11-22 RA

Turker fights back from injury to score for RHS boys’ soccer

BY RICH FISHER

First there was COVID. Then there was a hip issue. Next came an ankle injury.

None of that, however, could stop Bora Turker from scoring goals for the Robbinsville High boys’ soccer team. As a freshman, Turker tallied a team-high seven times—four of them game-winners—in a season limited to 12 games by the virus.

Last year, despite a hip issue that held him out at the start of the year, Bora scored 13 goals in 13 games to again lead the team.

This past summer, he suffered a hairline fracture to his right ankle while playing a pick-up game with friends. Turker missed the season’s first 10 games. Upon his return, he scored eight goals in his first seven games and, as of Oct. 22, was tied with Adrian Ivanov for the team lead.

“He just brings another dynamic to our team on offense and confidence to the whole team knowing we have him up there,” Ravens coach Jeff Fisher said. “He’s so talented, you could literally play a 50-yard ball into his feet and he’s gonna hold it for us and keep possession. He’s really intelligent with his runs and movements to find space for us to attack from. He’s just like the link.

See TURKER, Page 13

Fried reports on the state of Robbinsville

EDITED BY BILL SANSERVINO

Mayor David Fried delivered his annual State of Robbinsville Township speech via video on Oct. 4.

This year, the Pay it Forward component, which has been part of Fried’s annual address in recent years, was pushed back to May 2023 due to logistics and time constraints regarding this year’s possible beneficiary candidates.

“There were just too many hurdles to overcome in 2022. Our plan is to hold that event, hopefully bigger and better than ever, in May of 2023,” Fried said. “This is an event we look forward to each and every year. We don’t do anything unless we have all possible resources at our disposal to provide the best possible experience for our beneficiary(s), all of our generous sponsors and the community.”

Donations for Robbinsville families in need are being accepted via PayPal through our SOTT fiscal sponsor, the C.A.R.E. program. Those updated links, as well as a formal release date for Mayor Fried’s video, will be provided soon.

Previous “Pay it Forward” recipients include the Shepherd Family, Quilts for Comfort, Deborah Dauer, the C.A.R.E. Program, Mercer Street Friends Food Bank, “We Love Our R’ville Neigh-

bors” campaign and Kelly Breden.

Since 2015, those efforts have raised over $400,000.

In his speech, Fried thanks his township employees and leaders in administration, the township budget, his achievements, and the open space tax question on the ballot.

The text of his address, which has been lightly edited, appears below.

* * *

I want to begin by thanking our incredible team here in Robbinsville for helping us get through the past few years and for all they do day in and day out. I say it all the time without hesitation, they are the best in the business. I can send them off to fix any broken town in the state and that town would run flawlessly.

Our public works department, led by Chris Rupp is second to none. From maintaining our sewers, to house calls when something needs extra care, it takes heart, and he’s got plenty of it.

Kevin Holt led recreation to a booming 2022, with a tremendous year. Residents asked for, and the town responded with brand-new pickleball courts, four new beach volleyball courts, an inclusive playground and the largest community day in our history after being shut down for two years due to the pandemic.

See FRIED, Page 10

Academy Dental

Ravens boys’ soccer player Bora Turker was tied with Adrian Ivanov for the team lead in scoring as of Oct. 22, 2022. (Photo by Rich Fisher.)

ArounD toWn

Schools encourage healthy living with nutrition app

On Oct. 13, students at Pond Road Middle School enjoyed cheese-stuffed bread sticks, with 11 grams of fat and 160 milligrams of potassium. Meanwhile, over at Robbinsville High School on Oct. 14, cheeseburgers were on the grill at 340 calories, with light salt and onion powder.

And how do we know this?

School officials have launched an app this school year called Nutrislice. It provides the full, detailed school menu over the next few weeks at Sharon Elementary School, Pond Road Middle School and Robbinsville High School, as well as an opportunity for students to rate the items from one to five stars.

The app, accessed on both Apple and Android platforms, provides nitty-gritty details about each and every meal item, such as the fact that the “Mini Maple Madness” waffles that were served for breakfast at the elementary school on Oct. 10 contain milk, egg, wheat and soy, as well as

150 grams of sodium, among many other details.

Superintendent Brian J. Betze said that the new app is the latest effort to encourage healthy living and healthy habits, as well as to provide detailed ingredients for children who may have food allergies.

“We have received many inquiries from parents who want their children to enjoy meals served in the schools, but are concerned about the ingredients,” the superintendent said. “So, our goal is to become as absolutely transparent as possible, providing granular details about each and every food item we serve, from the 1% milk to animal crackers to even the mustard on a hot dog.”

“The Robbinsville schools are committed to providing healthy, high-quality, balanced meals throughout our district and providing the detailed information that parents and students need to know,”

See AROUND TOWN, Page 4

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AROUND TOWN cont. from Page 4 Betze said. “It is our hope this new app will become a trusted resource when it comes to deciding which meals our students enjoy at school.”

Besides the Nutrislice app, the informa tion can also be found online at robbins villek12nj.nutrislice.com/menu or on the school district’s website, robbinsville.k12. nj.us, under the “Families” tab.

MCCC to offer medical cannabis training classes

Interested in opening a cannabis dispen sary or getting in on the ground floor of the industry? Mercer County Community College’s Division of Lifelong Learning can help.

Career opportunities are on the rise and the college is now accepting students in one of its latest health professions pro grams: medical cannabis training.

The 15-hour non-credit class includes five sessions that run Monday evenings 6 to 9 p.m. from Nov. 7 through Dec. 5 on the Zoom online conferencing platform.

Anyone age 18 and over may enroll. The course will be offered through MCCC’s Center for Continuing Studies and stu dents will receive a certificate upon com pletion. To help increase access to industry training, a number of scholarships funded

by the New Jersey Cannabis Trade Asso ciation are available.

