4-23 BC

SPORTS

Scotties’ Poinsett awarded top Del Val scholarship

BY RICH FISHER

It’s tough to talk about Michael Poinsett without bringing a bag full of superlatives to use as descriptions.

What is Poinsett like on the football field?

“Coaching Mike,” said Bordentown High head man Skip Edwards, “was an awesome experience for all of the coaches.” And in the classroom?

“Michael Poinsett is easily in the top five percent of mathematically gifted students that I have taught in my 22 years of teaching,” BRHS math teacher Beth Bokop said.

It’s no wonder Poinsett was the Scotties honoree at this year’s 61st Annual George Wah ScholarLeader-Athlete Awards Dinner, hosted by the Delaware Valley Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame on March 12 at the Princeton Marriott at Forrestal.

But the distinction did not stop there. Aside from the $1,000

See POINSETT, Page 10

‘Junkie to Judge’: a triumph over trauma

BY DAHRIA CHARADNICHENKA

Photographer

connects to nature and history through art

BY SUSAN VAN DONGEN

The more natural beauty photographer Ann Darlington discovers, the more she wants to share what she sees with others.

That search for splendor has taken her around the United States and the world — from the Adirondack and Great Smoky mountains to Yosemite National Park, to Turkey, Italy, Greece, and Iceland.

Some of her most sublime photos, however, were taken in the Abbott Marshlands between Trenton and Bordentown, adjacent to the Delaware River, and not too far from Darlington’s home, also in Bordentown.

In addition, she has photographed various aspects of the former Point Breeze property, the home from 1816-1839 of Joseph Bonaparte, the exiled King of Spain and oldest brother

of Napoleon.

“While I love travel and photographing nature and landscape all over, I gravitated to the natural beauty of Point Breeze and the Abbott Marshlands,” Darlington says. “Both locations are nearby and provided me mini respites from the day to day.”

In late 2020, the former Point Breeze property was acquired from Divine Word Missionaries

See DARLINGTON, Page 6

“How the heck did I do this, go from teenager shooting meth [and in pure agony over trauma] to a federal judge?” said Mary Beth O’Connor when asked to reflect on her inspirational journey leading up to the Saturday, April 8 promotion of her memoir, From Junkie to Judge: One Woman’s Triumph over Trauma and Addiction, at the Bordentown library.

Sober for 29 years and counting, O’Connor spent a considerable portion of her early adulthood battling methamphetamine addiction.

“There was a flood of meth in the [Philadelphia] area, and it happened when I was in high school,” O’Connor said in a recent interview.

However, the author stressed how her childhood trauma and unstable family life contributed to her battle against the intravenous drug. Living with an abusive stepfather, both O’Connor and her sister suffered emotional, verbal,

See JUDGE, Page 8

Bordentown’s Ann Darlington has an exhibition at Tulpehaking Nature Center in Hamilton through May 5.

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BRHS mock trial team Burlco champions again

The Bordentown Regional High School Mock Trial Team 2022-23 is Burlington County champion for the third time in four years. Pictured are (front row) Shriya Machanpalli and Isha Amin and (back row) Rudrhaneel Sen, Kush Gandhi, Aaron Vedaraj, Jeremiah Paul, Anna Madden, Olivia McGlone, Sucheth Mididoddi, Ajay Donthula and Rylie Evans. Teacher-coach: John Tobias. Lawyer-coaches: Christine Hoffman, Judge Edward Hoffman, William J Simmons.

Current Bordentown

We are a newsroom of your neighbors. The Bordentown Current is for local people, by local people. As part of the community, the Gazette does more than just report the news—it connects businesses with their customers, organizations with their members and neighbors with one another. As such, our staff sets out to make our town a closer place by giving readers a reliable source to turn to when they want to know what’s going on in their neighborhood.

EDITOR

Joe Emanski (Ext. 120)

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Dahria Charadnichenka, Rich Fisher, Susan Van Dongen

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(the Catholic order that had owned the site for decades) through a partnership agreement between the City of Bordentown and the D&R Greenway Land Trust with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

The action secured the permanent preservation of the City of Bordentown’s last unprotected large open landscape, which is also an important place of state and even national history. Positive things are in store for the land, planned to be part of New Jersey’s state park system, with interpretative signs, audio tours and walking trails.

What a perfect time, then, to exhibit Darlington’s images, in a show hosted by the Friends for the Abbott Marshland, at the Tulpehaking Nature Center in Hamilton. Darlington’s first solo exhibit is on view through Friday, May 5.

Pat Coleman, naturalist and president of the FFAM, invited Darlington to put a solo show together after Coleman chaired 2022’s Voices for the Marsh 10th annual juried photography exhibition.

“There’s a whole series of black-andwhite images of the flowering trees at Point Breeze, where I used different lighting and angles, et cetera., and the other half of the photos are of the Abbott Marsh, 30 images in all,” Darlington says.

Darlington recently retired from the

State of New Jersey, where she had worked as a childcare licensing inspector since 2003. She first took up photography about 15 years ago, and was especially drawn to Point Breeze, finding herself walking the paths of the former king’s

estate, camera in hand.

“Moving to Bordentown in 2003, I loved learning about the historical significance of the town,” she says. “While there are many stories, I especially loved hearing about and photographing King

Joseph Bonaparte’s Point Breeze. Until recently it was Divine Word and private property, and I gravitated there because it was a step back in time.

“The trees and pathways were so beautiful, and at the time it had been so well maintained,” she says. “There was an orchard with these big, flowering trees, which one of the priests took care of, according to the groundskeeper I spoke with. And of course, as soon as it snowed, I was there.”

The photographer has captured the property’s old growth trees in all seasons. The black-and-white images in particular have a certain mystical quality.

The Abbott Marshlands are named for the federally designated Abbott Farm National Historical Landmark. In the late 19th century, Charles Conrad Abbott, a writer, naturalist, and amateur archeologist, drew the attention of the world to the marshlands through collection of Middle Woodlands artifacts found on his walks there, and his writings speculating on the “antiquity of man” in the new world.

Abbott’s affection for and curiosity about the marshlands resonates with Darlington, who says she is so tuned into nature, “I go through a bit of withdrawal if I can’t hear the rustle of leaves or water flowing.”

Darlington is a native of the Boston suburbs. Her father was the building superintendent for Boston University’s

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“Alone in a Crowd,” photograph by Ann Darlington.

Law School, and her mother worked for Putnam Investments. She says she’s had a love for the woods and nature as long as she can remember and recalls the family’s rural summer place on a lake in New Hampshire, with no frills, just lots of woods to run around in.

She graduated from Boston University with a B.S. degree in education. Upon moving to New Jersey with her husband, the couple and their two children lived in rural Millstone Township prior to her 2003 move to Bordentown.

Settling in Bordentown has suited Darlington very well. Her son and daughter and five grandchildren are flourishing in southern New Jersey: son Simon runs Darlington Design, a residential/ landscape design and building firm. Her daughter Katherine Mott is a clinician/ therapist within a group practice.

Darlington took up photography once her children were out on their own. It was 2008 when she purchased her first digital camera, choosing the technology over film and dark room work since digital made photography easy and affordable to experiment with, she says.

She got involved with the Cranbury Digital Camera Club, the South Jersey Camera Club, as well as the Princeton Camera Club, where she garnered some enlightening critiques and encouragement. Between attending lectures and clubs and just going out and taking pictures, Darlington soon found she had a decent body of work and began to exhibit.

As far as influences, Darlington names Ansel Adams, but says, “I was also inspired by talented local photographers from my camera clubs.”

The D&R Greenway, Friends of the Abbott Marsh, Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie, Farnsworth Gallery, and Pinelands Preservation Alliance in Southamp-

ton have all shown Darlington’s work. In fact, she has a piece in a juried show at the PPA, which opened on March 27.

Darlington has granted permission to several organizations, including the Forsythe Refuge and the PPA, to use her landscape images to promote their projects.

The common thread within all of these associations is highlighting the awareness of our physical surroundings and celebrating these natural gifts, which fits precisely with Darlington’s artistic aesthetic.

She is especially moved by the words of John O’Donohue, the late Irish poet, philosopher, scholar, and native Gaelic speaker, and his reflections on the human experience of nature. In his book “Beauty: The Invisible Embrace,” O’Donohue wrote:

“When we walk on the earth with reverence, beauty will decide to trust us. The rushed heart and arrogant mind lack the gentleness and patience to enter that embrace. Beauty is mysterious, a slow presence who waits for the ready, expectant heart.”

“These are the words that inspired my solo show about the (splendor) of the Abbott Marshlands and Point Breeze, the idea of capturing this beauty and conveying it,” Darlington says. “It’s just a stone’s throw away from where we live, so I want other people to see it, too, and to have that take-your-breath-away experience.”

Photographs by Ann Darlington, Tulpehaking Nature Center, 157 Westcott Ave., Hamilton. On view through Friday, May 5, Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m. 609888-3218 or abbottmarshlands.org.

All images in the exhibit are for sale, matted and framed as shown, or as 11” by 16.5” prints on high quality archival paper. A portion of all sales benefits the Friends for the Abbott Marshlands.

Web: annedarlington.myportfolio.com.

Robert L. Pecht Manager/Owner Lic. No. 4429

JUDGE continued from Page 1

physical and sexual abuse.

“The data now shows that when you have a traumatic history, particularly when it’s ongoing, my odds of developing a substance abuse disorder were four to six times the national average,” O’Connor said.

Living in such an environment, O’Connor even developed techniques to lessen her odds of being abused at home: “I taught my sister that when we emptied the dishwasher we should put the dishes away one dish at a time so they didn’t clack.”

These volatile conditions led O’Connor to become first addicted to alcohol at age 12, then cannabis, and finally methamphetamine by her senior year at Bordentown High.

After moving away for college at the University of California at Los Angeles (later transferring to University of California at Berkeley) to study history, O’Connor described her first few years at college as much better than her senior year of high school. However, she was thrown back into serious use of methamphetamine by another traumatic event.

