6-24 BC

Current Bordentown

Walk in the Bark

New name, new owner, same location for pet grooming business in the city

By JOe EMAnsKi

The building at 137 Farnsworth Avenue in Bordentown has been home to a pet grooming business for the better part of 15 years.

Entrepreneur Zachary Moon has ensured that the location remains home to a pet grooming into the foreseeable future, even after the business that called it home since 2011 — Little Friends Pet Grooming — has closed.

Moon assumed operations and ownership of the business in March, taking over from Jen Procaccino, who had owned Little Friends. He renamed the business Jurassic Bark.

The hand-off went smoothly, with Procaccino staying on board as a member of the Jurassic Bark staff. Thanks to Procaccino, some of Little Friends’ customers have now become Jurassic Bark customers.

“It’s been going well,” says Moon, 35. “I got to take over some of her clients, and you know, this is Bordentown, so there are always people walking

their dogs around. So some of them are coming in, saying hi, seeing that it’s a new business and coming to try us out.”

Moon says he has been around pets his whole life, and always knew that the pet grooming business was the career path for him. He spent years working at a groomer at Petsmart, but says he always wanted to open up a place of his own.

“When the opportunity came up and Jen talked to me about starting up a business here, I said, ‘Absolutely.’”

Jurassic Bark offers full body clipping service, trim-up service, bath service and nailtrimming service. A full-service appointment takes around two hours. Most services are by appointment only, with the exception of dog nail trims. All cat services require appointments as well.

Moon says that he wants Jurassic Bark to provide a “clean, open environment, a relaxing spa place to bring your pet.”

A Burlington resident, Moon grew up in Hamilton Township, attending Langtree Elementary School, Crockett Middle School and Steinert High. Dad Scott worked in corrections, and mom Stacey is a librarian at the Hamilton Township Public Library.

Moon says customers have

See BarK, Page 4

Luke Sutphen, a former Bordentown Bulldog and senior at The Hun School of Princeton, is planning to continue his football career at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.

From Bordentown to West Point

Former Bulldogs football player accepted to

By Justin Feil

Luke Sutphen was only 4 years old when he started playing football for the Bordentown Bulldogs.

Fifteen years later, he will continue the sport at West Point Military Academy as an inside

linebacker. He reports for West Point’s Cadet Basic Training, also known as Beast Barracks, on July 1.

“I think it is pretty amazing to look back on my youth days in Bordentown and see who I am now,” Sutphen said. “Like how much work I put in.”

Sutphen is proud of the steps he took to eventually make a commitment to one of the most prestigious college opportunities available. There were plenty of challenges along the

way to earn playing time in high school, increase his size and speed and prove himself to college recruiters.

It was a steady progression for Sutphen from the time he put on the pads for the first time with the Bulldogs. He started as a defensive end and tight end, but that didn’t last too long beyond his youth football days, which ended in eighth grade when he moved to The Hun School of Princeton. Sutphen had the abil-

See SUTPHEN, Page 6

RWJUH Hamilton June Healthy Living / Community Education Programs

BRAIN HEALTH-LEARN PROVEN WAYS TO KEEP YOUR BRAIN YOUNG

Monday, June 3; 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

With so much information out today on brain health, what methods really work?

Join Lorraine Sgarlato, Au.D., Senior Audiologist, to learn more about how to keep your brain young and turn back the clock on your brain.

SWEET SUCCESS SOCIETY: A DIABETES GROUP

Monday, June 3; 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Monday, June 10; 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

A group for anyone with diabetes or caring for one of the 37 million Americans living with diabetes. Learn and discuss healthy ways to manage diabetes alongside peers and Taryn Krietzman, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. Empower yourself and others towards a healthy lifestyle and success in diabetes self-management.

DANCE IT OUT!

Thursday, June 6; 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

When in doubt, dance it out! Find your rhythm and ease the everyday stresses of life with movement. All ages welcome.

WHAT’S EATING YOU?

Monday, June 10; 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Support group for people experiencing emotional eating. We offer a safe space to connect with others who are going through similar experiences.

HOW SOUND HEALS: THE SCIENCE OF SOUND HEALING

Monday, June 10; 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Science is catching up with what healers

have known for centuries, sound and vibration affect our mind, body and spirit. Adriana Hansen, will discuss the science behind sound and vibration and show you how and why certain sounds can help you sleep better, improve your mood, improve body function and even reduce pain! This is an interactive discussion, so come prepared to feel the good vibrations!

WHAT’S IN THE BOX?

Tuesday, June 13; 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. All things seasonal, all the time! Learn what wonderful fruits and veggies are up to this time of year and how to make them shine! Enjoy being an in-person studio-audience member as Taryn Krietzman, RDN, does a live taping or join us from your home via our live Zoom.

COOKING WITH CARDIOLOGY: STAY HEALTHY WITH SUMMER GRILLING

Thursday, June 13; 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

When done right, grilling can be one of the more healthful ways to prepare food. Very little fat needs to be added to foods cooked on the grill. Join Shakil Shaikh, DO, Cardiology, RWJUH Hamilton, and member of Hamilton Cardiology Associates, for a delicious insight on summer cooking.

SACRED BREATHWORK EXPERIENCE

Thursday, June 13; 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Kim Huston, Reiki Master and Certified Breathwork facilitator, is passionate about sharing this modality with anyone looking for true healing. Sacred

breathwork can help release negative patterns and fears that keep us stuck. Bring a yoga mat and blanket; chairs will also be available. Fee: $15

ANNUAL REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

Monday, June 17; 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Join RWJUH Hamilton for their annual report to the community meeting. Registration is required, and a complimentary light breakfast will be served. Lisa Breza, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, Chief Administrative Officer, will provide an overview of the hospital’s recent accomplishments and plans for future growth.

ASK THE DIETITIAN

Monday, June 17; 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Do you have a question about diet and nutrition? Join a community education dietitian for a one-on-one Q&A. Preregistration for each 1/2 hour appointment is required.

PREDIABETES CONNECT GROUP

Tuesday, June 18; 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Diagnosed with prediabetes? This group is for you to connect with others affected. Share and explore ways to improve lifestyle changes.

COLOR ME HOOPY: HOOLAHOOPING FOR FUN & FITNESS!

Tuesday, June 18; 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

If you think you can’t hoola-hoop, you’re mistaken! This class is so much fun that you don’t even realize that you are working out! It’s much easier with an adult-sized hoop... which is provided at the class. No experience necessary.

Angela Reitter, Certified HoopLove coach and Hoopa-Fit instructor. Fee: $15

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION

Wednesday, June 19; 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Quieting your mind, even for a short while, can have profound effects on both your body and your mind. Come learn to lower the volume of your mind’s chatter. No experience is necessary.

HEALTHRHYTHMS® DRUM CIRCLE

Wednesday, June 19; 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Drum your cares away with our monthly drum circle. It’s lots of fun and a great stress reliever. Beginners welcome; drums will be provided. Mauri Tyler, CTRS,CMP. Fee: $15

LGBTQ+ BREAST/CHEST HEALTH

Thursday, June 20; 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Join Cecilia Gomez, BS, Community Cancer Control Specialist, RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute, for this presentation that covers the basics of breast cancer as it relates to the LGBTQ+ community. We will discuss screening guidelines, health disparities, diet and lifestyle, and genetic counseling.

