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Community Educa�on and Be�er Health Programs

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BRHS top 10 grads look toward the future

By JOe EManSKI

This year’s graduating seniors have had a high school experience that no one before them has ever had.

They were freshmen in 2020, during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic. In the ensuing years, the Class of 2023 endured more Covid-19-related disruptions and inconveniences than any other class. School closures, remote learning, mask mandates — they saw it all.

The Shepherd’s Pasture: Grown out of a love of nature

By JOe EManSKI

Lydia Francis did not necessarily intend to become a farmer when she started volunteering for Fernbrook Farm’s CSA program in 2005.

“I just like being outside,” Francis says. “I wanted to work on the farm to understand a little more about growing the food

that we eat.”

Now, nearly two decades later, the Bordentown resident is the driving force behind The Shepherd’s Pasture, a small farming operation that raises animals and grows and sells produce, plants and other natural products at farmers markets throughout the region.

Francis started The Shep-

herd’s Pasture in 2007, when she and husband John purchased a greenhouse and started growing herbs and native plants. Her desire to start a farming operation grew from the positive experience she had with the Fernbrook CSA. CSA stands for communitysupported agriculture. In a typiSee PASTURE, Page 10

They could be forgiven if they ever worried that nothing would ever be normal for them again. This was true for seniors at Bordentown Regional High School, same as it was for most of their counterparts throughout the State of New Jersey.

Fortunately for them, school and life has gradually settled into something closer to normal. On June 20, when grads celebrated their commencement on the BRHS football field, they never had to worry that it might be canceled or indefinitely postponed because of a virus.

Only time will tell how the pandemic experience will define them. No student in the state, from 12th grade down to kindergarten, can say that they were unfazed by Covid-19, and the aftereffects can be expected to linger for a decade more.

This year’s seniors will be the first, though, to complete all four years of high school in a post-pandemic world. How that experience shapes them is something we — and they — will look forward to seeing.

As it does every year, the Bordentown Current has collaborated with the high school to present this year’s Top 10 graduating seniors from a standpoint of academics. We offer special thanks to Kamilla Milewski, who helps us distribute questionnaires and gather photographs of these students.

Every year, the Current is contacted by one or several readers who believe that the media honor sporting achievements above scholastic accomplishments. Although we always strive to celebrate both, and believe that we do a pretty good job, we still sympathize with both parents and students who feel like academic all-stars deserve their due.

This annual feature is just one of many ways that we look to do this. So please turn to page 6 to see what this year’s top graduating seniors have planned for the future. And please join us in congratulating them, and all Class of 2023 graduates, on their many fantastic achievements.

See ToP 10, Page 6

Farmer Jonathan Francis with one of the goats raised locally by The Shepherd’s Pasture.

Welcome to Capital Health.

Welcome to the first facility in the region to offer a robotic-assisted Whipple procedure to treat pancreatic cancer.

Where a multi-disciplinary team of surgeons, radiologists, oncologists, and rehabilitation services collaborate to provide the best care and the care that’s best for him. And all under one roof.

Because you’d go to the ends of the earth to make sure he got care like that. And so do we.

Become a part of it today at capitalhealthcancer.org

if he had cancer, you would go to the ends of the earth to get him the best treatment.

ARoUND ToWN Fireworks, fishing derby on tap for July 1 in Bordentown

Bordentown Township is set to kick off the summer by hosting two crowd-pleasing community events in one day.

The 23rd annual Fish Derby is scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 1 at Northern Community Park on Groveville Road.

Participant registration will from 9 to 9:30 a.m. The derby itself will start at 10 a.m. and go until noon.

Participants should bring their own bait and equipment. Trophies will be awarded to the anglers who catch the largest fish.

That evening, the township is scheduled to host its 8th annual Fireworks Display at Joseph Lawrence Recreational Facility on Ward Avenue. The event is organized by the nonprofit Foundation for Bordentown Traditions, which also organizes the annual Street of Dreams car show and 5K Turkey Trot.

Activities are scheduled to kick off at 4 p.m., with the fireworks show scheduled to start at dusk. The raindate for the event is Sept. 2.

County to kick off Summer Concert Series with patriotic show

Get your lawn chairs, blankets and coolers ready because Burlington County’s Summer Concerts Series is returning with a full slate of music and entertainment spanning all ages and genres.

The live performances are free and will be held throughout July, August and September at the Burlington County Amphitheater, 5 Pioneer Boulevard in Westampton and Historic Smithville Park, 803 Smithville Road in Eastampton.

The series kicks off on Saturday, July 1 with a performance by the Philharmonic of Southern New Jersey at the Amphitheater. The orchestra plans to celebrate our nation’s birth with masterpieces by American composers Aaron Copland and Leroy Anderson, along with patriotic selections from Irving Berlin and John Philip Sousa, and favorites from George Gershwin. Singer Songwriter Sahara Moon

will also perform that evening before the orchestra.

The music will continue on Friday, July 7 at Smithville Park with tribute band Best of the Eagles along with the acoustic Gypsy Moon Duet.

Back at the Amphitheater on Saturday, July 8 will be Doo Wop 50s music from Step by Step, a tribute to the songs of Johnny Maestro, as well as South Jersey group Jackie and The Gents.

The rest of the summer will feature a musical tour through the decades with Saturday shows by the Everly Brothers Experience on July 15, Beatles tribute band Strawberry Fields on July 29, 70s party band The Discoteks on Aug. 5, 80s tribute group Class of ’84 on Aug. 12, Jake’s Rockin Country Band on Aug. 19 and the 90s alternative/grunge group Flannel on Aug. 26.

There will also be a mix of music on Friday nights, including Irish pop and folk band Screaming Orphans on July 14, Blues Brothers tribute group Hats and

Shades on July 28, big band jazz performers Svetlana and The New York Experience on Aug. 4, Garden State Radio on Aug. 11, R&B and Soul group Gentlemen of Soul and Zydeco-A-Go-Go on Aug. 25.

The summer series wraps with The Glimmer Twins performing their classic Stones live show at Smithville Park on Saturday, Sept. 16.

All amphitheater and Smithville Park concerts begin at 6 p.m. Attendees can set up chairs and blankets beginning at 4 p.m. on concert nights.

The top row of the amphitheater seating is reserved for attendees with mobility challenges, including those with wheelchairs, walkers or canes and their caretakers.

Refreshments will be available for sale. No alcoholic beverages, tobacco, vapor products or other drugs are permitted. For more information, including a complete listing of all scheduled performances, visit www.co.burlington. nj.us/569/Programs-Events.

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 WRITER

Dan Aubrey

CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST

Doug Kiovsky

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

Events: events@communitynews.org

Sports: sports@communitynews.org

Letters: jemanski@communitynews.org

Website: bordentowncurrent.com

Facebook: facebook.com/bordentowncurrent

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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

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 in a list of your all over-the-counter and prescription medications (or the bottles themselves) if you have any questions about possible interactions.

COOKING WITH CARDIOLOGY

Mon., July 10; 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Join us at this “hands on” lecture and learn about heart healthy cooking. Shakil Shaikh, DO, from Hamilton Cardiology Associates, will be cooking up food for thought in this fun filled demonstration.

LETTING GO OF CLUTTER

Tue., July 11; 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

This support group explores how our emotional ties to our “stuff” can create clutter and affect our mood. An Oaks Integrated Care caregiver specialist will conduct these interactive groups on crucial topics and facilitate a supportive group experience.

MANAGING STRESS AND DIABETES

Tue., July 11; 3 to 4 p.m.

This support group is for people living with diabetes. Learn how to cope with stress and diabetes in a healthy way.

SO BLOATED, I COULD FLY LIKE A BALLOON

Tue., July 11; 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Shivaprasad Marulendra, MD, boardcertified in Gastroenterology will discuss the common issue of abdominal bloating.

MEMORY SCREENING

Wed., July 12; 11 a.m. to noon

Are you concerned about “senior moments?”

The Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) is an effective screening tool and quick assessment to discern normal aging versus potential problems. We will also giving a lecture related to improving your memory. Registration required.

OSTEOPOROSIS SCREENING

Wed., July 12; 1 to 3 p.m.

Come in to receive an ultrasound of your heel and get your score. Our staff will explain the meaning behind your score and share some other important information with you. Appointment and registration required.

ORTHOPEDIC OPEN HOUSE

Wed., July 12; 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Discover the latest advances in knee and hip replacement surgery and rehabilitation. Presented by James Scott, DO, boardcertified orthopaedic surgeon; Maureen Stevens, PT, DPT, GCS, Cert MDT; and Courtney Fluehr, PT DPT. Dinner is included.

HEALTHRYTHMS® DRUMMING CIRCLE

Wed, July 12; 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

CRYSTAL BOWL SOUND BATH

Thu., July 13; 6:30 to 8 pm

Sound healing uses special instruments like singing bowls, gongs, drums and chimes to create a therapeutic atmosphere promoting deep rest, nervous system rebalancing, and emotional release. Participants sit or lay in a comfortable position while the practitioner takes you on a sound journey for mind, body and spirit. Andriana Hansen, RYT200, SHA1 of the Learning Cooperative. $15

ASK THE DIETITIAN

Mon., July 17; 9 a.m. to noon

Do you have a question about diet and nutrition? Join a community education dietitian for a one-on-one Q&A. Be prepared to talk about your current diet/eating habits to make the most out of your session. Registration is required. Taryn Krietzman, RDN DANCE IT OUT!

Tue., July 18; 1 to 2 p.m. July 18: Oldies But Goodies

Never miss a chance to dance! Dance the day away while enjoying some of your favorite songs from your past. All ages welcome, no experience required.

DETOX YOUR LIFE AND GET ENERGIZED

Tue., July 18; 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. It’s time to unlock the door to a healthier, happier lifestyle so that a better version of you can shine through. Get the keys of how to detox through nutrition, beauty, home environment and the mind. Gail Leslie, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach.

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION FOR BEGINNERS

Tue., July 18; 6:30 to 7:30 pm. Learn how to rest your body and quiet your mind with the simple (although not always easy) practice of meditation. No experience necessary.

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION FOR BEGINNERS

Wed., July 19; 1 to 2 p.m.

Learn how to rest your body and quiet your mind with the simple (although not always easy) practice of meditation. No experience necessary.

IT’S SUMMER! WHY AM I STRESSED OUT?

Wed., July 19; 4 to 5 pm

Discussion group about dealing with the stress of summer. Vacations, body image, kids at home, etc. Easy tips and different strategies one can employ for coping.

WHAT’S IN THE BOX?

*VIRTUAL*

Thu., July 20; noon to 1:00 p.m. All things seasonal, all the time! Join us online via ZOOM and learn what wonderful fruits and vegetable are up to this time of year and how to make them shine! Taryn

Krietzman, RDN KNOWLEDGE CAFÉ: PERIPHERAL ARTERY DISEASE (PAD) AND WOUND CARE

Thu., July 20; 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) affects more than 12 million people and can be problematic for those with chronic wounds. Join Reza Shah, DO, Co-Medical Director RWJUH Hamilton Center for Wound Healing to learn about the world of PAD and wound care. Free dinner will be provided.

THE LINK BETWEEN HEARING LOSS AND DEMENTIA-CAN HEARING AIDS SAVE YOUR BRAIN?

Tue., July 25; 10 to 11 a.m. According to several major studies, older adults with hearing loss are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, compared to those with normal hearing. Audiologist, Lorraine Sgarlato, Au.D., will provide insight and discuss.