“I had a really life-threatening, multiassailent rape in college, and then I moved in with a violent boyfriend, and I just could not hang on anymore.” said O’Connor. “And so in January of my senior year of college, I started using meth again, and I used until I was 32 years old.”

Due to the addiction spiraling out of control and the continued presence of trauma in her life, O’Connor was unable to continue onto graduate school or keep a job. After realizing how emotionally exhausted she was, O’Connor decided to go to rehab.

“When I was 32, I went to a long-term inpatient program and it was a 90-day minimum commitment and I ended up staying for five months,” she said.

However, O’Connor’s program was a 12-step program, similar to Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.

“That was not a good fit for me, and so it was a real struggle when I went to rehab,” she said. “They told me in rehab that the 12-step model was the only way.”

O’Connor ended up reading all of the books on addiction rehabilitation

O’Connor

available to her, and came up with her own recovery plan based on principles from both the 12-step program she was in and secular options she’d discovered in her own research, particularly stressing “the right next step” short-term goals as opposed to long-term intimidating goals.

Once she finished her rehab program, O’Connor set herself on the path to law school, first getting a part-time job. Eventually, she would move from being promoted to enrolling at law school at six and a half years sober.

“I’d always been told when I was younger that I was argumentative and verbal, although my family was very blue collar,” O’Connor said when asked to elaborate on her choice to go to law school. “For me, throughout my life, school had been the one place where I got a lot of positive attention, and I always did very well.”

O’Connor self-studied for the law school admission test while working and received a score in the 99th percentile. She was first admitted to UC Hastings Law School (now the University of California College of the Law at San Francisco), spending her first year of law school there and rising to third in a class of 400.

After transferring to UC Berkeley Law School, she graduated and received a job offer from a large law firm working

mainly with class action lawsuits.

Then after gaining considerable experience, O’Connor finally rose to become an administrative federal law judge, where she mainly dealt with disability cases.

Today, O’Connor continues to inspire as the director, founding investor, and secretary for She Recovers Foundation, as well as the director for LifeRing Secular Recovery. As an integral part of these organizations, O’Connor continues to regularly speak about her journey to recovery.

Her memoir, which traces her early life to drug use to recovery, was published by HCI Books in January. In it, O’Connor stresses awareness of intravenous drug addiction and alternative routes to sobriety: her book, in fact, contains a checklist to assist in the process of overcoming addiction. She will discuss the book and her life experiences on Saturday, April 8 from 3 to 4 p.m. when she visits the Bordentown Library, 18 E. Union St., Bordentown, NJ 08505.

O’Connor further elaborated on her experience: “Being a former judge and a former IV meth addict, I came out to try and reduce the stigma around substance abuse, but especially around drugs that aren’t alcohol and also to talk about multiple paths to recovery,” she said.

High school Athletic Hall of Fame seeks community input

Bordentown Regional High School is accepting nominations for induction into the Athletic Hall of Fame. The school coordinates the induction with an athletic contest in either the Fall or Winter season. The next induction is scheduled for the 2023-24 school year. Applications must be submitted by May 1.

A committee of community and school district members reviews nominations and selects those to be inducted into the

Hall of Fame. BRHS would like to elicit more input from the community in this year’s selection process.

Any community member who would like to nominate someone for induction is asked to complete the attached form and either mail or email it to Melissa Guido at the high school. Mail: Bordentown Regional High School, 318 Ward Ave., Bordentown, NJ 08505. E-mail: mguido@ bordentown.k12.nj.us.

scholarship each senior player received; Poinsett won the biggest prize of all by claiming the $5,000 Jack Stephan Scholarship. For a linebacker such as Poinsett, it was like making a tackle while also causing a fumble and returning it for a touchdown.

“Winning my school’s scholar-athlete award was an honor by itself, and winning the $5,000 award took that honor to the next level,” Poinsett said. “Winning the award is a monument to all the hard work I have put into my four years of high school. The award serves as the finale of my 13-year football career as I begin the next chapter of my life.”

Michael is unsure where that chapter will unfold as he is still narrowing his college choices; but he plans to major in aerospace engineering, which “will allow me to use my skills in math and physics in an interesting and rewarding career.”

His abilities in that area are unquestioned. Poinsett is an A+ student with a weighted grade point average of 108.8 (out of a 100). He won an AP Scholar Award and the Principal’s Award of Excellence, and is a member of the school chess club. His course load featured nearly 10 Advanced Placement courses, including Bokop’s AP Calculus class.

“It is evident that mathematics is one of

Mike’s strengths,” Bokop said. “He could frequently complete problems after seeing only one example. He is very intuitive and he was generally one of the first students to have the answer to questions throughout the class period. Mike is very insightful and he often had a different solution process than the rest of the class. He was able to analyze and evaluate problems that others found difficult.”

Poinsett is not only good at analysis, but pretty keen on exploration; at least when it comes to football. Entering his freshman year at Bordentown, Michael began researching some of the greatest linebackers in NFL history in order to model his game after them.

“I quickly became fascinated by how Lawrence Taylor could intimidate and terrify simply with his presence, and how Dick Butkus made every hit count,” Poinsett said. “I loved how Jack Lambert was so quick to read the offense and get to the football, and how Mike Singletary knew his defense like the back of his hand.”

Poinsett considers those Hall of Famers as having a big impact on his career. There are also those closer to home who have helped.

“I am lucky enough to have had coach Mac (Rich McGlynn) as my linebacker coach,” Poinsett continued. “He was able to harness my obsession with the line-

Bordentown’s Michael Poinsett received the Jack Stephan Scholarship at 61st Annual George Wah Scholar-LeaderAthlete Awards Dinner, hosted by the Delaware Valley Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame on March 12 in West Windsor.

backer position and turn me into a great player. I am also lucky to have had my father (Jim) coach me at the youth level. He constantly reminded me of the importance of a strong mentality. It is because

of him that I am confident, aspiring, and relentless. He has led me to work hard, whether it be in the classroom or on the field.”

The work Michael put in on the field is reflected in his statistics. He was a fouryear varsity starter who set the Scotties career record for tackles, sacks, tackles for loss and forced fumbles. He led Bordentown in tackles each of the last two years.

The coaches named him a captain as a senior and the honors were countless. Poinsett was a two-time All-Division selection; the Scotties Defensive Player of the Year and “Scotties” Award winner. He was a three-time 100 percent Award winner for never missing a practice, meeting or workout. He’s also part of the 1,000pound Club in the weight room, and as a youth player for the Bordentown Bulldogs earned the Iron Man Award.

For the Poinsetts, Scotties football is a family affair. Jim and his wife Kelly are president and vice-president of the Huddle Club, and older brother Danny was Bordentown’s DelVal Scholar-Athlete in 2020. Their influence has inspired Mike to absolutely inhale the sport whenever possible.

“From the very first practice as a freshman to his last practice as a senior he was focused and intense as he prepared for

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Get ‘Wild’ in Your Garden By Going Green

BY REBEKAH SCHROEDER

Bid a cold goodbye to the winter frost and start preparing for a modern garden that grows with sustainability in mind, and whether homeowners choose to plant now or plan ahead, they can harvest an environmentally conscious future celebrating the value of nature.

Wild Ones Princeton Designs

The most successful landscapes achieve a balance between aesthetic appeal and practicality. But in time, homeowners can restore the ecosystem of a property by building its environmental resilience and making considerations about the climate.

People of all regions, skill levels, and economic statuses can improve their outdoor spaces, no matter how large or small, by transforming them into an eco-friendly garden with a diverse plant palette.

Wild Ones, a nonprofit organization dedicated to using natural landscape techniques that preserve biodiversity and native plant populations, has published two free, downloadable garden plans for the Princeton mid-Atlantic ecoregion.

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den Designs program, these printable templates include steps for replication, a planting schedule that optimizes the best steps to take in each season, and at least 15 native species in placements and concentrations that add value to the homeowner’s quality of life. People are encouraged to take inspiration from them, whether in full or as ideas, for houses even beyond the styles found in Central New Jersey.

Following a thorough analysis, landscaping professionals Julie Snell and Lisa McDonald Hanes developed these layouts to reintroduce indigenous plants on two contrasting properties: a single-family, one-acre parcel on the outskirts of town with a sloped suburban hill and a multifamily townhouse on a one-fi fth-acre parcel within Princeton.

Once grown, native plants can flourish with little to no watering, fertilizer, pesticides, or mowing, making them a viable, low-maintenance replacement for traditional lawns. These species have become accustomed to the area as a result of evolution and adaptation, with deeper root systems that control the level of water runoff. This prevents overflow and, by extension, mitigates flooding—a rising concern in New Jersey because of the effects of climate change.

See Wild Ones, Page 4

SIX09

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“Many of these treatments may come as a surprise to patients suffering from chronic pain, especially those who think that their pain — and poor quality of life — is something they have to endure,” Dr. Patel notes. A double board-certified anesthesiologist and pain management specialist, Dr. Patel focuses on treating pain in the back, neck, face, and joints as well as pain related to cancer and chemotherapy.

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“Many of these treatments may come as a surprise to patients suffering from chronic pain, especially those who think that their pain — and poor quality of life — is something they have to endure,” Dr. Patel notes. A double board-certified anesthesiologist and pain management specialist, Dr. Patel focuses on treating pain in the back, neck, face, and joints as well as pain related to cancer and chemotherapy.

With so many different pain-causing illnesses, injuries, and conditions, treatments must be carefully customized to fit the needs of each individual patient. Dr. Patel partners

Regenerative Medicine/ Stem Cell Therapy. Regenerative medicine is a fastgrowing, highly developed treatment that helps the body heal or rebuild itself. Dr. Patel uses stem cell therapy to treat ailments, particularly low back or neck pain, caused by degenerative vertebral discs or joint pain in the shoulders, hips, or knees caused by osteoarthritis. The patient’s stem cells are removed, purified, concentrated, and injected into the injured or weakened tissue. Stem cell therapy can also speed recovery and help avoid surgery.