VISION BOARD WORKSHOP

Tuesday, June 25; 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Join this fun, interactive workshop where we will explore your vision, hope and intentions for the future. Please bring scissors; all other materials are provided.

KIDS IN THE KITCHEN: SUMMERTIME STAPLES

Wednesday, June 26; 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Healthy eating starts early! Empower kids with culinary skills and nutrition knowledge to become their healthiest selves! For children 5 years and older. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Taryn Krietzman, RDN. Fee: $5 per person

REIKI SHARE

Wednesday, June 26; 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Share the gift of Reiki with other practitioners. Give a session; get a session. Please bring a small sheet and pillow. Restricted to those certified in Reiki (any level).

BARIATRIC WEIGHT LOSS SUPPORT GROUP

Tuesday, July 9; 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

If you are considering surgery, are in the process of preparing or have undergone surgery, you are welcome to attend our support group meetings. Family, friends and support persons are also invited to attend. This is a great opportunity to meet others going through the same weight loss journey. Our meetings focus on achieving optimal wellness through weight loss surgery. Each month, we will discuss a different topic on nutrition, exercise and healthy living behaviors. To register or for more information, call 609-249-7510.

*All programs require registration and are held at the RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center, 3100 Quakerbridge Rd., Hamilton, NJ, unless otherwise noted.

Better Health Programs/Complimentary Membership at 65+ Years Old

Scan the QR code to register and become a member or call 609-584-5900 or email bhprogram@rwjbh.org to learn more.

*Registration and free Membership required to attend the Better Health Programs

A SENIOR SOCIAL GROUP

Wednesday, June 5, 12, 19, 26

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Please join us for our ongoing program, “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 is a weekly program. Please feel free to attend one or all.

GROUNDS FOR SCULPTURE TOUR

Wednesday, June 5; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Thursday, June 6; 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Join us for a guided tour that provides a deeper look into the sculptural secrets and rich history of Grounds for Sculpture. Plenty to see and learn with over 42 acres and approximately 350 works of art!

MIND OVER MATTER BREAKFAST AND LEARN

Tuesday, June 11; 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Is there a correlation between our thinking and our eating habits?

Ekta Makani, FNP-C, MSN, Advanced Practice Nurse, will discuss this topic and the science behind the behaviors. This will be an engaging and fascinating conversation, providing answers to this age-old question.

TAI CHI CLASSES

Thursday, June 13 + 27; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Tai Chi is recommended for seniors because it improves balance, strengthens muscles in the legs, and increases flexibility and stability in the ankles. It can help reduce falls and back pain. Beginners welcome.

YOGA CLASSES

Tuesday, June 18 + 25; 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Krystal Loughlin, certified RYT, will be leading this gentle yoga class using traditional postures and breathing techniques, offering modifications of the poses for your body so that you can confidently participate. Beginners welcome.

MEDITATION CLASSES

Tuesday, June 18 + 25; 11:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.

Krystal Loughlin, certified RYT, will lead this meditation class focusing on reducing stress and bringing inner peace. See how you can easily learn to practice meditation whenever you need it most. Beginners welcome.

CHAIR YOGA

Tuesday, June 18 + 25; 12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.

Krystal Loughlin, certified RYT, will be teaching Chair Yoga. Using a chair for seated poses and also for balancing poses, this class is perfect for those who haven’t moved their bodies for a while, are recovering from an injury or have mobility/balancing difficulties. A great place to start practicing yoga to help boost your flexibility, find inner peace, unwind and stretch. Many options are given to customize the practice for YOU!

TEA PARTY

Friday, June 28; 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Pinkies up! Let’s talk tea and try some famously tasty pairings. Hats are encouraged!

Scan QR code to view, learn more & register on-line for the programs listed above. Or visit rwjbh.org/HamiltonPrograms Email CommunityEdHam@rwjbh.org or call 609-584-5900 to learn more

BORDENTOWN Home for Funerals

BarK continued from Page 1

asked him if the salon’s new name is a reference to the TV show Futurama, which has a well-known episode called “Jurassic Bark.”

He tells them no, that he came up with it independently of the show. “The named

popped into my head and I went for it,” he says.

Jurassic Bark, 137 Farnsworth Ave., Bordentown. Phone: (609) 667-6455. Hours: Tuesday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Web: facebook.com/jurassicbarknj.

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 Current 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 WRITER

Justin Feil

CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST

Adam Zielinski

AD LAYOUT AND PRODUCTION

Stacey Micallef (Ext. 131)

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Jennifer Steffen (Ext. 113)

Community News Service 9 Princess Road, Suite M Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 Phone: (609) 396-1511

News: news@communitynews.org

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Website: bordentowncurrent.com

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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

Jurassic Bark staff Jennifer Procaccino, owner Zachary Moon, Hillary Cruz, Brandie Devlin and Lainey O’Malley.

