face as they navigate the healthcare system, especially those who are undergoing perimenopause or menopause as well as other difficult transitions. Knowing the frustration of having your symptoms minimized or simply attributed to aging, Dr. Geng pays particular attention to hormone imbalance, digestive dysfunction, autoimmune issues, and other conditions that often afflict women during these periods.

After taking the time to get to know her patients well, she runs comprehensive and tailored lab tests, recommends lifestyle modifications suitable for the individual, and offers personalized treatment plans that help her patients to restore their balance and vitality.

Advocating Cardiovascular Health. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.

It is well known that high cholesterol, hypertension, and diabetes put individuals at risk for cardiovascular disease. However, patients with chronic inflammation are also at much higher risk of heart attack and stroke.

Dr. Geng has a wealth of experience treating conditions that can potentially lead to systemic inflammation including obesity, gut dysbiosis,

and various autoimmune diseases. Medical Acucare prioritizes cardiovascular health, working with patients to further assess and lessen their risk through targeted lifestyle modifications and advanced cardiovascular assessments.

Tackling Weight Loss. Since many health issues stem from unwanted weight gain, Dr. Geng takes a holistic approach to assisting in weight loss and alleviating metabolic dysfunction. She focuses on helping people to discover the root causes behind their unwanted weight gain, whether it is unhealthy eating habits, hormonal imbalance, chronic inflammation, or insulin resistance.

Medical Acucare also maintains collaborative partnerships with local and remote health coaches and nutritionists to help our patients form healthy habits, rebuild their confidence, and sustain their weight loss long-term.

Acupuncture. While acupuncture is well known for treating back pain, neck pain, and osteoarthritis, it is also highly effective in reducing the frequency of tension headaches and migraines. Moreover, there is a growing body of evidence that shows acupuncture can trigger the release of beneficial hormones, including endorphins.

For more than five years, Dr. Geng has been using acupuncture to treat neck and back pain, weight loss, indigestion, urinary incontinence, insomnia, and anxiety. Since acupuncture rarely has major side effects, like prescribed medications or surgeries, it is a great option for people who want to take a more natural and less invasive treatment approach.

Medical Acucare, 339 PrincetonHightstown Rd, Building C, East Windsor NJ 08512 www.medicalacucare.com. See ad, page 10.

Dr. Qingdi Geng

Menopause,

Aura Dermatology

Tips for Preventing Skin Cancer

by Darshan Vaidya, MD, FAAD

Skin cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in the United States with over 5 million new cases every year. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, about 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70. The majority of skin cancers are associated with ultraviolet radiation exposure (sunlight or tanning bed use), especially in those with blistering sunburns and early childhood/adolescent sun exposure. Ultraviolet radiation leads to DNA damage and mutations in skin cells, which causes them to multiply rapidly and form cancers. Most skin cancers are preventable with the daily use of sunscreen (preferably zinc oxidebased physical sunscreens) and sun protection/avoidance measures beginning in childhood.

The main types of skin cancer are 1) Basal cell carcinoma, 2) Squamous cell carcinoma, 3) Melanoma, and 4) Merkel cell carcinoma. These often occur in sun exposed areas like the scalp, face, neck, upper chest, back, arms, and hands. The back of the legs is a common site for melanoma in women who have a history of sunbathing. Skin cancers can have many different faces — they can look like pink or brown bumps, scaly patches, or nodules that are changing in size/shape/color, bleeding or nonhealing.

With regular visits to your boardcertified dermatologist, it is possible to diagnose skin cancer very early on. In-office treatments can be performed with very high cure rates. Many times, your dermatologist will provide treatment for precancerous lesions before they become malignant. Please make your appointment today for a full skin evaluation, especially if you are unsure of the last one you had!

What are some things you can do to help prevent skin cancer?

