1-23 BC

Running man

Conroy enjoys these runs. But more and more over the years, he has also sought something more challenging — grueling, even. Conroy has been pushing himself on longer and longer runs. He’s become what’s known as an ultra runner.

By JOe eMANsKi

This January, many people will declare that 2023 will be the year that they finally start exercising. Only some will honor these promises to themselves.

Joe Conroy is one person who has kept his resolve. More than two decades ago, the Bordentown City resident joined the Running Company of Haddonfield on its weekly group runs. He joined, he says, to get into better shape, and also for the social aspect.

It turned out to be a great decision. Now 47, Conroy still runs 15 hours a week or more, including weekly runs with the Bordentown Area Running Club, or BARC for short.

BARC, formed in 2013, is full of locals who, like Conroy, have committed to keeping up with regular exercise in the effort to keep in shape. They meet Wednesday nights at Tindall Road Brewing Company on Farnsworth Avenue before taking a group jaunt around the city. If they have a beer or two afterward, well — that’s fair reward for keeping at it week after week.

In summers, he has taken to running what he calls the Three Brewery 50K, starting in Bordentown and continuing along the Delaware River Heritage Trail through Roebling, Florence and other river towns on down to Camden. On that run, he passes Tindall Road, Third State Brewing in Burlington City and Double Nickel Brewing in Pennsauken.

The breweries, alas, are only landmarks. No beers along the way — not if he wants to finish. The excursion is longer than a marathon, and there are no medals at the end. Just the satisfaction of a run well run. He takes the River Line home.

Several years ago, Conroy started these types of runs in training for what he hoped would be his first 100-mile run: the New Jersey Devil 100, a 100mile trail race through the Pine Barrens. The race, organized by Beast Coast Productions LLC, was originally set for 2020, but canceled that year, as well as 2021 and 2022, because of the Covid pandemic.

The race is on again for this

see RUNNING, Page 8

Township presents latest plans for new park along the Delaware

By sUe FerrArA

In 2020, while we navigated the pandemic, a 50-year-old nonprofit called American Rivers named the Delaware River its River of the Year for “momentous progress for water quality, river restoration and community revitalization.”

With the announcement, Bob Irvin, president and CEO of American Rivers, called the Delaware

River “a national success story” thanks to “the hard work of many local advocates who understand that a healthy Delaware River is vital to the health of millions of people.” According to American Rivers, more than 17 million people get their drinking water from the Delaware River basin, including New York City and Philadelphia. The Delaware river begins in Hancock, New York, and flows

through five states on its way to the Atlantic Ocean.

Adding to that continued success in 2020 was the Bordentown Township Committee, which made the commitment to acquire 72 acres of land along the Delaware, saving it from a housing redevelopment.

The move by the township also set into motion plans to preserve see PARK, Page 6

An aerial photograph of Bordentown with the area of Bordentown’s proposed waterfront park outlined. (Photo by Max Spann Real Estate and Auction Co.)

Edward Smires, BROKER

BRHS Model UN competes at TechMUN conference

The Bordentown Model UN team recently competed at the TechMUN conference, which was sponsored by Camden County Technical Schools.

Twelve other schools from South Jersey also attended. Students worked in various committees with the goal to reduce the use of chemicals in the world.

Model UN adviser and social studies teacher John Tobias says that the students represented the school well, and some received honors and awards.

Yara Badawi and Defnenur Gumus acted as chairpersons. Brynn Bower, Patrick Dziegielewski and Thyra Andey received Honorable Mention nods, Ajay Donthula and Rachel Cook received Best Position Paper, and Rudy Sen won Best Delegate. Seniors Aaron Vedaraj and Sucheth Mididoddi were tasked with observing and advising the novices.

In November, the team collectively won Best Small School Delegation for the fourth time at the Rutgers University Model United Nations conference. There will be more one-day conferences in the spring for interested students.

Ristorante Lucca opens in former Mastoris site

Ristorante Lucca and Piano Bar has opened in the long-time Mastoris Diner location.144 U.S. 130, Bordentown. The upscale steakhouse opened on

Dec. 19. The menu featured a variety of Italian-style appetizers ($20-40); pasta dishes and risottos ($20-40); steak, ducks and chops ($60-64); and two seafood dishes (both $56). Desserts ($12-20) including tiramisu, gelati and sorbets are also on the menu.

“The restaurant was conceived to be a special place where you can dress for the occasion, enjoy a terrific culinary experience, and move into the piano lounge after dinner,” managing partner William Burris said in a media release.

Web: ristorantelucca.com.

Bordentown Regional High School Model UN students Srinithi Sathishkumar, Eidma Chowdhury, Rachel Cook, Candise Davis, Thyrasree Andey, Riddhi Rajpal, Hasini Nandyala, Sairah Khurana, Rylie Evans, Shriya Machanpalli, Caitlin Myers, Kashika Manak, Ethan Vedaraj, Sahil Meka, Simond LuLu, Brynn Bowyer, Ryan Barcellona, Ajay Donthula, John Reiter, Aaron Vedaraj, Yara Badawi, Patrick Dziegielewski, Defnenur Gumus, Rudrhaneel Sen and Sucheth Mididoddi.

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the property while providing river access to local residents and visitors.

At a meeting in October 2022, the Bordentown Township Committee reviewed a conceptual presentation for a waterfront park which contains mainland property on the west side of the railroad tracks which run along Rte. 130, and property on the eastern end of Newbold Island. Michael Theokas, the Bordentown Township administrator, said, “we’re all super excited” about the land acquisition and conceptual plan, “but it’s going to take time” to get the park to where it can be enjoyed by people.

This story begins in 2010 when the owner of the 72 acres, developer Jeffrey Albert, received approval from the Bordentown Township Planning Board to build a transit village in the location. According to one news account, the project design included the building of “674 apartments, condominiums and townhouses in two-to-four-story buildings divided into seven neighborhoods, along with retail uses.”

But the property on the west side of U.S. 130, once used for industrial businesses, had been designated as a contamination site by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The township created a redevelopment zone there in an effort to encourage and financially assist with development.

One such former business was Doan’s Salvage Basin. Ships were dismantled at Doan’s, and metal sold for scrap. In 1951, workers dismantled the S.Y. Grille, the yacht owned by Adolf Hitler. In 1951, an ad in the Doylestown-Intelligencer announced an “open inspection” opportunity of the yacht on May 12 and 13 at a cost of 75 cents for adults and 25 cents for children.

The bar from that yacht was recently auctioned off in Maryland. The unidentified owner of that relic told a Guardian of London reporter: “My father was close friends with the owner of Doan Salvage Yard. The yard owner personally invited him to the yard and gave him the opportunity to purchase the bar.”

Albert, the property owner, had planned to remediate the site in the second phase of his transit village development. But over time, the transit village concept — which NJ Transit pedaled in several communities, including Hamilton — lost its luster. And, Albert couldn’t find companies willing to clean and build on the property.

So, he decided to put the land up for auction. In stepped Theokas, who helped negotiate the sale of the property to the township for $4.6 million.

The township was a partner in bonding with the developer for environmental

remediation and infrastructure, Theokas said. The bonding funds would have been returned in taxes after the development; the township would have had input on the project as the funding partner. Had the land been auctioned, the agreed upon partnership would have evaporated. Consequently, Theokas and the township committee members agreed that acquiring the land would be a good decision.

“The township committee saw the value of leaving the area as an open space,” Theokas said. “So, the township purchased the property from the developer with the intent for not developing it, but maintaining it as open space and a public park.”

But township ownership led to a looming question, Theokas noted: “We own 72 acres on the mainland. Now what?”

The “now what” was answered in three ways. First, Theokas reached out to the Department of Community Affair, which provides planning services for municipalities. The DCA looked at the development needs and property potential, ultimately designing a concept plan.

In the meantime, Theokas and the township committee started building a coalition of organizations in an effort to learn from the experiences of others. And third, the township reached out to the community to solicit ideas, asking: what amenities should a park contain?

Theokas believes that since the community outreach piece happened during the pandemic, the township enjoyed robust participation. There was an online poll survey, as well as outreach sessions via Zoom. The consistent message from all corners, Theokas said, was: “Conservation, passive recreation and environmental preservation.”

The new waterfront park will support all that. People will be able to hike, kayak and canoe. Motorized vehicles will be prohibited. There will be swaths of land preserved for the native wildlife and flora on the property, especially on the portion of Newbold island where eagles nest.

Newbold island is named after the Newbold family who, along with the Biddles, farmed the island. The indigenous people of the area called the island Chepiessink.

At some point in time, PSE&G purchased a significant portion of the island intending to construct a nuclear power facility. There was push back about the plan from many corners, including from the federal government and local residents.

The federal government succeeded in having the utility company move the nuclear power facilities further south along the river to Salem and Hope Creek. Currently, PSE&G is negotiating with DEP to sell its Newbold Island holding to the state under the Green Acres program.

While Bordentown Township has a concept plan in place, there are still many unanswered questions. Which governmental entity would provide emergency services, for example, like water rescues? Which entity will take care of the trash collection? Would the state provide park rangers? The county? Would the county take over the park and connect it to Crystal Lake park across the street?

Theokas said he and the township committee are realists when it comes to how this property will ultimately be developed, and what government entity will eventually take responsibility for what he called “a legacy project.”

