6-24 EO

Andreas a key contributor for Blue Devils baseball

By JUstin Feil

Joe Andreas has been a solid contributor for the Ewing High School baseball team over the last two and a half years.

Now the junior is growing into a better leader too.

Andreas, who gained significant time towards the end of his

freshman year, has built on his sophomore year when he hit .343 in his first full season starting for the Blue Devils. Through 19 games, he led Ewing with a .408 batting average and was second on the team in hits, one behind sophomore Sam Simpkins while trying to become a stronger presence overall for the team.

“It started freshman year when I had good leaders in the dugout to teach me things and guide me along,” Andreas said.

“I just use things from each year I’ve played with the different type of leaders we had in the dugout and just try to take

‘Jersey Girl’ starts a new chapter at Morven Mansion

By RebaKaH SCHroeDer

Rhonda DiMascio has less of a mountain to climb and more of a “big hill.”

In February, Morven Museum & Garden named the veteran nonprofit leader, who has more than 25 years of experience in historic museums, sites, and gardens, as its new executive director.

DiMascio, a resident of Ewing Township, succeeds Jill Barry, who left last September to become CEO of the Houston Botanic Garden in Texas, and takes over from deputy director and curator Elizabeth Allan, who served in an interim capacity during the search process, on March 25.

Morven was originally the home of Richard Stockton, one of New Jersey’s five signers of the Declaration of Independence, as well as the former Governor’s Mansion. The National Historic Landmark encompasses five acres at 55 Stockton Street in Princeton that, since opening to the public in 2004, has become known for its permanent and special exhibitions, events, and edu-

cational programming.

Stockton, a wealthy lawyer and a graduate of what is now Princeton University, built Morven in the 1750s. His wife was the patriotic poet Annis Boudinot Stockton, dubbed “the elegant muse of Morven” by George Washington, and who named the estate after the Gaelic phrase for “big hill.”

After five generations of Stocktons, the property was eventually leased to General Robert Wood Johnson II, the chairman of Johnson & Johnson, before becoming New Jersey’s first Governor’s Mansion until the state’s official relocation down the street to Drumthwacket in 1982.

DiMascio steps into the executive director role not only during Morven’s 20th year in operation, but at the height of its preparations for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Semiquincentennial in 2026.

When people picture the delegates of the Continental Congress whose names helped ratify the foundational document in

Junior Joe Andreas plays the field during a recent Ewing High School Baseball game.

RWJUH Hamilton June Healthy Living / Community Education Programs

BRAIN HEALTH-LEARN PROVEN WAYS TO KEEP YOUR BRAIN YOUNG

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

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

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

SWEET SUCCESS SOCIETY: A DIABETES GROUP

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

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

DANCE IT OUT!

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

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

WHAT’S EATING YOU?

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

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

HOW SOUND HEALS: THE SCIENCE OF SOUND HEALING

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

Science is catching up with what healers

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

WHAT’S IN THE BOX?

Tuesday, June 13; 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

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

COOKING WITH CARDIOLOGY: STAY HEALTHY WITH SUMMER GRILLING

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

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

SACRED BREATHWORK EXPERIENCE

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

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

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

ANNUAL REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

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

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

ASK THE DIETITIAN

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

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

PREDIABETES CONNECT GROUP

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

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

COLOR ME HOOPY: HOOLAHOOPING FOR FUN & FITNESS!

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

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

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

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION

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

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

HEALTHRHYTHMS® DRUM CIRCLE

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

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

LGBTQ+ BREAST/CHEST HEALTH

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

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

VISION BOARD WORKSHOP

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

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

KIDS IN THE KITCHEN:

SUMMERTIME STAPLES

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

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

REIKI SHARE

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

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

BARIATRIC WEIGHT LOSS SUPPORT GROUP

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

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

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

Better Health Programs/Complimentary Membership at 65+ Years Old

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

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

A SENIOR SOCIAL GROUP

Wednesday, June 5, 12, 19, 26

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

Please join us for our ongoing program, “A Senior Social Group,” gathering in a collaborative setting to exchange thoughts, feelings and experiences amongst peers. This is a safe zone designed to be welcoming and understanding of all attendees while exploring this season of our lives – the ups and the challenges. This is a weekly program. Please feel free to attend one or all.

GROUNDS FOR SCULPTURE TOUR

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

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

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

MIND OVER MATTER BREAKFAST AND LEARN

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

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

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

TAI CHI CLASSES

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

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

YOGA CLASSES

Tuesday, June 18 + 25; 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

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

MEDITATION CLASSES

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

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

CHAIR YOGA

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

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

TEA PARTY

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

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

NEWS SHORTS

Ewing Township designates new redevelopment zone

EDiteD by Bill Sanservino

Ewing Township has taken a step towards revitalizing the 6-acre commercial zone at the intersection of Parkway, North Olden and Lexington avenues.

The Township Council has adopted an ordinance and two resolutions designating the crossroads as an “Area in Need of Redevelopment” and an “Area in Need of Rehabilitation” as allowed under N.J Municipal Land Use Law.

The redevelopment area designation gives a town the ability to name a redeveloper in a public-private partnership to revitalization of a property through zoning flexibility. It also allows financial incentive programs such as a Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT agreement).

The move “underscores Ewing’s dedication to fostering sustainable growth, enhancing public safety and promoting economic prosperity,” states a township news release. “By leveraging sound urban design principles and long-term investment strategies, Ewing aims to

Ewing

transform the area into a vibrant, attractive and pedestrian-friendly destination that meets the needs of residents, businesses and visitors alike.”

Said Mayor Bert Steinmann: “The designation... is something we’ve been working toward for quite a while. This initiative demonstrates our unwavering commitment to revitalizing underutilized spaces, fostering economic growth and creating a more livable and inclusive community for all residents.”

The news release outlines the below key objectives of the redevelopment and rehabilitation measures:

• Enhancing Attractiveness— Through thoughtful urban planning and design interventions, and with the guidance of the Ewing Township Redevelopment Agency, the measures seek to enhance the visual appeal of the area, making it more inviting and aesthetically pleasing to residents and visitors;

• Improving Safety—Prioritizing pedestrian safety and creating safe pathways for school children and residents

will be a cornerstone of the effort, ensuring that the area becomes a secure and welcoming environment for all;

• Promoting Economic Sustainability—By attracting new businesses, fostering entrepreneurship, and revitalizing existing commercial properties, the township aims to create a sustainable economic ecosystem that generates

employment opportunities, drives local prosperity and adds to our tax base; and

• Long-Term Investment—The designation of the redevelopment and rehabilitation zone underscores the township’s commitment to making strategic investments that yield long-term benefits for the community, ensuring that the area

See NEWS SHORTS, Page 4

FAMILY DENTISTRY • IMPLANTS • ORTHODONTICS

Observer

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

EDITOR

Bill Sanservino (Ext. 104)

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Justin Feil, Rebakah Schroeder

CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST

Donnie Black, Helen Kull

AD LAYOUT AND PRODUCTION

Stephanie Jeronis

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Christine Storie (Ext. 115)

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: bsanservino@communitynews.org

Website: ewingobserver.com

Facebook: facebook.com/ewingobserver

Twitter: twitter.com/mercerspace

17,000 copies of the Ewing Observer are mailed or bulk-distributed to the residences and businesses of Ewing 12 times a year. TO

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

Phone: (609) 883-2900

Finance Fax: (609) 883-7392

Admin. Fax: (609) 538-0729

Web Address: www.ewingnj.org

Clerk Fax: (609) 771-0480

Finance Fax: (609) 883-7392

Phone: (609) 883-2900

Admin. Fax: (609) 538-0729

Clerk Fax: (609) 771-0480

Finance Fax: (609) 883-7392

The Township of Ewing

Web Address: www.ewingnj.org

The Township of Ewing

Phone: (609) 883-2900

Phone: (609) 883-2900

Web Address: www.ewingnj.org

Phone: (609) 883-2900

Admin. Fax: (609) 538-0729

Admin. Fax: (609) 538-0729

NEWS SHORTS continued from Page 3 remains vibrant and viable for generations to come.

Admin. Fax: (609) 538-0729

Clerk Fax: (609) 771-0480

Clerk Fax: (609) 771-0480

Clerk Fax: (609) 771-0480

Phone: (609) 883-2900

Finance Fax: (609) 883-7392

Finance Fax: (609) 883-7392

Finance Fax: (609) 883-7392

Admin. Fax: (609) 538-0729

Web Address: www.ewingnj.org

Web Address: www.ewingnj.org

Web Address: www.ewingnj.org

Credit Union of N.J. COO Sarkar honored

Clerk Fax: (609) 771-0480

Finance Fax: (609) 883-7392

Web Address: www.ewingnj.org

honors from the National Credit Union Institute, and she completed the CEO Institute program from Wharton Business School, Cornell and UVA Darden School of Business.

H. Steinmann, Mayor Aaron T. Watson, Business Administrator

The Township of Ewing

The Township of Ewing

Bert H. Steinmann, Mayor Aaron T. Watson, Business Administrator

The Township of Ewing

The Township of Ewing

Bert H. Steinmann, Mayor Aaron T. Watson, Business Administrator

Bert H. Steinmann, Mayor Aaron T. Watson, Business Administrator

Bert H. Steinmann, Mayor Aaron T. Watson, Business Administrator

The Township of Ewing

Mayor Aaron T. Watson, Business Administrator

Bert H. Steinmann, Mayor Aaron T. Watson, Business Administrator

Soma Sarkar, executive vice president/COO of the Credit Union of New Jersey in Ewing, has been named the 2024 William W. Pratt Executive of the Year.

The honor was awarded by the CrossState Credit Union Association, which recognizes leaders committed to the credit union movement’s “People Helping People” philosophy.

She also belongs to the Credit Union Executives Society and Credit Union National Association’s Operations, Lending, Marketing and Information Technology Councils, and was on the NJ Credit Union League’s Professional Advisory Group for the for several years.

Ewing High grad to coach in Philadelphia Phillies youth academy

Dog licensing will begin in the Health Department on June 1, 2024 For dogs that were licensed last year, a renewal notice will be sent to you either via email or mail.

Dog licensing will begin in the Health Department on June 1, 2024 For dogs that were licensed last year, a renewal notice will be sent to you either via email or mail.

licensing will begin in the Health Department on June 1, For dogs that were licensed last year, a renewal notice will to you either via email or mail.

begin in the Health Department on June 1, were licensed last year, a renewal notice will via email or mail.

Dog licensing will begin in the Health Department on June 1, 2024 For dogs that were licensed last year, a renewal notice will be sent to you either via email or mail.

will begin in the Health Department on June 1, that were licensed last year, a renewal notice will either via email or mail.

Dog licensing will begin in the Health Department on June 1, 2024. For dogs that were licensed last year, a renewal notice will be sent to you either via email or mail.