Medical Cannabis Training is intended for anyone interested in seeking employ ment in the cannabis profession or curious about this budding industry in New Jersey.

“There is a real need for business own ers to fill jobs and this course helps provide the first steps toward gaining a foothold in this emerging industry,” said Sarah Trent, course instructor and owner of Valley Well ness, a newly permitted medical dispen sary in Somerset County.

“The program is designed to help indi viduals hit the ground running on the first day on the job—whether that is in the dispensary, cultivation site, testing lab or ancillary business,” she said. “Many differ ent industries ‘touch’ the cannabis plant, so I always tell those looking to break into the industry to take what you are already good at and see how it can relate to cannabis.”

The course will introduce students to this highly regulated field. Subject matter experts will cover federal and state laws, the endocannabinoid system, cultivation basics, manufactured products and testing and dispensary technician training tech niques such as dosing, administration and compliance.

According to Trent, MCCC’s canna bis courses have been popular over the past few semesters, but now the industry

E E T M E I N T H E M I D D L E !

O B B I N S V I L L E B O A R D O F E D U C A T I O N

is really taking off, and businesses are in need of a workforce with an understanding of the industry.

Gonzalo Perez, dean of the Continuing Studies Division at Mercer County Com munity College said: “The demand in New Jersey continues to grow for a skilled health professions workforce and the future is very bright for careers in this bur geoning industry. We are pleased to offer this program to the community.”

The cost for the five-session live virtual course is $500. Anyone may enroll, but those individuals interested in scholar ships must meet income qualifications and fill out the application at mccc.edu/canna bis in order to be considered. Applications for scholarships must be submitted by Nov. 3.

Scholarship recipients are guaranteed an interview with a cannabis business in New Jersey upon completion of the course and receiving the certificate. In addition, tuition will be sponsored for up to five vet erans who complete the course.

For more information or to enroll visit mccc.edu/cannabis, email comed@mccc. edu or call 609-570-3311.

Kelsey Theater celebrates its 50th anniversary

Theatergoers will enjoy a season full of entertainment as Mercer County Commu nity College’s Kelsey Theatre celebrates its 50th anniversary with 17 exciting fulllength adult and family productions and 10 productions for children in addition to a myriad of music concerts and dance per formances for the 2022-2023 season.

M. Kitty Getlik, artistic director of Kelsey Theatre, is celebrating the theatre’s 50th anniversary with a plethora of shows that will run through August 6, 2023.

The theatre will offer a live, in-person

performances as well as online streaming of several main stage events for 2022-2023.

In addition to musicals, mysteries, dramas and comedies, the series will spotlight con cert events, dance productions and chil dren’s shows.

“We are proud to show off Kelsey’s new amenities which include new curtains, new restrooms, new carpeting and new seats,” said Getlik, who has been artistic director at the Kelsey for 33 years “Kelsey Theatre now has a state-of-the-art T-Coil Assisted Listening System for a more robust experi ence for our patrons.”

The holidays go into full swing in November with Theatre to Go’s White Christmas Movie Sing Along followed by the hilarious comedy The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge from MTM Players.

Pierrot Productions presents The Chil dren’s Hour in January and An Ideal Hus band will be presented by Shakespeare ’70. Theater to Go will serve up The Fan tasticks, then hilarity moves to center stage at the Kelsey when MTM Players presents Sordid Lives

Kelsey will also present the modern musical A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder and other must-see productions, including the Mercer Dance Ensemble’s Collaborations, The Parental Advisory Com edy Show, Hello Dolly, Romeo & Juliet, and Bye Bye Birdie, as well as a full schedule of concerts and kids shows including The Emperor’s New Clothes,Winnie-the-Pooh’s Christmas Tail, Nutcracker, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along and many more shows that are sure to please the entire family.

For a full schedule visit Kelsey.mccc. edu. Tickets may be purchased online at www.KelseyTheatre.org or by calling the Kelsey Box Office at 609-570-3333. K elsey Theatre is located on MCCC’s West Wind sor campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road.

Drs. Alex & Dawn Rockwell DMD

Community Forum

Fox is a threat to Robbinsville’s public schools

Editor’s note: Robbinsville School Board member Kerri Fox, who is running for reelection, was given an opportunity to respond to the below letter, since this is the last issue before the Nov. 8 election. She did not submit anything to the Advance by press time. The statements attributed to Fox by the letter writer have been verified by the Advance.

There are seven candidates running for three open three-year seats on the school board. In addition to Fox, candidates include incumbents Christopher Emigholz, and Lauren Paluzzi. The four other candidates running are Raghu Nandan, Peter Oehlberg, Jeffrey Pierro and Allison Prabhakar.

* * *

On July 26th, the Robbinsville Board of Education selected Kerri Fox to fill a vacancy over several other candidates. Two members seeking reelection, Lauren Paluzzi and Chris Emigholz, abstained but participated in deliberations, and the rest of the board voted to appoint Fox unanimously.

Kerri Fox is running for a full term this November on a slate with Lauren Paluzzi and Allison Prabhakar.

Their slate was given control of an already established Facebook page used by previous board candidates which still lists Vito Gallucio, current board president, as its owner.

Board member Scott Veisz is the slate’s campaign treasurer, councilman Ron Witt hosted a fundraiser for them, and mayor Dave Fried has contributed $1,500 to their campaign.

Fox has made several public statements that are vehemently against public education, as well as statements that are downright offensive and do not represent the values of the Robbinsville community:

“How anyone still believes in public schools and government involvement in education at this point is beyond my comprehension.”

“I’m saying eliminate the districts and all the stigmas along with them... I’m saying privatize the whole thing.”

“I’m all for privatization of education. I

don’t feel a public education system ever should’ve existed.”