• Always use a broad spectrum sunscreen that covers UVA/UVB with an SPF of 30 or higher (zinc oxide based sunscreen is preferred). Reapply sunscreen every 1.5-2 hours when outdoors and always after water exposure (even if the sunscreen says “water resistant”). Did you know that most people don’t apply enough

basal cell carcinoma

sunscreen? Apply at least 1 ounce of sunscreen per application to attain the SPF listed on the bottle. Avoid sunscreen use in infants younger than 6 months due to increased systemic absorption in this age group. Sun protective clothing/sun avoidance measures are extremely important even if you have sunscreen on.

• Use sun protective clothing (widebrimmed hats, sunglasses, UV shirts, UV sleeves, etc), try to seek shade when possible, and avoid mid-day exposure between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Avoid getting a tan or a sunburn (naturally or with tanning beds)! Tanned skin is damaged skin and it increases your risk of skin cancer and wrinkles!

• Perform monthly self-skin exams looking for any new or changing spots (changing in size, shape, color, elevation, bleeding, non-healing). Any spots/moles/growths that are changing or concerning to you should be brought up with your boardcertified dermatologist. Remember, skin cancer does not have to be symptomatic! If you are not sure, make an appointment.

• Make an appointment with your board-certified dermatologist for regular skin screenings and to evaluate any abnormal lesions.

Aura Dermatology at Robbinsville, 17 Main Street, Suite 304, Robbinsville. 609-415-DERM (3376). www.auraderm.com. See ad, page 12

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital

Hamilton

Spine surgery gives Hamilton Township woman her life back

It was during an exercise class in 2017 that Lourenza Mejia of Hamilton Township noticed the first hint that something wasn’t right: a sensation she describes as a “shock” in her left leg. “It came from nowhere, would come and go, then stop,” she says. “I’d feel it for seconds, and that was it.”

Concerned, she consulted a doctor who had performed minimally invasive spine surgery on her husband, Juan Carlos Mejia, in 2009: Marc J. Levine, MD, Director of the Orthopedic Spine Surgery Program in the Orthopedic and Spine Institute at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Hamilton and a member of RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group. An MRI revealed she had spondylolisthesis, a condition in which one bony vertebra of the spine slips forward in relation to the vertebra below it.

“The vertebrae are essentially rings stacked on top of each other with the spinal cord running down the middle,” Dr. Levine says. “When one ring moves forward, there’s less space in the middle where the nerves are.” That can pinch nerves in the spinal canal, causing a range of symptoms, including pain.

“In 2019, I started feeling tingling and numbness

in my two feet,” Mejia says. “I knew my main spinal nerve was being compressed.”

The value of surgery started to become clear. “At this point, I was more scared to become dependent than to go for surgery,” Mejia says. “Surgery offered a chance to have my life back.”

Mejia decided to proceed with surgery at RWJUH Hamilton both because the hospital was right in her own community and because her husband’s earlier spine surgery had turned out well.

“We used a relatively new minimally invasive procedure called an extreme lateral interbody fusion,” Dr. Levine says.

The procedure accesses the spine through small incisions in the side rather than through the back or front of the body. “This approach doesn’t disrupt major back muscles and avoids the often-painful long-term problems people can have with open procedures,” he says.

Dr. Levine placed a titanium implant in Mejia’s spine and blocked it in place with a plate and screws. Special imaging called fluoroscopic intraoperative imaging took continuous X-rays that provided the surgical team video-like views of the spine as they worked.

“The implant allows us to realign, fix and fuse the spine, which takes pressure off the nerve and prevents the deformity from worsening,” Dr. Levine says. “These minimally invasive procedures allow patients to recover much more quickly with less pain than they would with traditional open procedures. Many times, results can be dramatic

Marc J. Levin, MD

and truly surprise people.”

Mejia was among the amazed. “After three months, I went back to my workout classes. I’m so grateful to Dr. Levine. He’s our angel.”

For more information about state-of-theart orthopedic surgical treatments offered at RWJBarnabas Health, visit rwjbh.org/ortho.

