New CEO brings commitment to service to TASK
BY MICHELE ALPERIN
Amy Flynn, the new chief executive officer of the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, grew up poor on a dairy farm in rural Ohio, with early memories of an absence of heat during the cold winters.
She remembers “going to bed at night and my mom stacking blanket after blanket on top of me and waking up in the morning and seeing my breath.”
But an ethic of communal sharing trumped poverty in her farming community. “Even though our family didn’t have a lot, we never had so little that we didn’t have something to give back,” Flynn recalls. “We canned all summer to have food for the winter and shared some of that food with others who had less.”
This commitment to communal sharing was exemplified for Flynn by her grandmother, “a person of service, who was always giving back to the community.”
Flynn says that the big meals her grandmother cooked for everyone at harvest time are reminiscent of TASK’s mission and the critical involvement of volunteers in realizing it. Not only does TASK provide food for the hungry six days a week at its Escher Street home, no questions asked, it also gives more than 4,000 volunteers a year a chance to give back to their community.
“TASK has a doctrine of radical hospitality. It takes me back to growing up—neighbors helping neighbors,” Flynn says.
Flynn, a resident of Ewing Township, started as the new CEO of TASK on Jan. 21 after being named to the position by the
nonprofit’s board of trustees earlier in the month. She replaces Joyce Campbell, who announced her plans to retire last summer after more than eight years at the helm.
TASK, one of the largest nonprofit organizations in the Mercer County area, provides free meals to those who are hungry, including the homeless and working poor.
Flynn’s career in fund development and leadership at mission-driven organizations has given her many varied opportunities to carry forth the tradition of communal support to improve the lives of families.
For both staff and volunteers, she says, “you have the opportunity to make that kind of impact every day, to go to the fringe where people are in need, meet them there, support them there, and, at best, provide Ewing
See TASK, Page 5
Cineus grows into giant force for Ewing boys’ basketball
BY JUTSIN FEIL
Joel Cineus is different on than off the basketball court.
The Ewing High School senior often is the center of attention for the Blue Devils team, but off the court he sometimes takes quiet walks in the woods and enjoys time to himself.
“Just peaceful things,” said Cineus. “I’m a really introverted guy. You see a lot of people when
they come up to me and stuff, I have a good personality, but really I don’t like to be out in the public all the time. I like to be a little more private.”
Cineus has let his game do the talking as part of a Ewing team that has the highest ambitions. The Blue Devils were 17-11 last year and made the Central Jersey Group III semifinals but bowed out of the Mercer County Tournament in the
first round. This year, Cineus is fixated on winning a state title.
“That’s the ultimate goal, and a county tournament as well,” he said. “It’s not (called) the county now, it’s the CVC tournament. But we are looking to just overall dominate all competition and get to the state championship level—especially because this is my last year. To to be close to winning a state champi-
See CINEUS, Page 12
residentr Amy Flynn is the new CEO of the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen.
Ewing High School basketball player Joel Cineus.
RWJUH Hamilton February Healthy Living / Community Education Programs
YOUR HEART MATTERS
Tuesday, Feb. 4; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Join Connie Moceri, MSN, RN, A-GNP-C, Administrative Director, Patient CareCardiovascular Services & Healthy Lives Program, and Ann Mancuso, CNS, RN, CHFN, Heart Failure Program Coordinator, Healthy Lives Program, RWJUH Hamilton, for an engaging lecture on maintaining a strong healthy heart.
BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP
Tuesday, Feb. 4; 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Presented by The Cancer Center at RWJUH Hamilton, this support group welcomes those who have received a breast cancer diagnosis in all phases of their journey. An oncology nurse navigator and certified oncology social worker will offer participants an opportunity to share personal experiences and helpful resources. Please call 609.584.2836 to confirm attendance.
THINGS EVERY CONSUMER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HEARING LOSS
Wednesday, Feb. 5; 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
After age 60, roughly two-thirds of people experience age-related hearing loss. Join Lorraine Sgarlato, Au.D., audiologist at RWJUH Hamilton’s Balance & Hearing Center, to learn all you need to know about living with hearing loss and helping friends and family members with hearing loss.
PAPER CRAFT CLASS
Wednesday, Feb 5; 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Join us to make a creative project using paper and other materials. No craft experience needed; please bring a pair of scissors.
YOGA CLASSES
Tuesday, Feb. 4 & 18; 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
MEDITATION CLASSES
Tuesday, Feb. 4 & 18; 11:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
CHAIR YOGA
Tuesday, Feb. 4 & 18; 12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.
HOW SOUND HEALS: THE SCIENCE OF SOUND HEALING
Tuesday, Feb. 11; 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
In this workshop we will discuss the science behind sound and vibration and show you how and why certain sounds can help you sleep better, improve your mood, improve body function, and even reduce pain! The program requires a fee of $15, payable upon registration.
THE BASICS OF MEDICARE
Wednesday, Feb. 12; 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Join a licensed insurance agent specializing in Medicare and ACA for a discussion on Medicare. Learn the different parts of Medicare, how to avoid penalties, and when to apply for Medicare benefits. Light refreshments provided.
COLORECTAL LECTURE AND TAKE-HOME KIT
Thursday, Feb. 13; 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
The incidence of colon cancer is on the rise. Learn ways to help mitigate your risk and receive a test kit to take at home and mail back.
DANCE IT OUT!
Monday, Feb. 17; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
When in doubt, dance it out! Boost your well-being through the joy of dance. Whether you are a beginner or experienced dancer, this activity will lift your spirits and reduce stress. No experience required; all ages welcome.
PREDIABETES CONNECT GROUP
Tuesday, Feb. 18; 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Diagnosed with prediabetes? This group is for you to connect with others
A SOCIAL HOUR ESPECIALLY FOR SENIORS
Wednesday, Feb. 5, 12, 19, & 26; 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Don’t miss an opportunity to participate in lifechanging conversations, listening, learning, and exploring for this time in our lives. Topics created for you by you. Every week is new and something different. Join us on all three dates, two, or even one. It’s your choice. New folks are always welcome.
HEALING ART WORKSHOP-DEFINING HOPE
Thursday, Feb 6; 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Create your own piece of art using a variety of materials to express your own personal journey with hope.
affected. Share and explore ways to improve lifestyle changes.
GYNECOLOGIC CANCER SUPPORT GROUP
Tuesday, Feb. 18; 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
This group brings individuals with gynecologic cancer the support, education, and empowerment they need to move along the path to recovery. Topics discussed include coping with the emotional impact of cancer, adjusting to changes during and after treatment, and managing concerns about recurrence. For more information or to register call 609-584-6680. This program is located at the Cancer Center at RWJUH Hamilton, 2575 Klockner Rd.
AN EVENING OF YOGA NIDRA MEDITATION
Tuesday, Feb 18; 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
This practice guides brain waves into optimal states for relaxation, rejuvenation, and better sleep. Join us and learn why 45 minutes of Yoga Nidra and feel like 3 hours of sleep! Bring a yoga mat, blankets, and anything else that makes you comfortable. Chairs also available. The program requires a fee of $15, payable upon registration.
“WII” ARE POWERED GAME TIME
Tuesday, Feb. 19; 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Join RWJ Rehabilitation, RWJUH Hamilton, for this fun hour of Wii games and learn about safe mechanics. Mastering body movement is leveling up your real-life stats. Play smart, move like a pro, and stay in the game longer!
DIABETES CARE & SELF-MANAGEMENT
BREAKFAST: FROM INPATIENT TO OUTPATIENT
Friday, Feb. 7; 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Please join our expert, Shesha Desai. Pharm D. Rph.BC-ADM, Diabetes Program Coordinator and Medication Safety Pharmacist, to learn how best to manage your diabetes and the resources available to all diabetics.
LUNCH & LEARN WITH JUSTIN FOX, MD: CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION AND CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY
Monday, Feb. 10; 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Join Justin Fox, MD, a board-certified cardiologist and interventional cardiologist, Chair of the Department of Cardiology at RWJUH Hamilton, and member of Hamilton Cardiology Associates, for an in-depth conversation on the advancements and minimally invasive techniques available to diagnose and manage cardiovascular pathology to improve heart health.
MINDFULNESS MEDITATION FOR BEGINNERS
Wednesday, Feb 19; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Learn how to help heal your body and relax your busy mind. No experience necessary.
HEART & SOUL: SLIDE INTO BETTER HEALTH
Thursday, Feb. 20; 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Join us and pump up your heart and soul for group line dancing, Zumba, refreshments, health screenings, Ask-A-Cardiologist, heart health resources, and more. Don’t miss this fun, heart-healthy evening of dance. $10 per person collected at the door.
