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TRENTON KIOSK

I Am Trenton Foundation announces spring grants

TheI Am Trenton Community Foundation and Isles, Inc. have announced Spring 2023 Old Trenton Neighborhood

Grant awards totaling $48,500 for eight arts, culture, beautification, and business development projects in the neighborhood bordered by Perry Street, State Street, Route 1, and North Broad Street in Trenton. These grants provide support in specific neighborhoods where the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) provides funding to support resident-driven plans as part of the Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit (NRTC) program.

“We are so proud to help these creative thinkers put their projects to work engaging neighbors and enhancing the beauty, safety and vibrancy of Old Trenton,” said Marelyn Rivera, co-president of the I Am Trenton Community Foundation.

Spring 2023 Old Trenton Neighborhood Grants recipients include:

Puerto Rican Community Center: Enhance multicultural areas in each classroom to provide children access to mate-

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rials from different cultures around the world, emphasizing their cultures and where they come from.

Trenton Puerto Rican Community & Friends: Host events which bridge the Puerto Rican experience from La Isla to the streets of the Old Trenton Neighborhood where many of the first families who arrived from Puerto Rico built a home and a family.

Trenton City Girlz: Launch a Girl Scouts troop empower and encourage youth within the Old Trenton Neighborhood.

Grown Vegan Apothecary & DIY Bar: Host community activities to advance wellness, self-care products and neighborhood engagement.

Egun Omode Performing Arts Collective: Provide classes in West African dance, drums and sekere percussion classes to advance knowledge of West African and Caribbean cultures.

Bentrice Jusu: Create “Potential Project Pop Out experience” featuring a short documentary of the artist’s work creating the multi-media project reflecting the impact of violence, engaging visitors to recognize and act on their “Potential,” and selling memorabilia.

Tha Block Trenton: Engage neighborhood residents, collect oral histories to share life stories through organized affinity spaces and host a community meal.

Greater Mt. Zion AME Church: Preserve the history of one of the first African Methodist Episcopal churches organized in 1816 and tell the story to residents, students and city visitors.

IAT and Isles plan to offer another round of OTN grants in August, 2023. The grant program is funded by the New Jersey Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit Program and builds on priorities of the 2007 Old Trenton Neighborhood plan and the 2016 Creek to Canal Creative District plan (available at www. creektocanalcreative.org). These grants only support projects physically located inside or serving residents of the Old Trenton neighborhood. Funded projects focus on either Business Development or Community Investment. IAT has been raising funds and supporting grassroots efforts across the city since 2007.

More information: www.iamtrenton. org.

See KIOSK, page 4

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Whoever your heart beats for, our hearts beat for you.

One of the top 15 heart transplant programs in the nation.

RWJBarnabas Health has a passion for heart health, with the largest adult and pediatric cardiac surgery programs in the state, a heart transplant program that’s in the top 15 nationally, the latest technology and medical advancements and hundreds of wellness and prevention programs to strengthen and protect healthy hearts. Whoever your heart beats for, our hearts beat for you. Learn more at rwjbh.org/transplant

Bank offers grants for first-time homebuyers

The 2023 funding round for First Front Door (FFD) is now open with $8.5 million available in homebuyer grants. FFD provides down payment and closing cost assistance to qualified first-time homebuyers with incomes at or below 80 percent of the area median income. The program provides a 3-to-1 matching grant. For every $1 provided by the homebuyer, FFD will provide $3 in assistance, up to $5,000.

To qualify for the First Front Door Grant, you must: Confirm that you are a first-time homebuyer who has not owned a single-family home used as their primary residence in the last three years. This also includes if purchasing jointly with other individuals, at least one person has

not owned a single-family, primary residence in the last three years. Potential borrowers must commit to owning the home for five years, complete required homeownership counseling prior to closing, and contribute personal funds toward down payment and closing costs.

William Penn Bank, a participating lender will review these and other FFD requirements with you. For More Information Contact Alex DiTullio, Vice President, Mortgage Lending Officer. Direct Number: 856-656-2201 ext. 1058. NMLS #1612758.

William Penn Bank is Equal Housing Lender and Member of the FDIC. First Front Door is offered by members of FHLBank Pittsburgh. Homebuyers must finance their first mortgage through a participating FFD provider to access the FFD funds. All loans subject to approval. Terms and conditions subject to change.

