8-24 EO by Community News Service

Mission accomplished

Mary Gay AbbottYoung reflects on her long career at the Rescue Mission of Trenton

By Kristen Hunt

Over a century ago, the Trenton community was faced with the crucial need to help residents

struggling with homelessness and hunger in the area. It started with a shelter that opened its doors, day and night, to those seeking refuge.

There were no criteria, just two simple questions: “What’s your name?” and “Are you hungry?” The Shelter was more than just a safe haven—it was a symbol of hope. Today, the Rescue Mission of Trenton is dedicated to serving the same cause for all

individuals in need across Mercer County. More than just hope, the mission helps find potential and opportunity.

Over the years, individuals have not just provided food and shelter, but also shown the path towards a better future. In just the last year, the non-profit has served 4,636 individuals, 193,290 meals, and provided 106 forms of housing.

See ABBOTT-YOUNG, Page 6

Universal Display Corp celebrates 30 years of OLED tech

By Kristen Hunt

It’s undeniable that display technology is one of the most revolutionary developments of the modern era. Not only in the way it has dominated every major industry—from healthcare to aerospace—but how it has become woven seamlessly into everyday life. A thin piece of durable glass, the screen is also a looking glass into knowledge, entertainment and function.

As visual technology continues to advance, it’s easy to take for granted how far displays have come since the days of clunky TVs in the ’80s and ’90s.

Throughout almost a century, the science behind the screen has undergone significant evolution: from the Cathode Ray Tube that sparked black-andwhite films to the LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that illuminate flat screen televisions.

Somewhere in between, a revolution within itself emerged, the OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode).

With its superior color quality, elegant design and sustainability, OLED has held its spot at the top of the billion-dollar industry

and is moving closer to becoming the ultimate display form.

Universal Display Corporation, based in Ewing, began as a small startup of less than five people in the late 1990s. This year they are celebrating 30 years in the industry as a world leader in the invention, research, development and commercialization of OLED materials.

Janice Mahon, senior vice president of Technology Commercialization and General Manager of Commercial Sales Business, was one of the very first employees at UDC. She has watched the company grow from the ground up, contributing to the growth and innovation of the corporation in all facets.

“When I joined the company, we had no revenues and no profits. We had a handful of patents and a great dream,” she said. “What we’ve done over 30 years is taken that vision, innovated and made it reality.”

Mahon, a long-time resident of several Mercer County towns, was a part of the early phases of research and development behind OLED displays. Today,

Mary Gay Abbott-Young, recently retired president of the Rescue Mission of Trenton, at daybreak near the Delaware River. (Photo by Michael Mancuso, courtesy of the Rescue Mission of Trenton.)

RWJUH Hamilton August Healthy Living / Community Education Programs

SWEET SUCCESS SOCIETY: A DIABETES GROUP

Monday, Aug 5; 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Monday, Aug 12; 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept 3; 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 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.

CARING FOR LOVED ONES WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS

Monday, Aug 5 + 19; 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Caring for a chronically ill senior can take a physical and emotional toll on family members. An Oaks Integrated Care Caregiver Specialist will conduct these interactive groups on crucial topics and facilitate a supportive group experience.

ADULT CHILDREN CARING FOR PARENTS

Monday, Aug 5 + 19; 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

An Oaks Integrated Care caregiver specialist will conduct these interactive groups on crucial topics and facilitate a supportive group experience.

GOT STRESS?

Tuesday, Aug 6; 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept 3; 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Support group about dealing with stress. When you experience stress, your body produces physical and mental responses. Gain valuable insight about how others deal with similar situations.

CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP

Wednesday, Aug 7; 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Supportive discussion group for those caring for a loved one who is aging or has a chronic illness-shared experiences can be healing. An Oaks Integrated Care caregiver specialist will conduct these interactive groups on crucial topics and facilitate a supportive group experience.

DANCE IT OUT!

Friday, Aug 9; 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug 20; 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Friday, Sept 6; 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

When in doubt, dance it out! Find your rhythm and ease the everyday stresses of life with movement. All ages welcome; no experience required. A great way to get kid your kids out and active during these summer days off from school.

WHAT’S EATING YOU?

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

Monday, Sept 9; 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

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

LETTING GO OF

CLUTTER

Tuesday, Aug 13; 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

This support group explores how our emotional ties to our “stuff” can create clutter and affect our mood.

An Oaks Integrated Care caregiver specialist will conduct these interactive groups on crucial topics and facilitate a supportive group experience.