BBORDENTOWN REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

CONGRATULATES THE CLASS OF 2024

Emmanuella Adjei

Gino Michael Agnoli

Ceren Akkaya

Sarah Andrews

Joselin Yajaira Arias

Brianna Gabrielle Armitage

Abdulrafay Azam

Diego Mason Badalucco

Nicolas Adrian Barahona Guevara

Isabella Rosemary Basile

Ethan Andrew Beauchemin

Conor Malcolm Bell

Katrina Christine Benton

Brooks David Bergin

Fionn S Berton

Aidan Bramley

Olivia Paige Brovak

Julianna Lanai Buckousis

Owen Donovan Buddenbaum

Clare Anna Pauline Burke

Julia May Byard

Samantha April Byrne

Willow Cain

Jacob T Calabro

Charles Carmona-Ramirez

Sydnee Paige Carr

Belen Anahi Castaneda

Eunmin Choi

Cole Patrick Clugsten

Mia Audrey Coppola

Jadyn Reilly Crowell

Andrew DaCosta

Behiye Seren Dagli

Adreanna Danao

Elijah Myles Dean

Amelie Rago dela Cruz

Shubham Dhingra

Madison T DiBenedetto

Ajay Donthula

Arieyanna Moe’nae Dunmore

Tyler Dean Edmiston

Kaitlyn B Ei ert

Ryan James Engler

Zolie Steven Erdos

Kellie Eun

Eli Tyler Evans

Summer S Farraj

Emma Lee Kame Fedor

Franco John Ferrarie

Siani A Finney

Elijah Wesley Florence

Kamaria T Flowers

Kyle Lance Forster

Connor Joseph Fresco

Joneer Gabriel

Bleck Venchy Germeille

Julio Joel Ginin

Christopher David Glenn

Mario Ysaac Gonzalez

Anthony Agostino Grilletto

Nina Jacqueline Guidotti

Leigha Nicole Hancarik

Myles T Hansford

Isaac Harris

Daniel Cole Heller

Jaida Janelle Hitt

Emma Ho man

Gabriel M Husseini

Matthew Ryan Hutman

Jehanne Taliah Hyman

Chinaemenma Ibe

Malik Horner Jacobs

Will Vincent Jacobs

Vaidehi Abigail Joachim

Riley Madison Kafasis

Addison Job Kennedy

Saumya Khurana

Emeline Parker Kovac

Nathan Joseph Krencicki

Kamil Kruzel

Braeden Lapidus

Tyler-Marie Larbi

Darren Chi Leung

Chad Joseph Levanduski

Angelo Gerard Loncosky

Andrew Michael Magee

Tomaya Nicole Malcolm

Ashley Badara Mansaray

Matthew Marciniak

Andy Gabriel Martinez

Isabella Elaine Martucci

Xzavion McAllister

Kayley Marie McCoy-Smith

Gabriella Grace McDaniel

Jaziya C McDonald

Matthew Ethan McIntyre

Madeline Colette McManimon

Kole Everett Meck

Christopher Michael Mirabelli

Jermaine Moses

Dylan Myatovich

Katrina Dakota Narvaez

Milo Christopher Nelson

Corrine Naomi Nissim

Olisa Valentine Nnebe

Caroline Nicole Nowik

Lilian Grace Nucera

Jayden Marcellus Oliver

Famimora Olorunnisola

Kace Eric Omolade

Kent Malcolm Omolade

Jacob Adam Ozga

Maria Lori Ozga

Dominic Joseph Paretti

Jeremiah Fritzgerald Paul

Gri n James Pendleton

Olivia Kate Phillips

Gianna Nicole Prasch

Campbell Caleigh Pringle

Nikailya Leeyah Puryear

Arianna Marie Randolph

Zoe Reagan

Conner Stephen Rich

Danny Jay Rivera

Latonya Renee Roberts

Monty Rodriguez

Wilber Alcides Rojas Rivero

Tyler Edward Rowley

Dezire Ruiz

Jayden Milagros Amalurra Ryan

Alycen Mari Saitta

Nazeeha Salameh

Harjeet Singh Sandhu

Sarah Angela Annunziata Santoro

Nadia Marie Sara

Landon Kenneth Scharko

Lauren Alexa Scharko

Brock Harry Schenck

Rachel Anne Schiariti

Tyler Nicholas Scholz

Alexis Scott

Ma’Niyah M She eld

Anmol Singh Sidhu

Amarpreet Singh

Ayesha Singh

James Robert-Macneil Sked

Faith Isabella Smith

Jaden Paul Spirito

Krystal Sheree St Helaire

Michael Henry Stanton

William Stranko

Jack Trent Stumpf

Drew Scott Sturtevant

Michael Stanley Suto

Tyler Nolan alhauser

Austin Jacob iel

Gregory ompson

Madelyn Grace orn

Elijah Michael Tradigo

Uditi Kamal Tripathi

Natalie Brooke Tuccillo

Abasiono Umoh

Dylan Je rey Vaneekhoven

Carmella Rose Viteritto

Aidan James Wall

Alexander Henry Weiner

Hailey M Weiskott

John Paul White

Cameron Michael Williams

Jeremiah Allen Williams

Luke Russell Williams

Amberlyn Rita Wilson

Emily Winnicki

Vance Keaton Witkowski

Julie Nicole Wojcik

Evan Tyler Wollman

Michael Yeboah

Jonathan Elliot Yost

Emily Elizabeth Young

Rylan Tucker Zeig

Hunter Zhang

Now Open

ity to catch and block, but being a tight end wasn’t his passion.

“He really wanted to hit people more than he wanted to catch the ball,” said Hun head coach Todd Smith. “So he was just a real natural fit at linebacker.”

Sutphen started getting more serious about a future in football beyond high school in that eighth grade year. He got a taste of the how much he would have to improve when Hun allowed him to practice with their varsity program and play JV football as an eighth grader.

“Practicing with all the other players that were Division I and going to the next level helped my development tremendously because I started from a young age,” he said.

Sutphen was only 145 pounds when he arrived at Hun. Five years later, he carries 220 pounds on his 6-foot-3 frame, the result of hard work in the weight room and conditioning himself.

On top of that, Sutphen is a student of the game. He’s made himself a far more complete player over the years.

“He really understands defensive schemes and what the responsibilities are, and he’s a really good instinctual player. So you put all those things together and you’ve got a really good football player,” Smith said.

Hun has been a juggernaut in recent seasons, including an unbeaten 2022 year, when Sutphen was a junior. That season was the first time that he got on the field as a starter. As a freshman and sophomore, he saw limited snaps.

“I used that time to consume everything and watch the older guys play and practice, and I watched different tendencies that worked with them and kind of put that into my skill set,” he said.

Sutphen stepped up when given the chance, averaging between 7 and 10 tackles as a junior. Last fall, Sutphen was called to step up again, this time to replace a strong inside linebacker, Kamar Archie, when he was injured. He took the move in stride and helped the Raiders finish 8-1.

“I actually enjoyed inside linebacker a lot more because of how our defense was run, since our inside linebacker saw a lot more action, so I was pretty happy about that,” he said.

Colleges had been recruiting him as an inside linebacker all along. And when Army came calling, Sutphen was interested. Hun 2023 graduate Aidan Casuccio was a freshman there this year.

“I wasn’t sure what they had in store for me, what my future would look like with them,” Sutphen said. “But when I started talking to them, they showed me the different opportunities I would be handed. That’s something I couldn’t let down. It’s a huge commitment to make, and I know

that I’m 100 percent into it and it is very tough, but I’m up for and I’m honestly very excited.”

Sutphen has already been talking to Army’s inside linebackers coach and starting to learn their schemes. Academically, he won’t have to apply for a major until his second semester, but going in, he is interested in exploring either premed or economics.

“I really wanted to go to a school with top-tier academics,” Sutphen said. “West Point is obviously top in the country for the academic side. I know I’m going to get challenged there. I think that’ll be very tough at times, but that’s part of being a student-athlete.”

Smith believes Army is a great fit for Sutphen. He could see Sutphen being a starter for Army within a couple of years if he continues his growth amid the heavy demands of the academy.

“He has the ability to just process all that stuff and his work ethic is second to none,” Smithy said. “It takes a real special kid to go to an academy and play a sport, just because they don’t really get much leeway there. Just because they’re a football player, they’re still responsible for doing everything else that every cadet’s going to have to do. His mentality, the way he approaches the game, the way he wakes up every morning and punches the clock and goes to work, he’s just not afraid to work hard.”

Sutphen is prepared to work his way on the field any way possible. For his first season, that might mean playing only on special teams. He accepts the improvements that he must make in college.

“I know you need to make every tackle in every opportunity or else you won’t be on the field,” Sutphen said. “So working on some different open field tackling will definitely be something I’ll be working on. I have been working on it. I’ve been working on my footwork every week since the season ended and I think the film room, I definitely will be spending a lot of time watching film. That’s very critical in college especially. And I think those are those are the two things I need to work on the most.”

Luke Sutphen has another big opportunity ahead of him, beginning in a month with demanding training in Beast. It’s the start of the next step and playing football at the college level, something he’s been building towards since he started playing for the Bordentown Bulldogs.

“I’m just amazed of how lucky I am to be put in the position I am,” Sutphen said. “Going to The Hun School and letting myself kind of flourish there, I think that was a big piece. I’m just really proud of how hard I’ve worked and I won’t stop working anytime soon. I’m excited what my career will look like in college.”

June kicks off festival season throughout the region

By Joe Emanski

Summertime means festivals and fairs, and June is a fine time to be outdoors in Central New Jersey. Community News takes you through just some of the area events that are planned to help you get out of the house and enjoy the weather — and maybe a little bit of culture, too.

One of the area’s most popular annual festivals is already in progress as we enter June: the New Jersey Renaissance Faire, which began on May 18 and is set to continue through June 9.

St.