ORTHO 101: THE SPINE
Tuesday, Feb. 25; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Join Orthopedic Program Coordinator, Denise Berdecia, MSN, RN, ONC, and Lead Physical and Occupational Therapists, Maureen Stevens, PT, DPT, and Sarah Masco, OTD, for an in-depth discussion on common spine disorders. These experts will explain preventative treatment, how to determine if surgery is right for you, and what to expect during your surgery and recovery.
STROKE SUPPORT GROUP
Tuesday, Feb.25; 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Join us for the return of the Stroke Support Group at RWJUH Hamilton, a place for survivors and caregivers to build a community. The group will share personal experiences, feelings, recovery strategies, and firsthand information on managing life after stroke. Meetings will be facilitated by two outpatient rehabilitation therapists.
GAME TIME!
Friday, Feb. 7 & 28; 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FRAUD & SCAMS TARGETING OLDER ADULTS
Thursday, Feb. 13; 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Join Sergeant Michael Rosati from the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of New Jersey as he discusses the alarming rise in fraud and scams targeting older adults and provides insights into how these deceptive tactics work. Learn strategies to help you safeguard your finances and personal information, empowering you with the knowledge needed to recognize and prevent falling victim to these fraudulent activities.
TAI CHI CLASSES
Thursday, Feb. 13 & 27; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
REIKI SHARE
Wednesday, Feb 26; 6:30 p.m. - 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.
WISE WOMEN DISCUSSION GROUP: CHANGING PRIORITIES
Thursday, Feb 27; 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Join a community of women as we discuss relevant topics and find purpose, meaning and community.
DINNER WITH A DOCTOR: ATRIAL FIBRILLATION
Thursday, Feb. 27; 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Join Zaw Win Tun, MD, RWJUH Hamilton, member of Hamilton Cardiology Associates, and an expert in cardiac electrophysiology, to explore the complexities of Atrial Fibrillation (A Fib), one of the most common heart rhythm disorders. Learn how minimally invasive alternatives offer stroke prevention. This discussion will cover the causes and symptoms of A Fib, current treatment options, and how devices are transforming patient outcomes. Dinner will be provided.
*All programs require registration and are held at the RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center, 3100 Quakerbridge Rd., Hamilton, NJ, unless otherwise noted.
NOURISH YOUR BRAIN: COOKING FOR BRAIN HEALTH
Friday, Feb. 14; 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Have some fun while learning recipes that can help fuel your brain.
LUNCH & LEARN: COMBATING HEALTH EQUITY FOR BLACK WOMEN IN THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
Friday, Feb. 21; 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
This sensitive and insightful discussion will be facilitated by Andrew Thomas, Vice President of Health Equity at RWJBarnabas Health, and Meika Neblett, MD, MS, Chief Medical Officer, Chief Quality Officer and Chief Academic Officer at Community Medical Center in Toms River, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, and will explore health care challenges with a focus on how to best improve and advocate for better health care for Black women.
Scan QR code to view, learn more & register on-line for the programs
AROUND TOWN
Passing: Maryellen Valeri
Community News Service mourns the loss of a member of its family. Maryellen Valeri, 64, the wife of Ewing Observer publisher Thomas Valeri, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Langhorne, Pennsylvania.
Maryellen was a longtime resident of Ewing Township and also Fort Myers Beach, Florida. Her entire work career has been in the financial/accounting industry. During the past 29 years she was employed by Bovis-LendLease-Consigli Construction Management, helping them build a better world.
ness touched everyone she encountered. She cherished weekends with her loving marina family at Key Harbor. Her compassion extended to rescuing an injured racehorse, nurturing him back to health, and lovingly caring for him over the past 14 years.
Known for her tireless work ethic by her colleagues, Maryellen always looked forward to the next challenge. No matter how difficult your day was, Maryellen’s warm smile could always lift your spirits and bring you happiness.
Maryellen was a dedicated supporter of numerous charitable organizations, including the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, Habitat for Humanity, and the Standardbred Retirement Foundation, embodying a spirit of compassion and generosity throughout her life.
Maryellen’s selfless nature and kind-
Ewing
Predeceased by her parents, Santo and Carmela Amari Firetto, and fatherin-law, Thomas J. Valeri Sr., she is survived by her beloved husband of 39 years, Thomas J. Valeri Jr.; mother-in-law, Gloria Valeri; her extended family at Key Harbor Marina, Waretown, NJ; her equestrian companion, Spring Again; and her sister and brother-in-law, Francine and Richard Labella.
To send condolences, go to brennafuneralhome.com/obituary/maryellen-valeri.
Observer
We are a newsroom of your neighbors. The Ewing Observer is for local people, by local people. As part of the community, the Observer 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.
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for
But Flynn’s career actually started in education, not development. It took a while until “the planets aligned, and I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up.”
Only in her late 30s, while living in Cochocton, Ohio, and working as an art and religious education teacher at Sacred Heart Catholic School did Flynn have two experiences that moved her from education to fund development.
The first grew out of her efforts to move her school art program from “a stark basement” to “a bright space where the kids could be creative.” To make this happen, she reached out to parents and to community members to raise money or get donated services.
“I didn’t know there was a word for that— development—and I didn’t understand that as a career path,” Flynn says.
Soon a critical set of events involving the Pomerene Center for the Arts in Coshocton, where she gave art lessons to students after school and summers, changed her career goals entirely.
When the head of a local family foundation died and his more progressive and forward-thinking son took over, he brought in the Indiana School of Philanthropy for a twoweek intensive training and required all the organizations his foundation funded to come
with two employees as a prerequisite for funding renewal.
The art center’s executive director, its only employee, invited Flynn to be the second attendee.
“That’s where I met professional fundraisers, for whom philanthropy was their career,” Flynn says, “It clicked for me; I really wanted to do this. When you work in a nonprofit, you get to see the fruits of your labor every day and how it impacts lives.”
Flynn’s first big developmental role was at a continuing care retirement community, the Ohio Eastern Star Home, in Mount Vernon, Ohio. She then moved to a similar community in Yakima, Washington, but did not stay long because they decided to refurbish their facility instead of moving forward with the promised funding development effort.
Her next position came by happenstance when Flynn and her husband were touring the Yakima YWCA, the largest domestic violence service provider in south-central Washington. It had a shelter, transitional housing, legal aid and advocacy for victims of domestic violence and their children.
The tour leader mentioned that their grant writer was retiring, and they wanted to build a funding development effort. Sure enough, Flynn, who had done some grant writing for the Ohio art center, became their director of fund development and, later, executive
See TASK, Page 6
director.
Flynn learned many lessons during her tenure at the YWCA. An early one was the importance of getting everyone involved— volunteers, donors and even service recipients—by finding ways to share their stories.
“It’s one thing to read a pamphlet or to hear from a staff member,” Flynn says. But hearing from someone who is passionate about an organization or who has experienced life changes because of it pulls people in. “People are drawn to the experience of other people; people give to people.”
One day at the YWCA a woman from Oregon delivered of a van full of backpacks and school supplies that she had collected on her own for the shelter’s children.
“I wanted to find out why,” Flynn says.
nia, in support of her husband’s career as a nonprofit consultant—he had an opportunity to work for Father Craig Boyle at Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles.
Flynn got a job as the director of major gifts for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles, where she headed the individual giving team. What was different from her previous work was the size of the development group—22 people—and the opportunity to work together with other teams.
In February 2020, after four and a half years at Habitat and a couple at Olive Crest of Los Angeles, where she ran her own development program, Flynn and her husband moved back to Ohio, where their son, one of eight children in their blended family, had two small children and was working on his doctorate.
The woman, who made these deliveries yearly, had grown up in Yakima, where her mom was in and out of abusive relationships, and her family was in and out of the YWCA shelter.
“The shelter had a profound impact on my life,” the woman explained to Flynn. Not only did it provide safety, but it taught her what a healthy relationship looks like and what red flag behaviors look like.
The woman said, “I am married, in a healthy relationship, and I’m the first woman in my family in four generations who is not in an abusive relationship. I owe that all to my time as a child when I was in the YWCA shelter.”
Bowled over by the story, Flynn invited her to write the YWCA’s annual appeal and share her story.
Also important for Flynn’s professional growth was the opportunity while at the YWCA to be part of a regional group of other YWCA leaders throughout the northwestern region.
“Those women were profoundly influential as I was learning and growing into the role of executive director,” she says.
Faced for the first time with an entire organization’s budget, she asked another executive director whether she should take finance classes.
“She gave me the best advice ever: ‘You do what you do best and surround yourself with people who have expertise in the areas you do not.’”
At the YWCA Flynn also learned about creativity and innovation, “being able to think outside the box.”
