10-23 BC

The life story of a Civil War bible

By Grace CooPer

This summer, Bordentown Historical Society co-president, Bonnie Goldman received a donation in the mail: a beautifully cared for, red leather bible that dated back to the Civil War.

The donor, a Civil War enthusiast from North Carolina, had purchased the bible on eBay. Inside the front cover, the owner’s name was written in beautiful script: James B. Scott, Co. G, 4th Reg., NJ Volunteers, April 1861. Also included with the bible were many detailed documents, including a picture of Scott and information the donor researched telling the story of this Union soldier and the bible’s journey. Scott was born in New York, but lived in Bordentown.

James Byron Scott had answered President Lincoln’s call to arms for 75,000 soldiers in April 1861. Each northern state was assigned a quota to fill, and for some unknown reason — whether driven by patriotism, sense of adventure, or perhaps it had something to do with faith

See BIBLE, Page 6

A bond that knows no bounds

ment, and family events.”

Election preview 2023

By Joe Emanski

Another election season is upon us, but that does not mean that voters will be have a lot of choices to make when they submit their ballots this year.

By Joe Emanski

Axl was Brian’s horse — a barrel horse. Brian Hickey used to ride him in barrel racing, the rodeo event. So did Cheryl, his mom.

“We did that as a family, and instead of kids hanging out in a mall or something, we used to go to horse shows,” Cheryl Hickey says. “Beautiful environ-

When Brian Hickey went off to college, Cheryl was the one to take care of Axl — Axl and Mr. Tee, her quarter horse. She’s had Axl for 10 years now. Mr. Tee was 31 when she had to say goodbye.

She used to ride Mr. Tee when she volunteered as a mounted officer for a sheriff’s department in North Jersey, where they lived. “Mr. Tee, he would do anything for me. He would walk through fire. He was my lifeline especially after losing my husband,” she says. “

“You’ve got your dogs and your cats, which I can relate to as well, but the relationship you have with a horse —there’s nothing, outside of your children, that can compare to that.”

After Brian went off to college, she was looking to downsize, while at the same time moving closer to horse country. She settled in Clifton Mill. Axl, who is 26 now, is stabled about a mile away, at Old York Farm.

That’s where he was when a doctor who was examining him noticed that there was some-

See AXL, Page 5

There are seats on the township committee and Fieldsboro council up for election this year, but a shortage of candidates to fill them. In Bordentown Township, Democratic incumbents Aneka Miller and Bill Grayson are running unopposed for two available seats. In Fieldsboro, Democratic incumbents Amy Telford, Charlene Lewis and John Errigo are running unopposed. Bordentown City holds its elections in May.

The story is a little different where the Bordentown Regional School District Board of Education is concerned. One seat is up for election in each of Bordentown Township (where three are running), Bordentown City (where one candidate is unopposed) and in Fieldsboro, where two candidates, including the incumbent, will face off.

The Bordentown Current’s annual election coverage, focused on the school board this year, starts on page 11.

Cheryl Hickey with her horse, Axl, at Old York Farm in Chesterfield.

The relationship between horse and rider is a special one

RWJUH Hamilton October Healthy Living / Community Education Programs

LADIES NIGHT OUT: PAINTING WITH PURPOSE

Thursday, Oct 5; 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.

Meet the physician, learn the facts and myths when it comes to early detection and breast cancer, and enjoy a fun painting project. Join our featured presenter, Firas G. Eldaoumikdachi, MD, FACS, specialist in Breast Surgical Oncology, at RWJUH Hamilton Cancer Center. Concluding the physician’s presentation, all participants will engage in a painting project guided by local artist, Yun Li. Light fare and refreshments will be provided. This program is sponsored by I Believe In Pink and RWJUH Hamilton.

REIKI REFRESHER

Monday, Oct 9; 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

Have you been Reiki certified but it’s been so long ago you wonder if you’ve “still got it?” Come out and play with other practitioners in the same boat. This is a safe space to come out and explore the energy! Patti McDougall, Integrative RN, Reiki Master/Teacher. Bring a small sheet and a pillow. $5

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

Tuesday, Oct 10, 10:00 – 11:00 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. Prevention is key. Audiologist, Dr. Lorraine Sgarlato, Au.D., discusses your options.

Better

Health

DANCE IT OUT!

Monday, Oct 16; 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

When it doubt, just dance! Join us for this spooky dance session with all your favorite Halloween hits.

FERMENTATION: IT’S ALIVE!!

Tuesday, Oct. 17th at 2:00-3:00pm Curious about fermented foods? Come and uncover the history and science behind fermentation! We will examine the microorganisms responsible for fermenting some popular favorites and taste the results. $5 fee per person. Taryn

Krietzman,

RDN

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION FOR BEGINNERS

Wednesday, Oct. 18; 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Meditation has been shown to quiet your restless mind and help your entire body to relax. Come experience what all the buzz is about. Beginners welcome. Patti McDougall, BSN, Integrative Therapies Nurse. Free

HEALTHRYTHMS® DRUMMING CIRCLE

Wednesday, Oct. 18; 7:00 to 8:00 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

SACRED BREATHWORK EXPERIENCE

Thursday, Oct 19; 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Join Kim Huston, Reiki Master and Certified Breathwork facilitator is passionate about sharing this modality with anyone looking for true healing. Sacred Breathwork can help release negative patterns and fears that keep us stuck. Bring a yoga mat and blanket, chairs will also be available. Fee: $15

CRYSTAL BOWL SOUND BATH

Thursday, Oct 23; 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. 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. Please bring a yoga mat, blanket, pillow or anything that makes you comfortable, chairs will be available. Andriana Hansen, RYT200, SHA1 of the Learning Cooperative. $15

REIKI SHARE

Wednesday, Oct 25; 6:30 - 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

RECIPES FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE

Friday, Oct 27; 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Do you have a recipe that can stand the test of time? These folks sure thought so! We are tasting our way through some gravestoneetched recipes. Print your own tried-andtrue recipe to share! Fee: $5 per person.

Taryn Krietzman, RDN

KIDS IN THE KITCHEN

Thursday, Nov 2; 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.

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

BRAIN HEALTH-LEARN PROVEN METHODS TO KEEP YOUR BRAIN YOUNG

Tuesday, Nov 7; 10:00 - 11a.m. With so much information out today on brain health what methods really work? Join Dr. Lorraine Sgarlato, Au.D. to learn more about how to keep your brain young and turn back the clock on your aging brain.

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

Programs/Complimentary

YOGA CLASSES

Tuesday, Oct; 3 & 17; 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

MEDITATION CLASSES

Tuesday, Oct; 3 & 17; 11:15 to 11:45 a.m.

LET’S TALK, A SENIOR SOCIAL GROUP

Wednesday, Oct. 4, 11, 18, & 25; 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

SOCRATES CAFÉ,

Thursday, Oct; 5; 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

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

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

“Socrates Café” is about discussing a topic, sharing our thoughts, our beliefs, our ideas, and experiences. 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.

GAME TIME

Tuesday, Oct. 10; 1:00 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.

Membership at 65+ Years Old

TAI CHI CLASS

Thursday, Oct; 12 & 26; 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. CAMPFIRE

POETRY CIRCLE

Friday, Oct. 13th at 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Gather round as we share bewitching and enchanting poems to get us in the fall spirit! Bring your own Halloween-themed or autumnal poem to share and discuss with peers. Taryn Krietzman, RDN

FROM A TO Z: APOCALYPSES TO ZOMBIES

Monday, Oct. 20; 1-2:30 p.m. Explore the world of first aid and readiness for injuries. Join Wendy Jones, RN, for this hands on approach to refresh your memory when it comes to preparedness.

THE GREAT PUMPKIN: PUMPKIN PAINTING EVENT

Monday, Oct. 23; 10:30 - 12:00 p.m. Join us for some a ghoulish good time while we paint our own pumpkins! All supplies provided, bring clothes that can get dirty.

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR HEALTH/ CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Tuesday, Nov 7, 14, 21, & 28, Dec 5 & 12; 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) is a cost effective evidence-based health promotion program for people with chronic illness. CDSMP is a 6 session workshop designed for people with any ongoing health condition, such as arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, and similar conditions. During the course participants will learn how to problem solve, set goals, and relaxation techniques to help manage chronic conditions. It is expected that participants will attend all 6 classes.

ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP

Wednesday, Oct 11, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

CARING FOR LOVED ONES WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS

Mondays, Oct 2 & 16th, 10:3011:30 a.m.

ADULT CHILDREN CARING FOR PARENTS

Monday Oct 2 & Oct 16th, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.

CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP

Wednesday Oct 4; 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

GRIEF & LOSS SUPPORT GROUP

LUNCH AND LEARN: HEALTHY HEART CLUB

Monday, Oct. 23; 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Dine in with Edward A. Wingfield, MD, Medical Staff President, Director M. Ghusson Cardiac Catheterization Lab at RWJUH Hamilton and Marie Bernardo, MD, Cardiology, while they discuss “hearty” topics. Bring your appetite for knowledge with these two top doctors. A heart healthy lunch will be provided.

PLAN TODAY FOR TOMORROW

Thursday, Oct; 26; 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. The panel will breakdown our choices, discuss the healthcare system, financial, social, and care needs and how to make it work for you. Please welcome, Randi Goldberg, Archer Law Office, Rachal Baillie, Bear Creek Assisted Living, Gina Barnett, Springpoint at Home, and Kelly Aylward, The Elms of Cranbury Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center. Refreshments will be served.

WHAT’S NEW WITH MEDICARE?

Thursday, Nov; 2; 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Open Enrollment is here! Learn what you need to know about your Medicare benefits for 2024 and how to compare plans to find the best coverage and save money. Mary McGeary, the director of the NJ State Health Insurance Assistance Program and Michele Lee, Medicare and Program Specialist, will be the presenters.

Thursday Oct 5 & 19th; 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

LETTING GO OF CLUTTER

Tuesday Oct 10; 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

WISE WOMEN DISCUSSION GROUP

Thursday Oct 26; 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

MANAGING STRESS AND DIABETES

Wednesday Oct 18; 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.

WHAT’S EATING YOU?

Wednesday Nov 1; 11:00 – 12:00 p.m.

GOT STRESS?

Monday Nov 6; 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.

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

High school theater students to trick or treat for canned food

Bordentown Regional High School’s Thespian Troupe 6803 is set to once again participate in The International Thespian Society’s Trick or Treat So Kids Can Eat program.

Trick or Treat So Kids Can Eat is a statewide community-service program for ITS member schools to collect canned and dry goods for local charities and food banks. Theater students from Bordentown Regional High School plan to be dressed in costumes to collect food donations during the local Trick or Treat activities on Oct. 31 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Instead of trick-or-treating for candy, these students will be collecting canned food and other pantry items.

The troupe says that the donations will go to benefit St. Mary’s Food Pantry in Bordentown. Students will be collecting donations door-to-door in the neighborhoods of Clifton Mills, Constitution, Crystal Lake, the Bosserts and Bordentown City.

Thousands of pounds of food will be collected in one night across New Jersey, giving organizations the ability to help thousands of local people. Bordentown residents, as well as residents of surrounding cities, are encouraged to donate canned goods and non-perishable pantry items to help the troupe reach their goal of collecting 3,000 pounds of food.

Donations for the Trick Or Treat So Kids Can Eat Food Drive are also being collected in the main offices of all Bordentown Regional School District buildings throughout October.

In 2010, the donations of the Bordentown community helped Troupe 6803 to donate 2,002 pounds of food. For this, Bordentown Regional High School ITS Troupe 6803 was awarded the 2010 Harvest Excellence Award by the International Thespian Society. In 12 years of participation in the program, Troupe 6803 has collected over 40,000 pounds of donations.

