6-23 BC

‘Caricature Carl’ takes county film festival prize

Bordentown filmmaker wins award for best movie in its category

By LiLLy WArD

In Ross Stern’s short film, “Caricature Carl,” the protagonist checks all the boxes of a comedic antihero.

Carl (David Hamed), a caricature artist with a Jackson Pollock-like scowl, presides over his domain, a local park. Carl has a knack for creating unflattering depictions of his subjects, causing him to be less than popular with park goers. His territory is threatened when newcomer Abstract Abdul (Jayandra Chiluwal) appears on his turf, quickly charming newcomers with his “good vibes” and inoffensive aura paintings.

“I guess the characters Carl and Abdul can be taken from two separate halves of my personality,” said Stern, a 24-year-old, 2022 graduate from Montclair State University and resident of Bordentown. “I think I can be slightly competitive as an artist, and I think that

Gilder House receives rare visitors

jumping off point [for Caricature Carl] was, I want to make something about competing artists.”

That drive for competition appears to have served him well. In April, “Caricature Carl” received the top prize in the Parks category during Burlington County’s Second Annual Juried Film Festival. The film has received numerous awards and nominations in film festivals throughout New Jersey including, winner for Best Comedy in August of 2022 at the Brightside Tavern Film Festival in Jersey City.

In July 2022, it was a Jury Favorite at A Lyte in the Dark Festival in Princeton, and was nominated for Best Concept in both the Bergen International Film Festival of NJ, and the Northeast Film Festival in Teaneck. In October 2022, At New Visions 22, a Film Festival at Montclair State showcasing students’ short films in the Filmmaking BFA Program, Stern’s film received an Official Selection.

For Stern a passion for film making emerged early, in middle school. He remembers his first short film, Captain

See CARL, Page 12

Bassist Justin Lee on making, teaching and sharing music

By SUsAN VAN dONGeN

There’s much more to the average public school music teacher than meets the eye and ear. Justin Lee, a Bordentown Township resident and educator at John P. Stevens High School in Edison, is a prime example — something that will be dem-

onstrated with two upcoming events.

As an acclaimed acoustic and electric bassist specializing in classical and jazz, when the school day is over, Lee can be found performing with groups like the Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey and the New Yorkbased Chelsea Symphony. Or,

he might be commuting to New York City to play in such venerable clubs as Birdland.

If that’s not enough activity for Lee, he’s also an active substitute in the orchestra for various off and on-Broadway shows, for example, the recent revival of the musical “Caroline, or See JUSTIN, Page 10

Linda Gilder-Palmer and husband, Reese, second and third from left, in front of the Gilder House in Bordentown with Doug Kiovsky, Michael Skelly and Bonnie Goldman of the Bordentown Historical Society. Reese is the great-grandson of Richard Watson Gilder, poet and editor of Century Illustrated magazine. They reside on RW Gilder’s Four Brooks Farm, in Tyringham, Massachusetts. They visited Bordentown to see Reese’s ancestor’s birthplace and family gravesites on May 12–13.

RWJUH Hamilton June Healthy Living / Community Education Programs

*All programs require registration.

LUNG CANCER SCREENINGWHO QUALIFIES AND WHEN TO GET SCREENED

Wed., June 7; 5 to 6 p.m.

Lung Screening Program Director, Dr. Eishan Patel and Program Manager

Kaidlan Ricardo, CMA, BS-HA will discuss screening and early detection of lung cancer and treatment options.

CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP

Wed., June 7 & July 5; 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Supportive discussion group for those caring for a loved one who is aging or has a chronic illness-shared experiences can be healing. An Oaks Integrated Care caregiver specialist will conduct these interactive groups on crucial topics and facilitate a supportive group experience.

COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR GUARDIAN ANGELS

Thu., June 8; 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

How can we communicate with our Guardian Angels with clarity and purpose? Learn techniques to develop asking and receiving guidance from Angels available to each and every one of us. Donna Sweeney, Reiki Maser, IET® Master Instructor, Angel Healing ® Teacher. Fee:$15

MANAGING STRESS AND DIABETES

Tue., June 13 and July 11; 3 to 4 p.m. Have Diabetes? Join our support group and learn how to cope with stress in a healthy way. Ines Lecerf, LSW PLANT BASED PROTEIN TO POWER YOUR WORKOUT

Tue., June 13; 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Plants are powerful and so are you! Learn to support strength and maintain

healthful movement with plant-based sources of protein. Fee: $5. Taryn

Krietzman, RDN ASK THE DIETITIAN

Wed., June 14; 9 a.m. to noon

Do you have a question about diet and nutrition? Join our community education dietitian for a one-on-one Q&A.

Taryn Krietzman, RDN

NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN HEARING AIDS-COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY FOR YOUR EARS

Wed., June 14; 10 to 11 a.m.

Technological advances in hearing aids allow us to connect to our world in an exciting way! Join Dr. Lorraine Sgarlato, Au.D. to learn about the latest in treatment options. Hands-on demonstration available after the lecture.

ASK THE DIABETES COORDINATOR

Wed., June 14; noon to 1 p.m.

Join us for an informative community Q&A session on how to manage your diabetes.

Shesha Desai, PharmD, RPh, BC-ADM. OSTEOPOROSIS SCREENING

Wed., June 14 & July 12; 1 to 3 p.m. Ultrasound of heel and personalized information. Appointment and registration required.

WHAT CAN HYPNOSIS DO FOR ME?

Wed., June 14; 6 to 7 p.m.

Learn how hypnosis/hypnotherapy can access your own internal abilities. Matt Masiello, CCH will share how hypnosis programs are tailored to meet your specific needs. This informative program will include an overview of hypnotherapy, Q&A’s, and optional guided meditation/ hypnosis session.

SPRING FLING LUNCH AND MUSIC

Thu., June 1; 12 to 3 p.m.

Let’s celebrate Spring together with lunch, music, dancing, and more.

MEDITATION CLASSES

Fri., June 2 and 16; 11:30 a.m. to noon

Wipe away the day’s stress and let in some light. All levels welcome.

LET’S TALK, A SENIOR SOCIAL GROUP

Wed., June 7, 14, 21, & 28; 10 to 11 a.m. We gather to exchange thoughts, feelings and experiences amongst peers in partnership with PsycHealth Associates here in Hamilton. This is a weekly program. Attend one or all.

ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP

Wed., June 14; 6 to 7 p. m

Support and information for family and friends of people with Alzheimer’s disease. An Oaks Integrated Care caregiver specialist will conduct these interactive groups on crucial topics and facilitate a supportive group experience.

GRIEF AND LOSS SUPPORT GRUPO DE APOYO DE DUELO

Jueves., 15 Junio; 3 a 4 p.m. Este grupo es para personas que están de duelo por la pérdida de un ser querido. Un lugar donde usted puede compartir sus dificultades con otras personas que han sufrido una perdida similar. Ines Lecerf, LSW

DANCE IT OUT!

Tue., June 20, July 18; 1 to 2 p.m. June 20: All That Jazz July 18: Oldies But Goodies

Never miss a chance to dance! All ages welcome, no experience required.

REIKI? WHAT IS THIS “REIKI”?

Tues., June 20; 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. You may have heard of the benefits of Reiki, but are still not sure what, exactly, it is or how it works. Come explore what energy work, including Reiki, can do for you. Patti McDougall, BSN, Integrative Therapies Nurse, Reiki Master/Teacher KIDS FIT IN THE KITCHEN!

Wed., June 21; 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Nature’s Candy. Cook up some fun and sample healthy foods in new ways! For children ages 5 and older with a parent/ caregiver. Register early – Class size is limited! Fee: $5 per child, $5 per parent/ caregiver. Taryn Krietzman, RDN

SOCRATES CAFÉ

Tues., June 6; 10 to 11 a.m.

“Socrates Café” is about discussing a topic, sharing thoughts, beliefs, ideas, and experiences. Come with an open mind, respect for one another, and a willingness to see where it takes us..

YOGA CLASSES

Tues., June 13 and 27; 10 to 11 a.m.

Krystal Loughlin, certified RYT will be leading this gentle yoga class using traditional postures and breathing techniques offering modifications for all. Beginner’s welcome.

DRAWING IN NATURE INTRO AT GROUNDS FOR SCULPTURE

Wednesday, June 14, 2pm to 3:30 pm Enhance skills in visual memory through observation and rendering of the landscape and nature using graphite, charcoal, pen, and ink. All levels welcome, and all materials provided.

HEALTHRYTHMS® DRUMMING CIRCLE

Wed, June 21; 7 to 8 p.m.

Join our drumming circle and help drum your cares away. This evidence-based program is shown to reduce blood pressure, calm stress and increase the fun in your life. Drums provided. Fee: $15. Mauri Tyler, CTRS, CMP SAFETY AND SECURITY AWARENESS IN TODAY’S WORLD

Thurs., June 22, 7 to 8:30 am

Learn about cybersecurity, internet scams and how to protect against identify theft, as well as about personal safety at home, in the community and in the work place. Bob Field Jr. Assistant VP of Support Services, Safety and Security at RWJUH Hamilton, has extensive knowledge and practical experience in physical and personal protection.

WHAT’S IN THE BOX? *VIRTUAL*

Thu., June 22; noon to 1:00 p.m. All things seasonal, all the time! Learn what wonderful fruits and vegetable are up to this time of year and how to make them shine! Taryn Krietzman, RDN WISE

WOMEN DISCUSSION GROUP

Thu., June 22; 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Join our circle of women as we discuss finding purpose and meaning in our life and community. Ines Lecerf, LSW REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

Mon., June 26; 9:00 a.m.

Join us as the senior leadership team at RWJUH Hamilton present the hospital’s recent achievements and plans for the future. Registration is required. Light breakfast will be served.

TIPS ON LOOKING YOUR BEST AT ANY AGE

Fri., June 16; 9:30 to 11 a.m. Join us for this new program that is all about you – no models, no video. Caterina Young, Owner blo Out Lounge & Color Bar will share makeup tricks, choosing your hairstyle according to your face shape and how to maintain it all.

ADVANCED CARE PLANNING BREAKFAST

Tues; June 19; 10 to 11:30 a.m.

The goal of ACP is to help ensure that people receive future medical care that is consistent with their values, goals, and preferences. Dr. Ali and Ted Taylor will lead this conversation to initiate dialogue between patients, their family or other decision-makers, and their health care providers in consideration with patient’s relationships and culture.

CARING FOR A LOVED ONE SUPPORT GROUP IN SPANISH ¿ESTÁ CUIDANDO A UN SER QUERIDO?

Martes., 27 Junio, 3 a 4 p.m. Este grupo de apoyo es para CuidadoresPersonas adultas que cuidan a un ser querido que tienen una enfermedad crónica. Es normal que el cuidado de un ser querido a veces produzca frustración y enojo. Pero no tienes que sobrellevarlo solo. Ines Lecerf,

LSW COLOR ME HOOPY? HOOLA HOOP FOR FUN AND FITNESS!

Tues., June 27; 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Think you can’t hula-hoop? Think again! It’s much easier to find your rhythm and flow using a “grown up” sized hoop. Learn skills and techniques and have a lot of fun. Hoops provided. $15. Angela Reitter, certified Hoop Love Coach and Hoola-Fit instructor.

SALT, FAT, ACID, HEAT: WATCH PARTY & DISCUSSION

Fri. July 7, July 14, July 21, July 28; 11 a.m. to noon

Join this 4-week program to watch the popular series “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat”. Each week we explore one of these 4 central principals of flavor. Watch and discuss how to incorporate the elements into delicious dishes! Taryn Krietzman, RDN AVOID MEDICATION

ERRORS AT HOME

Fri., July 7; 2 to 3 p.m.

Shesha Desai, PharmD, RPh, BC-ADM will help to ensure you are taking medications properly, as ordered by your doctor. Bring all over-the-counter and prescription medications.

TAI CHI AT GROUNDS FOR SCULPTURE

Thu., June 22; 10:15 to 11:15 a.m.

This is a special edition Tai Chi class in nature (weather permitting) and serenity elevating your experience.

TEA PARTY

Fri., June 23, 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Pinkies up! Let’s talk tea and try some famously tasty pairings. Hats are encouraged.

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

AROUND TOWN Green Fair set for June 10

The annual Bordentown Green Fair returns to historic Bordentown City for the 14th straight year. This year the fair will feature more than 50 vendors and exhibits designed to educate and encourage people of all ages to adopt a more sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle.

The fair is sponsored by the Bordentown City and Bordentown Township Environmental Commissions. The free event will take place rain or shine on Saturday, June 10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Carslake Community Center, 207 Crosswicks St., Bordentown City.

This year’s Green Fair is focused on energizing the community with innovative ideas, actions, and products that encourage people to ‘think globally and act locally.’ Visitors will discover ways that they can work together collectively and as individuals to make a difference now and for future generations.

There will be live music and entertainment, delicious food for purchase from three local restaurants, including the HOB, Sunday’s Ice Cream and Café, and

new this year, Red’s Rolling Restaurant. The day is set to include free raffles for eco-prizes, live animals, sustainably and locally made crafts, home decor body care products and more. A complete list of exhibitors, entertainers and special events can be found at cityofbordentown. com.

Bordentown City and Bordentown Township Police will be on hand to register resident’s bikes at no cost, and will have a drop box for unneeded prescription medications. Children are invited to participate in the Green Fair Passport Program, where our young friends are invited to collect stamps and win fun, ecofriendly prizes.

Representatives from the Trenton Boys and Girls Club will be accepting gently used bike donations. Kara Parker of Project Bolsa will be accepting used, clean T-shirts for upcycling into reusable shopping bags, and The Beekeyper’s Wife (not a typo) will be accepting crayons that will be upcycled into candles.

