See TOMASULO

TOMASULO continued from Page 1 “I’ve had a great time because I’m

“He played travel ball on our travel one of the role models for the younger team (the Mid-State Mariners) from kids,” he said. “We’re a very young 10 to 15 and he wasn’t even on our team, I’m just trying to help them out A team. He was on our B team. He as much as I can, make them become caught for us, but he wasn’t even the better players and better people.” starting catcher with his high school Tomasulo’s career started in the team, he played second base and right Hamilton YMCA League, which field. But he definitely made himself was the least known of the five Little a good catcher. He’s got a strong arm Leagues in Hamilton Township. But and good blocking skills back there.” he had a connection there.

Tomasulo also improved his hit- “That’s where my parents grew up, ting skills thanks to some hard work it was the thing they knew, so that’s with Hamilton West head coach Mike where we played,” he said. “I went “Moe” Moceri. over to Bordentown when I was nine

“He got me more focused on driving for my first year of Little League. the ball, using my legs more,” Toma- “I started at second base, but one sulo said. “I’ve gotten very strong the of my teams needed a catcher. I past year. So I was just using my legs decided to go back behind the plate more instead of focusing on my upper and ever since then, I loved it. Everybody. I just hit more line drives toward body thought I was crazy, but you’re the opposite field which has really involved in the game on every play. It helped me.” really keeps your mind in it and you

“In general he made better con- could really see everything going on.” tact,” Moore said. “He used to strike From little league, Tomasulo went out a lot. He was a dead pull hitter to the Mariners and was introduced to and learned to use the whole field. He Moore. did a lot of work with Moe and it defi- “Doug coached the Black team and nitely made him into a pretty good ball I was on the Gold team, I remember player.” him calling and asking me to go up to

With one game left in the regular his team for some games,” Tomasulo season, Tomasulo was batting .333 said. “That’s when he first started with seven RBIs, three doubles and to see what I could do. He didn’t see four runs scored; and had not commit- me for a couple years then he saw me ted an error. this year and saw a whole different

Despite the fact Bordentown fin- person.” ished 5-12 in the regular season That transformation was due to (but did make the district playoffs), hard work. Aside from his time with Tomasulo was happy to just be on the Moceri, Tomasulo went to catching diamond. coach Eric Woodrow and also did Ryan Tomasulo wrapped up his final baseball season on a high note. (Photo by Rich Fisher.)

weightlifting with his cousin to put on strength. His defensive skills were as improved as his hitting.

“I got a lot better with my footwork, my arm strength, stuff like that,” he said. “It was just the little things, the mechanics. I feel like I’ve always had the baseball smarts, I just needed to put together better mechanics so I could be the best catcher possible.”

Unfortunately for Tomasulo, Moore had a catcher two years ago, and when he wanted Tomasulo, there was no season last year.

“It was kind of tough to get into a new environment (at North Hamilton),” he said. “But once I got more involved in it, it was a great experience just to get my feet wet and just playing with some of those guys. They were all great role models for me. And then I got to come back over to Bordentown and play with some of those guys again, so it’s just great to be back.”

Tomasulo impressed Moore every step of the way this year. The coach marveled at him during a game with Princeton, when he pulled a hamstring on a hit but literally crawled into second base for a double.

“The kid is definitely tough as nails,” Moore said. “He only missed one game after that. And I will say, I’ve been coaching a long time and I’ve never seen a kid put in more work to becoming a better player. He was a decent player back then, and he worked himself into being a very good player.”

He played this year like it was last, probably because it was.

“It was great,” he said. “I love playing. Unfortunately I’m not playing in college so this is it for me. I was trying to go out in a good way. I’ve played baseball since I’ve been five years old. I don’t want it to end, but it has to come to it at some point.”

At least it ended on a high note, thanks to an attitude that never let Tomasulo give up.

At Rothman Orthopaedics, we are exceptionally specialized. We not only specialize in orthopaedics, each of our physicians only focuses on one area of the body. Which means you can have the confidence that you can get past pain and be what you were.