MASTER/TEACHER LEVEL REIKI CERTIFICATION

Monday, Aug 19; 10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

This Reiki Master level class is for those who have been certiﬁed in Reiki level 2 and have been practicing for at least 6 months. Master Level deepens ones Reiki practice and adds focus, clarity and integrity to go deeper within to fully integrate the Reiki tools you already have. $160

DIZZINESS – CAUSES AND PREVENTION

Monday, Aug 19; 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Are you light-headed? Unsteady on your feet? Do you feel off balance? Join Lorraine Sgarlato, Au.D. and learn about the causes and treatment for dizziness.

TAKE HOME COLORECTAL KIT

Tuesday, Aug 20; 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Participants will attend a lecture about colon health, and receive a stool sample kit to use at home and mail back.

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION

Wednesday, Aug 21; 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.

ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP

Wednesday, Aug 21; 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Support and information for family and friends of people with Alzheimer’s disease. An Oaks Integrated Care

caregiver specialist will conduct these interactive groups on crucial topics and facilitate a supportive group experience.

HEALTHRHYTHMS® DRUM CIRCLE

Wednesday, Aug 21; 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 $15

WOMEN’S SUMMER BOOK

CLUB: WHEN WOMEN WERE DRAGONS BY KELLY BARNHILL

Thursday, Aug 22; 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

A Goodreads best Book of the Year.

“A ﬁery feminist fantasy tale set in 1950’s America where thousands of women have spontaneously transformed into dragons, exploding notions of a woman’s place in the world and expanding minds about accepting others for who they really are.” Bring your book to class and come prepared to have a lively discussion with other women readers.

WISE WOMEN

Thursday, Aug 22; 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Join a community of women as we discuss relevant topics and ﬁnd purpose, meaning and community.

ORTHO 101: TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENT

Monday, Aug 26; 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Join Orthopedic Program Coordinator, Denise Berdecia, MSN, RN, ONC; Lead Rehabilitation Therapists, Maureen Stevens, PT, DPT, GCS, Cert. MDT; and

Sarah Masco, OTD, OTR/L, CLT-LANA; for an in-depth discussion on total hip replacements. These experts will explain preventative treatment, talking to a surgeon, decision for surgery, hospital expectations, and recovery with outpatient therapy.

PREDIABETES CONNECT GROUP

Tuesday, Aug 27; 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

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

CLEAN LIVING IN A TOXIC WORLD

Wednesday, Aug 28; 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Toxins are all around us - in the air we breathe, the products we use and the food we eat. Learn what these toxins can do to our body and ways to avoid them and live a cleaner life with Patti McDougall, BSN, Integrative Therapies Nurse.

REIKI SHARE

Wednesday, Aug 28; 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

For folks who have been Reiki certiﬁed to come share the gift with fellow practitioners. Give a session, get a session. Open only to those certiﬁed in Reiki. Please bring a sheet and small pillow.

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

Sharon B. recently shared, “I just want to mention that coming to these programs is a big stress reliever and has been life changing! I also met my best friend here. It is my ‘go to place’ to have fun and learn so much.”

From Loretta V., “My son, at 18 years old, was diagnosed with brain cancer. I spent the next 30 years caring for him as his body deteriorated, eventually taking his life. My entire focus was caring for him and when he passed, I was at a loss as to how to ﬁll the time and rebuild my life. That’s when I saw the Better Health Program advertised in the Hamilton Post. I was drawn to the ‘Senior Social Group.’ I became a member and registered for that ﬁrst class. Now, more than a year later, I continue to attend the weekly Senior Social Group as well as many other fun and educational programs. In Senior Social Group, I have made friends and plan activities like walking, lunching, and other fun things. This program has been instrumental in helping me rebuild my life.”

A SENIOR SOCIAL GROUP

Wednesday, Aug 7, 14, 21, 28; 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

TAI CHI CLASSES

Thursday, Aug 8 + 22; 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

GAME TIME Thursday, Aug 15 + 29; 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Better Health is a free program for VIP’s 65+ that combines medical education, interesting topics, and fun activities. Join today!

YOGA CLASSES Tuesday, Aug 13 + 27; 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

MEDITATION CLASSES Tuesday, Aug 13 + 27; 11:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

CHAIR YOGA Tuesday, Aug 13 + 27; 12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.

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

News Briefs

Deadline extended for Ewing Police Youth Academy

Edited by Bill Sanservino

The Ewing Township Police Department has extended the deadline to apply for its 2024 Youth Academy.