When she saw that women faced significant resistance from landlords when it was time for them to leave the shelter, she came up with a workaround. Because the landlords were unwilling to risk a tenant without a history of renting, the YWCA worked with many landlords in the area to create a master lease program whereby the YWCA held leases for a year and then transferred them to the individual women in their own names.
Flynn’s next career move was to Califor-
Flynn worked as executive director of Modcon Living, a nonprofit focused on keeping people in their homes longer, with dignity and independence. They had a tool lending library, where people who wanted to make repairs or do landscaping or put in a garden could check out the tools they needed, using a library card. They also provided home repairs, from installing grab bars to putting on new roofs.
Modcon worked closely with the local Meals on Wheels program, whose volunteers would make referrals so that their clients could stay in their homes safely.
Four years later, Flynn and her husband decided to move closer to their two daughters in New Jersey. Having worked closely with Meals on Wheels in Ohio, Flynn became chief executive officer of Meals on Wheels of Mercer County.
“Meals on Wheels is an amazing organization; we are serving people who don’t have the opportunity to go and get meals at places like TASK or to get to a food pantry or even to make meals on their own,” Flynn says.
Always attuned to the human component, she emphasizes the importance of social connection with the volunteer food deliverers. “Sometimes that is the only human contact our participants have all day long.”
A year after joining Meals on Wheels, Flynn learned that TASK was looking for an executive director. “I decided at the last minute to throw my name in the hat. It’s such an amazing local organization,” she says.
In fact, Flynn already had a connection with Joyce Campbell, who retired as TASK’s executive director on Dec. 31. When Flynn came to town, Campbell, she says, “got me connected to the right people and helped me learn about the nonprofit landscape here.”
Looking toward her new job, Flynn says she wants to take such challenges head on, and to preserve and build on Campbell’s “incredible legacy of impact.”
“I know I am going to be standing on her shoulders; I know she has great team; and I’m just looking forward to continuing with that tradition of service,” she says.
GOODNEWS
June
February The Ewing Public Schools
The Ewing Public Schools
Mighty Monkey Wrenches Gear Up for 2025 Season Kickoff!
Adopt-a-Survivor Program BeginsatEwing HighSchool
Teacher of the Year Recipients are Honored
Nearlysixty years since Alliedforcesliberated the Naziconcentration camps,the now elderly survivors ofthe Holocaust are turning toa new generation topreservetheir testimony about their wartime experiences for futuregenerations.
The 2025 FIRST Robotics Competition season is officially underway! Team 2016, the Mighty Monkey Wrenches, kicked off their season with a bang, filled with excitement and anticipation for the challenges that lie ahead.
Holocaust survivors are steadilydwindling in number. Manyhavemadeittheir mission toeducate the world thatanti-Semitism and racismeasilylead tomurder, and tospeak about the horrors theyand their familiessuffered. Withthe passing oftime, ithas becomeurgenttofind a new generationtocontinue the survivors’mission and telltheir stories after the survivors can nolongerdoso.
The team gathered at New Jersey School for the Deaf to unveil this year’s game challenge. The atmosphere was electric as students eagerly awaited the reveal, buzzing with ideas and eager to put their engineering skills to the test.
The kickoff marked the beginning of a rigorous and rewarding season for the Mighty Monkey Wrenches. The team will spend the next few weeks focused on:
OnApril 12, the Adopt-a-Survivor(AAS) program was introducedtothe Trenton areaatEwing HighSchool. Six Holocaust survivors wereadopted bytwelveEwing Highsophomores. The adopted survivors—Moshe Gimlan, VeraGoodkin,Marion Lewin,RuthLubitz, Charles Rojer and JackZaifman— wereoriginallyfromGermany, Czechoslovakia, Polandand Belgium.
• Brainstorming and designing innovative solutions: Students will work together to conceptualize and design a robot that meets the unique challenges of this year’s game.
• Building and testing prototypes: The team will utilize their engineering expertise to build and test various robot prototypes, refining their designs and optimizing performance.
The AAS program pairs a survivorwithone or morestudents. The studentsembarkona joint journey withthe survivorthrough discussions about life before, duringand after the Holocaust.Participating studentswillbeabletorepresent the survivorand tellthe survivor’sstory withaccuracyand feeling in the years tocome. Inaddition, eachstudent makes a commitmenttotellthe survivor’sstory ina public venue inthe year2045, a hundred years after the liberationofAuschwitz.
• Developing essential skills: Students will gain valuable hands-on experience in areas such as programming, electronics, machining, and teamwork.
The Mighty Monkey Wrenches are a dedicated group of students who are passionate about STEM education and robotics. They are committed to not only building a competitive robot but also fostering a collaborative and supportive team environment. We wish the Mighty Monkey Wrenches the very best of luck in the 2025 season! We are confident that their hard work, creativity, and dedication will lead to great success.
recipients of the 2005
Go Mighty Monkey Wrenches!
Antheil Integrated Preschool engages in “snow” many activities during the winter season. We are learning how to make our names using Playdoh! We use our imagination to build with blocks and tell stories with puppets. We had so much fun during the holiday season creating tangram turkeys and making gingerbread houses with our preschool families before winter break!
EHS Instrumental Concert Performs to a Packed House
“Music is powerful. As people listen to it, they can be affected. They respond.” – Ray Charles
On Thursday, January 9th, the Ewing High School band, orchestra, chamber strings and symphony orchestra held their winter concert to a full auditorium. Each group performed exceptionally well and put on an excellent show for family, friends, teachers, and community members.
The twelvestudent adoptersare DaveAngebranndt, Tyler Barnes, Annie Cook, Liz Dunham, Emily Everett, CurtisFornarotto, Vildana Hajric, Devon Jones, Jen Meade,Billy O’Callaghan,NikytaSharmaand MelysaWilson.
The string orchestra, under the direction of Mrs. Colleen Trast began the evening with a wonderful selection of music. The orchestra’s repertoire included works by Vivaldi, Woolstenhulme, Hofeldt, Monday, and spanned a variety of eras and musical styles. In reflecting on the group’s performance Mrs. Trast shared, “I am proud of how the orchestra, chamber and symphony groups performed. The students worked hard to prepare some challenging repertoire. We look forward to another great concert in the spring.”
Safety Town
June 30 - July 11
Contact: Jean Conrad
609-538-9800 x1302 for application
Ewing High Students Attend Gorbachev Presentation
Whitney Lewis, EHS Freshman
On April 18, 2005 Ms. Chiavuzzo, Mrs. Walker and 30 Ewing High School freshmen joined several Mercer County high school and college students, and politicians to hear a presentation given by Mikhail Gorbachev at the Sovereign Bank Arena. Gorbachev was the last communist leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991. During his term he instituted various policies including his political policy of Glasnost and economic policy
of Perestroika. His policies reopened churches, released political prisoners, and lifted bans on previously censored books.
one of the essential themes of Gorbachev’s presentation. The policy’smain goal was to make the Soviet economic system more efficient. Perestroika involved the transfer of control from the government to the business owners. This policy continued on page A2 continued on page A2
The concert band performed next under the direction of Mr. Jason Price. The band performed works by James Reese Europe, Hugh Stuart, David Holsinger and W. Francis McBeth. The band’s repertoire consisted of classic wind band literature and posed an exciting challenge for the students. Mr. Price had this to say about the band’s performance: “I am extremely proud of how well the band performed. The band students worked very hard throughout the second half of the semester on preparing this music and they truly delivered.”
Have a Happy Summer!!
Following the band was the chamber strings and symphony orchestra. The chamber strings delivered an excellent performance of Johannes’ Brahms “Hungarian Dance No. 5.” To complete the evening’s performance members of the band joined the chamber strings and performed Guiseppi Verdi’s
GoodNews will resume with the September issue of the Observer
“Grand March” from the opera “Aida” and an exciting arrangement of “Respect” as performed by the queen of soul herself, Aretha Franklin. Mrs. Benvenuti (EHS science teacher), who was running lights and sound that evening said “The concert was a wonderful display of talent by our band and orchestra students.”
Thank you to all the students for their hard work and dedication to music!
Due to budget restraints NO Summer School Programs will be offered by the Ewing Public Schools during the Summer of 2005.
The
Teacher of the Year Awards were honored at a luncheon on April 29th. Jan Fay, 2004 Mercer County Teacher of the Year, was a guest speaker. 1st row (L to R): Joan Zuckerman, Principal Antheil; Sharon Solomon, Lore; Jan Fay, 2004 Mercer County Teacher of the Year; Inetta Emery, Principal Parkway; Danielle Miller, EHS; Superintendent Ray Broach. 2nd row: Darrell Jackson, Principal FMS; Donna Andreas, Antheil; Don Barnett, FMS; Betsy Turgeon, Parkway; Rodney Logan, Principal EHS.