Current Bordentown

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

EDITOR

Joe Emanski (Ext. 120)

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Grace Cooper, Rich Fisher

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

Twitter: twitter.com/mercerspace

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

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

thing wrong with his left eye. He advised Hickey to take him to an equine eye doctor, who told her that the eye probably needed to be removed for Axl’s overall health.

“The first question I had for her was, ‘Is my horse in pain?’ And she said yes. So I said, ‘Take the eye,’” Hickey says.

The surgery took place in the summer. Afterward, Hickey saw the change in Axl immediately.

“It was amazing how happy and content and relieved he was,” she says. “Even the vet said, when she removed the eye, she felt a sigh of relief (from Axl). I as an owner and the vet, we made the right decision.”

Since moving to Bordentown, she had taken Axl mostly on pleasure rides — at the farm, in local state parks, or even out to Island Beach State Park, where she would ride him on the beach. In the Bordentown Halloween parade, she would be one of the people who rides a horse at the end of the parade.

Once she was cleared to ride him again, she gave it a try, and it was like old times. What amazes her most, she said, is the way Axl has adjusted to his new condition.

“From day one he just adjusted to the eye,” she says. “He was just like the horse I know. It didn’t bother him to be riding in a ring where he can’t see the fenceline. The communication that I will have with

him will be a lot more consistent, because he needs to know that if I’m watching on that left side and everything is OK. The bond we will have moving forward between horse and human, that relationship will be more than it ever was before.”

Hickey became interested in horse riding when she was growing up in Paramus. She lived with her family on a property that bordered a horse farm.

“Back in the 70’s, they thought that maybe there would be a day their daughter wanted to start to ride,” Hickey says. “Well, that daughter learned everything about riding from the ground up. Then I got my first horse when I was in my 20’s. Now I’m on my fifth horse.”

Hickey has a masters in health administration and spent more than 35 years working in the health care industry. Now she has time to spend with Axl as he deals with the loss of his eye.

“There’s just a relationship that you have, a bond with these animals that are so big, 1,000-plus-pound animals that you just let into your own world,” she says. “Standing there brushing them, or if it’s riding them, they’re extremely intelligent and their heart is just to enjoy what you enjoy. It’s brought me great joy, especially with the losses with my family. Animals know. When you’re down in the dumps or just having a hard day — they know.”

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.

Cheryl Hickey with Axl at Old York Farm.

(clearly this small bible was important enough to him that it survived in relatively good condition) — a soon-to-be 36-year-old Scott joined the New Jersey militia, leaving his 4-year-old son, Edwin, and year-old son, William, at home with their mother, Josephine.

The American Bible Society and other religious-based organizations began to distribute these pocket bibles to both Confederate and Union soldiers. By December 1861, the ABS was printing and distributing approximately 7,000 New Testament bibles a day to soldiers in both armies.

This particular Bible was given to New Jersey Volunteers in April 1861, a group that enlisted for only three months. During Pvt. Scott’s service, the bible travelled with the unit south from New Jersey to Annapolis and then to Washington. His unit helped occupy the portions of Northern Virginia just across the Potomac River from Washington, and they helped build Fort Runyon, the largest of the Civil War forts around Washington.

The 4th New Jersey protected a major railroad line in the area until July, when they marched to Manassas and were in the Union reserves during the First Battle of Bull Run, although they

never saw action. Just 10 days after the battle, on July 31, 1861, the three-month enlistments were up, and the unit was mustered out. James Byron presumably

returned home to New Jersey.

However, he re-enlisted in 1862, this time with a three-year unit, the 6th New Jersey volunteers. The 6th NJ participated in some of the most famous engagements of the war, including the Peninsula campaign, the Second Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of Fredericksburg, the Battle of Chancellorsville, and the Battle of Gettysburg.

Following Gettysburg, they pursued Lee’s army back into northern Virginia. Around this same time, James Byron is listed as having been discharged due to a disability at Hampton, Virginia on Aug. 8, 1863, presumably at the major Union stronghold located there at Fort Monroe.

After the war, Pvt. Scott returned to New Jersey and moved back to Bordentown around 1890. He was

employed as a weighmaster on the Delaware and Raritan Canal. He had five children and died at the age of 80 years old. He is buried in the Bordentown (Veteran’s) Cemetery.

This interested volunteer from BHS located James’ living relative through Ancestry.com: his great-great-great grandson, Eric Luedtke. Permission was given from the donor to send the bible to the Scott family. Luedtke and his son were very excited to see the bible in person and, in addition to the research he himself had done, he was very interested to read the new research that had been sent along with the bible.

This treasured bible had traveled many miles with its owner, present at war torn battlefields; witnessing the violence and destruction of the Civil War. Its journey has come full circle, finding its home with soldier James Scott’s family.

Grace Cooper, Bordentown Historical Society volunteer, wrote this story based on the compilation of research done by an anonymous North Carolina Civil War enthusiast who found and donated the Bible, and Eric Luedtke, James Byron Scott’s great-great-great grandson.

Left: James Byron Scott’s inscription the his 1861-issued bible he is believed to have carried around with him while serving in the Union army during the U.S. Civil War. RIght: a poem “To the New Jersey Volunteers” printed in the bible.

Photograph of James Byron Scott.

BI-MONTHLY NEWS FROM CAPITAL HEALTH

Capital Health’s Trenton Neighborhood Initiative Transforming the Community

In 2022, Capital Health joined community partner Trenton Health Team to launch the Trenton Neighborhood Initiative (TNI). As part of Capital Health’s mission to improve the health and well-being of the urban and suburban populations it serves, TNI works to drive $10 million of investment in the neighborhoods surrounding Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton to address the societal factors that affect the overall health of the city’s residents.

Boosted by an initial $2.5 million leadership gift from the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation, TNI introduced a transformative plan that seeks to make significant strides in housing and neighborhood improvements, workforce education and employment, child and family support services, and technology training and tools for residents.

“As the health care landscape continues to evolve, it is our responsibility to understand and embrace our changing role in the community,” said Al Maghazehe, president and CEO of Capital Health. “TNI goes well beyond the walls of our hospitals and medical offices to look at societal factors that impact the health of our community. Based on input from community residents, data and recommendations from existing neighborhood plans, and industry best practices, TNI programs have been developed to have a lasting positive impact on the well-being of our neighbors and complement the health care services Capital Health offers.”

TNI’s Homebuyer Assistance Program, in partnership with New Jersey Community Capital, is making a difference with Address Yourself, an affordable homeownership program that provides financial counseling and up to $20,000 in down payment assistance (as a forgivable loan) to applicants seeking to become first-time homeowners in Trenton. Since its launch, this program has provided financial guidance for almost 30 first-time home buyers and helped facilitate seven home purchases, with more in process as of this writing.

TNI works with Mercer County Community College (MCCC) to provide educational scholarships of up to $5,000 per year per student

for a limited number of Trenton residents (including those who work at Capital Health) who attend short-term credentialing or associate’s degree programs in health-related fields at MCCC. So far, more than 30 scholarships have been awarded to Trenton residents.

Capital Health and community partner Arm in Arm host a Mobile Food Pantry for Trenton residents from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Wednesdays at Capital Health – East Trenton (first and third Wednesdays) and Capital Health Family Health Center (second and fourth Wednesdays). Offerings include non-perishable items, fresh produce, and meat and/or eggs and dairy. Since March 2023, more than 3,000 people have been served at more than 14 Mobile Food Pantry events.

Additionally, the TNI Family Support Program connects North Trenton families with a community health worker to achieve housing and economic stability and improve health outcomes for children, their parents, and seniors. TNI Family Support assists families by purchasing emergency supplies (such as food, diapers, car seats), facilitating communication with health care and social service providers, and providing guidance for routine appointments, records, and prescriptions. As of June 2023, 85 individuals have received assistance and more than $111,000 in material support.

TNI is also generously supported by Allied Universal, Bank of America, Investors Bank, Janssen/Johnson & Johnson, Labcorp, Citizens Bank Philanthropic Foundation, the George H. Sands and Estelle M. Sands Foundation, Sodexo, the Wawa Foundation, and many other corporate and private foundation partners.

For more details, visit tnitrenton.org.

Capital Health Now Offers Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement

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

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

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

Vaping: Get the Facts

Thursday, November 2, 2023 | 6

Location: Zoom Meeting

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

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

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

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

p.m.

The use of e-cigarettes skyrocketed in recent years under the incorrect thought that they were safer and contained fewer toxic chemicals than regular cigarettes. We now know that once inhaled, these harmful products have ingredients that can damage the lungs and can also cause many other physical and psychological symptoms from cardiovascular effects to nausea, flu-like symptoms and decline in sexual performance. Join DR. DIANA KOLMAN, director of Interventional Pulmonology at Capital Health, to get the facts about vaping.

This event will be taking place virtually using Zoom. Register online at capitalhealth.org/events and be sure to include your email address. Zoom meeting details will be provided via email 2 – 3 days before the program date. Registration ends 24 hours before the program date.

Is It a Cold or the Flu?

Sharing more time with family and friends during the colder months can be nice, but it can take a turn for the worse when we start sharing germs too. We’ve all felt the symptoms—sniffling, sneezing, body aches, and fatigue—but understanding whether it’s a cold or the flu can go a long way in helping you recover.

“Recognizing the difference between a cold and the flu can be tricky,” said DR. AVIRAL YADAV, a board certified family medicine physician at Capital Health – Virtual Primary Care. “But there are simple steps you can take to prevent the spread of both, like washing your hands often and disinfecting commonly touched surfaces. If, despite your best efforts, you end up getting sick, scheduling a video visit with one of our providers from Capital Health – Virtual Primary Care is a good first step toward a quicker recovery.”

A cold begins when a virus attaches itself to the mucous membranes lining your nose or throat. Your body’s immune system responds by sending white blood cells to combat the invader. This is what is behind the inflammation in your throat and nose that leads to coughing, sneezing, and lots of mucus.

For most adults, the worst symptoms usually pass after a few days. Children, however, have less developed immune systems and may

Brain Fog Causes and What to Do About It

Thursday, November 9, 2023 | 6 p.m.

Location: Zoom Meeting

take longer to recover. Unfortunately, there is no specific treatment or vaccine for colds, but if symptoms persist or worsen, call your primary care doctor. You may be dealing with the flu or a bacterial infection. Seasonal flu is caused by viruses that attack the body in the same manner as a cold. Some symptoms are similar too: cough, sore throat and fatigue. Unlike cold sufferers, those with the flu usually experience high fever and body aches.

Recovery takes a week or two with plenty of rest and clear liquids. Complications, however, can develop, ranging from sinus infections to pneumonia or more serious conditions. Those most at risk for complications include young children, adults 65 or older, pregnant women, and anyone with certain chronic medical conditions, such as lung disease or heart disease.

The first line of defense against the flu is vaccination, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend for everyone ages six months or older. Flu activity usually peaks between December and March each year, so you should get try to get vaccinated by the end of October.

Capital Health – Virtual Primary Care is a team of more than 35 primary care providers who can address a wide range of health conditions, including (but not limited to) the common cold, flu, symptoms of COVID-19, upper respiratory infection, and more. For details, or to request an appointment, visit capitalvirtualcare.org

Forgetfulness, lack of mental clarity, loss of motivation, and an inability to concentrate are associated with a non-medical condition broadly identified as “brain fog.” Join DR. EMIL MATARESE, director of the Concussion Program and board certified neurologist at Capital Institute for Neurosciences, to learn about the cognitive impact of COVID-19 and other conditions and treatment options to help dissipate the fog.