To learn more about Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, visit rwjbh.org/ Hamilton or call 609-586-7900. See ad, page 13

AllCure Spine and Sports Medicine

Helping seniors find the right diagnosis and right treatment

AllCure Spine and Sports Medicine is a multidisciplinary family practice that has been in business for over 10 years. Over the past decade, the senior community has been a big portion of our patient demographic.

We hear many different complaints week to week, but one of the biggest complaints we see with our seniors is balance and gait dysfunction. As our bodies get older, degenerative changes take place, which can lead to a host of symptoms taking away from your quality of life. This can lead to loss of balance, decreased range of motion, decreased strength, trouble with gait mechanics, and much more.

Here at AllCure, we provide the proper imaging and testing to help us diagnose these common complaints before they become debilitating. We always say that a small problem will remain small if it’s treated early enough. We strive to get ahead of each patient’s chief complaints and provide a comprehensive plan of care.

One of the major issues seniors face is getting a proper diagnosis early enough to find effective treatments. In many cases we see that patients are given a prescription for medication that will only treat the symptoms, but not the root cause.

This will lead to worsening symptoms over time and keep patients from an active and independent lifestyle.

We pride ourselves in making tailored treatment plans to fit each patient’s individual needs and impairments. There is no one-size-fits-

all approach to healthcare and each patient should be treated with that mindset.

We strongly feel that a multidisciplinary approach is the best way to get patients the care they need and the relief they deserve in a safe, fast, and efficient manner. Our experienced team of providers consisting of chiropractors, physical therapists and acupuncturists collaborate on each case to get the patient the best plan possible to achieve their goals.

We do accept Medicare! We find that most of our Medicare patients don’t have to pay a dime out of their pocket, rather just commit the time and effort.

Please give us a call today and we would be happy to hold a free 10 minute consultation for you or a family member to make sure that you are comfortable and get the correct information to make an important decision for improving your health and quality of life. We look forward to hearing from you!

AllCure Spine & Sports Medicine, 140 Cabot Drive, Suite A, Hamilton. 609-528-4417. www. allcurespineandsports.com. See ad, back cover.

Brothers Anthony Alfieri, DC, left, and Victor Alfieri, DPT.

When joint surgery affects more than just you, closer is better. Do it right. Here.

Before you decide where to have knee surgery, you also have to think about the recovery process that comes after. The less time you spend traveling, the more time you can spend healing. At Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, you’ll find nationally recognized care from our comprehensive team of specialists close to home. Backed by leadingedge technology such as MAKO robot-assisted surgery, we’ll get you moving again, quickly and with less pain. Visit rwjbh.org/ortho to learn more.

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VACATION RENTALS

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come,” said Gusciora in response to the DEP’s takeover.

“If the Trenton City Council had done their job, we would not find ourselves in this position,” Gusciora recently said. “They voted down critical projects, including decommissioning the reser voir, replacing water mains, lead remedia tion, heavy equipment, facility upgrades, chemical purchases and debt service.”

In response to the compliance report, state, county and officials in municipali ties served by TWW called for the state to step in and take over operations at TWW. It was a short time later that the DEP stepped in.

Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes condemned the “irresponsibil ity and recklessness of the (Trenton) City Council for its egregious neglect of the water system, its disregard for the directives set forth by the NJDEP and the injustices it has placed on communities of color and on all Trenton Water Works customers.”

“Residents deserve safe drinking water. We are deeply disturbed by DEP’s findings regarding the lack of progress on long-term projects necessary to keep the residents of Hopewell Township and Mercer County safe,” said Hopewell Township Mayor Courtney Peters-Man ning. “Hopewell Township has appre

ciated our working relationship with the professional staff at Trenton Water Works, however, change is necessary.”

Legionella found in TWW service area homes

Several days after the takeover announcement, the state had more bad news for TWW.

The state Department of Health announced that the presence of Legio nella—the bacteria that causes Legion naires’ disease—was identified in water samples collected from more than half of 30 homes served by TWW. This included homes from Trenton, Ewing and parts of Lawrence and Hopewell townships.