“They’ve tried to improve public schools several times by dumping more money into them to no avail…The worst private schools are better than the best public schools and they do it for less... To dump more taxpayer money into public schools is counterproductive and irresponsible.”

“I just think the private sector is the one to get the job done, not the government…saying schools need more money and it will be better is ridiculous. Private schools do it better for less.”

“...the public school experiment has run its course. It just burns money unjustifiably. It’s time to take the government out of education... let those who educate children better for half the price take over.”

“It’s time to cut [the state] off and reboot this all to factory settings. They can have public safety, parks upkeep, and waste management. End of list.”

“I think we need to get to school

funding following the child as step one, then move to education being completely privatized and dismantling DOEs and other government education entities.”

“Create a space where parents can outsource their kids home schooling, it feels like a school socially, but not have it termed a school on the business declaration and licenses so it’s shielded from any state guidelines. That’s the dream.”

Clearly, Fox feels it is time to give up on public schools, stating that “they had their chance, they failed epically, and they wasted way too much money in the process.”

She also referred to public education as a “ponzi scheme” on numerous occasions and called reducing teacher pensions “a great idea.”

Fox has suggested her statements calling for the destruction of public education were simply due to frustration with COVID related school closures.

However, her language is unambiguous in its scope and

permanency. Additionally, she has told us that this isn’t really the case:

“This is what I keep saying. COVID didn’t create the problems in public schools, it shines a spotlight on them. Time to move on from this ponzi scheme, usher in school choice as step one, and move towards complete privatization because that’s the only way things get done right.”

“I keep saying this... COVID didn’t create the issues in public schools. They’ve been there for decades. COVID crazy just forced us to really see them.”

Kerri Fox also said wearing a mask was like being told to just “get in the box car” and referred to parents who value AP classes as “tools.”

These statements have been circulating in the Robbinsville community for months, and Kerri Fox hasn’t backed away from any of them.

Other board members, local elected officials, Allison Prabhakar and Lauren Paluzzi have engaged in social media posts where these statements are mentioned and are undoubtedly aware of them.

Not a single board member has said that they regret appointing Kerri Fox. No board members, local elected officials, nor Fox’s running mates have condemned her comments. Given their silence or outright support of Fox, it can only be assumed that they agree with her views.

Paluzzi, Fox, and Prabhakar are a threat to Robbinsville’s great public schools and do not represent the values of our community. On Nov. 8, vote for candidates who value public education and will make sure our schools continue to thrive.

Greg DeLuca Robbinsville

Superintendent: A back to school message

Editor’s note: The following is a letter send by Brian Betze, Robbinsville superintendent of schools, to educators in the school district. The school district requested that it be published in the Robbinsville Advance.

* * *

For educators, September is a time of rebirth. It is our renewal, a time to start over. Unlike other professions, this happens every September. It’s something that I find very invigorating and look forward to.

Yet something troubling is happening

in our schools, both locally and nationally.

After two years of upheaval because of COVID, masking, vaccinations, diverse political beliefs, personal loss, and the trauma these and other challenges bring, we are all feeling the stress.

Having the energy to invest in our craft of “going above and beyond” is a daily test.

So how do we move forward?

We need to go back to basics and embrace the core functions of our jobs in ways that may have felt impossible lately. We cannot focus on distractions that don’t help us educate children.

We need to get through all the static and clutter. We cannot lose the passion of our mission as professional educators, the noble practice of educating future generations.

September is a time to reflect on the sacrifices and accomplishments of the past, and on the hope, excitement, and responsibility of the future.

Together, we need to be intentional. Every interaction within our schools matters because every interaction could be the one that our students remember forever.

And we must never forget our core mission: Keeping students physically and emotionally safe, while ensuring they all feel important and welcomed.

As educators, we have an ethical responsibility—today more than ever before—to ensure our students, the future generations of our world, understand acceptance and let go of labels. We need to nurture a community where our students accept all people for their differences and better understand our similarities.

And if we are successful, then they will all be prepared to learn every day.

Please remember why you became a teacher, why you sacrifice for your students and why you have so much passion for what you do every day.

I encourage all educators to remember your personal “why” and hold tightly to those reasons. The challenges of COVID will soon be a memory. I’m eager to focus on the profession we love and making a difference in the lives of our students in the 2022-23 year.

I look forward to this very exciting year ahead and I’m very proud of each and every one of you.

Brian Betze

Betze is the superintendent of Robbins ville Public Schools.

‘We cannot focus on distractions that don’t help us educate children.’

Our finance department and CFO Debbie Bauer continue to set a high bar throughout the state when it comes to paperless purchasing, earning the town ship a league of municipalities award.

A very difficult budget year in 2022 didn’t stop us from earning high ratings from both Standard & Poor’s and Best Practices.

Our affordable housing office, headed by Gail Pfister, has been a model of con sistency in the face of increased regula tions, quotas and market pressures.

In every department in every office, from Beth’s (Senior Center manager Beth Rinyu) notable changes to our senior center, to the highest safety and construction standards led by Roger Fort, and Paul Renauld bringing in many leads for community development with a renewed focus on Town Center South, we work with our constituents to provide the best possible service in our tax and clerk’s offices.

As a town, they have set out to serve and serve, and serve they have. The pro fessionalism and work ethic of our police dispatch and fire departments helped me to sleep better, and our residents should as well, knowing their town is in such great hands.

With an uptick in community activities, you have seen our police and fire depart ments at a host of events or simply hand ing out ice cream coupons to our kids wearing bicycle helmets.

Our municipal court continues to out perform just about every other munici pality in the county by raising the bar when it comes to case flow, despite run ning two courts. And what can I say about my business administration team and business administrator Joy Tozzi that hasn’t already been said.

A special focus on Miry Run, where Joy has spent countless hours thought fully researching and planning. She has spent a great deal of time with her team applying and obtaining grants as well as heading the MEL (Municipal Excess Lia bility Joint Insurance Fund) as its chair.