Please note that for the purposes of licensing a dog, the following criteria is as follows: The dog must be at least seven months of age or possess a set of permanent teeth, have obtained a rabies vaccination certificate, signed by a licensed veterinarian, showing that the rabies vaccination doesn’t expire prior to April 1st of the following year and if the dog is spayed/neutered, proof of same is required

Please note that for the purposes of licensing a dog, the following criteria is as follows: The dog must be at least seven months of age or possess a set of permanent teeth, have obtained a rabies vaccination certificate, signed by a licensed veterinarian, showing that the rabies vaccination doesn’t expire prior to April 1st of the following year and if the dog is spayed/neutered, proof of same is required.

Please note that for the purposes of licensing a dog, the following criteria is as follows: The dog must be at least seven months of age or possess a set of permanent teeth, have obtained a rabies vaccination certificate, signed by a licensed veterinarian, showing that the rabies vaccination doesn’t expire prior to April 1st of the following year and if the dog is spayed/neutered, proof of same is required

the purposes of licensing a dog, the as follows: The dog must be at least seven possess a set of permanent teeth, have obtained certificate, signed by a licensed veterinarian, vaccination doesn’t expire prior to April 1st and if the dog is spayed/neutered, proof of same is required.

note that for the purposes of licensing a dog, the following criteria is as follows: The dog must be at least seven of age or possess a set of permanent teeth, have obtained vaccination certificate, signed by a licensed veterinarian, that the rabies vaccination doesn’t expire prior to April 1st following year and if the dog is spayed/neutered, proof of same is required

Dog licensing will begin in the Health Department on June 1, 2024. For dogs that were licensed last year, a renewal notice will be sent to you either via email or mail.

Please note that for the purposes of licensing a dog, the following criteria is as follows: The dog must be at least seven months of age or possess a set of permanent teeth, have obtained a rabies vaccination certificate, signed by a licensed veterinarian, showing that the rabies vaccination doesn’t expire prior to April 1st of the following year and if the dog is spayed/neutered, proof of same is required.

“Sarkar has more than 29 years of service in the credit union space, holding numerous positions of influence over the years,” stated a news release. “Her accomplishments speak volumes for her dedication and commitment to the credit union industry.”

Miron Miller, a graduate of Ewing High School, first enrolled in Centenary University to play baseball and study accounting.

licensing: $12.20 for spayed/neutered and $15.20 for non-

Fees for dog licensing: $12.20 for spayed/neutered and $15.20 for nonspayed/non-neutered.

Fees for dog licensing: $12.20 for spayed/neutered and $15.20 for nonspayed/non-neutered.

Fees for dog licensing: $12.20 for spayed/neutered and $15.20 for nonspayed/non-neutered.

that for the purposes of licensing a dog, the criteria is as follows: The dog must be at least seven possess a set of permanent teeth, have obtained vaccination certificate, signed by a licensed veterinarian, rabies vaccination doesn’t expire prior to April 1st year and if the dog is spayed/neutered, proof of same is required.

for dog licensing: $12.20 for spayed/neutered and $15.20 for nonspayed/non-neutered.

Fees for dog licensing: $12.20 for spayed/neutered and $15.20 for nonspayed/non-neutered.

The remaining free rabies vaccine clinic for cats and dogs for 2024 are Monday, June 10, 2024 from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm and Saturday, September 14, 2024 from 9:00 am – 11:00 am in the rear of the Municipal Building at 2 Jake Garzio Drive, Ewing, NJ 08628.

rabies vaccine clinic for cats and dogs for 2024 are Monday, June 10, 7:00 pm and Saturday, September 14, 2024 from 9:00 am – 11:00 Municipal Building at 2 Jake Garzio Drive, Ewing, NJ 08628

The remaining free rabies vaccine clinic for cats and dogs for 2024 are Monday, June 10, 2024 from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm and Saturday, September 14, 2024 from 9:00 am – 11:00 am in the rear of the Municipal Building at 2 Jake Garzio Drive, Ewing, NJ 08628.

The remaining free rabies vaccine clinic for cats and dogs for 2024 are Monday, June 10, 2024 from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm and Saturday, September 14, 2024 from 9:00 am – 11:00 am in the rear of the Municipal Building at 2 Jake Garzio Drive, Ewing, NJ 08628

Please note that for the purposes of licensing a dog, the following criteria is as follows: The dog must be at least seven months of age or possess a set of permanent teeth, have obtained a rabies vaccination certificate, signed by a licensed veterinarian, showing that the rabies vaccination doesn’t expire prior to April 1st of the following year and if the dog is spayed/neutered, proof of same is required.

remaining free rabies vaccine clinic for cats and dogs for 2024 are Monday, June 10, from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm and Saturday, September 14, 2024 from 9:00 am – 11:00 rear of the Municipal Building at 2 Jake Garzio Drive, Ewing, NJ 08628

The remaining free rabies vaccine clinic for cats and dogs for 2024 are Monday, June 10, 2024 from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm and Saturday, September 14, 2024 from 9:00 am – 11:00 am in the rear of the Municipal Building at 2 Jake Garzio Drive, Ewing, NJ 08628

Sarkar, a resident of Hopewell, started as a branch manager for CUNJ and worked her way up to her current position of EVP/COO. During that time, she saw the credit union grow to more than $440 million in assets through numerous branch expansions, technological advances and marketing programs under her guidance and leadership.

dog licensing: $12.20 for spayed/neutered and $15.20 for nonneutered.

Applications for dog licensing can be obtained in the Office of the Health Department at 2 Jake Garzio Drive, Ewing, NJ or by visiting the website at: https://ewingnj.org/dog-licensing.

licensing can be obtained in the Office of the Health Department at 2 Jake NJ or by visiting the website at: https://ewingnj.org/dog-licensing

Applications for dog licensing can be obtained in the Office of the Health Department at 2 Jake Garzio Drive, Ewing, NJ or by visiting the website at: https://ewingnj.org/dog-licensing

Applications for dog licensing can be obtained in the Office of the Health Department at 2 Jake Garzio Drive, Ewing, NJ or by visiting the website at: https://ewingnj.org/dog-licensing.

Fees for dog licensing: $12.20 for spayed/neutered and $15.20 for non-spayed/non-neutered.

Applications for dog licensing can be obtained in the Office of the Health Department at 2 Jake Drive, Ewing, NJ or by visiting the website at: https://ewingnj.org/dog-licensing.

Applications for dog licensing can be obtained in the Office of the Health Department at 2 Jake Garzio Drive, Ewing, NJ or by visiting the website at: https://ewingnj.org/dog-licensing

The remaining free rabies vaccine clinic for cats and dogs for 2024 are Monday, June 10, 2024 from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm and Saturday, September 14, 2024 from 9:00 am11:00 am in the rear of the Municipal Building at 2 Jake Garzio Drive, Ewing, NJ 08628.

Prior to coming to CUNJ in 1994, Sarkar worked for major savings and loan commercial banks. She is certified by the American Institute of Banking in supervisory management, customer service, real estate banking, business administration and accounting.

free rabies vaccine clinic for cats and dogs for 2024 are Monday, June 10, pm – 7:00 pm and Saturday, September 14, 2024 from 9:00 am – 11:00 the Municipal Building at 2 Jake Garzio Drive, Ewing, NJ 08628.

Sarkar has completed the Management Enrichment Training Program through the former N.J. Credit Union League and is a certified BDS Master Trainer. She graduated with the highest

Four years later, he’s done both—and a whole lot more. Miller graduated on May 4, earning a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and the connections he needs to begin a coaching career with a Philadelphia Phillies youth organization and Georgian Court University.

“I wanted to expand my horizons,” recalled Miller, who played baseball in high school. At the start of his college search, Centenary’s baseball coach reached out to invite Miller and his parents for a tour of the University’s campus in Hackettstown.

“That was it—I knew I didn’t want to go anywhere else. I liked the area, and everyone on the baseball team and accounting department was really nice. Right then, I decided that Centenary was the best fit for me,” Miller said Despite having confidence in his decision, Miller faced some culture shock leaving the city and moving to a more rural area. But from a young age, his parents had taught their outgoing son that it’s important to connect with people

if you no longer own a dog or have moved, notify the Clerk’s Office at (609)883-2900 x7619

Please also note that if you no longer own a dog or have moved, notify the Clerk’s Office at (609)883-2900 x7619.

Please also note that if you no longer own a dog or have moved, notify the Clerk’s Office at (609)883-2900 x7619.

Please also note that if you no longer own a dog or have moved, notify the Clerk’s Office at (609)883-2900 x7619

Please also note that if you no longer own a dog or have moved, notify the Clerk’s Office at (609)883-2900 x7619 Municipal

Applications for dog licensing can be obtained in the Office of the Health Department at 2 Jake Garzio Drive, Ewing, NJ or by visiting the website at: https://ewingnj.org/doglicensing.

dog licensing can be obtained in the Office of the Health Department at 2 Jake Ewing, NJ or by visiting the website at: https://ewingnj.org/dog-licensing.

also note that if you no longer own a dog or have moved, notify the Clerk’s Office at (609) 2900 x7619

Please also note that if you no longer own a dog or have moved, notify the Health office at (609)883-2900 x7619.

note that if you no longer own a dog or have moved, notify the Clerk’s Office at (609)883-2900 x7619.

Sarkar

Steinmann,

Students awarded

As part of its Sponsored Youth Program the Kiwanis Club of Ewing recognized students from Ewing High School with Student of the Month awards for April and May. The honorees were chosen by the school district based on academic achievement, citizenship and leadership qualities. Pictured are Ewing Kiwanis President Carl Reasoner (left), Sarah Ashenfelter and Thomas Davison (April), and Selina Daywah and Daniel Armstrong (May).

from different backgrounds.

Centenary reinforced that skill: “Since middle school, I always liked talking to all kinds of people. It’s just something my parents instilled in me. Learning to reach out to other people is one of the biggest things I cherish about Centenary. You gain a lot more from life.”

Looking toward a career in coaching baseball, Miller used those interpersonal skills to connect with the right person at the Phillies MLB Urban Youth Academy, which is run by the Philadelphia Phillies. After volunteering for several years, the organization hired Miller for its summer program. Recently, Georgian Court University offered him a position as an assistant baseball coach for its fall and spring seasons.

At Centenary, Miller became a campus leader. As a sophomore, he was named

baseball team co-captain, a post he’s held for the past three years. That year, he was also accepted to Centenary’s Educational Opportunity Program, which provides academic, social, and financial support to underserved students.

The EOP has given him opportunities to network with fellow students and volunteer in the local community. In fact, his baseball team has volunteered at a local school and Miller reads to elementary school children.

“I feel like I’m in a good spot right now,” said Miller, who plans to earn his CPA someday. “At Centenary, starting in freshman year I had a first-year leader, another student who taught me right away to be open to new things and not be afraid to express myself. That made my transition to college a lot easier. I really feel like Centenary pushed me out of my comfort zone.”