(Photos

Now in its 15th edition, the Renaissance Faire looks to recreate a pocket of 16thcentury England at the Burlington County Fairgrounds in nearby Columbus. Vendors, artists, musicians and performers, many in period costume, look to entertain and edify festivalgoers each weekend. Attendees are invited to dress up in period clothes as well, and many do, but it is not required. Every year’s faire has a theme, and this year’s theme is “The Brothers Grimm.”

The Brothers Grimm are neither from the 1500’s nor were they English (they were German), but they are known for popularizing many familiar folk tales, including “Cinderella,” “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Hansel and Gretel,” “Rapunzel” and “Sleeping Beauty,” among many others.

This year, Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm are visiting the Ren Faire and its make-believe village of Crossford. The brothers and some of their famous fairy-tale characters can be seen wandering the faire grounds each Saturday and Sunday to offer interactive storytelling.

There are six stages at the faire, each offering a variety of entertainment that includes belly dancing, live jousting, magic shows, circus shows, story times, comedy and more. Live music is scheduled throughout the day on the Evergreen Stage and at Fiddler’s Green; visit njrenfaire.com for schedules pertaining to each weekend of the festival.

Food vendors offer both period and modern cuisine, and wine and beer are available for purchase. Whisky tasting takes place in the Whiskey Tent. Some events require ticket purchases beyond the cost of admission, and while most are family friendly, some are marked as being appropriate for adults only. These include the after-hours concerts, which also have an additional

EDITORS

Joe Emanski and Sara Hastings

AD

Stacey Micallef

SENIOR

Jennifer Steffen (Ext. 113)

Community News Service

9 Princess Road, Suite M Lawrenceville, NJ 08648

Phone: (609) 396-1511

News: news@communitynews.org

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than just you, closer is better. Do it right. Here.

joint surgery affects more

When you need relief from joint pain, you want nothing less than the highest level of orthopedic care. At RWJBarnabas Health, you’ll find board-certified surgeons using the latest treatments and technology, including robot-assisted joint replacement and other minimally invasive procedures, with physical therapy right on site. Visit rwjbh.org/ortho to learn more.

cost to attend.

The NJ Renaissance Faire has grown over its 15 years, and now boasts of crowds of more than 5,000 daily.

“We are building and producing the show that we have always wanted, and can’t wait to celebrate with our faire family and fans this season when they see how different the shire looks and feels,” says NJRF general manager TJ Miller. Those differences include a new front gate with two 16-foottall towers, a new kids’ area and two 80-by40-foot tents for eating and relaxing.

Tickets are available on the Ren Faire website and include a number of pricing options for adults and children. Saturday and Sunday, June 1–2 and June 8–9 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., rain or shine. Burlington

County Fairgrounds, 1990 Jacksonville Jobstown Road, Columbus NJ.

Those looking to remain firmly ensconced in the year 2024 can head over instead to Mercer County Park, where the county will be hosting the 12th annual Cultural Festival and Food Truck Rally. The festival is set to feature live music and traditional dance performances featuring area residents with a diverse array of cultural backgrounds. The county says there will be art demonstrations, heritage crafters, children’s activities and a beer garden.

The county’s Division of Culture and Heritage makes an effort to keep the festival as diverse as possible, and that can be seen in the art, music and dance performances as well as in the food trucks on offer, which are set to represent the cui-

sines of the world.

Food trucks and food and drink vendors set to attend include those representing the cultures of Liberia, Colombia, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Mexico, Italy, Greece, Belgium, China, Korea, Thailand and Philippines. American regional cuisines including soul food and coastal New England will also be represented.

The event is free to attend and is scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 8 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Food and drink is provided for a cost. For weather updates, search for “Mercer County Cultural and Heritage Commission” on Facebook and follow the link. * * *

Two-time Grammy Award-winning soprano Angel Blue has been tapped to open this year’s June 7-22 Princeton Festival on Friday, June 7 at 8 p.m.

The soprano is expected to perform arias by Giacomo Puccini, Giuseppe Verdi, and George Gershwin. She will be accompanied by Princeton Symphony Orchestra’s Edward T. Cone Music Director Rossen Milanov as the orchestra performs orchestral pieces by Dvorák, Puccini, Ruperto Chapí, and Frederick Delius.

The Princeton Symphony Orchestra’s 16-day showcase for the performing arts is set to include fully staged performances of Mozart’s comic opera Così fan tutte, Broadway cabaret with Santino Fontana, orchestral music, Baroque and chamber concerts, dance with American Repertory Ballet and a Juneteenth celebration.

Rounding out opening weekend are The Music of Tina Turner with LaKisha Jones, Nova Payton and Matthew Johnson on Saturday, June 8 at 7 p.m. and a Family Day culminating with a concert featuring Latin Grammy Award nominee Sonia De Los Santos on Sunday, June 9 at 4 p.m. All three performances take place in the out-

A jousting exhibition at a recent year’s New Jersey Renaissance Faire. (Photo by Michael Ulrich.)

Let’s Cycle NJ CEO Doug Smarr and Juneteenth Freedom Ride rider. (Photo courtesy of Let’s Cycle NJ.)

door performance pavilion on the grounds of Morven Museum & Garden.

For a complete listing of Festival events at the pavilion and at nearby Trinity Church, visit princetonsymphony.org/festival.

This year’s Festival Family Day is Sunday, June 9, and begins with a free yoga class at 9 a.m. on the front lawn of Morven Museum and Garden (ages 10 and up).

From 1:30-3:30 p.m., there will be a middle school Listen Up! art exhibition opening, plus free hands-on musical activities and treats for children of all ages, followed by the 4 p.m. family concert featuring Sonia De Los Santos and her band, performing original songs sung in Spanish and English. Tickets are available now for all 2024 Princeton Festival events at Morven Museum & Garden and nearby Trinity Church, ranging in price from $10 to $150. Tickets can also be purchased online at princetonsymphony.org/festival.

* * *

On the following Saturday, gear up for one of the area’s newest annual festivals, the Juneteenth Freedom Day Ride followed by the Fourth Annual Juneteenth Festival, both in Mercer County Park.

The bike ride and festival have been held since 2021 in honor of Juneteenth, the federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. The bike ride is presented by nonprofit organization Let’s Cycle NJ along with the Samuel McCoy III Scholarship Fund.

Things kick off at 7 a.m. on Saturday, June 15 when in-person registration for the bike ride begins at the park. Riders have their choice of four levels of ride: a 75-mile ride, a 50-mile ride, a 35-mile ride and a nov-

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ice ride, all set for staggered starts beginning at 8:30 a.m. Registration is online now at juneteenthridenj.com.

The Juneteenth Festival, organized by the African American Cultural Collaboration of Mercer County, is set to begin following the completion of the bike rides. Organizers say that the festival will feature live music, food trucks, vendors and reserved areas for members of participating cycling clubs.

More information is available on the website, or by emailing organizers Doug Smarr at dougsmarr@gmail.com or Tennille R. McCoy at tmccoy72@me.com.

* * *

One of the longest running fairs in the area is the St. Gregory the Great Carnival, an annual June tradition in Hamilton that was briefly pushed to fall by the pandemic. It’s back in June, and set for Monday, June 17 through Saturday, June 22 this year.

The Catholic church on Nottingham Way raises funds for its K-8 academy through the carnival, which features rides, a midway, food vendors, a balloon man, two nights of fireworks (Tuesday and Saturday) a drone light show on Thursday, June 20, and of course, the super 50/50 raffle, which

rises into the tens of thousands of dollars each year. Organizers say that more than 100,000 people attend the carnival each year.