I may get a lot of credit but these are the people that do the heavy lifting day in and day out. The ones that make sure our community remains one of the most desirable places to live, work and play in all of New Jersey. It takes hard work, per severance and heart to get it right. Their dedication is what gets it done.

I want to thank my wife, Kitt, for her love and support. More now than ever, with both kids away at college, that sup port is what allows me to accomplish what needs to be done as mayor. As our family life changes, my dedication to this town does not.

Thanks to the Robbinsville School District and the board of education for their partnership. It’s not easy to work together as two separate forms of gov ernment. There are many things to take into consideration. Having ideas and the courage to discuss solutions is what makes us special even when those con versations are difficult.

We will continue working together to find ways to make the learning experi ence better for all of our students, teach ers, parents and community members.

What makes politics in Robbinsville different is we have a relationship with our residents. I like to think we’ve built two decades of trust, and they allow us to take chances other towns may be unwill ing to take. Our Town Council President Mike Cipriano, Vice President Debbie Blakeley, Chris Ciaccio, Ron Witt and Mike Todd are a huge part of that confi dence and trust.

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: dream loop” at Grounds For Sculpture. 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.

FOR SALE

WOODSVILLE ROAD

36 WOODSVILLE ROAD

WEST AMWELL TOWNSHIP

WEST AMWELL TOWNSHIP

We are thrilled to announce to our Compass colleagues that this majestic 5,100-square-foot home in West Amwell/Hopewell, NJ will be coming to the market soon.

We are thrilled to announce to our Compass colleagues that this majestic 5,100-square-foot home in West Amwell/Hopewell, NJ will be coming to the market soon.

RANDY SNYDER

RANDY SNYDER

REAL ESTATE SALESPERSON

GENIENE POLUKORD

REAL

M: 609.658.3193

REAL ESTATE SALESPERSON

O: 609.710.2021

M: 609.658.3193 | O: 609.710.2021

RANDY.SNYDER@COMPASS.COM

REAL ESTATE SALESPERSON

732.266.4341

O: 609.710.2021

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GENIENE.POLUKORD@COMPASS.COM

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Randy Snyder and Geniene Polukord are real estate salespersons affiliated with Compass RE. Compass RE is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. 47 Hulfish St, Suite 310, Princeton, NJ 08542. O 609.710.2021

Randy Snyder

Geniene Polukord

real estate

Compass

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

To book a classified ad in this section, please email your text and any other information to mdurelli@communitynews.org. Classifieds run at 75 cents per word with a $20 minimum per month. For more information, call 609-396-1511, ext. 105.

Florida Beach Rental: Fort Myers Beach 1br vacation condo on the beach, flexible dates available. Call 609577-8244 for further information

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CEMETERY PLOTS

For sale double depth cemetery plot. Location Princeton memorial park, Gordon Road, Robbinsville. Call 609259-7710.

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This

see

government to continue to make decisions that are best for the entire

want

I know I speak for council and my staff when I say we all appreciate the feedback and support. We take it all into consider ation and we act because of it. Although it sometimes gets lost amongst all the madness and divisiveness on some social media forums, I am very proud of our community for the continued random acts of kindness.

Remember this is your government, your community. Your schools. Make your voices heard. Attend our township council and other public meetings. Keep writing to us, it really does help. It helps formulate our thoughts, and I cannot tell you how many letters we received from residents who come up with things I’ve never thought of.

I want you to know you are being heard. We try to respond on social media as much as we can, but it’s tough to answer complicated questions in tiny snippets. Context often gets lost and things have a way of spiraling out of con trol. Keep in mind, the best way to reach us is to email administration.

Even though we had to push back this

year’s Pay It Forward, we are still col lecting for the We Love Our Robbins ville Neighbors Campaign, and our fiscal sponsor, The CARE program.

Thank you to all of our generous spon sors and contributors. Since the start of this initiative, to think that we are approaching half a million dollars raised for our friends, neighbors and organiza tions in need since 2015, is something I could have never imagined. Thank you.

It’s been a busy few years and a diffi cult budget year. You will probably have never noticed the many blows we’ve had to absorb because our services remain second to none in Mercer County. Our department heads made incredible sacri fices to position both this year’s budget and future budgets for success.

An item I do hope impacts our 2023 budget is our open apace fund. Rob binsville has the most aggressive open space program in all of Mercer County with thousands of acres preserve since I took office. It’s the only area where I’m proud to say we have the highest tax in the county.

That’s because we have preserved more acres than any other town, and we want to continue to do that because we have proven to be excellent stewards of those funds. We understand at the end of

FRIED, Page 12

FRIED continued from Page 11 the day, that once properties such as the Thompson tract and the Lavender Farm are developed, they’re gone forever.

As we did in 2016, we are humbly ask ing residents to support another small increase in the open space tax on the November 8th ballot, Miry Run ended up costing significantly more than we had hoped. We want to make sure we have enough to fund and preserve some of the last substantial parcels in town.

Every house we don’t build typi cally saves each taxpayer an average of $36,000 per year. Every acre we preserve over the long haul saves us money. It also creates more green space, wildlife and a host of other benefits.

We don’t use preservation willy-nilly. When we preserve something, we think long and hard about it. We have acquired all of our parks through open space. It’s

Peace of Mind.

how we buy it. It’s how we preserve it, and it’s how we maintain it.

Miry Run is a great example. Yes, sometimes progress is slow, but mark my words, those 158 acres will be the crown jewel of Robbinsville’s Open Space Program once our collective visions for that property are realized.

We are trying really hard to maintain farmland. It is part of our tradition. It is part of our heritage, and anyone that’s been to the grocery store recently knows why we need to keep and maintain our working farms in the township.