ATTENTION RESIDENTS

Ewing Township

Please note that the June Primary Election is quickly approaching. The date of the Primary is Tuesday, June 4th, 2024. Polls will open at 6:00 a.m. and will close at 8:00 p.m. A list of polling locations is attached for your convenience, or you can call the Clerk’s Office at (609) 538-7609. When you receive your sample ballot it is VERY important to note your polling location and district on the front of your sample ballot. This will make the process at the polls a lot smoother for you and everyone. Exercise your rights and vote!

Ewing Township Polling Locations 2024

District 1.

District 2.

District 3.

District 4.

District 5.

District 6.

District 7.

District 8.

District 9.

District 10.

District 11.

District 12.

District 13.

District 14.

District 15.

District 16.

District 17.

District 18.

District 19.

District 20.

District 21.

District 22.

District 23.

District 24.

District 25.

District 26.

District 27.

Central-A Christ Centered Church

Pennington Rd – Construction Office

Pennington Rd – Construction Office

Parkway School

Prospect Heights Vol. Fire Co.

Lore School

Parkway School

Parkway School

Ewing Comm Center – Room 125

Parkway School

West Trenton Firehouse

Ewing Comm Center – Room 125

Ewing Comm Center – Room 125

Ewing Comm Center – Room 125

Ewing High School

Ewing High School

West Trenton Fire House

Central-A Christ Centered Church

Central-A Christ Centered Church

Central-A Christ Centered Church

Prospect Heights Vol Fire Co.

Lore School

Park Place Apts-Recreation Rm

West Trenton Fire House

Ewing High School

13 Westwood Drive

900 Parkway Avenue

2015 Pennington Road

1666 Pennington Rd

1666 Pennington Rd

446 Parkway Avenue

1660 9th Street

13 Westwood Drive

446 Parkway Avenue

446 Parkway Avenue

320 Hollowbrook Drive

446 Parkway Avenue

40 West Upper Ferry Road

320 Hollowbrook Drive

320 Hollowbrook Drive

320 Hollowbrook Drive

900 Parkway Avenue

900 Parkway Avenue

40 West Upper Ferry Road

2015 Pennington Road

2015 Pennington Road

2015 Pennington Road

1660 9th Street

13 Westwood Drive

1460 Parkside Avenue-Rear of Bldg

40 West Upper Ferry Road

900 Parkway Avenue

1776, DiMascio explains, “They think of all of the big names that you would just recognize instantly,” such as Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams.

But in acknowledgment of the milestone, Morven plans to host an exhibit highlighting New Jersey’s five signers of the Declaration of Independence—Richard Stockton, John Hart, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, and Abraham Clark—in 2026.

Some, like Stockton and Witherspoon, are better known as the namesakes of towns, institutions, and streets across the state, but “there’s a lot of room for interpretation to talk about their stories as well, which are all really interesting,” DiMascio adds.

According to DiMascio, Morven is in the process of setting the stage for 2026 by preparing the grounds, forming partnerships with other Princeton organizations, and phasing in everything that needs to be done to “get us recognized as that resource” for the national commemoration.”

“Being one of the most historic sites in New Jersey and the trajectory of everybody who has lived here—through the Stocktons, and through the Johnsons, and through the five governors that have been here—we’re [one of New Jersey’s] most historic houses, and we have this great venue for educational programming. We have a wonderful venue for exhibitions and touring a historic site.

“We’ll have a lot of celebrations coming up in 2026, in some way, shape, or another, but we want to preserve this unbelievable resource. We want people to realize the significance,” DiMascio says, hoping to do so by “engaging audiences, increasing our public programming, and, just at the end of the day, instilling a love of Morven, its exhibitions, and the historic site.”

For DiMascio, that passion is personal.

“I can honestly say I’m a true Jersey girl,” says DiMascio, who was born in Marlton before moving to Pennington at a young age. She has lived all across the state, including South Jersey, Cherry Hill, “down the shore,” Mount Laurel, and finally back to Ewing in 2011.

Although her family is from South Philadelphia and South Jersey, DiMascio says with a laugh, “How I landed here is being born here, escaping, and then living in every exit of the parkway, I think.”

She lived briefly in Rhode Island, Tennessee, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, then moved back to New Jersey to attend local private schools such as the Chapin School, located in Lawrence Township just outside of Princeton, and later the Pennington School.

“I can definitely thank my parents for giving me an appreciation of history, muse-

ums, and cultural sites and their importance in the community. I always, as a little kid, would love going to museums. I loved going to churches. I like going to historic houses,” DiMascio explains, adding that because she was introduced to historic sites at such a young age, she has always been drawn to the familiarity and comfort they provide—especially as someone who has felt like she is, at least in part, “from another time.”

Now, as an adult, her travels and vacations “are all historic” in nature. For example, she has plans with friends to visit Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s plantation in Charlottesville, Virginia, after hearing that they have added and updated the stories in their repertoire.

“It seems to have morphed into the fabric of who I am. But I guess I can really thank my parents, too, for exposing me to that,” she says.

DiMascio first earned a bachelor’s in art history from Rosemont College in Rosemont, Pennsylvania, but a year after graduating and realizing her true affinity for the operational aspects of the field, she returned to academia to receive her master’s degree in arts administration from Drexel University in Philadelphia.

“I’ve always had a love for arts and culture and historic sites, and I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life working in a cultural setting, specifically a venue,” DiMascio says. “It’s been something that has been a passion of mine professionally, as well as personally, and I have worked my way through historic sites, through art museums, through sculpture gardens, historic sites again, back to another historic site. That’s been the trajectory of my professional career.”

“When you work for a nonprofit arts and culture organization, you have to do a little bit of everything,” she adds, having now amassed over a quarter-century of experience in responsibilities such as fundraising, development, community outreach, educational programming, and grant writing.

DiMascio started out as the director of education at the Noyes Museum of Art, a folk art museum in Oceanville founded by Fred and Ethel Noyes, the couple known for spearheading the development of the Colonial Williamsburg-inspired tourist attraction “Historic Smithville,” also in Galloway Township.

After a series of fundraising attempts to update the main building failed, the original structure closed in 2016. The Noyes Museum is now fully overseen by Stockton University, and its collections— including 300 duck decoys—have since been divided into affiliated locations in Hammonton and Atlantic City.

In 2000, DiMascio became executive director of the Alice Paul Institute in

Lore School

Ewing High School

Mount Laurel, a nonprofit organization created to preserve the “family home and birthplace” of feminist, suffragist, and women’s rights activist Alice Stokes Paul.

Founded as the Alice Paul Centennial Foundation in 1984 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Paul’s birth in 1885, API “furthers the legacy of Alice Paul and her life’s work for gender equality, and also takes a leadership role in bringing recognition to women and the organizations and historic sites that honor them,” according to its website, alicepaul.org.

Next, DiMascio spent nearly 10 years at Grounds For Sculpture as the Hamilton sculpture park’s first director of development. When she arrived at Grounds for Sculpture, DiMascio explains, there was no such program in place, which gave her the unique opportunity to build one from the ground up and cement GFS as the artistic institution it is known for today.

“That was at a time [when] Grounds For Sculpture was just getting on the map. Basically, people knew about it as its bestkept secret,” she adds.

By the end of her time there, DiMascio had increased incoming revenue by nearly 50 percent after establishing a sustainable fundraising program.

DiMascio then transitioned to serving as the executive director of the Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia, where she spent four years at the nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of the two Laurel Hill Cemeteries—considered some of the “oldest in the country” and another National Historic Landmark—that still offer traditional cemetery and funeral services to the public.

Coincidentally, Morven’s exhibit for 2025 will explore historic New Jersey cemeteries—an area she has both recent and relevant experience in. Morven is currently in the data collection phase of the project, but hopes to compile comprehensive information on tombstones, burial grounds, and related artifacts from sites across the state.

After assuming the position in 2020, DiMascio navigated Laurel Hill’s programming and fundraising during the pandemic, calling it a “learning experience” in which she had to “work within [the] parameters of attendance and visitors” during an unprecedented time of constant challenge.

“It was four years, but it felt like eight because we were doing everything new for the first time,” she explains. Trying to serve the public through “all of those trials and tribulations” was an obstacle for everyone, but fortunately, because much of the Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery’s programming could take place outdoors, DiMascio says they did well despite the circumstances.

Ewing Township resident Rhonda DiMascio is Morven Museum & Garden’s new executive director.

ven’s former executive director, while the latter helped conduct an American Alliance of Museums audit of Grounds For Sculpture. When DiMascio heard that Barry was moving on after seven years at the helm of Morven, she expressed interest in the position.

“I was born and raised in New Jersey, so I have been coming to Morven for a long time,” DiMascio says. “When they were going through their restoration, I was going through a similar restoration when I was working at Alice Paul. It’s always been woven into my brain.”

“Also, I love the New Jersey community, and I’m happy to be back in New Jersey,” she adds.

DiMascio is particularly fond of driving into Princeton on the same back roads she used as a teenager, voicing her nostalgia for driving past Terhune Orchards and other landmarks of her childhood. At a young age, DiMascio explains, she and others would “walk around Princeton for hours” or take the bus to New York from there.

“Being in my own backyard again and helping to bring more visibility to a historic site, whether it be through exhibitions, whether it be programs, or just partnership outreach, it’s a really exciting opportunity,” DiMascio explains, and her “comfort level” with the area is not only a source of pride, but a valuable resource for taking on a new position at an institution like Morven.

Through her years of experience managing both historic sites and nonprofit organizations, DiMascio has gained an “understanding of preservation” and “the stories that need to be told.” She also recognizes the importance of having a strong foundation for fundraising, which she learned firsthand at Grounds for Sculpture.

DiMascio had briefly met Barry, Mor- See DIMASCIO, Page 8

“But I think that my background is an interesting combination of not just having boots on the ground and developing programming and overseeing historic preservation, but it’s also about fundraising, so I feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be. I feel like I’m home, and I feel that there’s so many aspects of Morven that really draw on my past experiences,” she says.

“When you start at a new site... there’s all of these stories and elements that are different, but yet still familiar and comfortable to me, so I feel like I had that experience in doing a little bit of everything for long periods of time, too,” she adds.

Another benefit, according to DiMascio, was that she was able to carry over relationships she had already established with local and state agencies, pointing to resources such as the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office or the Council on the Arts.

“I’m having to learn a lot, but there is some familiarity there, and I’m so, so excited to be able to take some of the skills and experiences—knowing that I still need to learn a lot—and apply them to Morven,” DiMascio explains.

DiMascio notes that many of the staff at Morven have been there for years, which is “a testament to their dedication to the organization and their commitment to telling a story and to making the best visitor experience as possible.”

so much easier, and then you end up staying some place that you didn’t realize you were there for so long.”