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Stem

Cell Therapy. Regenerative medicine is a fastgrowing, highly developed treatment that helps the body heal or rebuild itself. Dr. Patel uses stem cell therapy to treat ailments, particularly low back or neck pain, caused by degenerative vertebral discs or joint pain in the shoulders, hips, or knees caused by osteoarthritis. The patient’s stem cells are removed, purified, concentrated, and injected into the injured or weakened tissue. Stem cell therapy can also speed recovery and help avoid surgery.

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Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP). A favorite treatment for sports injuries, PRP uses the patient’s blood to produce a platelet-rich plasma that targets a host of chronic and acute pain conditions, including muscle strain, arthritis, tendinosis, cartilage injuries, joint inflammation, and wound care. The treatment is also used in orthopedic and plastic surgery. By synthesizing platelets and releasing proteins, PRP can aid in generating new tissue. And it has helped che-

Cannabis Therapy. The legalization of medical marijuana has brought new treatment options. “We are very excited by the potential of cannabis-based treatments and we comply fully with New Jersey’s evolving regulations,” says Dr. Patel. He uses a local dispensary to provide treatments, which include edibles such as gummy bears and cannabis-based rubbing and vaping oils.

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Thanks to these and other game-changing treatments, pain levels can be greatly reduced or eliminated and quality of life enhanced. Says Dr. Patel, “Stop your pain. Start your life.”

Minimally Invasive Therapy. Dr. Patel offers a wide variety of minimally invasive therapies. These include epidural steroid injections, facet joint injections, radiofrequency ablation, and spinal cord stimulation for patients suffering from chronic neck and back pain stemming from herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, or spinal stenosis. His goal is to help his patients avoid surgery and at the same time regain functionality.

Thanks to these and other game-changing treatments, pain levels can be greatly reduced or eliminated and quality of life enhanced. Says Dr. Patel, “Stop your pain. Start your life.”

Communities of native plants support wildlife and pollinators, and while deer may still browse from them, as Wild Ones explained, mature plants can be “resilient” in the face of those pressures. Yet, if any invasive species present are not controlled, native plants risk being overtaken.

The Princeton designs primarily use perennials, or plants that return each year but may take longer to “get established,” as opposed to annuals, which only complete one growing season.

Snell is a certified arborist and founding partner of the Philadelphia-based TEND landscape architects, where her fellow designer, registered landscape architect Hanes, is also a founding principal. Hanes received her bachelor’s in landscape architecture from Purdue University, while Snell, who has a fine arts background, earned her master’s in landscape architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. Together, the women are the co-owners and operators of Redbud Native Plant Nursery in Media, Pennsylvania.

The designer statements for the singlefamily and multi-family properties share some of the same passages, but with details specific to each plan, as well as video interviews where Snell and Hanes spoke, respectively, about them with Wild Ones

To see the recommended phasing, priorities, practices, or download copies of the Princeton plan(s), visit Wild Ones’ website at nativegardendesigns.wildones.org. Ecoregions with designs ready for implementation include Boston, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and others.

Because the mid-Atlantic region has been inhabited since before the American Revolutionary War, these plans differ from

previous Wild Ones designs in several ways. According to the Wild Ones Princeton template page, “land development patterns and housing types show this age, coupled with modern demands for density and ways of living that meet a wide range of population needs from university students

to young families to the elderly.”

Wild Ones, which started in the Midwest, has three chapters in New Jersey: Gateway, Southern, and Skylands, the latter two of which are seedling groups still in the early stages of expanding membership and programming.

member Michele Hensey.

The single-family Wild Ones template, one of two designed by Julie Snell, top left , and Lisa McDonald Hanes, bottom left , has landscape-conscious layouts with sections—and interchangeable substitutions—for greener gardening.

Skylands serves the northwest counties of Mercer, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren. Its president, Daina Gulbis, is a chemical engineer by trade and a certified master gardener for Somerset County, where she has resided since 2005. Gulbis currently works as the K-8 Garden Coordinator for the Somerset Hills School District and an environmental educator for the Raritan Headwaters Association.

After speaking with the president of the state’s Southern New Jersey group, Josh Loew, both Gulbis and Gisela Ferrer volunteered to start their own chapters in March of last year, with Ferrer now leading the state’s Northeastern Gateway chapter. Gulbis is thrilled to be able to share these Princeton templates as something tangible

that can still be applied to many ecoregions and prove that raising native plants does not have to be “overwhelming.”

“I think that is the hardest part to figure out when you move to an area or when you decide you want to plant: what is it that’s going to be native, that can grow, that’s going to be flowering at this time, so that I can have a continuous flow in my garden? We have a lot of resources out there for Jersey, but it takes a lot of time,” she explained.

“Not everybody can afford to have a landscape architect come and take a look at their space,” Gulbis said, with the designs making that easier. She also expressed

Native plants featured include the bottlebrush buckeye, left, blue flag iris, upper right, and swamp milkweed, lower right.

Image credits, in order: Magnus Manske, Wikimedia Commons, and Ryan Hodnett.

her love for “the tables at the end, because you can also pick and choose” from substitute plants that “all grow in this area and climate.”

Snell and McDonald both recommend planning and preparing the site in the summer, which may include cleaning up the property and removing invasive species, before planting native species in the early fall. This way, rather than forcing the gardener to be hypervigilant about watering in the summer to ensure the survival of the seedlings, they can do so in September, October, and/or November to give the roots a longer time to settle. This puts them ahead of schedule by spring and will result in heartier plants come summer.

Gulbis personally plants for different reasons in the fall and spring. She shared that because the beginning of autumn is the end of the traditional growing season, nurseries tend to sell plants at reduced prices.

The “plugs” for native species, a term for seedlings grown in trays with potting soil, are sold in spring and present gardeners with visible blooms. But as opposed to their previously planted counterparts, which will likely spend their first years as stems, these

spring plants will require more attention and water, especially in hotter weather.

Gulbis says she does both—some for those visuals that signal the warmth of spring has arrived, and others for long-term planting that profits from patience.

Snell and Hanes advise that the process is best done in phases, proposing that people first define their goals for the landscape, such as what they want in the finished product—spots for growing produce, sitting, or playing—and evaluate their abilities to do the work required, such as coordinating with landscape professionals or budgeting. By establishing funding expectations and a timeline for incremental improvements or additions, the homeowner can devote the scheduling and monetary resources required to complete their vision, as well as all the maintenance that entails.

To help map out a balanced garden, the designers say it is important to document the following factors: sunlight, shade, and water flow patterns; conditions and/or types of soil, drainage, and moisture; as well as what plants are already growing

See Wild Ones, Page 6

in the space, both invasive and native. For more information on invasive species in the mid-Atlantic region, visit invasive.org/ eastern/midatlantic

In the designer statements, Snell and Hanes encourage homeowners to work closely with an arborist certified by the International Society of Arboriculture, or ISA, to identify keystone species, such as oak trees, which are organisms that the ecosystem cannot exist without.

But removing the hazards—large trees that are dead or damaged, areas negatively impacted by erosion and flooding, or the advancing encroachment of invasive species—is just as essential as thoroughly studying the site.

Hanes advised conducting at least one “soil test” to detect its nutrition and acidity before starting the garden, and since Princeton spans the transition from the inner Atlantic coastal plain to the ridge and valley ecoregion, several spots in the same yard can have differing compositions (clay, sandy, compacted, etc.).

For more information on how and where to properly submit soil for testing, Hanes suggested checking out the website for both the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station’s Soil Testing Laboratory or Cornell University’s Soil

Health Laboratory

Climate change is also an undeniably big factor. According to Hanes and Hensey’s February YouTube discussion, the area averages around 47 inches of rainfall and 24 inches of snow annually, with increased but alarmingly unpredictable levels of precipitation and warmer temperatures expected throughout the year.

These seasonal fluctuations, according to Gulbis, are part of why a “random” April snowstorm can occur after a hotter summer and relatively “mild” winter. The Skylands president has witnessed vast changes in both the climate and what can successfully grow here—variables that were not present when she first moved to the state nearly two decades ago.

It is also worth it to be mindful of what the designers’ statements describe as “anthropogenic influences,” or “the age of density of development in an area” due to cycles of disturbance resulting from paving roads or storing building materials, which can increase the temperature in what is known as the “urban heat island effect.”

As explained in the “methodology” section of the single-family home template, following the designer’s site inventory and gathering of data, the objective was to restore ecological function and natural beauty, as well as empower residents to take advantage of the outdoors.

Visit local nurseries and sustainable suppliers, and keep a list of botanical names on hand when shopping or placing online orders. Wild Ones suggests purchasing native plants from Bountiful Gardens’ brick-and-mortar locations in Ewing, Lawrenceville, and Hillsborough, as well as Rare Find Nursery in Jackson, a mailorder retail plant nursery that operates by appointment only

The first priority is to manage the invasive plants and restore the woodlands, as the edge of the latter is what Snell deems the most “critical piece from the point of view of the homeowner” of a single-family property. In the designated woodland transition zone of the layout, she recommended planting flowering dogwood, fringetree, and other “large scale shrubs” like bottlebrush buckeye or Virginia sweetspire, which “hold the space really well.”

For the single-family property, Wild Ones advised reducing parts of the lawn to form a wide riparian buffer along the sides of a stream or the edge of a pond, then stabilizing that border by repopulating it with shrubs and herbaceous plants of differing heights. Snell said that what defines these houses in the “rolling hills” are having two sides of road frontage with a densely wooded upper east area that may be fragmented. The understory here is prone to damage from grazing deer, who gravitate to

oak trees and can be kept out via a specialized fence or by adding species that tend to be more “resistant.”

The ideal space for the single-family property should have focal points and access to water features, Snell added, with the south side typically flanking what she described as a small stream lacking a definitive edge or vegetation, which has made the excessively mowed area lack stability and be more susceptible to erosion or drainage issues. Reinforcing these slopes with native plants can slow down the water to abate that.