See NEWS, Page 6

Current Bordentown

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

EDITOR

Joe Emanski (Ext. 120)

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Rich Fisher, Susan Van Dongen, Lilly Ward CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST

Doug Kiovsky

AD LAYOUT AND PRODUCTION

Stacey Micallef (Ext. 131)

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Jennifer Steffen (Ext. 113)

Huber - Moore Funeral Home

Angela Ryan, Manager, NJ Lic. No. 4586

517 Farnsworth Avenue

Bordentown, New Jersey 08505

(609) 298-0330

www.huberfuneralhome.com

Community News Service

9 Princess Road, Suite M Lawrenceville, NJ 08648

Phone: (609) 396-1511

News: news@communitynews.org

Events: events@communitynews.org

Sports: sports@communitynews.org

Letters: jemanski@communitynews.org

Website: bordentowncurrent.com

Facebook: facebook.com/bordentowncurrent

Twitter: twitter.com/mercerspace

9,000 copies of the Bordentown Current are mailed or bulk-distributed to the residences and businesses of Bordentown 12 times a year.

TO ADVERTISE call (609) 396-1511, ext. 113 or e-mail advertise@communitynews.org

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

LUNCH at LUCCA

We offer an upscale lunch experience without the dress code.

Whether you are stopping in for a quick business lunch or a leisurely meal with friends, you can expect the same exceptional cuisine, service, and ambiance that we are known for - all in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

So come as you are, and enjoy a delicious lunch at Ristorante LUCCA! We look forward to serving you!

Closed Monday

Lunch: 12:00pm - 3:00pm (Tuesday - Friday)

Happy Hour: 3:00pm - 6:00pm (Tuesday - ursday )

Dinner: 5:00pm - 11:00pm (Tuesday - Sunday)

Lounge: 6:00pm - 1:00am

Other items to be collected include used eyeglasses, used sneakers and shoes, plastic jar lids, and soda can tabs. Donation bins will be located at the front of the community center.

At the fair, the following items will be collected for Bordentown Township’s recycling programs: snack wrappers, chip wrappers and oral hygiene products and packaging (for example, toothbrushes, floss containers, empty toothpaste tubes) for Terracycle; and plastic shopping bags, bread bags, Ziploc bags, plastic packaging, and e-commerce bags for NexTrex.

Finally, bring your empty pizza boxes for Bordentown City’s pizza box recycling program. Collection bins and additional information will be located on-site.

Visitors can bring all types of native indoor and outdoor plants to swap with one another.

Denise McCormack will be the master of ceremonies for the day’s planned entertainment. Scheduled to take the stage are Jeff Griesemer at 10 a.m., Yoga by with Gina Guillen Studio at 10:35, Tehani Mid-East and Polynesian Dance Company at 10:35 and 11:45, Acoustic Mix Tape at 10:55, Bordentown History

Talks by Michael Skelly at 11:30 and 1:30, Lime at 12:05 and Bordentown Parlor Pickers at 12:55.

Parking will be available at four locations: on-site; at the Mary, Mother of the Church Parish parking lot, located at 45 Crosswicks Street (lot is accessible one block over, from Elizabeth Street); at the Bordentown Township municipal build-

ing, located at 1 Municipal Drive; and at the Riverline Parking lot. A shuttle will be available from all the parking locations throughout the day.

BRHS students nominated for 9 Cappie awards

Bordentown Regional High School is proud to announce that their production of the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and the BRHS Cappies Critic Team have been nominated for nine 2023 Greater Philadelphia Cappie Awards.

The 2022-2023 BRHS Cappies Critic Team has been nominated for the Outstanding Critic Team Award. This year’s team, under the guidance of Lead Critics seniors Ryan Kaufman and Olivia McGlone, included senior Defnenur Gumus and juniors Aidan Bramley, Amelie DelaCruz and Tyler Thalhauser. The BRHS team has spent the school year attending area productions and serving as representatives for the Cappies program. Their reviews have been selected for publication in area newspapers seven times this year.

Senior Jake Sfraga has been nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical for his performance as Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Seniors Ryan Kaufman and Olivia McGlone have received Bordentown Regional High School’s first ever nomination for Outstanding Marketing and Publicity for their creative efforts advertising

the BRHS 2023 musical. Senior Sonali Prabhu has been nominated for Outstanding Sound for her work on Joseph.

Senior Olivia McGlone has been nominated as Outstanding Solo Dancer for her role as Mrs. Potiphar in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. McGlone has also been honored with a nomination for Outstanding 12th Grade Critic.

Junior Aidan Bramley has been nominated for Outstanding 11th Grade Critic for his work with the Bordentown Cappies Critic Team.

Freshman Brynn Bowyer has been nominated for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance in Joseph. In addition, Bowyer has been chosen as the recipient of the 2023 Greater Philadelphia Cappies Spirit Award for Bordentown Regional High School, recognizing her energetic spirit, positive attitude, and indefatigable work ethic throughout the Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat rehearsals and performances. She is the first BRHS freshman to receive the honor.

The BRHS pit orchestra received a nomination in the category of Outstanding Orchestra.

The Cappies is a national program that honors and celebrates the achievements of high school theatre, which culminates in an annual Gala. This year’s Gala will be held at Cardinal O’Hara High School on May 21st to honor high school theatre productions from the 2022-2032 season.

Bordentown Regional High School is home to International Thespian Society Troupe 6803, which has won awards for both its productions and individual students at the New Jersey Theatre Night Awards, the Greater Philadelphia Cappies, the New Jersey State Thespian Festival, and the International Thespian Festival. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was presented at the high school’s performing arts center on February 24 and 25 of this year.

Bordentown Pride and Community Day set for June 10

The 3rd annual Bordentown Pride and Community Day will take place on Saturday, June 10 (the same day as the Bordentown Green Fair) beginning at 2 p.m. at the Bordentown River Line train station.

There will be remarks from local, county and state officials followed by a proclamation presentation honoring the parade’s first trans grand marshal. That is set to be followed by a parade through downtown Bordentown, culminating with an after-party hosted by the HOB Tavern on Second Street, one of the event sponsors, along with food and drink spe-

Bordentown Regional High School students perform in their February 2023 production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”

cials and other discounts at participating downtown businesses.

This year’s event includes an expanded list of activities, including wedding ceremonies at Old City Hall, performed by Burlington County Clerk Joanne Schwartz. Couples interested in being wed that day should contact the Burlington County Clerk’s Office at (609) 2655189 to book a time on June 10.

There is no fee for the service, but couples must obtain a marriage license from the municipality where they reside or from Bordentown City if the couple live outside New Jersey. More information on how to book a wedding time can be found online at co.burlington.nj.us.

Activities will continue throughout the day with a community fun zone, sponsored by Bordentown Home for Funerals, that will feature live music, children’s arts & crafts, face painting, and a bouncy house. The day will also include a pet fashion show and area rescues that are available for adoption, a henna tattoo artist, and free rapid HIV/STD testing thru a state grant sponsored program administered by Burlington County and run by Jefferson Health.

The day is also sponsored by Wags for Walkies, Old City Hall Restoration Committee, Icon Boutique, That Girl Friday, Sharing Temple Counseling, Leaping Dog Art Studios, and Bordentown Printers.

Historical society garden tour to return June 24

After experiencing what it calls a a historic turnout last year, the Bordentown Historical Society is getting ready to present its annual History in Bloom Annual Garden Tour again this June.

The tour is scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 24, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring first-time and returning gardens among those on display in the community.

The starting location for the garden tour is the BHS Friends Meeting House, 302 Farnsworth Ave., Bordentown. Tour pamphlets and maps will be available at the house.

Advance payment is available online now at bordentownhistory.org. Those interested can also buy tickets in person at Icon Boutique/Shop 202, 204 Farnsworth Ave., Bordentown. Tickets will be available on the day of the event at the meetinghouse starting at 10:30 a.m.

Tour Cost is $18 for BHS Members and $22 for nonmembers. Children ages 8–16 are $10; children under 8 are free.

Rain date is Sunday, June 25; check website or historical society Facebook page for weather updates.

Bordentown City Farmers Market returning for another season

The Bordentown City Farmers Market is set to return on Sunday, June 4 at the Carslake Community Center.

Organizers say the market is set to take place every Sunday, June through October, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m..

Confirmed vendors for this season include Daniela’s Heavenly Cakes, Marsha Dowshen Pottery, Sourland Mountain Spirits, Scrumptious Scrubs, Amalaka LLC, Buds and Botanicals LLC, Bordentown City Cats, Recreations by Peeps, Hlubik Farms, Mister Softee and Gastons Bake Shop.

The market will again be partnering with Bordentown Arts to provide live music all season.

Market managers for 2023 are Yasmin Qazilbash and Kara DeRose. The Carslake Community Center is located at 207 Crosswicks St., Bordentown.

Fieldsboro Man arrested for fatal shooting in Hamilton Township

A Burlington County man has been arrested for the shooting death of Matthew Morales in Hamilton on May 17.

Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri announced on May 18 that an investigation conducted by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force and the Hamilton Police Division had resulted in the arrest.

Joshua Davis, 18, of Fieldsboro, is charged with one count of first-degree murder, one count of second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and one count of second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon. He was taken into custody without incident Wednesday afternoon in Mount Laurel. The prosecutor’s office filed a motion to detain Davis pending trial.

Hamilton police officers responded to a shooting in progress in the 4900 block of S. Broad Street shortly after 1 a.m. on Wednesday, May 17. Upon arrival, officers located a male victim in the driveway of a home near Pilgrim Way suffering from a gunshot wound.

The victim, identified as Morales, 28, of Blackwood, was transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead a short time later. The prosecutor’s office says that an investigation revealed that Morales was shot during an altercation with Davis on South Broad Street.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact See

Page 8

Manager/Owner Lic.

MCHTF Detective Luis Vega at (609) 9896406 or Sgt. Sherika Salmon at (609) 9603119. Information can also be emailed to mchtftips@mercercounty.org.

State awards $1.6 million in Burlington County for recreation improvements

The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs has awarded more than $1.63 million in Local Recreation Improvement grants to Burlington County and several of the county’s municipalities and school districts.

The grants included awards to both Bordentown City and the Bordentown Regional School District.

Bordentown City received a $78,000 grant to make improvements at the 2nd Street Playground. Bordentown Regional School District received $83,000 for bleacher replacement.

Sen. Troy Singleton said the grants would provide funding for projects that will benefit residents across Burlington County. “These grants will provide vital funding to help advance projects at schools, playgrounds, and parks throughout Burlington County that meet that objective,” Singleton said in a media release.

Also among the 21 grants awarded to Burlington County governments is a $78,000 grant to Burlington County to support engineering and design for a new 4-mile trail connecting the County’s Willingboro Lakes Park with the Willingboro’s Mill Creek Municipal Park.

And another county project that received funding is the new all-inclusive playground at the Burlington County Special Services School in Westampton. The DCA awarded the school district $83,000 to aid with construction costs.

The 12,500-square-foot playground is currently under construction and will feature a new safe play surface and all updated equipment designed to be completely accessible and barrier free. It will be used by Special Services students but will also be open for the public to use when school is not in session. Burlington County contributed $400,000 in funding towards building the playground.

County grant to help preserve Bordentown railroad history

The Bordentown Historical Society has been promised a grant from the Burlington County Commissioners board to assist with the development and installation of interpretive signs along the Camden and Amboy Railroad rights-of-way in Bordentown City.

Water tank gets a fresh coat

young adult light science fiction adventure story about Dana Jefferson, a young woman searching to uncover her family’s secret military science project deep in the Pine Barrens, aided by “local boy” Nick Andrews and her two military grade roller skates, Laverne and Shirley. Through their friendship-based adventure, the two discover strength to confront their shortcomings as well as stay one step (or skate) ahead of a nefarious organization with ties to Dana’s family.

Blatherwick says his story is based on the dark vastness and rich local communities in South Jersey, with some familiar and not-so-familiar sights and locations. He walked away from a career in financial data during the Covid lockdown to pursue his dream, rebuild his career, and confront his diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder — symptomatic.

“My father passed away in 2017, and as the first responder on the scene, I carried a lot of weight and feelings that made me reflect on my life goals. I found a support group after my diagnosis by a professional counselor, and I looked at what my strengths were, what I wanted people to really know about me, and how I could use my skills to do good work. It was like being a super-hero with math,” he says.

He currently works in the finance department of a nonprofit that provides housing and life assistance for people with disabilities.

“We all love a good hero story. There was no better way to make my dream come true than by selling the building blocks that enamored me with superheroes and pop culture.”

But why roller skates?

As proposed in the grant, the signs will detail historic sites and topics, such as the Farnsworth Avenue Stone Arch Bridge, the Bordentown Cut and Causeway, the John Bull Steam Engine and other railroad history facts.

Burlington County says it will distribute $78,861 in local historic preservation grants this year to help support operations, projects and special events such as this. The grant for the Camden and Amboy Railroad project was for $8,500.

“Burlington County is home to history spanning hundreds of years from the indigenous people and early Colonials through the Industrial Revolution and fight for Civil Rights,” said Burlington County Commissioner director Felicia Hopson. “Our historic sites and artifacts are among our county’s most treasured assets and these grants will support orga-

nizations committed to preserving and showcasing the history that makes Burlington County so special.

Funding for the grants comes from the New Jersey Historical Commission and its County History Partnership Program to assist existing and emerging local history organizations and other nonprofits that undertake history projects and programs.

Bordentown author publishes new novel set in New Jersey

Michael Blatherwick is the Bordentown-based author of Photograph and the Atomic Juggernaut, which he describes as a fiction love letter to New Jersey and roller skating.