DiMascio says she came several times to see “Ma Bell: The Mother of Invention in New Jersey,” a 2022 exhibit about the state’s history of scientific and technological achievements through Bell Telephone Laboratories, and “Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh: Couple of an Age,” which chronicled the lives of the famous duo in 2015. These two “must-see” exhibits captured what excites her about planning for the future.

“One of the things that really appealed to me, too, was the possibility for educational programs,” she says, referring to “the Stockton Education Center and having the ability to do programming on-site.”

The Stockton Education Center, which opened in 2018, overlooks the Colonial Revival Garden and spans 3,000 square feet in three interconnected sections, including a “gathering space,” an atrium, and a classroom for hosting indoor events, workshops, and more.

“They’ve been around for a long time, and they’re committed, and that’s another wonderful element that I’ve had in some other places that I’ve worked, too, that you just feel like you’re in the right place, and you’re working with the right people,” she adds. “It’s not all going to be easy; I know that. But when your heart’s in the right place and you have good people to work with, I think that it just makes that road

“Obviously, we can do rentals and make some revenue there, but it’s really nice to take the wear and tear off of the house. For many years, I’ve worked at historic sites where it’s just been so problematic to have programs inside the house. You’re having it rehabbed, or there’s not enough space, and there’s a whole humidity [problem],” DiMascio explains, and with the Stockton Education Center described as just “steps away” from the historic mansion and gardens, its addition offers a real advantage.

In her new leadership role at Morven, DiMascio recognizes the importance of taking a holistic approach to how all the pieces, from programming to promotion, fit together to support the site’s continued growth.

There are two sides to implementing these strategies, according to DiMascio. The first is operational, which includes historic preservation, grounds maintenance, and functional aspects such as working lights or accurate signage. The second is “heritage tourism outreach,” defined as attracting repeat visitors and more people from “diverse audiences” to the site while ensuring capacity for those guests.

For all the day-to-day details, however, DiMascio never loses sight of Morven’s mission.

“Our focus,” DiMascio explains, “as always, is to preserve and celebrate Morven’s legacy by sharing all the stories of the people who have lived here.”

“We’re in a really good place right now, and we are trying to ramp up and increase our visibility, diversify our programming, and really take care of this historic resource through a lot of grants to preserve the grounds and ADA pathways,” she continues. “It’s not all going to happen

overnight, but it will happen over time, and I think that it’s an exciting place to be.”

“We want people to have the same love of Morven as we do,” she says, while also emphasizing the desire to stand out as “one of the most historic homes in New Jersey,” especially one “that has an unbelievable repertoire of stories and people that are endless.”

DiMascio observes that most people who know about Morven have either lived in Princeton or the surrounding area, and she hopes that people who are not as local will gain a greater awareness of the historic house’s offerings as a museum and garden.

“I think that we’re a resource, and whether your thing is horticulture, whether your thing is historic sites, whether it’s civic programming, community involvement, I think that you can come to us.

“You can like them all, or you can come to us through your particular area of interest, which I think is such a wonderful place to be, is to be an organization that we can’t be all things to everybody, but ... we have some really wonderful areas that we focus on, that we immerse ourselves in, which makes us a welcoming place to come to, and I hope that I see more people visiting here. That would just be lovely,” she says.

Morven’s upcoming calendar continues with a museum panel discussion about Morven’s journey, a program with the Princeton Storytelling Circle, guided walking tours, plein-air painting with the Arts Council of Princeton, and an African American genealogy workshop with historical research consultant Sharece Blakney, the developer of Morven’s “Inclusive History Interpretive Plan.”

Morven hosts a virtual civic engagement series in partnership with the Princeton Public Library and supported by the New Jersey Council for the Humanities called “So You Think You Know Civics?” The lectures run through November while covering topics related to democracy and the U.S. government.

The second program, “What is Citizenship?” takes place on Wednesday, June 12, at 6 p.m. with Holly Korbey, journalist and author of “Building Better Citizens: A New Civics Education for All,” via Zoom webinar. To pre-register or see more information, visit morven.org/upcoming/civics2024.

Morven is also partnering with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra for the 2024 Princeton Festival, described as “New Jersey’s premier performing arts extravaganza,” where musicians perform live from June 7 to 22 at a tented performance pavilion in Morven’s parking lot. To see the full lineup of genres spanning classical, opera, baroque, choral, chamber, cabaret, to Broadway and more, visit the PSO website at princetonsymphony.org/ festival/events.

Lastly, DiMascio mentions the July 4th Jubilee, described on Morven’s website as “a free, family-friendly celebration of Independence Day” with food trucks, live entertainment, and “patriotic activities,” as another highlight of the organization’s summer programming.

The beauty of bringing younger people to sites like Morven, she explains, is that you can teach them about history through storytelling, such as how the past relates to our modern times.

“Hopefully, we’re creating a new generation, too, of kids that do appreciate and recognize the important significance of saving a site or going to an art museum,” DiMascio adds.

“We want people from various communities to feel welcome here, and I’d also love us to continue with the [creativity] that we have, and I think there’s no shortage of good ideas,” she says.

“At the end of the day, [what we want] is to steward this wonderful historic site, increase our visibility, and diversify our audiences, but just instill a love of historic sites and being here at Morven, and we want people to feel welcome, and not just for 2026—for beyond.”

Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton. Open Wednesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Gardens open daily until dusk. 609-924-8144 or morven.org.

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Steinmann talks cannabis and interlocal services

Interview by Bill Sanservino

The Ewing Observer recently sat down with Mayor Bert Steinmann to talk about issues currently facing the township.

In past articles, editor Bill Sanservino and the mayor discussed the municipal budget, the progress on the reconstruction of the Ewing Senior and Community Center and the appointment of Aaron Watson as the new business administrator. Those articles can be read at communitynews.org.

This month’s article features Steinmann’s thoughts about the state of legal cannabis in the township and also about working with other municipalities to help reduce expenses and generate revenues. An edited version of the interview appears below.

Ewing Observer: I guess one area where the town can see a decent amount of revenue, and it’s a pretty big change over what was in the past, is cannabis. Can you talk a little bit about how much revenue the township can realize? What is the situation with facilities coming online?

Bert Steinmann: Currently we have one dispensary that’s open. We are looking to open two more, probably within the

next two months. There’s one on Spruce Street and one on North Olden Avenue across from Capitol Plaza. They’re ready to open.

As far as revenue is concerned, it’s been slow. It’s starting to come in now. I think we realized almost $200,000 over the last year or so. I mean, when this all went down I envisioned millions of dollars rolling in. Well, I still have that vision. It still will happen because of the manufacturing that’s going on. But it’s been slow.

And I think the process of rolling out the cannabis business out was flawed because they (the state regulators) were making changes as people were coming online. And individuals that hopped on these licenses, or tried to get them, thought that they had found a goldmine.

They didn’t realize how much money investment that they would have to put into it to start realizing some money. And that it could be years before they actually make a profit from what they put in. I think people are starting to get a reality check on that. It’s not as lucrative as it sounds.

We have a manufacturer and a grow facility on Prospect Street that is about 90% operational. It’ll almost be 100% probably within the next month. We’ll realize rev-

enue from that because Ewing Township gets 2% of what they sell from the grow to the manufacturer. Then we get 2% from what the manufacturer sells to the retailer. And then after that, the town gets 2% from what the distributor sells. We’re going to realize some significant money from this, but it takes time. We’re getting there.

EO: I guess manufacturing and the grow is where the where the money really could be at in terms of the town seeing revenues?

BS: Yes, exactly. It’s not so much about selling it at the distributor. Although our growers and distributors can only sell in the state, they can sell to the whole state. So, it’s not just limited to Ewing Township. I think sooner or later they’ll probably be allowed to sell out of state also. But because of the federal government being involved with this (cannabis is still illegal under federal law), they’re still not legal. I don’t think that interstate transactions can happen. But it will get there.

But like I said, right now we’ve got one manufacturer that is operational at about 90%. We’ve got one that is just starting to do it, and then we have two more on Phillips Boulevard that are under construction now. It’ll be a total of about five manufac-

turers and growers in Ewing Township. And although we have no limit on the number that can be here, it’s because of where we locate them (in certain industrial and commercial zones). They’re kind of limited by that. We’re not going to get 100 growers or manufacturers. We’ll get a good number, but not what people think. As for the distributors, currently, our ordinance allows for five, and we’re going to have three online and two more to come.

EO: You mentioned where they’re located. They can’t be located near residential, or too close to schools, etc.?

BS: Yes, and it is a limiting factor. Again, we’re moving slowly, but we are moving, and we are moving in the right direction. This is a whole new environment for everybody. It’s a new environment for my construction department. They’re running across things that they’ve never seen before. So, it’s a lot of bookwork to make sure we get it right at the end of the day.

EO: I understand you also have a review committee that you appointed?

BS: Every application that comes in goes through this committee. They vet the project, and they talk to the individuals that are responsible for the facility and

their financial situations and everything like that. We have a cross-section of members that are on there. We have businesspeople, we have clergy, we’ve got the chief of police, and we’ve got our attorney on there. There are people from the Board of Health and the alcohol alliance group for addiction. So, we’re pretty well covered.

EO: What about Chuck Latini, who oversees planning and zoning?

BS: Yes, he’s on it as well. I also sit on it and one member from the township council.

Everybody knows upfront what’s going on and how it is, but we still aren’t the final say, obviously. We make a recommendation and then it goes to the Council and the state. If the Council and the Cannabis Review Commission approve it, then they’re good to go.

EO: Many communities can minimize their costs through interlocal service agreements where they can contract with another community for a service rather than each individual town going out for it on its own. Is Ewing doing anything on that front?

BS: We do work with the city of Trenton, Hamilton, and Lawrence to some extent. We also have shared service-type agreements with the county. We don’t have a hazmat team in Ewing Township, but the city of Trenton does, as well as Hamilton. So, if we have a situation, we call on them and they come in. But then in turn, we have our mutual aid program. If they need something, we will send a truck out there to help.

Trenton ran into a situation with their building inspectors and some of them retired. There was a lack of building inspectors, and they needed to get a couple of build-

ings online. The mayor of the city asked me to help him out and we did. We worked with the construction department. They went and did inspections for the city and got those groups going so they could move into their homes or their offices. We also have a very good working relationship with both Mayor Reed Gusciora in Hamilton and Mayor Jeff Martin in Hamilton.

EO: And in turn, if you have a service that another community needs, you could get a payment for that?

BS: Usually a direct payment, but it’s in lieu of something. Absolutely it benefits us. There’s no question about it. And that’s the name of the game.

You’ve got to help where you can help. I mean the thing about it is, we just sat down with our public works department director and basically looked at a list of things that we should be doing or could be doing that we could also share with other towns.