This event will be taking place virtually using Zoom. Register online at capitalhealth.org/events and be sure to include your email address. Zoom meeting details will be provided via email 2 – 3 days before the program date. Registration ends 24 hours before the program date.

Capital Health Regional Medical Center Ranked First in NJ

for Racial

Inclusivity in New Lown Hospital Index

Also Receives ‘A’ Grades for Health Equity, Patient Safety and Community Benefit

Capital Health Regional Medical Center (RMC) recently earned recognition from the Lown Institute as one of the most socially responsible hospitals in America. In the Lown Hospital Index, a report by the Institute that evaluates more than 3,600 hospitals across the nation, RMC received an A grade and ranked 17th out of 60 hospitals in New Jersey based on several key metrics that measure social responsibility. Among those metrics, RMC ranked number one in New Jersey for racial inclusivity and received A grades for health equity, patient safety, and community benefit. The report also ranked RMC among the top 100 hospitals nationally for inclusivity.

“Capital Health Regional Medical Center has a history of providing high-quality, equitable care to the people of Trenton and surrounding areas that goes back more than 130 years,” said Dr. Eric Schwartz, vice president of Community Health and Transformation and executive director of Capital Health’s Institute for Urban Care. “Earning this ranking from the Lown Institute for a second consecutive year validates the hard work of our staff and shows our community that

we remain committed to this tradition of health care excellence for all residents in Mercer, Bucks, and Burlington counties.”

“When communities have access to socially responsible health care, our nation grows stronger,” said Dr. Vikas Saini, president of the Lown Institute. “That’s why it’s so important to hold up these high-performing hospitals as examples for others to follow.”

The Lown Hospitals Index for Social Responsibility is the only ranking to include metrics of health equity and value of care alongside patient outcomes, creating a holistic view of hospitals as total community partners. The 2023-24 Lown Index evaluates hospitals on 50+ measures for more than 3,600 hospitals nationwide.

Capital Health Regional Medical Center has a long history of serving Central New Jersey and Lower Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The hospital includes a state designated comprehensive stroke center (part of Capital Institute for Neurosciences), the Level II Bristol Myers Squibb Trauma Center (one of only 10 designated trauma centers in New Jersey), and Mercer County’s designated Emergency Mental Health Services Center. RMC also provides general and interventional radiology services, dialysis, and numerous other medical services. To learn more, visit capitalhealth.org.

Small Step Strategies for Prediabetes

Monday, November 20, 2023 | 6 p.m.

Location: Zoom Meeting

Prediabetes puts you at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. The good news is that by making lifestyle changes, it is possible to prevent type 2 diabetes and even reverse prediabetes. Join Mindy Komosinsky, registered dietitian/nutritionist and certified diabetes care and education specialist, to learn more about prediabetes and how small steps can make a big difference in preventing type 2 diabetes.

This event will be taking place virtually using Zoom. Register online at capitalhealth.org/events and be sure to include your email address. Zoom meeting details will be provided via email 2 – 3 days before the program date. Registration ends 24 hours before the program date.

SIX09

Music to the Body and Soul

The melody of movement has never been sweeter for the American Repertory Ballet’s “Dance for Parkinson’s” program than when shared together in classes that not only build a circle of positivity, but also give its participants the chance to perform onstage at a joint ARB and Princeton University Concerts event next March.

Dance for Parkinson’s at ARB Leads a Choreography of Change in Class & Concert

BY REBEKAH SCHROEDER

Dancing can benefit those living with Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative disorder, through rhythmic motions that reclaim movement and demonstrate their resilience.

Over two decades ago, the Mark Morris Dance Group in Brooklyn developed the “Dance for PD®” model, which brings people with the condition and their caretakers together in a dance class setting.

Since then, it has been adapted for over 300 affiliates in 42 states and 25 countries, each iteration moving us one step closer to redefining our understanding of the progressive disease.

Participants from one of these local chapters, American Repertory Ballet’s “Dance For Parkinson’s” program, will take the stage at a live event hosted in partnership with Princeton University Concerts on Sunday, March 3, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. at the Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall in Princeton.

American Repertory Ballet’s Dance For Parkinson’s initiative is an extension of the Dance for PD® framework, offering

attendees of all skill levels or abilities the opportunity to express themselves in a community-based, creative environment at the Princeton Ballet School—known as ARB’s official school—that routinely incorporates live music accompaniments into classes across its Princeton, Cranbury, and New Brunswick studios.

ARB and PUC have invited these attendees to dance onstage to an adapted version of Mark Morris’ “Falling Down Stairs” choreography number, which is set to the “Bourrée” section from Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Suite No. 3 for Unaccompanied Cello.”

Anyone from the sessions who does not wish to join the concert can instead receive

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Six09 is inserted into each of Community News Service’s nine hyperlocal monthly publications. Over 125,000 copies are distributed each month in the Greater Mercer County, N.J. area.

TO ADVERTISE call (609) 396-1511, ext. 110 or e-mail advertise@communitynews.org

Rachel Stanislawczyk, opposite page and above center, is the director and founder of the American Repertory Ballet’s “Dance for Parkinson’s” program and the lead teacher at the Middletown Arts Center, above. Dance for Parkinson’s is an affiliate of the Mark Morris Dance Group’s “Dance for PD®” model, which offers classes for individuals with the neurodegenerative disorder and their caregivers.

a complimentary ticket to the show.

According to the Princeton University Concerts event page at concerts.princeton. edu, cello soloist Joshua Roman will provide live accompaniment to the piece as part of PUC’s ongoing “Healing with Music” series, which showcases the “restorative role” of music through engagements that are equal parts concerts and opportunities for conversation.

ARB and PUC’s collaboration aims to examine “the intersection of music, dance, and Parkinson’s” and includes a panel featuring Dance for PD®’s founding teacher and program director, David Leventhal, in discussion with members of Princeton University faculty.

The Princeton Garden Theatre will also show a special screening of the documentary film “Capturing Grace,” a film by David Iverson about the Dance for PD® program, on Monday, March 4, at 7 p.m. Iverson is set to participate in a live Q&A following the movie, which ties into his own personal history with Parkinson’s disease and the Dance for PD® classes.

Tickets are $15 each for the general public, $10 for students, and free to Princeton University students through the Passport to the Performing Arts program.

Due to popular demand, the Princeton Ballet School has expanded from its initial plan for a 5-week summer session and will hold courses throughout the school year, immediately followed by one-hour rehearsals for the March performance.

The fall season schedule runs on Thursdays from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Princeton location at 301 North Harrison Street in the Princeton Shopping Center with lead teacher Linda Mannheim and musician Dottie Westgate

Mannheim is a professional dancer and Pilates instructor who previously served as an assistant professor of dance at Rider University.

The ARB Dance For Parkinson’s program continues at the Middletown Arts Center on 36 Church Street in Middletown

Township on Mondays from 4:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. with accompanying pianist and percussionist G.G. Glazer-Armstrong

Zoom classes stream live on Thursdays from 11 a.m. to noon, headed by lead teacher Michael Vitaly Sazonov, a performer and theater maker who has worked with the Dance for PD® flagship program in New York since 2014.

Rachel Stanislawczyk is the director and founder of American Repertory Ballet’s Dance For Parkinson’s program, as well as its lead teacher at the Middletown Arts Center. She explained that the group has been meeting for nearly three years, forming a tight-knit circle that goes out for pizza together and stays in touch after class.

“If anything happens in each other’s lives, they’re always there to support each other, and it’s just a really beautiful family that has blossomed, and so I think to me, that is the most special part of the program—the relationships in the community,” she said.

For more information on the Dance For Parkinson’s program at ARB or the Zoom link to the weekly classes, email Stanislawczyk at RStanislawczyk@arballet.org or call assistant teacher Lindsay Cahill at 732249-1254, ext. 19

Stanislawczyk grew up in East Brunswick and attended the Princeton Ballet School until her sophomore year. She then split her time between East Brunswick High School and the performing arts program at the Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools, now called Middlesex County Magnet Schools, where she met director of dance Cleo Mack.

According to Stanislawczyk, Mack, who is also the artistic director of the Rock Dance Collective and co-owner of the Washington Rock Dance studio in Warren, “completely blew up everything” she knew about dance and led her to “fall in love with the art form.”

Mack inspired Stanislawczyk to branch

See DANCE, Page 4

out from her ballet roots to modern and contemporary dance, and Stanislawczyk credits Mack for helping her to continue those studies into college, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in dance and choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Stanislawczyk started her internship with the MMDG’s “Dance for PD®” Brooklyn program in 2017, eventually becoming the lead teacher. She brainstormed about how to implement a similar idea closer to home, believing that the project would thrive at a dance school like the Princeton Ballet School, which incorporates live music in every class.

A year later, she proposed the idea of Dance for Parkinson’s at ARB, a New Jersey-based affiliate of the MMDG’s “Dance for PD®,” with the support of ARB access and enrichment coordinator Lindsay Cahill, a longtime dance and gymnastics instructor who now serves as the assistant teacher for both in-person programs.

Stanislawczyk noted her interest in the correlation between the condition and dance came when her grandfather was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, leading her to research the topic in college and then cultivate it further at MMDG.

The concept spread beyond Princeton— influenced in part by Stanislawczyk’s personal connection to the condition—and even survived the transition to a virtual format during the pandemic before returning to all studios except Cranbury.

Stanislawczyk also returned to school, receiving an Ed.M. in dance education from Rutgers University as well as a K–12 teaching certification. The Edison resident is currently a full-time dance instructor for students at David Brearley Middle and High School in Kenilworth.

“I decided that I would go back to school for education so that I could provide students with a program similar to the one that

I went to when I was in high school,” Stanislawczyk said, noting that she went on to perform professionally with Mack’s group and still teaches at her dance studio.

“Throughout my life, I’ve always had a passion for sharing what I love about dance and sharing my own personal experience with [those] who are new to the form. That’s why I teach in a school, why I teach Dance for Parkinson’s, is to spread the humanistic response that I think dance provides to a community.”

The Parkinson’s Foundation, an organization that supports the Dance for Parkinson’s at ARB program through a community grant, describes the disorder as one

“that affects predominately the dopamineproducing (“dopaminergic”) neurons in a specific area of the brain called substantia nigra” for “more than 10 million people worldwide.”

The NIH National Institute on Aging website added that symptoms “usually begin gradually and worsen over time,” including “unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination.”

Others experience “difficulty walking and talking,” as well as “sleep problems, depression, memory difficulties, and fatigue.”

When cells in the brain die or are unable to produce a sufficient amount of dopamine, Stanislawczyk explained, dancing can prove to be a powerful influence.

“Dopamine is the movement base, the feel-good hormone in our brain, and when you dance to live music, it naturally produces dopamine in the brain,” she said.

According to a 2021 UCLA Health article by Chayil Champion, researchers at York University in Toronto, Canada, tracked 16 people with Parkinson’s disease as they attended weekly dance classes for a three-year period between 2014 and 2017.

These participants not only saw “an improvement in speech, [a] reduction in tremors, better balance, and decreased rigidity,” but “showed no deterioration over

All class participants will have the opportunity to perform an adapted version of the Mark Morris Dance Group’s “Falling Down Stairs” choreography at the Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall in Princeton on Sunday, March 3.

the three-year period, while the other 16— those who did not participate in the dance classes—experienced a decline in their motor skills.”

“Dance triggers the brain in a different way so that they’re able to waltz, they’re able to march out of the room, because instead of just reaching and trying to pick up a pencil or to do a daily task like pouring a cup of coffee, when you’re doing that and you’re dancing, and you think about sweeping the arm up overhead and grabbing onto something, pulling and pushing, and using that imagery, it triggers the brain in a different way; it provides agency to the people sitting in the room that’s unfortunately being stripped away from them,” Stanislawczyk said.