KIOSK, continued from page 2

City Museum prepares for 40th Ellarslie Open

The Trenton City Museum at the Ellarslie Mansion in Cadwalader Park is now accepting submissions for its 40th Ellarslie Open.

One of the area’s premier annual juried exhibitions, the 2023 event is set for June 24 through September 30.

Artists from the Greater Trenton Area and beyond may enter artwork online from April 1 to May 11 for consideration in the show.

This year’s juror is Reginald M. Browne, vice chair of the board of trustees at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA); chairman of Creative Capital Foundation, a nonprofit supporting new art work; board member of Silver Art Projects, a nonprofit providing artists support; and a principal of GTS Securities, an automated multi-asset class market maker headquartered in New York City.

The museum will also open “Fast Forward to 40” on April 21. The exhibition serves as a prelude to the 2023 event and spotlights the museum’s collection of art works purchased by the museum as one of the Ellarslie Open’s major art awards.

For more on Ellarslie Open 40 and other museum programming, visit ellarslie. org/EO40 or contact exhibits@ellarslie. org or 609-989-1191.

Trent House opens immigrant exhibition

The Trent House Association presents “Stories from Trenton’s Past — Immigrant Workers at Roebling Factories,” a new exhibition on immigrants who worked in Trenton’s Roebling factories during the first half of the 20th century.

The exhibition uses John A. Roebling & Sons archive materials and research by The College of New Jersey sociology students to illustrate the life of two Italian-born workers.

The William Trent House Museum, a National Historic Landmark, is located at 15 Market Street, across from the Hughes Justice Complex. For more information, visit www.williamtrenthouse.org

Trenton Public Library shows fresh art

The Trenton Artists Workshop Association exhibition “Fresh Art II” will open at the Trenton Free Public Library with a free reception Thursday, April 6, from 5 to 7 p.m., and remain on view through May 27.

Part of continuing series spotlighting the region’s strong artistry, “Fresh Art II” features the works of painter Howard Michaels, a participant in Trenton’s downtown art scene and a retired Lawrence Township art teacher; photographer Heather Palececk, a Trenton resident and curator of the Third Thursday photography sessions at Trenton’s JKC Gallery; and photographer and media artist Andrew Wilkinson, owner of a Trenton based media company and studio (see related story, page 9).

The Trenton Free Public Library is located at 120 Academy Street in the Creek2Canal Trenton Arts District. Hours are Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free. For more information on the library, call 609-392-7188.

State Museum spotlights abstract art collection

The New Jersey State Museum presents “Beyond the Tangible,” a new exhibition of 26 non-objective abstract works by 22 artists from the NJSM Fine Art collection.

The exhibition is on view in the museum’s 2nd floor gallery and features works created by American artists since the late 1930s. “Beyond the Tangible” is on view through August 27.

According to Margaret O’Reilly, museum executive director and show curator, “A number of the works included in this exhibition haven’t been on view in some time, and we’re pleased have this opportunity to share them with the public again.”

The New Jersey State Museum, 205 West State Street, is open Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. General admission is free. For more information, visit www.statemuseum.nj.gov.

Reginald M. Browne is the juror for the 40th annual Ellarslie Open.

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

Peace of Mind For Your Loved One and You

Care and personal assistance for seniors in their own homes.

Greenwood House’s home care team are stewards in providing the highest level of home health aides to adults living independently who may just need assistance or support and personal care in their own home for as little as 6 hours a week up to live-in care.

• Personal In-Home Assistance

• Personal Hygiene Assistance

• Meal Preparation

• Light Housekeeping & Laundry

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.

Created as part of Wild Ones’ Native Gar-

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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• Fresh Linens

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Six09 is inserted into each of Community News Service’s nine hyperlocal monthly publications. Over 125,000 copies are distributed each month in the Greater Mercer County, N.J. area.

TO ADVERTISE call (609) 396-1511, ext. 110 or e-mail advertise@communitynews.org

Stop Your Pain. Start Your Life.