The original deadline, which was set for July 15, has been extended to allow for more applicants to join the academy. Applications will be accepted until all slots are filled. After that, people will be put on a waiting list.

“Are you ready for an unforgettable adventure? The Ewing Police Department is thrilled to offer a unique opportunity for our youth to get an insider’s look at law enforcement,” states a township news release. “Our Youth Academy is designed to build positive relationships between our young community members and the police department.”

Ewing Township residents between ages 12-14 are eligible to apply for the program, which will be held at the Ewing Police Department.

The academy will feature seven hours every session with instruction, activities, and real-life scenarios.

“I encourage our young residents to take

advantage of this incredible opportunity,” said Mayor Bert Steinmann. “This program is not just about learning the basics of law enforcement; it’s about building bridges, fostering mutual respect, and inspiring our youth to become active, engaged members of our community. I look forward to seeing the positive impact this academy will have on their lives and our town.”

The Academy will be held on the following dates/ times:

Monday, Aug. 19, (8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.);

Tuesday, Aug. 20 (8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.); Wed., Aug. 21 (8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.); Thurs., Aug. 22 (8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.); Friday, Aug. 23 (8:30 a.m.–noon, followed by graduation).

In order to apply, go to ewingpolice.com and click on the “Youth Police Academy 2024 Application” link. Send the filled out application to Ewing Police Department, Attn: Det. Danielle Bethea, 2 Jake Garzio Drive, Ewing, NJ 08628.

For more information, contact: Det. Danielle Bethea at 609-882-1313 ext. 7781 or email at dbethea@ewingnj.org

9th annual Fall Spin Bike Ride set for Sept. 21

The Ewing Green Team’s 9th annual Fall Spin Bike Ride will be held on Saturday, Sept. 21, starting at Campus Town at The College of New Jersey.

“This ride benefits Trenton Area Soup Kitchen and is a great way to enjoy the crisp fall air while supporting a wonderful cause,” said a township news release.

In-person registration kicks off at 7:45 a.m., with the ride starting at 8:15 a.m. Preregister online at communitypass.net. For more details, visit ewinggreenteam.org/ ewingfallspin or contact the Ewing Rec Department.

Online passport renewal portal now available

The U.S. Department of State has launched a public website tool for updated Online Passport Renewal. The innovative tool is designed to streamline the passport renewal process, making it more efficient

and convenient for U.S citizens.

“The online passport renewal tool aims to save time and effort, providing a userfriendly platform for renewing passports from the comfort of homes,” said a press release from Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello. “The Department of State created this process to enhance the everyday lives of Americans, offering significant benefits to working families and travelers by giving them more time back in their busy schedules.”

Said Sollami Covello: “The updated Online Passport Renewal tool is a step forward in our mission to make essential services more accessible and convenient for everyone. I encourage all eligible Mercer County residents to take advantage of this new tool and experience the ease of renewing their passports online.”

The online portal will open every day at 1 p.m. Eligible individuals must first create an account to renew passports online at login. gov. Applicants will be able to apply online until the daily office threshold is met. The

See NEWS, Page 4

Mann,

site will close each day once the daily application threshold is reached.

To be eligible to renew a passport online, an applicant must meet the following criteria:

• Have a recent 10-year passport and be age 25 or older.

• Possess a U.S passport issued between 2009 and 2015, whether expired or valid.

• No change to name, gender, date of birth, or place of birth.

• No travel internationally for at least eight weeks after applying. (Note: Processing times are the same as for mail-in renewals.)

• Request routine service only (expedited

service not available online).

• Apply for a regular (tourist) passport (special issuance passports are not eligible).

The online service is an additional option for those who wish to take advantage of this opportunity.

• Reside in the U.S. or its territories (not eligible if living abroad or with an APO/FPO address).

• Possess an undamaged passport (not reported lost or stolen). Applicants can pay the passport application fees using a credit/ debit card; current fees are found online at travel.state.gov/

The Mercer County Clerks Office, continues to offer passport renewals services at both of its offices in Trenton on South Broad Street, and Hamilton Township at the Mercer County Connection.

For more information about passport services, upcoming events and other office services visit the County Clerk’s Office website atmercercounty.org or call (609) 989-6473.

Mercer County Board of Elections Launches major recruitment eﬀort

The Mercer County Board of Elections is conducting a campaign to recruit new Election Board Workers ahead of the November General Election—and residents can make up to $300 in the process.