Speaking of farms, I want to give another quick shout-out to Hope Neis and the rec department for an outstand ing farmers market season. Hope has continued her amazing work growing greens at our hydroponic farm for our seniors and local food banks to enjoy.

Financially, Robbinsville is very well

positioned with near-record home val ues, and a per capita income of a 176% above the national average. We have a thriving warehouse park with 12 million square feet of lease space.

Perhaps the final line of the Standard & Poor’s rating community call sum mary really says it all. Strong manage ment committed to mak ing difficult decisions that keep taxes affordable, but maintains the services and quality of life the resi dents desire. That’s Rob binsville, that’s our team.

We’ve talked in the past about our four basic tenants. I’m adding a fifth this year. The first is make tough decisions, even when those deci sions may not be the most popular.

The second is never stop trying to bring in new ratables. Number three is to provide exceptional services. Four is Public Safety.

None of those tenants work unless our community is truly safe, and we have one of the lowest crime rates in the state.

I want to thank Chief Mike Pulaski who has done an exceptional job filling some very big shoes. The chief has a deep roster of outstanding lieutenants, sergeants and patrol officers, SROs (school resource officers) and dispatch ers. And we appreciate you all.

The fifth and newest tenant is taking something that may not be your respon sibility and making it your responsibility.

We continue to be successful in Rob binsville because we put ourselves out there. We are willing to fail in order to succeed.

As a leader, you have to be willing to go all in even when it may be the unpopu lar choice. Even when it’s a risk. If you believe deep down what you are doing is right, that’s what a leader does.

We have some very exciting prospects for Town Center South. One of the pro posals includes mixed use units that are not expected to add an abundance of schoolchildren to the district.

$2,000 on Community Day to fund more than 300 meals for those in need.

Our staff also assists neighboring Hamilton with its Meals on Wheels pro gram each and every week. Another big thank you to the nonprofits, health care workers, Jill Swanson at the Health Department, and all the food establish ments that stepped up to the plate during and after the pandemic.

Congratulations to the Robbinsville Hamilton Rotary, which celebrated its 30th anniversary this fall. We are very proud of our partnership with the rotary and their mantra of service over self.

Robbinsville has grown almost 15% to over 15,000 residents since the last census in 2010. In addi tion to that population increase, we’ve had a 24% rise in home values from 2017 to 2021. Most people’s homes are the biggest investments they will ever make. It is our responsibility to try and maximize that investment for them.

Robbinsville is truly an inclusive and diverse community that we should all be very proud of. Having a diverse commu nity also creates diverse thoughts. Now more than ever, we have to be conscious of people’s opinions and be willing to lis ten. Compromise can only be reached when we are listening to one another, not yelling at one another.

Our partnership with Project Freedom seems to get stronger every year. That along with significant improvements at Newtown Village have helped the town satisfy its affordable housing obligation through 2025.

We’ve kept our promise to improve the mobile home park by investing signifi cantly in not only its infrastructure, but also its residents.

Fire Chief Dan Schaffener continues to do an outstanding job year after year securing grants that have saved taxpay ers hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Your insurance shouldn’t be what keeps you up at night. Whether your needs are personal or business related, Nottingham Insurance of fer s an extensive selection of insurance products. W ith over 100 years of experience, we work with you to get the right coverage at an af fordable price So that you can focus on what is impor tant. We’re t here when life happens.

Your insurance shouldn’t be what keeps you up at night. Whether your needs are personal or business related, Nottingham Insurance of fer s an extensive selection of insurance products. W ith over 100 years of experience, we work with you to get the right coverage at an af fordable price. So that you can focus on what is impor tant. We’re t here when life happens.

Planet Fitness is open for business, bringing the Foxmoor Shopping Center closer and closer to full capacity. It was a long difficult road, but we’re almost there.

We are still looking to break ground on our new police station and court next year as part of a shared service agree ment with neighboring Hightstown Bor ough. Our police dispatchers and court personnel deserve nothing but the best. I’d like to recognize Jodi Mara and our Meals on Wheels team. We have deliv ered 3,600 meals last year and raised

In closing, I just want to take a moment and thank all the mayors throughout Mercer County. Hamilton Mayor Jeff Martin and East Windsor Mayor Janice Mironov in particular have worked side by side with me through thick and thin through these past years/ I really appre ciate their friendship and unwavering support.

Thank you to all the residents and local businesses for sticking with us, trusting us, and most of all, for doing your part to keep Robbinsville special. Until we meet again in our Pay It Forward event in May, thank you and God bless you all.

‘Now more than ever, we have to be conscious of people’s opinions and be willing to listen.’

“And then he’s got that natural ability to score goals that you can’t coach or teach. So, it was just a huge lift for us when he came back.”

While Turker was overjoyed to return, he was quick to commend his teammates for going 8-2 in his absence (the Ravens carried a 13-4 record into the state tournament).

“They have very high grit,” he said. “They wanted to get out there. They stuck to the process, worked hard and got some great wins. They did a good job getting to 8-2 and had some tough games and pretty wins along the way.”

Fisher was in complete agreement.

“To be 8-2 without him was tremendous and it set us up to be able to win the divi sion,” the coach said. “The guys gutted out 10 games. It was an opportunity for other guys to show their ability and what they can do and kind of thrive. We had a ton of differ ent starting lineups in the first 10 games. I was proud we were able to win games in dif ferent ways.”

And with Turker back, they hope to get some big state tournament wins as the junior makes a potent offense even more powerful. He is coupled up front with the twin brother tandem of Adrian and Alex Ivanov, who combined for 11 goals and 14 assists entering states. Defender Sean Smith has made some runs from the back and col

lected six goals and four assists, while Nana Kofi Appiah (6 goals) and Stefano Muscara (4 goals, 6 assists) are also a threat.

Mix in Turker, and you really have something.