The Health Department’s testing was conducted in September after Legionella had been found in several homes that were voluntarily tested within the Ham ilton Township area served by TWW in July.

The homes tested in Hamilton Town ship were part of an ongoing investi gation to determine potential causes of Legionnaires’ disease previously detected in Hamilton Township, with five cases including one death reported since December 2021. The most recent case was reported to the Health Department

in September 2022.

After the Hamilton cases, health offi cials tested the additional 30 homes in the TWW service area outside of Hamilton. The Department of Health did not report the exact number of homes where the bacteria was found.

Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneu monia that people can get after breath ing in aerosolized water containing the Legionella bacteria. People cannot get Legionnaires’ disease by drinking water that has Legionella. Though uncommon, people can get sick when water contain ing Legionella is aspirated into the lungs while drinking.

It is not known if individuals with Legi onella detected in their homes are more likely to develop Legionnaires’ disease.

“While it remains rare for a healthy person who is exposed to Legionella to become sick with Legionnaires’ dis ease, people who are 50 years or older, especially those who smoke, or those with certain medical conditions, includ ing weakened immune systems, chronic lung disease or other chronic health con ditions, are at increased risk,” stated the Department of Health’s announcement.

Symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease include cough, shortness of breath, fever, muscle aches and headaches, which are similar to symptoms caused

by other respiratory infections, including Covid-19.

Legionnaires’ disease can be fatal but is treatable with antibiotics. It is important for anyone who thinks they have symp toms of Legionnaires’ disease to contact their health care provider and seek medi cal evaluation immediately.

The Department of health said it con tinues to partner with the DEP and TWW to investigate factors that may be promot ing the growth of Legionella bacteria and to evaluate remedial actions that can be taken to reduce Legionella in the system.

Courtney Peters-Manning, the mayor of Hopewell Township, said that the Legi onella test results underscore that more needs to be done at TWW.

“While DEP’s actions last month are a good first step to fix immediate opera tional problems, longer term financial issues remain a concern, and the Trenton City Council in the past has voted down important investments in the utility,” she said. “Legislative action needs to ensure that the safe drinking water of 225,000 people is not held hostage by how the political winds blow in Trenton.”

“I look forward to working with our legislative representatives and surround ing cities and towns to ensure that these changes become reality,” she said. “We will not rest until this is accomplished.”

Peters-Manning & David

Hopewell Township

started, although he showed his mettle in a season-ending, 54-48 loss to Allentown. In that game, he completed 14 of 22 for 304 yards and four touchdowns, with two picks.

Still, it was all a sign of things to come, except for the interceptions.

Since that sophomore year, McKe own has gotten progressively better. As a junior, he completed 59 percent of his passes for 13 touchdowns and just one interception.

Through eight games this year, the senior had completed 51 percent of his passes for 1,493 yards and 19 TDs. He had just two interceptions in leading Hopewell to a 8-0 record, which exceeded the 2013 team’s record for best start to a season.

“I’m always gonna critique every thing,” McKeown said prior to an Oct. 14 win over Hightstown. “I’m pretty hard on myself. But so far I’m very happy with how the season’s been.”

And what’s not to like? On Oct. 1, McKeown became the Bulldogs all-time leader in touchdown passes, when he threw four against Nottingham to surpass 2014 graduate Austin Fellows, who had 29. Fellows quarterbacked the Bulldogs only state championship team in 2013, and was the weekly pre-game speaker the

day before the Northstars game.

For a guy who grew up watching Bull dogs football, it was a surreal two days.

“Just seeing him was like ‘Oh my God, that’s Austin Fellows. He was the guy,’” McKeown said. “That’s another guy I’ve watched since I was little. So just watch ing him (in the past), I’m thinking ‘Oh my God, I just broke his record!’ It’s like; insane to me.”