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HEALTH

AUGUST 2021

HEADLINES

BI-MONTHLY NEWS FROM CAPITAL HEALTH

Center for Neuro-Oncology Leads New Brain Tumor Guidelines Paper and Advances Participation in Immunotherapy Trials for Glioblastoma Patients

Capital Health’s Center for Neuro-Oncology, part of Capital Institute for Neurosciences and the Capital Health Cancer Center, continues to demonstrate nationally the program’s leadership and commitment to clinical excellence. Recently, the center’s neurosurgical director, DR. NAVID REDJAL, led publication of guidelines for the treatment of brain tumors, in addition to announcing the participation of Capital Health in two new immunotherapy trials for glioblastoma patients. “Our commitment to our patients is to provide exceptional care with treatment plans specifically developed to meet each individual patient’s needs,” said Dr. Navid Redjal, director, Neurosurgical Oncology. “To offer this, we have to stay at the forefront of new options, and provide leadership in the broader medical community on what we offer patients with brain tumors. This allows us to consider what will best meet the needs of our patients, and be involved in taking care to the next level.” Dr. Redjal, who runs the program’s multi-disciplinary Brain Tumor Clinic, as well as the program’s weekly brain tumor board where patients’ care plans are all reviewed by a multi-disciplinary team of experts, was lead author on a recently published paper discussing updated evidence-based guidelines for treating brain tumors in the Journal of Neuro-Oncology. The paper, which includes co-authors from Massachusetts General Hospital, Case Western, Mount Sinai, and Emory, was part of his work with the Joint Section on Tumors of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS). Capital Health also recently added two new immunotherapy trials, being run by the National Cancer Institute as part of its clinical trial research program. Both trials involve immunotherapy drugs ipilimumab and nivulomab in treating glioblastoma. Immunotherapy is a treatment that uses the immune system to help fight diseases, such as cancer. New approaches using immunotherapy are being tested to see how it works as part of different treatment plans. Glioblastoma is a particularly aggressive cancer that is very difficult to treat. “Immunotherapy has shown itself to be effective in treating many cancers. Glioblastoma, however has not responded to traditional immunotherapy approaches because it is what is referred to as a “cold” tumor. Unlike “hot” tumors, cold tumors are not recognized by, and do not provoke a response by, the immune system,” said Dr. Neel Gandhi, medical director, Hematologic and Oncologic Diseases, and a principal co-investigator of one of the immunotherapy trials. “In a cancer like glioblastoma, new research is focusing on turning this "cold" tumor "hot,” to then stimulate the immune system to respond and attack the tumor. This can be tested by combining immunotherapy with surgery and radiation therapy. The hope is that future immunotherapy protocols will be successful in treating glioblastoma using this approach." The Center for Neuro-Oncology participates in and develops numerous research studies and clinical trials. The goal is to help provide greater understanding, develop new methods to detect and diagnose those diseases, and focus on innovative treatments that are not broadly available to patients. Clinical trials offer patients some of the very latest in care while giving physicians and researchers the opportunity to study the safety and effectiveness of new treatments. Participation is voluntary. Our experienced neuro-oncology team carefully reviews study criteria, potential benefits, risks, and other considerations with eligible patients for enrollment into a clinical study. Once enrolled, our clinical research staff carefully monitors patients throughout the research trial and is available to answer questions. Over the last decade, Capital Health and its Institute for Neurosciences have been trusted providers of advanced neuroscience care for patients in New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania. Some of the most complicated patients we treat are those who are diagnosed with brain tumors. For those patients, access to advanced care must be coupled with access to clinical trials and supportive services. Learn more about our Center for Neuro-Oncology at capitalneuro.org

NEW LOCATION, EXPANDED TEAM AND HOURS FOR Capital Health Primary Care–Lawrenceville