Showing the LOVE
The EHS Girls Basketball Team, Cheerleaders and Ewing High School community helped collect 170 pairs of socks during the holidays for Operation Happy Feet in memory of Mrs. Hill’s (TA @ EHS) mother. The donation of socks was to honor both her love of socks and Christmas. Great job Ewing High!!!! And THANKS!!!
EHS Chapter of National Honor Society sponsored a winter coat drive and collected over 100 coats for Jersey Cares, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping those in need throughout New Jersey. Thank you to the Ewing community for your donations and support!
Fisher Middle School teacher, Mr. Jesse Ambriz and his dedicated crew along with the Laundry Depot in Ewing hosted a Wash and Learn Toys for Tots. Mr. Ambriz was able to recruit the Fisher Middle School Girls Basketball team to serve the community by handing out over 600 toys to families in our community. The team did Santa proud!
The Ewing Public Schools
Opportunities Flourish for EHS Life Skills Students
At Ewing High School (EHS), in the Life Skills Program the district is fortunate to have exceptional educators who seek out educational opportunities where students thrive and are challenged to reach their full potential today and every day.
EHS Life Skills students are currently participating in the Safety SEAT- Safety Education Awareness Program through New Jersey Transit. Students are learning about community signs related to trains, safety around train tracks, and proper etiquette as a train passenger.
Facilitated by Kathryn Smith, Safety Education Program Specialist, the lessons are engaging, fun, and informative, from singing and dancing around the classroom to remember the meanings of different safety signs, to having students design their own versions of railroad crossings! The training will help students as they build their independence and prepare for life after high school, empowering
Ewing High’s Environmental Club partnered with Parkway Elementary’s Environmental STEM Club students to clean up the Parkway courtyard and help prepare it for the spring. Students completed tasks to help maintain and clean the garden and surrounding areas of the courtyard. EHS students led and gave guidance to the elementary schoolers they were partnered with, explaining the benefits and importance of sustainable agriculture.
them to feel confident when using public transport in their community!
In December, Life Skills students also had the unique opportunity to visit the lovely individuals from Inspired Threads. Inspired Threads is a non-profit organization based out of Hamilton Township that focuses on an inclusive workforce, diverting textile waste from landfills, and advocating for employment equality. Under the guidance of Jeanene (Executive Director), the volunteers, and the artists, students were given the opportunity to hand-pick several fabrics that symbolize their dreams and goals for the future. With the chosen fabrics, the talented crew from Inspired Threads will make each student a “dream pillow,” with which students can reflect on how they can achieve these goals. The Life Skills students will return to Inspired Threads in February to see their finished pillows!
Ewing Township Board of Education 2025 Welcomes Two New Members; Elects President and Vice President
The Ewing Township Board of Education held its annual Organization Meeting on Monday, January 6, 2025.
Mrs. Eve Bolden was elected to the Ewing Board of Education in November and was officially sworn in on January 6th for a three-year term. Mrs. Bolden is originally from Mount Holly, New Jersey, and moved to Ewing in 2002 with her husband Sean and their two sons. Both children attended Ewing Public Schools. Mrs. Bolden shared, “I have always enjoyed volunteering at the schools, coaching youth sports teams, and being active in community events. As a preschool teacher for over twenty years, I am an advocate for quality education with a commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment for all students. I am proud to be part of a team that strives to ensure every student has the opportunity to reach their full potential and achieve academic success.”
Ms. Sandra Hereford-Crawley was also sworn in for her first three-year term as a Board of Education member. Ms. Hereford-Crawley has been a Ewing Township resident since 1996 and attended The College of New Jersey. Her daughter, Jordan, attended Ewing Public Schools.
Ms. Hereford-Crawley retired after working 34 years with the State of New Jersey at Anne Klein Forensic and 23 years at Ewing High School as a security monitor.
In her role as a Board member, Ms. HerefordCrawley, will continue her legacy of supporting students, staff, and the Ewing community by being present and making sure that schools have the resources to deliver an exceptional education.
Ms. Deborah Delutis was elected to her third three-year term as a member of the Ewing Township Board of Education after serving this past year as the Board’s president. Ms. Delutis is a lifelong Ewing resident.
“I take my role on the Board very seriously and try to attend as many school events as possible and represent the Board of Education at public events. It is important to me to continue the great work we have been developing over the past few years.”
At the Organization Meeting, Mr. Michael. S. Miller was elected president and Mrs. Nicole NW Harris was elected vice president. Please join us for our next Board of Education meeting scheduled for Monday, February 24, 2025, at Parkway Elementary School.
DESAIYA HAIRSTON - NJSIAA NATIONAL GIRLS AND WOMEN IN SPORTS REPRESENTATIVE
Congratulations to senior, DeSaiya Hairston on being chosen to represent Ewing High School for the 2025 NJSIAA National Girls & Women in Sports Day Event at Rutgers University! DeSaiya is a Ewing fall and winter cheerleader and a spring track athlete!
The celebratory event took place on Sunday, January 12, 2025, at Jersey Mike’s Arena – Rutgers women’s basketball hosted Nebraska.
FMS Origami Artists
“More than Folding Paper”
Seventh grade students at FMS are captivating the school community with their impressive origami skills. From intricate cranes to vibrant flowers, these young artists are demonstrating remarkable creativity and patience as they transform simple sheets of paper into stunning works of art. Their dedication to mastering the ancient art of folding has resulted in a diverse collection of unique and beautiful creations, showcasing their talent and artistic growth.
Origami is the Japanese art of folding a flat piece of paper into decorative shapes and figures. Origami is used for decorative and artistic purposes but is also used as a tool to teach basic principals in math and geometry. It is also a learning experience that incorporates communication and problem-solving skills along with promoting goal setting.
At Lore Elementary School in Ms. Mecquel Fouratt’s third grade class students have been working so hard on their two-digit subtraction unit! They have been doing a great job working together, making drawings, and using their place value skills! Ms. Fouratt shared, “Turning around and seeing a student explaining step by step to another student was such a great classroom moment!”
The Ewing Public Schools
EHS Senior Spotlight: Meet Samantha Dupee
If you could use one word to describe yourself, what would that word be? Tenacious
The Ewing Public Schools’ girls’ wrestling program has flourished in the past few years, and you have been a pillar of the program since you were in sixth grade at Fisher Middle School. Last year was the first year the Mercer County Tournament hosted Girls Wrestling. How does it feel to be part of something special and groundbreaking for girls’ sports in your community? When I started wrestling as a freshman there were only two girls on the team and now there are twelve. As a freshman, if I wanted to wrestle, I had to wrestle against boys, that has changed quite a bit this season with numerous girl wrestling tournaments being offered. Last year my mom, Coach DeCavalcante, and I did a campaign with posters and “meet and greet” events to get more girls interested in the program. Mom made her famous pumpkin chocolate chip cookies and we had a good turnout which continues today under the guidance of Coach Zedalis.
As of this interview, you are on the sidelines with an injury with your expected return to the mats the first week in February. This is not how you envisioned your senior year in wrestling, but being the fierce competitor, what can we expect when you return to competition? That is a good question. I was set to start the season at a full run. Unfortunately, that is not the case with my broken nose. My last match was in August at TCNJ where I came in second. I will not be able to start wrestling until the Mercer County Tournament. And even then, I must wear a face shield. It’s going to be tough; I intend to give it my all.
You have selected some very interesting courses for your senior year. Tell us about your Mythology course: From Zeus to Superman, who is the real hero? I am finding the course very interesting. I did not know that much about Greek Mythology and am realizing that our modern-day superheroes are based on characters from Greek Mythology. Medusa’s story is intriguing to me because she took revenge on her enemies and turned them into stone. Her hair composed of snakes is cool. It could be a look that I could pull off on the mat. How intimidating would that be?
The second semester brings on Engineering Design/3D Printing, Robotics I, and the art class, Crafts. What is special about these courses? In my
spare time, I like putting Lego models together. My favorite is the Titanic. I would love to get a job at Lego putting models together. Engineering, robotics, and crafts go together nicely with Lego model building.
Who is your favorite teacher or coach and why? I have so many wonderful teachers and coaches in my time at Ewing. Mrs. Feeny is my favorite teacher. She has instilled in me my love for reading and has taught me skills to read fluently and confidently.
What activities do you participate in outside of school? Snowboarding, fishing, wrestling, paddle boarding, hiking, pickleball, bowling, camping, and watching my man AJ Brown scoring touchdowns for the Philadelphia Eagles.