The carnival’s 22 rides are usually divided into rides for kids 8 and younger and for kids 8 and older, up to adults. There are 16 games of chance plus a money wheel. Food for sale includes carnival staples like fried Oreos and funnel cake, as well as stands from Four Boys Ice Cream, Momma Rosa Pizza, Kona Ice and G&L Gyros.

Rain is often a factor that time of year, and all dates are weather permitting. The carnival is open from 6 to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from noon to 5 p.m. and 6 to 11 p.m. on Saturday.

St. Gregory the Great is located at 4620 Nottingham Way, Hamilton. Web: sggcarnival.com.

Those who haven’t got enough of the carnival vibe after St. Gregory’s rolls out of town will be able to head over to Mercer County Park starting Friday, June 28 for the annual L.E.A.D. Fest State Fair.

L.E.A.D. Fest events feature rides, food vendors, craft vendors, local business and community organization kiosks and live entertainment.

L.E.A.D. stands for Law Enforcement Against Drugs, and the national nonprofit organization supported by police officers focuses its efforts on protecting youth and

Sonia De Los Santos and her band will perform original songs in Spanish in English at the Princeton Festival on June 9. (Photo by Hyphen Photography Inc.)

communities from drugs, drug-related crime, cyberbullying and violence. L.E.A.D. holds fairs throughout the country each year to spread its message.

Organizers of the New Jersey state fair

say that more than 60,000 people attended last year’s event. Tickets are $7 during the week and $8 on the weekends, and can be purchased online at theleadfest.com. For more information, turn to page 12.

L’Annexe de Mamie Colette brings Brittany to Central NJ

By Joe Emanski

Central New Jersey’s burgeoning bakery scene received a fresh boost in March when L’Annexe de Mamie Colette opened the doors to its brand new building on River Road in Titusville.

A good number of bakeries have opened in the past 10 years in the region, a welcome rebound for a business model that had once seemed all but eliminated by competition from supermarkets and chains.

Just in Hopewell Valley, Madame Cupcake opened in Hopewell in January 2022, and Terra Momo Bread Company opened its second location in Pennington in May 2023. Down the road in Ewing, Hamiltonbased Nino’s Pastry Shop opened a second location on Scotch Road also in May of last year.

For many pastry chefs, an independent bakery is a labor of love, and such is the case for Magali and Isabelle Henry Noblanc, the married business partners behind Mamie Colette — a viennoiserie

in Newtown, Pennsylvania that opened in November 2022 — and now L’Annexe.

Mamie Colette is known for its croissants and danish, which Chef Magali and staff make in house in a process that takes up to three days.

L’Annexe has croissants, too. But the new bake shop is no mere copy of the original. L’Annexe features sweet and savory crêpes in the style of Brittany, France, as well as pastries of the kind that can be found in the city of Chartres.

L’Annexe crêpes are made with buckwheat, which is the way they are made in Brittany, known as the birthplace of crêpes. Brittany also happens to be the part of France where Isabelle spent the early part of her life.

The most popular savory crêpe since L’Annexe opened has been the egg, Swiss cheese and ham crêpe. Also popular has been the crêpe with goat cheese, fig jam, walnuts and arugula.

Sweet crêpes include one with lemon, almonds and honey, one with housemade chocolate sauce and one with salted butter caramel.

Also in the display cases are brioches, meringues and choupinettes — a choux pastry filled with different flavors of creamy pudding, such as pistachio raspberry, sea salt caramel and hazelnut praline and passionfruit.

Also setting L’Annexe apart from Mamie Colette is that it has a bread bakery onsite. The shop in Newtown did not have enough room to allow for bread baking, though breads made at L’Annexe now find their way to the Pennsylvania side.

“Our customers were all asking for bread, they said the croissants were great but they wanted bread as well,” Isabelle says. “Our ovens (for baking viennoiserie) are ginormous, we didn’t have enough room. So we started looking for a commercial kitchen where we could actually bake bread.”

Bread baked on site at L’Annexe de Mamie Colette on River Road in Titusville. (Photo courtesy of L’Annexe de Mamie Colette.)

 Call us today to see how we can deliver the

(609)-865-8675

Breads for sale include baguettes, multigrain buckwheat loaves and levain sourdough loaves, which Isabelle describes as a “very different sourdough — it doesn’t taste acidic or sour. It’s made the way we make it in France.”

Once the pair had decided on opening a second location, they searched first in Pennsylvania and then in New Jersey for a suitable location for the new venture. Their first thought was Lambertville, and Isabelle remembers one day driving through Titus-

ville on the way north and seeing the building that would become L’Annexe.

“We saw the buildings and thought they were beautiful,” she says. “We thought, whoever was going to be in that location would be really lucky. Then one day we saw a ‘for lease’ sign, called and met with the owners of the building, and now we’re the lucky people who get to work there.”

Isabelle is originally from Brittany, and Magali from Chartres. Though they met in France, Isabelle was living in the U.S. at the time, and only temporarily back in France for her job as a business development professional.

When Isabelle returned home to the U.S., Magali moved with her, and took the opportunity to leave behind her unfulfilling job as a sales executive and embark on a new career as a pastry chef. She studied bread and viennoiserie baking at l’Ecole Banette in France, and worked for several bakeries in the Netherlands, France and New Jersey honing her craft.

Croissants became her passion, and when she and Isabelle decided to open a small business of their own, they made croissants and other viennoiseries such as pain au chocolat the centerpiece of their

She says that many customers have told them that they can tell the difference between their handmade croissants and those that come from other vendors, which are often made in industrial bakeries.

“Here, we wanted to introduce the real thing, show the real thing when it’s made from scratch, by hand,” Isabelle says.

While Mamie Colette and L’Annexe de Mamie Colette both rotate some of the flavors of their sweet and savory fillings, Isabelle says that the menu is generally fixed — as is the tradition in Brittany.

“In France, you go to a bakery, there’s never anything different on the menu,” she says. “You could go back one year or 10 years later, there’s the same things on the menu.”

In addition to the pastries and breads, L’Annexe also has a variety of coffee, tea and French juices for sale. Isabelle says some customers make regular stops in just for the coffee on their way to work. Though surely, there are days when they can’t quite resist getting a brioche or a crêpe to go as well.

bakery. Le Cordon Bleu, the legendary Paris-based culinary school, describes viennoiserie as “the bridge between patisserie and French bread.”

They financed the new business themselves, and named the bakery after Magali’s grandmother, Colette, a native of Guadaloupe who moved to Chartres with her six children in search of a better life. Magali says it was Colette who introduced her to

Mamie Colette pastries are made in house, from scratch daily. Isabelle says they are committed to using ingredients that are preservative and chemical free.

L’Annexe de Mamie Colette, 1462 River Road, Titusville NJ. Phone: (609) 303-7595. Hours: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays through Sundays. Closed Mondays.

Web: mamiecolettebakery.com.

Left: L’Annexe de Mamie Colette in Titusville. Right: Magali and Isabelle Henry Noblanc, the married couple behind the new bakery. Photos courtesy of L’Annexe de Mamie Colette.

Host of new restaurants open in Hopewell Valley

Saturday, September 28th 12-6pm

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By Joe Emanski

Gretalia Hospitality Group has been busy lately, and especially busy in Hopewell Valley, where it is set to open no fewer than three restaurants in 2024. Two are already open: Union Boil Co. and Aperitivo, both located in the former TJ’s Trattoria space in Pennington Square (aka the shopping center with Pennington Quality Market).