Bulldogs coach Dave Caldwell has known about McKeown forever. As a Hopewell Pop Warner coach, Caldwell had him in second, fourth, sixth and sev enth grade. He has watched him consis tently grow as an athlete.

“I think he was always a kid that loves football, he’s always a competi tor,” Caldwell said. “He’s a great baseball player, he’s a great wrestler (MCT finalist last year) and he always said his favorite is football. He’s just a natural leader. He’s a two-time captain in wrestling and foot ball. He has a personality, kids want to be around him, and kids want to perform for him.

“He always had a great arm, even as a young kid. Being a little smaller than the average quarterback (5-foot-9), I think he’d often get overlooked. People would say he’s not a quarterback, he’s not big enough to be a quarterback. Listen, he can throw the ball, he’s been able to

throw the ball since he was a young kid. He’s not the prototypical sized quarter back, but he’s built tough.”

Having been with Caldwell for so long gave McKeown an advantage when he arrived at Hopewell. After playing on the freshman team, he moved up to varsity. Other than the size and talent of the other players, it was a familiar situation.

“It made life so much easier, because at Pop Warner we ran the same exact offense,” McKeown said. “I got in and I already was a step ahead of some kids.”

Caldwell felt that McKeown’s intercep tions as a sophomore were due to inexpe

rience; the fact Hopewell often trailed and was forced to throw a lot; some porous pass protection; and some misreads.

“I’m sure some were on him,” the coach said. “But there were a lot of reasons.”

McKeown’s self-assessment is a bit tougher than his coach’s, as he felt he became predictable by targeting senior receiver Devin Higgins too often.

“I didn’t really understand coverages,” he said. “I was kind of like, ‘Oh, Devin’s gonna be there, the ball’s gonna go to Devin.’ All spring and summer I was work ing out with Devin, so me and Devin were kind of on the same page. Teams started picking up on that and I was forcing balls that I shouldn’t have been forcing.”

McKeown was a quick learner, how ever, and with the help of offensive coor dinator Chase Vena and quarterbacks coach EJ Nemeth, he had thrown just three interceptions in 305 attempts over the past two seasons.

“He’s on the same page with those guys, and I think he just understands the offense,” Caldwell said. “He’s got a good group around him, guys he feels comfort able throwing the ball to. Guys that run great routes. And they do a lot of work on their own in the off-season. It’s a close group.”

McKeown is humble when discussing his progress, including his decreased

Senior Tim McKeown’s 40 passing touchdowns are easily a Hopewell Valley record. (Photo by Rich Fisher.)

interceptions.

“Some of it was luck, to be honest,” he said. “But just working with coach Vena and coach EJ on my reads and taking each game a little easier helped. It’s just slowing the game down a little bit, figuring if (this defender) is here, you can go there.’”

That doesn’t mean he does not have a favorite target, however. Sophomore Jus tin Klotz had 40 catches for 755 yards and nine touchdowns through eight games this year. Against Hamilton, the two hooked up for a school-record 11 comple tions and 300 yards for six touchdowns. Klotz was the team’s leading receiver as a freshman with 26 grabs for 354 yards and six touchdowns.

Klotz also played under Caldwell with McKeown in Pop Warner, although he was a tailback then.

“I’ve been playing with Klotz since sixth grade,” McKeown said. “It’s been coach Caldwell, me and Klotz being able to work together and just kind of build ing off that every year. I love my Klotzy! But Wyatt (Hartman), John Michael (Vlassac) and Kyle (Machusak) all can catch the ball too.”

Aside from his receivers, McKeown also lauds the other offensive compo nents that allow him to set records. He’s quick to praise the offensive line of Henry Garnich, Nathan Tewell, Gavin

Lewis, John Trainor, Andrew Rowan and Luke Reilly, who Caldwell considers the top lineman in Mercer County. The unit not only protects McKeown, but provides a goal line push that allowed him to score seven rushing TDs this year.

They also help open holes for running backs Derek Van Brunt (1,028 yards, 8 touchdowns) and Landon Schafer (200 yards, 8 TDs).