INTRODUCTION TO ANIMAL COMMUNICATION

Tue., July 25; 6:30 to 8 p.m. Do you love animals and want to deepen your bond? Do you wish you knew what your animals are thinking and feeling? Do you want to connect intuitively but not sure you have the ability (hint…you do!) Interested in learning how? Animal Communication is not just for “gifted” people…in fact we are all able to use our intuition to communicate this way. Come join us for this fun and interactive introduction into animal communication. No experience required, just your trusting open mind.

Marcia Minunni, Fee:$15

REIKI SHARE

Wed., July 26; 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. For folks who have been Reiki certified (at any level) to come share the gift with fellow practitioners. Give a session, get a session. Please bring a sheet and small pillow. Fee: $5

WISE WOMEN DISCUSSION GROUP

Thu., July 27; 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Join a community of women as we discuss relevant topics and find purpose, meaning and community.

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

LET’S TALK, A SENIOR SOCIAL GROUP

Wed., July 5, 12, 19 & 26; 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 RWJUH Hamilton and PyschHealth Associates here in Hamilton. This is a weekly program. Please feel free to attend one or all.

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 THE LINK BETWEEN HEARING LOSS & DEMENTIA-CAN HEARING AIDS SAVE YOUR BRAIN?

Tue., July 11; 10 to 11 a.m. According to several major studies, older adults with hearing loss are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, compared to those with normal hearing. Audiologist, Lorraine Sgarlato, Au.D., will provide insight and discuss.

MEDITATION CLASSES,

Tue., July 11 & 18; 11:15 to 11:45 a.m.

Krystal Loughlin 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. Beginner’s welcome

at 65+ Years Old

RWJUH Hamilton July Healthy Living / Community Education Programs Better Health

YOGA CLASSES

Tue., July 11 & 18; 10 to 11 a.m.

Krystal Loughlin, certified RYT, will be leading this gentle yoga class using traditional postures and breathing techniques offering modification of the poses for your body so that you can confidently participate. Beginner’s welcome.

GAME TIME

Wed., July 12; 1 to 2:30 p.m. Join us for game time, snacks and some wholesome fun. A variety of board games will be available or you are welcome to bring your own.

SOCRATES CAFÉ,

Thu., July 13; 10 to 11 a.m.

“Socrates Café” is about discussing a topic, sharing our thoughts, our beliefs, our ideas, and experiences. An unofficial mantra describes that we (people) learn more when we question, and question with others. This is a “safe zone” to share where all views are accepted. Come with an open mind, respect for one another, and a willingness to see where it takes us.

TAI CHI CLASS

Thu., July 13 & 27; 1 to 2 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. Beginner’s welcome.

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

*All programs require registration and will be held at the RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center 3100 Quakerbridge Rd. unless otherwise noted.

BORDENTOWN Home for Funerals

Cl ASS oF 2023

BRHS Top 10 students make plans for the future

Kush Pranav Gandhi

Georgia Institute of Technology

Applied Physics/Computer Science

Rank: 1 GPA: 113.85

Career plans: Research director; quantum computer scientist; investor.

Clubs: BEST Tutoring (founder), Varsity Debate (affirmative captain), Mock Trial strategist, National Honor Society.

Schools attended: Peter Muschal Elementary, Bordentown Regional Middle School.

Favorite memory of school: When the Van De Graaff generator caught on fire while testing physics equipment with Mr. Springel.

Suchete Mididoddi

The University of Texas at Austin

Business Honors/Molecular Biosci

Rank: 2 GPA: 111.25

Career plans: Pharmaceutical product management.

Clubs: Mock Trial (defense captain), Varsity Debate (negative co-captain), Model UN/ Congress CoCaptain/Chair, FBLA (treasurer), Student Council, TSA.

Sports: Track and Field. Schools attended: Peter Muschal, MacFarland Intermediate School, Bordentown Regional Middle School.

Favorite memory of school: Turning up at RUMUN with Ajay, Aaron, and Jerry.

Aaron Vedaraj

University of Texas at Austin

Canfield Business Honors/Finance

Rank: 3 GPA: 110.95

Career plans: Venture capitalist. Clubs: BEST (co-founder/co-president), Student Council (vice president); Mock Trial (co-captain), FBLA (vice president),

TSA (president); Model UN/ Congress (cocaptain), Debate (co-captain), STEM Club (site leader).

Sports: Spring track

Schools attended: Faith Christian Academy, MacFarland Intermediate School, Bordentown Regional Middle School.

Favorite memory of school: Definitely this year’s mock trial season! The hours of laughter, joy and comedy my team had building our case is something I know I will never forget! (Where Was Sam?)

Aayush Banavali

Stevens Institute of Technology

Business and Technology

Rank: 4 GPA: 110.3

Career plans: Data consultant.

Clubs: NHS, chess club, BEST tutoring club. Schools attended: Peter Muschal, Bordentown Regional Middle School. Favorite memory of school: Accidentally falling asleep in calculus class.

Ryan Kaufman

University of Central Florida

Industrial Engineering

Rank: 5 GPA: 109.46

Career plans: Industrial engineer with hopes of becoming an Imagineer.

Clubs: Bordentown Regional High School Jazz Ensemble; Sustainability Club president; Students Against Violence

Everywhere Club vice president; Newspaper Club vice presi-

dent, lead editor; Biology Club; Interact Club; National Honor Society. Sports: Golf.

Schools attended: Peter Muschal, MacFarland Intermediate, Bordentown Regional Middle School.

Favorite memory of school: My favorite memory of high school has been helping out in any way I can and truly making an impact on the high school whether that be doing the announcements throughout my high school career or helping run tours for incoming freshmen in the summer. A specific achievement that was my favorite was earning a Superior Medal in the Duet Acting category at the New Jersey Thespian Festival and being asked to perform the scene at the closing ceremony!

Michael Poinsett

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical U.

Aerospace Engineering

Rank: 6 GPA: 108.8

Career plans: I hope to work at a company like NASA, SpaceX, or Lockheed Martin as an engineer.

Varsity Sports: Four years of varsity football

(captain, all time leading tackler, NFF team of distinction member).

Schools attended: Peter Muschal, Bordentown Regional Middle School.

Favorite memory of school: Beating Maple Shade sophomore year by one point on their muddy and foggy field.

Sean McWhirk

North Carolina State University

Civil Engineering

Rank: 7 GPA: 108.19

Career plans: I hope to pursue a career in civil engineering or construction management.

Clubs: National Honor Society, Student Council (president).

Sports: cross country (captain), track and field.

Schools attended: Peter Muschal, Bordentown Regional Middle School.

Favorite memory of school: My favorite memory of high school was winning prom king this year.

Jaden Baer

Skidmore College Biology

Rank: 8

GPA: 107.69

Prabhjit Sandhu

Rutgers University

Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy PharmD.

Rank: 9

Career plans: Pharmaceutical research.

Clubs: STEM Club, Debate Club, Faith Hope and Charity (president).

Schools attended: Peter Muschal, Bordentown Regional Middle School. Favorite memory of school: All the laughs we had during senior year.

Chris Packard

Maine Maritime Academy

Coast Guard Officer School

Marine Transportation

Rank: 10 GPA: 106.93

Career plans: Captain in the Coast Guard.

Clubs: National Honor Society, Biology Club, Chess Club.

Sports: Football, track.

Schools attended: Peter Muschal, MacFarland Intermediate School.

Favorite memory of school: 67 yard touchdown in my last football game.

EXCELLENCE ON REPEAT.

We’re so proud to offer our residents the nationally ranked best of the best – from quality dining to active social calendars –because we don’t just care for you, we care about you. Visit us and see why The Landing of Hamilton was named a Best Assisted Living Community by U.S. News & World Report.

Call 609-241-9538 today for more information and to schedule your visit.

1750 Yardville-Hamilton Square Rd Hamilton, NJ 08690 609-241-9538

thelandingofhamilton.com

Ben Franklin in Bordentown? It happened one night

By Dan Aubrey

New Jersey writer and journalist

Michael G. Gabriele is quick to point out in his new book, Colonial Taverns of New Jersey, that when the Europeans first set foot in the New World in the 1600s, “the colonial proprietors quickly recognized the business potential of New Jersey’s verdant landscape and natural resources. They also appreciated the gentlemanly pleasures of alcohol consumption.”

The rest, as they say, is history — something the author elaborated on when he visited the Bordentown Historical Society on May 6 to discuss his book.

But as the Clifton, New Jersey-based writer aptly demonstrates in his 208-page History Press publication, the places where alcohol was consumed also played a part in shaping our collective history.

As he tells us, by the end of the American Revolution — in which New Jersey saw more battles than any other state in colonies — there were at least 443 taxrecord state taverns that served individuals conducting business between New York and Philadelphia, those traveling for political and religious reason, and Revolutionary soldiers moving from battle to battle.

They were also the places where news and information were freely traded, opinions shaped, and actions decided — like one not-so-happy occasion that saw one Revolutionary War-time Princeton tavern get run out of town for pro-England sentiment.

While the book doesn’t tarry long on any particular tavern or region, it provides a glimpse of tavern life in central New Jersey — with several surprising visitors.

As Gabriele notes, in 1723, future U.S. Founding Father Benjamin Franklin, just 17 years old, ambled through the wilds of the Garden State from Perth Amboy

to Burlington to find work as a printer in Philadelphia.

“On October 4, 1723, the young Mr. Franklin came upon a tavern in Bordentown, owned by Dr. Joseph Brown. It was a welcomed, much- needed stop, as Franklin wrote that he had been thoroughly soaked by a heavy rain and was beginning now to wish that ‘I had never left home. I cut so miserable a figure, too, that I found, by the questions asked me, I was suspected to be some runaway servant, and in danger of being taken up on that suspicion.’”

While Franklin’s stop in Bordentown was brief, that wasn’t true of important Revolutionary War figure Thomas Paine, who moved to Bordentown and frequented a tavern that later became known as The Washington House.

It was “Mr. Paine’s principal resort and here he had many contests with gentlemen whom he met. It must be remembered in the olden days that taverns were not dignified with the names of hotels and were not frequented by promiscuous customers, but were the resort of gentlemen of means, principally. Furnished with arm chairs and tables, they possessed some of the comfort of club rooms, and the conversation or arguments were conducted with great decorum.”

The road from Perth Amboy to Burlington was not the only tavern-lined passage offered to those traveling between New York to Philadelphia. Another — newly improved in 1765-66 — featured overnight stops in Kingston and Princeton.

One popular one was “a favorite place of Washington and the governors of New Jersey,” Vantilburgh’s tavern in Kingston.

The tavern “stood at the corner of today’s Laurel Avenue and Main Street (Route 27), a site occupied by a restaurant. A colonial newspaper, dated June 1766, posted a sales notice that described ‘the old wellknown tavern in King Middlesex County, known by the Sign of the Mermaid, now in the possession of William Vantilburgh.’ The tavern had four fireplaces, a garden, a large stable, and sat on a four-acre plot of land.

“Vantilburgh’s establishment achieved such renown that it earned a personal endorsement from future U.S. President John Adams, who recommended it in a letter to his wife, Abigail, on October 18, 1799. During a stay in Trenton, Adams wrote, ‘Dearest friend....If you have a mind to come nearer Philadelphia, you find comfortable accommodations at Vantilburgh’s at Kingston, where I can visit you every other day.’ The tavern remained in the Vantilburgh until it went out of business around 1880 and was demolished.”

Adams seems to have frequented the highway and makes a note about an August 27, 1774, stop in “Prince Town” and noting “Sign of (the tavern) ‘Hudibras,’ near Nassau Hall College. The tavern keeper’s name is [Jacob] Hyer.”