So again, that’s an ongoing conversation. I meet with my department heads once a month with the business administrator. We go through what their wants are, and we go through what they’re really thinking.

There are no holds barred. They talk about how they think and feel, and then we’ll give our opinion. I think the directors feel like they’ve got a place to come to and vet. And that’s what this is all about.

We used to meet as a group and that didn’t work out too well because it was always a kumbaya moment. Nobody wanted to talk about the negative stuff because everybody wanted to have that feeling that their department was the best and the whole nine yards. And there’s nothing wrong until you find out when you’re meeting one on one that, well, not everything is peachy and rosy. So that has worked out. I’m really satisfied with that.

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Ewing Township

June kicks off festival season throughout the region

By Joe Emanski

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

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

Now in its 15th edition, the Renaissance Faire looks to recreate a pocket of 16thcentury England at the Burlington County Fairgrounds in nearby Columbus. Vendors, artists, musicians and performers, many in period costume, look to entertain and edify festivalgoers each weekend. Attendees are invited to dress up in period clothes as well,

St. Gregory the Great’s

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and many do, but it is not required.

Every year’s faire has a theme, and this year’s theme is “The Brothers Grimm.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

County Fairgrounds, 1990 Jacksonville Jobstown Road, Columbus NJ.

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

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

sines of the world.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

* * *

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

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

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

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The L.E.A.D. Fest State Fair is held annually in Mercer County Park, this year from June 28 through July 7.

each year. Organizers say that more than 100,000 people attend the carnival each year.

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

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

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

* * *

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

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

The carnival’s 22 rides are usually divided into rides for kids 8 and younger and for kids 8 and older, up to adults. There are 16 games of chance plus a money wheel. Food for sale includes carnival staples like fried Oreos and funnel cake, as well as stands from Four Boys Ice Cream, Momma Rosa Pizza, Kona Ice and G&L Gyros. Rain is often a factor that time of year, and all dates are weather permitting. The carnival is open from 6 to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from noon to 5 p.m. and 6 to 11 p.m. on Saturday.

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

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

L.E.A.D. Fest events feature rides, food vendors, craft vendors, local business and community organization kiosks and live entertainment. This year’s festival runs through July 7.

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

and

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

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

Organizers of the New Jersey state fair

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

Sonia

Hyphen Photography Inc.)

L’Annexe de Mamie Colette brings Brittany to Central NJ

By Joe Emanski

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Web: mamiecolettebakery.com.

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

Host of new restaurants open in Hopewell Valley

Saturday, September 28th 12-6pm

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By Joe Emanski

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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12:00 Pm Janosik Polish Dancers

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1:45 pm Let’s Dance Academy Bollywood Dances of India

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L.E.A.D. FEST

Coming to Mercer County Park June 28 to July 7

Carnivals and state fairs are beloved summer traditions. There’s no better place for the whole family to enjoy rides, food, music and fun than at 2024 L.E.A.D. FEST events. Bigger and better than ever, this year’s events include carnivals and a 10-day State Fair taking place from June 28 to July 7 at Mercer County Park Fairgrounds, 1638 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor Township.

Presented by L.E.A.D. (Law Enforcement Against Drugs and Violence), L.E.A.D. FEST events benefit the organization’s programs and related initiatives. L.E.A.D. provides the leadership, resources, and management to ensure law enforcement agencies have the means to partner with educators, community leaders, and families. The Allentown-based national nonprofit’s programs help to provide youth and adults strategies for avoiding drug use, drug-related crimes, bullying, and violence. L.E.A.D. is committed to reinforcing the mutual respect, goodwill, and relations between law enforcement agencies and their communities.

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

at our carnivals and the State Fair are important to L.E.A.D.’s mission, allowing us to make our programs more accessible to a greater number of youngsters in the communities we serve. We are excited to bring more amazing events to New Jersey this year. Our goal is to create familyfriendly, community-based events that are fun for everyone while at the same time promoting anti-drug and anti-violence activities in the state.”

The jam-packed State Fair promises something for everyone including free nightly musical entertainment as well as a Business and Craft Vendor Tent on the weekends. Favorite fan attractions include Robinson’s Racing Pigs, the always-popular pie eating contest, Cowtown U.S.A., and an all-day exhibit that contains an old-time creamery where patrons participate in preparing a cow for milking by hand.

The State Fair’s midway provider, Reithoffer Shows, will ensure there’s plenty of delicious food, carnival games and prizes, and rides for children and adults alike — from a first-class Kiddie Land to superspectacular thrill rides and everything in between.

Gate admission is $7 on weekdays and $8 on weekends. General admission, ride tickets, and Mega Passes are on sale now at theleadfest.com. Purchase tickets early for special presale discounts!

Additional L.E.A.D. FEST carnivals bring the fun to different locations throughout the Garden State this

summer. General admission, ride tickets, and Mega Passes for all carnivals can be purchased in advance online at theleadfest.com.

Westfield Garden State Plaza (One Garden State Plaza, Paramus) from May 23-27; May 29-June 2; and June 5-9. Hours are Wednesday through Friday from 5 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday and Memorial Day from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Midway will be provided by Reithoffer Shows. “Once again, our Paramus event starts on Memorial Day weekend,” DeMauro said. “Attending the carnival that weekend is a great way to have fun and usher in the start of the summer season.”

Voorhees Town Center (180 Route 35, Eatontown) from June 14-23. Hours are Monday through Friday from 5 to 11 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 3 to 11 p.m. Midway

provided by Reithoffer Shows. Howell Township (5361 US Route 9, Howell) from June 27-July 7. Hours are Monday through Friday from 5 to 11 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 3 to 11 p.m. Midway provided by Reithoffer Shows.

Mercer County Park from June 28 to July 7. Hours are Monday to Friday from 5 to close and Saturday, Sunday and Holiday from 3 p.m. to close. Midway provided by Reithoffer Shows.

For more information and tickets, visit theleadfest.com. Check the website for attendance policies. Hours subject to change due to weather or safety situations. For more information about L.E.A.D., visit leadrugs.org or email info@leadrugs. org.

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all that information and just be able to use it when I get to that position. I think this year is like a little bit of an intro into being a leader. It feels good to take that step so next year I’ll be ready to help the younger guys and make sure I give them my experience on the game so far from being in high school and just help them get through tough times.”

Andreas will have plenty of experiences to fall back on. He has continued to grow in the way that he has navigated the ups and downs of a baseball season. He has been conscious of not riding the highs and lows as much as he used to.

“As I’m getting older, I gotta really control my emotions, stay even keeled and be a leader,” said Andreas. “I just have to keep playing my game and just keep contributing to the team as much as I can. It gets tough here and there. Dealing with certain things, just keeping my emotions in the middle really helps.”

That’s been important for the Blue Devils as a team in a bit of a roller coaster of a season. Ewing came into the year expecting big things with their lineup back from a year ago. A 4-8 start might have totally derailed their high hopes, but then came a run late in the regular season to show that they could play to their potential.

Ewing won four of five games to reach the semifinals of the Mercer County Invitational Tournament. The Blue Devils fell to West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North in the semis, but their run showed their capabilities.

“I think that what we’ve done the last seven or eight games has proven what my expectation was in the beginning, except we just started a little bit too late,” said Ewing coach Dave Angebranndt. “I think the last seven games or so is exactly how I thought we would be playing the entire

season. You talk about momentum, you talk about riding some waves, and I think that if you’re going to start out bad, as long as you figure it out and you start rolling about tournament time I think you put yourself in a good spot.”

Staying positive and working toward improvement has been a theme for the Blue Devils. As the wins started coming more frequently later in the year, Andreas noticed a change in the overall feel for the team.

“We’re keeping our mood even keeled, just keeping our emotions at a good spot, playing more with the team,” he said. “Our team chemistry is at an all-time high right now. We’re just playing as a team of one, playing selfless baseball, not selfish. So I feel like as a team we’re clicking together.”

Andreas traces the turning point back to the start of May. The calendar turned and so did the team’s fortunes in a 12-3 win over a respected Hamilton West team May 2.

“The game against Hamilton West is when we really figured out we could do damage,” Andreas said. “We won that game 12-3 and we were rolling. We played as a team, and I remember one instance in that game when we put on a squeeze play and we executed it perfect. And from that point on, I feel like as a team we really came together and we’ve played ball well together.”

Andreas has done his part to help the team wherever possible. After playing third base earlier in his career, he is playing second base. And he’s also moved around at the plate, going from ninth early in the season to second to then fourth in the lineup.

“Beginning of the season, I started off slow and was just struggling at the plate

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and I couldn’t really find it at the plate, which in baseball happens so I got moved to 9 hole,” Andreas said. “There’s nothing I could do about it. Then I just really started to figure out my mental aspect of it and just tried to figure out what I need to do at the plate in order to start contributing. Halfway through the season, I really figured out the bat which caused me to get moved up in the lineup and ever since then I just been on a tear and it’s felt good.”

Andreas’ handled the early slump better than he would have in prior years. And his maturity showed in battling back to earn a move up in the lineup. He fell back on his previous experience as well as his teammates to get through the down slide.

“I remember last year, about halfway through the season I was just going through a real bad slump,” Andreas said. “I just remember I was hitting balls hard right at people and getting frustrated. And then the mental side starts to lag when that stuff happens.

“So you gotta pick yourself up. But this year, I felt like I had my teammates around me and they picked me up and made me feel like I’ll get it next time and it’ll eventually come. And then it eventually came. I just started picking it up and again the mental aspect of it, I’ve gotten mentally tough over time and that has really helped this year to just make sure I got through it.”

his progress in every area. As a player, it helps that he works year-round with the Trenton Thunder Baseball Academy. The offseason work has helped him strive toward his ultimate goal of playing in college, hopefully at nearby Rider University, where he’d also plan to study business.

Andreas has been dreaming of playing college baseball for at least eight years, and joining the Baseball Academy four years ago was another step toward that end. Andreas also used to play soccer for Ewing, but over the last two years he has put all of his energy into baseball.

“He’s just a workhorse,” Angebranndt said. “He’s the guy that comes out and you ask him to go run the bases 16 times and he’ll run the bases 17 times. He’s just a guy who wants to come out and get better by any means necessary. He’s going to put the work in. He’s going to put the time in. He’s going to educate himself on what he needs to do to get better.

“And he’s always looking for that next step to get an advantage. And he’s done that offensively, he’s put himself in good spots. He’s taking pitches. He’s swinging at good pitches, which is what we preach. We talk about being offensive in offensive counts, and if you’re offensive and offensive counts you’re going to get better pitches to hit, which as a result is going to give you better chances to get on base. And I think he’s running with it and I think he’s proven to himself that he can hang at this level.”

Ewing as a team has gotten through it, working their way back within a game of .500 with a few games left in the regular season and chance to improve their seeding for the sectional tournament. The Blue Devils started to put things together at the perfect time, and it wasn’t just the games that produced new results.