“They’ve gotta respect our whole offense, how balanced we are,” he said. “That makes my life so much easier when they have to worry about the run game.”

After beating Notre Dame 53-21 on Oct. 21 to go to 8-0, McKeown and Hopewell were hoping to complete an undefeated season and follow with a strong state playoff run. Then it’s off to college, with McKeown’s top choice being East Stroudsburg.

Wherever he lands, that school will get a quarterback who has a nice ceiling.

“He’s still progressing, I think he’s getting better and better every week; even every half,” Caldwell said. “Some times you’ll look up and for whatever rea son, we’re not syncing on offense, and

A season to celebrate and share Hopewell Valley’s abundance

Lisa Wolff NATURE IN THE VALLEY

Each November, I like to do a piece about gratitude. My version of Thanksgiving does not rely on the suggestion of past unity, but rather the appreciation of what we have now and the prospect of shared unity for the future.

In Hopewell Valley, there are plenty of blessings to count. According to studies done by the Mercer County Park Commission, Hopewell Valley has by far the greatest concentration of preserved green spaces in Mercer County. According to state statistics, our residents are in good health, and according to the Department of Education, we have fewer students living in poverty than other school districts in the county. That’s like winning the thankfulness trifecta.

When my kids were young, an aspect of living here that I always treasured for them is our Valley’s rural personality. It is the perfect balance: close enough to urban areas for culture and interest, but far enough away to immerse us in nature.

We are surrounded by farm stands and CSAs, and my children always knew where their food came from. My boys both helped in the kitchen. When they were toddlers, we’d go to the CSA for produce, and when we got home, they loved pulling basil leaves from their stems to make pesto. When they were older, they’d ride their bikes to Kerr Farm to get us the best corn.

Thanksgiving is a time to appreciate indigenous food choices like winter squash and pumpkins, as well as the traditional turkey. My friends get turkeys from Wildflower Farms in Pennington or Doublebrook in Hopewell. While high end restaurants can brag about being “farm-totable,” Valley residents can live it.

Yet, viewed from our Hopewell bubble, it is easy to forget that we are the exception and not the rule. The majority of folks may not know where their food comes from and most have never had the opportunity to harvest fresh vegetables or experience the taste of fruit picked straight from the vine.

Some local organizations are working to change that situation. The Outdoor Equity Alliance, a fiscally sponsored program of FoHVOS, is a coalition of

organizations with the common objective of delivering “Nature For All.” Local nonprofits, government agencies, school districts, and businesses work together to create experiences that inform and inspire people of all ages, ethnicities, abilities, and income levels to enjoy nature and the outdoors. The Alliance pays special attention to removing barriers to participation.

One particularly innovative program was a high school farming internship known as “The OEA Agrihood,” which was funded by Janssen, BMS, and New Jersey Conservation Foundation. Twenty High School students from Trenton Central, Mercer County Tech, Achievers Early Academy, STEM Civics, Pennington School and one homeschooler worked with local farmers and community experts to learn farming techniques, history, and other marketable skills through a combination of Zoom classes, field work, and projects.

The Agrihood was initiated in February 2022 and interns began by learning that farmers can’t choose their weather. They went out on a slushy day to Cherry Grove Farm to plant seeds in the greenhouse.

Subsequent sessions taught the importance of land ownership and the history of redlining that made landownership far more difficult. They learned about food prep, storage, and seasonal eating. Field work continued at several local farms, including Gravity Hill, Wildflower, Capital City and Howell Living Farms. One notable final project was working with farmer Rob Flory to plant the seeds and prep the land that became the True Farmstead at the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum.

Improving local access and growing your own food had mass appeal for these students. They not only enjoyed the benefits of healthy eating but also gained exposure to STEM, economic, and farming opportunities. Students also learned home planting and urban gardening techniques.