The tavern had been described in a newspaper advertisement as “esteemed by all gentlemen acquainted with the road, to be the best stand between New York and Philadelphia. The house is new, has a cellar under the whole and has twelve rooms; two good kitchens, one of which has a loft over it with two good rooms; a good stable with a large loft which will hold five tons of hay.”

Besides Kingston and Princeton,

another stop, Trenton, also had a healthy and important tavern industry.

As Gabriele reports, “A landowner and businessman named William Yard built the city’s first inn, established sometime between 1712 and 1715 and known only through collective memory as William Yard’s Inn. By 1715, he had established a public house, described by the Trenton Historical Society as a ‘substantial stone dwelling,’ which stood at East Front Street, near the Old Barracks.”

While it was followed by others in what would become the capital city, one of the most important was the French Arms Tavern, where the Continental Congress moved in 1784.

It was “located at the southwest corner of today’s Warren and State Streets, built of stone and stucco, two stories high, with a gabled roof. This was the period prior to Washington, DC, being selected as the permanent capital of the new nation. From June to November 1783, Nassau Hall in Princeton also served as a temporary seat for the Continental Congress.”

On December 18, 1787, the tavern became the site for New Jersey’s ratification of the United States Constitution, the third state to do so. “In 1836, First Mechanics and Manufacturers Bank purchased the property, tore down the tavern and erected an office building,” Gabriele writes.

As indicated, many of the taverns that survived the American Revolution did not survive the march of time. But, as Gabriele’s work demonstrates, books and talk keep them alive and, although a bit clunky with its academic references and phrasing, this one is worth sitting down with a pint and getting a sip of ye-old New Jersey’s past.

Colonial Taverns of New Jersey: Libations, Liberty & Revolution, Michael C. Gabriele, 208 pages, $23.99, The History Press.

Pickleball — The Social Sport with a Ball in Your Court

BY REBEKAH SCHROEDER

As pickleball triumphantly emerged from the ashes of other forgotten pandemic pastimes like a phoenix, the activity experienced a rebirth despite being less than six decades old.

This year marks only the 58th anniversary of when Washington State Congressman Joel Pritchard and businessman Bill Bell, during an afternoon of improvisational racket sports, cobbled together the beginnings of a boredom-busting game while on summer vacation with their children on Bainbridge Island, near Seattle, in 1965.

The two men took ping-pong paddles to Pritchard’s old badminton court and played with a lightweight, perforated ball, the combination of which is an auditory clue for pickleball’s signature, satisfying smack.

According to USA Pickleball, the “national governing body for the sport of pickleball,” they opted for a lower net height than in tennis and kept the game going into the next weekend, joined by another friend, Barney McCallum

But although pickleball was invented as a family activity, it has since become well-

known as a staple for older populations, with retirement communities and senior centers some of the first to serve up a sense of friendly competition.

Pickleball is ideal for players looking to chat and exercise without the toll on the body often felt in higher-impact sports, allowing those with a history of injuries or surgeries to remain active thanks to a shorter court and lower force of contact with the ball.

Because players must rely on mental coordination and concentration rather than physical ability, a sharp mind can anticipate a powerful swing.

This inherent inclusivity appeals to people of all ages, as it allows them to mingle and move together on a regular basis with people they might not have met otherwise.

Pickleball is traditionally played in both singles and doubles on a 20-foot by 44-foot court with a net that is 36 inches on each end and 34 inches in the middle.

The ball is served underhand, as in volleyball, with a similar scoring system in which each side goes until “faulting,” and only the serving team can gain a point. Whichever side reaches 11 points first, and leads by at least two, wins the game.

The patchwork nature is intentional yet mirrors its origins, as the name of the game has been attributed to two possibilities:

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one, as a reference to a “pickle boat,” a term in rowing where the leftover players get grouped together in a makeshift crew boat team for the last race and coined by Joel’s wife, Joan Pritchard; or two, the McCallums’ version, where the sport allegedly took its inspiration from the Pritchard family dog, a Cockapoo called “Pickles.”

In reality, as Joan confirmed to the West Virginian newspaper the Parkersburg News and Sentinel, the pet came into the picture about two years after the trio first pioneered pickleball.

No matter the nomenclature, pickleball is set to continue its positive trend as “the fastest-growing sport in America for the third year in a row,” according to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association’s “2023 Topline Participation Report,” with “8.9 million players in the United States over the age of six years old, an increase from 4.8 million in 2022.”

Brandon Mackie co-founded the website Pickleheads, a user-generated index of local sites and communicative tools to help players initiate games, with fellow Atlanta entrepreneur Max Ade in March 2022.

Since anyone with an account can update the content of a page for free, similar to the format of a wiki, the list of venues—sorted by city, state, or facility—strives to solve the issue of where to play and what to expect.

in Mercer County, Mackie estimated that Pickleheads attracts “close to 400,000 players that visit the site every month,” as well as “over 13,000 courts profiled across the US and Canada—what we think is the largest database of pickleball courts out there.”

Each page will let you follow or check what time to play at the venue, the features and amenities included, and browse nearby courts. Users can relay what material the courts are made of or whether the nets or lines are permanent, as all require different responsibilities on behalf of the player.

Pickleheads plans to expand on the interpersonal and organizational aspects of the sport by giving users the ability to create groups for easier joining, recruiting, and posting of games, automatically invite others through SMS or email, and update playing times.

In early July, the company will launch a mobile app encouraging players to meet new partners and share their knowledge on a broader scale.

“Everyone’s scratching their heads, saying, ‘How could something like this have grown so fast and gotten so big?’ When I really think about it—and I talk to players all day, every day—it’s very clear that there are really two things [that] go into pickleball: one, it’s just how easy the sport is to learn. You don’t need to be athletic or have racquet sports experience. You can pick up the game in about 10 or 15 minutes out

Brandon Mackie, top right, is the co-founder of Pickleheads, an online database of pickleball courts with information on sites like the Lawrence Township Central Park, top left, and the Robbinsville Municipal Building, lower left. on the court the first time, and at the end of your first time out there, you’re probably even winning games, depending on who your partner is or who you’re playing against.”

This “low barrier to entry,” Mackie added, motivates people to try pickleball without the traditional caveats of lessonheavy sports like golf.

The action itself might be directly at the net, but people are eager to keep the conversation flowing, much like the back-andforth of the ball, regardless of whether they are on the court or waiting for a turn.

“I think for a lot of people, they don’t even look at it like a sport. It’s a social outlet and a big part of their weekly life, and I think that just keeps people coming back more, so you have all these people that try it and stick with it, and it just snowballs in the way that we’ve seen it—both in Mercer County

In an interview on the pickleball scene See Pickleball, Page 4

The other key part, Mackie explained, is the “social aspect” of the sport. Pickleball is most often played in doubles, meaning that matches can rotate through a large number of partners.

and across the United States,” he noted.

Mackie mentioned the Mercer Bucks Pickleball Club in Ewing as “one of the destinations that [Pickleheads] track in the top places to play,” noting that “any time you have that type of investment in the area, and we see that happen in a lot of different counties all across the U.S., that really just takes the growth and participation of pickleball on a whole new trajectory.”

Entities across Mercer County are still considering how to successfully incorporate pickleball into their towns in a way that pleases both players and the general public.

Princeton’s Community Park South, for example, is the focus of an ongoing Princeton public engagement program to redesign its layout and is expected to include six pickleball courts.

Though the sport began courting many

of its current players during the pandemic, this steady swell of local interest is an indicator of a promising future, according to Mackie, who expects pickleball to “become the largest sport in the country” one day in terms of participants—a direct echo of the prediction from the latest SFIA report in February, where that rate “almost doubled in 2022, increasing by 85.7 percent yearover-year and by an astonishing 158.6 percent over three years.”

The relatively simple rules and minimal running keep the spirit of pickleball alive at the perfect pace, too, the unlikely pastime having taken flight during the most unprecedented of times.

But if you still want to try your hand at the fastest-growing sport in America, take your pick from these places to play along and see just why this popular pastime is on the rise.

Mercer Bucks Pickleball Club

370 Sullivan Way, Ewing Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (609) 883-6272 or playmbpc.com.

• Courts: 9 (Indoors)

• Amenities: Restrooms, water filler, lighted courts, snacks

• Features: rentals, clinics, leagues, private instruction, tournaments, automatic ball machine, players’ lounge, practice dink court, cornhole, demo paddles, private events

The long-awaited Mercer Bucks Pickleball Club opened in February 2022 as the “largest indoor pickleball facility in the northeast,” clocking in at 26,000 square feet with nine fenced-in courts, climate control, and a state-of-the-art sound system. The dedicated courts have permanent lines and nets. Paddles and balls are provided.

Membership is not required to play, but it does provide benefits such as the ability to make reservations online, in advance, and at reduced rates.

As of press time, the facility only has limited memberships available. To join the waitlist, contact the club’s front desk either by phone or email at info@playmbpc.com. For more information, see playmbpc.com/ prices-benefits

Activity rates apply either per hour (for court rentals) or per person (for instruction, social plays, etc.) with an additional $5 guest fee for each hour of each activity over member rates.

Guests can either accompany members or call, email, or walk-in to speak with the front desk up to 48 hours in advance of events from June to August to register for any open spots for social plays and clinics; no restrictions apply to booking private lessons.

To reserve a court at MBPC, access the company’s page on CourtReserve, described online as an “all-in-one court reservation and club management platform.”

Princeton Racquet Club

150 Raymond Road, Princeton Hours: Monday to Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday, 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. (732) 329-6200 or princetonracquetclub.com

• Courts: 2 (Indoors, dedicated) and 16 (Total, indoor-outdoors)

• Amenities: Restrooms, water, pro shop, snacks

• Features: rentals, lessons, supervised and open play, camps, game drills, match plays

The Princeton Racquet Club has 16 total courts in its indoor-outdoor complex, but the robust tennis program also offers pickleball rentals inside “The Barn,” the nickname for the indoor facility known as Court 1, which contains two pickleball DecoTurf hardcourts with cushioned surfacing.

In June, PRC announced new pickleball clinics on Mondays from 8 to 9:30 a.m. and Wednesdays from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Classes may be moved outside depending on the weather, while paddles and balls are provided.

Membership is not required to play, but all players must sign a waiver form before participating. Premier members can reserve courts up to one week in advance; standard members have five days. The average court time is 90 minutes. To register or reserve, contact the PRC front desk or visit CourtReserve. For other rates, see the PRC pickleball page online at princetonracquetclub.com/pickleball

Mercer County Park Tennis Center

1638 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. Hours: Monday to Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday to Sunday, 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. 609-448-8007 or mercercountyparks.org

• Courts: 4 (Outdoors)

• Amenities: Restrooms, water filler, lighted courts

Under the operation of the Mercer County Park Commission, the Mercer County Park Tennis Center debuted the first “pickleball only” playing area in the county, four outdoor asphalt courts with permanent lines and nets, in 2017.

While a membership is not required to play, a 2023 Mercer County Tennis/Pickle-

ball ID is required to reserve courts, with all non-ID card holders required to pay an $8 fee per individual.

According to the Tennis Center website, valid ID card holders play for free and can reserve courts up to three days in advance with CourtReserve.

An adult Mercer County resident can purchase an ID for the year for $80, with a discounted junior and senior rate priced at $40 and a non-resident rate of $120. Court time is limited to 90 minutes.