Capital Health Primary Care–Lawrenceville, part of Capital Health Medical Group and a trusted provider of primary care in eastern Mercer County, moved to a new office at The Atrium, located at 133 Franklin Corner Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648. The office was previously located in the office building next to its new location. Although the office is in a new location, patients will receive care from the same trusted providers, including DR. DIANA BUSH, DR. MICHAEL DASH, and PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT JACQUELINE RITTER. DR. KHURRAM ZUBAIR and DR. SRIVANI RACHAKONDA, formerly of Capital Health Primary Care–Brunswick Avenue, have joined as well. They are available for appointments and video visits to provide check-ups, sick visits and preventive care from infants to older adults (including women’s health). The office’s phone number remains the same. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have learned more than ever before that finding a trusted primary care provider to manage your day-to-day medical needs is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your loved ones,” said Dr. Khurram Zubair, lead physician at Capital Health Primary Care–Lawrenceville. “Our experienced, board certified team is dedicated to providing the safest, highest quality care here in Mercer County, and our move to a larger space and expansion of services and hours further shows our commitment to improving the health and well-being of our neighbors.” In addition to office visits, all of the providers at Capital Health Primary Care–Lawrenceville offer video visit appointments using secure connections on their computers or mobile devices for routine follow-up appointments or questions about medications. They also provide easy access to experienced specialists and surgeons when necessary and the most advanced care in the region at nearby Capital Health hospitals when it is needed most–virtually everything patients need to keep them on the path to better health. Board certified in internal medicine, Dr. Khurram Zubair provides care for adult patients. He has been affiliated with Capital Health for more than 20 years, including completing his internal medicine residency at Capital Health Regional Medical Center. Prior to joining Capital Health Primary Care–Lawrenceville, he was part of the team at Capital Health Primary Care–Brunswick Avenue and in private practice since 1997. Dr. Zubair continues to serve as a faculty member of the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Capital Health. Dr. Diana Bush is board certified in family medicine and provides care for children ages infant and older, as well as adults, including women’s health. She earned her medical degree at University of Medicine and Dentistry–Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, New Jersey and completed her family medicine residency at Lancaster General Hospital in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Dr. Michael Dash received his medical degree from Oregon Health Sciences University School of Medicine in Portland, Oregon. Board certified in internal medicine, he provides care for adult patients. He completed his internship at Rutgers Medical School Affiliated Hospitals (Middlesex General Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey) and the Medical Center at Princeton in Princeton, New Jersey (now Penn Medicine Princeton Health). Board certified in family medicine, Dr. Srivani Rachakonda is experienced in providing care for children ages 12 and older, as well as adults, including women’s health. She received her medical degree from Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford, New Jersey and completed her family medicine residency at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Pinnacle Lititz in Lititz, Pennsylvania. Physician assistant Jacqueline Ritter is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. She received her Master of Science in Physician Assistant degree at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Piscataway, New Jersey. She is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and is a FMCSA-certified medical examiner for DOT physical examinations. 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 our network of primary and specialty care providers. Patients can also manage their health easily while using our Capital Health Medical Group patient portal, which allows them to conveniently access information about any of their office visits online. Office hours at Capital Health Primary Care–Lawrenceville are Monday, Tuesday and Friday (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and Wednesday and Thursday (8 a.m. to 7 p.m.). To make an appointment at the new office, call 609.815.7270 or visit capitalhealth.org/lawrenceville for more information.

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

When you need relief from joint pain, you want nothing less than the highest level of orthopedic care. That could mean surgery, physical therapy or both. The best way to find out is from our comprehensive team of specialists at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton. Backed by leading-edge technology, including MAKO robot-assisted surgery, our hospital, staff and services have earned national recognition for patient satisfaction and outcomes. We’ll get you moving again, quickly and with less pain. Visit rwjbh.org/ortho to learn more.

what’s happening Pretty in purple

Lavender farms delight the senses

By Dan Aubrey

The peak season of lavender at area lavender farms proves that farm fresh means more than vegetables and fruits.

Lavender is a southern European transplant to the United States.

Although it appears in several varieties, their purple-hued fl owers provide a treat for the eye, nose, and, through oils and mixture, the skin and taste buds.

Getting immersed into the world of lavender is easy and easily done by a short day trip or a quick drop in at one of the regional farms.

And with the season fading over the next few weeks, it’s time to get moving.

Peace Valley Farm in Bucks County provides a pleasant summer day trip. Located just outside Doylestown, Pennsylvania, and across from Peace Valley Park and Galena Lake, the 50-mile journey from the Princeton/Trenton region can either be a pleasant ramble through winding back roads or faster paced highway jaunt that can include stops at New Hope, Peddler’s Village and downtown Doylestown.

An item on the Visit Bucks County website, Peace Valley Farm was established around 20 years ago but underwent a renovation in 2019 in order to control water and support the cultivation of a plant that still yearns for home.