What awards or acknowledgments have you received? MVP for wrestling, captain of the wrestling team, student of the month, athlete of the month, toughest wrestler award, first place in Mercer County Girls Wrestling Tournament, Outstanding Achievement award, 2nd place in Regionals, qualified for states, made varsity my freshman year wrestling, Ewing Township Proclamation Award, Mercer County Certificate of Honor.
What is your favorite quote? I have two favorite quotes that I can relate to:
“Why fit in when you were born to stand out.” Angel Powers
“Float like a Butterfly, sting like a bee.” Muhammad Ali
As part of the fourth-grade multiplication unit in Mrs. Kendall Pagano’s Antheil AIM class, AIM students became doctors for a morning as they performed partial products surgery. In the “operating room” students broke apart the multi-digit numbers into hundreds, tens, and ones as part of the partial products multiplication strategy. Students donned gloves and masks to cut, glue, and solve. All of the fourth-grade doctors were successful in using the new strategy to solve multi-digit multiplication problems!
The Ewing Public Schools
Students in Mr. Darrell Williams 8th grade Science class had a very moo…ving experience dissecting cow eyes!
February 2025 Schedule in Ewing Schools
Feb 1 National Freedom Day
Feb 6 Elementary Schools & FMS - 2nd Marking Period Report Cards
Feb 7 Antheil - PTO Valentine’s Day Dance @ 6:30pm
Feb 8 Parkway - PTA Breakfast @ 8:30-11am
Feb 10 SCHOOL CLOSED – Staff Development Day
Feb 11 Parkway - PTA Meeting @ 6pm
FMS - FPA Virtual Meeting @ 7:15pm
Feb 12 EHS - Semester 1 Report Cards/Genesis Parent Access
Feb 13 EHS - Back to School Night 2nd Semester @ 6:30pm Antheil - PTO Meeting @ 6:30pm
Feb 14 HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!
Feb 17 SCHOOL CLOSED – Presidents’ Day
Feb 18 Lore - PTA Meeting @ 7pm
Feb 21 FMS - Sweetheart Social @ 3:15pm-5pm
Feb 24 Board of Education Meeting @ Parkway Media Center (Public Session @ 7pm)
Feb 26 Parkway - Mobile Dentist Visit
Feb 27 Parkway - Mobile Dentist Visit ESL Family Night @ Lore - 6pm
Feb 28 FMS - FPA Pasta Dinner @ 6-8pm
2025 Ewing Township Board of Education
Mr. Michael S. Miller, President
Mr. Daniel L. Angebranndt
Mrs. Eve R. Bolden
Ms. Elyse Carmichael Henderson
Ms. Deborah A. Delutis
Mrs. Nicole NW Harris, Vice President
Ms. Sandra Hereford-Crawley
Ms. Sandra L. Herrington
Mrs. Jennifer L. Miller
Notice of Board of Education Meetings
The Ewing Township Board of Education has scheduled the following Board Meetings. All meetings are regular business meetings unless otherwise noted. The Board will meet at 6:00PM and at that time, there will be a brief opening and the Board will move into Closed Session for one hour and return to the public at 7:00PM.
DATES:
January 27, 2025 @ Antheil
February 24, 2025 @ Parkway
March 17, 2025 @ FMS (Preliminary Budget Presentation/ Tentative Approval)
April 28, 2025 @ EHS (Public Hearing on Budget/ Approval of Final Budget)
May 19, 2025 @ EHS
June 23, 2025 @ EHS
July 28, 2025 @ EHS
August 25, 2025 @ EHS
September 29, 2025 @ EHS
October 27, 2025 @ EHS
November 24, 2025 @ Lore
December 15, 2025 @ EHS
January 5, 2026 @ EHS
(Board Organization Meeting)
NOTE: There will be NO Closed Session unless otherwise specified
For questions or information, please contact the Superintendent’s Office:
609-538-9800 ext. 1102 thullings@ewingboe.org www.ewing.k12.nj.us
Design and Layout by Daniella Crescente GoodNews is an official publication of The Ewing Public Schools. ©2025 GoodNews
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onship would be the ultimate goal for the entire team, not just me.”
Ewing got off to a roller coaster start at 3-3 before ripping off six straight wins. That run put them on track to match last year’s 11-3 start. The Blue Devils are hoping to ride the wave to a stronger finish this year by relying on the staples of their 9-3 start. Their only Colonial Valley Conference loss so far was a tight contest against Hopewell Valley.
“We’ve played tremendous defense so far, even to the point where we played the private schools and they haven’t even scored 60 on us,” said Ewing coach Paul Jones. “So I would say our defense has been the biggest thing. Both senior Joel Cineus and junior guard Terrance Traylor, between the starts of them and us just being very athletic as a full team, there are a lot of benefits for us.”
Cineus is one of only three seniors on the Ewing roster. The Blue Devils took a hit with the loss of another senior, Cameron James, for the season due to injury. Cineus has helped to be a leader along with classmates Naquan Pate and Leslie Summiel.
“Being a leader as well as Naquan and Leslie being willing step up and take charge of the team, we feel like there’s more of an emphasis on being leaders
this year,” Cineus said. “We take pride in that.”
Cineus, whose first name is pronounced the same as Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid, has brought along his less experienced teammates and helped them understand where to go to be effective and how to play the game. His own play has been steadily evolving over the years, and he is a college prospect now at 6-foot-6 with inside scoring ability and a blend of guard-type skills that are shining more than ever.
“He’s finally understanding that he’s 6’6” and eight times out of 10, he’s gonna have an offensive advantage over the other person,” Jones said. “So just understanding his full potential. And then realizing that he’s only got about half a season left to show everything. He can shoot the 3 a little bit better, but down low the kid’s unstoppable. He’s our engine. He gets us going. He steers us in the right direction, his energy, his point guard skills and everything, and if he’s going down low, we’re going as a team.”
Through the first 12 games, Cineus has averaged 14.2 points per game and six rebounds per game. Traylor is just behind and another junior, Kristian Thomas, has been a consistent contributor offensively. There is plenty of balance beyond them. Cineus’ complete game comes from his
evolution as a player. There was a time when he wasn’t the biggest player on the court. He was only 5’6” or 5’7” in middle school before he shot up to 6’ in eighth grade. Cineus’ game was different in the middle school.
“I wasn’t the smallest, I was probably average size, but I grew up playing point guard,” he said. “Then I got a little taller as I got older and started going under the basket a lot more.”
Cineus didn’t get to show off his new height as an eighth grader when the COVID19 pandemic shortened the season. But since then he has noticed the benefits of his growth spurt on top of maintaining his guard skills. The combination makes him difficult to guard.
“On the floor usually I have a mismatch,” Cineus said. “I’m usually quicker than guys my size or if they’re a little smaller, I’m stronger. Even if they are my size, I’m usually a lot stronger, so having that guard quickness with my size is lethal. We also worked on things during the offseason that look like they’re translating well this season.”
As strong as his offense has been, he also has been a force at the defensive end. That aspect has helped to set the tone for Ewing.
“Joel has done everything I’ve asked,” Jones said. “He’s answered the bell. He usually guards the other team’s best player. He gets after it.”
His work and talents have helped earn him
interest for colleges. Cineus has always been interested in playing at the next level, and his height and skillwork are opening some doors to a bright future.
“I’m just keeping my options open,” he said. “And after that, hopefully I’m looking to play basketball in the professional setting as well as having some educational outlets.”
Cineus believed in himself growing up. But when he actually grew, it reinforced that he could continue on a high trajectory to being a college player and beyond.
“When I grew, I guess the height helped that a lot,” he said. “It helped give me a little more confidence towards the dream.”
His first priority for this winter is helping to push Ewing as far as possible. He has been a part of the program’s success since his class got to high school. The Blue Devils won 14 games when he made just a handful of appearances in his freshman season, then won 23 games and reached the sectional final as he played more as a sophomore. Then came last year’s run to the sectional semifinals to set up this year’s lofty expectations despite not having a big senior class.
“We saw the time that we had flying under the radar that we had talent we were able to bring up and the offseason helped a lot,” said Cineus. “Our record is better than it was at the start of last year. And the offseason helped a lot. The coaches put in a lot of time and it was just a great offseason. Those guys
were able to step up their skill and help the team out.”
The growth has continued through the season. Jones has seen the team’s basketball IQ develop at both ends of the court. The defense has been reliable and the Blue Devils have profited by being able to mix styles at the defensive end while the offense is coming along as well.
“We’re sharing the ball more,” Jones said. “We’re playing team basketball. That has been the biggest change. They’re starting to understand the game of basketball a little bit better as well. Just the game, the flow of it, the understanding if a play breaks down to continue to run that offense. If we get in motion, that’s what we want. I always try to tell them let’s try to get five passes before we get a shot. Sometimes they listen, sometimes they don’t. But I will say all of our kids have confidence. They don’t lack confidence at all. They are confident, but we put in a lot of time.”