The MCPC also runs the Hopewell Valley Golf Club & Country Club, located at 114 Pennington-Hopewell Road in Hopewell, where three Har-Tru tennis courts and two Platform tennis courts with blended lines for pickleball opened in 2021.

Robbinsville Municipal Complex

1117 US-130, Robbinsville Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

In August of last year, the Robbinsville Municipal Complex, a short distance away from the township’s police station, library, and senior center, added four lit outdoor courts with permanent lines and nets at the site of its former skate park.

No membership or reservations are necessary—courts are available on a firstcome, first-served basis. If another party is waiting to play, those currently using the court are encouraged to limit their playtime to one hour for singles and 1.5 hours for doubles to share the facilities.

Veterans Park Tennis & Pickleball Complex

2206 Kuser Road, Hamilton. Open daily. Tennis Center Office Hours: 8 a.m. to noon, then 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. through the April to October season. 609-581-412.

• Courts: 18 (Outdoors, dedicated) and 22 (Total, Outdoors)

• Amenities: Restrooms, water, lighted courts

The Veterans Park Tennis & Pickleball Complex is an all-outdoor fixture of the Central New Jersey pickleball community, with 18 designated pickleball courts,

Get your game on at the Princeton Senior Resource Center in Princeton, left, and the Mercer Bucks Pickleball Club, opposite page, all year round.

six of which are lit. The Hamilton Recreation Department manages the park’s 22 total mixed-surface tennis and pickleball courts, which are accessible via the park’s north entrance.

A seasonal membership is required through October 31 to play, but no reservations are necessary—courts are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Prices are $25 for Hamilton residents, $50 for nonHamilton residents, and $10 (cash only) for a daily guest pass. For more information on upcoming tournaments or events, please call the Recreation Department at 609-8904028 or email recreation@hamiltonnj.com

Life Time - Princeton

7 Forrestal Road South, Plainsboro. Hours: Monday through Friday, 4 a.m. to 12 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. (609) 608-7100 or lifetime.life/life-timelocations/nj-princeton.html

Described as “an athletic country club” off of Route 1, Life Time’s Princeton facility in Plainsboro features three indoor hardsurface courts with permanent lines and nets. Membership is required to play, and courts can be reserved.

A one-day pass membership ($50) includes amenities like restrooms, water, lighted courts, and à la carte food options, as well as an indoor pool and fitness classes. The monthly rate gives customers access to a wider range of services, but all membership tiers are allowed to participate in open play, mixers, weekly drop-in clinics, lessons, leagues, and pickleball tournaments.

Lawrence Central Park

100 Dave Nevius Way, Lawrence. Open daily. (609) 844-7067 or lawrencetwp.com/ departments/recreation.

In May, the Lawrence Township Recreation Department announced that they had converted one tennis court to two lit pickleball courts for use at Central Park No membership or reservations are necessary—courts are available on a first-come, first-served basis. If another party is waiting to play, those currently using the court are encouraged to limit their playtime to 30 minutes to share the facilities.

Team85 Fitness & Wellness

8500 K. Johnson Blvd, Fieldsboro (Bordentown). Field House Hours: Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (609) 298-8585

or team85fitnessandwellness.com

Team85 Fitness & Wellness, a 45,000-square-foot sporting complex boasting professional fitness programs and resources, is home to the Fitness Center and the Field House, the latter of which has six indoor pickleball courts. Membership is required to play for free, with price tiers available in options such as one month, month-to-month, and 12-month. TEAM85 offers discounts for seniors and law enforcement. According to its Facebook page, guests can play pickleball for a $7 fee. Amenities include food.

Princeton Senior Resource Center

Suzanne Patterson Building, 45 Stockton Street, Princeton. (609) 751-9699 or princetonsenior.org/pickleball

The Princeton Senior Resource Center has one indoor, climate-controlled court on a wood gym floor in the Suzanne Patterson Building. According to a quote from COO Donna Cosgrove, the PSRC court “has attracted over 500 registrations in the ten months it’s been open.”

The schedule is updated each month with instruction by Carolyn DardaniHorensky, while fees vary per activity and depend on whether players are Princeton residents or not. Options include pickleball “3 and Me” for advanced beginners, twoday beginner and next level bootcamps, and instructed open court.

Pickleball group court memberships are $30 for Princeton residents and $35 for nonresidents per hour per group, with reservations on a first-come, first-served basis. For the full list of dates and times for group rentals, see the July form online at princetonsenior.link/PickleballJulyGroupRental

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Medical Acucare

A Personalized Approach to Medicine

Medical Acucare A Personalized Approach to Medicine

• Feel tired all the time?

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Your condition is unique, so should be your treatment. Call Dr. Geng's office today to see if we can help!

Caruso Physical Therapy and Nutrition

Empowering Each Individual to Reach Their Boundless Potential

At Caruso Physical Therapy and Nutrition, they had a vision for a place where they could practice what they preached. This clinic is the result of that. Now, the clinic’s amazing team is committed to carrying out that vision by guiding others in establishing and achieving their own health goals so they can look and feel their best!

CONDITIONS WE TREAT:

CONDITIONS WE TREAT:

Medical Acucare

Your condition is unique, so should be your treatment. Call Dr. Geng’s office today to see if we can help!

Your condition is unique, so should be your treatment. Call Dr. Geng's office today to see if we can help!

• Allergies

These services aren’t offered in the area separately, nor are they offered together in a single practice.

education, exercise and hands-on techniques.

• Allergies

• Autoimmune Disease

A Personalized Approach to Medicine

• Autoimmune Disease

CONDITIONS WE TREAT:

• Back or Joint Pain

• Back or Joint Pain

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

• Metabolic Syndrome (pre-diabetes, sistance)

• Metabolic Syndrome (pre-diabetes, sistance)

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• Migraine

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• Depression/Anxiety

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However, combined, these things make a huge difference. That’s why we offer both, giving you the advantage of physical therapy and registered dietitians in the same clinic!

Women’s Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy can assist with problems such as:

• Urinary Incontinence and Urgency

• Overactive Bladder

• Constipation

• Autoimmune Disease

• Skin

• Skin

• Feel tired all the time?

• Thyroid, Other

• Digestive and Gut Health

• Digestive and Gut Health

• Female Hormone Disorders (PMS, Menopause, PCOS)

• Back or Joint Pain

• Female Hormone Disorders (PMS, Menopause, PCOS)

• Thyroid, Other

• Have trouble sleeping?

• Concern about brain-fogginess?

• Weight concerns

Our services are provided by board-certified physical therapists, physical therapy assistants, and board-certified registered dietitians.

• Weight concerns

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

• Frustrated about weight gain?

** We accept Medicare for low back pain treatment

** We accept Medicare for low back pain treatment

• Depression/Anxiety

• Want to reverse your diabetes?

We’re focused on providing education, prevention, treatment, and wellness services that enhance our patients’ overall health and deter the onset of more costly pathology.

• Pelvic Pain

• Low Back Pain

• Hip Pain

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Qingdi Geng, MD

Qingdi Geng, MD

Medical Acucare | Phone: 609-216-6938

Medical Acucare | Phone: 609-216-6938

It’s our goal to provide our patients with the best physical therapy and nutrition services in our community.

At Caruso’s our mission is to empower each individual to realize their boundless potential.

• Female Hormone Disorders (PMS, Menopause, PCOS)

2097 Klockner Road, Suite 5, Hamilton, NJ 08690

2097 Klockner Road, Suite 5, Hamilton, NJ 08690

CONDITIONS WE TREAT:

• Allergies

10-15 Minute FREE Consultation for New Patients

10-15 Minute FREE Consultation for New Patients

• Long-Haul Covid Syndrome

• Autoimmune Disease

• Back or Joint Pain

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• Metabolic Syndrome (pre-diabetes, ins ulin resistance)

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The newest form of Physical Therapy we offer is Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy, which is a special subset of PT focusing on the muscles of the pelvic girdle. Pelvic dysfunction can cause pain and urinary leakage, among other personal issues that can be successfully treated with

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Contact us or visit our website to start your journey towards a healthier you!

Caruso Physical Therapy and Nutrition, 1278 Yardville Allentown Road, Allentown. 609-738-3143. caruso@carusoptrd.com. carusoptrd. com. See ad, page 12.

• Thyroid, Adrenal and Other related disorders

• Thyroid, Adrenal and Other related disorders

• Weight or Metabolism concerns

** We accept Medicare for low back pain treatment

Qingdi Geng, MD

Your condition is unique, so should be your treatment. Call Dr. Geng's office today to see if we can help! Qingdi

Medical Acucare | Phone: 609-216-6938

339 Princeton-Hightstown Road, Building C, East Windsor, NJ 08512

15-Minute Complimentary Consultation for New Patients

Aquatic Performance Training

The Safest and Most Effective Exercise Program

Aquatic Performance Training was born out of necessity for any person who is looking to improve their overall health but may be limited at a traditional gym due to an injury or physical limitation.

The owner of Aquatic Performance, John Dohanic, was inspired to create the business after having four shoulder surgeries by the time he was 19 years old, including a shoulder replacement. Being active in sports and traditional workouts such as weight lifting and powerlifting all of his life contributed to the extensive injuries that John was experiencing that left him out of shape, gaining weight, and full of pain.

Doctors told John to get in the water and he joined a local aqua aerobics program that included noodles, foam dumbbells, and kickboards. Although the water felt good on his injury, the program and the equipment were not effective enough to deliver the results John

was looking for. He started doing extensive research and education on more specialized equipment for the pool and began investing in underwater bikes, aquatic treadmills, and strength training equipment for the pool that would deliver the results he was looking for.

Aquatic Performance Training has been growing since 2010 and has helped more than 5,000 local clients accomplish their health goals. This aquatic exercise company specializes in helping people who want to lose weight without the stresses of gravity and recover from surgeries such as joint replacements and spinal fusions. There is a wide variety of programs that can benefit athletes with sports injuries, special needs, as well as MS and Parkinson’s patients.

The different programs offered at the new Quakerbridge Road facility are a wide range of high-energy group sessions that are led by amazing instructors. Aquatic and land-based personal training are geared towards individuals who need more one on one attention and accountability. You will find the world’s first all

aquatic gym that includes aqua bikes, underwater treadmills, aquatic ellipticals, and swimming. Anti-gravity treadmills increase your cardio health and leg strength without the wear and tear of normal land treadmills.

The mission of Aquatic Performance Training is to provide the safest, most effective exercise and soon to be aqua therapy company in the country. We look forward to the

opportunity to help you with your goals very soon!

P.S. If you are looking for swim lessons for kids or adults we have a great partnership with Eggert Aquatics who has been voted #1 swim lesson company in Mercer County for three years in a row.

More information: www. aquaticperformancetraining.com

See ad, page 8

Health

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton World-Class Care Close to Home

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJUH Hamilton) and New Jersey’s largest academic healthcare system, RWJBarnabas Health, are the right choice for you, your families and loved ones’ health and wellness.

RWJUH Hamilton provides closeto-home, premier healthcare for the local communities, as well as a wound care center; a balance and hearing center; outpatient specialty care clinics; primary care providers; surgery centers; rehabilitation and physical therapy and diagnostic and screening centers. Even more extensive resources, medical care and cutting-edge treatments are all available to RWJUH Hamilton patients through the RWJBarnabas Health system.