Several acres at most, the small farm provides quick access to the 3,000-fl ower fi eld where visitors wander freely and take photos—like the French-speaking photographer arranging young girls in 19thcentury dresses to stand amidst the fl ower rows or, presumably, a young father taking a photo of his wife holding their child.

Tree shaded areas with benches around the square-like fi eld provide the opportunity for visitors to rest. Seats are also provided around the barn-like structure that features a lavender drying station where cuttings hang on racks and an antique machine for processing fl owers for oils.

The building also houses a shop that sells lotions, oils, scent satchels and lavender-fl avored drinks. And since the farm depends on the shop’s income for support, admission, tours and parking are free. Summer hours are Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. Shopping online is also available.

Peace Valley Farm, 801 New Galena Rd., Doylestown. (215) 249-8462 orpeacevalleylavender.com.

Closer to home are the following farms currently offering weekend visits.

Princeton Lavender Farm on Lawrence Road — aka Route 206 — was started in 2016 and has blossomed into a farm that includes a barn for ponies, alpacas, and goats. There is also an apiary, events, and a farm stand that sells lavender plants, products, and honey. They also have special events throughout the year.

The farm is open by appointment only

SIX09

EDITOR Sam Sciarrotta (Ext. 121) ARTS EDITOR Dan Aubrey FOOD & DINING COLUMNIST Joe Emanski AD LAYOUT & PRODUCTION Stacey Micallef SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Jennifer Steff en (Ext. 113)

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Princeton lavender farm on lawrenceville road in lawrence.

Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. But no appointment is required on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, 11 to 4 p.m. There is a $5 tour charge for individuals over 3 years old.

Princeton Lavender Farm, 3741 Lawrenceville Rd., Lawrence Township. (973) 978-8311 or princetonlavender.com.

Hidden Springs Lavender/Alpaca Farm is also open just on weekends. The circa 2008 farm features 15 types of lavender plants and, obviously, animals.

The large, traditional-looking farm also produces a variety of lavender products ranging from oils to wreaths sold in its shop. The farm is also available for weddings and photography sessions.

Since the shop and various products provide support, visits are free and no reservations are required.

Hidden Spring Lavender/Alpaca Farm and Gift Shop, 890 Route 601, Skillman. (609) 558-7034 or hiddenspringlavender. com.

Although its current lavender bloom is finished, Serenity Farm in Robbinsville says it plans to reopen in September if it has a second harvest.

An active farm for years, it went to lavender in 2018 and features three varieties of the herb, an apiary, and five acres of wildflowers. They also have a gift shop and sell online.

Serenity Farms, 44 Tindall Rd., Robbinsville. (609) 851-9094 or serenityfarmsnj.com.

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MERCER COUNTY AND UCEDC OFFER 0% WORKING CAPITAL LOANS

TO HELP LOCAL BUSINESSES REBOUND FROM THE COVID-19 CRISIS

In this phase of the COVID-19 Crisis, UCEDC and Mercer County are offering a low-interest, quick-response, working capital loan program. Small business owners can borrow up to $15,000 at 0% for up to five years with no collateral requirements to meet their COVID-19 crisis needs.

The Crisis Relief Loan Program is designed to provide broad access to much-needed working capital. The program features a quick turnaround (after completing the application requirements), no collateral requirements, no pre-payment penalties, and no processing or application fees. Eligibility Requirements Include:

Businesses operating at least two years and with a credit score of 660 and up are eligible to apply for up to $15,000

Businesses operating prior to 3/21/20 but less than two years, or with a credit score between 630-659 are eligible to apply for up to $10,000

No loan or credit card charge–offs within 3 years Application Requirements:

Personal guarantees of all owners with more than 10% ownership interest, with the following documentation for each guarantor: Completed UCEDC Loan Application for each guarantor Copy of driver’s license Personal cash flow statement Personal financial statement Most recent personal tax return 2019 and 2020 complete business tax returns, and 2021 interim financials (if available). If 2020 tax returns are on extension, please provide a copy of the extension and 2020 financials

To start the process, please fill out our Loan Pre-Qual Form on the webpage below or speak to one of our loan officers at 908-527-1166.