“Preparation has gotten better,” Angebranndt said. “I think they’ve done a lot better at practice when it comes to trying to figure out what needs to be done next, taking what we’ve done as a mistake in the previous game and kind of hounding on it and making sure we don’t get it wrong again.

“I think our offensive approach has gotten a lot better,” he said. “We’ve put together a lot of good at bats with runners in scoring position, where before the course of that seven-game stretch, we weren’t doing those things offensively.”

Andreas has been a part of the productivity. He looks forward to continuing

Andreas has been able to make an impact this year, and he still has a year left in high school when his role could expand further to what he sees now from the senior class. For now, he’s playing his part for a Blue Devils team that has leaned on its five seniors to pace an experienced group. They have combined to bring the team together for a stretch run that has Ewing in good position for this season and the future.

“We all know each other really well, and we have a small group of guys which makes it even tighter and closer,” Andreas said. “

With these guys being there, it really helps and you know you’ve got leaders in the dugout and you’ve got guys that know the game and know how to handle stuff. So it’s really good and brings up the team when you’ve got those kind of guys in your dugout,” he said.

June

June

The Ewing Public Schools

CAPS OFF to the Ewing High School Class of 2024!

Teacher of the Year Recipients are Honored

EHS Featured at Mercer County Teen Arts Fest 2024

EHS Sophomore Jacqueline Gonzalez’s Drawing “Oh Bucky” Selected for Traveling Exhibition

Naziconcentration camps,the now elderly survivors ofthe Holocaust are turning toa new generation topreservetheir testimony about their wartime experiences for futuregenerations.

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.

Performing and visual art students from around Mercer County gathered on Friday, May 10th, for the annual Teen Arts Festival hosted by Mercer County Community College. Young artists from around the county gathered to showcase their talents, perform and participate in various workshops.

Color Pencil), Precious Quaye (“Juvenile Traveler” Ceramics), Takai Richardson (“Bubble Paradise” Archival Inkjet Printer) and Jacqueline Gonzalez (“Oh Bucky” Graphite & Charcoal).

EHS Senior Sunny Patel Wins 1st Place Dragster Design Challenge

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.

Ewing High School (EHS) featured work by 39 visual artists and 16 performing artists.

The day was filled with critiques, performing and visual art workshops and tables from Juggling and Circus activities, origami, flower creations, Old School Skateboard design to Henna and photography. EHS students belted out some songs on the open mic and experimented with art creations.

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.

The judges selected four visual arts pieces and one drama/musical theater number from Ewing High School to compete in the State Level Competition on Tuesday, June 4th, at Middlesex College in Edison, New Jersey.

Congratulations to the following performing arts students who are advancing to the state competition with their drama/musical theater number “This Song is Awesome- Ride the Cyclone”: Collin Rutkowski, Nayeli Lemus, Andrew Weir, and Gabrielle McKinnon.

Quaye,

Jacqueline Gonzalez, “Oh Bucky” Graphite & Charcoal

Ewing High Students Attend Gorbachev Presentation

EHS Freshman

of Perestroika. His policies reopened churches, released political prisoners, and lifted bans on previously censored books.

Congratulations also goes out to the following visual arts students who are advancing to the state competition: Lauren Nelson (“Addae-Morning Sun”

The twelvestudent adoptersare DaveAngebranndt, Tyler Barnes, Annie Cook, Liz Dunham, Emily Everett, CurtisFornarotto, Vildana Hajric, Devon Jones, Jen Meade,Billy O’Callaghan,NikytaSharmaand MelysaWilson.

Stand out artist Jacqueline Gonzalez had her drawing, “Oh Bucky”, selected to be part of the Traveling Exhibition which will be on tour throughout the state of New Jersey displayed at different Municipal Buildings for one year.

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

Ewing Special Olympics Relay Team Shines at Penn Relays

The 20th anniversary of Perestroika was 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

Safety Town

June 30 - July 11

For the second consecutive year, the Ewing Special Olympics Relay Team returned to the Penn Relays, featuring Nile Barlow, Trevon Nelson, Trent Steever, and Tre`

Contact: Jean Conrad

609-538-9800 x1302 for application

Have a Happy Summer!!

GoodNews will resume with the September issue of the Observer

Clemons. Racing against teams from across the states, the team secured a respectable fifth-place finish with a time of 57.53 seconds. Coaches and teammates are overflowing with pride about their relay team's achievement, celebrating the athletes' resilience and spirit. Congratulations!

Forty-three (43) Ewing High School students competed in 33 different STEM Competitions at this year's New Jersey Technology Student Association Competition at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ). The Technology Student Association (TSA) is a national career and technical student organization of students engaged in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). EHS students placed in the top 10 in many of the competitions, out of the 65 schools that competed. Ewing placed 5th place in Animatronics and Essays on Technology, Optical Engineering, Virtual Reality Visualization, and 6th place in Future Technology and Engineering Teacher. Sunny Patel won 1st place in the Dragster Design Challenge. Graduating seniors and their EHS TSA Advisor and TCNJ Alumni, Dr. Joanna Papadopoulos were celebrated at the TSA awards ceremony. Thank you to Ewing High School and the Ewing Public Schools Office of Curriculum and Instruction for funding this field trip!

Parkway 4th grade teacher Mr. Eric Thomas was honored at the One Voice Many Sounds Gala on May 7th. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award for teaching musical programs for many years. Big congrats to Mr. Thomas!

of

Whitney Lewis,

The recipients of the 2005 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.

Takai Richardson, “Bubble Paradise” Archival Inkjet Printer

Lauren Nelson, “Addae- Morning Sun” Color Pencil

Precious

“Juvenile Traveler” Ceramics

Music Is Thriving in Ewing Public Schools!

EHS Marching Band Announces 2024 Half-time Theme: “Anime Rhapsody: a music journey”

The Ewing High School instrumental music department had an exceptional musical spring season! It all kicked off with our second annual “Jazz Through the Decades Concert,” where our student musicians, alongside our middle school jazz band, delivered a captivating night of music to our community. Both band directors, Mr. Silipino and Mr. Price are immensely proud of the jazz students this year and are eager to transform this concert into a cherished tradition for both the students and our community.

Finally, at this time of year, the members of the high school concert band begin preparations for next fall’s marching band season with auditions for junior drum major and the reveal of the musical theme for the halftime show. Mr. Price is proud to announce that rising junior Dylan Rutkowski will be stepping into the role of junior drum major. Dylan had this to say about next year, “I am excited to lead the marching band and help them grow, improve and develop a love for music and marching band like I have.” Dylan joins senior drum major Franchesca Edouard in leading the marching band in next year's halftime show “Anime Rhapsody: a music journey”. Ms. Edouard is “looking forward to the band pumping up the stadium with our new stand tunes!”

“Music is thriving in Ewing Public Schools. We all look forward to performing for you next year and sharing our love of music with the Ewing community.”

EHS Student Selected for New Jersey All-State Choir

It has been a banner year in the music department at Ewing High School! Ewing High School had its first ever student selected to perform with the New Jersey All-State choir this year. Congratulations to sophomore, Haley Petrushun!

Haley was also selected to perform with Central Jersey MEA Mixed Choir along with senior Lauren Nelson in January.

The Ewing Public Schools

EHS Musical Pit Orchestra Receives Honorable Mention at Rising Star Awards

Every year, Paper Mill Playhouse recognizes exceptional high school musical performances across the state at the Rising Star Awards. This year our

Music in FMS Spanish Class: KARAOKE!

Music is present in most relevant aspects of our lives, which makes it a very valuable tool for teaching languages. In all languages and cultures, music can communicate about ourselves and convey different emotional states (sadness, happiness, anger, melancholy, etc.), making it a fantastic authentic resource to enhance learning a new language.

Because students can relate to it, it is easier for teachers to motivate and involve students in the process of learning a foreign language.

In the Spanish I full-year class, the students played a karaoke battle, and it was a fun experience for all students involved! Listening to Spanish songs, singing, and competing made all the students more comfortable speaking Spanish, more relaxed, confident and happy.

Between the Lines pit orchestra, directed by Ms. Marissa Wright received an honorable mention for “Outstanding Performance by an Orchestra”. The orchestra included a mix of student and professional musicians as well as a few of Ewing’s instrumental teachers. The contemporary music of Between the Lines was an amazing challenge for our student musicians, who also had the pleasure of learning from our professional musicians what it takes to be a performer in a collaborative setting. Congratulations to students Emily Ashenfelter, Alan Chausse, Michael Falzone, Catherine “Evie” Hawkins and Abigail Nickels!

EHS Orchestra Students

Nominated for 2024 CJMEA High School Orchestra

Nine EHS orchestra students were nominated and accepted to perform with the 2024 CJMEA High School Honors Orchestra. Students had the opportunity to rehearse and perform with 150 other high school students from various central Jersey high schools. The performance took place on Saturday, May 18th, at East Brunswick High School. We are so proud of the students for participating in this unique musical opportunity, and for positively representing Ewing High School.

Congratulations to Ashley Giscombe, Eliana Hylton, Chelsea Isabelle Villanueva, Jaelynn Peralta-Gomez, Harley Pryor, Ashley Tyson, Jayla Little, and Kayla Fantauzzi.

FMS Beauty and the Beast JR . : aResounding Success

The Fisher Middle School production of Beauty and the Beast JR. was an outstanding success, captivating audiences with its enchanting performances and vibrant production.

The talented cast brought the beloved tale to life with their exceptional acting, singing, and dancing, transporting viewers to the magical world of Belle and the Beast. From the intricate costumes to the impressive set design, every detail contributed to the immersive experience, immersing the audience in the fairy tale ambiance.

FMS Students Participate in New York Times Student Editorial Contest

What is an issue that matters to you? Each year, the New York Times holds its Student Editorial Contest, in which students from all over the country are invited to submit their Op-Eds - short opinion pieces that take a stand on a topic. This year, the New York Times changed the contest, making it instead a forum to submit open letters. As part of their Rhetoric and Student Voice Unit, 8th graders wrote opinion pieces on a subject of their choice; some wrote about school policies and procedures, while others wrote about different facets of society at large. Nine students in Ms. Burdick’s Language Arts class chose to take their writing a little further and make formal submissions to the New York Times. While the results of the contest will not be made public until the end of June at the very latest, these students chose to submit their work anyway in hopes of being recognized on a broader platform. They are Jayna MeloTorres, Bryana Mason, Xander Coston, Christopher Bailey, Aaron Medina, Mekhi Dickerson, Cameron Conti, Sheila Young, and Devin Stevens.