Union Boil Co. — the brain wants the word “Seafood” between Boil and Co. — is a game attempt to jumpstart Mercer County’s nearly dead seafood scene. Union Boil Co.’s New England-style “Union Boil” is said to serve eight at a cost of just $250. It includes jumbo shrimp, crab legs and crawfish alongside the corn, potatoes and Andouille sausage.

A “Lil Boil,” intended for two or three people, costs $80. Aside from the boils, Union Boil Co is a pretty standard seafood restaurant, featuring fresh fish at market rate prices, crab cakes, oysters, clam chowder and more. Web: unionboil.com.

Aperitivo’s menu has an “coastal Italian tapas” vibe, featuring a variety of Mediterranean apps alongside crostones, bruschetta, “Venetian Tea Sandwiches,” stuffed panini, meat and cheese plates and salads, as well as two entrees: mixed meats with polenta,

and poached cod in a white wine sauce. The restaurants share a liquor license. Web: getforky.com/aperitivobar. Both restaurants are located at 25 Route 31 in Pennington (actually Hopewell Township).

Not yet open nor directly linked on the Gretalia website is Nimbu Indian Street Food, whose signs are already up at its future location on Tree Farm Road, near another Gretalia restaurant, Osteria Procaccini. Nimbu means lemon in Hindi. Future location 7 Tree Farm Road, Pennington. Web placeholder: getforky.com/ nimbu.

Gretalia — which owns and/or operates the growing array of PJ’s Pancake Houses in the area, as well Osteria Procaccini and several other, newer brands like Tavola Rustica in Lambertville and Lyberry Coffee Co. in Cranbury, is not the only chain-style restaurant with eyes on Hopewell Valley in general or Pennington Square in particular.

Bubbakoo’s Burritos, a Point Pleasantbased fast-casual chain started in 2008, has also opened a new location at 25 Route 31. Anyone familiar with Chipotle will be able to walk up and order something at Bubbakoo’s, although Bubbakoo’s leans a bit more americano with wrinkles such as buffalo, BBQ and Nashville hot-style burritos in addition to curly fries and wings. Web: bubbakoos.com.

Left: drinks at Aperitivo. Right: a plate of lobster, potato, corn and mushrooms at Union Boil Co. (Instagram photos.)

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12th Annual 12th Annual

& FOOD TRUCK RALLY & FOOD TRUCK RALLY

June 8, 11 am - 7 pm

June 8, 11 am - 7 pm

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FAIrS & FESTIVALS SPECIAL SECTIoN

L.E.A.D. FEST

Coming to Mercer County Park June 28 to July 7

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 2024 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 28 to July 7 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 national nonprofit’s programs help to provide youth and adults strategies for avoiding 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 agencies and their communities.

“The L.E.A.D. State Fair saw its biggest year ever in 2023 with more than 30,000 attendees. We hope to hit a new milestone in 2024,” said Nick DeMauro, L.E.A.D. executive director. “Funds raised

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 are excited to bring more amazing events to New Jersey this year. Our goal is to create familyfriendly, 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, Cowtown U.S.A., and 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 superspectacular thrill rides and everything in between.

Gate admission is $7 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 23-27; May 29-June 2; and June 5-9. 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. “Once again, 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.”

Voorhees Town Center (180 Route 35, Eatontown) from June 14-23. 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. Howell Township (5361 US Route 9, Howell) from June 27-July 7. 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 28 to July 7. 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. Check the website for attendance policies. Hours subject to change due to weather or safety situations. For more information about L.E.A.D., visit leadrugs.org or email info@leadrugs. org.

See ad, page 16

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FREE UPCOMING HEALTH EDUCATION EVENTS

Register by calling 609.394.4153 or register online at capitalhealth.org/events and be sure to include your email address. Please register early. Zoom meeting details will be provided via email 2 – 3 days before the program date. Registration ends 24 hours before the program date.

Men’s Health: Take the Lead on the Path to Wellness

Wednesday, June 5, 2024 | 6 p.m.

Location: Zoom Meeting

Being proactive with your health helps you understand and manage common conditions. Join DR. CHARLES

POLOTTI, a board certified and fellowship trained urologist, and learn about the latest treatments for erectile dysfunction and prostate enlargement as well as guidelines for prostate cancer screening.

Understanding and Treating Epilepsy

Monday, June 10, 2024 | 6 p.m.

Location: Zoom Meeting

Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disease in the United States, but recognizing seizures and diagnosing a specific epilepsy syndrome can be difficult. Join DR. SIDRAH MAHMUD, a fellowship trained epileptologist, to learn what causes epilepsy, how it is diagnosed, and why not all seizures are symptoms of epilepsy. Dr. Mahmud will also discuss treatment options and when it might be time to add an epileptologist to your health care team.

The Foundation for Bordentown Traditions

The 11th Annual Street of Dreams Car Show

Saturday, June 15th

5 pm - 9 pm Rain date: June 22nd

• 1999 or Older Only

• Domestic or Foreign

• Stock or Modified

• Parking & Registration 2- 5:00 pm

• Registration Closes Promptly at 5 pm or when full.

• Awards 8:30 pm

• Cars Pay $20 Day of Show

Information about Cars contact Je Goldman or Shirley Littleford 609.217.7629

email: slittleford@eracentral.com

SPORTS Bell chips in at the plate or on the mound for Scotties

By Justin Feil

Conor Bell has bounced back at the plate and contributed to a stellar pitching staff to help the Bordentown Regional High School baseball team to one of its best seasons in recent history.

The senior was a revelation as a freshman, when he hit almost .300 in his first season of high school baseball. Then came back-to-back seasons in which his pitching was his top contribution, while his batting dipped below .200.

He hasn’t pitched as much this year, but through the first 23 games of the season he hit a career-best .368, second on the team to junior Luke Guire’s .380 average.

that can help us have a season like we’re having right now.”

Bordentown showed early the sort of potential it had. The Scotties won seven of their first nine games and nine of their first 12. Then came a slump with losses in five of six games including a 4-3 loss to Pennsauken that cost them the outright Burlington County Scholastic League — Patriot Division title.

They shared it with Pennsauken after both teams went 7-1 and split with each other. It’s the first division crown for Bordentown since 2019.

“Every year, it’s our goal,” Glenn said. “That’s our first goal. We want to win our division and then from there kind of feed off that going into playoff time.”

“The last few years, I almost felt like I let the team down because I think that I was supposed to play a bigger role and hitting the way I did the last two years I just didn’t,” Bell said. “I just didn’t do a good job, and I think that this year me hitting the way I am, it’s a great feeling.”

The Scotties were looking for a little more hitting as he headed into the sectional tournament. Bordentown has pitched incredibly well all season, yet come out behind in six one-run losses, including two 1-0 losses during a toughluck four-game stretch in the middle of the season.

“Those rough patches were mainly just part of our mental game and going up to the plate, not having the confidence that we need,” Bell said. “I think towards the end of the season we’re gaining our confidence back. And I think that we’re definitely going to be a team to lookout for in this sectional playoffs.”

Bell has been pleased to be a bigger contributor at the plate this year while continuing to pitch and play first base when he’s not on the mound. The big change for him in his hitting has come from not overthinking it. He was his own worst enemy the last two seasons.