“The township doesn’t have the means to develop the property alone,” Theokas said, noting it will take a coalition of organizations to reach the end goal. Funding will have to come through grants, for example, and donations.

“We phased the projects so that resources can be found,” Theokas noted. “The environmental remediation factor is an important piece.”

There are freshwater mussels on the island which will need to be relocated, Theokas said. “To relocate mussels, for example, is a big deal. There are specific times of the year to relocate,” he said.

He noted again that the southern part of the mainland was in great need of remediation. “We are working diligently with the DEP on the remediation of the property.”

Theokas said the township will start with small projects first. “We’re going to have to have some public parking. We’re going to have walking paths, maybe benches or a gazebo, and educational signage,” he added.

“The highlight,” Theokas said, “will be the boat launch for canoes and kayaks.”

Theokas also acknowledged that the concept may be adapted and changed over time given any number of factors, including what government entity will ultimately manage the location. No matter if one entity runs the park, or several, Theokas said, the clean-up and preservation of this property “is going to have huge benefits for the township forever.” He added, “this is why we talk about legacy projects and the future.”

Sue Ferrara thanks Maria Baratta, director of the State Library Information Center at the New Jersey State Library. “Ms. Baratta is the rock star librarian who helped track down the ownership of Newbold Island to the Newbold family. When I hit the dead ends of research, she is always there to help me finish the job!” she says.

Bordentown Weidel Real Estate office offered thanks to the community for their donations to the Toys for Tots program. Pictured from left to right are Stacy Hurley, James Carnival, Linda Carnival, Christine Haines and Winifred Pell.

year, set for April 22, and Conroy intends to take part. But assuming everything falls into place for that, he won’t be running a hundred miles for the first time. Because he just couldn’t wait.

Last September, Conroy reached 100 miles — actually 101.9 — in a single run for the first time at the Hainesport Endurance Run, also organized by Beast Coast Pro. He completed another ultra running event, Beast Coast Pro’s 55-mile Batona Trail run, in November 2021.

Fellow BARC member Larry Braasch says that Conroy is humble — not someone to crow about his

accomplishments on trails or pavement. But to run 100 miles is “an astounding achievement,” Braasch said in an email. “I’m impressed with attitude and of course the mental fortitude needed run for the extreme distances which Joe runs.”

Braasch said Conroy is very supportive of fellow BARC members. “I just started running last year, and it can be really intimidating running with others. But Joe is always there with a smile and an encouraging word. He’ll hang back and run with me on occasion just to keep me going,” he said.

Conroy says he was a “geeky kid who

loved comic books,” and didn’t take up running until he was an adult. He grew up in Somerdale, near Camden, and has lived in Bordentown City since 2001, first as a renter and later as a homeowner with his wife, Caroline.

They are both teachers: Joe teaches language arts at Pond Road Middle School, and Caroline, who is originally from West Milford, teaches students with disabilities at Wilbur Watts Intermediate School in Burlington City. They have two children: Maura, a fifth grader art MacFarland Intermediate School, and Patrick, a freshman at Bordentown Regional High. Joe also coaches track and field at Pond Road.

He runs with other groups besides BARC. He joins the Pineland Striders on their Batona Trail Series, a group run through the Pine Barrens (though not a race). He also runs with Uptown Gentlefriends on their Delaware Bridge Loop Series. He runs with others when he can, he says, because distance running can be a lonely affair, and a lonely runner can struggle for motivation over the course of many miles.

The 55-mile, point-A-to-point-B Batona Trail Run is an example of a long run where runners often find themselves alone with their thoughts. Conroy said that while he enjoys the peace and serenity of a run through the woods, he also finds it beneficial to almost purge his mind of all thoughts.

“You have a lot of time to think, and if you delve down into some negative thoughts, or if you start worrying about pace or start worrying about where you are in distance, that can wear you down mentally and make you want to quit,” Conroy said. “I have to put myself in a headspace where I’m very content being in the moment.”

The Jersey Devil 100-miler — starting at Bass River State Park, 50 miles out and 50 miles back, across the entirety of the Pine Barrens — will be another one of those runs with long stretches of solitude. The Hainesport Endurance Run, on the other hand, was on a one-mile loop, which provided for a more social experience.

“In order to finish 100 miles, you have to mix walking with running with jogging. When you’re on a loop, you are alongside other runners every step of the way, from the fastest to the slowest,” he said. “If you’re a social person like me, you pass the time by talking to the other runners, learning their backstories. That’s what made it such a great event.” Nonrunners may find that they have little concept of just how much time it takes to complete these long runs. The Batona Trail Run, for instance, took Conroy nearly 12 hours to complete, and his finish time for Hainesport was

27:43:07, i.e., longer than one full day.

Staying the course over such long periods demands mental focus as much or more than physical strength, Conroy said.

“Most people would think that the physical aspect of running would be the most limiting factor, but in my experience, the mental aspect, followed by nutrition and hydration, are the most important,” he said. “To complete 100 miles, you have to sharpen your mind to be able to handle the thought of these long distances for huge amounts of time.”

Just because he is comfortable running alone does not mean that he doesn’t crave community, though, and BARC’s weekly Wednesday night runs give him that fix.

“The other runners may not have the ultra running experience that I have, but I fit in very easily. I try not to talk about my experiences — I would rather hear about the experiences of other runners, give them encouragement or quick coaching tips to help become better versions of themself,” he said. “I am a teacher, and as a teacher, I try to use that teacher positivity to make a positive impact on other runners.”

He said he’s been fortunate to remain injury free throughout most of his running career, and says he feels blessed that his body has been able to handle whatever challenges he has put it through.

“I feel one thing that’s kept me injury free is, I like to focus on running distance

Joe Conroy crossing the finish line at the Hainesport Endurance Run, held on Sept. 3, 2022.

Talking Tea with Holsome Teas and Herbs & Tea-For-All

BY REBEKAH SCHROEDER

January has few holidays after the new year, but a lighthearted observance that makes the weight of a dark winter better is the month’s national recognition of hot tea.

Stay snug with a satisfying cup of your own, or, for an experience combining the leisurely with the educational, put that kettle back on—the wisdom of these tea shops is steeped in years of creativity and care.

Holsome Teas and Herbs

The rows of colorful Chinese tea bins lining the walls at Princeton’s Holsome Teas and Herbs shine like hidden gems in this “hole-in-the-wall” establishment, each resembling vibrant jewels with their own origins, flavors and brewing customs.

Holsome, which takes its name from the word “wholesome” minus two letters, is in the rear of the building at 27 Witherspoon Street, reachable either through the brick back alley and egress or by walking straight through the storefront of Junbi, the bubble tea shop that Holsome’s owner, former chemist Paul Shu, rents the space to.

According to Shu, the longtime spot described on its website as “Princeton’s

Holsome’s rear egress at 27 Witherspoon Street in downtown Princeton.

best kept secret” was the first tea store in the downtown Princeton area, opening in 1996 at 20 Nassau Street prior to moving to its permanent home on Witherspoon. The welcoming white interior, accentuated by an emerald seating area of modest tables and a prime outside view, is a window into the scientist’s second dream.

Holsome has successfully tested Shu’s hypothesis, carrying a combination of three aspects—high-quality teas from around the world, Chinese herbal medicine, and nutritional supplements and vitamins—over 26 years of business, long before you could buy bubble tea on every block.

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Shu’s teas, whether traditional or flavored, come from a variety of countries, including China, Taiwan, Sri Lanka and India.

“A tea shop like this can do well because our tea’s so different, it’s really so different. You will come to a tea shop to buy tea; you can actually see it, smell it, and taste it,” Shu said. “But if you go online, that quality and service are not there.”

Shu also mentioned that relying solely on descriptions for reference raises the risk of “disappointment,” a scenario easily avoided by providing a physical, pleasant environment for perusing and purchasing tea.

Holsome is open Monday through Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. Shu’s wife used to help, but he has since encouraged her to do all the paperwork and bookkeeping from home while he oversees the storefront.

Shu is an impressive one-man show, balancing phone calls, brewing tea, and measuring out the leaves waiting to be weighed, which can be purchased for the minimal weight of a quarter pound.

Born in China, Shu moved to Taiwan when he was about 6 years old. In 1965, he came to study in the United States, obtaining a master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Notre Dame and his Ph.D. in the same subject from the University of Michigan.

After graduating, Shu completed his postdoc at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, then started as a research scientist with 3M, a manufacturing company based in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

ExxonMobil, then known as the Mobil Oil Corporation, used to have a research and development center based in Hopewell Township that offered Shu a position. He arrived in Mercer County in 1981, worked there for 15 years, and registered an estimated 74 patents in his name.

While he trained as a chemist, Shu rarely stuck with a single passion and “always had more than one job at one time,” leading him to found the Whitewaters Swim Team in 1983. Shu is now the acting director, but before he stepped back to focus full-time on Holsome about three years ago, Whitewaters had “the longest history of one coach and the same head coach” in the area.

In 1995, Mobil exited the area, and Shu accepted what he described as a “package deal” for early retirement from Mobil, which left him wondering about what to do next in his career.

Thinking about his family background, Shu knew that both of his paternal and maternal grandparents were “very knowledgeable in traditional Chinese medicine,” even applying what they knew to serve as healers in their hometown communities. Those who practiced Chinese medicine back then, Shu said, were not often

“formally trained in college or university,” learning instead through “self-study.”

