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Historical society to celebrate Barton bicentennial Dec. 4 Nonprofit hoping to raise awareness and funds for further restoration of the Clara Barton schoolhouse in Bordentown City By Joe Emanski
Clara Barton became an internationally famous feminist pioneer in the decades after the American Civil War. She gave lectures about her experiences as a battlefield nurse, ran the U.S. Office of Missing Soldiers and, in 1881, founded the American branch of the Red Cross. Those are just some of the many noteworthy things she accomplished in her life. But years before she was known throughout Europe and the United States for her work as a humanitarian and suffragette, she was known locally in Bordentown as the person who had created New Jersey’s first successful free public school. The Bordentown Historical Society plans to honor Barton on Dec. 4 with a special event to mark the occasion of her 200th birthday. The festivities will be held at the historical society’s headquarters, the former Friends Meeting House at 302 Farnsworth Ave. and include an outdoor exhibition celebrating Barton’s many accomplishments that is already on display. There will be activities for kids, Clara Bartonthemed items for sale, and an appearance by Barton herself
(actually society co-president Bonnie Goldman in period costume). And there will be an exhibition of Clara Barton memorabilia and artifacts on display inside the headquarters building, and the city has also said that it plans to proclaim Dec. 4 “Clara Barton Day.” The historical society also plans to participate in the Bordentown City Chocolate Walk the night before, on Friday, Dec. 3 from 5 to 8. BHS will offer homemade treats and Clara Barton-themed items during the holiday walk. (For more information on the Chocolate Walk, turn to page 3.) “We’re so happy that she touched our lives here in Bordentown. She’s a person who suffered from depression and mental illness and probably had post-tramautic stress after being on the front lines in the Civil War,” Goldman says. “The fact that she accomplished so many great things notwithstanding the challenges — she’s just an amazing person, and so many people, every time they learn one more than about her they just are amazed. She’s an American icon, and that’s all there is to it.” Barton was born on Christmas Day, 1821, in North See CLARA, Page 13
Central New Jersey Ballet Theatre dancers Margot and Giselle Pecht pose with a dog from the Burlington County Animal Shelter on Nov. 6, 2021 as part of the “Muttcracker” event sponsored by Bordentown Home for Funerals. CNJBT dancers posed with the dogs to raise awareness for pet adoption. They are also set to take part in CNJBT’s production of “The Nutcracker” ballet on Saturday, Dec. 18. (Photo by Deirdre Ryan Photography.)
‘Nutcracker’ set to return to CNJ Ballet stage after year’s absence Dance school also partners with local business, county animal shelter to promote pet adoption By Joe Emanski
Students at the Central New Jersey Ballet Theatre have been able to train for most of the pandemic, but health and safety protocols due to coronavirus have meant they have
not been able to perform live in-person recitals for the better part of two years. That long break is set to end this month with the students set to take the stage at Florence High School on Saturday, Dec. 18 to perform Tchaikovsky’s famous holidady ballet, The Nutcracker. “It’s a full production,” says CNJBT founder Alisha Cardenas. “The kids love it. When I ask them if they want to do something else, they say no.” The students will give two shows, one at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Each show will feature a
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different cast of ballet dancers who hail from towns in the area. Tickets, which will be available at the door, are $25. Set to be featured in this year’s production are Tanner Hutchinson (Sugar Plum) of Hightstown, Ashlynn Yang (Dewdrop) of Hightstown, Kelsie Schaffer Massingill (Clara) of Hamilton, Sophia Szabo (Clara) of Florence, Alexandra Jans (Snow Queen) of Wrightstown, Annamarie Peters (Spanish) of Bordentown City, Lily Estok (Spanish) of Bordentown TownSee BALLET, Page 16
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