The OEA and Agrihood students later went on to found The Black Farmers Market at the Juneteenth Celebration. In October, MCCC Upward Bound contracted with the OEA to offer a condensed Agrihood program to Trenton students from low Income families whose parents never completed college. In addition to attending short online course work, students interacted with farm animals, picked vegetables and baled hay. They even got to keep some of the veggies that they harvested.

Now we can take a wider view as we give thanks at the upcoming holiday. Our gratitude extends from appreciation of our own beautiful surroundings, good health and comfortable living to recognition that local coalitions that include colleagues and friends are working together to ensure that others can also improve their surrounding communities, health outcomes and economic benefits.

Lisa Wolff is the executive director of Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space. Email: lwolff@fohvos.org.

A turkey at Wildflower Farms.

Demanding

Courtney Peters-Manning

FRom THE ToWNsHIp

There is nothing more basic and important than safe drinking water. That is why the State of New Jersey needs to take over Trenton Water Works to ensure that the ongoing problems there find a permanent solution.

The mayors of Hamilton, Lawrence, Ewing and I made this clear to the Department of Environmental Protection in October. In response, DEP issued a unilateral order instituting direct oversight and monitoring of the system, including embedding a third-party adviser to monitor and assess all system operations and maintenance.

Shortly after the order was announced, the Department of Health notified the public that multiple sites in the TWW service area have tested positive for Legionella bacteria. Following up on cases of Legionnaires’ Disease in areas of Hamilton Township served by TWW, DOH had proactively sampled the water from a wide swath of territory served by TWW from volunteer homeowners, including three sites in Hopewell Township.

These test results emphasize that more needs to be done at Trenton Water Works. While DEP’s actions last month are a good first step to fix immediate operational problems, longer term financial issues remain a concern, and the Trenton City Council in the past has voted down important investments in the utility. Legislative action needs to ensure that the safe drinking water of 225,000 people is not held hostage by how the political winds blow in Trenton.

To this end, I testified at a hearing of the Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee on Oct. 17. I urged committee members to put in place concrete and sustainable solutions that ensure operational and financial stability at the utility. The legislation needs to ensure that Trenton City Council can’t vote down the financial needs of TWW.

I look forward to working with our legislative representatives and surrounding cities and towns to ensure that these changes become reality. We will not rest until this is accomplished.

To read more about the Assembly hearing, go to hopewelltwp.org/ CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1099. To read more about what DEP is doing to address

Water Works

the problems at TWW, go to dep.nj.gov/ trentonwater.

Information on Legionella

Getting sick from Legionella bacteria is rare, but possible when water is aspirated into the lungs, which is the only way to get Legionnaire’s Disease from Legionella. When small water droplets are aerosolized — for example, during showers, using hot tubs or decorative fountains — Legionella can be inhaled.

Legionella bacteria live in freshwater and rarely cause illness. Most healthy people do not get Legionnaires’ disease after being exposed. Current or former smokers, those who suffer from a lung disease such as COPD, or have a weakened immune system have greater susceptibility. People cannot get Legionnaires’ disease from drinking their water or from being around someone else with the disease.

Conditions that promote the growth of Legionella include water temperature, stagnant water and sediment. Township health officer Dawn Marling recommends all TWW customers set their hot water

heaters to a minimum of 120F, which will reduce Legionella growth and minimize the potential for scalding.

Setting the heater to a higher temperature, such as 140F, may better control bacterial growth, but extra precautions are needed to avoid scalding. A mixing valve can be installed to reduce the risk of hot water burns.

Residents should flush faucets or showers that do not get used at least weekly (run the water for 3 minutes), and flush water after any disruption to the home (e.g., low pressure or discoloration resulting from a water main break or nearby hydrant flushing).

It is important to clean or replace household water filters per manufacturer’s instructions and to clean shower heads and faucet aerators whenever buildup is visible. Residents at high risk for illness should consider avoiding hot tubs, decorative fountains, power washing or similar activities which may generate increased amounts of aerosols or mists.

Residents with concerns can call the township health office at (609) 737-0120.