Over the coming weeks, the Board of Elections will be raising awareness of the opportunity for county residents to become election board workers through a public outreach campaign that will culminate with a celebration on National Election Board Worker Recruitment Day on Thursday, Aug, 1.

The event will take place at the Board of Elections office at 930 Spruce Street, Lawrence, from 3-6 p.m. and feature Election Board Worker program information, along with a display of election voting equipment, the opportunity for residents to register to vote, and light refreshments.

Election board workers are citizens who set-up voting locations and equipment

for elections, check in voters and assist in the overall Election Day process. Mercer County residents who apply and complete a required training session can make up to $300 during a full-day shift.

Half-day shifts are available and offer $150. Bilingual residents who speak English, as well as Spanish, Mandarin, Hindi, Gujarati or Punjabi are especially needed.

Students who are at least 16 years of age and residents of Mercer County can also serve as Student Board Workers.

Residents can visit the Mercer County Board of Elections website (mercercounty. org/boards-commissions/board-of-elections) and under the “Board Worker Program” section, learn more about eligibility criteria, duties and hours of work.

Under the “Board Worker Application” section of the website, (mercercounty.org/ boards-commissions/board-of-elections/ board-worker-application), residents will find applications for New Board Workers, Reappointment Board Workers (who served during the 2023 elections) and student board workers.

“The dedicated citizens who serve as Election Day Board Workers truly are the unsung heroes of our election process. We hope that through this recruitment effort, even more Mercer County residents will take advantage of the opportunity to serve,” said Jill Moyer, Mercer Board of Elections chairwoman.

Ewing

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, Kristen Hunt, Jasmine Lee

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 ADVErTISE

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

Congresswoman visits Credit Union of N.J. NORTH 25

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman recently visited with the Credit Union of New Jersey to talk about legislative issues affecting credit unions. They shared with her how CUNJ works to make a difference in the financial lives of its members and the community. Pictured are: Christina Mihalik (left) senior vice president of government relations, Crosstate Credit Union Association; Amanda Griffith, CUNJ financial wellness officer; Gary Chizmadia, CUNJ chairman; Andy Jaeger, president/CEO, CUNJ; Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman; Katie Sapio, CUNJ director of business development; Soma Sarkar, CUNJ executive vice president/COO; David Sacco, CUNJ senior vice president/CFO; Patti Fisk, CUNJ senior vice president/CAO.

Requirements

Registered Voter in Mercer County or School

Student 16 years or older

Complete an Application

Attend a Training Class

Public Service

Election Board Workers are truly the “Unsung Heroes” of our Elections

Directly Serve Your Community and Play a Crucial Role in the Election Process

BIG CHANGES TO FALL LEAF

Sign Up for EWING TOWNSHIP’S

COLLECTION IN EWING TOWNSHIP!

STARTING THIS AUTUMN

RAVE

Ewing Township is excited to announce a transition to a new leaf vacuum system for fall leaf collection. Say goodbye to biodegradable bags for loose leaves!

MOBILE ALERTS

For more than half of its existence, the Rescue Mission had been led by CEO and president Mary Gay Abbott-Young. With her contribution, alongside the help of volunteers, staff, board and donors, the Rescue Mission has become an anchor for the community. Over the years, it has addressed the needs of clients and expanded resources in eight key sectors, from the Behavioral Health Center to Vocational Development to the latest endeavor, the New Direction program.

ABBOTT-YOUNG cont. from Page 1 degree in social work and a master’s in education from Temple University. Her goal was to work at a job that dealt with poverty and substitute abuse issues, and she came across a job posting at the Rescue Mission, which was relatively close to where she was living.

“It was the right place for me to be, and as it turns out, I was the right person for the Rescue Mission,” Abbott-Young said in an interview with Community News Service in July, after her retirement.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Pickups will be scheduled by zones.

• Loose leaves ONLY collection in Nov./Dec. -- No brush.

• Compliance with rules will be necessary for program success.

system that text important trash pickup, closures.

WHAT IS RAVE?

LEAF VACUUM BENEFITS

WHY SHOULD I SIGN UP?

Abbott-Young, who embodied the spirit of the Rescue Mission in her work for more than 50 years, officially retired from the organization effective June 30. With her retirement, she stepped down from her role as president.

Ewing’s Community & Emergency Notification System

• Additional unscheduled leaf sweeps will occur in Oct./Jan.

• No need to rake leaves into bags.

• Quickly and eﬃciently collects large volumes of leaves, reducing removal time.