But, “more importantly, because Chinese medicine is very closely linked to our philosophy, our Chinese philosophy tends to be [that] we are more into nature; it’s not artificial, so whatever goes harmoniously with nature, that’s the way they approach.”

Shu observed how a greater number of people in America were taking an interest in this practice so “deeply ingrained” in his culture. The supplement industry was also booming, with health stores in malls like GNC making vitamins more accessible to the general public.

Around the same time, Shu had recently discovered his affinity for tea while revisiting Taiwan, returning to America with some that he eagerly shared with friends. Back in the late ‘90s, he said that because America was such a “fast-moving” country, people tended to gravitate towards soda or coffee, consuming the latter in instant form rather than taking the time to properly prepare their morning java.

Shu envisioned a company that would be informed by both his principles and professional experiences in chemistry. Such expertise, he added, allowed him to “pick up new information”—such as how to run a business without official training—quicker.

Because of Shu’s capacity for analysis, he emphasized the importance of remembering how “nature came first; science is after that.”

“Everything is in nature. It’s already there, and we just don’t know enough. We gradually learn more and more about it, but people think we’re discovering it. You didn’t discover it; it was already there. You bumped into it.”

Shu wanted to improve his clients’ quality of life and health under the belief that he could “fundamentally help people’s overall wellbeing” in an informed, practical manner. Now, he sells organic ingredients such as burdock root, goji berries, rosehips, lavender flowers, and peppermint.

By bringing products and tea to an American audience not nearly as familiar with such a market back at the beginning of the 21st century, Shu capitalized on a niche that has since been embraced in the public sphere.

This change can be visibly seen just in Princeton alone, which is now bustling with various shops to buy, try and enjoy tea. Many of these places also sell bubble tea, a sweet, Taiwanese tea-based drink that typically features boba—chewy balls of tapioca “pearls” with a divisive texture—as well as milk, sweetened red bean, coconut-based flavored jellies, and other additions.

“When I first moved to Princeton, Princeton was a sleepy small town, essentially,” Shu said, remembering a time when the shops were scattered solely from Nassau through Witherspoon, as well as in Palmer Square. One of the only businesses still operating, he added, is Small World Coffee, which he believes was the first coffee spot when it opened three years before Holsome in December 1993.

“I’ve seen so many businesses come and go,” Shu said. “Fortunately, I’m still here,” with the owner attributing that to the fact that his “original formula seems to be working.”

Back then, there were numerous banks and a few restaurants in Princeton, but only one chain: a single Burger King. Similar fare was seen as unbefitting of the town’s atmosphere, so when industry giants like Starbucks came along, “that was a shock at the time,” Shu said.

This attitude of wanting the town to “have its own distinct status and reputation,” Shu continued, has now fallen by the wayside in favor of more chain stores.

Shu was pleased that Holsome had been successful “from day one,” and when Urken Supply Co., a family-owned hardware store on Witherspoon, closed in 2002, Shu’s enterprise had the chance to expand into a larger location.

Once he acquired the building, Shu ran

his tea shop in the front, while a multipurpose space in the back served as an art gallery where, “every two months,” a new, local creative would showcase an exhibit of their works.

When a yoga studio on Spring Street closed, Shu gave the equipment, as well as some of the teachers, a new home at Holsome Teas and Herbs. The “Holsome Yoga”’ program ran for years until instructor Gemma Farrell took over and moved the group, now known as “Gratitude Yoga,” to the second floor of 86 Nassau Street in 2018.

Shu acknowledged that although Holsome was able to incorporate more of a holistic flair, the 2008 financial crisis had a significant impact on the company.

Eventually, Shu made the decision to begin renting out the front of the building, which turned out to be a “very valuable” source of income, as Holsome carried on in the rear. To do so, he redid most of the interior, carving out a corridor and a second egress for additional room.

Shu said that Junbi, which means “preparation” in Japanese, opened in March 2021 with a lineup of matcha-forward drinks, bubble teas, coffees and more. Junbi is “very popular for young people,” he added, with bubble tea frequently serving as “the first step” toward regular tea consumption for these generations. Holsome even sold healthier, “unconventional” bubble tea back when they were in the front area, yet now that Shu is without a kitchen of his own, his recommendation is to take full advantage of Junbi’s menu.

The revamped layout at Holsome is still used for a zen meditation class, but Shu is considering converting the old gallery into a place where people can come to sit, study, and learn while drinking tea.

Shu noted that he is more than “happy here” at Holsome’s spot, gesturing to the wide window, a personal request of his, which fills the room with light as it looks out onto the courtyard area. “This is almost like my own backyard. When you sit here, it’s almost like they let me share their garden,” Shu said with a sincere smile.

Throughout times of uncertainty, Holsome Teas and Herbs has remained true to its roots—and name—by inviting customers to pause and savor the simple things in life. “People just come to talk to me for any health advice. If I know, I’m more than happy to provide it,” Shu explained. “My philosophy here is, I like to provide knowledge.”

Shu insisted that he is not interested in any products with unproven abilities or hypes, and everything he does retail has been vetted in terms of efficacy and safety.

Shu has built trust in his relationship with customers over the years, meaning that if someone asks about a particular problem or product, he will be “very hon-

For the past 26 years, Paul Shu, the owner of Holsome Teas and Herbs, has been running a shop that combines his love of tea with Chinese herbal remedies influenced by his family. background.

est” in letting them know the truth, even going so far as to refuse to sell it to them.

Shu said people he has known for years regularly call him for questions and conversations, becoming like his old friends. Many of them have since moved away, but despite the distance, he arranges for products to be delivered to them wherever they are now.

The owner maintained that because such a feature had always been an integral part of Holsome’s business model from the start, he did not notice a dramatic increase in the sale of “natural alternatives” during the pandemic. The modest storefront, which only accepts in-person or phone orders, does not have an online store.

Just as simply, with green tea being the least oxidized and black tea being the most oxidized, Shu’s favorite tea, oolong, is semioxidized and falls somewhere in the middle. Shu said that depending on how much air the leaves are exposed to in production, the color will fluctuate, giving a “different taste and flavor” to the tea.

His recommendations, however, revolve around each person’s individual tea experiences, as a match must “depend on their interest, state, and appreciation level.”

Everyone “has a different value system,” Shu explained, meaning that there are differences between the palates of beginners and those who have dedicated time to honing their taste preferences. He believes that rather than selecting the most expensive tea, an introduction to tea should begin with sampling and exploring flavor profiles through more affordable options.

Shu equated the experience to that of wine, stating that college students are likely to opt for a cheaper option that works for their roommates at the time. But once they develop a discerning palate, those same people might buy “a particular year or variety” at a higher price.

“Tea drinking is very similar to that,” Shu said. With thousands of years of customs and history behind it, the craft has “evolved continuously” throughout time to the point where drinking tea, according to Holsome’s owner, “is almost like an art” in and of itself.

“You can brew a nice cup of tea your way, [with] your knowledge, and then you can appreciate the result,” he said. Shu explained that although manipulating the climate, and temperature can influence the overall flavor of a tea, the maker has a level of control over the final product that far exceeds that of coffee, where the definitions of a dark or medium roast differ from shop to shop.

“If you understand the tea brewing process,” he said, “a good cup of tea is very easy.” While he referred to tea as “more subtle,” Shu also drinks coffee, brewing it with the same care as his tea. Customers who enter Holsome with a cup of java in hand, though, always seem to apologize

Browse the beautiful displays of teas, left, while taking in the charming courtyard view at Holsome, right.

to the owner as if he would look down on them for their choice; when this happens, he reassures them that there is no need to worry over such a trivial detail.

“Coffee and tea—they all can improve our lives, so what’s the big deal?” Shu said.

Since tea is organic, Shu acknowledged that there is no surefire way to ensure the exact consistency of each tea from batch to batch, but he has long established a rapport with producers that allows him to get as close to the same result as possible every time. Despite coming from “the same tea garden, the same facility, the same teamaking master, every year’s different,” he explained, comparing those variations to the harvest from a vegetable garden.

As shops across Princeton may go about tea in a “different style,” Shu shared, he is glad to see the shift in attitudes about what can be savored as a beautifully understated selection, one that is less ubiquitous in America.

Back when Teavana was in business— the now-defunct tea store and mall staple that was bought out, then dissolved by the Starbucks brand—Shu was still pleased, noting that they provided more ways “to introduce average people to tea drinking” on a larger scale.

“We’re all promoting tea drinking,” Shu said in earnest, adding that to create an art and culture of tea here, others must aid the general mission to “broadcast” the practice. Coffee might have reigned supreme at the beginning of Holsome’s journey, but now that people have a better understanding of tea or are eager to learn, the clientele’s choices have changed accordingly.

“I can see many of our customers are coming with good knowledge and taste in tea, and that’s very encouraging. My original idea is working, but it takes some time,” Shu explained.

He has no interest in moving on or elsewhere, keeping busy with over two decades’ worth of dedication and regulars. If he ever does find a successor, Shu said he would need to ensure that their interest in tea is just as strong as his—someone who can apply his scientific precision, as well as Shu’s peaceful understanding and enduring philosophy, to the business.

Tea-For-All

Tea-For-All is located in the north end of the Trenton Farmers Market at 960 Spruce Street in Lawrence, down the main corridor of permanent and rotating vendors, right by the vegan eatery Savory Leaf Cafe and Out Of Step: Offbeat Boutique & General Store.