These can include what Snell calls a pattern of “beautiful blooms” featuring swamp milkweed, fox sedge, different iris (crested and blue flag), soft rush, and ironweed. For a ranking and breakdown of what plants would fare well in this area, visit the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station’s “Landscape Plants Rated by Deer Resistance” at njaes.rutgers.edu/ deer-resistant-plants.

By alternating areas of higher and lower vegetation, as well as creating “access points” to the water via stepping stones, a gardener can help mitigate flooding, restore the streambank and develop “a habitat zone of ground layer herbaceous and woody [plants] where there was none,” Snell explained.

Trees, especially ones in the canopy,

provide structure, with the last point in the designer’s statement adding that once the spaces for sitting or other activities are placed, homeowners can use an organic site preparation method like solarization to eliminate the undesirable parts of the lawn that remain.

What the multi-family template loses in the townhouse style’s “postage-stamp front area,” it gains with a considerably bigger backyard, which can also be joined by a side yard and additional parking off the street. This front area would be drier and receive more sunlight juxtaposed against the backyard’s cooler, shadier temperatures, with the latter able to contain personalized zones for activities such as entertaining and growing a vegetable garden.

Both groundcover and mulching should be prioritized, but the easiest first step in this template, according to the phasing guide, is installing rain barrels to capture water and runoff from the roof downspouts.

The designer’s statement advocates for “lasagne gardening,” also known as sheet mulching, or smothering the grass with newspaper or cardboard and 4” to 5” of wood chips at least two months before planting to remove unwanted lawn. Hanes explained that this is an option for a less physical, but more time-oriented process.

When the season starts, any plants with exposed soil that have yet to mature should

be covered with green mulch, what Hanes termed “a living plant,” which reduces the need for water and weeding even more than bark mulch or shredded leaves.

The multi-family home design calls for “as little pavement as possible,” since its prevalence cuts into what is already a scarce outdoor space offering little biodiversity outside of turf grass and invasive species. Hanes suggested using wood chips or mulch when laying out pathways or seating areas until another, more permanent solution can be installed. She also emphasized the value of putting doorway trellises in place to offer shade and be an “easily plantable, fast-growing upgrade.”

In Hanes’s Wild Ones presentation, she said to water plants regularly until established, a period of time which will take roughly one to two years for herbaceous perennials and two to three years for woody plants—but to resume, then increase the amount, in drought conditions.

Lacking a green thumb or the gusto to get your hands dirty? No need to worry; Hanes offered her own experience as an option, explaining that she plants native species in containers and shares that there might be local opportunities for verge planting, a style of community gardening for growing more biodiverse greenery in the “verge,” or boulevard, of a street.

Another example from Gulbis is that she

Hamilton Wildcats

Where it all Begins!

take place April 4, 5 - go to

does not have a stream on her property, but was inspired to put a hedgerow in because of the plans. She also expressed her appreciation for the table of alternative plants and being able to “stack” plants in layers, noting she was able to complete work in her single-family home in a phased approach.

Even if the Princeton plans do not apply to your property, take away elements rather than the entirety, as anyone who has ever dreamed of relaxing or socializing in the domestic haven of a garden can apply some of this knowledge to their own backyards.

Supporting an ecoregion’s environment benefits the health and happiness of all its inhabitants. Wild Ones’ message is simple: “All gardening is experimentation and a handshake with the natural world where there are no guarantees,” which speaks to the fact that a better tomorrow can bloom for every person, plant, and part of life.

Still giddy about gardening and prefer

planting in April to see if those long hours can truly produce May flowers? Browse, buy, and be in nature with these other opportunities to celebrate the allure of the outdoors from Bordentown to West Windsor

Morven Museum & Garden

Because Morven Museum & Garden was established as the state’s first Governor’s Mansion, the landmark site has deep roots in Princeton. Morven’s annual plant sale, which brings together history and horticulture, has a new partner for this year, the local environmental organization Sustainable Princeton.

A plethora of annuals, perennials, shrubs, and edible plants—some of which are heirloom varieties or Morven exclusives prone to selling out—will be marked with a “SusSee Plant Power, Page 8

We are looking for girls ready for the travel challenge from birth year 2015-2004 to form new teams and supplement established teams

training and player development. In partnership with the Hamilton Girls Soccer Club and NJ Rush, the Wildcats provide a complete soccer experience for girls ages 5 to 23.

We are looking for girls ready for the travel challenge from birth years 2016-2004 to form new teams and supplement established teams.

The Hamilton Wildcats are an all-female travel soccer club focused on training and player development! In partnership with the Hamilton Girls Soccer Club and NJ Rush, the Wildcats provide a complete soccer experience for girls ages 5 to 19.

tainable Princeton Preferred” logo to signify what species have been identified as indigenous to the area. Through Monday, April 10, plants can be ordered online via the website, morven.org/fy23/plantsale.

Confirmation emails will contain the order’s pickup date, ID, and receipt for payment. Morven members receive a 10% discount off their order, as well as priority pickup and early access to the onsite stock on Friday, May 12. All other remaining orders will be scheduled for pickup from Saturday, May 13, to Monday, May 15.

According to Morven’s website, those who do not wish to order online can call or leave a message for visitor services at 609924-8144, ext. 103, to pay via credit card.

Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton. www.morven.org

Garden State African Violet Club Sale & Show at MCCC

Looking for a radiant houseplant to bring some vibrancy indoors? The Garden State African Violet Club returns with the 69th African Violet show and plant sale on May 6, titled “Violets Light Up Broadway,” a free event hosted by the horticulture program at Mercer County Community College. Hundreds of the flowers will be on display for judging in the student center of

MCCC’s West Windsor campus from noon to 4 p.m.

Attendees are not only able to view creative arrangements of these award-winning African violets but purchase flowers of their own to take home or gift—right in time for Mother’s Day, too—with experts on location to answer any “budding” questions guests might have.

Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor.

Bordentown City Green Home & Eco-Friendly Garden Tour

The Bordentown City Environmental Commission has organized a free, selfguided initiative, the first of its kind, with

The Garden State African Violet Club offers more than just their namesake with a stunning jolly orchid for sale, left , while a Bordentown pollinator garden will greet those walking the local eco-friendly tour organized for Sunday, April 30.

the Bordentown City Green Home & EcoFriendly Garden Tour on April 30 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The trek, which can be completed on foot or by bike, is designed to raise the public’s understanding of sustainability and its developments locally.

Participants will be given a printed or digital map, as well as a free gift, at the starting point of the Carslake Community Center at 207 Crosswicks Street.

According to a press release, along the way, Bordentown residents will “meet community members cultivating native plant and pollinator gardens, using rain barrels and compost bins, building roof gardens,

keeping bees and chickens, enjoying the benefits of solar panels, and much more.”

The BCEC, a volunteer, mayorappointed group, oversee the annual Green Fair and are actively involved with the Sustainable Jersey Municipal Certification Program. Its members advise, educate, and monitor environmental issues affecting Bordentown.

Carslake Community Center, 207 Crosswicks Street, Bordentown.

For more information on the tour of the Bordentown City Environmental Commission, contact bordentowncitygreenteam@gmail.com

Delhagen

Serving Mercer County

Since 1998

Delhagen Plumbing, Heating & A/C, LLC is a local family-owned business that has serviced the Mercer County area since 1998. Gary Delhagen and his service technicians strive to do the job right the first time. Service technicians are knowledgeable and professional. We handle a variety of residential/ light commercial plumbing and

hvac needs. Looking for a reliable, reasonably priced company, well you have found them! See ad, page 13

ReNew Masonry Celebrates 23 Years

We offer small repairs: concrete, brick ,stucco, steps, walkways and patios. No job is too small!

Call 609-751-3039 or email renewmason@gmail.com

Visit our website: Renewmason.com. See ad, page 10

This is where you’ll savor life to the fullest. All in an area known for its wealth of cultural offerings, recreational opportunities, dining and shopping. Vintage at Hamilton is in the center of it all, close to I-195 and the New Jersey Turnpike and just minutes from the Hamilton Train with direct service to New York City and Philadelphia.

….NO JOB TOO SMALL!

Prompt call backs. Fast appointments!

Customer satisfaction guaranteed!

Sharbell Development

Vintage at Hamilton Unveils Model Home

• Patio and walkway repairs: sunken, uneven areas re-leveled and pitch corrected…patios and walkways cleaned and re-sanded.

• Steps and front porches: rebuild, or repair and renovate

• Cracked foundations: repair and re-stucco.

• Concrete steps and sidewalks: repaired and resurfaced. Township sidewalks creating a liability. We can fix that!

• We make steps safer!! Are your steps unsafe? Uneven or too deep? Are your steps greater than 8” from one step up to the next? We can help!

• Loose brick, cracked bricks, loose railings: We replace broken brick and repoint your brick walls and steps. We tighten loose railings.

• Masonry painting- epoxy and enamel-based masonry coatings for steps, porches and foundations.

Te

ST i MON i ALS

:

“A craftsman in his work & a FIVE STAR rating in customer service!

Jo Schmidt, Pennington

“Greg is more than just a mason…he is a true craftsman, dedicated to finding innovative solutions. Precise planning, attention to detail, professional results…Re-New delivers it all!”

Julie M., Lawrenceville

Decorators have been hard at work, the finishing touches are in place, and the model home is now open and ready for touring at Vintage at Hamilton! Continuing its 25-year journey of creating highly soughtafter active adult neighborhoods in Hamilton Township, Sharbell Development Corp.’s newest Mercer County community features 122 luxury townhomes and duplexes. As always, buyers are impressed with the ultraconvenient location, thoughtful home designs and exceptional value and quality for which Sharbell is known. Visitors are charmed by the beautifully decorated home while experiencing an authentic picture of how versatile the home designs at Vintage truly are. Four different floor plans are offered which feature 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, first floor study and a spacious second floor loft area. All homes come with an attached one or two-car garage (depending on plan) and full basement. Homes range from approximately 2420 – 2491 square feet.

In addition to a long list of standard features, including plank style flooring, oak tread staircases, granite countertops, ceramic tiled baths, smart home technology and much more, buyers can customize their homes even further with a choice of numerous options and upgrades when visiting the Sharbell Design Studio. Buyers also love having the option to finish their basement for an added level of living!