In his novel, Blatherwick weaves a

“There’s something wonderful about skating. My wife is a roller skater and we’ve gone to see roller derby in Asbury Park in the past. On one of my drives, I found the imagery came to me while the radio was blasting, just the sweeping graceful but powerful charge of a skater pushing against the pavement faster and faster. Each chapter in my book bears the title of a song to keep that soundtrack moving along. It’s a built-in playlist if the reader chooses to follow it, and there may be a few Easter eggs buried inside those lyrics as well,” he says.

A sequel, Photograph and the Daughters of Invention, is scheduled for release in summer of 2023. A third book’s draft is almost complete, with a planned release date of 2024.

“It’s important to really feed your readers and keep up with their expectations. It’s a bit of pressure, but I find that it keeps me on track and helps me work through my PTSD symptoms as I project them onto my poor protagonist through the series. It’s a hero’s journey for sure, but it’s also a happy ending.”

The Bordentown water tank on Crosswicks Road went under wraps this spring and emerged in mid-May with a fresh coat of paint. (Facebook photo/City of Bordentown.)

BORDENTOWN REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL CONGRATULATES THE CLASS OF 2023

Tessa Ackep

Jamaar Tyree Acosta

John Acosta

Destini Alexis A

Akua Agyapomaa Aggrey

Messiah Alexander

Lisbeth Angelina Almanzar

Brandon Austin Ambrose

Brandon Arias

Chloe Rebecca Arnold

Yara Mohamed Badawi

Jadon omas Baer

Liam Dennis Baker

Aayush S. Banavali

John Elliott Bassett

Jessica Rachel Bassion

Taylor Elyce Bassion

Madison Ann Bell

Faith Florence Berenato

Noah James Bergen

Garrett Frederick Beristain

Jamal Daniel Bethea

Kyle Betts

Jay Charles Beyers

Michael Scott Bisceglie

Julia Anne Braun

Miranda Reese Briel

George Wiley Briggs

Oriana Alyse Bree Brittingham

Kirk Douglas Buddenbaum

Ava Juliet Buono

Ryan Michael Burroughs

Ian James Campbell

Isabella Grace Candelori

Valentina Maria Candelori

Cooper omas Carr-Olschewski

Brenda Lynn Chapman

Meghan Cheeseman

Liyu Chen

Livianna Diora Chmielinski

Matthew James Comeau

Milo Ehrlich Cook

Evan Ryan Cooper

Joseph Ryder Crilly

Brian Cruz

Gavin Connor Curran

Clara Teresa DeChiara

Julien Charles DeLorenzo

Angelina Elizabeth Demkowicz

Matthew Alexander Diccion

Iyces Bre’Asia Dirkson

Kiernan Arthur Egan

Dominic Eisele

Franklin Edward Engler Jr.

Lily Enslin

Michael Joseph Erickson

Maria Escobar

Candace Marie Farrell

Emma Louise Filkohazi

Michael Anthony Fisher Jr.

Isiah William Florence

Kierlyn Suzanne Flynn

Jayla Justine Fresco

Lucas Edward Fryc

Christopher Gamble

Kush P. Gandhi

Mercedes Garro

Jillian Michaela Giangrasso

Pavnit Gill

Daymond Anthony Gillette LaLumiere

Katie Lyne Glenn

Elijah Drew Gliem

Ali Taylan Gorel

Jillian Grace Gosselin

Tatianna Irene Green

Mya Gronostajski

Brooke Marie Guire

Defnenur Mary Gumus

Anastazia Evy Harkel

Kaitlin Grace Harker

Gianna Teresa Harris

Collin Jason Hartz

Isabella Grace Hernandez

Raymond Joseph Hollopeter

Allison Hoppe

Erin Constance Hoppe

Ava Grace Hornbeck

Clayton Armalinda Hubbard

Sabeeha Mahas Hussain

Giovania Elizabeth Hutman

Jacob R. Hutman

Carleigh Myranda Johnson

Ryan Phillip Kaufman

Logan Patrick Kelly

A ekar Hassan Kibria

Tynessa Kinlaw-Powell

So a Marie Klama

Jason Kumi

Ella Nicole Lamont

Melinda Maria Lee

Ceyani Joinae Lewis

Julia Maria Lubrano-Lavadera

Alexis Summoy Luke

Anna Elizabeth Madden

Sarah Mahrous

John Manion Jr.

Cadence Faith Mapes - Klemic

Jack Robert Martin

Tristian Martinez

Lawnah Massaquoi

Melissa I. Matamoros

Milania Maurice

Anthony Salvatore Mazzella

Madison Christina Mazzilli

Joshua Clay McDaniel

Olivia Michelle McGlone

Katherine Christie McWhirk

Sean Michael McWhirk

Aaliyah Istmenia Mena

Eyad Minhaj Merajuddin

Sucheth Rao Mididoddi

Christian Michael Montalvo

Maximus Mora

Dennis Michael Morolda

Daniel Michael Moshinsky

Jorge Mario Moya

John Ethan Murphy

Caitlin Chance Myers

Nathaniel Martin Allan Nazario

Ryan Neal

Matthew Ryan Nemes

Kerry Joseph Nicholas

Kylie May Nutret

Andre Christopher Ochoa

Brandan David Odri

Chizitelu C. Ogbutor

Olivia Lynn Ola

Avian Oppong

Arion Anthony Owes

Christopher B. Packard

Emma Palasanu

Cole omas Pancoast

Trevor Wilson Papp

Asa Lamont Paris

Cameron Patterson

Mia Virginia Pettiford

Michael James Poinsett

Sonali Prabhu

Patrick John Redwood

Nathan Ashton Reed

alia Ann Revy

Alba Gabriela Rivera

Avianna Rivera

Ingrid Rivera-Robles

Eliott Ezra Robinson

Robert Edward Rodweller

Katelyn Taylor Roock

Brandon Isaac Rosenblatt

Gavin Mitchell Rosenblatt

Angelina Rossi

Benjamin Rowe

Jack Barry Runner

Madison Nicole Russell

Joseph Eden Andrew Russo

Prabhjit Singh Sandhu

Stephen James Saranin

Chloe Sargent

Scott Rocco Schreiner

Gavin J. Sexton

Jake Ryan Sfraga

Randi Elizabeth Sherman

William Daniel Sikorski

Taranjot Singh

John David Slayback

Anthony Brice Smith

Jason Robert Smith

Crystal G. Soto

Jaymir Spears

Ashlee Rebecca Sprague

Samantha Dawn Stillwell

Brandon Sucuzhanay

Melanie Sucuzhanay

Keira Reece Sutton

Brendan James Swanson

Harrine Abigail Taylor

Holden Joseph Todaro

Christopher Ryan Tonzini

Artemis Etsuko Touch

Dafne Rose Turkmenoglu

Caitlyn Abigal Tyler

Aaron Edric Vedaraj

Natalia Arely Villanueva

Dillon Riley Wallace

Matthew Loyal Walters

Kayla Marin Weise

Victoria Schooley Wheeler

Adam Michael Wieczkowski

Amaziah Danyell Sariya Williams

Shanoya Shaneilia Williams

Change,” at Studio 54 RoundAbout Theater. Plus, he still takes private lessons, and he’s working on an album of original music.

He can also be heard around Bordentown, playing in such events as the city’s recent PorchFest! and at local taverns, such as the HOB.

So, what exactly is his career: teacher, performer, composer/arranger?

“For most musicians, it’s a little bit of it all,” Lee says. “What defines us is what makes us happy. We all give back, so teaching for me — which I’ve been doing for about 20 years — is my way of giving back.”

Area music lovers will get several chances to sample Lee’s varied talents. On May 28, Lee and his wife, Elizabeth, a cellist, performed with Collegium Musicum to launch Bach on Hilltop Park, the summer chamber music concerts at Hilltop, also in Bordentown.

This series, now in its second year, will present Bach and other classical music, but also a mixture of jazz, as well as the ensemble’s take on pop classics. “Bach, Beatles and Baroque,” as Lee describes it.

The free concerts at Hilltop will be on the last Sunday of each month: June 25, July 30, and August 27.

Alexei Yavtuhovich is the founder, president, and artistic director of Collegium Musicum, a nonprofit founded in 2018 and based in Old Bridge. Lee is on the executive board of Collegium Musicum as director of Jazz Ensembles.

“Bach on Hilltop was my idea,” Lee says. “Ever since I moved to Bordentown, I wanted to bring more music to this area to contribute to the art and culture scene. I partnered up with Alex so we could combine our talents and bring more musicians and friends together.”

Currently a lower strings specialist and assistant orchestra director at Stevens High School (which boasts one of the top high school orchestras in the country), Lee says being an educator actually helps enhance his performance skills.

“I teach during the day, but at night I become a musician,” he says. “(Music) is a craft, so you have to be proficient and play at a high level, and that in turn helps you teach.

“I’m traveling up and down New Jersey, but I do it in moderation,” he says, adding that when classes are over at Stevens, he can just hop on a train and head to the city. And while Bordentown is a little south of the Big Apple action, he finds it ideal.

“We’ve lived here for about four years, and for us it’s perfect, right in the middle between New York and Philadelphia, and we love the community,” he says.

“I choose when I can play in New York, for example at Birdland with Charu

Suri. We’ve also played at Carnegie Hall, and more locally, at the Lyceum in Burlington.”

Lee and guitarist Raul Abbad, another music teacher at Stevens High School, are working on a recording to be released later this year filled with traditional jazz, world music, and a few originals. The music draws from Lee’s Italian-American background, as well as Abbad’s Peruvian heritage.

The bassist/composer likes to borrow melodies and themes from the Italian folk songs he heard from his immigrant grandparents and blend them with his own compositional concepts. Lee reflects that the Peruvian sounds Abbad contributes have a similarity to the Italian songs.

Lee savors exploring the array of sounds of non-Western music, noting that, “As a bassist, I can play all styles of music, and I have my hand in a bunch of different (world music projects). It all helps you understand the life and culture of other countries.”

Growing up in the Toms River/Brick area, Lee hails from a musically enthusiastic Italian-American family, with roots in the Calabria region of Italy. Lee says his father played rock and roll/R&B trumpet and bass guitar, notably for parties at Rutgers.

The story goes that his dad was good enough to be invited by a young Bruce Springsteen to join The Boss’ band, but Lee’s dad turned down the opportunity.

Professionally, Lee’s father taught math at Middlesex County Vocational Schools, then worked for the New Jersey State Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired. His mother was a home economics teacher in the Jackson Township school district.

His dad’s musicianship, as well as his collection of 1960s rock records, were a big influence on young Justin.

“My dad was playing Vanilla Fudge and stuff like that, and I was listening to Led Zeppelin and the Beatles when I was just a kid,” Lee says, adding that he picked up the electric bass in eighth grade. “My dad taught me some basic scales, and I just said to myself, ‘I want to be a musician.’ My parents were OK with it.”

Acoustic/upright bass came later, when Lee studied music education at Montclair State University. Thanks in large part to master teacher Linda McKnight, Montclair is where Lee really sharpened his skills and intensified his dedication to music.

“She’s very famous in the bass world,” he says. (Indeed, McKnight is part of the music faculties at the Manhattan School of Music, Columbia University, and New York University, in addition to Montclair State.)

Dr. Steven Reff, DDS , Dr. Avani Patel, DMD, Dr. Pankaj Puri, DDS, Renee Brown, RDH

Lee received a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Montclair, and a Masters of Music in Bass Performance from Rutgers University. Aside from McKnight, he praises such teachers as Kevin Brown, Tim Cobb, Lou Kosma, and Rufus Reid for their wisdom and mentorship.

Lee also names late jazz geniuses Charles Mingus and Jaco Pastorius as influences, as well as Israeli bassist Avishai Cohen and Philadelphia native bassist/bandleader/composer Christian McBride.

“He’s my role model, because he’s not only an amazing player and teacher, he’s a radio host and a producer, he’s so multifaceted — and he also happens to be a really good person.”

Lee balances his time between the CPNJ and the Chelsea Symphony with the Bob Page Jazz Trio, and he is also coowner of Allemande Ensembles, LLC.

In addition to his work on Broadway, Lee performed with the new off-Broadway musical “Camp” at Theatre Row, and has appeared on two episodes of “Mozart in the Jungle” on Amazon Prime. In the fall of 2021, Lee played the U.S. premiere of Jeff Beal’s Concerto for Six-String Electric Bass and Double Bass.

Lee’s wife, Elizabeth, is also a longtime performing musician and private cello teacher. The couple has two young daughters.

They were living near the Jersey Shore, and knew they needed to relocate, but were being urged by friends toward north Jersey, with its proximity to New York.

The Lees discovered Bordentown by accident, driving around, exploring this side of the state. The “energy” from the town’s restaurants, independent shops, and a handful of friendly people they met really put the hook in them.

“We were out on a drive and found ourselves in Bordentown for the first time, and we thought it was awesome, we fell in love,” he says. “Then we moved here and learned the history and I was even more impressed.”

“I saw that Bordentown was near a train station, so it would be easy to get to New York and Philadelphia,” Lee says, imagining inviting his musical friends from the city to come on the train, visit and play in Bordentown. “It just seemed to us that the people who live here really care about their city, and there’s a warm, welcoming vibe.”

Collegium Musicum presents Bach on Hilltop Park, a free chamber music series, the last Sunday of the month, 6:30 p.m., Hilltop Park, near the intersection of 2nd and Bank streets, Bordentown. Dates: June 25, July 30, Aug. 27. Phone: (732) 874-0871. Web: collegiummusicumnj.org.