Dr. Ronak Patel

Dr. Ronak Patel

Dr. Ronak Patel

Dr. Ronak Patel

We are a center of excellence that delivers the most up to date care in the field of comprehensive pain management. We are committed to helping you regain your life. Our focus will be on developing individualized patient treatment plans and increasing patient functionality.

We are a center of excellence that delivers the most up to date care in the field of comprehensive pain management. We are committed to helping you regain your life. Our focus will be on developing individualized patient treatment plans and increasing patient functionality.

We are a center of excellence that delivers the most up to date care in the field of comprehensive pain management. We are committed to helping you regain your life. Our focus will be on developing individualized patient treatment plans and increasing patient functionality.

We are a center of excellence that delivers the most up to date care in the field of comprehensive pain management. We are committed to helping you regain your life. Our focus will be on developing individualized patient treatment plans and increasing patient functionality.

Stop Your Pain. Start Your Life.

Regenerative Spine and Pain

Regenerative Spine and Pain Institute Taking the Fight Against Chronic Pain to New Levels

27 different therapies available to patients, Dr. Patel offers a range of treatments, often combined to attack highly specific causes of pain. Among the most promising and innovative treatments:

Botox for migraines. Stem cell injections to regenerate tissue and organs. Gummy Bears infused with THC. Platelet-Rich Plasma to treat conditions from sports injuries and wounds to hair loss from chemotherapy. These are just a few of the cutting-edge therapies used by Dr. Ronak Patel, the founder and medical director of Regenerative Spine and Pain Institute in Plainsboro.

Botox for migraines. Stem cell injections to regenerate tissue and organs. Gummy Bears infused with THC. Platelet-Rich Plasma to treat conditions from sports injuries and wounds to hair loss from chemotherapy. These are just a few of the cutting-edge therapies used by Dr. Ronak Patel, the founder and medical director of Regenerative Spine and Pain Institute in Plainsboro.

“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.

27 different therapies available to patients, Dr. Patel offers a range of treatments, often combined to attack highly specific causes of pain. Among the most promising and innovative treatments:

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.

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 with orthopedists, physical and occupational therapists, and chiropractors to provide a variety of approaches and treatments. With

“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.

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.

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 chemotherapy patients grow back hair faster and thicker.

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.

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.”

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.

National Classified Health & Fitness

Dental insurance - Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Covers 350 procedures. Real insurance - not a discount plan. Get your free dental info kit! 1-855-526-1060 www. dental50plus.com/ads #6258

Attention oxygen therapy users! Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds. Free info kit. Call 877-929-9587

Miscellaneous

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Andrew Wilkinson finds his creative place

By Dan auBrey

In the art realm there are passion projects, things you want to see, says Andrew Wilkson sitting at a table at One Up One Down Café.

The café is located at in the former Polish Falcons Clubhouse at 750 Cass Street in Trenton.

Wilkinson co-owns the building and shares upstairs studio space with artist and former Artworks Trenton executive director Lauren Otis.

“I have been a real advocate for the intersection of art and commerce,” says Wilkinson, a self-described creative medium producer whose presence in the region has been demonstrated by the two areas just mentioned.

In business, he is the owner of Wilkinson Media and Princeton Product Photography. He has provided services for Siemens Corporation, Lenox, Princeton University, Princeton Magazine, New Jersey State Museum, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Mid-Jersey Magazine, Mercer Alliance to End Homelessness, Isles, William Trent House Museum, the Trenton Downtown Association, and others.

He says Wilkinson Media provides simple studio photography but with a notso-simple flavor.

“For the commercial work, it is a client that values artistry and creativity and has an understanding of a budget to produce something that is suitable and communicates accurately. I can be hired as a creative media director or a technician.”

Regarding Wilkinson’s art, his biography statement lists exhibits at the Jersey City Museum, Newark Library Prints Collection, Hudson Valley Center of Contemporary Art, Arizona Museum of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia Sculpture Gym, Arts Council of Princeton, D&R Greenway, Artworks Trenton, West Windsor Arts Council, and Trenton City Museum, as well as venues in Russia and Beijing.

Currently, he is represented in two current shows: “Fresh Art II” at the Trenton Free Public Library through May 27 and “The Right Shot,” photography exhibit at Mrs. G’s Appliances in Lawrence through April 14.

While the work at both exhibitions

may differ in medium and visual subject, they share Wilkinson’s thematic interests, process, and influences.