While participants may feel varying levels of therapeutic relief throughout the course, Stanislawczyk stressed that the class is not dance movement therapy. In fact, the topic of Parkinson’s disease is rarely discussed, with the emphasis instead placed on the core values of creativity and choreography at the heart of any traditional dance class.

“We treat the participants like artists,” she said. “We don’t want them to feel like they’re coming here and going to another doctor’s office. We strip that all away.”

Each class lasts around one hour and fifteen minutes. Participants begin by sitting in a circle of folding chairs with the lead and assistant teacher in the center, the latter of whom modifies the exercises as everyone moves through the motions against the backdrop of live instrumental music.

Throughout the session, attendees have the option of progressing to standing or remaining seated, with Stanislawczyk adding that if something she’s doing doesn’t feel right to them on that particular day, they are encouraged to adjust the exercise in any way they need.

When learning the basic steps of the Dominican Republic social dance known as bachata, for example, participants started at the bar and were subsequently given “the option of moving freely through the space without” relying on structural support.

“We start with a sun salutation exercise, and then we use a lot of percussion to warm up our feet. We use movement from a variety of different dance styles and forms, so one week we might have a salsa dance focus, the next week we might do a ballroom waltz, and the next week we might do jazz, ballet,” and other types that incorporate a variety of cultural influences, Stanislawczyk added.

“We play a lot with the seasons, or if a holiday is coming up, then we might create movements for Valentine’s Day, or we’re going to be incorporating a lot of apple picking and pumpkin picking and leaves falling from the trees,” she explained, noting that every day tends to follow a theme.

The Princeton University Concerts “Healing with Music” event features live accompaniment by cellist Joshua Roman, left, while the founding teacher and program director of the Mark Morris Dance Group’s Dance for PD®, David Leventhal, right, takes part in a panel discussion on the intersectionality of “music, dance, and Parkinson’s disease” with Princeton University faculty.

“There’s a lot of guided imagery that drives the class,” she said. “The visualization, I think, helps for this population, [because] if they are thinking about squeezing toothpaste out of their leg or tracing like they’re inside of a pumpkin and they’re carving the pumpkin from the inside out, it adds a different dynamic quality to their movement.”

“We do a lot of mirroring in this class, a lot of improvisation, and traveling through the space, and then we always end class with a reverence that we call ‘Passing of the Gift,’ and participants get to improvise, and they create their own ‘gift,’” she added.

It’s almost like charades, Stanislawczyk explained, where a first person “might blow a balloon with their hands and then show how it’s floating” before passing it onto the next individual standing in the circle, who then “has the power to transform that into anything they want.”

“Maybe they turn it into a flower, or maybe they bake cookies, and it goes around the room,” she continued. “We incorporate a lot of circles in this class for community. Circles have been traditionally used in dance throughout history to make sure that everybody is inclusive. You’ll see circles in a lot of ritualistic dances, and it means that we’re all equal and we’re all in this together.”

Stanislawczyk strives to create a “very casual and warm learning environment” through her teaching style, taking participants on a journey of exploration and vulnerability that hopefully “resonates in the room and makes everybody feel comfortable to take risks.”

While the physical aspects of the class are valuable in their own right, Stanislawczyk believes that the emotional rewards of being able to “equally nourish their soul[s] with dance” are felt on both sides of the instructor-dancer relationship.

“It’s one thing to teach children, but when you teach an adult, they are coming to the class for themselves, and they’re so grateful for the opportunity to dance, and so it’s a community that I really resonate with

because they’re so appreciative. As much as they love me, I love them,” she said.

“I get just as much from these classes as they do, and I truly believe that—that this is my happy place that I come to for the hour and 15 minutes that we spend with each other each week. It fuels me as a human being.”

Stanislawczyk finds it refreshing that the class fosters such close relationships between people from different backgrounds, each of them coming with their own unique mosaics of life experiences, in a communal space where bonds are forged through mutual respect and rhythmic activity.

“I constantly think about how, in our society as a whole, we’re constantly attached via technology. We’re not really having these human-to-human relationships, and so when you meet somebody and you’re moving together—I mean, it’s scientifically proven that your mirror neurons are turned on and that it develops empathy for one another—and I think that it develops a really strong foundation for a community of trust.”

Stanislawczyk emphasized that it is more important than ever to be engaged and present with others, a lesson she reiterates in class: “Look around and see the people that you’re moving with and that you’re dancing with, and that goes a long way.”

“It’s not often that we come together and we move together, and I think that it’s a powerful thing—a group of people moving in unison in today’s world [where] we’re just constantly with our heads down and typing on the computer and not making eye contact, etc.,” she continued. “We’re really listening to each other and responding to each other authentically.”

“When people are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, it can be very isolating. A lot of people lose agency to do simple tasks that we take for granted,” Stanislawczyk explained. “When I’m designing the classes, I try to incorporate everyday movements that we can practice and rehearse in here to live musical accompaniment, and then participants can adopt those movements into their daily lives. I use a lot of imagery, for instance, about flicking water off of the hands. I try to think about the relationships of how that relates to a common hand tremor that you may see with Parkinson’s disease.”

“I think that this class breaks away that sense of isolation, and it makes everybody feel included, including myself,” Stanislawczyk added. “I feel like I get as much out of the class as all of the participants, because it feeds my soul.”

***

Dance For Parkinson’s, American Repertory Ballet. Fall sessions available at the Princeton Ballet School, 301 North Harrison Street, Princeton; Middletown Arts Center, 36 Church Street, Middletown; and via Zoom. arballet.org/access-enrichment/programs-2/ dance-parkinsons-program.

“Dance for PD® (Parkinson’s Disease) A Mark Morris Dance Group Program: Exploring the Intersection of Music, Dance & Parkinson’s,” ARB and Princeton University Concerts, Sunday, March 3, 3:00 to 4:30 p.m., Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall, Princeton. concerts.princeton. edu/events/23-24-dance-for-pd

609.849.5999

Radiology Affiliates Imaging

Here for You for More Than Half a Century Radiology Affiliates Imaging Here for You for More Than Half a Century Radiology Affiliates Imaging has been here for you for over 50 years, and we will continue to be here for you when you need us most. Today more than ever before, we know health should never be taken for granted. Screening exams are an important part of keeping you and your family members healthy. Early detection has always been and remains key to diagnosis, treatment, and survival.

Delayed diagnosis leads to the identification of disease at later stages. With more advanced diseases, the prognosis usually is not as good, and the care needed is more expensive and disruptive to patients’ lives. Radiologists, who identify and diagnose diseases, are helping to remind patients about how important it is to schedule well visits, screenings, and follow-up appointments. RAI offers several screening studies to referring physicians and their patients. These include Coronary Calcium Score, CT Lung Cancer Screening, 3D Mammography, and Bone Density (DEXA). Preventative screening can provide physicians with valuable information before symptoms are present, which can then allow them the ability to

October 13-15

New Brunswick Performing Arts Center

successfully identify or control health issues. Annual screening studies can also turn worry into peace of mind for many patients, especially those who are high risk or have a family history of disease. RAI offers expertise in all areas of imaging for all members of your family. Our board-certified subspecialty radiologists offer expertise in women’s imaging, interventional radiology, musculoskeletal and diagnostic radiology. Whether you need an MRI, CT, Ultrasound, Mammogram, or X-Ray we offer the latest in imaging technology and interpretation. We also have a new 3T MRI available in our Lawrenceville office. In the last 50 years, RAI has earned our place amongst the largest and most respected radiology groups in our area. Continuing with our long-standing traditions, RAI will strive to provide the most up-to-date imaging technology and highest level of quality and service to our patients. One area where we closely monitor innovations is Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is still in the early stages of development. As technology matures, it will continue to enhance the radiologist’s reading capabilities, help them obtain better patient histories,

and automate our processes. We will continue to help all of the medical professionals with whom we work improve the quality and value of the care that we provide the community. Our demonstrated commitment to elevating the level of care available close to patients’ homes remains as strong as ever.

Radiology Affiliates Imaging, 2501 Kuser Road, Hamilton. 3120 Princeton Pike, Floor 1A, Lawrenceville. 609-585-8800. www.4rai.com. See ad, page 8.

SIX09

Dr. Eric Bosworth, president of RAI

FEATURING

World premieres by Stephanie Martinez and Meredith Rainey

PLUS new music by Miranda Scripp and the anticipated return of Ethan Stiefel’s Wood Work

Ethan Stiefel, Artistic Director

Julie Diana Hench, Executive Director arballet.org

Hamilton Dental Associates

Halloween Scares and Oral Care all in one month!

By Senta C Johnson

Halloween is just around the corner; a scary time for kids, and a scarier time for their dentists. Your friends at Hamilton Dental Associates suggest, It’s OK to eat that candy on Halloween but it’s important to have a plan. Here’s what families can do to keep their teeth healthy during the spooky season. October is also National Dental Hygiene Awareness Month so here is a plan to help oral care during the scare season!

Sticky Situations. Chocolate is one of the most common candies during Halloween. Fortunately, chocolate washes off your teeth easily, and darker chocolates have less sugar. For the stickier treats, however, stay picky. Candy like taffy, gummy bears, and hard candies stay in your mouth much longer than chocolate, which gives cavity-causing, tooth-decaying bacteria more time to

work. It’s tempting to keep that candy around, but your dentists will thank you for limiting your stash.

Free Trade. Always inspect the loot after trick-or-treating for anything unsafe (allergens, tampered wrappers, choking hazards, etc.). We also recommend proposing trades for downsizing the children’s sugary stashes. For sticky candies, especially, try trading them for new toys, movie tickets, or your pieces of chocolate. Family fun and health are

not mutually exclusive here.

Blowing Bubbles. Chewing gum might be your best friend this Halloween. Find your favorite sugarfree gum and keep it handy. Gum stimulates saliva production, naturally rinsing the mouth and preventing plaque. Chew after each meal or snack for optimized oral health.

Favoring Fluoride. Fluoride is a natural mineral that prevents cavities and tooth decay, especially in early development. It can be found in

toothpastes and most bottled water. For additional supplements, talk to us at Hamilton Dental Associates about fluoride mouthwash, tablets, or gels.

Increasing your children’s fluoride intake can help combat any sweet tooth this season.

Practice Makes Perfect. With all of the pumpkin flavoring and sweet treats, it’s hard to think about oral hygiene.

For the best long-term outcomes, though, it is necessary to establish a strict, consistent routine. This means brushing and mouthwash at least twice a day, cleaning in-between teeth, limiting sugary beverages and snacks, and drinking plenty of water. Have the kids pick out their favorite toothbrush and 3-minute tune for a family-fun, tooth-brushing time.

If you are looking for a partner to help with your child’s oral care or looking for a long term plan, contact Hamilton Dental Associates to set up an appointment today!

Hamilton Dental Associates, 2929 Klockner Road, Hamilton Square; 609-359-0063. 2501 Kuser Road, Hamilton; 609-403-3217. www. hamiltondental.com.

See ad, page 8

Fluid Physio

Helping People Move

Dr. Gianna Bigliani, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, owner and founder of Fluid Physio is excited to help people move more comfortably.

about Fluid Physio is that we can get fast results.. We are different than any other physical therapy practice because of our approach: a full hour of one-on-one specialized manual therapy treatment that will return you to pain-free optimal performance and function much faster than others.”

University in 2003 and became a certified strength and conditioning

specialist, complimented by her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. She became a certified orthopedic specialist. She worked with athletes of all ages (including children) and abilities (including at a professional

restrictions it previously had so that the effect of the therapy is lasting.”