Ran by couple Deborah “Debbie” and Michael “Mike” Raab, Tea-For-All has been

in business since 2011, opening in the Trenton Farmers Market eight years later in a spot that comes complete with a tea bar and retail space.

Just four months into this long-awaited storefront, though, the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily closed their physical location, so the Raabs, like true tea entrepreneurs, pivoted to take away teas, porch deliveries and off-hour curbside pickups.

Debbie was used to reinventing her approach as the owner and principal; after retiring from a career in corrections in 2009, she honed her business skills through pop-up markets and partnerships. First, she graduated from Trenton State College, now known as The College of New Jersey, with a bachelor’s in sociology and a minor in psychology, then worked in the field for over 30 years, starting as a state social worker before becoming a program director.

Mike joked that Debbie “was terrible at retirement,” because rather than enjoy her free time, she began studying her second interest in tea whenever and wherever she could, with the thought of starting her own, all-encompassing business.

Instead of just focusing on tea and its corresponding products, Tea-For-All centers on education by coordinating a monthly tea club membership program as well as “about 20 or 30 different lectures” that, for a fee, touch on topics from history to wellness. Tea-For-All is also a regular at places like the West Windsor Community Farmers’ Market, where the company can interact with a broader audience.

For January, Tea-For-All is expecting to host more of these educational classes and private tastings “two or three times a week,” while due to the onset of the cold weather, they have been selling more warm beverages such as tea lattes, hot chocolates and apple ciders.

Tea-For-All is currently open from Wednesdays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., as well as on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. While the Trenton Farmers Market is closed on Wednesdays, several shops remain open to the public and can be entered through their respective entrances, including Tea-For-All, Out of Step, Savory Leaf, and the Lady and the Shallot.

Mike, whose background is similar to Shu’s in their shared love of science, spent 25 years in sales, complemented by his

experiences in engineering and marketing. He received his bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics with a minor in engineering from Northrop Institute of Technology, followed by his MBA from the same institution, which closed as Northrop University in 1990.

Growing up with a dad in the Navy, Mike spent his childhood in “every place that God put water” before living in California for roughly 30 years. Once in the chemical industry, he held a number of managerial, liaison, and leadership positions. Mike’s company, the Chemtura Corporation, wanted to move him to the marketing department on the east coast, so he made arrangements for his teenage son, Andrew, to come along with him.

Once in New Jersey, the plans to bring Andrew fell apart, so Mike let off steam by walking the three miles from Lawrence Square Village to the Quaker Bridge Mall. As he passed by the now-closed store called This End Up Furniture Co., Mike decided to look for a desk for Andrew in the hopes that he could still come in the future.

There, he met Debbie, who was working there as a second job. The two chatted for a long time, and Mike promised to come back once given the official go-ahead. When Mike returned a few weeks later, Debbie was not on shift, so Mike—always a salesman at heart—told her coworker that he wanted to ensure she received credit for the purchase, then passed on a note with his contact information.

The two soon became a couple, bonding over their mutual love for outdoor activities, even training all summer for the MS 150 Bike Tour in Woodstock, a cycling fundraiser for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. But the week before the event, Mike got sick with the flu, while the facility Debbie worked at had just closed.

Both upset and physically weakened on Mike’s end, they canceled. After he recovered, Mike went out looking for condos with Debbie, having just sold his place in California. When the curious realtor asked about their relationship, Mike confessed to him that he was going to propose to Debbie at Woodstock, which unfortunately was not to be. At dinner that night, Debbie

serve “two benefits: one, it’s a revenue generator, and they’re all profitable, but they also are a major part of our promotion and advertising.”

Their new truck with the Tea-For-All name is hard to miss, and Mike is pleased at how the ruby red ride has been able to build brand recognition from just being out on the road.

“One of the, I hope, infectious things is why people do business with us—because I think we treat people the way we want to be treated. We greet everyone that walks in. We don’t overshadow them,” he said, giving patrons the space to move at their own pace while still providing “accurate knowledge” as needed.

In their travels, the Raabs have traveled to regions like China and Taiwan, but also lesser-known areas of the U.S. that produce tea, such as commercial farms in the states of Mississippi—where they picked, plucked and processed black and green tea firsthand—and South Carolina. Mike added that Tea-For-All is “probably one of the only continental US companies that have Hawaiian tea for sale,” with two visits under their belt and another planned in March.

As a “guiding principle,” Mike and Debbie also want to positively impact younger generations by providing them with opportunities for employment and customer interaction.

“We take them on as our own sons and daughters,” he said. This staff includes another family member interested in tea, the couple’s grandson, John Major IV, or “J.” Another addition to the team is the talent of Kathleen Hippeli, the former owner of One Steep at a Thyme, a Jamesburg tearoom that closed during the pandemic. On Saturdays, Hippeli steps in to help, bringing her expertise and freshly baked goods.

This welcoming atmosphere is perfect for customers who want to expand their tea horizons from the familiar to the esoteric.

“Many people just grew up with a cup of Lipton when they were sick, with some honey in it from grandmom. They don’t really know a lot about the different types of tea,” Debbie said, sharing her own example of how tea can capture the comfort of family love, much like she did with her mother, and then cultivate that into a profound appreciation for the drink.

“Whenever possible, if a customer is not sure that they would like a certain tea—as long as we have the ability to do so—we try to give them a taste so that they can experience it and make their own decision,” she added.

“It’s always amazing to me that I love watching the light bulb go off with people, first of all, when they learn that all tea comes from one plant, and secondly, when they taste five different black teas, and it’s just unbelievable to them at the difference in the flavor profiles.”

Debbie explained that British tea does have its own appeal, but she is “just so much more fascinated with the different cultures of tea” across the globe.

Mike said that they do not sell a single tea that he does not like, but Tea-For-All also counts its vendors as a “backup knowledge base” with a focus on quality control that matches the veracity of their claims.

“Left to my own devices, if I were to pull something off the shelf, it would probably be an oolong or a pu’erh,” Debbie said, the latter being “bioactive,” as Mike pointed out, with a host of health benefits.

The couple includes a good green in their winter rotation but prefers tea without flavors or sweeteners all year. Because TeaFor-All has “a marvelous selection and palate of really excellent quality teas,” according to Mike, he admitted that his tastes in tea have matured. Various additions are available based on customer preference, yet Mike does not mean to downplay the importance of flavored teas.

“Nine out of every 10 cups of tea out of this shop, or any of our pop-ups, it’s going to be a flavored tea. It’s going to be a pineapple coconut, or it’s going to be lemon souffle, or it’s going to be any of these, which are wonderful, strong flavors, and that’s much more accessible to a wider audience,” he said.

Green teas, which the Raabs prefer on the higher end, can also be polarizing if prepared improperly, turning matcha, a type of green tea ground into a powder with a vegetal, nutty, and grassy taste, “almost astringently bitter,” as Mike warned. Matcha is usually associated with either the culinary grade, which should only be used for cooking, or overly sweetened versions where any true flavor is lost amid the other ingredients.

Debbie said that if she has the time to make matcha correctly for a customer who has sworn off it after a bad experience, she will prepare both of the two grades that Tea-For-All carries: one is “very close to ceremonial grade,” or what would be utilized in Japanese tea ceremonies and made from younger tea leaves, while the other is just below it in ranking.

“Four out of five times, the person ends up buying the ceremonial,” she continued, with people able to note the differences in taste between them.

Most customers are coming in exclusively for loose teas, according to Mike. There was also a significant uptick in the purchase of caffeine-free herbal teas, or tisanes, as a byproduct of the pandemic, with many people seeking out other ways to alleviate health symptoms or boost their immune systems. One of these herbal teas, the butterfly pea flower, blooms blue and brews a drink of the same color that transforms into purple when exposed to the acidity of a lemon.

Mike said that he regularly directs custom-

ers who come to him with questions about what teas have the most or least caffeine to the herbal shelf, noting that “even decaffeinated tea has some caffeine in it,” providing an alternative for people with allergies or other concerns.

Without a proper chemical analysis, he continued, a seller cannot properly gauge those qualities in a tea, since countless factors are at play that affect the resulting levels.

“In general, certain tea types have less or more caffeine, but green teas are the perfect example. You drink matcha, and it’s probably one of the highest caffeine contents that you can imagine, as opposed to one of the other green teas that, maybe, is a late-season green tea,” Debbie added.

Since customers have been looking for and requesting more herbal options, the Raabs have been continuing their own learning to be certified in courses about this rising

YEARS

ANNIVERSARY

609-584-5252 www.priornami.com

trend in holistic health. Tea-For-All’s selections reflect the diversity of their customer base, harkening back to countless homeopathic remedies passed down through generations.

While the owners hope to better understand the nuances of products such as licorice root or raspberry leaf, Mike said that Tea-For-All lets the medical professionals study and decide what advantages such products might have.

“People should make [tea] part of their healthy diet, but it’s not going to solve people’s medical issues,” Mike said. “We don’t need to make those claims. We’re happy to tell you what we know the benefits are.”

It’s this everlasting meeting of artistry and philanthropy that encouraged Mike to tell the story about the “Texas bowl,” a vessel for both tea and the tale itself that took the

1666 Hamilton Ave. Hamilton, NJ 08629

RWJUH Hamilton

Scoring Top Nursing Honors: Achieveing Magnet Status Recognizes the Highest Quality Care for Patients

Nurses have been called the backbone of healthcare. At Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJUH Hamilton), an RWJBarnabas Health facility, they provide vital care at the bedside but also promote teamwork, enhance safety, improve patient outcomes, nurture community health, educate staff, provide leadership and more.