“Graphics and photography are what I trained in,” he says. “With the fine art photo-based work, there are areas of exploration that interest me — consumption, apathy, consumerism, identity. No matter what I do (the art works) will fit into the categories in some way.”

Seeing himself as “a custodian of our culture,” Wilkinson says he is drawn to images and ideas he finds interesting or perplexing. And while he says some of his art will be humorous, its spirit is connected to something he calls “art activism” and being “a mirror of what our culture is.”

Recently, he has been creating moving video images supported by sonic backgrounds featuring another one of his longtime artistic practices, music.

He connects his habit of examining the world around him to “being an expatriate coming to the states at a young age in the ’80s. The cultural shift was surprising and overwhelming, and I was drawn to pop culture. I had a new language to learn — visually.”

Wilkinson was born into a family in Kent, England, a region about 40 miles southeast of London. His father was an engineer and worked for an Americanowned company that transferred him to the United States.

“I grew in Bucks County, Doylestown. I have sweet memories of Woolworths,” he says about the town’s “a wholesome suburban American life.”

Artistically, he adds that by the age of 16 he found himself making music and taking photographs, “same as I’m doing now.”

He followed his graduation from Doylestown Central Bucks West by studying communications at East Stroudsburg University in northeast Pennsylvania.

Referencing a television show by American director David Lynch, Wilkinson says the college had a “‘Twin Peaks’ type of feel” — or something oddly unsettling in its ordinariness — where he found a hard balance, taking classes, needing to take a waitering job to pay for classes, and performing in a band.

Wilkinson says his decision to study communications was part of a continuum of what he had been doing as a teenager

and “what I am doing today.”

His ESU course work included an introduction to the then-new process of digital recording, “a lot of theory” and “what I wanted to do with software.”

More importantly, he says he was drawn to the field because “communications it is one of the most important things, really.”

After college he explored various opportunities in equally varied markets.

That includes returning to England and finding work with a London PR and design firm, moving back to the U.S. and working with the New York City creative service company Ernst & Young, and then moving to Merrill Lynch in Princeton.

He says despite enjoying working in urban centers and being part of urban culture, he says he realized that he “was a country mouse.”

He was also bored with corporate work, and after earning enough money to purchase his home in Titusville, he started his own company in 2003.

He found new footing in Trenton, where he says he was “adopted and supported by the community” and “made my

business.”

Wilkinson reciprocated by donating his time to a number of creative projects as a volunteer and investing in the city. “(Otis) and I bought this building as an investment. It made more sense later than it did at the time. The idea of dedicated studio space helped my business’ success.”

He says the region also contributed to his growth as an artist and helped him “interlope between mediums. I met a lot of sculptors at Grounds For Sculpture. They made their work and work for others. I found them accommodating, and they were there for me and became a helpful community to get things made. I had series of dimension pieces” — including those that are part of the Jersey City Museum Collection (now absorbed by the Zimmerli Gallery in New Bruns-

Additionally, finding ways to support area nonprofits through the donation of work led him to consider other mediums such as print making and silk screening — processes often connected to Andy

See WILKINSON, page 10

wick).

‘With the fine art photobased work, there are areas of exploration that interest me — consumption, apathy, consumerism, identity,’ Wilkinson says. ‘No matter what I do (the art works) will fit into the categories in some way.’

Andrew Wilkinson mixes commercial and fine art photography from his studio above One Up One Down Café on Cass Street.

Warhol and the pop art movement.

Despite the variety of art forms, he says they are unified by his ongoing thematic interest and interest in the work of artists ranging from American pop art artist Roy Lichtenstein and contemporary Japanese artist Takashi Murakami, whose work is a blend of traditional, commercial, and animated art.

Wilkinson also shares some attitudes with Brian Eno, the contemporary British artist whose music, videos, and light works are charged to produce a personal alertness to existence.

Then there is Wilkinson’s own orientation as an observer. “I feel I am a part of British culture and such a part of American culture,” he says.

Assessing his business and art over the past few COVID years, Wilkinson notes “Media work disappeared. People were not buying photography or design. What I decided to do was to think about my creativity and organize house and self and, given the opportunity of time, to learn music theory.”