“I think it can only make us more danger ous with him up top, moving him around offensively and having that natural goal scorer,” Fisher said. “And it gives us guys coming off the bench who were starting early in the season. I always say we have 13 or 14 starters, which you need. You need more than 11 guys to make deep runs in tournaments.”

No one was happier about Turker’s return than Bora himself. Fisher said it was like releasing a “caged animal” when he finally returned to the lineup.

“It hurts sitting on the bench while your friends are all out having fun playing,” Turker said. “It was obviously great getting back. I had some practices so I wasn’t rusty. I came back against Hopewell and it was a huge game.”

It was indeed, as Turker had a goal and assist in a 3-1 win that paved the way to the first CVC Valley Division title in program history. Bora bedeviled the Bulldogs again when he had a hat trick in Robbinsville’s first-round Mercer County Tournament win (The Ravens were beaten by Notre Dame in the second round). Mr. Clutch also scored

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Being together has never meant more. And The Landing of Hamilton gives residents enriching and soul‑filling social connections – from a warm and caring staff, to daily group events, and friend making moments. All tailored to each individual, in the safest environment possible.

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in overtime for a 1-0 victory over Princeton.

“I always have high expectations,” he said of his comeback. “But I guess getting two game-winners against two of the best teams in the CVC wasn’t really expected.”

Turker began playing soccer at age three playing for Robbinsville rec. He moved on to the esteemed Red Bull Academy but left after two years for Match Fit Academy, where he remains. Red Bull does not allow its players to play high school soccer, which didn’t work for Bora.

“That would be tough,” he said. “It’s fun playing with your friends.”

Ever since he started, Turker has been a scorer. Due to his speed, his dad encour aged him to try forward, which is where he’s been his entire career.

Fisher knew all about Bora before he arrived, as his wife teaches at Pond Road and Connor Hayes, the RHS boys basketball coach, heads up the soccer team.

“I knew a good deal about him before he got here,” Fisher said.

Turker has lived up to the advance bill ing, despite never playing a full season. After his Covid ravaged freshman year, Bora was ready for a normal year until injury struck.

“Last year I pulled a muscle in my hip at the beginning of the season, right before the games started,” he said. “It was just a recur ring injury, it started months prior but it got too bad to play so I took some rest.”

He dominated upon return, enjoying four multi-goal games and collecting points in nine games. The hip injury paled in compar ison to what came next. On Aug. 11, Turker got together with some friends for an inno cent game. And then. . .

“I landed bad, rolled (the ankle),” Turker said. “I was in a boot for six weeks and physi cal therapy for another couple weeks. They originally said 10 weeks including the PT, but I’m usually a fast recoverer. But it felt very long. I’m working to get to 100 percent and I think I’ll get there shortly.”

Turker was back in eight weeks, and Fisher sympathized with him over those two months.

“I’ve had to sit out because of injuries, and

it’s hard to sit there and watch,” the coach said. “He’s the type of kid who is here every single day at practice. Even if he’s hurt. He doesn’t miss a minute. You can just see it kind of building up and finally we were able to unleash him.”

With that pent-up energy finally free to roam, Turker did not miss a beat as his arse nal of skills were on full display.

“He could do a little bit of whatever you want him to do,” Fisher said. “He could take the ball from the midfield and go by three or four guys and score himself. He can go up and win headballs, he’s very athletic in the box. He knows where to make runs in the box to get on the end of crosses and through balls. He’ll get in behind you with his pace and speed. He’s got various ways he can really beat you, which makes him so tough to take away because he can beat you in many different ways.”

Some of it is natural ability, but much of it is through hard work. Turker doesn’t limit his workouts to Ravens practice sessions.

“I’m training every day,” he said. “Obvi ously my recovery is important. I take a day off every week but being technical is very important, shooting is very important, so I focus on those. I typically juggle for 15 min utes or so every day, work on some foot skills and agility stuff.”

He also works a lot on his shot, which he feels contains some power.

“Me and my friends go to the (RHS) turf field, shoot around, have some small side scrimmages,” he said. “I think I’m danger ous anywhere inside 30 yards, but I don’t get those opportunities too much. Inside the box is where I’m most dangerous.”

Fisher noted that during his injury, Turker was using his left foot frequently, and feels that “His left foot has looked bet ter than I’ve ever seen it. So, the silver lining here is that his left foot is probably much better than it was before the injury.”

Turker is hoping to finally have an injuryfree season as a senior but for now he is focused on this year’s state tournament.

“We have potential to be one of the best teams in the state,” he said. “I think we can do great things this year.”

UPCOMING HEALTH EDUCATION EVENTS

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.

Achieve

Wednesday, November 30, 2022 | 6 p.m.

Location:

Meeting

Are

sex,

in

Join KATHIE OLSON, clinical coordinator for Capital Health’s Center for Incontinence and Pelvic Health, to learn strategies for living your life without pelvic pain. Kathie will be joined by Capital Health Physical Therapists Natalia Ochalski and Felicia Taveira, who will discuss the benefits of pelvic floor physical therapy. All genders are welcome!

First, when and why see a geriatrician?

Ask The Doctor

needs or goals. When we are eating well we will often have more energy and have an overall sense of being healthy.

Geriatrician Sara Ali, MD, an RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group provider affiliated with Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, recommends patients 65+ see a geriatrician at least once.

As we age, our body functions differently and a geriatrician is trained specifically in identifying and treating symptoms and illnesses specific to this population. Geriatricians can either see patients as their Primary Care Physician or as a specialist working in tandem with their existing physician.

Dr. Ali shares her top three tips for healthy aging so we can make the most of all our years.