As a result of such efforts, RWJUH Hamilton has earned Magnet recognition for nursing excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). The designation is the nation’s most prestigious nursing honor—one that only 9 percent of hospitals across the country have achieved. “At RWJUH Hamilton, our nursing team continuously strives to provide excellent care to our patients in an authentic, compassionate way. “We were very excited about being designated for the first time as a Magnet hospital,” says Lisa Breza,

Pieces repaired using Kintsugi, left, and the “Texas bowl,” right.

RN, MSN, NEABC, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at RWJUH Hamilton. “It’s not something you just get by applying. “You need to prove that your nursing is consistently exemplary through data, surveys and outcomes for eight consecutive quarters, or two years,” Breza says.

RWJUH Hamilton’s 400-plus nurses excelled even while facing the peak of an unprecedented pandemic. “I’m so proud of our nurses.” “They all work very hard, and our programs are truly outstanding,” says Richard Freeman, President and Chief Executive Officer at RWJUH Hamilton.

Standards of Excellence.

The ANCC considers a number of key criteria that reflect not only best clinical practices but also organizational factors such as leadership structure, shared decisionmaking and education. “Achieving Magnet designation has been years in the making,” Breza says. “We did an analysis of existing practices and executed plans to make sure we met standards for providing exemplary nursing.”

“These honors testify to the outstanding care and compassion our nurses bring to their patients,”

says Dawn Hutchinson, MSN, RN, PCCN-K, and Assistant Vice President of Nursing at RWJUH Hamilton.

Colleagues in Quality. Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton is one of six Magnetrecognized hospitals in RWJBarnabas Health (RWJBH), the state’s largest healthcare system. To learn more about Magnet recognition, visit rwjbh. org/magnet

To discover what awaits you or someone you know in a nursing career at RWJBarnabas Health, including Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, visit rwjbh.org/nursing

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton also recently achieved a Leapfrog ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade for the 13th time underscoring RWJUH Hamilton’s commitment as a High Reliability Organization (HRO). Through the concerted effort of RWJUH Hamilton’s physicians, nurses, staff, volunteers and leadership, patients and families benefit from the highest level of quality care and the safest hospital experience.

To learn more about Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, visit rwjbh.org/Hamilton or call 609586-7900. See ad, page 13.

couple back to about five or six years ago to a Dallas tea festival. One of the seminars featured students from a nearby school district with two of their tea-loving teachers, who had started an after-school tea club for the children.

During this experience, the students were encouraged to go over to a potter’s table, where the sculptor had created matcha bowls of varying structure and size. “If you notice, this one is not perfectly round,” Mike explained, showing the piece in his hand but refraining to call those aspects “imperfections,” calling them the work of an artist.

“This one little girl picked up this bowl, and she said, ‘You see how it’s murky down here and it’s not clear? That’s the early part of my life. I don’t see that. But it gets up here, closer to the top,’” Mike recalled, visibly moved by the memory of her words that day.

“‘It becomes much more clear, and how much more perfectly rounded it is, and how it had these indentations and imperfections at the bottom, but…’” Mike stopped where he was in the story with tears in his eyes.

“We like to see kids succeed, and needless

to say, I bought her bowl,” he finished with a laugh, just in awe at how the children “developed this marvelous relationship over tea because they could all relate to that.”

This theme was reminiscent of the Japanese concept of “wabi-sabi,” which Debbie defined as about “how life’s not always perfect, but learn to find the beauty in imperfection…people aren’t in our lives forever, but accept that and celebrate them for when they are there.”

When someone accidentally broke a bowl at Tea-For-All, another customer, Steve, took it upon himself to practice kintsugi, a Japanese art that breathes new life into fragments by adhreing them again with a golden line of lacquer. Kintsugi, which translates to “golden joinery,” embraces any perceived flaws as part of an improved, more elegant piece of pottery.

For Mike, this built on his resounding message of “Yes, it’s imperfect, but so what? It’s beautiful.” Just as time might need to pass for a bowl to become its most colorful itera-

tion yet, he conveyed that younger people deserve to be given the proper space to heal and process.

As the Raabs aim to help from the heart, Tea-For-All has also been making strides to be more sustainable, whether that is in their packaging or products. Customers are also encouraged to bring their own cups for a discount or tins for refills, as long as they call ahead for the latter so that the owners can ensure the tea is in stock.

It’s an expensive endeavor to be more environmentally conscious, Debbie acknowledged, but one they prioritize given its match with both their values and the aesthetic of the farmers’ market. Trips to the World Tea Expo and possibly Japan are scheduled for the new year, but each endeavor shares the same resounding mission statement that Tea-For-All has always echoed from the two who know it the best.

“I think ours is a story of adaptation and teamwork,” Mike said. “We treat people the way we want to be treated. We try to always

speak with knowledge and understanding of where the customer is, always willing to share what knowledge we have. We’re also willing to be told we’re wrong, or we need to know more, and we charge a fair price for a cup of tea—and a quality cup of tea.”

“We’re having more and more people that are coming in, too, that are saying, ‘we like to come here and get the tea, because we always get an education with it,’” Debbie said, with that love of endless intellectual exploration forming a mutual bond between owners and customers.

“We continually learn about tea. It’s not an endpoint, it’s a journey; that’s one of the things we pride ourselves on,” Mike added.

Shu and the Raabs continue to cultivate their crafts and curious minds with a ceaseless resolve—retiring has never stopped them before—and there is always more tea to pour, more kettles to fill, and more knowledge to impart with an equal helping of smiles.

But if you take anything in your tea, let it be the lesson that these two businesses in Mercer County are serving up cups of endless enthusiasm to ease the brunt of the cold winter season.

Read the full story online at the CNS website, communitynews.org.

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, page 9.

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

Hamilton Dental Associates

New Year, New Smile

Smile, it’s a new year! A time that for many means resolutions, and a renewed commitment to health and improvement. A healthy smile is a big part of that, and now you can care for your and your family’s teeth all in one place. When families come to HDA, they are happy because they can take care of their own dental needs while everyone in their family’s oral health is being looked after at the same time. “It’s a win-win,” commented Dr. Irving Djeng, pediatric dentist, “kids get attentive, gentle treatment by a dedicated, specialist team that works only with kids, while parents and adult patients are cared for by our experienced adult staff right down the hall.” Dr. Lauren Levine, pediatric dentist, also commented, “We go to great lengths to make the children feel comfortable because we know that teaching children good oral hygiene at a very young age prepares them for a lifetime of healthy smiles.”

You may have heard the term 6-Month Dental Recall, but what does that mean? A “recall” or “dental recall” visit is a regularly scheduled checkup appointment to help dentists have an ongoing knowledge of the status of their patients’ oral health. These visits are vital to both practice and patients. The more often a patient can meet with their dentist, the better care that doctor can provide. The frequency of appointments is determined by each dentist and usually coincides with a hygienist visit, usually every 6 months or twice a year. A recurring 6 month recall to your dentist is so important to supporting oral and overall bodily health, that many insurance companies outright cover many of

recall services included in the visit!

The basic components of the preventive dental appointment consist of:

• Review and update medical and dental history

• Blood pressure screening

• Oral cancer examination

•Examination of the teeth and periodontal tissues (i.e. gum tissue and supporting bone). This includes a visual examination for signs of dental caries (cavities), other problems with the teeth (chips, broken fillings, etc.), looking for signs of inflammation and infection, and periodontal probing, which measures the depth of the gum pocket.

• Radiographic exam. The content and timing of dental x-rays can vary and are customized to the needs and disease susceptibility of the patient. The dental team weighs risk vs.

benefits when taking dental x-rays, keeping radiation exposure to a minimum

•An actual prophylaxis (cleaning) to mechanically remove any build up or plaque from tooth surfaces.

•Application of a topical fluoride

agent, when indicated.

Usually at the end of the appointment, the dentist will review all the findings and radiographs, make any necessary diagnoses, and recommend treatment, if indicated.

Hamilton Dental Associates (HDA) has been serving Hamilton and the Greater Central New Jersey area for over 50 years. While HDA’s roots are in pediatric dentistry, they also specialize in adult and cosmetic dentistry, orthodontics, oral surgery, periodontics, and endodontics. Patients are treated by specialists in their field. For example, orthodontic treatment is done by an orthodontic specialist, and patients requiring a root canal will be treated by an endodontist — a dentist who specializes in root canals. It’s all done under one roof which is time saving and eliminates the need for multiple referrals.

Come see what all the smiling is about! To request an appointment, call 609-586-6603 or visit

HamiltonDental.com. Locations are 2929 Klockner Road and 2501 Kuser Road, Hamilton, New Jersey.

Happy New Year! We look forward to seeing your smile! See ad, page 12

Physical Therapy

Nutritional Services

Caruso PTRD offers a unique, patient-centered physical therapy approach that offers patients the chance to work closely with a Doctor of Physical Therapy. Our therapists' main goals are to listen to each of your needs and provide individualized care to treat your condition. We want you to get back to being you; whether it's getting you back on the field, back at the office, or back to running around with your children or grandkids! Treating pain is only the first step!

performance, or weight loss goals through an approach that is anything but “cookie cutter”. Our Nutrition Experts, RDN’s,are the ONLY medical professionals qualified to give you nutrition advice. We don’t believe in quick fixes or the latest craze. We believe in life long change without having to sacrifice ANYTHING that makes your life unique!