“Every patient is an athlete at Fluid Physio,” she says. “Our goal is to maximize your performance in the activities you love, whether they are on the water, on the road, on the field, or on the floor.”

“I often treat hips and backs in the winter when people slip and fall on snow or ice. Also, they can hurt their backs raking leaves or shoveling snow. Another condition I often treat is foot pain.”

She gives her clients “homework,” “Each patient gets specific exercises and movements to do at home according to their needs and goals.”

“We’re not created to be sedentary. It’s good to be physically active.

I chose the name Fluid Physio because ‘fluid’ is how movement should be. Physio is how the rest of the world refers to physical therapy. I also like water and how the water moves, so I thought fluid physio was quite appropriate.”

Fluid Physio, 160 Lawrenceville Pennington Road, Suite 16, Lawrence. 609-436-0366. Fluidphysio.com. See ad, page 7

MAKING SMILES FOR LIFE

Dr. Irving Djeng Dr. Lauren Levine

Dr. Kevin Collins Dr. Deolinda Reverendo

Dr. Michael DeLuca Dr. Matthew Etter

You don’t feel a lump, swelling or tenderness. You still need a mammogram.

At RWJBarnabas Health, together with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, we offer the latest in comprehensive breast health services including mammograms, 3D mammograms, breast MRI, genetic testing, breast surgery and more — like peace of mind. And with breast health centers conveniently located throughout New Jersey, finding us is simple, too. Schedule your mammogram at rwjbh.org/mammo

Let’s beat breast cancer together.

AllCure Spine and Sports Medicine

Personalized Solutions to Your Pain Concerns

At AllCure, we understand that the summer can come with a lot of fun and activity. Often, we experience that patients will put off their pain concerns until the summer is over and plan to address them in the fall.

At AllCure, we will do assessments to see where each person can benefit from our level of care. We offer chiropractic, physical therapy, and acupuncture services to provide high-level of conservative care to the community.

Our office also provides stateof-the-art modalities to assist each provider in getting patients back to a higher quality of life. We also have X-ray on site to help diagnose the patients pain and discomfort. We offer 10 minute free consultations for anyone interested to make sure they feel comfortable and to ensure that we can help.

We take pride in what we do and we make sure that each patient gets

a high level of attention and care on each one of their visits. We make our plans specifically to fit each individual person‘s needs and do not offer blanket treatments for similar patient complaints.

We have offices conveniently located in Monroe, Hamilton, and

Somerset, NJ. Please visit our website or give us a call today to come in for a free consult, and get back to the quality of life you deserve.

AllCure Spine & Sports Medicine, 140 Cabot Drive, Suite A, Hamilton. 609-528-4417. 350 Forsgate Drive, Monroe Township.

Brothers Anthony Alfieri, DC, left, and Victor Alfieri, DPT.

732-521-9222. 1101 Randolph Road, Somerset. 732-823-9392. www. allcurespineandsports.com. See ad, page 11

Saturday, October 14th 2023

12pm to 6pm

Mercer County Park

Gather your friends for a day of Food Trucks and Live Music... Purchase a Tasting Ticket to sample over a 100 di erent Beers, seltzers, wine and spirits. Purchase tickets at

www.CJBeerFest.com Today

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 ill-fitting, 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 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

DO YOU HAVE ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS?

PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY

is a condition that affects millions of Americans, commonly resulting in pain, tingling, numbness, and other painful symptoms in the hands, legs and feet. This pain changes your life and affects how you work, how you play and how you live.

NEW

denture

• No slipping or wobbling

• Quick treatment time

• Reduced costs

AllCure Spine and Sports Medicine is pleased to announce their new program for treating Peripheral Neuropathy, which includes a combination of advanced FDA-cleared treatments with breakthrough technology that aids in healing the damaged nerves. The effects of this program can be felt on the first few visits. This treatment restores, stabilizes, and rebuilds the nerves in your extremities. Treatment has also been effective in addressing painful symptoms of arthritis, MS, and other forms of chronic pain. Patients generally feel relief physically throughout the treatment period and even feel better emotionally after experiencing a reduction in pain.

How 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.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE NERVE DAMAGE?

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

A great time to remind women to get their annual mammogram

Annual mammograms can detect breast cancer early when the prognosis is best.

More than 85% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of the disease.

About 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime.

Male breast cancer accounts for less than one percent of all breast cancer diagnoses. Women should begin getting an annual mammogram at age 40.

Dense breasts may increase your risk for breast cancer.

There are more than 3.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. Having your first menstrual period before age 12 or starting menopause after age 55 increases your risk for breast cancer.

Let’s beat breast cancer together.

A Happy and Healthy You

Specializing in Self-Care

My name is Chrissy Kohut and I am a self-care specialist. I coach women on how to create an attainable and sustainable self-care practice for their whole-self; mind, body, and spirit so they no longer are muttering the words “What about me?”.

When you create a daily self-care practice you can alleviate or even eliminate anxiety, stress, emotional breakdowns, burnout, and possibly avoid illness during the difficult seasons of your life.

But, what I love the most about having a daily self-care practice is that through your daily practice you learn how to stay grounded and in gratitude while being fully present when you are going through good seasons of life. Daily self-care creates a journey to healthy and happy lifestyle.

I also own a wellness boutique in Pennington, NJ that offers self-care classes, self-care workshops, gentle yoga, reiki, and self-care coaching. These offerings are available to help you on your journey to “A Healthy and Happy You.”

I created, “A Healthy and Happy You” to empower women to find a deeper knowing with in themselves that it’s ok to be imperfect. We are all so imperfectly perfect! The world needs you to be that unique and special person you were born to be. There is a way to get the healthy and happy life you’ve always wanted. And the secret to that life is simple…You!

I know it sounds too good to be true, but you are the secret. I am here to help you create the life you’ve wished for by teaching you daily self-care practices and offering services that can help nourish, heal, and relax your mind, body, and spirit.

Chrissy Kohut

As a mother, wife, grandmother, dog mama, and former teacher I can relate to being overwhelmed. The feelings of burn out, being completely stressed and living on emotional roller coaster are things I’ve experienced. I want to share the tips and tools I have learned that have helped me to create a daily self-care practice for my wholeself. Am I always happy and smiling? Hell No! But I have learned through the years from various teachers, coaches and mentors how to build my own self-care toolkit of rituals and habits to elevate my life. This toolkit helps to pull myself out of feelings of despair and back into aligned happiness. It’s because of my daily practice that I no longer mutter the words, “What about me?” But instead enjoy living a healthy and happy lifestyle.

It’s ok if you feel like you’re falling and have lost your way. You are not alone. Those thoughts and feelings have happened to most of us. It may not be easy and it will take some work. But in time, you will find your way back to, “A Healthy and Happy You” and I am here to help you along your way.

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Hamilton Township Division of Health Tips for You and Your Family to Prevent Respiratory Illnesses This Fall and Winter

The Hamilton Township Division of Health wants you to protect yourself and your family this fall and winter from respiratory illness such as flu, COVID-19 and RSV.

Practice healthy habits such as washing your hands, staying home when you are sick, avoiding close contact with others who are sick and staying up-to-date with your vaccines!

The new RSV vaccine is available for certain individuals, including adults over the age of 60 and pregnant people, talk to your doctor for more information about the RSV vaccine. Everyone ages 6 months and up is eligible for the updated COVID-19 vaccine, visit vaccines.gov to find a provider near you!

Also, remember to get your annual flu vaccine this fall!

Hamilton residents can come to the public flu vaccine clinics hosted by the Hamilton Township Division of Health. Visit www.HamiltonNJ.com/flushots or call 609-890-3884 for the schedule.

ElEction 2023: Board of Education 3 vie for 1 seat in township, 2 for 1 in Fieldsboro

City candidate running unopposed; Shenowski unopposed to finish term he assumed in 2023

Edited by Joe Emanski

Bordentown City

In Bordentown City, there is one threeyear term up for election this year, and one candidate to fill it: Melinda Zola. Incumbent Janet Nielsen is not running.

Melinda Zola, 43, is a stay-at-home mom who has lived in Bordentown since she was four. She is married to Rich Zola and they share two children: Charlotte, 10, and Aiden, 11. Both are students at MacFarland Intermediate School.

Bordentown Township

In Bordentown Township, two seats are in play: one is a full, three-year seat on the board, currently held by Eileen Francisco-Cabus, who is not running again.

Four candidates are on the ballot as running for this single position: Chasity Bauldree, Daniel Diamond, Raquel Parker and Amy B. Glatz. However, Parker was appointed to the board last month to replace a current member who has resigned. As a result, Parker is no longer actively campaigning. (See box for a more detailed explanation.)

Chasity Bauldree, 41, is an insurance professional who has lived in Bordentown Township for 8 years. She is married to husband Jason and they have three children who attend Peter Muschal Elementary School in third grade, first grade and kindergarten: Adrianna, Jason Jr. and Angelina. The family is involved in recreational sports, travel sports and dance.

Daniel Diamond, 49, has been a utility manager at PSE&G for the last 16 years. Originally from Philadelphia, he has lived in Bordentown for four years. Diamond and wife Melanie have two daughters: Teagan, 13, and Tristyn, 11, who both attend Bordentown Regional Middle School.

Amy B. Glatz, 48, is a federal employee and New Jersey Army National Guard member. She is married to Andrew Glatz and they have two children: Lilyann, a sophomore at BRHS, and Chloe, an 8th grader at BRMS.

There is one more name on the township ballot: Richard Shenowski, who assumed the seat of former board mem-

ber Ryan Cody earlier this year, after Cody resigned. Shenowski is required to run for election to complete the final year of the term in 2024. He is unopposed.

Richard Shenowski, 42, works as a vice president of operations. A lifelong resident of Burlington County, he has lived in Bordentown for 18 years. Shenowski and his wife have a daughter who attends Peter Muschal Elementary School.

Fieldsboro

Two candidates are running for one three-year seat available in Fieldsboro: incumbent Joseph Dean, Jr. and challenger Karen A. Pouria.

Joseph Dean, Jr., 41, works in project management. The Fieldsboro resident currently serves as the vice president of the board of education. He lived in Bordentown for 27 years, and has lived in Fieldsboro for five.

Dean is married to wife Indhira, and has six children: John, Elijah, Gabrielle, Samaya, Jayden and Caleb. John is a 2023 graduate of BRHS who is now in the Air Force; Elijah is a senior at BRHS; Gabrielle a freshman at BCIT; Samaya and Jayden 7th graders at BRMS; and Caleb a pre-kindergartener at Peter Muschal Elementary.

Karen A. Pouria, 55, is a teacher and 22-year Fieldsboro resident. She has two daughters, Sarah, 28, and Hannah, 25, both of whom graduated from the Bordentown Regional School District.

Tell us about the moment that you decided to run, or run again, for school board.

Melinda Zola: I started attending our board of education meetings merely to be an informed parent. I started speaking out at our school board meetings because I felt someone needed to be an advocate for our students and our teachers in the district. This led me to volunteer to take part in the five-year planning committee. While attending these meetings, I enjoyed feeling like I had a voice to support my children and others in the community. I want to be part of the team that supports and celebrates all of our students.

Chasity Bauldree: I interviewed to be on the board along with seven other individuals in January of 2021, but was not chosen. That spring, my husband and I both embarked on new professional journeys, so I decided to hold off running for

a board seat. I am running because we need more parents of children attending our schools with a vested interest making such grave decisions that directly affect our children.

Daniel Diamond: It was towards the end of Covid when I decided to run, after being encouraged by my wife, who is an educator. There was no specific catalyst other than my desire to contribute to my community. I care strongly about children receiving a solid educational foundation to build on. Since I am not an educator myself, I want to be useful, and school board is an area where I may be useful.