Justin Lee will be performing at the Lyceum in Burlington City on Also I will be performing at the Lyceum Hall Center for the Arts in Burlington City on Saturday, July 15 at 7 p.m. Tickets: lyceumhallarts.com.

Lee can also be found performing every Tuesday night at Eddie V’s Prime Seafood in Paramus. For more information visit justinleebass.com.

The Foundation for Bordentown Traditions

The City of Bordentown with The Foundation for Bordentown Traditions presents

The 10th Annual Street of Dreams Car Show presents

Saturday, June 17th

5 pm - 9 pm

Saturday, June 17th 5 pm - 10 pm

Rain date: June 24th

Live Music

Rain date: June 24th

Live

•Domestic

• 1998 or Older Only

• Domestic or Foreign

• Stock or Modified

•Registration Closes Promptly at 5 pm

•Awards 9 pm

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•Cars Pay $15 Day of Show

• Registration Closes Promptly at 5 pm or when full.

CONTACT JEFF ABOUT CARS 609.209.0852

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July 1st (rain date Friday, July 8th) 4 pm to 9:30 pm Joseph Lawrence Recreational Facility/Veterans Memorial Park, Ward Ave.

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email: bordentowntraditions@gmail.com

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Bordentown resident Justin Lee is on the executive board of Collegium Musicum as the Director of Jazz Ensembles.

Obvious, in which the protagonist has a penchant for pointing out all that is obvious to those around him.

At West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North, he continued to nurture a love of film by taking TV and film production classes, creating the short film Random Access Memories featuring a spandex-clad robot that is loaded with the memories of a deceased teenager. He went on to study film at Mercer Community College in West Windsor in 2017, where he made “Girls Like Chocolate,” a short film about teenage crush gone awry that went on to win Best Student Comedy at the Brightside Tavern Film Festival in 2018.

At Montclair State University, he earned his B.F.A. in filmmaking. While a student at M.S.U., Stern conceptualized “Caricature Carl” in 2019, completing the film for his senior thesis in 2022.

He describes his films as “live action cartoons,” citing an interest in animation as well as a love of comedies created by filmmakers such as Charlie Kaufman, Spike Jonze and Jim Henson.

“I don’t take myself too seriously. I think a lot of student filmmakers can have a habit of taking themselves a little too seriously, and never cracking a joke, and I never want to do that,” Stern said.

Collin Wehr, the producer of “Caricature Carl” as well as a classmate of Stern at M.S.U., admires Stern for his commitment to the genre of comedy as well as his sense of determination throughout the filmmaking process.

“I loved that Ross was unafraid to [write] an unabashed comedy, and make his vision as uncompromising as he could, and tell the story that he wanted to tell,” Wehr said.

Although Stern has a deep appreciation of the work of well known filmmakers, he never seeks to emulate another filmmaker’s work. Most of his ideas stem from his own experiences.

“Anything I write is somewhat inspired by real life to a certain extent,” Stern said. “The characters are either slightly like me or take on an aspect of my personality. A lot of times I’m writing stuff that’s inspired by something that happened.”

With “Caricature Carl,” Stern speaks to the challenges of being an artist. Creating a short film as a student was not without obstacles, such as finding a location to film, securing funding, and the casting process.

The filming location provided a unique challenge, as Stern had originally hoped to film in a park in Montclair. However, officials told Stern that filming could

only take place on weekdays, creating a challenge for a crew composed of mostly college students.

Instead he decided to film in a private park in Greenbriar Horizons, A 55-plus community in Bordentown, where his

parents live. Rochelle, an art therapist, and Adam Stern, a dentist, play a wealthy couple in the film.

“I’m the resident young person of the neighborhood–everyone kind of knows me,” Stern said.

Securing funding involved setting up a campaign on the site Indiegogo, where anyone could contribute to the film’s production budget. The campaign included a humorous video of Stern and Caricature Carl debating the merits of the campaign, which ended up raising $1,777 for the original budget of $1,500.

Finding actors for the two leads proved to be challenging as well, but the obstacle was quickly overcome. When Hamed and Chiluwal auditioned for the lead roles, Stern felt confident that they suited the unique personas of Carl and Abdul.

“These characters were hard to find actors for. I feel really lucky that the few that did apply I felt were perfect for the roles,” Stern said. “David brought a lot of angry violence to Carl, I think. Abdul, Jayandra brought a cool chillness.”

The artwork featured in the film also played an important role in the film, the exaggerated caricatures a perfect accompaniment to Carl’s abrasiveness

“Those drawings are effective in that people laugh at them in the movie the most,” Stern said.

Ross Stern with the “Best Comedy” trophy at the Brightside Tavern Shorts Fest in Jersey City, July 2022. (Facebook photo.)

RAISE THE FLAG TO A SUMMER OF HISTORIC SIGHTS

Get festive with freedom at these military museums ahead of Flag Day, page 2.

from left

right: The Benjamin Temple House in Ewing, The Armed Forces Heritage Museum at the Captain James Lawrence House in Burlington, and a Nike Ajax missile on display outside the National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey at Lawrenceville.

Pictures,

to

Flag Down a Whole Month’s Worth of Featured Museums

BY DAN AUBREY AND REBEKAH SCHROEDER

Flag Day on June 14 may mark the date that America adopted the iconic stars and stripes as we now know them in 1777, but it also recognizes the formation of the U.S. Army.

As the two occasions align in this annual patriotic pattern, stitch the imagery of independence with the country’s earliest branch of the armed forces and charge forward to visit these military museums across the region.

Editor’s Note: This month’s Six09 is composed largely of sections from stories that ran in previous issues of U.S. 1, Community News Service’s Princeton metro area paper, on various dates (see the end of the article on page 8 for details).

The content has been updated accordingly for both currency and clarity.

The National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey at Lawrenceville

The original National Guard Militia

Museum of New Jersey is based in Sea Girt, but the secondary site at the Lawrenceville Field Artillery Annex, located on the New Jersey Army National Guard complex, uses its own military weapons, uniforms, photographs, documents, and interpretative texts to chronicle the state’s history of service from the early settlements through the present day.

It also claims to possess one of the largest collections of New Jersey-related Civil War research material in the country, including copies of diaries, letters, newspaper clippings, memoirs, regimental histories, and articles—all while paying attention to the diverse experiences of the New Jersey citizen soldier.

The NJ Militia Museum’s website recommends that visitors come prepared with a valid form of identification, such as a driver’s license, and enter the National Guard complex through Gate #3. After checking in with the security guard at the booth, follow directions to the parking lot and take note of the outdoor exhibits of historic tanks and large-caliber guns on display.

In a Facebook post, NGMM of NJ referred to the Nike Ajax missiles (see cover), co-designed by Bell Laboratories, as “the world’s first guided, surface-to-air

See Flag Day, Page 4

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Flag Day, continued from Page 2

While the Third New Jersey Regiment refused to give up the red, other state regiments did and created an alleged connection to today’s New Jersey: “The color of the flag adopted by the newly independent state of New Jersey was supposedly patterned after the buff facing of New Jersey’s soldiers in Washington’s army,” the museum noted.

Quickly, visitors learn that there were two uniforms used by New Jersey Revolutionary War soldiers. One was the Frenchmade uniform consisting of a blue coat with “white trim on the hat [that] depicts infantry and the white brocade [that] symbolizes the alliance with France.”

The other was the Colonial Rifleman’s uniform of flax, cotton, wool, and a rifleman’s hat. They also adopted the practice of wearing moccasins for comfort and, since riflemen often served as skirmishers and had to move quickly, mobility.

After a brief stop at the Whiskey Rebellion, when the New Jersey Militia organized 4,000 men to form three infantry and two cavalry regiments as part of a four-state militia force to address a Western Pennsylvania insurrection against the federal tax on whiskey in 1794, the next section transitions into materials on the Civil War. For additional context supplemented by

See Flag Day, Page 6

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Aubrey’s 2022 Memorial Day article on the Civil War legacies of the region, the Lawrence National Guard Militia Museum stated that New Jersey provided more than 88,000 men to the Union cause—some 10,000 over its quota—who participated in 37 infantry regiments, three cavalry regiments, five artillery batteries, and several independent militia companies. These units fought in both the Eastern and Western theaters of operations and were involved in almost every major battle.

Another text also cited the contributions of Black soldiers, noting that while a state census from the time listed some 4,866 African American men between the ages of 18 and 45, approximately 3,000 served in the Union Army and Navy.

The exhibit expands on the influence of several Civil War military leaders, such as Major General George B. McClellan, who later became Governor of New Jersey, and features a map of Trenton’s Civil War camps, such as Camp Olden and the Trenton Barracks, as well as Trenton Grand Army of the Republic memorabilia.

The following stop, Aubrey continued, focuses on the 1898 Spanish-American War, where “the declaration of war with Spain found the New Jersey National Guard

ready and eager to meet the call for troops.”

Then 20th and 21st-century conflicts take over a major section of the exhibition area with objects from World Wars I and II and the Vietnam War, which yielded the last U.S. military weapons on display at the museum.

While “war trophy” weapons from the Gulf War are on display, current military weapons are not, Kale added.

Director-curator Staff Sergeant

Andrew Walker confirmed in a quote that what Kale cited as one of the museum’s most unusual objects, “an Up-Armored Humvee door where the window ‘caught’ an RPG in Iraq between 2004 and 2005,” brings home the danger of war by showing the crater of the impact—as well as the technology that enabled soldiers to survive.

But these messages of endurance are

just as palpable when crossing over to storytelling, as the NGMM of NJ oversees the Center for U.S. War Veterans’ Oral Histories in partnership with the Library of Congress Veterans History Project, which has recorded interviews with over 600 veterans across varying campaigns and arms of service.

The National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey at Lawrenceville, Lawrenceville Armory, 151 Eggert Crossing Road, Lawrenceville. Free admission and parking. Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed on state holidays. (609) 213-3296 or njmilitiamuseum.org/lawrenceville.

Armed Forces Heritage Museum

The Armed Forces Heritage Museum is headquartered at the Captain James Lawrence House, a state-owned building on the campus of the Burlington County Historical Society that was once the family home of the naval officer who lent his name to Lawrence Township.

As commander of the USS Chesapeake during its capture during the War of 1812, Lawrence is said to have issued a fierce battle cry of “Don’t give up the ship!” as his last words, which became a rallying message

Flags fly at the entrance to the NGMM of NJ at Lawrenceville, upper left, and the Armed Forces Heritage Museum, lower left, the latter of which operates out of the Captain James Lawrence House in Burlington, right.

that lived on centuries after he perished in the attack.

That quote shares a similar inspiration for AFHM Executive Director Roy Plummer, who persevered in the decade-long process of opening the museum.

His concept originated back in 2010 as a brick-and-mortar educational center at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, which Plummer noted in “Welcome to the Armed Forces Heritage Museum,” from this year’s February 22 issue of U.S. 1.

After reconfiguring the format, the volunteer, nonprofit organization toured across Burlington County with a 32-foot mobile unit instead.

The Burlington County Historical Society campus comprises several historical buildings in Burlington City and previously hosted several of AFHM’s “Living History” lectures with veterans, so the groups built on this relationship to establish the physical AFHM museum at the Lawrence House.

Now with both permanent and rotating exhibits, Plummer continued, the organization plans for new additions like the “Immersive Experience Room,” which “will allow visitors to have an interactive, audiovisual journey into an aspect of our nation’s rich military history.”

To take a brief tour of the 1740s-era house online, visit the AFHM YouTube channel at youtube.com/@afhmus5700

The Armed Forces Heritage Museum, Captain James Lawrence House, 459 High Street, Burlington. Free. Open Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. afhmus.org.

Clarke House

The Clarke House at Princeton Battlefield State Park, built by Quaker farmer Thomas Clarke in 1772 on a vast acreage of farmland, is the sole surviving building from the Revolutionary War era and played a key role on the front lines of the Battle of Princeton.

According to the Princeton Battlefield Society website, when the Clarke family converted their farmhouse residence into a

The Thomas Clarke House, above, is known as the site where General Hugh Mercer was mortally wounded during the Battle of Princeton. “The Death of General Mercer at the Battle of Princeton, January 3, 1777,” an oil painting by John Trumbull, depicts this moment, left, with Mercer pictured at the center.

field hospital in the aftermath of the battle, they tended to injured men from both sides of the conflict. Although the Americans had secured a victory at the site, Continental Army General Hugh Mercer ultimately died from his combat wounds, with Mercer County later named in his honor.

Today, the Clarke House serves as a museum that features Revolutionary War exhibits and artifacts. Visitors are encour-

aged to walk around the battlefield and view the colonnade memorial by Thomas Ustick Walter, who served as the fourth architect of the United States Capitol.

The Thomas Clarke House, Princeton Battlefield State Park, 500 Mercer Road, Princeton. Free admission. Program fees

Flag Day, continued from Page 7

may apply. Wednesday to Friday tours by appointment only. Hours: Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon, then 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.; Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. 609-921-0074 or pbs1777.org

Benjamin Temple House

The Benjamin Temple House at Drake Farm Park in Ewing was built circa 1750, taking its name from an early area settler and prosperous farmer. Temple was the friend, as well as the brother-in-law, of Declaration of Independence signer and Hopewell resident John Hart.

While the Temple family maintained and modified the Georgian-style house at the border of Ewing and Hopewell for 150 years, records show that the house was

eventually sold in 1903 to Patrick Ryan, whose family operated a dairy there for the next half century at its spot along Pennington Road.

The Ewing Township Historical Preservation Society now operates out of the structure, which was moved and saved from demolition alongside its now-owner, Ewing Township, during the construction of Interstate 95 in the early 1970s.