Here’s a bigger picture of how this

Pictured are members of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton Board of Trustees, senior leadership, physicians, medical staff and medical professionals at this year’s celebration and recognition for National Doctors Day and 2023’s physician honoree, Edward A. Wingfield, MD, president, medical staff; chairman, Department of Cardiology; and director, Cardiac Cath Lab.

nationally awarded and recognized RWJBarnabas Health facility can help you live a healthier life and provide you and your family with the necessary resources if you are faced

with health situations like these:

Cancer Care

An expert multidisciplinary team, at the RWJUH Hamilton Cancer Center* offers comprehensive

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Where Do Orthodontic Issues

Hamilton Dental Associates

The Importance of Orthodontic Care for Your Children

Growing up makes for a constantly evolving experience for children. Every year they change and grow into the person they are destined to become, and that extends to their oral health. From the first baby tooth to their adult teeth coming in later in their lives, managing your child’s dental health presents unique challenges for parents. With those challenges come a few myths involving childhood tooth development that can impact how you treat your child’s dental health.

or off-center, they won’t naturally straighten themselves with time.

Childhood Oral Health Myths

Combating

. When you start looking for a pediatric dentist in Hamilton, you want to find one that knows how intensive taking care of your child’s teeth should be. Taking a proactive approach to their dental health can help them avoid more involved procedures down the road — one of the most common myths that lead to your child’s teeth suffering in the long run.

Common Myth #1: Childhood Teeth Will Straighten Out Over Time

One such myth that leads to more complex orthodontic care down the line is that your child’s teeth will straighten out over time. Unfortunately, that is not the case. If their teeth start coming in crooked

only National Cancer Institute (NCI)Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Patients are provided access to clinical trials, complex surgical procedures, precision medicine, immunotherapy and sophisticated radiation oncology techniques.

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RWJUH Hamilton is part of one of the largest and broadest cardiac care programs in New Jersey. Through a partnership with Hamilton Cardiology Associates, you can access sophisticated care at both RWJUH Hamilton and RWJUH New Brunswick, where medical experts can provide even more highly specialized cardiac care.

RWJUH Hamilton has provided essential heart, vascular and stroke care such as cardiac catheterizations and angioplasty to clear blocked arteries for more than 16 years. The hospital received licensing to

The space for their teeth to come in doesn’t grow as they mature. If you leave these issues unattended, it could lead to more significant problems.

Common Myth #2: Orthodontic Treatments Are Purely Cosmetic

While most people associate orthodontic treatments with getting braces as a teenager, that procedure does much more than merely straighten teeth to help you look better. Getting your jaw and teeth back into proper alignment has a cascading effect on your oral health. It helps improve your biting, chewing, and even speaking ability.

Common Myth #3: There Is a Right Age for Orthodontic Care

Many parents believes there is a

perform elective, or non-emergent, angioplasty procedures in early 2022. The recently opened state-of-the-art Cardiac Interventional Suite, provides private patient and family rooms for both pre- and post-operative care.

RWJUH Hamilton’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Program offers an individualized, medically supervised health and fitness program. This will help patients to take an active role in improving their heart health and reducing risks of future heart disease through exercise, evaluations, education and counseling.

Orthopedic and Spine Care Specialists at RWJUH Hamilton’s Orthopedic Spine Institute provide a multidisciplinary approach to world-class care backed by leadingedge imaging and diagnostic and surgical technology. This includes minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery. The institute is the only

specific age at which it’s appropriate to bring their children in for orthodontic care. The perceived minimum age for a child to receive orthodontic care is around 12-13 or right when they reach high school. However, getting your child such care earlier can help avoid getting braces and fixing issues before they worsen.

In reality, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that your children should get an orthodontic checkup no later than age seven. Once they hit that age, their mouth will have a nice balance between their baby and permanent teeth. This window of time allows for an accurate orthodontic evaluation to determine where preventative care is enough or if additional action is required.

orthopedic program in the capital region nationally certified in knee, hip and spine surgery by The Joint Commission.

Many spine surgeries are also performed by specialists at RWJUH Hamilton’s Center for Neurosciences using state-of-the-art technologies to provide advanced neurologic care close to home. Comprehensive neurosciences services also include general and cranial surgery along with subspecialized care for conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, cognitive problems and neuromuscular disorders.

Primary Care Providers

Primary care providers and physicians from RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group are a key component of RWJBarnabas Health’s comprehensive healthcare services. The group comprises world-class providers across many

Come From?

In most cases, a child’s orthodontic problems stem from their genetics — these issues are inherited from their parents. Additionally, some problems can develop over time based on poor oral hygiene habits they learned from a young age.

Some of these acquired oral health issues include:

• Sucking Their Thumbs

• Mouth Breathing

• Abnormal Swallowing Patterns

• Poor Dental Hygiene

• Irregular Loss of Baby Teeth

• Poor Nutritional Habits

However, parents have reason to hope for viable remedies and solutions to most of these issues. You can remedy these acquired problems with the help of successful orthodontic care provided by an experienced pediatric dentist.

Finding a Child Orthodontic You Can Trust. Trusting your child’s teeth and their beautiful smile to a pediatric dentistry practice is something that every parent must come to grips with. Figuring out which childhood orthodontic makes the most sense for your child and their future dental visits becomes critically important. For parents and their children in Hamilton, Hamilton Dental Associates provides them with the experienced pediatric dentists they need to prioritize their oral health as they mature.

Learn more about our pediatric dentistry services and schedule your first appointment today! See ad, page 12.

specialties, including primary care, heart and vascular care, orthopedics, general surgery, gynecologic surgery, oncology, neurology and gastroenterology. Together, Medical Group doctors deliver coordinated, patient-centered care in local communities along with convenient access to RWJBarnabas Health’s vast resources and technologies.

Let’s be health together. Visit rwjbh.org/Hamilton or call 609586-7900.

*RWJBarnabas Health and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, together with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey— the state’s only NCI-Designated 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.

See ad, page 11

Health & Wellness

JANS Caregiver Services

Top of the Line Care That You Can Count On

Founded in 2020, JANS is family owned and operated. Our name is a combination of the four members of our family, and serves as a constant reminder that we are a family first organization. The founder, Angel Torres, has more than 10 years of experience with in-home care. He is passionate about caring for people and has built a company of likeminded individuals in order to provide top of the line care that you can count on.

No two individuals are alike and no two cares plans are alike. JANS will offer you a customized plan. We specialize in meeting with our families, understanding their needs, requirements and resources to build a plan that will work specifically for them. We do not provide a cookie cutter offering, because we know how special each person is.

JANS Caregiver Services can provide the following therapeutic

services in home care, both short and long term.

Short Term:

• Post Surgery

• Post Injury

• Short term disability

Long Term:

• Elder Care

• Memory Issues

• Mobility Issues

We are trained and certified to

assist with the following chronic health conditions:

• Alzheimer’s

• Dementia

• Diabetes

• Parkinson’s

• Fibromialgia

Our services Include:

• Personalized In Home Care

• Basic Grooming

• Bathing

• Feeding and Specialized Diet needs

• Light housekeeping including (laundry, dishes, vacuum)

• Meal Preparation (Including special diet needs and restrictions)

• Medication Reminders

• Mobility Assistance

• Personal Hygiene

• Physical Therapy Assistance/ Continuation of care plan

• Toileting and Incontinent Care

• Transferring and Positioning

• Companion and Security Care

• Spending time in conversation

• Card and Board Games

• Puzzles and other activities that stimulate active thinking

• Providing the security of loved one not home alone

• Provide a presence in the neighborhood so that loved one is not always alone

For more information call 609-7569089 or email info@janscaregiverservices.com. janscaregiverservices.com. See ad, page 16

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!

We are nationally ranked in pediatric orthopedics at The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and in pediatric urology at The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, McMullen Children’s Center at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, and Unterberg Children’s Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center. And we’re also New Jersey’s largest provider of children’s healthcare.

From primary care to specialized treatments and therapies and in partnership with Rutgers Health, our Children’s Health network provides advanced research, teaching, social impact and outstanding care to improve the health and well-being of every child in every community. Learn more at rwjbh.org/ChildrensHealth.

You’d go to great lengths for your child’s health. Good thing you don’t have to go far.

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton

New Community Garden

Open in Hamilton

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, grew its Farm to Family program with the opening of a new community garden at Bromley Field & Sports Complex in Hamilton Township.

Twelve local families agreed to adopt individual plots of land in the garden for one year and learn how to grow healthy produce using sustainable gardening practices, with the guidance of a Master Gardener and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton’s own Registered Dietician Nutritionist, Taryn Krietzman. At the end of the year, the families can choose to renew or pass their plot to another family.

“Our collective hope is that these families will take what they have learned, share their knowledge with family and friends, and plant a garden plot or potted plants at home or throughout the community,” says Diane Grillo, Vice President of

Health & Wellness

These initiatives are part of the RWJBarnabas Health Social Impact and Community Investment (SICI) practice and 100% free-to-participate. The new community garden was built alongside the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton Community Field, a turf soccer field opened in the summer of 2021 in collaboration with RWJBarnabas Health, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, The PDA Urban initiative, and Hamilton Township. The field is also part of the RWJBarnabas Health Social Impact and Community Investment (SICI) practice and provides a safe space for children in the community to stay active, promotes their physical and mental health, and keeps them away from other potential distractions and negative influences.

Health Promotion at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton.

“Families can feel empowered to take ownership, proudly engage in land stewardship, and pass along knowledge in their own community and cultural context.”

The Farm to Family Community

Garden expands Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton’s already successful Farm to Family nutrition education, health screening, and food security programs hosted at Hamilton Township’s Bromley Community Center and John O. Wilson Center.

“Our hospital’s efforts to continue connecting with every individual and family in the surrounding area with healthy spaces, such as the community garden, helps to better serve as a point of early intervention for medical care, specialty care services, and as a resource for referrals in every aspect of life and well-being,” says Richard Freeman, President & CEO of Robert Wood

No

Physical Therapy

Caruso PTRD offers a unique, patient-centered physical therapy approach that offers patients the chance to work closely with a Doctor of Physical Therapy. We want you to get back to being you; whether it’s getting you back on the field, back at the office, or back to running around with your children or grandkids! Treating pain is only the first step!

Nutritional Services

Caruso PTRD offers a unique, patient-centered physical therapy approach that offers patients the chance to work closely with a Doctor of Physical Therapy. Our therapists' main goals are to listen to each of your needs and provide individualized care to treat your condition. We want you to get back to being you; whether it's getting you back on the field, back at the office, or back to running around with your children or grandkids! Treating pain is only the first step!

ALL AGES: Achieve your body composition, sport’s performance, or weight loss goals through an approach that is anything but “cookie cutter”. Our Nutrition Experts, RDN’s,are the ONLY medical professionals qualified to give you nutrition advice. We don’t believe in quick fixes or the latest craze. We believe in life long change without having to sacrifice ANYTHING that makes your life unique!

Pilates Reformer

ATTENTION ALL AGES: Achieve your body composition, sport's performance, nutrition or weight loss goals through an approach that is anything but "cookie cutter". We take the time to learn about you, any medical conditions you may have and tailor to your individual needs. Our Nutrition Experts, RDN's,are the ONLY medical professionals qualified to give you nutrition advice. We don't believe in quick fixes or the latest craze. We believe in life long change without having to sacrifice ANYTHING that makes your life unique!

The most recognized and effective form of safe and successful exercise. Pilates can be tailored to the specific needs of the client to provide injury prevention, rehabilitation and muscle stability work. We offer Private and Semi Private Sessions.

Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

The most recognized and effective form of safe and successful exercise. Pilates can be tailored to the specific needs of the client to provide injury prevention, rehabilitation and muscle stability work. We offer private and semi private sessions.

Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy is a special subset of PT focusing on the muscles of the pelvic girdle. Pelvic dysfunction can cause pain and urinary leakage, among other personal issues that can be successfully treated with education, exercise and hands-on techniques. I want to empower females to take back their lives, one Pelvic PT session at a time.

Relax and unplug in our new Salt Room! Offering numerous health benefits such as; providing relief for respiratory and skin conditions, and promoting overall mental wellness and stress relief. Breathe, relax and unwind!

Pictured: Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, RWJBarnabas Health, Hamilton Township Mayor Jeff Martin, community partners, and local residents participate in the Farm to Family Community Garden opening ceremonies at Bromley Field & Sports Complex in Hamilton.

Johnson University Hospital Hamilton. “Programs like this, in addition to access to quality care, play a critical role in our society’s healthcare ecosystem.”

The garden was made possible by the commitment of many local leaders, organizations and businesses, including Hamilton Township, Mayor Jeff Martin of Hamilton, and Fred Dumont, Director of Community & Economic Development for Hamilton Township; Sharbell Development Corp.; Catholic Youth Organization of (CYO) of Mercer County; Truist Bank; the Rotary Club of Hamilton Township, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton’s Community Impact Alliance; Isles Inc.; Snipes Farm and Education Center; Costello’s Ace Hardware of Mercerville; and the original Farm to Family funders, Wawa and the Holman Foundation.

Local community members interested in learning more and participating in any of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton’s Farm to Family programs, Community Education or Better Health Programs are encouraged to contact the Health Connection team by email to CommunityEdHAM@rwjbh.org or by phone at (609) 584-5900.

Visit rwjbh.org/HamiltonPrograms to view Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton’s monthly program calendar online and register for programs.

Hamilton Township

Meet the Hamilton Township Division of Health!

The mission of the Division of Health is to serve as a trusted resource for Hamilton Township to improve the health and well-being of our residents through health education and promotion, enforcement of public health safety, and adapting to everchanging community health needs. Some of our services include public immunization clinics, child health clinics, STI testing, vital statistics (marriage certificates and licenses, birth certificates and death certificates), retail food establishment inspections, and other environmental health services! Our Animal Shelter is also part of the Division of Health and provides animal control services, pet adoptions and dog licensing. Hamilton residents please call 609890-3828 or visit our website www.hamiltonnj.com/ health for more information. Many of our services are by appointment.

Here are some quick safety tips to help you have a safe and healthy summer:

• Check for ticks! Ticks are the most active in the warmer months (April-September). Infected ticks can transmit diseases including Lyme disease. Prevent tick bites by wearing insect repellent, check yourself, kids and pets for ticks, remove ticks quickly and seek medical help if you develop symptoms of Lyme disease (including fever, headache, fatigue and rash).

• Beat the heat this summer! Extreme heat can lead to heat related illness. People ages 65+, children under two and people with chronic diseases and mental illness are at highest risk. Remember to keep your cool! Stay in air conditioning as much as possible, stay hydrated, check on neighbors or family who are high risk, wear loose and lightweight clothing and NEVER leave children or pets in cars.

• Sun Safety! Most skin cancers are caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. Protect yourself and others from the sun when outdoors by seeking shade, wearing sunglasses, hats and clothing to protect you from the sun. Don’t forget your sunscreen! Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF of 15 or higher, reapply often and check those expiration dates!

• Eat your fruits and veggies! Healthy eating can help adults and children live a healthy life and reduce the risks of chronic disease. Summer is a great time for fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables including strawberries, watermelon, zucchini and fresh Jersey tomatoes!

• Water safety! Swimming is a fun summer activity to help cool off, but should be done safely. If you go swimming this summer remember to learn to swim and know your limits, never leave children unattended, wear life jackets when doing water activities, don’t swim alone even if you are a strong swimmer and never dive into shallow water – if you don’t know how deep it is, don’t dive!

For more information on these topics and other summer safety tips visit www.cdc.gov. See ad, below

Princeton Ballet School

Beyond technique: Empowering dancers

Princeton Ballet School is the official school of the American Repertory Ballet, celebrating over 65 years of excellence in dance education.

Classes are designed for all ages to build confidence, artistry, discipline, and foster students’ love of dance. Its 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.

What Sets the School Apart

Founded in 1954 by Audrée Estey, Princeton Ballet School is one of the nation’s finest non-profit dance schools. Many things set Princeton Ballet School apart from the usual dance school, the most important being: its philosophy, its faculty, its affiliation with a professional ballet company, its dedication to live music

The Dental Difference

Mini Dental Implants: A True Innovation in Dentistry

Mini Dental Implants (MDIs) have changed the face of implant dentistry. Unlike traditional implant placement, where multiple dental visits are often required, MDIs can eliminate the need for extensive surgery. The most common use for MDIs is the stabilization of dentures and overdentures. MDIs firmly anchor the dental prosthesis, which means there is no longer a need to suffer with illfitting, loose and ANNOYING dentures!

MDIs are designed to eliminate elaborate bone grafting and to expedite treatment. Traditional implants may require significant bone grafting and a longer recovery period. The latent period allows the anchor of the implant to properly embed itself into the jawbone. The smaller size of MDIs means that no recovery period is possible, and the denture can be fitted the same day.

What are the advantages of MDI

Health & Wellness

in the classroom and its facilities. The School’s Philosophy

Princeton Ballet School is known for nurturing developing dancers in a safe and progressive way. The school teaches age and developmentally appropriate ballet technique classes from a syllabus that allows younger students more time for movement exploration while providing advanced students with the tools to become professional dancers, if they so choose. As a result, all students develop self-esteem, self-discipline, and a strong fitness level that will provide a powerful edge in any future endeavor.

Outstanding Faculty. Princeton Ballet School has more than 20 specialized faculty members. Many have attained graduate degrees in dance education and have won major teaching awards. All are committed to the school’s philosophy of dance education and to helping students achieve their best. Members of the outstanding faculty have performed professionally with companies including American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Cuban National Ballet, and American Repertory

placement?

MDIs are a true innovation for people who are reluctant to have invasive dental surgery and who are suffering denture wearers. One significant advantage MDIs have over traditional implants is that they offer a viable treatment choice for patients who have experienced extensive bone loss. Depending on the quality and density of jawbone available at the implant site, four or more of these mini implants may be implanted at one time. The most common use for MDIs is to stabilize a lower denture, however they can be placed anywhere in the mouth.

Other advantages associated with MDIs may include:

• Better smelling breath

• More self-esteem

• Clearer speech

• Easier chewing and biting

• Easier cleaning

• Firmer denture fit

• Good success rate

• Less denture discomfort

• No cutting or sutures

• No need for adhesives or messy bonding agents

• No rotting food beneath the

Ballet.

Live Music. The school’s ballet classes have live musical accompaniment. This is particularly fun for the children’s classes, where frequent improvisational exercises provide an opportunity for students to interact and collaborate with the staff of professional musicians.

Facilities. Princeton Ballet School has studios in Cranbury, New Brunswick, and Princeton, New Jersey. All locations are wheelchair accessible and feature sprung dance

denture

• No slipping or wobbling

• Quick treatment time

• Reduced costs How are mini dental implants placed?

The whole mini dental implant placement procedure takes approximately one hour. Generally, in the case of lower jaw implants, four to six MDIs will be placed about 5mm apart. Prior to inserting MDIs, Dr. Mosmen will use many diagnostic and planning tools to find the optimal location to implant them.

After placement, a denture will be modified and affixed to the MDIs. The rubber O-ring on each MDI snaps into the designated spot on the denture, and the denture then rests snugly on the gum tissue. MDIs hold the denture comfortably in a tight-fitting way for the lifetime of that implant.

In almost all cases, no stitching is required, and no real discomfort is felt after the procedure. When the denture placement procedure is complete, light eating can be resumed. The denture can be removed and cleaned at will. MDIs enhance the natural beauty of the smile and restore full

floors and marley from Harlequin Floors. The striking Princeton and Cranbury facilities were designed by the late Ralph Lerner, an internationally known architect and former Dean of the School of Architecture at Princeton University. The studios in New Brunswick are part of the state-of-the-art New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, which opened in 2019.

More information: arballet.org/ princeton-ballet-school/. See ad, page 10.

functionality to the teeth.

If you have any questions about ni dental implants, please call Dr. Kevin Mosmen for a FREE consultation appointment to see if you’re a candidate for this procedure or traditional implants.

The Dental Difference – 2131 Route 33, Suite A, Hamilton, NJ 08690. 609-445-3577. www. thedentaldifference.com. See ad, page 15.

Dr. Kevin Mosmen

Medical Acucare

A Personalized Approach to Your Optimal Health

Discover a personalized approach to achieving your optimal health with Medical Acucare. Our mission is to address every dimension of your wellbeing and alleviate, or even reverse, the symptoms and progression of chronic diseases.

Meet Dr. Qingdi Geng, the founder of Medical Acucare. Board-certified in Internal Medicine, Medical Acupuncture, and Obesity Medicine, she brings over 10 years of clinical experience in treating diverse medical conditions. Dr. Geng recognized that while conventional medical treatments effectively manage acute conditions like broken bones or strokes, they often fall short in improving chronic diseases. This led her to pursue advanced training in Functional Medicine, allowing her to combine the best of Internal Medicine, Functional Medicine, and Acupuncture to identify the root causes of her patients’ chronic issues and optimize their health and wellness.

Why choose Medical Acucare?

Focus On the Root Cause: Inspired by her childhood admiration for Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Geng approaches each patient’s case like a dedicated detective. She takes genuine satisfaction in unraveling the true origins of complex medical conditions, providing accurate diagnoses, and offering valuable insights into treatment options.

Dr. Qingdi Geng

Comprehensive Care for Challenging Health Conditions: At Medical Acucare, we acknowledge the distinct obstacles individuals face while navigating the healthcare system, particularly women during their postpartum, perimenopause, and other difficult transitional phases. Dr. Geng specializes in addressing hormone imbalances, digestive dysfunction, autoimmune disorders, and exposure to harmful toxins, which can give rise to a multitude of complaints across various organ systems, often resulting in diagnostic and therapeutic complexities. By thoroughly assessing each patient’s situation and employing advanced lab tests, Dr. Geng

formulates personalized treatment strategies that target the underlying factors contributing to health issues.

Healthy Lifestyle

Modifications: At Medical Acucare, we understand the significance of healthy lifestyle changes in maintaining optimal well-being. Dr. Geng emphasizes the importance of stress management, enhancing sleep quality, initiating appropriate physical activity regimens, and nurturing spiritual and mental wellness. Additionally, we collaborate with local and remote health coaches and nutritionists to offer valuable tools for cultivating healthy habits, restoring self-assurance, and achieving enduring health success.

Acupuncture for Holistic Healing: Acupuncture has gained widespread acclaim for its efficacy in treating conditions such as low back pain, neck pain, migraines, insomnia, and other conditions. Moreover, acupuncture stimulates the release of beneficial hormones, including endorphins, promoting overall health, and restoring balance within the body. Dr. Geng

has successfully utilized acupuncture to address a wide range of health concerns, including anxiety and depression, chronic pain, indigestion, insomnia, obesity, and urinary incontinence. Its gentle and non-invasive nature, combined with Dr. Geng’s expertise, makes acupuncture a safe and effective treatment option.

Cosmetic Acupuncture for Natural Beauty: Experience breakthrough solutions for natural beauty and antiaging at Medical Acucare. Alongside traditional acupuncture treatments, our specialized acupuncture procedures deliver strikingly aesthetic results. Unlock your radiant, age-defying potential with the transformative power of cosmetic acupuncture.