Joel Cineus is one of those confident players. He’s always believed in himself, and he’s proud of the way Ewing is shaping up in his final scholastic season. He may be quieter off the court, but his game has been making a statement while carrying the Blue Devils to a promising start.
“On the court, I can get a little extroverted sometimes in the heat of the battle,” he said. “It can always bring something out of you. But overall I try to let my game do the talking.”
For a complete list of February events, visit our website, communitynews.org.
Saturday, February 1
Clifford Ward: I’ll Make Me A World, prologue, Artworks. 6 p.m. 19 Everett Alley, Trenton. artworkstrenton.org.
James & the Giant Peach Presented by Spirit Players. Also Feb. 2, 6, 7, 9. Kelsey Theatre. West Windsor. kelseyatmccc.com.
Winery Weekend Music Series with Firepits & Mulled Wine, Terhune Orchards Vineyard & Winery. Noon. Music 1-4 p.m. No admission fee. Reservations required for groups of
8 or more. Families welcome. 330 Cold Soil Road, Lawrence. terhuneorchards.com.
Sunday, February 2
Family Sundays at the Nature Center, Tulpehaking Nature Center. Also Feb. 8, 15, 221:30 p.m. Free naturalist-guided program geared towards kids and families. Third Sunday each month: Sundays are for STEM. 157 Westcott Ave, Hamilton. abbottmarshlands.org
Monday, February 3
Drop in Craft-Valentine’s Day Card. Through Friday, Feb. 7, 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Create a oneof-a-kind Valentine’s Day card. Hollowbrook
Branch Library, 320 Hollowbrook Dr. 609-8835914.
Voices Chorale NJ Spring Auditions, Music Together. 7:15 p.m. Set up a brief audition. All voice parts welcome, especially tenors and basses. Auditions before rehearsals. We rehearse Mondays 7:30.9:30pm at Music Together, 225 Pennington-Hopewell Road, Hopewell. voiceschoralenj.org.
WedneSday, February 5
Crafty Crew. Also Feb. 5, 19, 26. 1:30 p.m. Gather any craft you are working on, such as knitting, crocheting, cross-stitching, quilting, scrapbooking, etc., and head down to the Hollowbrook Branch. Hollowbrook Branch Library, 320 Hollowbrook Dr. 609-883-5914.
thurSday, February 6
Knitting and Crochet. Also Feb. 13, 20, 27. 10 a.m. The perfect place for beginners and experienced crafters alike to come together and share their love for yarn art. Ages 16 and up. Hollowbrook Branch Library, 320 Hollowbrook Dr. 609883-5914.
Disney On Ice presents Frozen & Encanto Also Feb. 7, 8, 9. CURE Insurance Arena. Multiple showtimes. 81 Hamilton Ave, Trenton.
Friday, February 7
Play-Doh Challenge. Also Feb. 14, 21, 28. 1:30–2 p.m. The challenges involve molding Play-Doh into whatever the challenge card instructs you to do. For ages 5-9. Registration is required. Hollowbrook Branch Library, 320 Hollowbrook Dr. 609-883-5914.
Saturday, February 8
Documentary Screening: Zora Neale Hurston: Claiming a Space. 2 p.m. An in-depth biography of the influential author whose groundbreaking anthropological work would challenge assumptions about race, gender and cultural superiority Ewing Branch Library, 61 Scotch Rd. 609-882-3148.
Monday, February 10
Adult Craft: No-Sew Heart Pillow. 2:30 p.m. Create a fleece no-sew heart shaped pillow to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Ewing Branch Library, 61 Scotch Rd. 609-882-3148.
Adult Craft- Puzzle Heart Wreath. 7 p.m. Create a puzzle heart wreath. For ages 16 and up. Hollowbrook Branch Library, 320 Hollowbrook Dr. 609-883-5914.
Valentine Tea Party. 11 a.m. Games, Crafts, Cold Tea and Refreshments. Ewing Branch Library, 61 Scotch Rd. 609-882-3148.
thurSday, February 13
Chief Adjuah, McCarter Theatre Center. 91 University Place, Princeton. mccarter.org/events
Friday, February 14
Valentine’s Day Storytime, 10 a.m. Celebrate Valentine’s Day at the Hollowbrook Branch. Read Valentine’s Day books together, sing songs and create a special Valentine’s Day crafts. For ages 2 and up. Hollowbrook Branch Library, 320 Hollowbrook Dr. 609-883-5914.
Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner. Also Feb. 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23 Kelsey Theatre. 8 p.m. Presented by the MTM Players. Special Guest Director Diane L. Parker. 1200 Old Trenton Rd, West Windsor. kelseyatmccc.com.
Mandy Patinkin In Concert: Being Alive, McCarter Theatre Center. 7:30 p.m. 91 University Place, Princeton. mccarter.org/events.
Saturday, February 15
Red, White & Brew Fest, CURE Insurance Arena. Noon. 81 Hamilton Ave, Trenton. cureinsurancearena.com.
tueSday, February 18
Stand Tall Yoga, Tulpehaking Nature Center. 10 a.m. Bring mat. All levels welcome. Free for Friends of the Abbott Marshlands members; $5 for all others. Class size limited; registration required. 157 Westcott Avenue, Hamilton. abbottmarshlands.org.
Non-Fiction Book Group. 10:30 a.m. “John Lewis and the Power of Hope” by Jon Meacham. Ewing Branch Library, 61 Scotch Rd. 609-882-3148.
Althea Ward Clark W’21 Reading Series Presents: Douglas Stuart & Hanif Abdurraqib, Labyrinth Books. 6 p.m. Co-sponsored by the Lewis Center for the Arts. Princeton. labyrinthbooks.com.
WedneSday, February 19
February Book Club: “The Great New York Fire of 1776: A Lost Story of the American Revolution,” Washington Crossing Historic Park. 5:30 p.m. Museum curator Kimberly McCarty will lead a discussion of chapters 8-11. Free and open to all. Members should provide their own books. 1112 River Rd, Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania. washingtoncrossingpark.org.
thurSday, February 20
Beverly Keese-Kelley Art Exhibit. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. , 4–8 p.m. Multidisciplinary local artist Beverly Keese-Kelley will host exhibition “When They Were Here- the African American Experience During Slavery.” Ewing Branch Library, 61 Scotch Rd. 609-882-3148
Friday, February 21
East Coast Indoor Dirt Nationals, CURE Insurance Arena. Also Feb. 22. 6 p.m. 81 Hamilton Ave, Trenton. cureinsurancearena.com.
Saturday, February 22
Richard Thompson: Ship to Shore Tour Solo Show, McCarter Theatre. 7:30 p.m. 91 University Place, Princeton. mccarter.org.
thurSday, February 27
Valencia Baryton Project, 7 p.m. The second concert in the PSO’s 4-concert chamber series. The baryton is a cross between the viol da gamba and lirone, with 10 resonating and plucked strings down the back of the instrument. Trinity Church, Princeton. princetonsymphony.org.
Friday, February 28
4th Friday Family Game Night, Tulpehaking Nature Center. 6 p.m. Board games, bingo, turtle time and light refreshments. Registration required. 157 Westcott Ave, Hamilton. abbottmarshlands.org.
Harlem Globetrotters 2025 World Tour Presented by Jersey Mikes Subs, CURE Insurance Arena. 7 p.m. 81 Hamilton Ave, Trenton. cureinsurancearena.com.
New Orleans Songbook, McCarter Theatre Center. 7:30 p.m. Jazz at Lincoln Center presents Luther Allison, Quiana Lynell and Milton Suggs. 91 University Place, Princeton. mccarter.org.
NORTH 25 HOUSING
Senior Corner
February 2025
ALL PROGRAMS HELD AT HOLLOWBROOK COMMUNITY CENTER, 320 HOLLOWBROOK DRIVE
MONDAYS
10 a.m. Exercise - Karen Martin
12:30 p.m. Bingo
1 p.m. Mexican Train
1 p.m. Jewelry/Craft -Anne’s
TUESDAYS
10 a.m. Exercise - Karen Martin
12:30 p.m. Bible Study
12:30 p.m. Bingo
WEDNESDAYS
9:30 a.m. Knitting/Crochet
10 a.m. Chair Fitness– JoAnna Hopkins
10:30 p.m. Water Color - Ally Lyons Mercer County Library – Ewing Branch
1 p.m. 5-Crown Cards
2 p.m. Mahjongg - Christine Kamph
THURSDAYS
10 a.m. Exercise - Karen Martin
1 p.m. Pinochle - Mercer County Library - Ewing Branch
1 p.m. Rummikub
1 p.m. Balance Class - Bob Kirby
1 p.m. Bid Whist
FRIDAYS
9:30 a.m. Line Dancing – Joanne Keephart
SENIOR CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMISSION (SCAC): Third Thursday of the month. General Body 10 a.m. Meeting is open to the public.