Vintage at Hamilton boasts a fantastic central New Jersey location which truly puts it in the center of everything. Traveling to NYC,

Philadelphia and the NJ shore is easy via Routes 195, 295, the NJ Turnpike. The Hamilton Train Station on the Northeast Corridor line is within 5 miles of Vintage. Area airports include Trenton/Princeton, Newark Liberty International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport. The local area is also home to a variety of shopping and dining options as well. For a day out, the quaint towns of Princeton, Lambertville and New Hope are nearby, offering waterfront dining, antique shops and so much more. The 1,000+ acre Hamilton Veterans Park is directly across from the entrance to Vintage, and in addition to the many recreational activities offered, hosts annual events such as Fourth of July celebration and Oktoberfest.

Home buyers will also enjoy community amenities, including an outdoor pool with patio, clubhouse and more.

About Sharbell Development Corporation. Since 1984, Sharbell Development Corp. has built over 4,000 homes in central New Jersey. Vintage at Hamilton is their fourth active adult community in Hamilton Township, a testament to the company’s strong relationship with the residents of the area. Sharbell also successfully develops and manages complete retail, office and mixed-use projects throughout the state. Sharbell has garnered numerous national and local honors and awards, including 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty’s Diamond Home Builder designation and NJ Future’s Smart Growth Award. Sharbell maintains an ongoing commitment to serving the needs of its homeowners, as well as serving the public good through meticulous planning, sensitivity to land use and a constant effort to improve the communities in which it builds.

For more information call 609-9003130 or visit www.sharbell.com. See ad, page 9

The Buxton Complex

A One-Stop Shop in Mercer County

The Buxton Complex is a one stop shop right here in Mercer County. Family owned and operated since 1982, The Buxton Complex is celebrating 40 years and 4 generations in business. Located in Ewing, you can see the facility from Route 95 just after exit 72, showcasing Sheds, Swingsets, a Garden Center, COWs – Container On Wheels portable storage, and Buxton’s Boxes Self Storage. Buxton’s Backyard Structures features swingsets to fit any backyard, available in both wood or vinyl construction, the sets are designed for fun, value and most importantly safety. Children can slide, swing, climb and challenge their imaginations, while exercising and enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. In addition to play sets, Sheds for storage or that She-Shed that she always wanted, along with handmade outdoor furniture from picnic tables, benches, to Adirondack chairs are also available. As an authorized dealer for The Big Green Egg®, a premier ceramic cooking system renowned for its signature green porcelain glaze, precise temperature control and easy clean-up. The Big Green Egg® is perfect for the cooking enthusiast who enjoys grilling, smoking, searing, and baking all in one grill in your backyard. Come join the first ever NJ EGG FEST, on April 29th, 2023 at the Buxton Complex. Come out for a day of grilling, tasting and talking anything and everything Big Green Egg®. Whether you’ve

had an EGG for years, are just getting started or are thinking about purchasing your first EGG, EGG FEST is the perfect place to get all your questions answered. There will be special offers and demo EGGs for purchase. We will have many EGGsperts on site with lots of knowledge on everything Big Green Egg®. Visit www. NJEGGFEST.com for tickets.

Buxton’s Quality Furniture hosts a 6,000 sq.ft. showroom of quality American-made furniture from 12 highly skilled builders. Discover amazing bedroom and living room sets as well as desks, bookshelves, chests, kitchen islands, and more. All furniture is made from solid wood and is available unfinished, stained or painted. Purchase right off the floor or order the size, style and color that will match your home design.

Buxton’s Boxes Self Storage offers a very organized way to store your belongings, whether you are moving, decluttering, renovating or need storage for business purposes. COWs, Containers on Wheels, make staging your home, renovating and local moving painless by keeping your container at your own location, you can take your time loading/ unloading your belongings. To make all your moving needs painless, there are also boxes and moving supplies available in store or delivered right with your container. For over 20 years, The Buxton

Complex has been your local neighborhood dealer, need a truck or trailer? The Buxton Complex can help with your rental whether local or one-way. Whether you are shopping for something particular or just looking for some ideas on how to furnish your home or property, The Buxton Complex located at 1536 Lower Ferry Road, Ewing NJ is the place to visit, 7-days a week! www. TheBuxtonComplex.com or call 609-771-0274. See ad, page 12.

Jammer Doors

Celebrating 103 Years in Business

Back in 1920 and 103 years later Jammer Doors has been and still is a quality organization, setting serious standards in the industry. Jammer Doors is family owned and operated, and have been serving the tri-state area ever since.

Jammer Doors’ success didn’t just happen by luck or overnight. It jumps back to 1920, when the late Laura M. Jammer and her husband, Louis A. Jammer Sr., started a weatherstripping business out of their home in Morrisville, Pennsylvania. Over time the business grew from installing window screens and porch screening to selling a variety of doors, including popular overhead garage doors.

Today Jammer Doors is in its fourth generation of being a familyowned and operated business for more than 94 years, specializing in the sales, service, and installation of quality doors and door-related products. Just this past spring joining its work force is recent

college graduate Louis A Jammer

IV. Bringing in a new generation of ideas, experience, and ethics is exactly what Jammer aims for when entering almost a century of quality service.

Garage doors today are now designed to be part of your home’s design and its architecture. A home’s garage door can make a statement, to reflect the unique style and personality of a home and its owner.

You’re sure to find the perfect garage door with Jammer Doors, one of the premiere garage door companies in the tri-county area!

At Jammer Doors each product line we carry offers the finest quality selection and exceptional warranties. Jammer deals specifically with the Raynor Innovation Series, as well as an array of carriage-style doors featuring the American Rivers collection, Artisan and CHI overhead doors.

The Innovation Series by Raynor is known for their solid construction and famous “For As Long As You Own Your Home” warranty.

You can view and try them yourself at Jammer’s large and interactive showroom, open six days a week, featuring six fully operational garage doors in the latest steel, fiberglass, and wood styles.

Jammer’s key to customer satisfaction is simple: communication, teamwork and on-site supervision of projects from beginning to end.

Jammer Doors, 10 Main Street, Yardley, Pennsylvania. 215-4937709. 2850 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville. 609-883-0900. www. jammerdoors.com. See ad, page 11

Three generations of the Jammer family: Louis Jammer Jr., left, Louis Jammer IV, and Louis Jammer III.

HELP WANTED

Part-time secretary in Dr’s office. Evening and Saturday work, some secretarial experience preferred. Please call 609-587-2255 or fax resume to 609-587-7255.

KEEP YOUR DAY JOB Work

Part-Time and Make an Extra $1000 or More Per Month! Visit the website below for more information: www.livegood. com/liveandthrive

WHAT WOULD A RELIABLE

RESIDUAL INCOME MEAN FOR YOU? Take Control of Your Future With A Reliable Residual Income. Visit: areliableincome. com/prosper

YARD SALE

Multi-Family Yard Sale The Gatherings, 15+ homes, Access Princess Rd from Franklin Corner Rd, Saturday 4/22 9am-2pm; RD 4/23, Cash Only, No Early Birds!

DATING

Meet other classical music loving singles before enjoying a concert! Do-Re-Meet: LGBTQ+

Single Mingle Wednesday, April 12, 7:00 PM, followed by a concert by jazz vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant; Presented by Princeton University Concerts & The Singles Group; Tickets & info: puc.princeton.edu/do-remeet,609-258-2800.

SERVICES

ROCK & ROLL BAND AVAILABLE FOR YOUR NEXT EVENT. 50’s, 60’s, 70s, and 80’s ask for Rich 609-222-2570.

DOG WALKER: Local dog walker available to walk, sit or play with your dog when you can’t. Rates depending on needs. Please contact me, Dave the Dog Walker at shapdog64@gmail. com. Messages will be returned promptly.

LEGAL SERVICES Wills, Power of Attorney, Real Estate, Federal and NJ Taxes, House calls available. Bruce Cooke, Esq. 609-799-4674, 609-721-4358.

Senior Concierge. Let me be your helper. In the home or on the road. Part-time/Day or evening. Very good references. Call Mary anne, 609-298-4456. F,D,Mason Contractor, Over 30 years of experience. Brick, Block, Stone, Concrete. No job too large or small. Fully Insured and Licensed. Free Estimates 908-385-5701 Lic#13VH05475900.

Are you single? Try us first! We are an enjoyable alternative to online dating. Sweet Beginnings Matchmaker, 215-539-2894, www.sweetbeginnings.info.

WANTED TO BUY

Wanted: Baseball, football, basketball, hockey. Cards, autographs, photos,

memorabilia. Highest cash prices paid! Licensed corporation, will travel. 4thelovofcards, 908-596-0976. allstar115@verizon.net.

HappyHeroes used books looking to buy old Mysteries, Science Fiction, Children’s Illustrated, kids series books (old Hardy boys-Nancy DrewJudy Bolton- Dana girls, WITH DUSTJACKETS in good shape), Dell Mapbacks - Good Girl Art PULPS - non-sports cards, good conditioned pre 1975 paperbacks old COLLIER’S. Call 609-619-3480 or email happyheroes@gmail.com

Cash paid for World War II military items.Helmets, swords, medals, etc. Call 609-581-8290 or email mymilitarytoys@ optonline.net

Cash paid for SELMER

SAXOPHONES and other vintage models. 609-581-8290 or email mymilitarytoys@optonline.net

COMMERCIAL SPACE

3,500 SF OFFICE SPACE, Ewing/ Mercer County, FREE RENT, 201488-4000 or 609-883-7900

Space available in the Ewing Professional Park. Comfortable suite currently used by mental health professionals. Waiting room, kitchenette and restrooms in suite. Well-lighted parking lot. Available Jan 1st. For more details, email suppsoln27@ yahoo.com or call Supportive Solutions at 609-635-3751.