From its relocated spot at Federal City Road on 26 acres of parklands, the landmark, sometimes referred to as the Old Ryan Farm or the Temple-Ryan Farmhouse, is active as a museum and a central hub for Ewing history.

Benjamin Temple House, 27 Federal City Road, Ewing Township. Free. Hours: Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m.; open house tours held on the first Sunday of every month from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.; all other times

are by appointment only with the site manager. 609-883-2455 or info@ethps.org

Washington Crossing State Park

But before the troops could successfully defeat British forces in Princeton, General George Washington’s troops famously crossed the Delaware River on Christmas Night, 1776.

As he led his men to confront the Hessians, the future president paved the way for Washington Crossing State Park in Titusville to become another reservoir of Revolutionary War historical knowledge.

Starting May 28, the Historic Education Committee of the Washington Crossing Park Association, or WCPA, will host free guided history tours on Sundays from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Washington Crossing Visitor Center Museum

According to the NJDEP website, these begin with the museum’s two galleries: one where guests can watch and discuss the NJN-produced film “Ten Crucial Days: The Road to Liberty” in the auditorium, which documents the time between Washington’s Crossing and the Battles of Trenton and Princeton, and another that houses the “over 500 authentic Revolutionary War artifacts” on loan from the Swan Historical Foundation Collection.

Managed IT Services by

Other stops include Sullivan Drive and Continental Lane, the Stone Barn, and the landing overlook by the Johnson Ferry House. Tickets must be reserved in advance via the WCPA’s page on EventBrite.

The Johnson Ferry House is a circa 1740 farmhouse that overlooks the Delaware River. Historians believe that Washington’s men might have stayed here prior to utilizing the transport services and making the journey across the freezing cold waters. The building is furnished with Colonial-era period pieces and reproductions, including an 18th-century kitchen garden.

Washington Crossing State Park is free to enter until July 1, at which point a $5 cash fee will be implemented every weekend until Labor Day on September 4.

Washington Crossing State Park, 355 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road, Titusville, Hopewell Township. Free. Hours (Visitor Center Museum): Every day from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 609-737-0623.

Hours (Johnson Ferry House): Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to noon, then 1 to 3:45 p.m. 609-737-2515. WashingtonCrossing@dep.nj.gov

More Sites to Salute

The Old Barracks, which were origi-

nally constructed during the French and Indian War in 1758 to house British soldiers, notably sheltered the Hessian forces during the Battle of Trenton. The site now actively hosts historical tours and events.

The Old Barracks Museum, 101 Barrack Street, Trenton. Open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission prices: adults, $10; students and seniors, $8; active military and children under five years of age, free. 609-396-1776 or barracks.org

Hamilton’s “Pepper House,” described online as “the first Civil War Museum in New Jersey,” has yet to reopen to the public since it closed “temporarily” because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the circa 1730 John Abbott II House down the road at 2200 Kuser Road remains in use by the Historical Society of Hamilton Township, with weekend hours from noon to 4:30 p.m.

The Civil War and Native American Museum, 2202 Kuser Road, Hamilton

Those looking for a one-of-a-kind trip into art, history, and New Jersey culture only need to drive less than an hour outside of the area code to join members of the Navy Lakehurst Historical Society for free tours of the Navy Lakehurst Heritage Center, which is located at the active US military base that is part of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

Whether you come to see exhibits in the aircraft hangar, the stained glass pieces at the Cathedral of the Air on the site’s border, or to visit where the infamous Hindenburg disaster took place, the naval history here makes the visit worthwhile.

Navy Lakehurst Heritage Center, Hangar One, Lansdowne Road, Lakehurst. Free. (732) 323-6547 or nlhs.com

As a final note, the New Jersey State Museum in Trenton also has a formidable collection of Civil War flags recovered from military units raised in New Jersey, encompassing nearly 200 cavalry, volunteer regiment, and captured Confederate battle flags that rotate through the exhibit.

***

The articles quoted and referenced, in order of online publication date: “Explore military history at National Guard Militia Museum” from November 10, 2021; “Free and Easy — Day Tripping With Kids” from March 16, 2022; and “Naval Lakehurst Keeps History Flying High” from February 8, 2023, were all written by Dan Aubrey and are available at www.communitynews.org.

Princeton Festival

Five Grammy Winners Plus Pulitzer Prize Recipients Featured

This year’s 16-day Princeton Festival showcases five recent GRAMMY® winners, including works by two recipients of the Pulitzer Prize for Music. The nineteenth season of the Festival, presented by the Princeton Symphony Orchestra, runs Friday, June 9 - Sunday, June 25. Tickets may be ordered online or by calling 609-497-0020.

The following events feature or honor GRAMMY winners.

• Friday, June 9. The trio Time For Three, winners of the 2023 GRAMMY for “Best Classical Instrumental Solo,” open the Festival with their unique brand of genre-defying music.

• Saturday, June 10. In “Aretha – A Tribute,” the Princeton Symphony Orchestra and dynamic vocalists Capathia Jenkins and Ryan Shaw sing hit songs by Aretha Franklin, who won 18 GRAMMYS during her illustrious career.

• Saturday, June 17. The Attacca Quartet, which won two out of the last four GRAMMYS for chamber music (2020 and 2023), team with dancers from American Repertory Ballet in a music and contemporary ballet program that includes works by 2002 Pulitzer Prize winner John Adams and Caroline Shaw, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for

Music (2013) and three GRAMMYS (2014, 2020, 2022) of her own.

• Monday, June 19. Singer, Met Opera star, and composer Will Liverman headlines a Juneteenth concert of spirituals and songs celebrating Black composers. Liverman’s 2023 GRAMMY recognized the recording of Terence Blanchard’s Fire Shut Up in My Bones, in which he sang lead.

The Festival takes place June 9-25 at Morven Museum & Garden, with performances almost every day, among them Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, hilarious improvisation with Broadway’s Next Hit

Musical, Andrew Lippa’s musical tribute to Harvey Milk, a collaboration of Attacca Quartet & American Repertory Ballet, a Juneteenth Celebration featuring Met Opera star Will Liverman, a “feel good” Mazel Tov Cocktail Party!, Peter and the Wolf Family Concert, and more.

2023 Princeton Festival tickets range in price from $10 - $125. While most performances take place in an outdoor performance pavilion at Morven Museum & Garden, some are located inside at Trinity Church. For dates, times, program information, and tickets, visit princetonsymphony. org/festival or call 609-497-0020.

About The Princeton Festival. The Princeton Festival is the Princeton Symphony Orchestra’s flagship summer program showcasing the performing arts. Founded in 2004, the Princeton Festival quickly established a reputation for artistic excellence and innovative programming. Every year in June, thousands of people from the mid-Atlantic region and beyond come to the Festival to enjoy the quality and variety of its programs. Offerings include opera, musical theater, dance, orchestra and chamber music, and a constantly evolving selection of other genres, including jazz, world music, choral concerts, and country music. The Festival has longstanding partnerships with public libraries and local churches, and promotes life-long learning in the arts through free educational lectures presented to a wide and diverse community.

See ad, page 11

Classes are designed for all ages to build confidence, artistry, discipline, and foster students’ love of dance. Our world class faculty is dedicated to helping each student reach their full potential, with spacious studios, new state-of-the-art dance floors, and live music. The perfect environment to learn and grow!

2023 Grammy Award winners Time For Three open the June 9-25 Princeton Festival at Morven Museum & Garden. Photo by Shervin Lainez.

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BLEND - Hamilton

Save the Date: Central Jersey Beer Fest Is October 14

Blend Bar and Bistro opened its doors in Hamilton in October of 2012 and created an anniversary event that has grown into a tasting extravaganza, the Central Jersey Beer Fest. 2023 marks Blend’s 11-year anniversary and this year’s event on Saturday, October 14th will be no exception. Blend also hosts smaller events at their restaurant location year-round.

Festival coordinator Antonio Carannante, and co-owner of Blend Bar and Bistro in Hamilton, is justifiably pumped. In the past #CJBeerFest featured a tasting of more than 150 craft beers, some wines, even a few spirits, up to 10 food trucks, live bands, and a variety of other vendors, including axe throwing. The festival has attracted an average of 3000+ festival lovers, Folks come from all over the Mercer County area, but even groups of family and friends from Philadelphia, Rhode Island, Connecticut, the Carolinas, California, New York, and more.

FaIrS & FeStIvalS SpecIal SectIon

“As with past events, we will have a strong focus on education and safety all throughout the festival grounds. Our slogan is ‘Drink Responsibly and Have Fun.’” You must be 21+ to enter. We always recommend inviting a designated driver, getting a ride, and using Ride Share options. Tip: schedule a ride a head of time.

The event will provide patrons with an unparalleled chance to sample craft beers from a wide variety of brewers, even if you “think” you don’t like beer. It’s a great chance to have a small sampling of so many new styles with different flavor profiles including some cocktails in a can, ciders and seltzers.

The beer tasting is allowed for four solid hours during the festival, but there is so much more to the event; creative food vendors, great live music and backyard games, such as bean bag toss, ladder ball, and more, to make the festival a lively day out.

“With all the other things going on, we encourage our guests to hang out while eating, listening to live music, playing games, and supporting our various other vendors, all the while remembering to drink responsibly.”

Check out our websites and social media accounts. For tickets and up to date info www.blendbar.com and www. CJBEERFEST.com

The event is rain or shine and tents will be set up in case Mother Nature decides not to cooperate. Outside food and beverages are not allowed but bring your lawn chairs or even a pop-up tent. The Central Jersey Beer Fest keeps getting bigger and better so start fall off with a bang and be part of the fun. Share your photos and experience of the event using

#CJBEERFEST on all major social media outlets. Visit www.cjbeerfest. com to purchase your tickets by June 30, 2023, for the last chance to SAVE BIG using code CNS2023. This event will sell out!

You may contact us at Blend Bar & Bistro, 911 Route 33, Hamilton. drinks@blendbar.com and info@ cjbeerfest.com. If you need to speak to someone regarding the festival sponsorship and marketing opportunities, you can reach Antonio at 609-817-5550. See ad, page 12.

L.E.A.D. FEST

Coming to Mercer County Park June 30 to July 9

Carnivals and state fairs are beloved summer traditions. There’s no better place for the whole family to enjoy rides, food, music and fun than at 2023 L.E.A.D. FEST events. Bigger and better than ever, this year’s events include carnivals and a 10-day State Fair taking place from June 30 to July 9 at Mercer County Park Fairgrounds, 1638 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor Township. Presented by L.E.A.D. (Law Enforcement Against Drugs and Violence), L.E.A.D. FEST events benefit the organization’s programs and related initiatives. L.E.A.D. provides the leadership, resources and management to ensure law enforcement agencies have the means to partner with educators, community leaders and families. The Allentown-based nonprofit’s programs help to deter youth and adults from drug use, drug-related crimes, bullying and violence. L.E.A.D. is

committed to reinforcing the mutual respect, goodwill and relations between law enforcement and their communities.

“The L.E.A.D. State Fair saw its biggest year ever in 2022 with more than 50,000 attendees. We hope to hit a new milestone in 2023,” said Nick DeMauro, L.E.A.D. executive director. “Funds raised

Saturday, October 14th 12pm

Mercer County Park **Live Entertainment**

Purchase Beer Fest tickets in June at CJBEERFEST.com for the Biggest Savings!

Use code: CNS2023

at our carnivals and the State Fair are important to L.E.A.D.’s mission, allowing us to make our programs more accessible to a greater number of youngsters in the communities we serve. We couldn’t be more excited to bring more amazing events to New Jersey this year. Our goal is to create family-friendly, community-based events that are fun for everyone while at the same time promoting anti-drug and anti-violence activities in the state.”

The jam-packed State Fair promises something for everyone including free nightly musical entertainment as well as a Business and Craft Vendor Tent on the weekends. Favorite fan attractions include Robinson’s Racing Pigs, the always-popular pie eating contest, a petting zoo, educational puppet Granpa Cratchet and Cowtown U.S.A., an all-day exhibit that contains an old-time creamery where patrons participate in preparing a cow for milking by hand. The State Fair’s midway provider, Reithoffer Shows, will ensure there’s plenty of delicious food, carnival games and prizes, and rides for children and adults alike — from a first-class Kiddie Land to super-spectacular thrill rides and

everything in between.

Gate admission is $5 on weekdays and $8 on weekends. General admission, ride tickets, and Mega Passes are on sale now at theleadfest.com. Purchase tickets early for special presale discounts!

Additional L.E.A.D. FEST carnivals bring the fun to different locations throughout the Garden State this summer. General admission, ride tickets and Mega Passes for all carnivals can be purchased in advance online at theleadfest.com.

Westfield Garden State Plaza (One Garden State Plaza, Paramus) from May 25-29; May 31-June 4; and June 7-11. Hours are Wednesday through Friday from 5 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday and Memorial Day from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Midway will be provided by Reithoffer Shows. “This year, our Paramus event starts on Memorial Day weekend,” DeMauro said. “Attending the carnival that weekend is a great way to have fun and usher in the start of the summer season.”

Monmouth Mall (180 Route 35, Eatontown) from June 2-12. Hours are Monday through Friday from 5 to 11 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 11 p.m. Midway provided by Reithoffer Shows.

Woodbridge Center (250 Woodbridge Center Dr., Woodbridge Township) from June 2 -11. Hours are Monday through Friday from 5 to 11 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 3 to 11 p.m. Midway provided by Reithoffer Shows.

Mercer County Park from June 30 to July 9. Hours are Monday to Friday from 5 to close and Saturday, Sunday and Holiday from 3 p.m. to close. Midway provided by Reithoffer Shows.

For more information and tickets, visit theleadfest.com. For more information about L.E.A.D., visit leadrugs.org or email info@leadrugs. org.