Courtney peters-manning is the mayor of Hopewell Township, which provided this content.

Living in the computer rage

Robin Schore sCHoRE To pLEAsE

Even though Election Day is just days away and may well foreshadow a fascist takeover of the nation, and; Even though a power-mad psychotic might announce he’s running for president, and;

Even though laws are changing so that every idiot who wants to walk around with a loaded gun can do so, and; Even though the Russians are threatening to launch nuclear weapons, and;

Even though climate change is causing ever more devastating storms, wildfires, droughts, and extinctions, Why dwell on such unpleasantness when we can concentrate on the petty annoyances created by computers?

I bought my first computer in the mid1980s for $1,100. This PC was so slow that if I turned it on at breakfast, it might have booted up by lunch. It came with a 20 MB hard disk, which these days is enough storage for either three songs or

four photographs, not both.

There was no Internet.

Since I was a relatively early user, I pretended that I was a geek and over the years, I deigned to give advice to those even more inept than I was. Because I knew real geeks and could go to them for advice, occasionally I was able to provide reliable guidance.

One of my “clients” called me because her printer had stopped working. When I made a housecall, I found that the machine wasn’t plugged in. (On several occasions, I have been able to make similar sophisticated diagnoses.)

But while I was crawling under her desk, I discovered three interconnected power strips with a massive spaghetti of dozens of wires. When I followed the wires, I found that most were not connected to anything. After I removed these vestiges of devices long gone, she ended up with one power strip and three wires, one of which was connected to a lamp.

Among the hapless to whom I gave repeated assistance was my mother. I made the enormous mistake of giving her a computer when she was in her 80s.

Over the succeeding years, she received hundreds of messages a day soliciting donations because she had the misguided compulsion to complete all online surveys. Ultimately, I stepped in when I discovered that she had agreed to contribute a dollar a month to a notparticularly-worthy cause.

When she was in her 90s, her desktop died, so I bought her a Chromebook. She persistently pushed the wrong buttons often ending up with a screen either reduced to the size of a pinhead or covered with an array of gibberish. Fortunately, Chromebook comes with “Powerwash” which involves pushing four buttons simultaneously returning the machine to its original condition. I had to perform this operation about every two months.

Perhaps the most embarrassed recipient of my expertise was me. In the corner of our house, furthest from the modem-router, we had a terrible Internet connection. I started reading about the marvel of mesh routers and finally bought one. I should have done so years earlier and avoided the outrageous $14 monthly rental of Comcast’s device.

But when I installed the two components of the mesh router, one near the modem and one at the far end of the house, nothing worked! Late at night, I was on the phone with some techie on the other side of the globe following elaborate directions. Still, nothing worked, and the verdict was that the new device was defective.

The next morning, I packed up the components and only then noticed that

what I thought was the satellite had a yellow socket clearly marked “Internet.” I had reversed the source and satellite. Instead of being an ersatz expert, I had become a certifiable klutz.

Once the device was connected correctly, our download speed at the farthest reach of the house increased from a snail pace 25 mbps to a lightning 411 mbps.

(Incidentally, children these days rarely need help with computers since they are born with intrauterinely acquired E-skills.)

Further evidence that my relationship to computers is in decline is the fact that I still use an antediluvian desktop because I like to write on a big keyboard, probably because I learned to type in the seventh grade on a manual typewriter.

(Do you know what that is?)

And I am deeply offended by current programs created by some Google or Microsoft nerds that have the presumption to make stylistic decisions for me as I write. No, that is not what I wanted to say, nor is it how I wanted to say it!

Ironically, these days the only keyboard most people use is the one on their smartphone. This is a real reversion to the ancient days of typewriters as people use one or two fingers to hunt and peck. Even worse, with texting, “writers” just fill in the blanks with pre-selected words or (ugh) insert a picture. We are seeing the future: It is illiteracy. But be sure to vote anyway.

Robin schore lives in Hopewell Borough.