Hamilton/ Allentown BorderHighly Traveled visible location. Commercial end unit in Globus Plaza - 1100sf+/- can be leased entirely or subdivided. Ideal for professional/medical offices, services, studio & retail store. Highly traveled visible location . Easy access to NJTP, Rt.130, I95. Call for info. DiDonato Realty, 609-586-2344/ Marian Conte BR 609-947-4222

Office Space For Rent: Pennington ground floor office space 32 N Main Street. Share with clinical psychologist and real estate management company. Private entrance, off street parking. 305-968-7308

Princeton Commercial Retail Spaces for Lease: Various Locations in Town. Please Contact: Weinberg Management. WMC@collegetown. Text 609731-1630

VACATION RENTALS

Florida Beach Rental: Fort Myers Beach 1br vacation condo on the beach, flexible dates available. Call 609-577-8244 for further information

Hilton Head South Carolina Blue Water Resort 1 week w/7 day golf package free except cart, 2 Bed & 2 Baths, Sleeps 6. $1000 Call Sam 609-586-0037

BUSINESS FOR SALE

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.

Salon for sale- excellent opportunity. Priced to sell. Relocating out of state. Large space, great potential. Available to share. Call 609462-0188.

SEEKING FRIENDS

Meet other music-loving singles before enjoying a concert by Chiaroscuro String Quartet at Do-ReMeet: Find My Friends.

Sunday, March 26th, 4:00 PM, Princeton University Campus, Presented by Princeton University Concerts and The Singles Group Tickets & Info: puc.princeton.edu/do-remeet 609-258-2800.

DATING

Meet other music-lovers before enjoying a concert by jazz vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant at Do-Re-Meet: LGBTQ+ Single Mingle.

Wednesday, April 12, 7:00 PM, Princeton University Campus, Presented by Princeton University Concerts and The Singles Group, Tickets & Info: puc.princeton.edu/do-remeet, 609-258-2800

CEMETERY PLOTS

For sale double depth cemetery plot. Location Princeton memorial park, Gordon Road, Robbinsville. Call 609-259-7710.

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the next game,” Edwards said. “Every day he stepped on to the practice field he gave 100 percent. He knows no other way while playing the game he loves so much.

“When I think of how much Mike has given to the Bordentown program through his career, I become overcome with satisfaction knowing I had the opportunity to play a role in his football game.”

Reflecting on his high school career, Poinsett is proudest of the fact he was part of a major turnaround in Scotties football; including its 2022 record-setting year of 10-1.

“Bordentown football has changed from a losing program to aMike Smith won the New Jersey Football Coaches Service Award. This goes to a person who has done so much for the game of football in our community. winning program during my four years,” he said. “This change is due to my coaches and teammates, and I am proud to be part of that change.”

Mike also takes pride in how he helps others, as he volunteers for the Give Back charity organization and the Bordentown Youth Football Clinic. Poinsett follows the lead of Scotties assistant Mike Smith, who won this year’s New Jersey Football Coaches Service Award, which goes to a person who has done a lot for football in the community.

“My favorite is volunteering for the

youth clinic,” he said. “Kids of all ages from Bordentown come to the high school for a three-day clinic where they are mentored and coached by the high school coaches and players.

“I remember attending the clinic during elementary and middle school and am glad to now have had the opportunity

to be part of it the last few years. I enjoy introducing the game of football to those who attend and hope they fall in love with the sport just as I did when I started playing at five years old.”

If there was one drawback to all the successes that Poinsett experienced, it was trying to find time to doze off or just

Mini Camps:

kick back and watch TV in the fall.

“During football season my schedule is packed,” he said. “I would wake up at 6 a.m. for school and wouldn’t get home until 6:30 p.m. after practice. I would then eat, shower, and start homework from my AP classes which I would do until I fell asleep.

“Any bit of free time I got was spent watching film. While a lack of free time was tough, I never really minded it because I love the game of football so much. During the off-season, I continue to workout but have more free time and a more flexible schedule.”

Before taking advantage of any down time, however, Poinsett makes sure every i is dotted and t is crossed.

“His homework was always detailed and complete, and he would demonstrate his knowledge by asking specific questions about the homework,” Bokop said. “He would strive to understand why mathematical processes worked rather than simply getting the right answer.”

She was hardly alone in her praise.

“At Bordentown high school there isn’t a teacher who has one negative comment about this young man,” Edwards said. “Whenever Mike’s name is mentioned, the comments are always positive.”

Sounds like that bag of superlatives comes in handy.

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Bordentown senior Michael Poinsett in football action against Robbinsville High.

August Zeller: Carving a niche out

stone

THE BEND IN THE RIVER

For three days in July of 1863, the carnage of the Civil War swept the bucolic landscape of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania with unimaginable bloodshed. Bodies of soldiers and horses alike were strewn across desolate fields and forests as fodder for the worms.

Battered and broken, the Union and Confederate Armies retreated, the town eventually healed, and the battlefield became hallowed ground for those who perished as their ultimate sacrifice. Slowly, states erected monuments to the bravery of fallen troops. These are stone sentinels that visitors can admire today. One of the most recognized monuments at Gettysburg National Military Park pertains to the 96th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Carved from a ten ton block of New Hampshire granite, the monument commemorated the actions of Union Major William Lessig and his 356 men as they held the line against the attack

of General James Longstreet and his troops on the second day of battle. Lying on their stomachs in the stagnant mud against the summer heat around Plum Creek near the Wheatfield, 126 men and six officers would lose their lives. Of those that died, the ripe conditions for disease would claim the lives of 86 men.

Dedicated by the State of Pennsylvania in 1888, the monument of a soldier lying on the ground with musket poised was meticulously carved by mallet and chisel at a former horse stable in the town of Pottsville. Its creator was August Zeller (1863-1918), a young sculptor who was four months old when the Battle of Gettysburg raged.

Born in Bordentown to Wilhelm and Susanne Zeller, August was one of five siblings. When he was four years old, the family moved to nearby Fieldsboro where his father opened a general store and eventually became the town’s postmaster. Two years after his mother’s death, August left home at the age of 14, travelling to Philadelphia for employment.

Working as an apprentice at Struther’s Monument Works during the day, he

Celebrating 50 Years of Helping our Community Here in Bordentown (609) 259-7391 • 114 South Main Street, Allentown, NJ 08501 (609) 298-1333 • 122 Crosswicks Street, Bordentown, NJ 08505 www.pepplerfh.com Edgar

took evening classes to improve his skills through artistic instruction. Although exhausted, he desired to create an endearing monument for his mother’s gravesite in Bordentown Cemetery. With a block of Carrara white marble that he had delivered to the tool shed behind his father’s store, at the age of 19 he set out on a laborious project that took him two years to complete. During this time, he also studied art at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts under the tutelage of educator, painter, and sculptor, Thomas Eakins (18441916). Upon completion of his mother’s monument which was entitled “The Slaughter of the Innocents” and depicted

a Judean mother cradling her infant son in defiance of King Herod’s orders to massacre all infant boys, the monument was exhibited at the National Academy of Design in New York City in 1884.

Thereafter, it was transported to Philadelphia where it was displayed at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts until 1895. It wasn’t until 1919 that it made the journey home to the Bordentown Cemetery where it was installed on the family plot. However, by the 1970s, the fear of vandalism prompted existing family members to extract it from the cemetery for safety. In 2004, August’s granddaughter donated the monument to the St. Louis University Museum of Art where it is now centrally featured on the third floor for public viewing.

After four years of honing his craft with Thomas Eakins, August left Philadelphia in 1887and moved to the city of Pottsville, Pennsylvania where he won a commission to sculpt the 96th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment monument. This was the location where the regiment hailed as well as the home of its commander, Major William Lessig.

Upon the success of this endeavor, August was commissioned by city officials to design the Schuylkill County Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument. This massive undertaking involved 100 tons of granite for the creation of an 18’Corinthian column flanked by five larger-than-life figures cast in bronze. When it was completed two years later and unveiled before thousands of people See

ZELLER, Page 17

N. Peppler Jr. Mgr/Lic # 3926, Karen E. Peppler Mgr/Lic # 4584, E. Ross Peppler Lic # 4966

New Name and Major Expansion for CAPITAL HEALTH CARDIOLOGY PRACTICE

Capital Health Medical Group’s outpatient cardiology practice has seen significant expansion in recent years to meet the growing heart health needs of residents in the Mercer and Bucks county region. As part of the practice’s evolution and advancement, Mercer Bucks Cardiology has joined Capital Health Medical Group and, combined with the practice formerly known as Capital Health – Heart Care Specialists, is now collectively called Capital Health Cardiology Specialists.

With office locations in Columbus, Hamilton, Hopewell Township, Lawrenceville, and Robbinsville in New Jersey and Newtown in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, patients have greater access to board certified cardiology specialists.

“As Capital Health – Heart Care Specialists, our team of expert providers has been known for providing advanced interventional cardiology, cardiac imaging, electrophysiology, structural heart interventions and preventive cardiology services to patients in Central New Jersey and Lower Bucks County in Pennsylvania,” said Dr. Joshua Eisenberg, chief medical officer of Capital Health Medical Group and medical director of the Capital Health Heart & Vascular Institute. “Mercer Bucks Cardiology has had a similar mission in local communities for 25 years, and by joining us under one banner as Capital Health Cardiology Specialists, our greatly expanded team gives residents throughout Mercer, Bucks and Burlington counties even greater access to the advanced care they need to help promote heart healthy living.”

Providers at Capital Health Cardiology Specialists include board certified cardiology experts who are highly trained in interventional cardiology, cardiac imaging, electrophysiology, structural heart interventions and preventive cardiology. Working closely with patients’ primary care providers and referring physicians, they provide complete and accurate evaluations of cardiac conditions and ensure continuity of care.

All Capital Health Medical Group offices use a shared electronic medical records system, which allows providers to access medical records on a secure network, making it convenient for patients to continue their care

across the network of primary and specialty care providers. Patients can also manage their health easier using Capital Health Medical Group’s patient portal, which allows patients to conveniently access information about any of their office visits online.