See ad, page 16

Trenton Farmers Market

Jersey fresh since 1939

Residents of the Trenton region have relied on the Trenton Farmers Market to provide locally grown Jersey Fresh fruits and vegetables since 1939. Starting off along the river in South Trenton, the Market moved to 960 Spruce Street in Lawrence Township in 1948. We’re celebrating 75 years on Spruce St. this year!

During the summer season, Trenton Farmers Market boasts half a dozen farmers from Mercer, Burlington and Atlantic Counties, many who are third generation family famers. The local season starts in April with cool weather crops like lettuce, arugula, asparagus, bok choy, leeks and spinach. May brings our famous local strawberries, kale, & leeks. June brings the first local blueberries, a brief cherry season, early beans, cabbage and carrots, and of course, sweet Jersey corn. That can only mean that Jersey tomatoes, peaches, nectarines and plums are coming in July! Local Jersey Fresh fruits and produce (including organics) will be available at Trenton Farmers Market now through November. We even have a mushroom farmer who brings both beautiful and flavorful mushrooms in many varieties.

Local fruits and vegetables are just part of the story at the Trenton Farmers Market. The Market has worked very hard to change with the times and to bring vendors in who help make the Market a destination beyond the area’s best produce.

The Trenton Farmers Market just wouldn’t be complete with our two Amish vendors, Cartlidge’s Meats, and King Foods. Fresh, top-quality meats and prepared foods with that homemade Amish country goodness are what brings so many people back week after week. Another top vendor is Pulaski Meats, the areas best connection for amazing luncheon meats, pierogies, and many other Polish and Eastern European specialties.

If that isn’t tempting enough, consider the Market’s TWO vegan eateries — Lady & The Shallot and the Savory Leaf Café! Every Saturday the Market features Terra Momo Bread Company — baguettes, croissants, focaccia, simple sandwiches,

whole grains, rye and sweet treats, too! Speaking of sweet, our own Pie’d Piper has its own following for overstuffed donuts, pies, cakes, salads and more, they are way more than a bakery. Nothing goes with great baked good like an awesome cup of locally roasted and ground coffee at Kafe Ojala or any one of hundreds of loose teas, matcha, bubble teas and fresh quiche at the Tea for All tea shop.

What’s that irresistible smell? No matter where you enter the market, chances are you’ll notice the unmistakable smell of BBQ — beef, brisket, pork, chicken, beans, corn bread and more at Hambone Opera — praised by both the Food Network and the New York Times always pleases hungry shoppers. Great for take-home dinner or eat-in lunch!

Since no one lives on food alone, the Trenton Farmers Market also features over a dozen artisan makers, creators and sellers who have been carefully curated for our shoppers. You will find handmade soaps, bath products and skin lotions, you will find our wildly popular Sea Moss vendor, textiles, woodcraft, jewelry, hand poured candles, oils and scents even a gluten free / vegan baker! And because we know pets are an important part of the family, the market has a dog treat “barkery” and vendor who sells anything you might need for your pet’s health and happiness. Need a watch or clock repaired? We have a guy. Need something from a variety store? We have a guy. We even have a smoke shop outside the market where you can try your luck at the lottery or stock up on smokes and supplies. Coming soon: a full-service lunch spot just outside the market that will be bringing sausage & peppers, burgers, hot dogs and sandwiches. Watch for the Grand Opening this summer. And watch for our night market and holiday market later this

year.

When was the last time you made a visit to the Trenton Farmers Market? Rediscover what thousands already know, that Jersey Fresh is ALWAYS in season at the Trenton

Farmers Market. 960 Spruce Street, Lawrence. Hours: Wed-Sat 9am6pm, Sunday 9am-3pm. Visit www. thetrentonfarmersmarket.com, Like us on Facebook & Instagram. See ad, page 10

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WANTED TO BUY

Wanted: Baseball, football, basketball, hockey. Cards, autographs, photos, memorabilia. Highest cash prices paid! Licensed corporation, will travel.

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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

REAL ESTATE WANTED

WE BUY HOUSES We are a premier real estate solutions company. We buy houses in any condition and pay you cash. Call 732-965-6338

COMMERCIAL SPACE

OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT: ARE YOU LOOKING FOR OFFICE SPACE IN EWING BUT CAN’T AFFORD OR DON’T NEED AN ENTIRE SUITE? DO YOU NEED TO RENT BY THE DAY? SUITE CURRENTLY IN USE BY TWO MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. SUITABLE FOR ANYONE NEEDING A qUIET, CLEAN AND ACCESSIBLE WORKPLACE. RENT INCLUDES USE OF SMALL KITCHEN, WAITING ROOM, PARKING, CLEANING SERVICE AND WIFI. CALL 609-635-3751 OR EMAIL suppsoln27@yahoo.com FOR DETAILS.

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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.

parking. variety of uses retail/offices/medical/ professional/ services/ studio/ boutique, etc. Great road visibility in well maintained Globus Plaza in Allentown bordering Hamilton Twp. Call DiDonato Realty 609-5862344/ Marian Conte 609947-4222. 3,500 SF OFFICE SPACE, Ewing/Mercer County, FREE RENT, 201488-4000 or 609-883-7900 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

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Retail Spaces for Lease: Various Locations in Town. Please Contact: Weinberg Management. WMC@ collegetown. Text 609-7311630

VACATION RENTALS

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

BUSINESS FOR SALE

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

CEMETERY PLOTS

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

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Christine Joy, a student at M.S.U. studying animation, created the majority of the artwork for “Caricature Carl.”

Creating the caricatures for the film involved actualizing Stern’s visions of the drawings, which he wanted to be grossly exaggerated and ugly, as a way to demonstrate Carl’s uncompromising personality.

“There were a lot of artistic liberties that were given to me,” Joy said. “[Ross] encouraged very exaggerated very ugly caricatures which pushed me to make [them] as crazy as possible.”

Once all of the parts of the film came together in the post production process, it was time for the finished product to be screened at the clubhouse in Greenbriar Horizons. Stern was allowed to film at the private park on the condition that there would be a screening of the film that all the residents could attend.

Interpretations of the film from Stern’s friends and family appear to vary. While some believe the message of the film is optimistic and hopeful, others see it as more cynical.

“A neighbor of mine said that she really liked the message, and her interpretation was that you need to start looking at things a different way and then you’ll be successful. It’s neat seeing other peoples

interpretations of it,” Stern said.

He finds himself in the more cynical than optimistic camp.

“I think overall, the movie’s about art’s place in a capitalist society, and that’s all I will say,” he said.

Since “Caricature Carl,” Stern has developed a podcast series consisting of 10 episodes, titled “The Stray Dog Media Lounge” alongside Wehr and Ian Baker, the sound mixer for “Caricature Carl.”

In the future, Stern, Wehr and Baker plan to establish Stray Dog Media, a film studio dedicated to making short films, and hopefully one day feature films.

He is also interested in collaborating with local filmmakers during the post production process of films, or maybe even working in a TV studio.

Currently, he is working on a script for a one-minute comedy that reflects on the prevalence violence within our culture.

It meditates on “where we use [violence] and where it’s acceptable to use it, but it’s also a screwball comedy about helping a robber steal my own TV,” Stern said. “I want to reel people in with humor, but also have them think a little bit more.”

The movie, as well as a making-of documentary, are available to watch on YouTube. Search for “Caricature Carl.”

Hoppe sisters make a difference, on and off softball field

By Rich Fisher

The plan for Bordentown High’s softball team was to have twin sisters Allison and Erin Hoppe lead the way this year.

That intention was thwarted when Allison suffered a season-ending injury just prior to opening day, leaving the Scotties without a pitcher and solid hitter.

But the other half of that tandem has more than held her own, as Erin was leading the 10-8 Scotties in hitting (.405), hits (20), and runs (16, tied with Cadence Klemic and doubles (4, tied with Kaci Benton). She also had a home run and 10 RBIs, as her consistency continues to amaze.

After missing her freshman season due to Covid-19, Hoppe hit .348 with 23 hits, two home runs and 12 RBIs as a sophomore and .357 with 25 hits, two home runs and 11 RBIs last season.

“She’s very consistent,” said Scotties coach Nicole O’Leary, who got her 100th win May 17 when Bordentown beat Florence. “She is one of the most hard working players in practice. When everyone else is kind of taking it easy, she’s still going 110 percent. She’s always committed to bettering herself which is what I think makes her that consistent player. She’s always working toward what she can do better.”

In her mind, the secret to Erin’s steadiness is simplicity.

“I just go out there and try to hit whatever pitches are being thrown,” she said. “Just make solid contact.”

And as for her improved average this year, Hoppe said, “I definitely changed my approach. I’m a lot more confident at the plate, and I’ve been trying to let the ball travel, so that’s helped.”

Another factor is extra work.

“She takes on more practice on her own after our practices,” O’Leary said. “She’s someone who makes hard contact. She’s also put down a few bunts for us, so she’s very versatile and she makes the adjustments.”

Not to be forgotten is Hoppe’s defense. The slick fielding second baseman had been in on seven double plays through 22 games.

“Erin’s fielding is definitely top notch; it is flawless,” O’Leary said. “When you watch her field a ball it’s so easy and so fluent, it’s really great to see. She definitely has taken a real stance defensively for our team. She always knows what’s going on and is making those plays.”

Again, it comes down to extra work.

“I just focus on getting a lot of reps and throwing at different angles,” Hoppe said. “My dad (Michael) hits me balls all the time. My family is a softball family.”

So true. Aside from the twins, sophomore Katelin Hoppe has replaced Allison in the circle as the Scotties main pitcher. She had a 3.11 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 63 innings. Freshman Lia Flynn has also had several starts.

“She’s killing it out there,” Erin said with pride in her younger sister.

But it has taken time. After going 24-2 and winning Central Jersey Group II, Bordentown had high hopes with Allison Hoppe returning. As a junior she went 23-2 with a 0.62 ERA and 261 strikeouts in 159 innings.

Without their ace, the Scotties started 3-6, but then won seven of their next nine with one game left in the regular season. Erin Hoppe helped spark the turnaround with more than just her bat.

“It was definitely an adjustment,” O’Leary said. “You could see it in our games those first few weeks. We were struggling a little bit to make the adjustment and knowing our team would look a little different. We went from a senior pitcher who came out last season lights

out; to a sophomore and sometimes a freshman who thought they weren’t going to play and knew they had to step up this season.

“Erin has just taken that leadership role. She has taken them under her wing and talked them through this season and kept them on track and progressing and building to hopefully a good end of our season.”

As much as the entire team misses Allison, it’s especially tough on Erin. It is her first time playing without her sister. They started in Bordentown T-ball, moved to the B-town/Jersey Bombers, and recently joined TNT in Pennsylvania.

“Definitely in the seasons prior they always were pushing each other, and Allison is still here every day working just as much mentally as she can with the girls,” O’Leary said. “I think it helps them to feed off one another and keep pushing themselves harder. They’ve been able to do that as they’ve grown.

“They’ve played together literally their whole lives, so just having Allison here and supporting her and talking to her helps. They talk about every game in practice, it still has the morale intact and the mental aspect of the game. I’m sure she’s missing being out on the field,

and it’s good to see not only Erin but a younger sister step in.”

Erin has high praise for how her sister has made an impact without playing.

“She’s been cheering us on all the way, and we’re lucky to have her in the dugout,” Hoppe said. “Other girls have been working hard and stepping up, and she’s been able to help out. She’ll try to figure out what the other team is doing and help us out with tips. Not just me, but everybody. When we’re up at bat, she’s telling us inside, outside. Helping any way she can.”

Of course, she has a little more to say to Erin when they’re alone.

“We’re definitely close,” she said with a smile. “She holds me accountable.”

The sisters will go their separate ways next year, as Allison will pitch at Drexel, while Erin is headed to Fordham. The second baseman takes satisfaction that she and her teammates were able to give O’Leary her 100th win before graduating.

“We were happy to get the win for her. It was awesome,” Hoppe said. “I’ve been with her for four years, starting freshman year online and just playing for her the next three years. It’s been great.”

Hoppe is now ready to show what she can do on the Division I stage. She was recruited by several D-I schools, but went to Fordham’s camp and “fell in love” with the coaches and the program.

After researching the esteemed academic program, it seemed like the perfect fit. Especially since Hoppe has a 4.2 weighted GPA and 4.0 unweighted. She is also on the student council, and is class secretary.

She plans to major in Biological Sciences and minor in pre-health, with an aim of being a pediatric dentist.

“I love working with kids,” she said. “I used to want to be a special-ed teacher but when I had braces, I did a project on orthodontists and became interested in dentistry. Now I get to work with kids who have special needs, and I can help them in different ways.”

Not to mention, she can still do what she loves out of the classroom.

“I’ve always wanted to play softball in college,” she said. “I’m very excited.”

And O’Leary is excited for her.

“She loves the sport, she loves being out here,” the coach said. “She loves to be that competitive player.”

And that desire has led to an extremely consistent performer who has done her best to make up for her other half’s absence.

Senior Erin Hoppe helped lead Bordentown to a successful softball season despite the loss of her twin sister, Allison, to injury in preseason. (Photo by Rich Fisher.)

BI-MONTHLY NEWS FROM CAPITAL HEALTH

Capital Health Cancer Center Approved as a Participating National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program Site

Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell is now an NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) affiliate site of the Atlantic Health Cancer Consortium (AHCC). As a participating site, Capital Health Cancer Center will now offer residents in the greater Mercer and Bucks County region access to new and innovative NCI-sponsored clinical trials in the cancer prevention and control, screening, care delivery, and treatment areas.