Clay Club and Unif ied Club

Create

Together During Week of Respect

The week of respect, emphasizes inclusion and respect for autism and neurodiversity, occurred April 15th-19th at Ewing High School. Mrs. Dennis-Garcia, Advisor of the Unified Club promotes this week of acceptance and Ms. Weber, Advisor to Clay Club, scheduled a "Unified Club Day" to bring the students together to create medallions for Mother’s Day. Art has the power to bring people together. It is an important process that fosters inclusion by celebrating all that makes us unique as individuals, helps keep us connected to each other, and is a means to communicate without words.

The Ewing Public Schools

Senior Spotlight: Meet Valeria Vèlez

At the time of this interview, the Ewing High School Girls Softball team is having a successful season. What position do you play? What do you like about your team this year? I play both left field and second base, but more excitingly, I am also a switch hitter. This year, my team has been such a blessing to be a part of. As soon as you step into the dugout, whether it is at practice or out on the field during games, you feel positive energy and support all around.

When you play your final softball game for Ewing High School, what thoughts or legacy do you want to leave with your teammates? I would love for my teammates to remember that strikeouts and errors are only part of the game. Making mistakes is the only way to grow and become a player for yourself and for your team, but how you recover from those mistakes is most important. Never doubt yourself or your abilities, instead trust yourself and remember that you have an amazing team that will pick you right back up and praise your accomplishments.

Now, for the academics: what is your favorite subject? My favorite subject is Science because there is always something new to learn.

Who is your favorite teacher? My favorite teacher would have to be Señora Rivera. She did her absolute best to make sure that what we learned was full of engagement and understanding, which helped to keep us productive. Señora Rivera made coming to

her class everyday something to look forward to and a safe space. I will forever miss being able to be in her class again.

What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment to date? My greatest accomplishment to date would be being inducted to be a part of the National Honor Society.

How do you define success? Success is finding your happiness in life through your accomplishments, which only comes by maintaining a disciplined mindset and a strong relationship with God.

What is your favorite quote or book? “God’s plan is worth the wait” - Isaiah 30:18

What are your plans after you graduate Ewing High School? After I graduate Ewing High School, I plan on continuing both my education and athletic career at the University of South Carolina Sumter. I will be pursuing my education in Psychology, in hopes of one day becoming a therapist for high school and college students.

What advice do you have for Fisher Middle School 8th grade students coming to Ewing High School in September 2024? Some advice that I would give to the incoming freshman would be to be yourself and don't change for anyone. Believe that you can do whatever you put your mind to, because without believing in yourself, you can’t get anywhere. Remember that a positive attitude and mindset creates great outcomes and that there’s always room for improvement. Nothing is impossible.

Student Voices in Action: Law Day

Ten members of the Mercer County Bar Association visited Ms. Rose Chiavuzzo’s Student Voices in Action class to share their stories of becoming attorneys, and to collaborate with the students in a mock trial workshop.

Coordinated by Mr. Christian E. Fisher, Assistant Mercer County Prosecutor, and Ms. Rose Chiavuzzo, EHS Social Studies teacher, the session commemorated Law Day. Law Day is a federally recognized day, founded in 1958 by Congress and

President Dwight D. Eisenhower, to recognize the importance of law and the legal system in the United States. At schools around the country on or about May 1st, students and legal professionals work together to celebrate the day and to deepen student legal skills.

At Ewing High School, this year’s workshop focused on a mock trial case designed by Ms. Chiavuzzo, and put into action by her students. Students worked as teams, as attorneys and witnesses, to plan direct examinations for the courtroom. The volunteers, who included prosecutors, civil attorneys, judges and members of the sheriff’s office, worked to help students revise their questioning, understand rules for evidence, establish a foundation for witnesses to help make their side’s case, and to begin working on courtroom presentation and procedure.

Thank You!

The Ewing Public Schools

It was a “Totally 90’s Week” for Antheil Teacher and Staff Appreciation week. During the week, the Antheil PTO celebrated staff with different themed days to say thank you for all they do for students. Totally…cool! “Antheil PTO is awesome,” Principal Harrison exclaimed!

Students in Mrs. Hoh's first grade class enjoyed the beautiful weather while reading in Lore's courtyard.

June 2024 Schedule in Ewing Schools

Jun 5 Antheil - 5th Grade Spring Vocal & Instrumental Concert @ 7pm

Jun 4 Antheil - 4th Grade Spring Vocal & Instrumental Concert @ 7pm

Jun 5 FMS - Spring Vocal Concert @ 7pm

Jun 6 Lore - Field Day – Grades K-5

Antheil - PTO Meeting @ 6:30pm

Jun 10 District Title I Grades K-5 Preparing for Summer Math Parent Workshop - 6:30pm @ FMS

Jun 11

Jun 12

Jun 13

EHS - Senior Awards Night @ 6:30pm FMS - FPA Virtual Meeting @ 7:15pm

EHS - Activity Awards Night @ 6:30pm

EHS - Senior Awards Night @ 6:30pm

Rain Date: Lore Field Day – Grades K-5

Jun 14 Lore - LPA End of Year Celebration @ Rita’s Water Ice 5pm-8pm

Jun 18 Parkway - 5th Grade Moving Up Ceremony @ 9:30am

EARLY DISMISSAL - Full Day Preschool–Grade 12 (No Lunches Served) | Last Day PM Integrated Preschool

Jun 19 SCHOOL CLOSED – Juneteenth

Jun 20 Lore - 5th Grade Moving Up Ceremony @ 9:45am

Antheil - 5th Grade Moving Up Ceremony @ 11am

FMS - 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony @ 6:30pm

EARLY DISMISSAL - Full Day Preschool–Grade 12

(No Lunches Served) | Last Day AM Integrated Preschool

Jun 21 EHS - Graduation @ 7pm

EARLY DISMISSAL - Full Day Preschool-Grade 12

(No Lunches Served) | (NO PM EDP)

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

Jun 24 Board of Education Meeting - 6pm @ EHS (Public Session @ 7pm)

Sep 5 FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL 2024-2025!

Summer Reading Adventure Awaits!

Summer reading is a valuable opportunity for students to maintain and strengthen their academic skills, foster a love of learning, and create family memories. By making reading a priority in children’s summer routine and providing support and encouragement along the way, parents can help set them up for success both in school and in life.

Reading at Home! Students can keep reading all summer with MackinVIA, a reading platform featuring a wide range of books catering to various age groups and interests. All Ewing students K-12 have a MackinVIA account where they can read ebooks or listen to audiobooks for free. Students log in using their Google credentials and can read books via MackinVIA on smartphones and tablets using the MackinVIA app, which is available through app stores and Amazon for Kindle. For more information or troubleshooting help, parents can contact their student’s school librarian. Summer reading lists for Ewing students will be available on the school district’s website.

Reading Through the Community! Mercer County Library (MCL) hosts a summer reading program for K-12 grade students, which runs from June 17th to August 10th. This year the MCL librarians from the Ewing and Hollowbrook branches will visit each Ewing school in person or virtually to promote this year’s reading program, which is “Adventure Begins at Your Library.” The library provides programming and prizes throughout the summer to help make summer fun! For more information and reading lists, check out the summer reading program events page at MCL.org.

Practical Tips for Encouraging Summer Reading:

• Set aside dedicated time for reading each day, whether it's in the morning, afternoon, or before bedtime.

• Create a comfortable and inviting reading environment with plenty of books, magazines, and other reading materials readily available

• Take regular trips to the library to explore new books and participate in summer reading programs.

• Encourage reading as a family by choosing books to read together and discussing them afterward.

• Encourage pre-teens and teens to host a book club or reading circle with their friends.

• Incorporate reading into daily activities, such as reading recipes while cooking or reading signs while out on a walk.

• Be a role model by demonstrating your love for reading.

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. ©2024 GoodNews

A must-see exhibit at ETHPS

HELEN KULL

EWING THEN & NOW

People often tell me that they enjoy reading this column, and learning of the people and places that have contributed to the formation and growth of our township.

Essentially, that shows their appreciation of the work done to research and present “short stories” of specific aspects of Ewing’s rich history.

But the TRUE repository of so much of “Ewing’s rich history” is the Ewing Township Historic Preservation Society (ETHPS), which is thriving in its home on Federal City Road at the historic Benjamin Temple House! And that repository grows each and every month, with the conscientious and dedicated efforts of its Board, the contributions of its membership, and the submissions of information, materials and resources from the public.

If you have not been to the Benjamin Temple House to visit the Society, you really should go! And very soon, there will be a new reason to do so.

For several years now, the ETHPS has been researching and preparing exhibits of stories of particular aspects of Ewing’s history, with the goal of one day creating the Ewing Museum there at the Temple House.

These efforts began with a focus on the history of the Benjamin Temple House, but have also expanded to the related history of the Township. They have created exhibits on the Temple family and on farm life during the period of 1700 to 1850. The parlor of the Temple House displays these exhibits.

But ETHPS is also committed to telling the whole story, including a glimpse at acknowledging and understanding the enslaved people who also lived and worked on the farm over the years.

Following several years of research led by ETHPS Board Member Marge Delaney, the Society is pleased to announce that the exhibit “Blacks in Ewing: From Slavery to the Civil War” is ready, and will open to the public on Sunday June 9, from 2 - 4 pm. The exhibit will remain permanently displayed.

Ms. Delaney’s research affirms that, “People of African descent have resided locally since at least 1722, when a Hopewell Township tax list recorded eleven enslaved people. Ewing farms

were small and unlikely to use forced labor, but those that did typically had one to three enslaved people who, along with indentured servants, performed agricultural and domestic tasks.”

As was unfortunately common in the 18th and 19th centuries, enslaved Black people often provided labor on farms and elsewhere, and the farm belonging to Benjamin Temple and his descendants had enslaved individuals performing various agricultural and domestic tasks.

This was demonstrated in the inventory taken of his estate upon Benjamin Temple’s sudden death in 1777, showing possession of “Negros valued at £145”. The estate likely included enslaved elders, women and children as well, who were not usually inventoried.

The exhibit follows the local effects of legislative actions towards emancipation. It explains that in 1804, New Jersey became the last northern state to begin the emancipation process, decreeing that children born to enslaved mothers after July 4, 1804, were “free,” but would be bound in servitude until they reached adulthood.

When the Temple Estate was next inventoried in 1813 upon the death of John Temple (son-in-law of Benjamin), there was no mention of slaves. Instead, there were listed “Time of a black boy George – $240” and “Time of a black girl Peg -- $140.” George and Peg were bound in servitude to John Temple and his heirs until their adulthood.

Other panels display the achingly “slow and fitful” progress within New Jersey towards the complete abolition of slavery. It is an important exhibit, raising our awareness of this history within a local and state context.

The ETHPS has invested countless hours of energy, research and planning to present this important story about our Township. If you are interested in local history, be sure to make this exhibit a “must see”!

Free tours of the Benjamin Temple House are offered on the first Sunday of every month, 2 - 4 p.m. Visitors may also visit the house and library on Wednesdays, 10 a.m - 2 p.m., and other times by appointment. You can also visit their website, www.ethps.org; call them at 609-883-2455; or email them at info@ethps.