Pilates Reformer

The most recognized and effective form of safe and successful exercise. Pilates can be tailored to the specific needs of the client to provide injury prevention, rehabilitation and muscle stability work. We offer Private and Semi Private Sessions.

Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

ATTENTION ALL AGES: Achieve your body composition, sport's performance, nutrition or weight loss goals through an approach that is anything but "cookie cutter". We take the time to learn about you, any medical conditions you may have and tailor to your individual needs. Our Nutrition Experts, RDN's,are the ONLY medical professionals qualified to give you nutrition advice. We don't believe in quick fixes or the latest craze. We believe in life long change without having to sacrifice ANYTHING that makes your life unique! Relax and unplug in our new Salt Room! Offering numerous health benefits such as; providing relief for respiratory

THERAPY

Regenerative Spine and Pain Institute

Treating Pain with PRP and Stem Cell Therapy

Pain.

It gnaws at you. It drains you. It becomes the focus of your life.

Experiencing a few pain-free moments can be euphoric; it makes you realize how long you’ve been living with aches and pain. You might wonder how you can find a solution to relieve the pain and regain your freedom from discomfort.

Dr. Ronak Patel at Regenerative Spine and Pain Institute wants you to know there are two new revolutionary answers to pain relief.

Both platelet-rich therapy — otherwise known as PRP — and stem cell therapy give patients new hope by using the body’s powerful healing power to accelerate the battle against pain. Dr. Patel has seen incredible success implementing these cuttingedge treatments on hundreds of patients suffering from pain-related issues.

So if you are suffering from any of the ailments below, there’s a lifeline.

• Osteoarthritis

• Rotator cuff tear

• Back pain

• Meniscus tears

• Tennis elbow

• Disc herniations

• Tendonitis

• Neck pain

Here’s the best news: Neither PRP or stem cell therapy involves drug use with side effects or any surgical procedures.

Both PRP and stem cell treatments use the body’s own healing resources to repair diseased or damaged tissue — and the results are quite remarkable.

PRP therapy involves injecting concentrated platelets and growth factors into damaged tissue to

stimulate the faster growth of new healthy cells. Platelets are cells that prevent and stop bleeding. If a blood vessel is damaged, the body sends signals to our platelets to get on the job and start the healing. Some call platelets the body’s natural bandage.

So how does PRP therapy work? It’s basically drawing a one small vial of blood from the patient and then using a centrifuge to turn it into a potent and concentrated form of platelets. It is then injected back into the patient. Think of it as a boost of your own blood — only superpowered.

Recovery time for PRP therapy is far shorter than for surgery. Patients usually experience soreness for a week or so, but the gradual improvement soon begins. Unlike

a steroid shot, which gives you immediate relief and quickly wears off, a PRP patient will see pain symptoms improve over a period of months, and up to 80 percent of patients will see relief for up to two years.

Stem cell therapy can be an even more powerful way to harness the body’s healing power. Stem cells are the building blocks for every cell in our body. These powerful cells can be harvested to produce powerful new cells to fight inflammation and disease.

For those suffering from osteoarthritis, stem cell therapy has proven very effective. That’s because the stem cells may help develop new cartilage cells and suppress inflammation. Stem cells can be harvested through a sample of body fat or bone marrow or be harvested from donated umbilical cord tissue.

And yes, you can even augment PRP therapy with stem cell therapy for an even bigger boost!

Stop wondering if you’ll have to live with your pain forever. Contact Regenerative Spine and Pain Institute today at 609-269-4451 or go to www.njpaindoc.com to book an an appointment and learn more. See ad, page 3

Dr. Deolinda Reverendo

I’ve got breast cancer

but I also have an expert team on my side.

RWJBarnabas Health, together with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, offers the most advanced, patient-centric cancer care for adults and children. Our multidisciplinary teams of nationally renowned oncologists, nurses, oncology nurse navigators, and support professionals ensure a compassionate, comprehensive approach, creating an individualized plan to treat your type of cancer. Our patients have access to innovative clinical trials, precision medicine, immunotherapy, advanced surgical procedures and sophisticated radiation therapy techniques. Visit rwjbh.org/beatcancer or call 844-CANCERNJ.

NCI

Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center

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.

SERVICES

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ERA Central Realty’s Kelly chosen as designer of 75th anniversary Toys For Tots logo

ERA Central Realty Group creative marketing manager Suzi Kelly was appointed the official graphic designer for the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots Program 75th anniversary based on her logo design, which was to be used on collection boxes and marketing collateral for the Toys for Tots 75th Anniversary celebration.

“It is an honor to represent the Toys for Tots Program,” Kelly said. “My daughter is a marine, and Toys for Tots has been an important effort for our family and ERA Central for many years. Being able to represent this amazing organization in such a unique and meaningful way is very exciting. Incidentally,” she adds, “Walt Disney designed the iconic Toys for Tots train logo, so my work is in excellent company.”

In the letter of appointment, David G Bellon, Lieutenant General Commander Marine Forces Reserve wrote: “[Suzi’s] exceptional talent and dedication to this project are instrumental in enabling the Marine Corps Reserve to continue its long legacy of delivering hope to less fortunate children during the holiday season.”

“Toys for Tots has been a charitable initiative at ERA Central Realty Group for several years. I am proud that our community contributes to the 18 million toys that Toys for Tots collects and distributes to over 7 million children annually,” said Stephanie Bellanova, co-owner of ERA Central. “I am particularly delighted that

very slow,” he said.

Though Conroy commits a lot of time to his running, he said he does what he can to minimize the impact it has on his family. He says he often gets up at 4 or 5 in the morning, to complete his daily run before the rest of the family is awake. He also finds time for other pursuits: he is a homebrewer, and also a guitarist who also occasionally performs live with fellow Bordentown resident Carter Quinby.

As for what’s next, Conroy is focused on getting in shape for April’s Jersey Devil 100. After that, he plans to tackle three races known as the PA Triple Crown: the Hyner 50K, the World’s End 100K and the Eastern States 100.

All three are held in Pennsylvania, and all three take place on terrain that features severe elevation changes — a noteworthy difference from the fairly flat terrain of the Hainesport Endurance Run and Jersey Devil 100 routes.

A runner must finish all three races

Suzi Kelly receives her appointment as official graphic designer of the Toys for Tots 75th Anniversary from David G. Bellon, Lieutenant General, U.S. Marine Corps.

Suzi is being recognized for her creativity at a national level.”

In addition to her graphic designs, Kelly also makes glass art, designing and creating stained glass panels, sculptures, wall art, and fused glass functional art. On the web: artglasselements.com.

in the same year to be able to say they finished the triple crown. “Knowing I can complete a flat Pine Barrens 100 miler (i.e., the Jersey Devil 100), I would feel more confident on more mountainous terrain,” Conroy said.

And if anyone reading this story should feel the need to resolve to run more in 2023, Conroy has some words of encouragement:

“My early advice is for persistence and commitment. Start with small goals and keep at it. It’s about doing a little bit several times a week. And once you build up the healthy routines, you can amp up the intensity and duration. One of the best ways to continue that commitment is to do it with other people. Whatever activity you choose, it’s more fun with other people. It’ll keep you accountable. Maybe you won’t always look forward to running, but you’ll look forward to spending time with old friends or new acquaintances.”

When it comes to cremation, there are many options to consider – from traditional services to contemporary celebrations. Regardless of your choice, we will help you and your family ensure that your ceremony is a reflection of the person you are and the life you’ve lived. To learn more, please contact us.

The Huber - Moore Funeral Home

John C. Polhemus, Manager, NJ Lic. No. 3700

517 Farnsworth Avenue Bordentown, New Jersey 08505 (609) 298-0330 www.huberfuneralhome.com

I’m helping my family plan a meaningful ceremony followed by cremation.

SportS

Scotties’ Green ready to press play on senior season

By Rich Fisher

After Tatiana Green hit the pause button on her basketball career, she was dismayed to discover that merely re-pressing “play” did not allow her performance to pick right up where she left off.

But once she began to work her way back, Green returned to her high-level self on the court.

The Bordentown High School senior opted not to play for the Scotties during her sophomore year due to Covid issues. When she returned last year, it took a while to find her groove, and it wasn’t pretty. Especially for Green herself.

Expected to be a big piece of the offense, she scored just 19 points in the first four games. After 10 games the forward was averaging 7.3 points per game, as the effects of her layoff were showing.

“I think it was more of a mental stance than anything,” Green said. “A lot of my skills kind of stuck with me and the conditioning that comes with it. But a lot of stuff was mental. I spent a lot of time being held back because I didn’t know if I was capable of doing certain things.”

After a pep talk from last year’s leading scorer, the since graduated Oshynn Cosom, things began to turn around. Over the season’s final eight games, Green averaged 10.8 points per game and scored in double figures six times.

“She figured out she belonged out there,” coach Bill Lloyd said. “For Tati, the challenge has always been the confidence She had to find the confidence to believe in herself. That’s what she found toward the end of last year. She took her sophomore year off, she was a little bit behind when she came back but she kind of found her stride and took off. I’m hoping she’ll build on that this year.”