“The vision for our Cancer Center is clear,” said Al Maghazehe, president and CEO of Capital Health, “To deliver exceptional care for our patients in a convenient location, with the clinical and support services they need and the research to support their fight and the advancement of care. Our participation in NCORP brings more opportunities to our patients, who are at the heart of everything we do.”

“Capital Health is known for its commitment to providing people of the greater Mercer and Bucks County regions with the highest quality care close to home,” said Dr. Cataldo Doria, medical director of Capital Health Cancer Center. “With the NCORP site designation, our Cancer Center will provide patients access to cancer clinical trials and cancer care delivery studies that are available at top institutions around the nation. We look forward to contributing to NCORP’s national network of research that focuses on cancer prevention, screening, and treatment, especially in regard to how it affects access to care among underserved populations. This aligns well with Capital Health’s mission to serve urban and suburban communities in our area.”

“Academic medical centers play an important part in cancer research, but most cancer care is provided in local communities,” said Dr. Doria. “By expanding research outside academic settings as an AHCC

NCORP site, we will provide access to a larger patient population that is more diverse and better reflects the complexity of cancer care.”

As part of AHCC NCORP, Capital Health Cancer Center’s team of providers and researchers will help patients gain access to clinical trials across a broad range of cancer care benchmarks, including symptom management, prevention, screening, surveillance, care delivery and quality of life. The NCORP network’s diversity in patient age, race, and geographic location, provides a natural laboratory for developing improved strategies for cancer prevention, more efficient cancer trials, and a better balance between the risks and benefits of interventions.

“On behalf of the entire organization, I am excited to welcome Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell to Atlantic Health Cancer Consortium Community Oncology Research Program (AHCC CORP), the only New Jersey-based NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP),” said Dr. Eric Whitman, principal investigator at AHCC CORP and medical director of Atlantic Health System Cancer Care. “Together we will continue to advance the science of cancer care and shine new lights on cancer journey pathways for our patients.”

To help connect patients to advanced care options, research staff at Capital Health Cancer Center will select trials from the NCORP research portfolio that may benefit the Center’s patient population. Appropriate studies are then presented to oncology physician teams to determine if they are good fits for specific patients. When a match is made, a primary investigator is appointed, and Capital Health research staff open the trial for Capital Health Cancer Center patients.

To learn more about open clinical trials at Capital Health Cancer Center, visit capitalhealthcancer.org/ncorp to sign-up for email updates or call 609.537.6363 to schedule a consultation with one of our physicians.

Expanding Cardiac Services in Mercer County

Capital Health Heart and Vascular Institute offers comprehensive care with a multi-specialty approach highlighted by the most up-to-date techniques and treatment options. With multiple locations throughout the greater Mercer and Bucks county region, the Institute features the most sophisticated technology guided by highly trained clinical experts in medical fields such as cardiac surgery, general and interventional cardiology, nephrology, podiatry, interventional radiology, vascular surgery, and wound management and hyperbaric medicine. For more information, visit capitalheartandvascular.org.

Experienced Cardiac Surgery Team Joins Capital Health

Dr. Pasquale Luciano and Dr. Fredric Seinfeld, board certified and fellowship trained physicians specializing in cardiothoracic and cardiovascular surgery, have joined Capital Health Medical Group as Capital Health Cardiac Surgery Specialists. Dr. Seinfeld and Dr. Luciano have been working together as a leading cardiac surgical team in Central New Jersey for almost a decade and have been colleagues for more than 30 years.

As part of Capital Health Heart and Vascular Institute, Drs. Luciano and Seinfeld treat patients with heart conditions that require surgery, ranging from those who have recently suffered a heart attack (or are at high risk for one) to those who present with coronary artery disease, heart valve disease, or a range of general thoracic conditions.

Dr. Luciano performs most surgeries, including (but not limited to) open heart surgery, coronary bypass surgery, and drainage of fluid from around the heart and lungs. Dr. Seinfeld, a cardiac critical care intensivist, provides robust preparation for patients before their procedures and manages their care after surgery.

“Patients come to us from primary care providers, general cardiologists, and interventional cardiologists when they are diagnosed with serious cardiac conditions,” said Dr. Seinfeld. “Guided by the belief that accessibility is the cornerstone of patient satisfaction, we put patients and their loved ones at the center of our team. We maintain close contact with them to ensure we are always accessible and ready to provide personalized care.”

“Our collaborative approach to care aligns well with Capital Health’s philosophy of bringing the most comprehensive care for patients

who need it here in Central New Jersey and parts of Bucks County,” said Dr. Luciano. “We’re excited to provide direct consultation and guidance to patients and referring physicians, all with the goal of avoiding recovery in a rehabilitation facility whenever possible and discharging patients directly to their homes.”

DR. LUCIANO is a board certified thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon with more than 25 years of experience in central and southern New Jersey. Dr. Luciano completed a cardiothoracic fellowship at Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia and a trauma and critical care fellowship at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey. Before joining Capital Health, he worked for more than six years as the chairman of Cardiothoracic Surgery at St. Francis Medical Center in Trenton, New Jersey.

DR. SEINFELD is board certified in cardiothoracic surgery and has more than 40 years of experience in the surgical field. He completed his residency and fellowship training in cardiothoracic surgery at Yale-New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut. Before joining Capital Health Cardiac Surgery Specialists, Dr. Seinfeld was medical director of the Vascular Laboratory and chairman of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at St. Francis Medical Center in Trenton, New Jersey.

To make an appointment with Dr. Seinfeld or Dr. Luciano, call Capital Health Cardiac Surgery Specialists at 609.537.7277 or visit capitalhealth.org/cardiacsurgery for more information.

Capital Health Now Offers Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement

As part of the growing full-service cardiac program available at Capital Health’s Heart and Vascular Institute, physicians and staff from the Institute’s Structural Heart Program recently performed their first transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure at Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton, New Jersey.

TAVR is a minimally invasive treatment option for patients with severe aortic stenosis (narrowing of the aortic valve opening) or those with a failing surgical aortic valve who are at elevated risk for complications during open surgery. Experts from Capital Health’s Structural Heart Program perform procedures like TAVR to manage and treat heart valve conditions and other structural issues of the heart.

When severe aortic stenosis occurs, the heart needs to work harder to pump blood to the rest of the body, which in turn can limit your daily activity. With TAVR, an artificial valve is delivered to the heart through a thin, flexible tube (catheter) that is inserted into one of

several possible access routes and placed into the diseased valve. The procedure typically takes one hour or less to complete.

“Patients who get transcatheter aortic valve replacement experience all the benefits of minimally invasive procedures, including less pain, shorter hospital stays, and a lower risk for major bleeding,” said DR. DAVID DRUCKER, medical director of the Structural Heart Program and board certified, fellowship trained interventional cardiologist at Capital Health Cardiology Specialists. “The biggest benefit for many TAVR patients is that they usually start feeling better right away. With a heart valve that is working properly, they breathe normally, have more energy, and can go back to everyday activities.”

Following the TAVR procedure, patients are monitored in the intensive care unit (ICU) for a few hours before being moved to a standard patient room. Patients usually begin walking the same day as their TAVR procedure and are typically discharged within one or two days.

To make an appointment at Capital Health Cardiology Specialists, or to find an office near you, visit capitalhealthcardiology.org.

Minimally Invasive Procedure Dramatically Reduces Stroke Risk For Certain Atrial Fibrillation Patients

Physicians and staff from Capital Health’s Heart and Vascular Institute recently performed their first Watchman implant procedure at Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton, New Jersey. Left atrial appendage closure, which includes the Watchman device implant, is one of the new procedures that Capital Health’s expanding full-service cardiac program includes. Implantation of the Watchman device is a one-time, minimally invasive procedure for appropriate patients to prevent blood clots from forming in the heart and reducing the patient’s lifetime risk of stroke.

Capital Health’s electrophysiology team, with experts from Capital Health Cardiology Specialists, performs procedures like Watchman device implants to manage and treat patients with conditions which involve abnormal electrical behavior of the heart.

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is an irregular heart rhythm that prevents the heart from pumping blood normally. This can lead to blood pooling in a part of the heart called the left atrial appendage (LAA), where blood can form a clot. Stroke results if this clot forms and dislodges from the heart, going to the brain. People living with AFib are often prescribed blood thinners to reduce their risk for stroke. The risk of blood thinners includes bleeding and brain injury if falls occur.

“The Watchman device is now a treatment option at Capital Health for people with atrial fibrillation not caused by a heart valve problem,” said DR. SCOTT BURKE, medical director of Cardiac Electrophysiology and a board certified, fellowship trained cardiac electrophysiologist at Capital Health Cardiology Specialists. “Guided through a narrow tube that is inserted into a vein through a small incision in the patient’s leg, the Watchman implant is designed to fit into the LAA and permanently close it to prevent the risk of clots dislodging from it. The procedure can be completed in as little as 30 minutes under general anesthesia, and most patients are out of the hospital in a day or less and able to return to their daily routines soon thereafter. During recovery, the patient’s own heart tissue grows over the Watchman device to prevent the clots from developing in the heart.”

After the procedure, most patients take blood thinners for up to one and a half to three months. Clinical trials show greater than 95% success in removal of blood thinners for patients who receive the device.

To make an appointment at Capital Health Cardiology Specialists, or to find an office near you, visit capitalhealthcardiology.org.

Capital Health Recertified as Level II Trauma Center Meeting National Standards for Trauma Care for More Than 25 Years

The Bristol Myers Squibb Trauma Center at Capital Health Regional Medical Center (RMC) has been recertified as a Level II Trauma Center by the Committee on Trauma of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). This achievement is the ninth verification for Capital Health since the first in 1998. The Center, also designated as a Level II Trauma Center by the New Jersey Department of Health, is one of only 10 designated trauma centers in New Jersey and the regional referral center for injured patients in Mercer County and adjacent parts of Somerset, Hunterdon, Burlington, and Middlesex counties as well as nearby areas of Pennsylvania.

“The ACS establishes the standards of care for treating those who are severely injured and is an important advocate for all surgical patients,” said DR. DOMINICK EBOLI, director of the Bristol Myers Squibb Trauma Center at Capital Health Regional Medical Center. “After a comprehensive review by their nationally recognized trauma experts, our recertification shows the residents of our community that Capital Health continues to meet and exceed national benchmarks for care when they need it most.”

Across the Spectrum of Care

In addition to providing the necessary resources for trauma care, ACS level II verification also means that centers like the Bristol Myers Squibb Trauma Center address the needs of injured patients across

the entire spectrum of care, providing patients at Capital Health Regional Medical Center with access to important injury prevention programs, pre-hospital care and transportation, acute hospital care, rehabilitation, and research.

“As a level II trauma center, we are able to provide comprehensive care that begins with injury prevention. At the time of injury, we’re ready with 24-hour immediate access to trauma surgeons and other appropriate specialists,” said DR. DENNIS QUINLAN, associate medical director of the Bristol Myers Squibb Trauma Center. “With programs and resources that are not available in most general hospitals, our role in patient care often extends beyond our initial encounters and continues through rehabilitation.”

To learn more about the Bristol Myers Squibb Trauma Center at Capital Health Regional Medical Center, visit capitalhealth.org/trauma.

The Art of Caring for One’s Self During the Caregiving Journey

A 10-WEEK PROGRAM FOR CAREGIVERS

Wednesdays | 12 p.m.

Location: Capital Health – Behavioral Health Specialists

100 K Johnson Boulevard North, Suite 201, Bordentown, NJ 08505

This group uses a cognitive-behavioral approach to provide support, coping strategies, and increased self-efficacy in order to cope with caregiving demands and stress. DR. KRISTINA MCGUIRE, a clinical psychologist from Capital Health – Behavioral Health Specialists, leads this group, which will also teach mindfulness, acceptance, and commitment skills.

For more information and to sign up, call Capital Health – Behavioral Health Specialists at 609.689.5725. This group therapy program will be billed to your health insurance.

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

A second glimpse into the Gilder Age

Doug Kiovsky

THE BEND IN THE RIVER

Part 2 of 2

After the death of their daughter, Marion, in 1876, the Gilders felt the weight of the world on their shoulders. They went to Bordentown to stay with aunt Maria and to bury their child in the family plot of the local cemetery.

Sometime after his return to New York, Richard expressed his grief in his journal to his dear friend and noted naturalist, John Burroughs (1837-1921): “I am glad that you had some acquaintance with little Marion, whom we buried the other day. Such a brief life seems to take such frail hold of mankind, and yet, I never knew a person who impressed me more with his or her individuality… it was September, quiet and sad, with gleams of inspiration from natural beauty. We went often to Marion’s grave. We left an evergreen wreath there.”

Earlier that year, Richard and Burroughs circulated a letter to newspapers mentioning a series of possible public lectures by Walt Whitman (1819-1892) on the death of fallen President Abraham Lincoln and what his legacy meant to the nation. Meeting the unassuming poet with his signature flowing beard for the first time the previous year, Richard as a poet, was impressed with his body of work. Whitman agreed to the proposal but postponed his first lecture for a year due to severe health issues. Close to the anniversary of Lincoln’s death, on April 14, 1879, Whitman held his first lecture

in New York City’s Steck Hall. Over the next 11 years, these traveling lectures proved to be popular with audiences. In some cases, Whitman would recite the four poems that he wrote about Lincoln. They gave Whitman the financial stability that he needed

and generously thanked Richard and Burroughs for their friendship and support. He considered Richard a “sane man in the general madness” of “that New York delirium.”

As much as Richard tried to pace himself, the hectic amount of work led to “nerve exhaustion.” Ordered by his physician to take a required rest, he, his wife, and their son Rodman (born in 1877), welcomed a scenic excursion through Europe for 15 months in 1879-80. Upon their return, Richard was healthy enough to resume his duties again. But soon fate intervened once more.