Amy B. Glatz: As a member of the military and with my career coming to an end in the next few years, I wanted a way to continue serving my community. I have been involved with my children’s education from the start, and felt this was the next logical way to support my children’s education, as well as the many families in Bordentown.

Richard Shenowski: When I was See SCHOOL BOARD, Page 12

Parker named to BOE

Raquel Parker is one name that Bordentown Township voters should see on their ballots this fall, as a candidate for the seat set to be vacated on Jan. 1 by Elaine Francisco-Cabus. Thing is, Parker is a board member already—chosen by the board last month to assume the term of Larry Braasch, who has resigned.

Though Parker’s name remains on the ballot, she is no longer campaigning. If she should win the election, she will be expected to decline to accept.

Parker, 45, was born in Argentina with Chilean nationality. Married to lifelong Bordentown resident Christopher Parker, she has lived in Bordentown since 1998. They have a daughter, Kara, a sophomore at BRHS, as well as a rescue chiweenie named Clara Belle. Parker volunteers as a Girl Scout Leader and co-chairs the township environmental commission.

appointed to the board one of the interview questions was, “If appointed, will you run in 2023 to finish out the term of this seat?” The answer to that question was and remains simple. I feel a passionate calling to play an active role in making our schools great. As a board member I am committed to devoting the time required for training, research, prepping for, and attending committee and board meetings.

Joseph Dean, Jr.: The pivotal moment was during a school function, where I saw how much growth and potential existed in our students. There’s unfinished business, an ongoing opportunity to make a difference. My passion for these kids is unequivocal. I made the decision because I want to keep pushing their development, instilling the importance of hard work, and ensuring their safety. It felt convincingly right to continue my contribution to the school board, thereby directly impacting their lives.

Karen A. Pouria: As an educator, I have also sought venues to make positive changes to the educational system, so for years I have thought about running. I am finally at a time in my life that I have the time needed to dedicate myself to the position. After making some decisions in both my personal and professional life, I decided in March to run for school board.

Grade the job the school board has done in recent years. What can you do as a member of the school board to maintain or improve this grade?

Zola: I would give our current school board a B. As a parent with children attending school in the district, I have high expectations for our school board members. I have, at times, felt a distance between our board members and the rest of our community.

I believe that including our families in the five-year planning committee was a great first step toward closing that gap. I would continue drawing the board and the community closer together, encour-

aging continued community involvement and open, honest dialogue.

Bauldree: I don’t think it would be fair of me to grade the current school board members, as I nor has anyone else in the public been privy to all of the information and decisions they have made and why. But I do not agree with many board decisions that have been brought to my attention from just attending public board meetings, reviewing board public information and situations brought to my attention from other parents.

The board drastically needs to improve transparency and communication with the community. I have seen the forum of public board meetings become extremely restrictive, with directions deterring the public from even commenting at public meetings over the last three years.

Diamond: I don’t have any negative comments about the current or previous school board representatives because I am not privy to the discussions or details of the issues they have faced and don’t want to judge without details. As a parent, I can say that the school district handled the pandemic well, considering the complexity and difficulty.

I am also happy with my experiences with the Bordentown Regional School District based on my own interactions with teachers and school staff, who gracefully do an extremely difficult and important job every day. My pledge is that if I am elected, I will address the current issues facing the school district with a commonsense approach to the best of my ability.

Glatz: No board is perfect and I would grade the board with a B-, as I believe there is room for improvement. I was aware that the board decided to assess themselves this last year, and I believe they are in the process of developing goals to accomplish within the next few years.

The board also approved a 5-year strategic plan which is also a step in the right direction. This plan will help them focus on the needs the district has to improve their effectiveness for a total education

concept, with a focus on the student, teacher and facilities. I was a part of the strategic planning this summer, and I was encouraged by the results and excited to help put this plan into practice.

Shenowski: I feel that our board presently has earned a grade of B-, which is an improvement over the C- that I would have assessed as an observer back in late 2021/2022. There are a myriad of factors that play into this, some under the board’s direct control, and others not.

As a board member for 2024, I plan to focus on increasing committee transparency, continuing the review of our policy manual with a focus on legally compliant common sense policies, and in collaboration with the administration, navigating the continued financial challenges caused by the changes in state funding that have negatively impacted our district.

Dean: I’d give our school board a solid B+. Since I joined during the unforeseen pandemic, we’ve managed to adapt swiftly, actively participating in negotiations, committees and interviews. We’ve supported our district intently, fostering gradual progress.

In retrospect, better community engagement could be a key area for enhancement, facilitating more valuable insights from stakeholders. As a board member, my focus will intensify towards fostering community inclusion in our endeavors, inspiring more involvement in our meetings. In pushing for this, we can work collectively towards our coveted A+ rating.

Pouria: To be honest, I followed the school board when my daughters attended, and then fell off. So I feel it would be unfair to issue them a grade. However, as an educator, I feel I have the knowledge of issues that have a huge impact on education today. I feel I would

be able to give an inside opinion of those issues, such as the current teacher shortage that is impacting education today.

I am also versed in laws and codes that affect education along with having a deep knowledge of curriculum. For all these reasons, I feel I would be able to be an asset to the Bordentown Regional School District and community.

What are two vital issues facing the school board today, and what will you do as a member of the board to address them?

Zola: Implementing a current and inclusive curriculum throughout our schools must be a priority. The district curricula should represent our students and respond to their needs. It should create an environment encouraging exploration, healthy risk-taking and academic success.

It is important we address the current state of our schools, specifically the older buildings located in the city. Our board should ensure that our students have equitable access to facilities in good condition with safe, usable indoor and outdoor spaces. Our kids deserve beautiful schools that give them opportunities to play and learn.

Bauldree: Two of the most challenging issues facing our school board today are financial hardship as well as test scores and learning loss of our students post-Covid. Effective June 30, we laid off six teachers in our district, and effective July 1, we created two new six-figure supervisor positions along with giving out bonuses to other administrators.

As a board member, I would like to see us not fire teachers and increase our class sizes, but to cut other frivolous spending which I have questioned the board over in the last three years. We need to let our

teachers teach and get back to the basics, not burdening them with so many other issues unrelated to education.

Diamond: Finances and student performance are the core issues facing the school district, with finances affecting all things including our ability to fund the programs and obtain much needed quality support staff. The pending loss of ESSER Covid relief funds, with the final round needing to be obligated by 20242025. Doing the right thing with the funds and properly planning for when they are gone. Obtaining good supporting staff while navigating budget constraints.

Glatz: Budget is the first issue I believe needs to be addressed. This last year we had a 1.2-million-dollar shortfall and we had to let go of 6 teachers. Secondly, I would say the matter of pre-school/special education needs that the district has, and the insufficient resources in the form of aides, or teachers to support those programs is a major issue that needs to be addressed. I do not currently have the answers to these problems, but I will give my all to make informed decisions that will benefit all.

Shenowski: We have qualified and dedicated teachers, staff, and administrators, a great student body, and beautiful facilities. Despite all of that we are faced with real academic and financial challenges. Academically our 2021-22 ELA test scores for grades 6-9 were all slightly below the statewide average. In mathematics Geometry and Algebra II, scores also came in below the state average.

We need to do better for our students. As a board member, I have and will continue to stress the importance of academics first and work with our staff to identify and address inadequacies in our curriculum.

Financially, we must be diligent to

insure that every dollar is spent wisely as well as explore ways to increase funding through means other than raising taxes. Increasing enrollment is one of those means.

Dean: Two vital issues facing the school board today are funding constraints and students’ mental health. As a board member, I’ll advocate for targeted budget allocation, ensuring resources are spent effectively on educational necessities, and campaign for additional funding from external sources.

Regarding mental health, I will push for a comprehensive approach that includes mental health education, professional training for staff to recognize symptoms, and access to professional counselors. Furthermore, I aim to cultivate an environment that diminishes stigma and nurtures empathy around mental health issues.

Pouria: Two vital issues facing school boards today are teacher recruitment and teacher retention. As a teacher, I can give an insight to the board as to what teachers are looking for when working for a district and what teachers already hired in teacher look for to continue to work for the district. This is crucial in today’s climate of a teacher shortage.

One thing that would be helpful would be to survey or form a committee to can input from teachers as to what they are looking for.

In 2022, school board member Ryan Cody was the subject of an ethics complaint brought by the superintendent and the other eight school board members. In January, Cody and the complainants reached a settlement according to which Cody resigned and agreed that he had “engaged in conduct violative of mul-

See SCHOOL BOARD, Page 14

Zola Shenowski Glatz Diamond Bauldree Parker Dean, Jr.

Pouria

tiple provisions of the Code of Ethics for School Board Members.” This according to the state’s School Ethics Commission.

Do you believe this outcome is a sign of the system working the way it is intended? Will you pledge to abide by the state’s Code of Ethics for School Board Members?

Zola: I will absolutely abide by the state’s code of ethics.

Bauldree: That time is best spent looking towards and focusing on the future. I pledge 100% to abide by the state’s Code of Ethics for School Board Members.

Diamond: I pledge to abide by the state’s Code of Ethics for School Board Members. As for Ryan Cody and his situation, I really cannot comment because I don’t know the man, the details of the

accusations or the settlement reached. Because of that I will reserve judgment.

Glatz: I do not have all the information to make a comment on the situation regarding Mr. Ryan Cody and the BOE. I will uphold all ethics standards that are required of the position as a board member.

Shenowski: 2022 was a challenging year for everyone involved and the systems in place functioned as intended. With that being said the past is behind us and we must fix our eyes on the future because that is where we are headed.

Over the past 8 months I have proven that I will stand for positions I believe are best for the district, its children, and the community at large. In doing so, we as a board have not agreed on everything, but all of us have been conducting business in an ethical, professional, and respectful

manner.

I have, and will continue to abide by the state’s Code of Ethics.

Dean: Yes, I believe this outcome demonstrates the system working as intended. All potential violations of the ethical code should be investigated thoroughly to ensure trust and integrity within the education system. It is regrettable when an individual loses sight of their obligations, but it is essential to maintain high standards within the board.

I wholeheartedly pledge to abide by the state’s Code of Ethics for School Board Members, understanding the immense responsibility this role carries in shaping the educational environment of our future generation. It’s pivotal for each member to conduct themselves within the bounds of the code, reinforcing the belief in a transparent and fair system.

Pouria: Yes, I feel that it shows that the system is working. However, I feel the School Ethics Commission needs to do more. There should be periodic reviews of boards to ensure that boards are adhering to the code of ethics. Yes, I will pledge to abide by these ethics.

Do you believe it is important that the board of education work to provide a safe and accepting environment for all students, regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation? Do you support all students’ right to determine their own sexual identity?

Zola: Advocacy.Equity.Unity. My campaign slogan states where I stand on these issues. Our children spend most of their day in school and must feel valued and respected for who they are. If anything can be done to ensure this happens, the board must do it. Change is difficult for many of us, but it can be easy if we keep it simple and choose kindness. Each of us is special and should be celebrated and allowed to embrace our identity as our own. I will always support the youth of our community.

Bauldree: The United States of America is the best place to live in the entire world as it encourages and supports all of the above. However, the public school system is no replacement of the home family unit, and shall not attempt to replace any individual student’s family values. I am a strong proponent of parental rights. Every parent has a right to know what is going on in their child’s lives each and every day when they are at school. I believe it is every parent and/or guardian’s fundamental right to engage in and direct their child’s education with the help of trained educators.

Diamond: I advocate for a safe and accepting environment for all students, of course. But a student’s sexual identity is not my business, nor should it be the

focal point. That’s between the student and their parents until they are of age. I strongly advocate for parents on this issue. Adolescence is a confusing time and children should be given the space, time, and support to develop.