• Easier transport to composting facilities.

Community notifications help you to stay connected to what is happening in Ewing! If you already have an account, you may need to update it to receive NONemergency messages.

• Helps prevent leaves from clogging storm drains and causing pollution.

HOW TO SIGN UP

STAY TUNED

In 2021, she handed off the position of CEO to her son, Barrett Young. The president’s job is oversight of all fundraising and grant/contract management, while the CEO has oversight of all development Work, and agency operations.

Abbott-Young talked about the challenges that came with running a non-profit like the Rescue Mission. Having seen the struggle clients have faced with substance abuse and behavioral health issues—such as relapse—and losing individuals to addiction, the importance is never losing hope, and to never stop giving that same hope to clients to be excited and optimistic about their future.

WHY SHOULD I SIGN UP?

Community notifications help you to stay connected to what is happening in Ewing!

If you already have an account, you may need to update it to receive NONemergency messages.

The Rescue Mission is holding an event to celebrate Abbott-Young’s retirement on Thursday, Sept. 12, from 2-4 p.m. at Cooper’s Riverview, 50 Riverview Plaza, Trenton. Anyone interested in attending can go to eventbrite.com and search for “Retirement Celebration For Mary Gay Abbott-Young.”

HOW TO SIGN UP

• Increased eﬃciency and lower costs; current bag costs exceed $100,000 annually.

• Keeps streets and public areas clean and appealing.

More details will be provided soon. Let’s work together for a cleaner, greener Ewing Township!

QUESTIONS?

Tickets for Community Partners are $50, and attendance is free for clients and Rescue Mission staff. Tickets for Community Partners are $50, and attendance is free for clients and Rescue Mission staff.

Abbott-Young started at the Rescue Mission as a program coordinator in 1978, after serving as a social worker in VISTA, then a counselor in a detoxification center. She rose to become CEO—a position she held from 1986 until 2021.

“It’s fantastic work to be able to take someone in off the street, get them in, give them a bed to sleep in, get them a meal, allow them to get a shower, allow them to have access to clothing, all those kinds of things are wonderful,” Abbott-Young said. “To go to the next step and begin the process with them, of trying to involve them in the network that would be able to help them find permanent housing. It’s fantastic work.”

The business model of the organization has seen significant advancements in services with the change of licenser standards, business operation standards, and advancements in behavioral health solutions. Frequent interaction with the government has driven positive change by necessity.

Call Public Works at 609-882-3382.

According to a profile in the New York Times, Abbott-Young grew up in a working-class neighborhood in Pittsburgh. Her parents never graduated high school, but they stressed the importance of education to their children.

Abbot-Young earned a bachelor’s

As the nonprofit competed for—and was awarded government contracts—new and innovative ways to help were granted. The Medication Assisted Treatment program, for example, changed how the Rescue Mission has been able to effectively assist individuals with serious addiction problems to begin their recovery process.

Despite the challenges and uncertainty brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, staff

still provided around-the-clock care. With safety measures executed by now-CEO Barrett Young, doors remained open, with food clothing and social services available, and hundreds of people coming into the shelter each night. The organization partnered to open a unit for people who were COVID positive. Staff were masked, adhering to social distancing guidelines once enforced by the CDC.

Having stepped in as CEO at the height of the pandemic, Young’s first initiative was to heighten the safety and protection of staff and clients through an unsettling time.

Coming out of the pandemic, he was then able to focus on continuing the legacy that his mother had built at the Rescue Mission. Continuing to provide these outstanding services while expanding to meet the needs of the community was and still is his top priority.

“It used to be like, mental health was over here, and substance use was over here, and the two never intersected. Whereas now, the whole focus is on how you treat the full person. And I think that that’s a wonderful shift in this industry,” Barrett Young said.

Looking at the future, he said he aims to help keep the Rescue Mission around for another hundred years. The New Direction program in development focuses on working with individuals to transform their mindset to live to their fullest potential and have higher optimism about their future.

“What it does is it says here’s a way to look at work and to look at yourself in a whole new way. You are not a loser; you are not something that can be thrown away” Barrett Young said. “You are a person of value. The person of value who can have a better future is really the business of the rescue mission,”

He has been surrounded with social work his whole life. Growing up in the environment of the rescue mission, he watched how tirelessly his mother worked to help those suffering in unimaginable ways.

The CEO explains the overarching despair that people suffer from when they come to the Rescue Mission, which he has seen since he was a child, and how it has given him a passion to help others.