To learn more about Capital Health Cardiology Specialists, visit capitalhealthcardiology.org for more information.

Capital Health Cardiology Specialists – Columbus 23203 Columbus Road, Suite I, Columbus, NJ 08022 609.303.4838 | capitalhealthcardiology.org/columbus

Capital Health Cardiology Specialists – Hamilton

1445 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road, Suite 110 Hamilton, NJ 08619 609.303.4838 | capitalhealthcardiology.org/hamilton

Capital Health Cardiology Specialists – Hopewell

Two Capital Way, Suite 385, Pennington, NJ 08534 609.303.4838 | capitalhealthcardiology.org/hopewell

Capital Health Cardiology Specialists – Lawrenceville 3140 Princeton Pike, 2nd Floor, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 609.895.1919 | capitalhealthcardiology.org/lawrenceville

Capital Health Cardiology Specialists – Newtown 796 Newtown-Yardley Road, Suite 200, Newtown, PA 18940 609.303.4838 | capitalhealthcardiology.org/newtown

Capital Health Cardiology Specialists – Pheasant Run 104 Pheasant Run, Suite 128, Newtown, PA 18940 215.860.3344 | capitalhealthcardiology.org/pheasantrun

Capital Health Cardiology Specialists – Robbinsville

1 Union Street, Suite 101, Robbinsville, NJ 08691 609.632.0140 | capitalhealthcardiology.org/robbinsville

Colorectal Screening: When Do I Need a Colonoscopy?

Colorectal cancer numbers are unfortunately rising in young people – meaning before 50 years old. The reason is not clear, but it goes to show why it’s more important than ever to understand screening recommendations and processes, and how they are crucial to your health.

Abnormal cells that form into polyps in the body take about 10 to 15 years to potentially develop into colorectal cancer. By screening and identifying these abnormal cells and polyps through tests such as a colonoscopy, you and your physician can intervene and remove them before they have the chance to turn into cancer. In addition to detection and intervention, screening can also find colorectal cancer early, when it’s smaller and easier to treat.

Screening Recommendations

Colorectal cancer almost always develops in precancerous polyps – growths – in the colon or rectum. Screening identifies these polyps, and removing them prevents cancer from forming. Colorectal polyps and colorectal cancers don’t always cause symptoms, especially in the early stages. That is why getting screened regularly for colorectal cancer is so important.

The American Cancer Society recommends colon screening for everyone, beginning at age 45. If you have a strong family history of colorectal polyps or cancer, talk with your doctor about your risk level. Earlier screening may be recommended.

Screening Options

As the only test that examines the entire colon, colonoscopy remains the gold standard for colon screening. However, other screening processes are available, so it’s important to speak with your physician to learn about the various screening types and determine which option is best for you.

Stool tests look at the stool for possible signs of colorectal cancer or polyps. They are typically done at home, so many people find them easier than tests like a colonoscopy. However, this type of test needs to be done more frequently and has a higher false positive rate than a colonoscopy. A colonoscopy will be required if stool test results are abnormal, so if you used your insurance to pay for the at-home test, the follow-up colonoscopy may not be covered.

Colonoscopy is a screening test that involves a colonoscope – a lighted camera on the end of a flexible tube – that passes through

your anus and rectum into your colon. Along the way, it sends pictures of the inside of your large intestine to a screen that helps your physician identify any polyps that are present. Polyps can also be removed during the procedure, and tissue may be biopsied afterward. Some preparation is required for a colonoscopy, but your physician will guide you through the process, which can begin a few days before the screening. Some find the preparation challenging, but the benefits of cancer prevention are invaluable. A colonoscopy also has the longest interval between tests if the exam is normal. To schedule a colonoscopy at Capital Health, visit capitalhealthcancer.org/colonoscopy or call 609.303.4444.

Colorectal Cancer Signs and Symptoms

Colorectal cancer may not show any signs or symptoms, which is just another reason why screening is so important. However, if you notice any of these signs, it’s crucial that you speak with your doctor to discuss what it could mean.

… Sudden diarrhea, constipation, or other unusual bowel habits such as narrowing of the stool, that last for more than a few days

A feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that is not relieved by having one

… Rectal bleeding with bright red blood

… Blood in the stool, which might make it look dark brown or black

… Abdominal pain or cramping

… Weakness and fatigue

… Noticeable weight loss

Two Board Certified Family Medicine Physicians Join Capital Health Primary Care – West Windsor

Dr. Shital Kayastha and Dr. Aviral Yadav, two board certified family medicine physicians, have joined Capital Health Primary Care – West Windsor, located at 352 Princeton-Hightstown Road, West Windsor, New Jersey. They are part of a growing team of board certified doctors at the West Windsor office that includes Dr. Sumiya Ahmed and Dr. Radhika Laskarzewski.

“I am pleased to welcome Dr. Kayastha and Dr. Yadav to our West Windsor office,” said Dr. Radhika Laskarzewski, lead physician at Capital Health Primary Care – West Windsor. “Adding two board certified family medicine providers to our team enables us to continue to serve the needs of our patients and the community by helping prevent illness, handling everyday medical needs, managing chronic health issues, and providing care for children (newborns and older), adolescents, and adults.”

DR. KAYASTHA is board certified in family medicine. After receiving her medical degree from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg, West Virginia, she completed her family practice residency at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway, New York.

Oh, My Aching Head!

Monday, May 1, 2023 | 6 p.m. Location: Zoom Meeting

Do you or someone you know suffer from frequent headaches? Join DR. DWAYNE BROWN, director of the Comprehensive Headache Center at Capital Institute for Neurosciences, to discuss the diagnosis and treatment of the most common headache disorders, including migraine, tension and cluster headaches.

This event will be taking place virtually using Zoom. Register online at capitalhealth.org/events and be sure to include your email address. Zoom meeting details will be provided via email 2 – 3 days before the program date. Registration ends 24 hours before the program date.

DR. YADAV is board certified in family medicine. He received his medical degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Bradenton, Florida and completed his residency in family medicine at Jefferson Health in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His clinical interests include obesity medicine and preventative medicine.

As part of Capital Health Medical Group, a network of more than 500 physicians and other clinicians who provide primary and specialty care, Capital Health Primary Care – West Windsor offers in-person and virtual primary care visits, as well as easy access to experienced specialists and the most advanced care in the region at nearby Capital Health hospitals.

Office hours at Capital Health Primary Care – West Windsor are on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and Wednesday (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.). To make an appointment with Dr. Kayastha or Dr. Yadav, call 609.537.7400 or visit capitalhealth.org/westwindsor.

Capital Health – East Trenton Opens Offering Emergency Department Services and Continued Outpatient Medical Clinic Services

On December 21, Capital Health assumed responsibility for health care services previously provided by St. Francis Medical Center in Trenton, New Jersey. That campus, which now operates an Emergency Department and some outpatient services, has been renamed Capital Health – East Trenton and no longer operates as an acute care hospital.

“Without this transition, Trenton would have lost desperately needed health care services, including emergency services, behavioral health, and cardiac surgery. This would have been

KEY INFORMATION FOR YOU TO KNOW SERVICES

The Emergency Department remains open 24/7 in the same location. Patients needing hospital admission will be transferred appropriately for the care they need.

… The Outpatient Primary Care Clinic, located next to the Emergency Department, remains open in the same location. Specialty Care Clinic Services are available at various locations.

The CARES child wellness program remains open in the same location.

The LIFE program is now called Capital Health LIFE and remains open in its Bordentown location. Assisted Living Program patients continue to receive care as they did prior to the transition.

… Some primary care physicians, specialists, and surgeons who were previously with St. Francis Medical Associates have transitioned to Capital Health Medical Group practices. Visit capitalmedicalgroup.org to find your physician’s new location and phone number. If your physician did not move to Capital Health, visit capitalhealth.org to find the physician you need and complete contact information.

Cancer Center services, including infusions, are available at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell. Visit capitalhealthcancer.org to learn more, or call 609.537.6363. For infusion appointments at Capital Health, call 609.537.7226.

Patients receiving care as part of the Infectious Disease, HIV and Lyme’s disease programs can be seen at Capital Health –Infectious Disease Specialists, located at 40 Fuld Street, Suite 305 in Trenton. Call 609.394.6338 to make an appointment.

devastating to the residents. I want to thank everyone who partnered with us to make sure key services did not leave Trenton,” said Al Maghazehe, President and CEO of Capital Health. “We are committed to continuing to provide critical medical services in the city of Trenton and working closely with members of the community, local officials, and other key stakeholders.”

Learn more about the services Capital Health offers at www.capitalhealth.org.

Sleep services are available at Capital Health – Hamilton, located at 1401 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road. Call 609.584.5150 to schedule an appointment.

The Behavioral Health Inpatient Program is at Capital Health Regional Medical Center.

Wound Care patients can call Capital Health’s Center for Wound Management and Hyperbaric Medicine at 609.537.7457.

Outpatient diagnostic testing services are available at other Capital Health locations, including Capital Health Regional Medical Center. Call 609.394.6695 to schedule an appointment.

TRANSPORTATION

Shuttles from the Hamilton Avenue campus to Capital Health Regional Medical Center (RMC) leave every hour, on the hour, beginning at 6 a.m. with the last shuttle leaving at 8 p.m. for RMC. All shuttles depart from the turnaround in front of the old Main Lobby on Chambers Street at the new Capital Health – East Trenton location. Return shuttles run every half hour from 6:30 a.m., with the last departure for Capital Health – East Trenton at 8:30 p.m. This can be used by patients or visitors.

MEDICAL RECORDS

If you need a copy of your medical records for services you received at St. Francis Medical Center before December 21, 2022, call 609.394.4460 or visit Capital Health’s website for other options.

MAIN NUMBERS

Capital Health – East Trenton: 609.599.5000

Capital Health Regional Medical Center: 609.394.6000

Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell: 609.303.4000

lined along Garfield Square, August was not in attendance as he was already aboard a ship bound for France to learn more about stone sculpting from European masters.