This topic has gotten far too much attention over the past several years. Our focus should be a solid foundation of math, language arts and science skills, not gender identity, especially at the younger grade levels. Anyone can be who they want to be. But when you are at school, core education should be the primary focus.

Glatz: One of the positions I hold as a member of the N.J. Army National Guard is that of State Diversity Officer. I take that job very seriously, and I believe everyone, no matter their gender, religion, sexual orientation, race, or national origin, should and will be treated with dignity and respect.

Shenowski: Our need for a safe and accepting environment extends well beyond these categories and the board must focus on them all. We also need to remember that school is only one of several important factors in children’s overall development.

The success of our children rests not only in the school but also in the parents/ guardians. Parents are the strongest asset our children have. They have loved and cared for their children long before they entered school and will continue to love and care for them long after they have left. We cannot let the school compromise or challenge that relationship. In the rare case where this is not true, the school’s place is to come alongside that family in support.

Dean: Absolutely. As an advocate for an unbiased approach in education, I firmly believe in creating a safe and accepting environment for all students, regardless of race, religion, or sexual orientation. Every student has the right to pursue their educational goals without fear of discrimination.

I support all students’ rights to selfdetermine their sexual identity; it’s pivotal to their individuality and personal growth. Our focus is, and always will be, pushing for quality education on an equal and inclusive platform.

Pouria: As a teacher, I feel that it is important to provide a safe and accepting environment for all students regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation. However, I also feel there are other students we need to include. We have forgotten students that do not fit into these categories named above. Students that suffer from weight issues and other body image issues need a safe space as these lead to body issue disorders. I feel that students have the right to determine their

own sexual identity. However I do not feel teachers should keep this from parents if asked directly by the parent. Respect for students and relationships with parents should not be at odds with one another. Why should voters elect you to serve on the Bordentown Regional Board of Education?

Zola: I have always made it a priority to take an active role in my children’s lives. I want them to know that I am genuinely interested and excited about what they are involved in. I also hope to model what it looks like when you take an active role, standing up for what is important to you. I truly believe that our schools are an extension of our home.

Although our teachers are not co-parents, we must acknowledge our common goal and shared responsibility to create a nurturing environment, ensuring our kids meet their full potential and get a wonderful education!

Bauldree: I am a parent with three young children currently enrolled in our school system; my goal is to improve the educational experience of both your and my children keeping the taxpayers without children in mind as well. I want to improve the transparency and communication between the school district and our community. I am an honest, hardworking, loving parent willing to put forth the time

and effort to help our children get the education they deserve.

Diamond: I am an honest, pragmatic, straightforward communicator who genuinely cares about the state of the school district and will use a common-sense approach to the business of school affairs to the best of my ability if elected.

Glatz: My leadership style, advocacy

for others, and service to my community is why I am running. I am a hometown girl who cares for her community, and I want what is best for the education of my children and all Bordentown children. We have a challenging time ahead with budget cuts and short staffing with teachers and support staff. I will do my best to make fair and equitable decisions that will

be in the best interest of all.

Shenowski: I have invested countless hours into training, professional development, individual, committee, and full board work both inside and outside of our meetings. As a result I am on track to earn my NJSBA NBM certification before the end of the year. I approach every situation with an open mind, possess strong critical thinking ability, and enjoy tackling any challenge. I am committed to working with our board and the administration to make these schools amazing!

Dean: As the current VP of the school board, we’ve made notable progress, yet we have unfinished work to complete. I’m committed to focusing on students’ needs above all else. My passion to create a rich, safe learning environment combined with my experience makes me well positioned to continue leading our journey. A vote for me means commitment to optimising funds, enhancing mental health support, and driving education forward.

Pouria: Voters should choose me because I have not taken this decision lightly. I have waited for a time in my life that I have the time to devote to this endeavor. I have been an educator for 34 bringing a wealth of knowledge. I believe in children first. I have also had two children go through the BRSD. I feel I would be a good fit with the board.

Bordentown Regional High School. (Facebook photo.)

Scotties rely on senior Brovak for leadership — and saves SPortS

By Rich Fisher

Olivia Brovak leads an active life. She performs ballet, serves as a food runner at Toscano’s, gets honor grades in school and plays in goal for the Bordentown High field hockey team. Somehow, she manages to tie it all together to make herself a better netminder.

“I’ve been dancing since I was two,” Brovak said. “Ballet helps because it keeps balance and it works on my core as well. That’s a big part of playing goalie. When you dive or you go on the ground, having a good center balance and a good core helps get yourself up and helps keep yourself standing.”

As a captain and a goalie, she has to be hands-on when it comes to dealing with the team as a leader and with her defense as a field general. That’s where Toscano’s comes in.

“Being in the service industry and helping other people; talking and dealing with people definitely helps with my social skills,” she said. “And I think it can play a part during field hockey. A big thing with field hockey is communication on the field. Being able to communicate at work, even with your co-workers, and then putting that on the field, you always have to communicate.”

The well-rounded senior does just that, which is part of what makes her such an outstanding goalie for the Scotties. Through Bordentown’s 3-4 start this year, Brovak has 77 saves on the season and 438 for her career. She has two shutouts this season and seven for her career and, despite playing for sub-.500 teams, her talents have kept the Scotties in games where they had a chance to win at the end.

“She absolutely frustrates some of those players that are at the top of the offensive stats on other teams,” BRHS coach Amy Fisicaro said. “She’ll make those great saves. When you think she’s down, it doesn’t matter, she’s still battling. She sees the field really well and is able to communicate to her defenders and midfielders what she needs, and I trust her 100 percent.”

According to the coach, Brovak possesses all the aspects needed to be a solid goalie. “She’s very athletic and on top of that she’s intelligent,” Fisicaro said. “She can kind of see things developing before they actually do.

“And she works. She’s not one that I ever have to worry about slacking off.”

Brovak began playing field hockey in

fifth grade for a local recreation league started by her friends’ parents. Prior to that, she had done a few sessions with Bordentown’s Community District Alliance camp, but did not have any team experience.

She loved it so much that she remained with the rec league until eighth grade, and also played for the middle school. At the time, however, she was a girl without a position. Or, one too many positions, as it were. Brovak started out as a center midfielder and loved all the running it involved. At one point in rec, they asked her to play goalie and she enjoyed that just as much.

She was granted the best of both worlds in middle school and was allowed to play center-mid for one half and goalie for another, but knew that would change once she got to high school.

“I really didn’t know which way it was gonna go,” she said. “As a freshman I didn’t know if I’d pick playing goalie or playing midfield. I knew I had to pick going into high school.”

After a chat with Fisicaro, it was decided she could play the field for the JV team and also start some varsity games in goal. That made Olivia’s decision easier.

“That just told me I’m better at being goalie since I was starting there on varsity,” she said. “So, I gave up my midfield.”

Fisicaro noted that Brovak wasn’t really sold on the goalie position. “I kind of told

her, ‘I think it’s a mistake for you not to play goalie.’ Thankfully, she heeded that advice,” she said.

As a freshman, Brovak won the team MVP award for her contributions at both positions. By her junior year, she was strictly in the net. It takes a special person to want to be a goalie, if for the simple reason they have to wear about 5,000 pounds worth of equipment before they even take the field.

For Brovak, that didn’t matter as it was results that gave her joy.

“Just the satisfaction of saving these shots, it makes me feel so happy, especially when it’s a clean and crisp save,” she said. “Then you feel so proud you did something. And it’s definitely one of the hardest spots to play as well, especially mentally. When you’re in that position and you let a goal in, it takes a toll on you because you’re the last line of defense and your mistake shows up on the scoreboard.”

But as Fisicaro noted, Brovak has gotten better at shaking things off and just focusing on the moment at hand.

“She doesn’t ever want to let the ball by her,” the coach said. “She had to learn the difference between ‘All right that one was on me,’ and ‘OK that one went through all the 11 players.’ I don’t have to worry about that aspect of it anymore.”

Although Brovak is no longer a centermidfielder, her experience at that position

still comes in handy as a goalie.

“I think that definitely plays into it; knowing what a field player thinks and where they want to shoot, where they want to go when they come at me,” she said. “It helps me think, ‘OK they’re going here, or this person will take a shot from the top.’ It helps me predict the shots.”

She is aided by quick reflexes that allow her to react to shots and, more importantly, on rebound shots where there is no time to think. But Brovak often helps short circuit scoring threats before they even happen by organizing her defense.

“Over four years of high school, I definitely connected with a lot of the defenders and midfielders, so I’ve gotten closer and more comfortable talking with them and being able to direct the field,” she said.

She is also comfortable leading them in other ways, which is why Brovak was voted captain by her teammates.

“For them to see their goalie really was a leader and to award her with that captain band was good for me to see,” Fisicaro said. “She’s always one that will have something constructive to say in those huddles and timeouts.”

Off the field, Brovak is good at leading herself as a self-starter. Along with her activities, she has a 108.6 grade point average and is a member of the National Honor Society and National Art Honor Society. Her academic achievements and field hockey prowess landed her a spot at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, which has a Division III program and one of the nation’s top chemical engineering departments.

“I love chemistry and science, and math has always been my strongest suit in school,” she said. “When I started my chemistry classes, I was like, ‘Oh this is so interesting. I love this,’ So finding that balance of chemistry and math in chemical engineering, I thought that would be the perfect major for me.”

That will include some intense courses, which is why it is great for Oliva that she will still be playing field hockey. Despite the pressure of being a goalie, playing the sport itself is a stress release tool for her.

“When I’m out on the field, I don’t have to be thinking about what I have to do after that game or what I have to do next,” she said “I’m focused on the game, it takes my mind off if I had a few tests that day or if it was a rough day at school.”

And after the game, when her mind returns to the other tasks at hand, Brovak seems to handle it all pretty darn well.

Olivia Brovak in action in goal for Bordentown field hockey.

Brovak

Questions to consider during Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Ask The Doctor

Breast cancer occurs most often in women between the ages of 45 and 75, with the highest incidence in the 6th decade of life. Some risk factors—such as lifestyle choices—can be controlled, while others cannot.

Firas Eladoumikdachi (Eladou), MD, FACS, Breast Surgical Oncologist, at the Cancer Center at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, in partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, the state’s only National Cancer Institutedesignated Comprehensive Cancer Center, provides answers to some common questions about breast cancer and screenings.

Can breast cancer be prevented? Depending on your risk, there are certain preventative measures that can be done to help decrease the chance of getting breast cancer. These can range from healthy lifestyle choices, such as regular exercise, for all women, to certain medications, such as Tamoxifen and Raloxifene for women with higher than average risk, and risk reducing surgical procedures for women with certain genetic mutations. Understanding your risk can help you develop a personalized medical plan with your health care professional that also includes preventative screenings. Early detection and prompt treatment can save lives should breast cancer occur.

Is breast cancer inherited? All cancers involve changes or mutations in a person’s genes. Usually, several changes are required before cancer develops. If a person inherits a genetic mutation from a parent, that person has a higher risk of developing cancer. It is currently believed that less than 15% of breast cancers involve an inherited genetic mutation.

The American College of Radiology and the American Society of Breast Surgeons recommend starting screening mammography every year at age 40 and women over 55 years of age should speak to their doctors about their recommended frequency.

pgs 5 and 7

Women should also talk with their doctors about personal risk factors before deciding when to start mammograms and how often to have them.

What role does estrogen replacement therapy play in breast cancer? Each woman should work with her health care provider to evaluate individual risk factors when making decisions about hormone replacement therapy. If hormone therapy is used, it is usually recommended to use the lowest effective dose to control symptoms for as short a time as possible.