Choose Medical Acucare for a personalized and comprehensive approach to your health. Dr. Geng and our dedicated team are here to guide you on your journey to optimal health and well-being. Contact us today to schedule a complementary consultation and start your journey towards a healthier, more fulfilling life.

Medical Acucare, 339 PrincetonHightstown Rd, Building C, East Windsor NJ 08512 www.medicalacucare. com. See ad, page 6.

Hamilatte Community Focused Coffee and a Health Conscious Menu Coming This Summer to Route 33 in Hamilton

Coffee is the quintessential superfood for people all over the world. Whether you have a cup of joe to kick off the day, have a cup with dessert to cap off a big meal, or even have a drink before your work out, coffee is a healthy way to boost energy and comes loaded with several lesser-known nutritional benefits. In recent years, research has proven that the high antioxidant content of coffee can improve life expectancy and reduce the risk of certain diseases, including Parkinson’s, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Lastly, taking a break to share a great cup of coffee with family and friends can do wonders for our mental health in our busiest and most stressful days, which is what led one local couple, Karen and Adam Elias, to use coffee as a way to connect with their community.

Jamesbrew Cafe, located on West Railroad Avenue in Jamesburg, opened last November,and has quickly become a staple in the community. Jamesbrew serves great coffee, espresso, and tea beverages, along with a variety of pastries, cakes and gelato, all while celebrating the rich history and promising future of the historic borough. Their signature Railroad Roast and Buckelew Cold Brew,

along with every other drink on their menu, are aptly named after the iconic landmarks and families who built Jamesburg and left a lasting impression on generations to follow. Jamesbrew’s doors are always open for community sponsorships, and they continue to host fun events for the neighborhood like chess club tournaments, book signings, fundraisers, art shows and more. You can pop in on the weekend and enjoy Karaoke Night every Thursday and support local musicians that play live music every Friday and Saturday night with the option for patrons to BYOB.

Given the positive reception of Jamesbrew among residents of Jamesburg and neighboring towns, Karen and Adam are already on their way to opening café number two. Hamilatte, opening this summer on Route 33 in Hamilton, will have all Jamesbrew’s offerings but with a special nod to the living story of Hamilton. Hamilatte will go one step further with a health-conscious menu in collaboration with Hamilton native Sinclair Jones, creating the most inclusive environment for patrons of all dietary needs.

Be BIO café was established by Jones in 2019 and specializes in vegan, gluten free and sugar-free desserts. The name means “beautiful inside out;” that the beauty process comes from within. Be BIO is guided by the philosophy that quality taste should not be sacrificed in the pursuit of a healthier diet. All

BIO goods served at Hamilatte will be baked fresh with no unnecessary ingredients or preservatives. Hamilatte will also serve specialty and custom ordered baked goods that may not always be listed on its menu. Hamilatte’s coffee will be USDA organic certified, while desserts that are vegan and gluten free, using organic ingredients and garbanzo bean flour to make the Hamilatte experience exceptionally delightful and nutritious for all patrons.

Stay tuned for the grand opening in just a few weeks! More information: www.hamilatte.com.

See ad, page 7

To

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INFORMATION CALL: 609380-3124

SERVICES

LEGAL SERVICES Wills, Power of Attorney, Real Estate, Federal and NJ Taxes, House calls available. Bruce Cooke, Esq. 609-799-4674, 609-721-4358.

Senior Concierge. Let me be your helper. In the home or on the road. Part-time/ Day or evening. Very good references. Call Mary Anne, 609-298-4456.

F,D,Mason Contractor, Over 30 years of experience. Brick, Block, Stone, Concrete. No job too large or small. Fully Insured and Licensed. Free

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Are you single? Try us first! We are an enjoyable alternative to online dating. Sweet Beginnings Matchmaker, 215-539-2894, www.sweetbeginnings.info.

Attention Single Men 64 – 71 Local matchmaker is seeking an educated, nice, tall gentleman for one of my client’s. No Fees! Contact Jill Elliott 215-539-2894.

WANTED TO BUY

Wanted: Baseball, football, basketball, hockey. Cards, autographs, photos, memorabilia. Highest cash prices paid! Licensed corporation, will travel. 4thelovofcards, 908-5960976. allstar115@verizon.net.

HappyHeroes used books looking to buy old Mysteries, Science Fiction, Children’s Illustrated, kids series books (old Hardy boys-Nancy Drew-Judy 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

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.

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 609635-3751 OR EMAIL suppsoln27@yahoo. COM FOR DETAILS.

3,500 SF OFFICE SPACE, Ewing/Mercer County, FREE RENT, 201-488-4000 or 609-883-7900

HAMILTON TWP.- 1st Floor Office/Professional/ Service Space<B/> with Plenty of car/truck parking in rear. Reception area, 3 large rooms, utility & powder room, full basement for storage. $1,350/mth. Call DiDonato Realty Co (609) 586-2344/ Marian Conte (609)9474222.

office space For Rent: Pennington ground floor office space 32 N Main Street. Share with clinical psychologist and real estate management company. Private entrance, off street parking. 305-968-7308

Princeton Commercial Retail Spaces for Lease: Various Locations in Town. Please Contact: Weinberg Management.

WMC@collegetown. Text 609-731-1630

VACATION RENTALS

Florida Beach Rental: Fort Myers Beach 1br vacation condo on the beach, flexible dates available. Call 609577-8244 for further information

CEMETERY PLOTS

For sale double depth cemetery plot. Location Princeton memorial park, Gordon Road, Robbinsville. Call 609-2597710.

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Friday, July 7 at 7:30 PM: the British invasion Experience

Saturday, July 8 at 3:00 PM: andrew lobby

Saturday, July 8 at 7:00 PM: Kindred Spirit

Sunday, July 9 at 7:00 PM: Ernie White Band

DOT opens transportation training facility on Dunns Mill Road

Center intended to give trade and engineering professionals practical experience in their field

New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner Diane GutierrezScaccetti recently announced the opening of a new transportation training facility in Bordentown.

Located on Dunns Mill Road, the facility previously served as the New Jersey National Guard Bordentown Combined Support Maintenance Shop.

DOT acquired the property from the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs in 2016 and converted its three buildings and surrounding land into a purpose-built training complex that caters specifically to the evolving needs of professionals working in the transportation infrastructure field.

“The New Jersey Department of Transportation recognizes the critical importance of a well-trained, highly skilled workforce to build, maintain and improve our transportation infrastructure,” Gutierrez-Scaccetti said in a media release. “The skills taught at this innovative and

modern facility will directly impact motorists throughout New Jersey, because excellence in training translates to expertise, efficiency, and enhanced safety on the job. Today marks an exciting milestone as we continue to invest in NJDOT’s most valuable asset, its employees.”

The original buildings’ footprints and floorplans were retained throughout the design and renovation process, with minimal need for demolition and new construction. The facility includes specialized classrooms and adjoining labs outfitted with real roadway structures, traffic control components, and vehicle maintenance equipment. DOT says the spaces allow trainees to gain hands-on experience in a safe and controlled setting without adverse weather or road hazards.

A mock roadway was constructed on the premises and features a signalized intersection, crosswalks, overhead signs, and a railroad grade crossing to present trainees with the conditions and structures they will encounter on the job.

In addition to a lecture hall, multiuse classrooms, computer training labs, offices, conference and breakout rooms, and locker room facilities for instructors

and trainees, the training facility offers unique, hand-on training areas including two full-motion Commercial Drivers’ License (CDL) truck simulators; a Construction, Landscape and Roadway Training Lab with in-ground model of drainage inlets connected by a culvert; an Electrical and Sign Training Lab with real traffic signal control cabinets and in-ground pull

boxes; an Automotive Training Lab with working model of truck brake system; an Equipment Training Bay with welding area and space to work on large vehicles; and a Radio Shop.

DOT says that the facility is also equipped to serve as a centralized disaster recovery location for roadway operations during emergency events.

Corrections and clarifications: In the May issue of the Bordentown Current, there were several errors in a story about Leaping Dog Art Studios in Bordentown. One is that the business was incorrectly referred to as Leaping Dog Art Studio.

Leaping Dog Art Studios offers weekly art classes throughout the year. It offers a fall session, winter session, spring session and a summer session.

Open Studio Times are for enrolled students who would like additional time to work on their ceramic projects. Leaping Dog Art Studios no longer offers walk-in times to the public. Anyone who would like to experience what Leaping Dog is all about and make drawings or paintings or things out of clay can enroll in an art workshop or weekly art class, or book a private art lesson or party.

Owner Jennifer Szeto’s mother did not work in fashion and interior design, and Szeto says that her uncle was not an “early influence” on her. The article may have also given a mistaken impression that Leaping Dog Art Studios offers classes for handbuilding and throwing, which it does not. Leaping Dog Art Studios has also never participated in PorchFest; this was erroneously reported.

cal CSA program, residents who live in the area of a local farm pay an upfront fee in exchange for a weekly share of that year’s harvest, spring through fall.

Back in 2005 farms like Fernbrook, in Chesterfield, offered members a workshare option. They could work at the farm, helping with the harvest, in exchange for a reduced CSA fee. That is how Francis came under the influence of Jeff Tober, who was the farm manager at Fernbrook for many years before starting a farm of his own.

“I learned a tremendous amount from Jeff, which is kind of why we took it on our own from there,” Francis says. “First, when you join a CSA, you want the good food, and then you realize there’s a lot to learn (about agriculture). Once you get hooked, it’s hard to go back to what you did before.”

Once the herbs and native plants were thriving in Francis’ greenhouse, she started selling them at local farmers markets. “That’s all we had,” Francis says. “We would take thousands of plants every year to a couple markets, and it kind of grew into other things.”

In 2008, Francis began raising animals as well. Today, she raises chickens, goats, lambs, pigs and cows. She gets eggs from some of the chickens and milk from some of the goats. The rest are raised for food.

“People would ask, ‘Do you have sheep? Do you sell lamb? Do you have pigs? Do you sell pork?’ From then, it just kind of grew and grew to where we are now,” she says.

Where they are now is at a variety of local weekly farmers markets: Pennington, Mount Holly, Burlington City, Marlton, Princeton and, starting this month, Robbinsville. They sell different things at different markets, depending on what other vendors are there and what agreements are in place with the markets. But they always have plants through July, and they always have goat’s milk soap and a variety of jams on offer.

One market where you won’t find The Shepherd’s Pasture is the Bordentown Farmers Market. “Bordentown is on Sunday. Sunday’s our family day,” Francis says.

The soap and jam are made at the house in Bordentown City, which the Francis family has owned since 1987.

Most of the produce that The Shepherd’s Pasture sells is grown on their 16-acre farm in Sussex County. Some of the produce that they sell at market comes from other local farms.

They grow a variety of popular herbs to sell, including mint, oregano, basil, chamomile, lemon balm, winter savory and catnip. They also grow a number of less commonly found herbs, including com-

frey, horehound, spilanthes, valerian and wormwood.

The animals are pasture raised at Fernbrook Farm, per an agreement that Francis has with the Kuser family, which owns the farm. Francis is there every day to tend to the animals, and sometimes also to teach Fernbrook’s day or summer campers in the Children’s Garden at the farm.

Francis started making and selling jams and preserves last year, and she says that part of the business has really taken off. “Right now (in June, when we spoke), it’s the centerpiece of our stand, aside from the plants,” she says.