A year later, Dr. Josiah G. Holland (1819-1881), the founder of Scribner’s Monthly, unexpectedly died, passing the mantle to Richard as editor-in-chief. In taking charge, his first big decision was renaming the periodical to The Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine. Filled with lavish illustrations from emerging artists like James McNeil Whistler, Frederick Remington, Thomas Moran, and others, it soon became one of the most accomplished magazines of its day.

Contributing writers included Mark Twain, Jack London, Henry James, Stephen Crane, US Presidents Grover

Cleveland and Theodore Roosevelt, and absorbing prose penned by Walt Whitman. By 1890, the magazine peaked at over 200,000 subscribers.

As the number of subscriptions and Richard’s reputation grew, so did his family. The Gilders would eventually have seven children; five would survive to adulthood. With the need for more space, the Gilders bought a summer home along the headwaters of Buzzard’s Bay in the sleepy village of Marion, Massachusetts in 1882. The grayshingled cottage blended into the natural scenery of a meadow except for a high set of stairs that led to the front door. In the back, the property sloped to the water’s edge.

Not far from a stand of white pines were the rock walls of an abandoned refinery for storing whale oil. Richard hired famed architect Stanford White (1853-1906) to design a large stone fireplace and transform the structure into a rustic art studio for his wife.

In 1886, President Grover Cleveland (1837-1908) and his young wife, Frances Folsom (1864 -1947), rented a cottage in Marion called Harbor Lane. They would reside there for the next four summers, visiting the Gilders on occasion. Although they both eventually found other summer homes to buy, they remained friends until the end.

In 1887, the Gilders had another friend, sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848-1907) create a low-relief portrait of Mrs. Cleveland as she modeled for him in the stone studio. Five years later, he completed a 17-inch medallion of her portrait. Cast in bronze, the medallion was presented to Richard a decade later from his wife as a birthday gift.

This was not the first time that SaintGaudens made something special for the Gilders. In 1879, they and their infant son, Rodman, sat for Saint-Gaudens when he produced their likeness on his first bronze relief. For eternity, their expressions are somber without the faintest traces of a smile. They may have lived in an ivory tower, but were not imprisoned by its walls. Richard saw inhumanity on a daily basis, and tried to correct its course.

In October of 1884, former president and Civil War Union general, Ulysses S. Grant, was diagnosed with inoperable throat cancer. Coming to terms with his fate, he looked gaunt as he walked into Richard’s magazine office at The Century and discussed a plan to write his personal memoirs while he was still competent.

Such a publication seemed the

On the front porch of the Gilder home in Bordentown, from left to right: Richard Watson Gilder, his daughter Dorothea, Helena De Kay Gilder (wife of Richard), artist Cecilia Beaux, Frances Folsom Cleveland (wife of President Grover Cleveland), and Gilded Age architect Stanford White. (Photo courtesy of Reese and Linda Gilder-Palmer.)

best solution to guarantee financial support for his wife and family after his death. Following the meeting, Richard remarked in a letter to a colleague:

“General Grant has just been in…spent some time here and wants us to publish his book or books. It makes me sad to see him so lame… I will tell you of our interview on Saturday. It was in every way satisfactory and I think a good impression was made on both sides… His ideas agree with ours to make a good book… at a fair commission.”

However, when writer, humorist, and publisher Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known as Mark Twain (18351910), heard about the financial offer that Richard proposed, his publishing company presented a counter offer that was more liberal than The Century could provide. Grant heartedly and emotionally accepted. Taking the loss in stride, Richard noted about Twain: “he succeeded in carrying off the prize.”

In the end, Grant’s “Memoirs” were a great triumph, handsomely paying his widow the largest single royalty check in history at that time. Despite the outcome, the prize was reclaimed years later when Twain’s company faltered and was acquired by none other than The Century.

Furthermore, Richard was humbled that the Grant family requested that his poem, The Dead Comrade, be read at the great general’s funeral.

In the autumn of 1888, the Gilders sold their home first home in New York City and purchased a larger home on Clinton Place (now Eighth Street) in the neighborhood of Washington Square. Richard boasted that he finally had work space large enough to cater to his projects.

Quite the humanitarian, he founded and became president of New York’s Kindergarten Association, the New York Association for the Blind, and the first chairman of the Tenement House Commission, in which he made

recommendations to the city government regarding substandard living conditions and fire hazards amongst tenement dwellers. However, he and his wife were against women’s suffrage, emphasizing that the right to vote would corrupt their morals and displace families.

In 1893, they sold their summer home and vacationed in the Berkshire Mountains for five years before purchasing a farm in the town of Tyringham, called Four Brooks Farm. The Gilders welcomed their first guests, former President Cleveland and his family, to the farm in the summer of 1899.

After the passing of Mark Twain’s wife, Olivia Clemens (1845-1904), the writer turned to the Gilders in his hour of grief. Her unexpected death left a huge void in the family that was hard to heal. Nothing mattered except the need to grieve away from their home of close memories.

Twain noted to Richard: “I am as one who wanders and has lost his way… she was our breath, she was our life, and now we are nothing.” He asked the Gilders if he and his daughters could stay at their farm and during that summer, and they did so. Twain’s youngest daughter, Jean, suffered from epilepsy, but found comfort in the country scenery and caring for the horses.

On a starry evening in late July, she and Rodman Gilder had the pleasure of riding a saddle horse together. The horse had been obtained from Italy for companionship. As they entered the town of Lee, all appeared cordial until the bells from a trolley below the Pleasant Street Bridge frightened Jean’s horse. Unable to avoid the collision, Jean was thrown and sustained a broken angle. Tragically, the horse was dragged and killed.

Jean was then assisted on the trolley by Rodman and taken to a local doctor, where her injury was dressed and treated. It wasn’t the recovery that Twain had intended, but was grateful that the outcome was not worse.

As the years wore on into a new

century, technology progressed at an accelerated rate. The early days of the automobile, airplane, and radio were upon us. So were refinements in the printing industry that allowed competitors to fulfil the public’s appetite for quality illustrations at a cheaper rate.

This spelled the decline of The Century, which hovered around 125,000 subscribers. Implementing counter measures, Richard focused on publishing more nonfiction articles without the coarse language and condescending disposition that other magazines relished. He also delved into publishing three volumes of poems that he wrote.

As deeply immersed as he was in his work, he couldn’t swim against the current of the future.

In early November of 1909, he became severely ill and collapsed while conducting a lecture. Rushed to the hospital, he was declared by physicians to be suffering from the effects of stress. Two weeks later, Richard and his family were staying at the 9 W. 10th St. address of his close friend and longtime writer for his magazine, Mariana Griswold Van Rensselaer (1851-1934), as he was invited to give a major presentation on her new book about the history of New York City.

Standing before a room filled with distinguished dinner guests, he stopped

midway through his talk and collapsed to the floor. Disbelief blanketed the audience as realization confirmed the worst. At the age of 65, he had died of heart failure. Helena was stunned.

With his presence gone, his beloved magazine continued until 1930, but it never again regained its status as America’s best known periodical magazine.

And so, Richard was laid to rest next to his family, in the town where he was born and personal memories thrived. He never forgot Bordentown or its kindness. In essence, he adhered to the inner angels that made him a good citizen.

His poem, “The Dead Comrade,” offers poignant reflections about his life just as importantly, as it was recited at President Grant’s funeral:

Come, soldiers, arouse ye! Another has gone; Let us bury our comrade, His battles are done. His sun it is set; He was true, he was brave, He feared not the grave, There is naught to regret.

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

New screening options for smokers and former smokers

Ask The Doctor

If you’re a smoker who uses cigarettes now or gave them up years ago, you may be at greater risk of health problems, especially lung cancer. Yet many current and former smokers are unaware of a lung cancer screening that can save lives. “It’s a quick screening that can result in early detection,” says Benjamin Medina, MD, a thoracic and vascular surgeon at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Hamilton’s Cancer Center.

“Updated screening guidelines may mean you’re newly eligible to receive the test.”

How are lung cancer screenings done? They consist of an annual, low-dose CT scan. You lie on a table while an X-ray machine takes images of your lungs. The scan only takes about five minutes, is very low dose and is very safe. Insurance covers recommended lung cancer screenings in most cases.

What happens after images are

pgs 5 and 7

taken?A radiologist looks for small lumps called nodules. These are not necessarily cancerous, but they can become cancerous over time. Depending on a nodule’s size and characteristics, your doctor may recommend having a biopsy; undergoing another CT scan in three to six months to see if the nodule has grown or changed; or waiting and having it reassessed at next year’s screening.

What if the test finds lung cancer? Lung cancer is easier to treat or even cure when it’s detected early. If part of a lung has to be removed, earlier detection means the excised area will be smaller than if the cancer were found later. Taking out less lung helps preserve lung function. Early detection also means there is less chance the cancer has spread to other areas of the body. When lung cancer spreads, survival rates become much lower.

Who should undergo lung cancer screening? Patients should be 50 to 80 years old and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years. They also

should have a 20 pack-year history or more of smoking. A pack-year is equivalent to smoking an average of one pack of cigarettes a day for a year. So if you smoked a pack a day for 20 years, that’s a 20 packyear history—and so is having smoked two packs a day for 10 years. These guidelines were updated in 2021. Why did guidelines change? To increase screening opportunities for people who are at highest risk of lung cancer and reduce disparities. Broader eligibility should especially enhance early detection at younger ages among women and Black adults, who are likelier to develop lung cancer after less cumulative tobacco exposure.

How can RWJUH Hamilton help me quit smoking? Through RWJBarnabas Health’s Institute for Prevention and Recovery, we offer a 12-week program in which you’ll get a personalized plan, free nicotine patches and behavioral therapy that can help you manage challenges and prevent relapse. Someone will call you regularly to go over your goals and keep you on track. “It’s a wonderful program,” says Dr. Medina. For more information about Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton’s Lung Cancer Screening Program, call 855. RWJ.LUNG (855.795.5864).

RWJBarnabas Health and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, together with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey— the state’s only NCIDesignated Comprehensive Cancer Center— provide close-to-home access to the latest treatment options. For more information, call 844.CANCERNJ or visit www.rwjbh.org/beatcancer.

Coming up this month at RWJU Hospital Hamilton

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

WEdNESdAy, JUNE 7

Lung Cancer Screening-Who Qualifies and When to Get Screened. 5 to 6 p.m. Lung Screening Program Director, Dr. Eishan Patel and Program Manager Kaidlan Ricardo, CMA, BS-HA will discuss screening and early detection of lung cancer and treatment options.

TUESdAy, JUNE 13

Plant Based Protein to Power Your Workout. 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Plants are powerful and so are you! Learn to support strength and maintain healthful movement with plant-based sources of protein. Fee: $5. Taryn Krietzman, RDN.

WEdNESdAy, JUNE 14

New developments in Hearing Aids-Computer Technology for your Ears. 10 to 11 a.m. Technological advances in hearing aids allow us to connect to our world in an exciting way! Join Dr. Lorraine Sgarlato , Au.D. and Mindy Staller Au.D. from Unitron Hearing to learn about the latest in treatment options. Hands-on demonstration available after the lecture.

Ask the diabetes Coordinator. Noon to 1 p.m. Shesha Desai, PharmD, RPh, BC-ADM, will host an informative Q&A session on how to manage your diabetes.

What Can Hypnosis do For Me? 6 to 7 p.m. Learn how hypnosis/hypnotherapy can access your own internal abilities. Matt Masiello, CCH will share how hypnosis programs are tailored to meet your specific needs. The program includes an overview of hypnotherapy, Q&A’s, and optional guided meditation/hypnosis.

TUESdAy, JUNE 20

Reiki? What is This “Reiki”? 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. You may have heard of the benefits of Reiki, but are still not sure what, exactly, it is or how it works. Come explore what energy work, including Reiki, can do for you. Patti McDougall, BSN, Integrative Therapies Nurse, Reiki Master/Teacher.

THURSdAy, JUNE 7

Safety and Security Awareness in Today’s World. 7 to 8:30 p.m. Learn about cybersecurity, internet scams and how to protect against identify theft, as well as about personal safety at home, in the community and in the work place. Bob Field Jr. Assistant VP of Support Services, Safety and Security at RWJBH Hamilton, is a respected security professional with over 35 years of military, federal law enforcement and private security experience. FREE.

Better Health Programs

Registration required for all programs. Must be a Better Health Member. Call (609) 584-5900 or go to rwjbh.org/events.

WEdNESdAy, JUNE 7

Let’s Talk, A Senior Social Group. Also June 14, 21, & 28; 10 to 11 a.m. Please join us for our ongoing program “Let’s Talk, a Senior Social Group,” gathering in a collaborative setting to exchange thoughts, feelings and experiences amongst peers. This is a safe zone designed to be welcoming and understanding of all attendees while exploring this season of our lives – the ups and the challenges. This group is a partnership between RWJ University Hospital Hamilton and the PsycHealth Associates here in Hamilton. This is a weekly program. Please feel free to attend one or all.

FRIdAy, JUNE 16

Tips on Looking Your Best at Any Age. 9:30 to 11 a.m. Join us for this New Program that is all about you – no models, no video. We are happy to welcome back Caterina Young, Owner blo Out Lounge & Color Bar. She will share with us makeup tricks to look your best and how to choose the right hairstyle for your face shape and how to maintain it. Be sure to register early.

FRIdAy, JUNE 23

Tea Party. 2 to 3:30 p.m. Pinkies up! Let’s talk tea and try some famously tasty pairings. Hats are encouraged.

Dr. Medina