1. Adopt a healthy diet as early as possible and continue this as you age. Eating well is the best way to get important nutrients, maintain heart health and fuel your body. The key to eating well is balanced meals that include protein, carbs, fruits and vegetables, and consuming the appropriate number of calories. You can speak to your provider about what the right number of calories are for you and your specific health

2. Maintain a regular exercise routine. While regular exercise is recommended at any age, it is especially important as we age. Cardiovascular activities such as walking are a great way to support your overall health, especially your heart health. Strength training, exercises done with weights, helps develop and maintain muscle. The combination of cardiovascular and strength exercises will help you maintain an active lifestyle.

I also recommended incorporating balance training, such as yoga or Tai chi, into your weekly routine. By building better balance, you can reduce your risk for falls as you age. In addition to the many physical health benefits to exercise, daily movement is also great for mental health. I always suggest taking a walk or doing yoga with friends, loved ones, or even a pet to make it more social and enjoyable.

3. Take your medication as prescribed. No matter your age, it is always recommended to take your medication exactly as prescribed by your provider. This is important because taking medication infrequently or stopping suddenly can negatively impact your health. If you do have any concerns about a medication or dosage, ask your pharmacist or provider. Even if you don’t have questions, bring a list of all current medications, including any vitamins

and supplements, to every doctor’s appointment. And, never stop taking any medication unless instructed to do so by your provider.

And last, I invite those in our local communities to take advantage of our completely complimentary Better Health Program where you can “Rediscover your body, mind, and spirit” through free programming and activities. Attend Tai Chi and yoga, learn how to incorporate healthy tasty food choices into your diet, and attend our medical educational classes where our physicians and experts provide guidance and health education programs designed for those 65+ years old,” shares Dr. Ali.

To register, visit us at rwjbh.org/rwjuniversity-hospital-hamilton/treatmentcare/senior-health/better-healthprogram, or call (609) 584-5900.

Follow us on our social channels: Facebook, @RWJHamilton; LinkedIn, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton; Twitter, @ RWJHamilton; and Instagram. RWJUH_Hamilton.

To learn more about Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, visit rwjbh.org/Hamilton or call (609) 586-7900

Coming up this month at RWJU Hospital Hamilton

For more information, call (609) 584-5900. To register for a program or for schedule changes go to rwjbh.org/ events.

Wednesday, n ovember 2

Diabetes Game Show! 1 to 2 p.m. Join a fun filled “feud”, and test your diabetes knowl edge for a chance to win. Brush up on lingo in this group competition. Presented by Shesha Desai, Pharm D, RPH, BC-ADM, Dia betes Program Coordinator.

Thursday, n ovember 3

Join us for the Understanding ACEs: Build ing Self-Healing Communities presenta tion! 6:30 to 8 p.m. Please, join us for an indepth discussion on Adverse Childhood Ex periences (ACEs) where experts will discuss how potentially traumatic events in youth are linked to chronic conditions problems and behavior health issues. ACEs can also negatively impact education, employment, and earning potential. Our speakers will fo cus on resiliency practices, prevention, and support for the healing of individuals, fami lies and their communities. For more infor mation on ACEs please visit cdc.gov/violen ceprevention/aces/index.html

Friday, n ovember 4

Beautiful Forever - A Better Health Program. 2-3:30 p.m. Back by popular demand a FREE event sponsored by RWJUH Hamilton, Bet ter Health Program, Beautiful Forever, fea

turing local experts and artisans of the blo Out Lounge & Colour Bar, owner and arti san, Caterina Young and expert make up Artisan, Tinisee Buckman. Join us as two volunteers experience a complimentary makeover sponsored by the Better Health Program as we do the big reveal while shar ing all the tips we learn along the way. To be considered for a complimentary makeover for future events, please tell us in an email why you would like to be chosen and be sure to include a current picture. Send the email to BHProgram@rwjbh.org. Must be a Better Health Member to attend and membership is complimentary for anyone 65+ years old.

Wednesday, n ovember 9

What Is Cardiometabolic Medicine? 5 to 6 p.m. Join Taher Modarressi, MD, for a dis cussion on managing your cardiovascu lar and metabolic health. Dr. Modarressi is board certified in endocrinology, diabetes, metabolism, clinical lipidology and obesity medicine.

Thursday, n ovember 10

How Smart Are Hearing Aids Today? 10 to 11 a.m. We discuss the remarkable features of today’s hearing aids. Bluetooth technology, artificial intelligence, rechargeable batter ies, tinnitus therapy, and more! Join Dr. Lor raine Sgarlato, Au.D, to learn more about the latest in hearing aid technology!

Angels Among Us. 1 to 3 p.m. Who are the four main archangels, from a spiritual perspec tive? These mighty and loving celestial be ings are associated with specific character istics, such as protection, communication, healing and peace. Find out how we can in vite them into our lives and sense that they are truly with us. Fee: $15. Donna Sweeney, Reiki Master, Integrated Energy Therapist.

Clinical Clinical Culinary Nutrition - Power up with Plant Protein. 5-6:30 p.m. Did you know that all plants contain protein? Learn what lower-sodium alternatives are out there & how to prepare them deliciously to support a powerful heart, body, and planet. fee: $10.

m onday, n ovember 14

You Only Have One Heart: Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD). 6 to 7 p.m. Join Edward A. Wingfield, MD,FACC, FSCAI, in a discussion about PAD, including risk factors, preven tion and treatment. Dr. Wingfield special izes in cardiovascular diseases and interven tional cardiology. A heart–healthy dinner is included.

Tuesday, n ovember 15

Private Reiki Sessions. 3 to 6 p.m., by appoint ment. Enjoy the profound relaxation of a pri vate Reiki session. Reiki is a form of energy medicine to help relax the body and soothe the soul. Fee: $60 per hour. Patti McDougall, BSN, RN, Integrative Therapies Nurse, Reiki.