“When breast cancer is caught early, the prognosis is often excellent. In fact, according to the American Cancer Society, the 5-year survival rate for breast cancer found early and confined to the breast is 99 percent,” adds Dr. Eladou.

Our dedicated centers for breast care are nationally accredited and certified. RWJUH Hamilton offers comprehensive mammography services in a warm and welcoming environment close to home and now offers appointments every other Saturday.

Visit rwjbh.org/mammo to schedule your mammogram at RWJUH Hamilton today.

Coming up this month at RWJU Hospital Hamilton

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

WEDnESDAy, OCtOBER 4

Fall Medication Series. Also Oct. 11, 18 and Nov. 2. 3 p.m. Learn about different classifications of medications in this 5 week series with our Pharmacists and Congestive Heart Failure Coordinator.

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Center. Dr. “Eladou” believes the patient is at the center of all the different treatment modalities and support services, and brings high quality care as well as clinical trial opportunities from Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey. Concluding the physician’s presentation, all participants will engage in a painting project guided by local artist, Yun Li, who loves to inspire art in people.

WEDnESDAy, OCtOBER 18

Managing Stress and Diabetes. 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.

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Sacred Breathwork Experience. 6-7:30 p.m. Join Kim Huston, Reiki Master and Certified Breathwork facilitator is passionate about sharing this modality with anyone looking for true healing. Sacred Breathwork can help release negative patterns and fears that keep us stuck. Bring a yoga mat and blanket, chairs will also be available. Fee: $15

FRIDAy, OCtOBER 27

Recipes from Beyond the Grave. 1 to 2 p.m. Do you have a recipe that can stand the test of time? These folks sure thought so! We are tasting our way through some gravestone-etched recipes. Print your own tried-and-true recipe to share! 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.

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the Link Between Hearing Loss and Dementia-Can Hearing Aids Save your Brain? 10 to 11a.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. Prevention is key. Audiologist, Dr. Lorraine Sgarlato, Au.D., discusses your options.

Game time. 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.

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Plan today for tomorrow. 10 to 11:30 a.m. What are our options for tomorrow? Join our esteemed panel who will breakdown our choices, discuss the current healthcare system, financial, social, and care needs and how to make it work with your goals. Please welcome, Randi Goldberg, Archer Law Office, Rachal Baillie, Bear Creek Assisted Living, Gina Barnett, Springpoint at Home, and Kelly Aylward, The Elms of Cranbury Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center. Refreshments will be served.

How often should I have a mammogram? Although experts have different recommendations for frequency of screening mammography for women with average risk for developing breast cancer, most agree that it should be every year starting at age 40.

Ladies night Out: PAIntInG WItH PuRPOSE, “A Breast Cancer Awareness Event. ”6–7:30 p.m. Meet the physician, learn the facts and myths when it comes to early detection and breast cancer, and enjoy a fun painting project. Join us and our featured presenter, Firas G. Eldaoumikdachi, MD, FACS, specialist in Breast Surgical Oncology, at RWJUH Hamilton Cancer

Dr. Eladoumikdachi

The Hammonds: A tale of two fortunes

Doug Kiovsky THE BEND IN THE RIVER

This is the story of Harris Hays Hammond (1881-1969), a financier, and his father, John Hays Hammond (18551936), a skilled mining engineer that obtained an incredible fortune before he reached the age of 40. Both were born in San Francisco, California, a city conceived in the lust for gold, where fortunes were made and lost by the wielding of a pick axe and a gun.

In 1876, John Hays Hammond was halfway across the globe continuing his education at the Royal School of Mines in Freiberg, Germany. Once in a while, he would visit the quaint old town of Dresden, a well-known destination for Americans learning to study in the fields of art and music. It was there where he unexpectedly met Natalie Harris (1859-1931), a native of a small Mississippi town that bore her family’s last name. Outgoing and captivating, she was in the process of completing her formal education in music.

John, a recent graduate of Yale

University with a bachelor of philosophy degree, enjoyed their conversations and navigated strolls through a storied terrain that was unfamiliar to them. Over time, their companionship blossomed into romance.

By the end of 1879, John returned to America with a prospective job offer and his wife-to-be at his side. He was employed by the U.S. Geological Survey in Washington, and the happy couple were married in Hancock, Maryland on New Year’s Day in 1881. This was followed by a lucrative offer to work for George Hearst (18201891), a shrewd mining magnate from San Francisco and father of future publisher William Randolph Hearst. Again, the couple packed their belongings and traveled west to

California. That November, their first child, Harris, was born. Eventually, they would have four sons and one daughter.

Life was great until John was assigned to Mexico to serve as superintendent of Minas Nueva. Violence against the government was common. Riots flared as easily as the heat. Fear was always present as the couple clashed with unruly mobs from desecrating their home. It was a stark premonition on what awaited them on the horizon.

From 1884-1893, John and his family resettled in San Francisco, where he worked as a consulting engineer for the Central Pacific and Southern Pacific Railways. Ironically, he found himself at odds with his former employer, as Sen. George Hearst fought to reduce the monopolizing power of the railroads.

In 1893, John was hired to investigate the gold mines of South Africa. A year later, he joined the British South Africa Company and the 7th Prime Minister of the Cape Colony, Cecil Rhoades, in extracting precious minerals. His reported salary was $100,000 a year and a share in the profits. Eventually the cohesion with this controversial figure incited a failed insurgency by British and American workers to revolt against the South African government in 1896. John was arrested for high treason and placed on trial. If convicted, his sentence was punishable by hanging. Luckily, the President of South Africa, Paul Kruger, after hearing arguments, intervened and commuted all of the sentences of the conspirators in just paying fines upon their release. John was ordered to pay $125,000. For the second time in his life, John had escaped death. With their troubles behind, the family sailed to England in 1898. It was in this country that John and his younger son, John Hays Hammond, Jr. (1888-1965), were awestruck by the grandeur of ancient castles and their architecture. After less than two years, the family journeyed to the United States and built a magnificent estate above the rocky crags of Gloucester

Harbor. in Massachusetts.

Identified as the foremost authority on mining engineering in the country, he owed his success not just to skill but in pushing through the fear that hinders success. From 1902-1909, he served as a professor at Yale University while retaining employment with the Guggenheim Exploration Company for a five-year contract worth $250,000 a year. When William Howard Taft ran for the presidency in 1908, he requested that his former Yale classmate move to Washington to become acquainted with other prominent politicians. As such, John announced his candidacy for vice president, but received only a handful of delegates at the national convention.

His disappointment turned to jubilation as he was selected to serve as chairman of the U.S. Coal Commission in 1922 and 1923. Better yet, his association with the Burnham Exploration Company reaped rewards when the company struck oil at the Dominguez Oil Field near Carson, California in 1923. As with his exploits in South Africa, he was now blessed with the status of being a millionaire twice. By the time that this extraordinary man passed away while sleeping in his rocking chair in 1936, each of his four surviving children stood to inherit an estate worth $2.5 million ($54 million today).

Like their father, the Hammond brothers graduated from Yale University. Upon entering the work force, Harris started an oil recovery business called the Oil Development and Mining Company. As a financier, he was also successful in brokering real estate transactions in Florida as train lines were constructed along the coast. His deep admiration for the scenery of waterways prompted him to purchase boats as well. One of these boats was acquired in Bordentown from the Rice Gas Engine Company in 1910. With an engine that produced 250 horse power, the boat maximized speed at 40 miles per hour. Sleek in design, this was the dawn of power boating in America. Harris bought the company from John V. Rice and became its president.

Harris was no stranger to the state of New Jersey, since his parents bought a winter home in the lavish resort community of Lakewood in 1900. This is where his sister, Natalie (1904-1985), was born. In 1911, a golden opportunity was presented to Harris to stake his claim with a

Violence against the government was common. Riots flared as easily as the heat. Fear was always present as the couple clashed with unruly mobs from desecrating their home.

sprawling summer estate. The 242-acre former Joseph Bonaparte property in Bordentown was for sale. With financial assistance from John V. Rice, the transaction for $55,000 favorably benefited their adjoining parcels.

Harris made numerous improvements to the grounds. Abandoned carriage paths were manicured as bridle paths. A croquet and tennis court complimented the surrounding greenery and two greenhouses that raised a variety of flowers and vegetation. Outbuildings consisted of two barns, a six-car garage, a cottage built by the Sears Company, and a lodge that stood as the last surviving structure from Bonaparte’s day. There was a dog kennel and a pool for keeping canines refreshed from the heat.

Another pool was next to a wrought iron pavilion with a walnut tree growing from its brick-patterned floor. This cost $16,000. But nothing was in comparison to the Chinese Rock Garden that was actually a swimming pool comprised of honey-combed gneiss obtained from the family quarry in Sussex. Skilled craftsmen created steps and crevices for water to flow from strategically placed spigots into a trough that separated impurities from clean water. A cave was also built for tubers to explore its chamber on a concentrated flow path. The filtration system was considered so demanding that it depleting the city’s water supply for a month! All and all, the construction for the pool totaled $150,000. An expansion was planned for $300,000, but never materialized.

Instead of utilizing landscapers, artisans like Philadelphia’s Modernist

painter, Everett Shinn (1876-1953) were hired for the grounds and interior design. Thanks to excellent soil conditions, a half-mile of boxwood hedges (the longest in the United States) was planted. One specimen known as the “Rockefeller Boxwood” was dug up from a farm in Chester County, Pennsylvania and transported to the property in 1925. Its dimensions were reportedly 10 feet in circumference with a height of 12 feet. Some boxwoods were imported from England.

After the Bonaparte mansion was demolished, its Italianate-style replacement was constructed in 1850. Since New York City was the primary location of his residency, Harris met and married Elise Steele (1883-1971) there in 1918 with his brother and famous composer, Richard Hammond (1896-1980) at his side as best man. No longer a single man, a joint decision was made between husband and wife to redesign the mansion. That meant encasing the home with scaffolding, removing towers and embellishments, and changing the architectural style from Italianate to French Provincial with Georgian motif. Rooms on the first floor were connected by a rotunda

with iron railings and Italian marble walls and flooring.

John Hays Hammond visited Harris on occasion, as did his brother, John Hays Hammond, Jr., who built a spectacular English-style castle in Gloucester, Massachusetts in 1925. Credited with over 400 patented inventions, John Jr. was the originator of radio control. Everything that we know today including TV remotes, garage door openers, and car alarms was derived from his experiments. There is also the probability that he dabbled with the controls of model boats in his brother’s swimming pool when he came to visit.

Life was exceptionally good for most people in the country until the Great Depression hit. Fear swept the land. All financial gains vanished. Harris was

one of them. Forced to sell to the bank, he lost his home, his furnishings, and even his Rockefeller boxwood, which had to be dug up and sold. By the end of 1932, the windows and doors were boarded up as ivy grew on the sides of the mansion. The pools were drained of water and replaced with leaves. Furniture was sold at auction until the interior resembles an empty tomb. It took almost a decade to sell the property. In the end, it sold for the same price as it was in 1911. Harris and his wife moved to Glendale, California. Although he did receive a nice inheritance after his father’s passing, he never moved back to the East Coast. Instead, he took over as president of the Dominguez Oil Company and the Laughlin Filter Corporation which made centrifuges. He also served on the executive board of the Zenith Corporation.

For years his fortune seemed to be lost only to be found once again. Through his father’s last act of generosity, his return to the seat of privilege was restored. After all, John Hays Hammond was considered “the Man with the Midas Touch.”

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

Life was exceptionally good for most people in the country until the Great Depression hit. Fear swept the land. All financial gains vanished. Harris was one of them. Forced to sell to the bank, he lost his home, his furnishings, and even his Rockefeller boxwood, which had to be dug up and sold.