He has also realized a new digital series blending his designed images and sound and creating music for a film by Trenton-based filmmaker Jeff Stewart.

But currently his mind is busy considering the value of exhibiting outside es-

tablished galleries and museums, where artists and community members come together in unexpected ways.

“I like things that are outside the system,” he says. “Outside the traditional construct of display. Such as Mrs. G., a library, or a barber shop, where art could be part of the everyday” — maybe even in a Trenton coffee shop.

See Andrew Wilkinson’s art at “The Right Shot,” photo exhibition at Mrs. G’s, Brunswick Pike, Lawrence, through April 14, and “Fresh Art II,” Trenton Free Public Library, Academy Street, Trenton, through May 27.

For more on Wilkinson’s art, visit www.arwilkinson.com

For information on his media and photography services, visit wilkinsonmedia.net and www.princetonproductphotography.com.

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NAMED A 2022–23

BEST ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITY BY U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT

BEST ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITY BY U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT

We’re so proud to offer our residents the best of the best—from dining and fitness centers to social calendars—because we don’t just care for you, we care about you. As a nationally ranked Senior Living community, we’re proof that doing what you love is always worth it. So come do it here.

We’re so proud to offer our residents the best of the best—from dining and fitness centers to social calendars—because we don’t just care for you, we care about you. As a nationally ranked Senior Living community, we’re proof that doing what you love is always worth it. So come do it here.

WE LOVE OUR COMMUNITY. The experts do, too.

WE LOVE OUR COMMUNITY. The experts do, too.

Above is a work by Wilkinson featuring glass Coke bottles filled with various cleaning products.

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

Under new ownership, Pat’s Diner dishes out a side of hope

By Dan auBrey

If New Jersey is the diner capital of the nation, Pat’s Original Diner in Trenton is its White House.

Located on the corner of South Broad and Stanton streets, Pat’s has been fueling up city residents and visitors with coffee and dishing out comfort food for nearly a century.

And just like the metaphoric White House referenced above, new residents periodically arrive to govern a community establishment whose winning recipe involves a mixture of change and continuity.

Just ask Enriqueta Carabajo — aka Lala — who along with her brother, Pablo Carabajo, and nephew Marco Narvaez purchased the business in November from John Mastoris — of the regionally famous diner family — for an undisclosed price.

“It was an opportunity to have a business,” says Lala one recent morning at one of the diner’s side-room deuces — as opposed to the counter and booths that greet customers as they enter.

A South Trenton-area resident, Lala says the acquisition was both familial and familiar.

In addition to her brother-in-law, Jorge Narvaez, working at the diner since 1992, she says she had friends who worked there for “a very long time. And 14 or 15 years ago, I worked here as a cashier. I worked for (previous owners) George and Gus.

“When my brother worked here, they asked for help. They gave me an opportunity to work, and I worked Saturdays and Sundays. I worked for John for a few months, but it was when he was taking over this place.”

She says they learned about Mastoris’s decision to sell when she was surfing the internet for regional property sales and business opportunities and saw a notice about the diner.

After Narvaez verified Mastoris’s in-

tent to sell, the family got cooking.

“My nephew was looking to get the diner, so we stopped by and talked to John. And we started from there” and pooled family savings to make the investment.

And while Marco is a mechanical engineer branching out into food hospitality, the others already have been part of operating Pat’s, or, as in the case of Lala, have 20 years of business management experience.

“I used to run a franchise for Golden Eagle Food. It runs Denny’s in Bordentown,”she says.

She says there were several reasons that purchasing the business appealing. One was social. “It was a way to bring something to the community, providing opportunities for jobs, and to insure that people in the community don’t lose their jobs “

After all, she adds, “If someone else

bought the business, they may tear it down.

Another is personal. “We always thought at some point that we needed to own something to make our dreams come true. I’m Spanish, and sometimes we get pushed to the side.”

Speaking about her background, Lala says, she was born in Ecuador and was raised by a father who worked in the maintenance department of a public school and a stay-at-home mother.

She says she came to Trenton in 2001 because “I was looking for my American dream. My sister was here.”

Today both her sisters, her brother, and her widowed mother are Trentonians.