All indications are that she will continue to progress. Lloyd says that by the end of last year, Green was making postseason speeches at the team banquet encouraging the returning girls to gear up and get ready for this season. The 5-foot-7 forward has taken a leadership role by the horns, and is ready to be the strong force Bordentown needs in the paint this season.

“I’m expecting a leadership role out of her,” Lloyd said. “All these girls came into

practice a half hour early one day. Tati is the one who’s kind of set this culture for us, which is a change from what we’ve had in years past. Girls want to be here, girls want to practice, she’s kind of leading that. She’s the one saying ‘Girls we need to be out there, we need to be better, we need to work harder.’ I love what I’m seeing from her from a leadership standpoint. And from the whole team from a work standpoint.”

Green is making up for lost time as far as she is concerned. Missing that sophomore year still leaves a bad taste.

“I think (sitting out) just had to do with the circumstances that were happening with life,” Green said. “We were in online school. I hadn’t been out of the house or anything. I feel due to maybe mental issues I wasn’t capable of coming out and playing another season.”

That feeling didn’t last long.

“I immediately regretted it when the time came and I still regret that decision to this day,” she continued. “I would check on them, and I would just watch them in all the games they filmed. I knew after that; I was one hundred percent coming back. I spent that last summer practicing all that I could.”

It was the first year Green did not play organized basketball since fifth grade, when she joined the Bordentown Area Basketball League (BABL).

She stayed there through eighth grade and had some great times.

I really enjoyed BABL a lot,” she said. “It was just fun playing with my friends. It was like a community. A lot of the coaches were really excited for me. I was really tall. They were all teaching me that I had to use my height, use my arms. I had to jump. They made it a lot of fun.”

Green continued her career at Bordentown Middle School and became a starter in eighth grade, helping the team to an 8-3 record while putting up a solid stat line. In ninth grade, she was one of just two girls to be called up from the freshman to the JV, but Lloyd knew right away she had to work on her confidence.

“I don’t remember much of how she played, but I just knew that, ‘This girl needs to come out of her shell,’” the coach said. “She was timid, and she always questioned herself.”

Taking a year off didn’t help, but midway through last season, Lloyd saw a positive change in Green.

“It was kind of letting her figure it out on her own last year; like ‘Hey, I belong here. I can be successful with this,’” he said. “By the end of the year, she was like, ‘This is my show.’”

With Cosom graduated it truly does become Green’s show. She is the team’s leading returning scorer after averaging around nine points last year, and Lloyd hopes she will provide even more offense this year with the addition of Nottingham transfer Maddy Wylie.

“She’s gonna need to be a primary scorer,” Lloyd said. “She gets her points inside, getting rebounds, doing all the dirty work. We have two weapons in the lane now with Tati and Maddy, and we’re working on our guards getting the entry pass in to them.”

The Scotties will also depend on junior Lily Nucera and senior Madison Mazzilli to provide some offense after seeing ample time last year. And Lloyd hopes some seniors who have not played since they were freshmen can provide support.

“They’re some of our better athletes in the school,” he said. “After freshman year they decided they didn’t want to play basketball. So they’re bringing a lot of athleticism we haven’t had in a while. Not a lot

winners in other sports. I’m hoping they bring that mentality to basketball.”

Much will center on Green, however, and she knows it.

“I do feel the load is on me,” she said. “I feel like every year, there is somebody

that needs to be relied on. I feel that this year some people are relying on me. But with that, I can also say that with the team we have this year, everyone can get involved. We have a lot of girls returning and new girls coming up with us. Having Maddie will help a lot.”

And she feels right at home in her leadership role. “It definitely came naturally,” she said. “A lot of the girls are my friends, sisters even. We’ve had practices over the summer that I organized. Building from that, to starting the season we kind of expected that was how my role would play out. I like getting the other girls involved in other stuff we can do.”

Probably the biggest suggestion given to Green came from Cosom last year, when she suggested that Tatiana was much better than she was playing.

“She told me I really was good and I just needed to get out of my head,” Green said.

“She went on this whole long rant about how next year they’re really gonna need me and that I had to step up right away and help her. Oshynn was the only returning varsity starter and she needed help. I needed to learn how to work with her and help her out with all she was doing. Toward the end of the season, I did that.”

She’s looking forward to carrying that positive play right into this season. Green has no use for the pause button anymore.

Tatiana Green is the leading returning scorer for Bordentown Regional High School basketball. (Photo by Bill Lloyd.)

George Raymond: A captain of integrity

Doug Kiovsky THE BEND IN THE RIVER

Editor’s note: The second page of Doug Kiovsky’s column did not appear in our December issue because of a printing error. The column in its entirety is reprinted this month.

The legacy of George Raymond (18141899) began with a wintry gale as the hard pounding surf crashed against his ship, the Atalanta, off the coast of Cape May in December of 1844.

As evening approached, screams from the piercing winds resonated between the fastened sails as the sun danced on an uneasy horizon. Undeterred by the situation, Capt. Raymond heard cries for help. He grabbed his telescope and stood at the crosstrees of the mast until a rowboat came within view.

Seated were seven sailors. As a rope was thrown to the boat, the men climbed aboard the safety of the awaiting vessel. One of the men identified himself as the captain of the Alabamian, a cargo ship that was returning from Europe with vast quantities of marble and silk. The relentless gales and the force of the marble slamming against the hull foretold the ship’s imminent demise, and the captain called for his crew to abandon ship.

Safe aboard the Atalanta, he said that another row boat with 11 men was drifting near the shipping lane, and pleaded for their rescue. Luckily, they too were spotted and brought on board.

Aboard the second boat were two young Americans that took passage on the Alabamian after travelling through

Europe. Their names were Abram Hewitt (1822-1903) and Edward Cooper (18241905). Instinctively, Cooper had tied a black silk handkerchief that he bought on the trip for his mother to the end of his oar as a rescue signal.

Shivering from clusters of ice pellets that clung onto their clothing, the entire crew was fortunate to escape such a harrowing experience.

Upon arriving in New York City, Hewitt and Cooper realized that coming home wouldn’t have been possible without the bravery of Captain Raymond and his crew. The ordeal strengthened the friendship between them and their later contributions to the world of industry and politics. Hewitt married Cooper’s sister, Sarah, in 1855, and both men served as mayors of New York City.

They would go on to become the foremost ironmasters in America, founding such esteemed businesses as the U.S. Steel Corporation, the American Bridge Company, and the Trenton Iron Company. Their companies produced our nation’s first iron beams and girders, rolled iron rails, and transformed the landscape of New York City with the first subway system.

Hewitt also established Cooper Union, a private educational institution, with Cooper’s father, Peter. Regardless of these challenges, Hewitt and Cooper remained indebted to Captain Raymond for his rescue efforts and annually reminisced about their survival at sea together, even after a half century.

In 1846, the New York-born Raymond gave up the sea and moved to Bordentown with his wife, Louisa

Brown (1819-1898). Her fine intellect and gracious manner stemmed from the fact that she was a direct descendant of the family that founded Brown University in Rhode Island.

Now she and her husband resided in a modest toll collector’s house, where her husband maintained an office for the Delaware and Raritan Canal. Since Lock No. 1 in Bordentown served as its southern terminus, Raymond’s position as collector and inspector of all canal boats and barges was extremely important.

Actively interested in the progress of the town, he became a viable council member, which prompted him to run for mayor. In 1855, he was elected to the office and served two terms.

With a positive outlook on life and a stellar reputation, Capt. Raymond and his family of seven children moved to Park Street, where they entertained guests quite extensively. Commodore Charles Stewart, retired naval commander of the U.S.S. Constitution and recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal, lived a few miles away and visited the family often.

Despite the wide age difference between Commodore Stewart and Capt. Raymond, their mutual admiration and discussions of the sea solidified their friendship. Other titled guests included the Gilder and Waugh families, who also maintained residencies in town. Samuel Waugh was considered Philadelphia’s premiere portrait painter, and had Captain Raymond sit for one of his works of art before presenting it to him.

Waugh’s daughter, Ida, was a renowned illustrator of children’s books, and graciously drew images of the captain’s children at play.

When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Raymond was appointed chief freight agent of the Camden and Amboy Railroad Company in New York City. This

important position required the control of shipping through one of the Union’s busiest ports.

He remained active on the job (even after the railroad’s merger with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in 1871) until his death at age 85. In August 1862, he was appointed Provost Marshall of New Jersey, which gave him the authority to direct weapons, provisions, and steamships from Philadelphia to Annapolis in order to supply Union troops. It was a daunting post that he did not approach lightly.

After the war, the success of the canal and railroad brought more people and industries into Bordentown. In 1867, the town became incorporated as a city, pushing the local government into accepting more businesses and employees. Immigrants from many nations continued to maneuver themselves as part of the landscape along with wayward vagrants either in search of jobs or unsavory opportunities to exploit their fellow man.

As with any society, most citizens abided by the law, but it was those that did not that people like Capt. Raymond found unsettling.

In 1886, after a random series of unlawful acts performed by criminal elements, including pickpocketing at the train platform and assaults from juveniles along the Hilltop, Raymond felt that it was necessary to save the good name of Bordentown by forming a “Law and Order League.” This was basically a group of vigilantes determined to expel lawless behavior that permeated the streets of Bordentown like an overpowering stench.