“My freshman year, I hit pretty good. I think I ended with a .285 batting average, and then my sophomore and junior year, I was really in my head,” he said.

This year, Bell said, he goes to the plate thinking line drive up the middle every at bat. He opened the season with a 7-for-17 stretch and he has remained consistent, even hitting .300 through Bordentown’s four straight losses midseason.

“After his freshman year, there were so many expectations from himself,” Glenn said. “He put that pressure on him. Baseball is kind of that thing where hitting, a lot of it’s really mental, and the more you press sometimes the worse the results. I think getting a quick start this year really helped him.”

Bordentown improved to 14-9 after offensive outbursts earned a 10-0 win over The Pennington School and a 9-4 win over Holy Cross Prep in the final week of the regular season. It marked their fourth win in five games to propel the Scotties to their most wins in a season since 2018 when they won 17 games.

Bell and Bordentown know how good they could be if they can string together some more hits. In addition to Bell and Guire, other standout hitters have been Anthony Dziubak (.333 average) and Tyler Edmiston (.328). The Scotties are looking to be more consistent as a team down the stretch. Only twice in their nine losses did they score more than three runs.

“That’s credit to the guys,” said Bordentown coach Chris Glenn. “These seniors, a lot of them have been playing since freshman year, and you know they got kind of got thrown into the fire a little bit. But you know the end result is what we wanted, and that is for them to get that experience. And when they become seniors and they have that experience,

“It’s just more situational hitting,” Bell said. “We hit perfect, but most of our hits come like leadoff singles, leadoff doubles. Then when we get that runner on second we just can’t find a way to score him. But I think that confidence going into

approach opponents with different line ups based on what experiences players have excelled in previously.

“All the guys that are with me now, they all have experience,” Glenn said. “There’s even guys that we’ve been changing in our lineups depending on the pitching. So even some of the guys that aren’t everyday players still have experience of playing in big games so it’s really helped out a lot.”

Bell has gotten more acutely aware that he is coming to the tail end of his high school career. He is trying to make the most of his final opportunities in a game that he has always enjoyed. While he played basketball until sophomore year and continues to enjoy playing pick-up with friends, baseball has always been his main passion.

the game, I think we grew a lot mainly with situational hitting and I think going into the playoffs and these last couple of games, we’re going to do a lot better job of scoring, of getting base hits with runners in scoring position.”

If the Scotties can add some more timely hitting they could be a dangerous team in the playoffs. Bordentown has a deep pitching staff, one that hasn’t even had to use Bell much this year, even though he may focus on pitching in college. Glenn knew that his pitching staff would be deep, and their mound performances have given Bordentown a chance to compete in every game. Andrew Forster has a 1.24 ERA, Tyler Rossell’s is 1.36, Elijah Tradigo’s is 2.15 and Connor Collora has a 2.70 ERA.

“Our pitching this year has been lights out,” said Bell, who has a 4.32 ERA in 22 2/3 innings. “I think if you look at our ERA, we have like a 2.30 team ERA. That’s one thing I can say we’ve been doing great and consistently this year.”

Bordentown has confidence across its team to put anyone in the game to get results. The Scotties have been able to push each other and use their depth to

“I’ve played baseball since I can remember and just growing up, my family was a big baseball family,” Bell said. “My older cousin played at Florence, my other cousin actually graduated from Borden town and them just being role models and teaching me what they know, it helped me a lot and grew my love for the game.”

Bell is also anticipating the exciting next chapter in his career. He decommit ted from SUNY Purchase to stay closer to home at Mercer County Community Col lege, where he plans to study exercise sci ence. He is hoping that keeps him close to baseball beyond college as well. He’s seen a lot of success in his final year with Bor dentown and is enjoying being a part of a mix of talent and depth that could extend the Scotties season into the playoffs.

“I think the thing that gives me the most confidence is if you look at our 1 through 9, I think we can compete if you put any team up against us,” Bell said. “Just knowing that whether our lead off hitter is up or our 9 hitter, we have a chance to score that inning. That gives me the most confidence and also whether we score one run or two runs, I think our defense and pitching will get us back in to score more runs.”

Saturday, June 10:00am to 3:00pm

Come Out and Enjoy a Day of Fun!

Native Plants Bordentown, NJ

Local Food Vendors

Local Food Vendors

Free Admission Rain or Shine Saturday, June 8th 10:00am to 3:00pm Carslake Community Center 207 Crosswicks Street Bordentown, NJ

Carslake Community 207 Crosswicks Street Bordentown, NJ

Native Plants

Children's Activities

Eco-Friendly Goods Live Music and so much more!

Come Out and Enjoy a Day of Fun!

Come Out and Enjoy a Day of Local Food Vendors Native Plants

Conor Bell on the mound for Bordentown.

Locating the Old Lewis Mill

Adam E. Zielinski BURLINGTON HISTORY

We return to Capt. Johann Ewald in this month’s article about an often overlooked engagement on June 23, 1778. In fact, northern Burlington County saw two hot fights this day: one in Bordentown and one in Crosswicks.

The latter action was a brief fight between elements under American Colonel Elias Dayton’s 3rd NJ Regiment and that of the British advanced guard of the 17,000-strong army caravan trekking through the state. Though outmatched, the Americans caused such a headache that British commander in chief Sir Henry Clinton personally entered the fight to direct artillery at the enemy positions.

Meanwhile, downstream of the Lewis Mill in Bordentown, a separate detachment of Americans were busy fending off Ewald’s Jägers as they approached. It is this action that calls our attention.

The British had just evacuated Philadelphia and chose to march overland through New Jersey to Sandy Hook, where they would board transports en route for New York. The British caravan was at times divided into two separate columns: one with the baggage strapped to 5,000 wagons with about 2,000 women and children in tow, along with another 3,000 troops, and the other column with about 14,000 troops.

Hessian General Wilhelm von Knyphausen was in charge of the

baggage train while General Charles Earl Cornwallis, accompanying Gen. Clinton, commanded the main army. Knyphausen quartered at Moorestown, while the other column encamped on Mount Laurel on June 19 before both fell in together at Mount Holly the next day.

After a two day rest, the column again marched northward through Slabtown, and Petticoat Bridge reaching Black Horse on June 22. Troops within the column were literally dropping dead from marching in the thick June humidity. Aside from the heat, American snipers and skirmishers lurked behind every tree and bush, picking off British troops whenever they could.

American troops stopped up wells, ripped apart bridge planks and drove off cattle ahead of the approaching column. By the time the British reached Monmouth on June 27, they were exhausted and completely disheveled. The battle that occurred the following day surely tested their limits, even if it ended in a draw and did nothing to alter the British objective of safely making it to New York, which they did. Nevertheless, on June 23, Bordentown once again nearly became the site of yet again another engagement thanks to Capt, Ewald. The Lewis Mill once stood over Black’s Creek along the post road with a small bridge connecting either embankment. It was a southern entry point into Bordentown proper during the Revolution, and a site of frequent armies marching past. In fact, Ewald had quartered with the Lewis family in December 1776.

The Hessian officer knew the area

well, and while this route brought him to Burlington County in a sweltering, mosquito-infested heat wave, he had his orders. The Jägers, per usual, were out front leading three British regiments in a feint to draw off the Americans supposedly entrenched on the opposite of Crosswicks Creek.