After graduating from Trenton Central High School, Lala tried a variety of careers. “I got a job with the franchise as a cook and then management. I went back to school for cosmetology.”

Her new business venture also has a personal history.

First, George Kohlmayer opened a corner hot dog and hamburger shop in

1926 and operated the shop named after his daughter into the 1950s. Angelo Fruscione bought the spot, added the diner train car, and allegedly added pasta to the menu.

Gus Panajitou and Jimmy Ydreos took over in the 1970s. After Ydreos left, Gus’s brothers Kosta and George took his place. They Panaijtous are responsible for the window seating expansion in the 1980s.

Like Lala and her family, previous owner John Mastoris was an immigrant — from Greece — who was familiar with restaurants and had family business ties. He was related to the Panaijtous and took over the diner in 2008.

Over the years, Pat’s has become a cultural crossroads in Trenton where people from all walks of life stop by to meet, great, and eat hefty meals accompanied by slender checks.

In a pre-COVID interview Mastoris said the 114-seat venue yielded “thousands of receipts per week” to support the 20 full- and part-time employees and high energy costs to operate the 24-hour

Enriqueta Carabajo, the new owner, left; brother-in-law Jorge Narvaez, chef for 32 years; longtime employee and new owner Pablo Carabajo; and Alfredo Villanueva, chef for 23 years, at Pat’s Diner.

‘I’m not going to touch the original menu because it has been working for so many years,’ Carabajo says. ‘If I change the product, people will get mad at me. To make better, yes. To change, no.’

A classy place to wine, dine, and unwind in downtown Trenton

By GeorGe Point

Pete Lorenzo’s, Johnny Boston’s, Chianti’s … people who were on the scene back in the day recall these and other venerated establishments as places where native Trentonians, politicians, attorneys, and state workers would mix and mingle over a meal and a beverage to discuss the events of the day, local gossip, and the never-ending legislative ebb and flow. Most of those establishments have long since faded away, vanishing completely or establishing outposts in outlying communities — and leaving a void in Trenton’s political and social life that has remained largely unfilled.

Until recently, that is. In October, 2021, the Lobby Club, a members-only bar, restaurant, and business center opened its doors at 17 East Front Street, the former site of the shuttered Settimo Cielo, following a stunning total renovation.

Clearly the owners, including CURE Auto executive Eric Poe, who spends a lot of time at the state house and the court house, believe that Trenton is ready for an establishment like the Lobby Club.

“There aren’t many options for places to have a quiet drink or to take clients out for a meal, so they came up with this concept,” says Tara Burns, the Lobby Club’s general manager. “The Lobby Club is a place for legislators, politicians, business professionals, and locals to come together, a comfortable, attractive place to discuss business, meet for happy hour, engage in conversation, and enjoy good

food.”

Burns describes the Lobby Club as all about “creating a great meeting and dining experience for our members. It’s designed to be comfortable, stylish, and welcoming, but also a place where our members can have a private conversation.” She notes that she took a lead role in designing the space. “The owners gave me an idea of what they wanted the Lobby Club to look and feel like. I ran with that.”

The result is a beautifully appointed bar, restaurant, meeting, event, and work space. Members may book a semi-private

front room on the ground floor to accommodate up to 30 guests. Larger groups may book the entire ground floor bar and dining area. For an additional initiation and monthly fee, those who choose Platinum or Gold membership enjoy access to the Apex Executive Center on the second floor, featuring four conference rooms and comfortable lounge that can accommodate up to 60 guests.

“We also offer a shuttle service, the Lobby Club van,” says Burns. “It’s used by members who have meetings at the state house and want to shuttle between the Lobby Club and the courthouse for

breakfast, lunch, or cocktails and dinner after they’ve finished work.”

Burns describes the Lobby Club’s current menu as having “a very traditional feel to it, classic flavors with a bit of a modern twist. We get a big lunch crowd, serve lots of sandwiches and salads to people stopping by for quick lunches between sessions at the courthouse. In the evening, people drop by for a more relaxed dining experience, so the menu is designed with that in mind. Our most popular sandwich is the Lobby Club Club ($17); we change up the traditional turkey club a bit with grilled chicken, applewood smoked bacon, and an amazing lemon basil aioli that we make in house, served on sourdough bread.”