Citizens who believed in the “preservation of evidence of violation of the law and to the fullest prosecution of offenders” were able to apply as dutiful

photo of the framed Samuel Waugh

boys that congregated on Second Street and reported any unruly behavior by residents living in the former Murat home on Park Street, thus earning its lively moniker as “Rotten Row.”

As for the Celtic nature of Thompson Street, the best solution was to avoid confrontations at all costs.

When Capt. Raymond died in June 1899, he was quietly laid to rest in the corner of Christ Church Cemetery near his late daughter, Louise, who died a few days earlier. Below the cemetery wall could be heard the rumbling of locomotives as their cylindrical frames screeched down the track. It was those daily crescendos that Raymond never grew tired of, whether at his desk or outside.

CITY OF BORDENTOWN 2023 DOG LICENSING NOTICE

agents of the organization. On chosen Sunday mornings, these “agents” would also monitor and eject street loafers from sitting on church steps and refusing to leave unless parishioners paid for access.

Furthermore, they assisted local law enforcement by rounding up gangs of

George Raymond was a captain of integrity. He navigated well along the rivers of life, and maintained control during the entire voyage. As with many voyages, there were treacherous currents, shallow waters, and jagged rocks along the way but he knew the capabilities and strength of his ship in order reach safe passage. He tried to do right and lived a meaningful life.

You can’t ask for better than that.

Doug Kiovsky is the vice president of the Bordentown Historical Society.

Dog owners are required to obtain 2016 licenses no later than January 31, 2016. Licenses may be obtained at City Hall, 324 Farnsworth Avenue, during the hours of 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

Dog owners are required to obtain 2018 licenses no later than January 31, 2018. Licenses may be obtained at City Hall, 324 Farnsworth Avenue, during the hours of 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

Dog owners are required to obtain 2023 licenses no later than January 31, 2023. Licenses may be obtained at the City Administration Building, 101 E. Park Street, during the hours of 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Owners of dogs who do not obtain licenses are subject to fines up to $1,000, imprisonment for up to 90 days or community service for up to 90 days, or any combination thereof.

Owners of dogs who do not obtain licenses are subject to fines up to $1,000, imprisonment for up to 90 days or community service for up to 90 days, or any combination thereof.

ACCORDING

Owners of dogs who do not obtain licenses are subject to fines up to $1,000, imprisonment for up to 90 days or community service for up to 90 days, or any combination thereof.

TO STATE REGULATIONS, YOUR PET’S RABIES VACCINATION MUST NOT EXPIRE PRIOR TO THE END OF THE LICENSING YEAR.

1. A current certificate of rabies vaccination is required when purchasing your dog’s license.

ACCORDING TO STATE REGULATIONS, YOUR PET’S RABIES VACCINATION MUST NOT EXPIRE PRIOR TO THE END OF THE LICENSING YEAR.

Bordentown City Residents Only

ACCORDING TO STATE REGULATIONS, YOUR PET’S RABIES VACCINATION MUST NOT EXPIRE PRIOR TO THE END OF THE LICENSING YEAR.

2. If your pet has been spayed or neutered and you are purchasing a NEW license, proof must be provided at the time of the issuance.

Certificate of rabies vaccination is required when purchasing your dog’s license. If your pet has been spayed or neutered, this certificate must also be presented at the time of the issuance of the license.

3. If you have licensed your pet previously and are RENEWING the license, you do not need to submit this information.

4. The License Application can be found on the City website.

Certificate of rabies vaccination is required when purchasing your dog’s license. If your pet has been spayed or neutered, this certificate must also be presented at the time of the issuance of the license.

Licenses purchased after January 31 will be subject to a $5.00 late fee.

Grace I. Archer, RMC City Clerk

A

painting of George Raymond. (Courtesy of the Bordentown Historical Society.)

Severe respiratory illness increasing in children: what to know

Ask The Doctor

See our ads in SIX09 section pgs 5 and 7

Uzma N. Hasan, MD, division director of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, and part of the Children’s Health Network at RWJBarnabas Health, and Seth D. Rosenbaum, MD, MMM, senior vice president, chief medical officer at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, discuss symptoms and risk factors of these viruses and respiratory illness, when to seek emergency care, and how to protect your children.

What viruses are currently circulating in children?

Dr. Hasan: An increase in severe respiratory illness in children is being seen across New Jersey, caused by climbing cases of respiratory syncytial virus (commonly known as RSV), the flu, COVID-19, and other seasonal viruses.

RSV, which is being seen in record numbers, causes upper and lower respiratory tract infection, such as a common cold and pneumonia/ bronchiolitis.

Infants, in particular those who are premature, as well as children with asthma and those born with cardiac disease, weakened immune systems, and neurological deficits are at risk for severe illness.

While influenza and COVID-19 can affect various systems in the body, they commonly cause varying degrees of respiratory illness. We expect this flu season to be the worst we have seen in recent years. Going into our third winter of the pandemic, we can rely on historic knowledge to anticipate an uptick in COVID cases during the winter months as people spend more time indoors.

What are common symptoms of these viruses?

Dr. Hasan: Symptoms of RSV, the flu, COVID19, and other viruses are similar so it is difficult to identify which virus(es) is making your child sick.

Common symptoms include fever, nasal congestion, cough, sore throat, headaches, body aches, loss of appetite, and fatigue. Less common symptoms may include vomiting and diarrhea. In some cases, however, these viruses can sometimes lead to difficulty breathing, wheezing, and asthma flare.

For the most part, RSV symptoms are that of a common cold/upper respiratory tract infection. The virus, however, is also notorious for causing lower respiratory tract infection — such as bronchiolitis or pneumonia.

As the virus typically peaks at 3-5 days after the onset of symptoms, be aware that wheezing will often be a presenting symptom.

Key flu symptoms are high grade fever, severe muscle aches, vomiting, diarrhea, and feeling overall miserable. In severe cases, complications may include brain or heart inflammation, ear infection, and pneumonia. When should I call my pediatrician or seek emergency care for my child?

Dr. Rosenbaum: You can always call your pediatrician for guidance whenever your child is ill. However, if your child is exhibiting new onset wheezing or violent coughing, you need to call your pediatrician right away. Additionally, if your child is exhibiting any sign of respiratory distress or difficulty breathing –such as rapid and shallow breathing, belly breathing, struggling to finish and the area around the lips turning blue or grey – as well as insufficient fluid or food intake, bring them to the emergency department right away or call 9-1-1.

Why is this year’s respiratory virus season much worse than in recent years?

Dr. Rosenbaum: We believe that we had a milder viral season the last couple of years because of all the preventive measures in place during the COVID pandemic. Masking, social distancing, and school closures did not allow the usual spread of viruses, which may have impacted our immunity to these viruses.

To learn more about Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, visit rwjbh.org/Hamilton or call (609) 586-7900. For more information about children’s health, visit rwjbh.org/ childrenshealth.

Coming up this month at RWJU Hospital Hamilton

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

FRIdAy, JANUARy 6

Healthified Favorites (HyBRId), 1 to 2 p.m. Join in-person or from the comfort of home as we take the guilt out of guilty-pleasures.

MoNdAy, JANUARy 9

Pantry Basics deep dive “Bread” (VIRTUAL), 10 a.m. to Noon. Let’s take a closer look at some of those pantry staples! Join us as we dive deep to uncover the history, science, and processing behind some of our go-to pantry favorites.

THURsdAy, JANUARy 12

Hearing Loss and Tinnitus, 10 to 11 a.m. It’s not uncommon for individuals to have tinnitus with hearing loss. Join Dr. Lorraine Sgarlato, Au.D, to learn about the latest in technology to help treat tinnitus and hearing loss.

FRIdAy, JANUARy 13

Jazz Up Pantry Basics “Bread,” 1 to 2 p.m. There’s more to our pantry staples than meets the eye. Learn the nutritional value of overlooked basics and how to make them stand out!

MoNdAy, JANUARy 16

Cyberbullying: dealing With the Haters, 1 to 2 p.m. Cyberbullying can harm the online reputation of anyone. There are distinctive concerns involved, since it can be persistent, permanent, and hard to notice. In this discussion, increase your digital awareness about the online world.

TUesdAy, JANUARy 17

orthopedic open House: Joint Replacement, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Discover the latest advances in knee and hip replacement surgery. Learn how the Center for Orthopedic & Spine Health and our rehabilitation team prepare you for a successful joint replacement. Presented by Michael R. Duch, MD, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon fellowship trained in sports medicine, along with Maureen Stevens, PT, DPT, GCS, Cert MDT, and Courtney Fluehr, PT, DPT. Dinner is included.

THURsdAy, JANUARy 19

Clinical Culinary Nutrition: Meal Planning and Food Prep, 5 to 6:30 p.m. Get up to date on current nutrition issues, hear from other health/ culinary professionals and sample tasty new recipes with our registered dietitians. Let’s support lifestyle changes for preventive health! Come by to learn how to prepare food for a stress free week of healthy meals. Space is limited— register at least 48 hours prior to event.

Fee: $10. Taryn Krietzman, RD

TUesdAy, JANUARy 24

A Meditation Sampler for Everyone, 6:30 to 8 p.m. We will feed the body with a few simple movements to clear and ground us. Sample different meditation methods to explore which one works for you. Bring a towel or yoga mat; chairs will be available. Fee: $15. Carol Ann Meier, Reiki Master

Dr. Rosenbaum

Dr. Hasan