It failed. However, Ewald’s patrol ran into a group of Continental militia posted across the drawbridge. At first, the men played dumb and tried to wave off their identity. But according to Ewald, “they smelled a rat.” A cannonade soon erupted that drove the Hessians back. The action was brief and had no effect on larger events. But the following morning when the British left the area, one of their last orders was to burn the mill owned by Nathaniel Lewis along Black’s Creek. Ewald felt terrible over this and confided in his journal how well the Lewis family treated him two years before.

Which brings us to the present day.

About a month ago, I laced up the heavy boots and, armed with a garden spade, a compass and a head full local history, I joined my colleague Doug Kiovsky of the Bordentown Historical Society into the old woods along Black’s Creek. No doubt we made an odd sight along Route 130: we looked as if we enjoyed being along the busy highway eyeing into the abyss.

Even in early April, the overgrowth was an immediate obstacle. Doug, dressed in his usual khaki attire, led the way. He said he’d been back here before and the steps he took indicated a confidence in direction. Who was I to argue?

thicket bushes. I wasn’t expecting so many thorns, and regretted leaving the machete behind. We finally came upon the old mill road and the stone anchorage pedestals that sat partially crumbled on either side of the creek. Nothing here indicated an eighteenth century road or Revolutionary War battle. We moved on and hit a dead end where the ground was overly saturated. After doubling back, we found a dry spot in the runoff and continued. By now, it was obvious nothing remained — at least surface level — of the old mill site. A few old maple trees that looked conspicuously out of place were noted; perhaps they served as sight markers two hundred years ago. Everything else was just overgrown weeds.

The two of us discussed the steep embankment and cliff overlooking the creek from the south side. We opted to exit the woods and walk further along Route 130 to a trail entering the tree line where they had discontinued an off ramp for the highway. From the top of this hillside, Black’s Creek is a beautiful meander of bubbling water, flashing reflections of the sun on this clear morning. We perched ourselves at the crest overlooking a spit of grass that jutted out into the creek below and thought it was a good spot for a mill. The water ripped at this spot and my mind envisioned the ease of a giant wheel turning. But even from our vantage point, there was no evidence of the old mill or of a raceway that fed off the creek.

I came up alongside the creek and the first thing I noticed was how clear the water was. It wasn’t brackish. Black’s Creek surprisingly has a fairly good current ripping through it; despite its shallowness, I began to see how crossing it by foot presented numerous means of treachery. To the naked eye, a small creek doesn’t look like much. Compared to rivers or the ocean, its depth isn’t a factor. But the mud, sand and clay are where a human being can become instantly threatened with a wrong step. If your foot hits a soft spot, you will sink waist deep in muck as liquid as quicksand. For those of us who’ve experienced this unfortunate situation, it doesn’t take much to ponder how a soldier — carrying all his weaponry — would fair.

We continued our trek along the north bank of the creek, ducking and climbing through vines, spider webs and

We know after its destruction in June 1778 it was rebuilt and operated well into the nineteenth century before its eventual removal. Today, the only reminder of its existence is the name of Mill Street located off Farnsworth Avenue. Relax fellow treasure hunters. There’s unlikely to be a haul of Revolutionary War relics; nevertheless, the former site is a reminder of Bordentown’s lost history and perhaps an opportunity for future generations to get involved in historical preservation. I can think of no better project for Northern Burlington High School’s history department than a field trip for students interested in archaeology and history.

With the help of groups like the Rev War Alliance of Burlington County and the Bordentown Historical Society, I can think of no better way of getting young Americans involved in learning and exploring our history.

Adam Zielinski is president of the Rev War Alliance of Burlington County.

RWJ celebrates June as Men’s Health Month

Ask The Doctor

June is Men’s Health Month, which aims to raise awareness of the importance of healthcare for men to implement healthy lifestyle choices.

Salman Hassan Ahmed, MD, Family Medicine, an RWBarnabas Health Medical Group provider, affiliated Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, shares steps men can take for better health.

The most important step in men’s health is regular check-ups with a primary care provider. Dr. Ahmed recommends an annual physical exam to assess overall health, screen for potential health issues, and discuss any concerns or symptoms.

discussing screening options and schedules with your PCP based on individual risk factors and age, ensuring early detection and timely intervention when necessary.

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Heart disease remains a leading cause of death among men worldwide. Dr. Ahmed emphasizes importance of managing risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity through lifestyle modifications and medication when appropriate. Establishing a trusting and open relationship with a primary care provider is essential for men’s health. It’s important to speak to their provider openly about their health concerns, lifestyle habits, and goals, allowing for personalized care to support their individual needs.

Dr. Ahmed

Check-ups provide an opportunity for early detection of conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer, enabling timely treatment.

Understanding key health indicators such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and body mass index is essential for men to assess their risk of developing various health conditions. These numbers can serve as early warning signs of underlying health problems.

Men are often less likely to seek help for mental health issues compared to women. Seeking professional help when needed and practicing stress-management techniques can significantly improve mental health outcomes.

Regular screenings for conditions such as prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and sexually transmitted infections are essential for men’s health. Dr. Ahmed’s recommends

Prioritizing men’s health requires a proactive approach that encompasses regular check-ups, healthy lifestyle choices, mental health awareness, screening, and open communication with primary care providers. By following these essential tips, men can take control of their health, reduce their risk of chronic diseases, and lead healthier and more fulfilling lives.

Salman Hassan Ahmed, MD, sees patients at 3100 Quakerbridge Road, #28, Hamilton, NJ 08619. For more information about Dr. Ahmed, please call (609) 245-7430. To find a RWJBarnabas Health primary care physician in the Hamilton area, visit rwjbh.org/ medgroupprimarycare.

Coming up this month at RWJU Hospital Hamilton

Coming up this month at RWJUH Hamilton’s Center for Health & Wellness, located at RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center, 3100 Quakerbridge Rd., Hamilton, NJ 08619. For more information, call (609) 584-5900. To register for a program go to rwjbh.org/events.

MoNday, JUNE 3

Brain Health - Learn Proven Ways to Keep your Brain young. 10–11 a.m. Join Dr. Lorraine Sgarlato, AuD, to learn more about how to keep your brain young and turn back the clock on your aging brain.

THUrSday, JUNE 13

Cooking with Cardiology: Stay Healthy with Summer Grilling. 6 -7:30 p.m. When done right, grilling can be one of the more healthful ways to prepare food. Very little fat needs to be added to foods cooked on the grill. Join Shakil Shaikh, DO, Cardiology, RWJUH Hamilton, and member of Hamilton Cardiology Associates, for delicious insight on summer cooking.

THUrSday, JUNE 20

LGBTQ+ Breast/Chest Health. 1–2 p.m. Cecilia Gomez, BS, Community Cancer Control Specialist, RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers

Cancer Institute, covers the basics of breast cancer as it relates to the LGBTQ+ community. We will discuss screening guidelines, health disparities, diet and lifestyle, and genetic counseling.

Better Health Programs

For more information or to register, as registration is required, call (609) 5845900, email CommunityEdHAM@rwjhb. org or visit rwjbh.org/hamiltonprograms online. All events at RWJ Hamilton Fitness & Wellness; 3100 Quakerbridge Rd.

TUESday, JUNE 11

Mind over Matter - Breakfast and Learn. 1011:30 a.m. Is there a correlation between our thinking and our eating habits? Ekta Makani, FNP-C, MSN, Advanced Practice Nurse (APN), RWJUH Hamilton, will discuss the science behind the behaviors.

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