Ewing Recreation

June 2024

The Ewing Recreation and Community Affairs Departments are now located back at ESCC, 999 Lower Ferry Road. The offices are in a trailer next to the pool. The office hours are 8:30am – 4:30pm, weekdays.

The Ewing Recreation Summer Camp will run from June 26 – August 25 for grades K – 5 and is held on the grounds of the Fisher School and Ewing Sr. & Community Center (ESCC). Hours are from 8:30 – 4:30pm, Monday – Friday. Early hours are from 7:30-8: 30am and late hours are from 4:30 - 6:00pm. Online registration is required at communitypass.net. Teen Travel will be for grades 6 – 8 and run from July 5 – August 11. The camp will travel 4 days a week and stay in Ewing the other day. Campers can participate in day camp on weeks Teen Travel is not being held.

The Ewing Community Pools System offers two pools for seasonal members and daily patrons. The Hollowbrook Pool located at 320 Hollowbrook Drive, is scheduled to open on weekends & Memorial Day on Sunday, May 28th. Operating hours are Sunday – Friday 12:00pm – 8:00pm. Saturdays can be rented for private events, email Raquel at rince@ewingnj.org to schedule an event. The ESCC pool will open on weekends & Memorial Day starting Saturday, May 27 and both pools will open full time starting on Monday, June 19 from 12:00 noon – 8:00pm. Swim lessons start with evaluations on Saturday, June17th and space is limited. Senior Swim and Senior Water Aerobics are offered and will start on Monday, June 19, seniors register at the Senior Office for these programs. Online registration for seasonal member-

ships, swim lessons and Senior Swim/Water Aerobics is required at communitypass.net.

Ewing Recreation Basketball Camp is scheduled for Monday, June 26 – Friday, June 30 at Ewing High School, from 9:00am – 3:00pm. The camp is for kids in grades 4 – 8, and will be directed by Shelly Dearden, she will be assisted by other staff members and players. Daily sessions will include work on individual skills, drills, 3 v 3 and full court games, competitions, daily prizes, guest speakers and end of camp championships. Cost is $95 and includes a camp shirt and more. Register at communitypass.net.

Ewing Recreation Department is taking applications for picnic area permits at the following parks, John Watson on Upper Ferry Rd., Banchoff on Mt. View Rd., Higgs Park on Summerset St., Betor Park behind the Municipal building. Email Nancy at npappano@ewingnj.org or contact the office for more information or to reserve a date. The ESCC camp picnic area will be closed for use this season.

The ESCC, 883-1776x2 and Hollowbrook Community Center, 883-1199 have 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 Recreation Office at (609) 883-1776, online at www.ewingnj.org/communityaffairs. The Recreation Office is located at Hollowbrook CC and is open Monday – Friday, 8:30am –4:30pm.

The Ewing Recreation column is paid content provided by Ewing Township.

Helen Kull is an advisor with the Ewing Township Historic Preservation Society.

RWJ celebrates June as Men’s Health Month

Ask The

Doctor

See our ads in SIX09 section pgs 5 and 7

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

From preventative measures to early detection of diseases, Salman Hassan Ahmed, MD, Family Medicine, an RWBarnabas Health Medical Group provider, affiliated Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, shares some steps men can take for better health.

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

These check-ups provide an opportunity for early detection of conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer,

enabling timely intervention and treatment. Understanding key health indicators such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and body mass index (BMI) is essential for men to assess their risk of developing various health conditions. Dr. Ahmed emphasizes the importance of knowing and monitoring these numbers regularly, as they can serve as early warning signs of underlying health problems.

He also stresses the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle to prevent chronic diseases and promote overall well-being. This includes maintaining a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains, as well as engaging in regular physical activity and avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption.

help when needed and practicing stressmanagement techniques can significantly improve mental health outcomes.

Regular screenings for conditions such as prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and sexually transmitted infections are essential for men’s health. Dr. Ahmed’s recommends discussing screening options and schedules with your PCP based on individual risk factors and age, ensuring early detection and timely intervention when necessary.

Heart disease remains a leading cause of death among men worldwide.

Coming up this month at RWJU Hospital Hamilton

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

MONDAy, JuNE 3

Brain Health - Learn Proven Ways to Keep your Brain young. 10–11 a.m. With so much information out today on brain health, you can learn what methods really work. Join Dr. Lorraine Sgarlato, AuD, to learn more about how to keep your brain young and turn back the clock on your aging brain.

Men are often less likely to seek help for mental health issues compared to women. It’s important for men to prioritize their mental well-being by openly discussing any feelings of stress, anxiety, or depression with their healthcare provider. Seeking professional

Dr. Ahmed emphasizes importance of managing risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity through lifestyle modifications and medication when appropriate. Regular heart and vascular screenings and adopting heart-healthy habits are crucial for preventing heart disease and its complications.

Establishing a trusting and open relationship with a primary care provider is essential for men’s health. It’s important to speak to their provider openly about their health concerns, lifestyle habits, and goals, allowing for personalized care to support their individual needs.

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

Salman Hassan Ahmed, MD, sees patients at 3100 Quakerbridge Road, #28, Hamilton, NJ 08619. For more information about Dr. Ahmed, please call (609) 245-7430

THuRSDAy, JuNE 13

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

THuRSDAy, JuNE 20

LGBTQ+ Breast/Chest Health. 1–2 p.m. Join Cecilia Gomez, BS, Community Cancer Control Specialist, RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute, for this presentation that covers the basics of breast cancer as it relates to the LGBTQ+ community. We will discuss screening guidelines, health disparities, diet and lifestyle, and genetic counseling.

Better Health Programs

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

TuESDAy, JuNE 11

. To find a RWJBarnabas Health primary care physician in the Hamilton area, visit rwjbh.org/medgroupprimarycare

Mind Over Matter - Breakfast and Learn. 1011:30 a.m. Learn if there is a correlation between our thinking and our eating habits. Ekta Makani, FNP-C, MSN, Advanced Practice Nurse (APN), RWJUH Hamilton, will discuss this topic and the science behind the behaviors. This will be an engaging and fascinating conversation, providing answers to this age-old question.

Dr. Ahmed

There’s nothing like a Firehouse Dance

DONNIE BLACK BETTING ON BLACK

If you went to a Ewing school during my era this will relate to you. I was born in 1985 and graduated from Ewing High in 2003.

If you are from Ewing, you went to one of the following schools: Antheil, Parkway, Lore, Incarnation, Lanning(didn’t last too long) but you all ended up at either Incarnation or Fisher. Most Fisher kids would end up at Incarnation for CCD and would mess with all of the full time students desks.

Real cool guys! One place we all ended up together was the firehouse dances on Friday nights. Whether it was the girls soccer team Ewing United or my West End soccer team hosting the dance, you could count on every Friday we had a dance and the whole township would show up if you were in grades 6-8. Pennington Road Firehouse, The JCC, or the legendary West Trenton Fire House dances are where many a couple and memory were formed. I always remembered my brother who was four grades older than me getting all fired up for the dance on Friday.

He and his buddies would get all decked out in their freshest gear and head out. I couldn’t wait until I was in 6th grade so I could finally see what this magic place was all about. When I finally became a 6th grader, the first Firehouse dance was coming up and I was getting nervous. To preface this, I went to Incarnation so I had to a wear a uniform everyday so I really didn’t have “cool” clothes. I wore my school uniform every day and then on weekends, I wore my soccer uniform or a basketball jersey and shorts. I remember going to the mall with my brother from another Bobby and making sure we had the newest Tommy Hilfiger Jeans, a Tommy Hil shirt and the cologne to go with it.

Everyone my age reading this knows that Tommy Boy or Tommy Girl smell. It was awesome at the time! My hair had to be on point too. Whether it was the bowl cut in 1996 or the Caesar cut with just the front of your hair spiked up, I did it. Shout to the gel company Dep because I definitely kept you in business longer.

You couldn’t show up to the dance looking anything but Super Fresh and I’m not talking about the old supermarket where the CVS now is.

Being a Catholic school kid at Incarnation, there were only about 40 kids in my class. Fisher had 100s of kids so we were definitely outnumbered when it came to cliques to hang out with. Luckily, I had my boys from

my West End United soccer team and most of them went to Fisher. Bad news for me, those dudes were all in 5th grade so I basically had my buddy DJ, who was my public school liaison. He introduced me to a lot of people but I was still the catholic school kid.

The next few years at the dances would be awesome but the first dance, I huddled around my Incarnation crew gawking at the girls from Fisher. The girls at Incarnation were really hot and super cool but now there were 100s of girls who were hot and cool. Seventh and Eight grade firehouse dances were much better because I knew more people at the dances and I was always in the “dance circle.”

My best friend Karl and I would head to the mall on Friday right after school and head to Dapy which is now Spencers Gifts. We grabbed glow sticks so we could do a dance called “The Rave.” During this era, glow sticks were worth more than money. I’m not sure what all of the girls thought of us dudes “raving” in the circle but I thought I was cool. Man, I miss those firehouse dances. Present day, I created a playlist on YouTube and included just about every song that was played during my firehouse days. I posted it on Facebook and the reaction I got was silly. The Firehouse was the place to be on Friday nights.

Anyone want to do a Firehouse dance again? Can we start it earlier because I’m old and want to watch Jeopardy at 7 p.m.

Donnie Black was born and grew up in Ewing Township. He currently works at radio station XTU in Philadelphia as a producer, on air personality and promotions director.

Senior Corner

June 2024

ALL PROGRAMS HELD AT HOLLOWBROOK COMMUNITY CENTER, 320 HOLLOWBROOK DRIVE

MONDAYS

10 a.m. Exercise - Karen Martin

Noon Tech/Trends For Seniors 2nd and 4th Monday of the Month

1 p.m. Jewelry/Craft-Anne’s

TUESDAYS

10 a.m. Exercise - Karen Martin

12:30 p.m. Bible Study (Hiatus)

12:30 p.m. Bingo

WEDNESDAYS

9 a.m. Chair Yoga- Lisa Caruso

9:30 a.m. Knitting/Crochet

1 p.m. Mexican Train/5-Crown Cards

10:30 p.m. Water Color - Ally Lyons Mercer County Library – Ewing Branch

2 p.m. Mahjongg - Christine Kamph (1 p.m. experience players only. Defensive Strategy 6/12 only.)

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

12:30 p.m. Tai Chi – Liz Allen

2 p.m. Circuit Training– Jeff Prunetti (Hiatus in June, July, August.)

SENIOR CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMISSION (SCAC): (Hiatus in June, July, August.)

General Body 10 a.m. Meeting is open to the public.

CLUBS: (All held in Room #201-202) (Hiatu in June, July, August.)

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)

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.