From 1890 to 1894, August resided in France. Six months after arriving in Paris to attend school, he left his studies to work in the studio of well-renown sculptor, Auguste Rodin (1840-1917). Considered the founder of modern sculpture, August was blessed to be a part of this world. For the second time in less than a decade, he was learning art from a regal master craftsman.

He worked day and night on his creations which largely impacted his social life. At the boarding house where he resided, the only ray of light was his housekeeper, Louise Gerber (18711953). Eventually their relationship led to married bliss. At the Palace of Versailles where the ceremony was held, Rodin himself was honored to be among the valued guests.

Seven months later, the long hours and creative disagreements with Rodin emotionally drained August of his enthusiasm. After two years of tireless commitment and minimal recognition, it was time to part ways with his mentor. For the next year, he was employed by the French Cultural Society where he did restoration work and other tasks at the Palace of Versailles. This also gave him the opportunity to travel and visit other surrounding countries. Occasionally he carried a canvas, tubes of paint, and a wispy horse-hair brush, painting the vast countryside and its cherished landmarks.

But even then, he knew it was time to return to his native homeland. In September of 1894, August, his wife, and infant daughter packed their steamer trunks and set sail across the Atlantic Ocean on a vessel bound for Ellis Island in New York Harbor. He was anxious to jumpstart his dreams and put his knowledge to use.

Returning to Philadelphia, he created beautiful works of art while teaching students at the Spring Garden Institute for four years. In 1901, he executed sculpture designs for the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York and again for the 20’ allegorical figure of Colorado for the imposing Colonnade of States at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis, Missouri.

Since these events were temporary, practically everything that was created was destroyed following its conclusion. Although this upset August, he was more concerned with providing a life for his growing family as his second child, a son, was born in 1896. Each day was different and each day brought new challenges.

In 1905, he accepted the position of Curator of Sculpture at the Carnegie Institute in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Two years later, he became a faculty

member and taught in the School of Applied Design at the Carnegie Technical Schools (Carnegie Mellon University). While employed as an assistant professor, he found the

freedom to create a fair amount of art that he thoroughly enjoyed. One of his later pieces was the 16” statuette of a racehorse that he created in bronze. His knowledge had indeed come far from the early days of his youth working in the dark and cramped confines of his father’s tool shed in Fieldsboro.

Then on a cold January morning in 1918, August unexpectedly died of a heart infection in his Pittsburgh home. He was 54 years old. Although this was a great blow to the surrounding community, many of his colleagues and students that attended the memorial service praised his indomitable spirit at being the best that he could be by inspiring others to do the same.

It was his wish to be buried next to his beloved parents at the Bordentown Cemetery. The following year, “The Slaughter of the Innocents” statue was installed at their gravesites in tribute to the achievements of August Zeller. In life, he achieved more than name recognition for carving statues. He carved out a life for his family. He carved out a love for his family. He carved out a love for others to experience his passion.

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

The Zeller family circa 1870-1871: (from left to right) Carrie, George, father Wilhelm,. Louis, mother Susanne Schmidt, Henry and August.

When it’s time to see a doctor about a wound that isn’t healing

Ask The Doctor

The Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJUH Hamilton) Center for Wound Healing can help those suffering from a wound that won’t heal.

“We have been extremely successful in treating chronic wounds that have previously resisted healing,” says Reza A. Shah, DO, FACOS, FACS, FAPWCA, CMET, Co-Medical Director at the Center for Wound Healing at RWJUH Hamilton, an RWJBarnabas Health facility.

“Our skilled staff of physicians and nurses have advanced training in wound management and hyperbaric medicine, and can develop and implement an individualized course of treatment specific to a patient’s diagnosis and needs.”

What are some common types of chronic wounds?

We treat wounds associated with different conditions, but the most common ones we see are diabetic ulcers,

ALLENTOWN

Spring

venous stasis ulcers and pressure ulcers. Sometimes people with diabetes may suffer nerve damage and lose sensation in their feet. This can be a problem because even a small cut may go unnoticed and then become more serious. We also help with slow-healing wounds, crush injuries, compromised surgical grafts and radiation-related wounds we see in some cancer patients receiving radiation treatments.

How can I prevent a chronic wound?

If you have diabetes, check your feet daily and avoid going barefoot or wearing shoes that rub on your feet. Circulatory issues, including poorly functioning arteries and veins, can also contribute to chronic wounds by limiting the supply of oxygen needed for healing. Talk with your doctor if you have concerns. Delaying treatment can lead to infection and in severe cases possible amputation.

What treatments are available?

We use multidisciplinary, comprehensive approach, with advanced

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modalities that are specialized for each patient.

We may consult with other doctors and conduct testing, such as an assessment of blood vessels to identify and treat circulatory issues. Working as a team, we have an acute focus on quality and monitoring the support for the best possible healing rate. What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy?

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a simple, non-invasive, painless medical treatment that enhances the body’s natural healing process and strengthens the immune system. Delivered by trained specialists, HBOT therapy is an effective treatment option for most chronic wounds, resulting in more rapid and complete healing for patients. During hyperbaric oxygen therapy, you breathe 100% pure oxygen while inside a pressurized chamber.

The pressure inside is about 2 ½ times greater than the normal pressure in the atmosphere. We have two hyperbaric chambers at RWJUH Hamilton and these can also be used when treating treat wounds like gas embolism, acute carbon monoxide poisoning, cyanide poisoning and decompression sickness.

After an initial evaluation and consultation, wound assessment and health evaluation, we can develop a treatment plan for the patient. Our patients are given instructions on at-home wound care, including dressing changes and protection of your wound from additional injury and further complications,” adds Dr. Shah.

To make an appointment or learn more, call The Center for Wound Healing at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton at 609-249-8300.

Coming up this month at RWJU Hospital Hamilton

For more information, call (609) 5845900. To register for a program or for schedule changes go to rwjbh.org/events.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5

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 Arjun Saxena, MD, MBA, a fellowship trained, board certified orthopaedic surgeon, along with Maureen Stevens, PT, DPT, GCS, Cert MDT, and Courtney Fluehr, PT, DPT. Dinner is included.

Does The Ringing in Your Ears Drive You Crazy?

For more information or to make an appointment with an RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group Primary Care Provider, scan the QR code at right or call 888-724-7123.

April 5; 10 to 11 a.m. 25 million Americans suffer from Tinnitus and sound sensitivity. Join Dr. Lorraine Sgarlato, Au.D., A.B.A., as she discusses the phenomenon of Tinnitus and Sound Sensitivity Syndrome and various treatment options for relief.

SUNDAY, APRIL 16

Holistic Health Fair. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. A FREE wellness community event offers incredible healing, uplift and transformation! Explore what’s new in holistic health, mindfulness and spiritual growth. Learn from the finest holistic experts and practitioners, and enjoy featured vendors, mini sessions, workshops, demonstrations and guest speakers.

TUESDAY, APRIL 18

Real Self-Care for All Caregivers. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Caring for aging loved ones, children, or clients; we can’t truly care for others until we care for ourselves. Self-care isn’t selfish, rather, it’s essential. Fee:$15 Michelle Gerdes, Princeton Doula Center, YT200.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19

Diabetes Q&A. 2 to 3 p.m. This informative session with Shesha Desai, Pharm D, Rph, BCADM will bring clarification to any questions you may have about diabetes.

THURSDAY, APRIL 10

Spring Cleaning: Organize Your Kitchen. 10-11 a.m. Give yourself and your kitchen a fresh start this spring! Learn new ways to organize your space and maximize efficiency for a tidy kitchen you will love to cook in.

Better Health Programs

These complimentary programs for those ages 65+ will engage your mind, encourage you to move and help you reflect. Registration required for all programs. Call (609) 584-5900 or visit us on the web at www.rwjbh.org/events.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5

Let’s Talk, a Senior Social Group. Also April 12, & 19. 10 to 11 a.m. Join us for our ongoing program “Let’s Talk, a Senior Social Group,” gathering in a collaborative setting to exchange thoughts, feelings and experiences amongst peers. This is a safe zone designed to be welcoming and understanding of all attendees while exploring this season of our lives – the ups and the challenges. If you would like to submit topics, please email bhprogram@ rwjbh.org. All requests will be anonymous.

THURSDAY, APRIL 13

Discussions with Sara Ali, MD - Defeating Diabetes. 1 to 2 p.m. Dr. Ali and Lalitha Sukumar, Pharm.D, Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacist will breakdown what you need to know to understand and manage your diabetes effectively.

Dr. Reza Shah

PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY

Peripheral Neuropathy is a condition that affects millions of Americans, commonly resulting in pain, tingling, numbness, and other painful symptoms in the hands, legs and feet. This pain changes your life and affects how you work, how you play and how you live.

AllCure Spine and Sports Medicine is pleased to announce their new program for treating Peripheral Neuropathy, which includes a combination of advanced FDA-cleared treatments with breakthrough technology that aids in healing the damaged nerves. The effects of this program can be felt on the first few visits. This treatment restores, stabilizes, and rebuilds the nerves in your extremities. Treatment has also been effective in addressing painful symptoms of arthritis, MS, and other forms of chronic pain. Patients generally feel relief physically throughout the treatment period and even feel better emotionally after experiencing a reduction in pain.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE NERVE DAMAGE?

Peripheral neuropathy is the consequence of damage to your peripheral nerves. There are over 100 different kinds of peripheral nerve disorders or neuropathies – some are the result of a disease like diabetes, while others can be triggered by a viral infection. Still others are the result of an injury or compression on the nerves. No matter where the problems begin, it is imperative nerve disorders are resolved as soon as possible to prevent permanent damage. Many people suffer with pain for years, not realizing that their symptoms may be due to Peripheral Neuropathy. Symptoms start gradually, then get worse, including numbness, burning or tingling sensations and sharp, electrical-like pain. Treatment options have been limited to a small assortment of pain medications, which can lead to further issues. Ignoring the problem or masking the symptoms has never been a viable solution. If you suffer from any of the aforementioned symptoms, we can help.

Healthy Nerve Cell

Damaged Nerve Cell