What’s available depends on what sells the most, as well as what’s in season. In June, jams available from The Shepherd’s Pasture included apple pie jam, blueberry jam, onion jam, carrot jam and orange marmalade.

If there is an abundance of a crop, Francis will look for ways to utilize it. Last year, for instance, the rhubarb crop came in strong. The Francises don’t grow strawberries, but they were able to procure some from a local farm to use in some strawberry rhubarb jam.

“We had an abundance of carrots last year, so we made some Mexican pickled carrots,” she says. “The demand was there, so we started to think outside the box, think, if we grow more of this we’ll have a little extra to make something canned out of it. And that definitely took off at most of the markets.”

Summer crops should start reaching maturity this month, which means The Shepherd’s Pasture will have many familiar Jersey favorites at the markets soon: zucchini, cucumbers, broccoli, cauli-

Dr. Steven

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

Lydia Francis (center) with granddaughters Zoey and Arya at the Rutgers University Breeder Symposium.

flower. They have planted some 30 fruit trees on the Sussex County farm, but they are not ready to bear edible fruit yet. In the meantime, Francis obtains locally grown fruit from other farms to sell at market.

Francis says that becoming a farmer has had a profound effect on the way her family lives today. “We eat differently,” she says. “We eat what’s in season and if we have extra, we preserve it. We have meat from our animals — I don’t think I’ve bought meat from a grocery store in 15 years. We have our chickens, we have our eggs — we really have a lot. Coffee and half and half. I have to go to the grocery store for that.

“When the winter comes, if we haven’t preserved it, there’s not a lot we would buy out of season. We grow a lot of our own food, but there are farms that have winter produce in New Jersey, too, and they’re not far away. A lot go to the markets that we go to, so we are still able to get local vegetables throughout the winter. It’s a lifestyle.”

Francis grew up in Cream Ridge. She worked in the banking industry before opting to stay home with her children. She and John have three daughters — Heather DiLapo, Amanda Warden and Victoria Wicker — and son Jonathan, who is the youngest of the four. The Francis children were all homeschooled.

“My daughters give me a lot of support,” Francis says. “They do behind the

scenes things. One daughter edits my newsletter. Another works in the greenhouse. She was an apprentice at Fernbrook. I get a huge amount of support from them.”

Among them, they have 11 children, the eldest of whom is 13. Sometimes even the grandchildren can be found helping Francis at the market.

Son Jonathan, 18, is a farmer in his own right, he spent many years working with the animals for The Shepherd’s Pasture before taking a job last fall with Spring Hill Farm in Hopewell Valley.

“I kind of lost him in the fall, which was very unfortunate. He was my best, he really was. Jonathan was on farm with the animals, always feeding, picking up hay et cetera,” Francis says.

John worked as a contractor for the Department of Defense before retiring last year. In the absence of Jonathan, he is picking up some of the slack both at home and at the Sussex County property.

“My husband is helping me,” Francis says. “He’s working on the organizational part, on the marketing, since he is very good at it. Since he started a couple months ago, he’s really pushing the marketing end for me and putting stuff online.”

John will also be flying solo at the Princeton and Robbinsville farmers markets this year, since Lydia will be at other markets on those same days of the week.

On the web: thefarmboard/ theshepherdspasture.

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.

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

Lydia Francis’ granddaughter Charlotte behind the table for The Shepherd’s Pasture at a farmers market stand, selling jams, bread and other natural products.

Monthly until they co-founded a biweekly journal of criticism called The Critic. This occurred during the same year that he became editor-in-chief of The Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine in 1881.

Jeannette shared responsibilities as editor of The Critic with her younger brother Joseph until 1906 — quite an achievement for a woman in her day. She also wrote several books, including two popular novels: The Autobiography of a Tom-boy (1900) and its sequel, The Tom-boy at Work (1904). Among her cherished friends was Good Grey poet Walt Whitman. Unmarried, she died at her home in New York in 1916.

Martina Pintard Gilder Puron (18511922) and her sister, Almyra Gambault Gilder Cholmeley-Jones (1853-1886) were both married and had children. Almyra was married to an Englishman named Edward Cholmeley-Jones. Upon her early demise, her sister Jeannette lovingly raised her children as her own until Edward remarried.

Martina married Juan Garcia Puron in 1882. Born in Spain in 1854, he settled in Mexico at a young age and became a medical colonel in the Mexican Army. Eventually growing disenchanted with the country’s political nature, he moved to New York City in 1880. Two years into his marriage, he earned the distinction

of becoming the first foreign physician to legally practice in the U.S. In addition, he wrote several textbooks on health and education in the Spanish language. Returning to his native Spain around 1900, he continued his medical practice until his death in 1912.

Robert Fletcher Gilder (1856-1940) was an adventurer like his brother,

William. He studied painting when he was young but was more fascinated about stories on the western plains and wanted to see it before it was tamed.

In 1887, family squabbles drove his conviction to the prairies of Omaha, Nebraska, where he joined the Omaha World Herald as a journeyman printer and typesetter. He quickly advanced to reporter, and work as an editor wasn’t far behind. In 1919, after 32 years on the job, he decided to leave. Not one to rest on his achievements, he devoted his full energy to his avocations of archaeology and painting.

In 1916, he built a home and studio south of Omaha called “Wake Robin.” Located in the town of Bellevue, it may or may not be coincidental that the town’s name was also the name of his family home in Bordentown. In any case, he made many trips to the southwestern part of the country for archeological work as well as inspiration for his paintings. The desert landscape appealed to him almost as much as the Missouri River basin. If there was a picturesque scene that attracted his attention, he painted it.

Describing his technique as impressionist, he was a skillful master of composition and light. On a regular basis, his work was shown at Whitmore’s Art gallery in Omaha as well as several

galleries. Another passion was serving as chief archeologist of the University of Nebraska for 12 years. He is the only family member not buried in Bordentown Cemetery.

Joseph Benson Gilder (1858-1936) attended the U.S. Naval Academy for two years before deciding to join his siblings in the editorial field. In 1881, he shared editorial responsibilities on The Critic with his sister, Jeannette. He did so until 1906, when its publication merged with Putnam’s Magazine. In 1910-11, he was the book editor for the New York Times. He edited several books during his career, including Andrew Carnegie’s Gospel of Wealth in 1900.

The Gilders were one of many distinguished families in our country that achieved wealth and influenced the behavior of society. Although their last name is not as synonymous as Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, or Mellon, their contributions to the world of literature, art, music, sculpture, theater, and architecture were and are nonetheless as impressive. We are fortunate that the glitter left by their legacy still sparkles in the little place where it all began… Bordentown.

William Henry Gilder, Jr., a Civil War veteran, news editor and Arctic explorer. (Photo courtesy of Reese and Linda Gilder-Palmer.)

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

Protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays

Ask The Doctor

As warmer weather invites you to spend more time outdoors, Malini, Patel, MD, Director of Medical Oncology at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton Cancer Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, shares her best advice and simple habits which can drastically reduce your skin cancer risk and helps you still enjoy your day outside with some simple sun safety strategies.

Slather on sunscreen. Use it even on slightly cloudy or cool days, regardless of skin color. It contains chemicals that scatter sunlight’s UV rays. Apply 30 minutes before you go outside. A Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 is sufficient as long as the sunscreen is reapplied every two hours.

Dress for success. That includes wearing a hat with a brim that shades your face, ears and the back of your neck, and loose-fitting, long-sleeved, tightly woven shirts and long pants. Wear a T-shirt on the beach whenever you aren’t in the water. Look for fabrics that have an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) to guard against UV rays.

Check yourself out. Regularly examine your skin for changes in moles during showers and in the mirror. Ask someone to check your back and neck, and if your hair is thinning, be sure to check your scalp as well.

Watch the kids. The vast majority of sun exposure occurs before age 18, so help your children take the necessary sun protection steps and let them see you doing the same.

Keep an eye on your eyes. Wraparound sunglasses are a great choice to protect eyes and skin around the eyes from UV rays.

Shun the brightest sun. When you’re outside between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., reduce

your risk of skin damage by seeking shade under an umbrella, cabana, tree or other shelter.

RWJBarnabas Health and RWJ University Hospital Hamilton, together with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey—the state’s only NCI-Designated 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.

To learn more about Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, visit rwjbh.org/Hamilton or call 609-586-7900.

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.

MonDAy, JUly 19

Cooking with Cardiology. 6 to 7:30 p.m. Join us at this “hands on” lecture and learn about heart healthy cooking. Shakil Shaikh, DO, from Hamilton Cardiology Associates, will be cooking up food for thought in this fun filled demonstration

TUESDAy, JUly 11

So Bloated, I Could Fly like a Balloon. 6 to 7:30 p.m. Shivaprasad Marulendra, MD, board-certified in Internal Medicine, fellowship-trained in Gastroenterology will discuss the common issue of abdominal bloating.

WEDnESDAy, JUly 12

orthopedic open House. 6:30 to 8 p.m. Discover the latest advances in knee and hip replacement surgery and rehabilitation. Presented by James Scott, DO, board-certified orthopaedic surgeon; Maureen Stevens, PT, DPT, GCS, Cert MDT; and Courtney Fluehr, PT DPT. Dinner is included.

TUESDAy, JUly 18

Detox your life and Get Energized. 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. It’s time to unlock the door to a healthier, happier lifestyle so that a better version of you can shine through. Get the keys of how to detox through nutrition, beauty, home environment and the mind. Gail Leslie, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach.

WEDnESDAy, JUly 19

It’s Summer! Why Am I Stressed out? 4 to 5 p.m. Discussion group about dealing with the stress of summer. Vacations, body image, kids at home, etc. Easy tips and different strategies one can employ for coping.

THURSDAy, JUly 20

Knowledge Café: Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) and Wound Care. 6 to 7:30 p.m. Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) affects more than 12 million people and can be problematic for those with chronic wounds. Join Reza Shah, DO, FACOS, FACS, FAPWA, CMET to learn about the world of PAD and wound care. Dinner will be provided.

TUESDAy, JUly 25

The link Between Hearing loss and Dementia-Can Hearing Aids Save your Brain? 10 to 11 a.m. According to several major studies, older adults with hearing loss are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, compared to those with normal hearing. Audiologist, Lorraine Sgarlato, Au.D., will discuss options with you.

Introduction to Animal Communication. 6:30 to 8 p.m. Do you love animals and want to deepen your bond? Do you wish you knew what your animals are thinking and feeling? Do you want to connect intuitively but not sure you have the ability (hint…you do!) Interested in learning how? Animal Communication is not just for “gifted” people… in fact we are all able to use our intuition to communicate this way. Come join us for this fun and interactive introduction into animal communication. No experience required, just your trusting open mind. Marcia Minunni, Fee:$15

FRIDAy, AUGUST 4

Raised Bed, Flat Bread. 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Spend your ‘Pizza Friday’ celebrating fresh produce that grows right here in New Jersey! Get hands-on by personalizing your own nutritious flat-tastic masterpiece for take-out! All ages welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Fee: $5 per person. Taryn Krietzman, RDN.

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, JUly 5

let’s Talk, A Senior Social Group. Also July 12, 19 & 26. 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, JUly 7

Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Watch Party & Discussion. Also July 14, 21 & 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.

THURSDAy, JUly 13

Socrates Café. 10 to 11 a.m. “Socrates Café” is about discussing a topic, sharing our thoughts, our beliefs, our ideas, and experiences. An unofficial mantra describes that we (people) learn more when we question, and question with others. This is a “safe zone” to share where all views are accepted. Come with an open mind, respect for one another, and a willingness to see where it takes us.

Dr. Patel