Wednesday, n ovember 16

Management of Common Spine Disorders: Round Table Discussion With Multiple Spe cialties. 6 to 7:30 p.m. Come listen and learn as common spine ailments are presented to a panel of experts in different medical fields. Hear from neurologists, radiologists, pain management specialists and physical thera pists, as to how they evaluate and treat back pain. Dinner included.

Dr. Sara Ali

Reflections on Robbinsville

The County of Mercer will be accepting applications for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for the 2022-23 beginning on October 3, 2022. Mercer County will continue accepting applications for the Universal Service Fund (USF) Program throughout the year. Residents who pay their own heating costs, and meet the following income guidelines, may be eligible to receive financial assistance with their winter heating bill. Residents with medical conditions may also be eligible to receive cooling assistance:

County of Mercer will be accepting applications for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) until May 31, 2018. Mercer County will continue accepting applications for the Universal Service Fund (USF) Program throughout the year. Residents who pay their own heating costs, and meet the following income guidelines, may be eligible to receive financial assistance with their winter heating bill. Residents with medical conditions may also be eligible to receive cooling assistance.

MONTHLY INCOME GUIDELINES

Household Size USF Program LIHEAP Program

1 $1,759 $2,010

2 $2,369 $2,707

$2,978 $3,404

$3,588 $4,100

$4,198 $4,797

$4,807 $5,494

$5,417 $6,190

$6,026 $6,887

$6,636 $7,584

$7,245 $7,935

Happy Fall! Time has a way of slipping on by, doesn’t it?

Speaking of time, while we may pick up an extra hour of sleep next month thanks to daylight savings time, we were unfortunately unable to overcome some time constraints and deadlines regarding this year’s scheduled “Pay it Forward” event, originally scheduled for Oct. 4 at The Stone Terrace by John Henry’s.

excellent stewards of those funds. We understand at the end of the day once properties such as Thompson Tract and the Lavender Farm are developed, they are gone forever.

As we did in 2016, we are humbly asking residents to support another slight increase in the Open Space Tax on the Nov. 8 ballot.

Miry Run ended up costing significantly more than we had hoped, and we want to make sure we have enough to fund and preserve some of the last substantial parcels in town.

To

the Mercer County Housing and Community Development Office

(609) 989-6858 or (609) 989-6959.

Housing

at 640 South Broad Street, 1st floor, Room 106, Trenton, NJ 08650.

Locations & Hours: Trenton Office 640 South Broad Street – Rm 106 Trenton, NJ 08650

M-F 8:30am – 4:30pm (Wednesday open until 6:30pm)

Hamilton Office - County Connection Hamilton Square Shopping Center 957 Highway 33 at Paxson Avenue Hamilton, NJ 08690

Tues & Thurs 10:00am-12:00pm (by appt. only)

– 4/7 & 5/5

(walk-ins)

Brian M. Hughes, County Executive

Thankfully, we will be able to hold that event in May 2023. We are grateful for the extra few months to get this one exactly right, both for our beneficiary and our very generous sponsors and contributors.

I am eternally grateful to longtime Robbinsville resident Ken Blando of Pulse Productions, who worked with our Communications and Public Information Officer John Nalbone to d eliver another stellar State of Robbinsville Township video, which can be viewed at youtube. com/watch?v=NqzsUiyFfDk.

Ken’s beloved wife, Katina, was in the final stages of her years-long battle with cancer during pre- and post-production of the video, but you would never know it. Ken was a consummate professional and produced another superb archival document, and we join him and their children in mourning the loss of Katina on Oct. 1.

In the 14-minute video I thanked my incredible team in Robbinsville, led by Administrator Joy Tozzi, for their dedication to our residents, and the pride they take in their jobs. They set out each day to serve … and serve they have. I may get a lot of the credit, but these are the people doing the heavy lifting day in and day out—the ones that make sure our community remains one of the most desirable places to live, work and play in all of New Jersey.

This was a very tough budget year, but our department heads made great sacrifices to position us for success both this year and moving forward.

An item I do hope impacts next year’s budget is our Open Space Fund.

Robbinsville has the most aggressive Open Space program in all of Mercer County with approximately 2,000 acres preserved since I took office. It is the only area where I am proud to say we have the highest tax in the County.

We have preserved more acres than any other town, and we want to continue to do that because we have proven to be

Every house we do not build typically saves each taxpayer an average of $36,000 per year. Every acre we preserve over the long haul saves us money. It also creates more greenspace, wildlife, and a host of other benefits.

We do not use preservation recklessly. When we set out to preserve something, we think long and hard about it. We have acquired all our Township parks through Open Space. It is how we buy it. It is how we preserve it. It is how we maintain it. Miry Run is a notable example.

Yes, sometimes progress is slow, but mark my words—Miry Run will be the crown jewel of Robbinsville’s open space program once our collective visions for that property are realized. Joy has done a tremendous job and spent countless hours with her staff applying for grants, gathering opinions from a wide range of focus groups and formulating a cohesive plan for that amazing parcel of land.

We are also trying really hard to maintain farmland. It is part of our tradition. It is part of our heritage, and anyone that has been to the grocery store recently knows why we need to keep and maintain our working farms in the Township.

Remember, the best way to reach us is to email Administration at mayor@ robbinsville.net.

Even though we have had to push back this year’s Pay it Forward, we are still collecting for the “We Love Our Robbinsville Neighbors” campaign and our fiscal sponsor—the C.A.R.E. program via PayPal at tinyurl.com/ mvyea5tn.

Checks may be sent to: Jodi Stephens/ Administration; 2298 Route 33; Robbinsville, NJ 08691.

Thank you to all our generous sponsors and contributors since the start of this initiative. To think that we are approaching half a million dollars raised for our friends, neighbors, and organizations in need since 2015 is something I could not have imagined.

Thank you, Robbinsville!

Commissioners Edward Pattik Housing DirectorBrian M. Hughes, County Executive

Board of Chosen Edward Pattik Freeholders Housing Director