Other samplings from the current menu include a Boston Bibb salad ($15; roasted squash, craisins, almonds, goat cheese, cider vinaigrette) and Blackened Salmon ($37) served with summer edamame succotash. The kitchen is run by chef Meg Walker, by way of the well regarded Earl’s New American in Lahaska, Pennsylvania. Burns notes that chef Walker will be introducing some heartier fare for the cooler months, including a few new steak options, a pasta dish, and additional appetizers.

As with any establishment conducive to business and networking, the offerings at the bar have received a lot of attention. “It’s a classic cocktail list, but we’ve updated it a bit with freshly made purees, garnishes, and presentations,” Burns notes. “It’s amazing what you can

See LOBBY CLUB, page 14

venue.

During the height of the pandemic and the ongoing recovery, Mastoris had to make changes in hours and staffing to keep the doors open, now on limited hours. The most notable staffing change from the pandemic was Mastoris, who is on the record saying he was exhausted.

Assessing her new venture, Lala says, “I wasn’t here before COVID, but from the day we took over I see an increase. I see new faces” — and perhaps Trenton’s changing demographics. “A new generation is coming, more Hispanic people, more African American. Before it was mostly white, now it’s more even. It is good. Everyone is getting along with everyone.”

In order to update Pat’s marketing, Lala says they have created a web and Instagram presence to help people know “we are still here.”

Part of her business plan is to let the past guide the future. “I’m not going to touch the original menu because it has

been working for so many years. We are keeping the original recipes. If I change the product, people will get mad at me. To make better, yes. To change, no.”

Instead, she says they’re putting their focus on “service quality, being a humble restaurant that feels like your home. Little touches here and there. Play soft music, trying to decorate a little for holidays. We like to provide a clean environment. Later on, we may try to do a little renewing. Not major changes, but keep the same layout, but maybe paint, get new tables, and new coffee machines.”

Yet right now she is attempting to provide continuity during an uncertain economic climate. “Everything is so expensive, and we are trying to keep the same prices. Eggs, milk, the prices are up.”

Interesting, Lala says Pat’s has been spared a problem that has plagued other businesses. “There’s no problem filling positions.”

And while some employees decided to make a change and others were let go

after the sale, she adds she has “a few names and phone numbers who are people who know the new management and were looking for something and new employees are saying it would be nice to do for them because of the family. We take care of our people and they take care of us.”

Taking a broad look at what she and her family are doing, Lala says, “This establishment is something historical. We are proud to own this and want to keep continuing it as long as it as possible — and not let it go down.

Pat’s Original Diner, 1300 South Broad Street, Trenton. Open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesdays through Mondays; 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesdays. 609-392-2024.

Pat’s Original Diner on South Broad Street, pictured at right, has been a longtime fixture of the Trenton dining scene.

Eric Poe, one of the owners of Trenton’s Lobby Club, left, and general manager Tara Burns.

do to make a cocktail something special. We’ve just started to do smoked drinks. We offer a Manhattan ($15) that we can smoke with cherry, redwood, and others that result in some fantastic cocktails.”

Burns says that the wine list has received careful attention as well. “For the first year we’ve tried to keep it a little more condensed,” she says, “and, based on requests from our members, we’ve added wines that they’ve told us they

enjoy drinking. To ensure our wine offerings complement our menu, our suppliers held extensive wine tastings with us and listened to us about our clientele and our menu.” The compact but well-curated list covers a broad range of price points, from a Santa Marina Pinot Grigio ($20) to the inevitable special occasion Champagne splurge, a Veuve Clicquot sparkler ($120).

Touring the Lobby Club and hearing Burns talk about the restaurant, bar, and other amenities brings about the inevitable question: What does it cost to be a

member?

The answer is … it can be surprisingly affordable. “We have various levels of membership,” Burns says. “For individuals, we have two levels of membership for access to the restaurant and bar, Silver Individual ($1,000 initiation fee), and at the same level of access we also offer a discount for government employees, union members, and non-profit employees of half-off the initiation fee. We’ve also moved to a minimum spend. For example at the discounted level if you spend $85 a month, $50 a month is waived. If you stop in once a month, have lunch and some cocktails it essentially pays for itself.”