CLUBS: (All held in Room #201-202)
Live Wires—11 a.m. ( 2nd Thursday of the month)
Busy C’s—11 a.m. ( 3rd Tuesday of the month)
Club D—11 a.m. (1st Thursday of the month)
HB Seniors—1 p.m. (2nd Friday of the month)
SENIOR LUNCHEON PROGRAM: Feb. 21, Noon-2 p.m. featuring entertainment by Linda Miller– The Girls Next Door Production. $9 per person/$14 couple. Sign up on or before Feb. 27.
MERCER COUNTY NUTRITION: Seniors 60 and older or anyone married to a person 60 and older is welcome to participate in the nutrition program. The program is located at Hollowbrook Community Center. A person is asked to donate a $1. Your donation is confidential. A delicious balance meal is served.
REGISTER FOR ALL PROGRAMS AGES 60 AND OLDER
EWING RESIDENTS: HOLLOWBROOK COMMUNITY CENTER
2nd Floor Rm# 207 Senior Office QUESTIONS: 609-883-1776
Senior Corner is paid content by Ewing Township
My confidence came and went
DONNIE BLACK BETTING ON BLACK
This story is for the kids that may have been picked on or didn’t feel like going to school because they didn’t fit in. I know kids don’t read newspapers so maybe the parents reading this can share this with your kids.
If you didn’t know, I went to the Incarnation School from grades Kindergarten thru 8th grade. This all started with my grandparents sending their kids there.
My mom and dad decided to send my brother and I to Incarnation as well. If you went to Incarnation, you were a big fish in a small pond. We had a couple public schools in Ewing but us catholic school kids stuck to our own unless you played a travel or Rec sport.
We liked our little catholic school kid bubble, well at least I did. I was comfortable in that bubble. Well, we all have to graduate 8th grade at some point and you can’t stay in that bubble forever. All of my friends scattered to different schools. Here’s where high school starts…
Starting of course at freshman year, I went to Notre Dame and I was now the new kid but so was everyone else. My brother George just graduated from Notre Dame and I was just starting.
He was an All-State soccer player so I had a last name to live up to once I walked through those doors. He had it rough for his sophmore year when all of his close friends made varsity and he didn’t.
to me. Was I popular and just didn’t know it? Maybe it was my brother and my last name? It couldn’t have been because only freshman could vote you in.
They didn’t know that I had a brother that went to this school. I still don’t know to this day but whatever, I did that for two years. I also played soccer for two years at Notre Dame and after the second season I completely lost my love for the game.
Did I suck? Maybe. Was I not physical enough? Probably. That’s not the point. At this point in my junior year, I had quit playing soccer, I didn’t run for Student Government, and I was lost.
I had friends at the school but not the type of friends that would invite you to a cool party. It was a bad year mentally and my parents will attest to that. Friday nights and Saturday nights were spent at home with my parents watching movies and them telling me to call so and so who is also having a rough time at their school.
I would go back to school on Monday and overhear how awesome this certain party was. Where did I go wrong? I was super cool a few years back! Even the people in my little Incarnation bubble were flourishing.
Junior year ended and the summer came and let’s just say my mentality changed quickly when my senior year started. I didn’t care what anyone thought of me at Notre Dame anymore. My mom and dad instilled this confidence into me over the summer that I can’t explain but it happened. I went to back to Notre Dame my senior year and within two weeks, I said f this place, I’m out! Now, I never mentioned my boys/ family at Ewing High this entire time. My boys at Ewing saved me… I hung out with these dudes every day after school, every weekend. They all know who they are and I can’t thank them enough.
That didn’t stop him because he flourished and became a super popular kid and that All-State soccer player that I previously talked about. I thought that was my path as well. In my foolish mind, I thought I will make the soccer team and be the man of this school just like I thought I was in Incarnation with my 28 person classroom.
I made the freshman soccer team and made a bunch of friends on the team. A week later, school started and this popularity thing wasn’t as easy as it was in grade school. I was now a small fish in a freaking ocean! Somehow and I still don’t know how, I was elected to student government my freshman year. There were 10 students that were chosen from the entire class and I was chosen as one of those students.
That was a shock to me since I wasn’t invited to any of the cool parties and none of the girls that I liked paid any attention
I left Notre Dame 2 weeks into my senior year and went to Ewing High. Let’s just say I fit right in. A few bumps in the road to start but my boys had my back. I have to say it was one of the best years of my life. Definitely the best year of my high school career.
To sum this up… high school is only 4 years of your life. Yes, it can suck at times and it totally did for me. If you are like me, keep your head up and keep pushing through. The best days of your life are in front of you.
A journey around the world and a trip through history
HELEN KULL
EWING THEN & NOW
Note: This month’s column is written by Rebecca Urban, past president of the Ewing Township Historic Preservation Society.
On July 17, 1909, four people and a dog left Trenton to begin a historic trip around the world. Along the way they added another dog and a monkey to the crew.
Harriet White Fisher, the owner and hands-on manager of Fisher and Norris Anvil Works in Trenton, planned and financed the trip.
Harold Brooks, a skilled driver of automobiles (who began driving at age 16) and an inventive mechanic, drove the car and took care of all car repairs and maintenance.
Albert Batcheler, a butler and cook, kept them well-fed, and packed and unpacked their belongings every day.
Maria Boggia, a maid and caretaker, provided daily assistance to Harriet and helped the others by providing clean laundry and sleeping accommodations for everyone.
Honk-Honk, the Boston Bull Terrier, always fiercely barked to warn of danger and comforted anyone who was not feeling well.
So, you might be wondering how this story is connected to Ewing history. Although none of the four people were born in Ewing, three of the four spent most of the rest of their lives in Ewing from 1913 on.
Harriet White Fisher purchased the Reed Farm and house (circa 1795) on Ewingville Road off Spruce Street and renamed it Bella Vista. She farmed the land and continued to run the Fisher Anvil Works until her death in 1939.
Albert and Maria married after the trip and resided with Harriet until her death. She kindly provided them with a home on Kirk Avenue in Ewing where they lived until Maria died in 1954.
Albert moved to Trenton until his death in the 1975 at the age of 95. And Harold Brooks, born in Elizabeth, lived in Trenton with his family from his early twenties until his death in 1962.
This story has been a part of my life since I was a little girl. As the granddaughter of Harold Brooks, I have been fully immersed in this story for a good portion of my adult life.
Although I am not a born and bred Ewingite, I have lived in Ewing for the last 32 years. My interest in this historical story even led me to become extremely involved with the Ewing Township Historic Preservation Society.
On Sunday, March 9 at 2 p.m. at the 1867 Sanctuary on Scotch Road in Ewing, I will be presenting my grandfather’s version of the story.
Besides his major task of driving, he took about three hundred photos of the ten countries they visited on their thirteenth month journey. Throughout his life he shared his photos and talked about his experiences.
Our family has his voice on tape (completed in 1956 at the age of 68) explaining each image that I will be able to share with his photos.
It was a marvelous, once in a lifetime adventure for all four of them. My grandfather, from most accounts, was the first, solely individual person to drive all the way around the world.
There were two Great Auto Races around the world in 1907 and 1908 sponsored by Le Matin, a Paris newspaper, but the cars in these races were driven by a team of usually four-five drivers.
I have been truly fortunate to have many authors and individuals interested in history come into my life because of this one, very significant historical event, including:
• A local author finishing an autobiography of Harriet Fisher;
• A photographic archivist;
• A man obsessed with anvils who has created a Museum in New Jersey filled with Fisher anvils;
• A German man who just duplicated a portion of Harriet’s trip in a 1916 Locomobile this past year; and
• Many family members and friends of the Andrew family (Harriet’s last husband was Silvano Alfredo Andrew who outlived her).
On March 9, I will also share some of the stories of these individuals who have been drawn to this story as well.
I hope you can join me along with the program’s co-sponsors, the Ewing Township Historic Preservation Society and the Lawrence Historical Society, to hear about a great adventure at the beginning of our automotive world.
Ewing Recreation
February 2025 and is for all levels of players. Participants can register at www.communitypass.net.
It’s time to register for Ewing Girls’ Softball Spring Season! Girls ages 4½ to 18 can participate. Register online at www. ewinggirlssoftball.com. Ewing/ Lawrence Little League & Babe Ruth Baseball is also accepting registration for the spring for ages 4 – 16 at ltjbsa.com. The registration deadline is Sunday, February 9th.