At the upper tier, she notes that there are additional levels of membership for the Apex Executive Center, the business center on the second floor. “The Platinum level is for a company from anywhere from 10 and above employees,” she explains. Currently Platinum membership is half off, normally $10,000 but now $5,00. That gives access to the downstairs bar and dining as well as the Apex Executive Center with its private, fully equipped conference rooms upstairs, and 15 percent off on catering for events or refreshment packages for the conference rooms.

Note: Other levels of membership fall between Silver and Platinum to accommodate different sized businesses and conference room requirements. Visit the Lobby Club website for details.

The Lobby Club is gaining in popularity as an event space as well. “We’ve become a venue for people to host political fundraisers,” Burns says. “We’ve hosted birthday celebrations, happy hours, luncheons, and, as our membership grows, we’re looking to add a few fun events to the calendar, not just to give people a place for conducting business, but also to be a fun place to come to after work and mingle. We have wine tastings, handson cooking classes, mixology parties for learning how to make cocktails for

parties at home. And we hold monthly Wine & Whiskey Wednesday networking events for members and non-members, with wine and whiskey specials. It’s a good time for people in the area to stop in after work.”

She also pointed out that the Lobby Club is currently running a special offer to attract new members, waiving both the initiation fee and any fees above the minimum monthly spend.

The effort seems to be paying off. “I’d say that over the last month or so we’ve gained about 35 members during this new membership drive,” she says. “It’s going really well. I think it opens the Lobby Club up to more people in the area, who saw the membership fee as a hurdle to joining us. They see the value in the minimum spend that if they use it the membership pays for itself.”

How would Burns describe the typical Lobby Club Member? “We have such a variety of members,” she says, “from local residents to business professionals who come into Trenton once or twice a quarter for business. We have a lot of legislators and politicians, we also have teachers, state workers, it’s a really good mix. And that’s what Trenton is.”

Larry Hilton, a retired computer operations supervisor for the State of New Jersey, Trenton resident, and Lobby Club member “since the beginning” calls it a “quiet place to have a drink and talk to your friends” and recommends it as a “great place for good food, a nice atmosphere, a place where you can have a conversation. Tara and Jay (the Lobby Club’s manager) are very pleasant people.”

“I love interacting with people,” Burns says. “Having conversations with the members is my favorite part of the job.”

The Lobby Club, 17 East Front Street. 609-900-8001 or thelobbyclubnj.com.

LOBBY CLUB, continued from page 13

The Lobby Club’s dining area, above left, and bar.

NOTICE TO PERSONS WANTING MAIL-IN BALLOTS

If you are a qualified and registered voter of New Jersey who wants to vote by mail in the Primary Election to be held on June 6, 2023, the following applies:

• You must be registered as a Democrat or Republican by no later than April 12, 2023 to be able to receive a mail-in ballot.

• You must complete the application form below and send it to the county clerk where you reside or write or apply in person to the county clerk where you reside to request a mail-in ballot.

• The name, address, and signature of any person who has assisted you to complete the mail-in ballot application must be provided on the application, and you must sign and date the application.

• No person may serve as an authorized messenger

Dated: April 11, 2023,

or bearer for more than three qualified voters in an election but a person may serve as such for up to five qualified voters in an election if those voters are immediate family members residing in the same household as the messenger or bearer.

• No person who is a candidate in the election for which the voter requests a mail-in ballot may provide any assistance in the completion of the ballot or serve as an authorized messenger or bearer.

• A person who applies for a mail-in ballot must submit his or her application so that it is received at least seven days before the election, but such person may request an application in person from the county clerk up to 3 p.m. of the day before the election.

• Voters who want to vote by mail in all future

elections will, after their initial request and without further action on their part, be provided with a mail-in ballot until the voter requests otherwise in writing.

• Application forms may be obtained by applying to the undersigned either in writing or by telephone. Or the application form provided below may be completed and forwarded to the undersigned.

• If you are currently signed up to receive mail-in ballots, but wish to now vote at the polls, either on Election Day or before, in accordance with NJ’s new “Early Voting” law, you must first opt out of vote by mail by notifying the county clerk in writing at the address below. You may find a form for removal from the permanent list on the Mercer County Clerk’s website at www.mercercounty.org/ government/county-clerk/elections.

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