Ewing Recreation Department is taking applications for picnic area permits at the following parks: John Watson on Upper Ferry Road, Higgs Park on Summerset Street, and Betor Park behind the Municipal building. Email Nancy at npappano@ewingnj.org or contact the office for more information or to reserve a date.
Adult Co-Ed Volleyball is held on Wednesday nights at Antheil School from 7 to 9:30 p.m. This program is informal
Ewing Recreation has a chess club that meets on Wednesday evenings at St. Luke’s Church on Prospect St. Play is from 6 to 10 p.m. Interested participants are welcome to attend or email Bong at bongortiz@yahoo.com.
The Hollowbrook Community Center, 320 Hollowbrook Drive, has rooms available for rent for small groups to large parties. Kitchen facilities are available. For more information on these or any other programs you can contact the office at (609) 883-1199 or online at www.ewingnj.org/communityaffairs.
The Ewing Recreation column is paid content provided by Ewing Township.
Do you or someone you know suffer from heart failure?
Ask The Doctor
manage the condition. The overall goal is to avoid hospitalizations and achieve good quality of life.
See our ads in SIX09 section pgs 5 and 7
Managing heart failure is challenging and can affect almost every part of life. Beyond the physical symptoms of fatigue, swelling and breathlessness, heart failure also impacts emotional health, relationships, and daily routines.
A unique approach to heart failure care at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJUH Hamilton), an RWJBarnabas Health facility, is the Healthy Lives Hamilton program, an impactful addition to the spectrum of heart and vascular services we provide.
What is Heart Failure?
Heart failure is a medical condition that can occur due to the heart being weak or stiff and can develop after the heart has been damaged by a heart attack, a virus, high blood pressure or other conditions.
Often it can’t be cured, but with the right medical treatment, lifestyle changes, and support, many patients can successfully
“At any given time, we care for ten to twenty patients admitted to our hospital with heart failure. Nationwide statistics show that up to one quarter of those patients will be readmitted to the hospital within 30 days, largely because heart failure is a challenging condition to treat and manage.”
says Justin Fox, MD, a boardcertified cardiologist and interventional cardiologist, Chair of the Department of Cardiology at RWJUH Hamilton, and member of Hamilton Cardiology Associates.
“Our task is to successfully guide the care of heart failure patients both during and after their hospitalization.” he says.
perhaps most importantly, enrollment in the Healthy Lives Program.”
How Does Healthy Lives Hamilton Support Patients with Heart Failure?
Healthy Lives Hamilton is an outpatient clinic on-site at RWJUH Hamilton designed to help heart failure patients and their families. From symptom monitoring and management to education, a team of experts guides patients towards living a healthy life.
“During the hospital stay, my cardiologist colleagues and I work to provide optimal medical therapy and any needed procedures to stabilize and treat the patient,” he says. “After discharge, our best practice is to have a team approach to the follow-up care including timely visits with their outpatient cardiologist and primary care physician and,
“The Healthy Lives Hamilton team works with patients to create an individual plan that can help them reach their health goals,” says Connie Moceri, MSN, RN, AGNP-C, Administrative Director of Cardiovascular Services. She oversees the program along with Ann Mancuso, MSN, RN, CHFN, Heart Failure Coordinator. “For many heart failure patients, their goal is to minimize symptoms of their illness and maintain good quality of life without having to come back into the hospital.
multidisciplinary approach that addresses both the physical and psychosocial aspects of the disease, fostering a better life for patients.
In 2024, RWJUH Hamilton was named by U.S. News & World Report to its 20242025 Best Hospitals as a High Performing Hospital for Heart Failure. This is the highest distinction a hospital can earn for U.S. News’ Best Hospitals Procedures & Conditions ratings.
If you or someone you know is living with heart failure and would like to learn more about the program, please call 609-203-4326. Visit rwjbh.org/heart
Programs at RWJUH Hamilton this month
The following programs are sponsored by RWJUH Hamilton Community Health, open to all and all ages, and Better Health Program, open to all 65+ years old. All programs take place at the Center for Health & Wellness located at RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center, 3100 Quakerbridge Rd., Hamilton, unless otherwise noted. Registration is required. View the calendar online at rwjbh.org/hamiltonprograms. For more information, call 609-584-5900.
TUESDAy, fEBrUAry 4
“These goals are achieved with thorough education to patients/families, medication adjustments, blood work and providing IV treatments if necessary. Our team works to understand and help patients manage the psychosocial aspects of their condition, which is key to achieving better quality of life.”
Who is Eligible to Participate?
Referral to the Healthy Lives Hamilton program may occur during an inpatient stay at a hospital, or a physician may refer patients to the program on an outpatient basis. Patients with heart failure and other chronic conditions are eligible to be enrolled.
Your Heart Matters (Community Health). 1-2 p.m. Join Connie Moceri, MSN, RN, A-GNPC, Administrative Director Patient Care-Cardiovascular Services, Healthy Lives Program (a Heart Failure Intervention Program), RWJUH Hamilton, and Ann Mancuso, CNS, RN, CHFN, Heart Failure Program Coordinator, Healthy Lives Program, RWJUH Hamilton; for an engaging and life changing session on ways to improve and maintain a strong healthy heart.
mONDAy, fEBrUAry 10
Note that the Healthy Lives team will collaborate with a patient’s medical providers for the most comprehensive care. Patients will still continue to be cared for by their regular cardiologist and other providers. Ultimately, improving quality of life for those living with heart failure requires a
Lunch & Learn–Cardiac Catheterization & Coronary Angioplasty (Better Health). 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Join Justin Fox, MD, Chair of the Dept. of Cardiology, RWJUH Hamilton, member of Hamilton Cardiology Associates, board-certified cardiologist and interventional cardiologist, for an in-depth session on the advancements and minimally invasive techniques available to diagnose and manage cardiovascular pathology to improve heart health. A heart-healthy lunch will be provided & registration is required.
Justin Fox, M.D.
HELP WANTED
Aff iliates Needed Immediately! Work from Home or Anywhere! PT/ FT Without Disturbing your current work. Must be 18 or older. Students, Housewives, Professionals, Retired, Employed and Unemployed. Earn Extra Income work 2-4 hours per day. Training and Support Provided. No Experience and Qualifications Re-quired.Call 609-510-0292.
VACATION RENTAL
Fort Myers Beach, Fl. Dates are still available 1 br condo on beach. Call for details @ 609-577-8244.
SERVICES
F,D, Mason Contractor, Over 30 years of experience. Brick, Block, Stone, Concrete. No job too large or small. Fully Insured and Licensed. Free Estimates 908-385-5701 Lic#13VH05475900.
Are you single? Try us first! We are an enjoyable alternative to online dating. Sweet Beginnings Matchmaker, 215-539-2894, www.sweetbeginnings.info.
LEGAL SERVICES Wills, Power of Attorney, Real Estate, Federal and NJ Taxes, Education Law. House calls available. Bruce Cooke, Esq. 609-799-4674, 609-721-4358.
Guitar, Ukulele and Drum lessons for all. Call Jane 609 510-1400. $25.00 per lesson.
REAL ESTATE
Property For Rent Trenton/Hamilton27,500 sq. ft. building for rent. Ideal for retail, light industrial, wholesale or warehouse.
Includes one loading dock, fully heated and air conditioned and fully sprinklered. Ceiling heights 11 to 14 feet. Large parking lot and located in urban enterprise zone. Call Howard at 609-896-0505.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
I Buy Guitars All Musical Instruments in Any Condition: Call Rob at 609-577-3337.
WANTED TO BUY
Wanted: Baseball, football, basketball, hockey. Cards, autographs, photos, memorabilia. Highest cash prices paid! Licensed corporation, will travel. 4theloveofcards, 908-596-0976. allstar115@verizon.net.
Cash paid for World War II Military Items. Helmets, swords, medals, etc. Call: 609581-8290, E-mail: lenny1944x@gmail.com
HAPPY HEROES used books looking to buy old Mysteries, Science Fiction, kids series books ( old Hardy boys-Nancy Drew-etc WITH DUSTJACKETS in good shape), Dell Mapbacks - PULP magazines , old role playing stuff, good conditioned pre 1975 paperbacks old COLLIER’S magazine. Call 609-619-3480 or email happyheroes@gmail.com .
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Membership restrictions may apply. Account approval, conditions, qualifications, limits, timeframes, enrollments, logons and other requirements apply. A $5 deposit is required to open the account. At least 1 Direct Deposit, ACH credit, ACH payment or bill pay transaction(s) is required each monthly qualification cycle. Enrollment and agreement to receive e-statements and at least 12 PIN-based / signature-based debit card purchases are conditions of