He addresses the need to see people not for what they’ve become because of their circumstance, but who they have the potential to be.

“Everybody in their life has done the little worksheet that asks, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’” Young said. “I’ve never in the history of the world have seen someone write, ‘I want to be homeless,’ or ‘I want to be a drug addict,’ or have mental health issues. Nobody aspires for that. I don’t believe that they deserve that. They deserve better, but they need help.”

Young attributes much of this philosophy to Mary Gay’s proven reputation as a leader in the community, and dedication to fighting for the people she serves.

“The number of times that I’ve seen her interact with the individuals who walked in that had little to nothing. And I mean like, it was raining, and I didn’t even have a coat. She would take her own coat off and give it to somebody. And that’s one of the things that I have instilled in the staff since I’ve worked here. And it’s part of the fabric of the rescue mission,” Barrett Young said.

Abbott-Young recently received a Lifetime Transformational Leadership Award from the N.J. Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies and was honored by the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber with a Women of Achievement Award.

In a letter to Abbott-Young, State Senator Shirley Turner wrote, “You have not only taught those you serve to believe in themselves—you have taught our community to believe in those you serve.”

Reflecting on these words, AbbottYoung stated that the Mercer County community played a significant role in the success of the Rescue Mission, and that they have done their part promoting services to people in need.

“We hear of communities that are trying to criminalize homelessness. And so, my role in this community has been to provide the services that the homeless clients need,” she said. “But I have also been very fortunate to do that in a community that recognizes the problem and to lesser or greater extent wants to be part of the solution.”

“If we believe that they deserve different opportunities, then we should fight for them. And she lived that every day,” Barrett Young said. “And when she retires, she’s not going to stop fighting for those people. It’s just in her core.”

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she is responsible for the manufacture, quality assurance and distribution of PHOLED products sold to top OLED display and lighting manufacturers. Just a couple of weeks ago, UDC rang the closing bell at the Nasdaq stock exchange, commemorating its global success.

OLEDs are a series of thin organic films sandwiched between two conductors: an anode and a cathode. When electricity is applied to an OLED, charge carriers (holes and electrons) travel from the electrodes into the organic thin films until they form excitons. Once formed, electricity is converted into light output (electroluminescence), illuminating the display. The individual light pixels are 1/1,00th the thickness of a human hair, resulting in a simple and sophisticated end product.

UDC is responsible for inventing and developing phosphorescent OLEDs. While Fluorescent OLEDs can only convert 25% of electrical energy into light, losing 75% as heat, PHOLEDs can convert up to 100% of the energy into light. This results in better performing, more efficient OLED displays that require less energy.

Before UDC’s technology emerged, display manufacturers were initially unimpressed with OLEDs due to their link to inefficient fluorescent technology. By introducing PHOLEDs, significantly reducing power consumption, OLEDs became more attractive to manufacturers and consumers.

Originally from the Boston area, Mahon studied chemical engineering at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. She received her MBA from Harvard Business school with an interest in energy saving technology. She was a vice president and gen-

200 people on the campus here in Ewing,” Mahon said. “Now, we have three buildings there, one on one side of Phillips Boulevard and two other facilities. So, we continue to grow from what was just a handful of folks to over 200 in Ewing. It’s been a really remarkable 30 years.” When compared to other incumbent technologies like the LCD, OLED offers better performance, a higher quality viewing image and a better response time. It has become increasingly common for videos and gaming to reduce lag. OLED displays require less material without a backlit unit, as OLEDs emit their own visible light. This results in an incredibly thin display that can be made with flexible, foldable and/or near-transparent materials. Because these pixels can be individually controlled, OLEDs have an almost instant response time, saving power, creating contrast and intensely dark blacks.

eral manager for Chronar Corporation, a developer and manufacturer of amorphous silicon photovoltaic panels based in Princeton. She moved from there to a start-up at Rutgers University that was developing an energy-saving, thin-film technology. The company eventually moved to Minnesota and Mahon decided to stay in New Jersey, where she met the president of UDC, Steve Abramson. Abramson was just starting to build the company based on Sherwin Seligsohn’s 1994 vision of a new display technology. Looking for a new challenge, Mahon met with Abramson and was introduced to OLED technology, invented by Steven Van Slyke and Ching Wan Tang of Eastman Kodak in 1987.

Aiming to further develop this technology, the UDC research team worked to develop PHOLED at Princeton University and University of Southern California. She joined Abramson, who’s still the CEO today, in January 1997.

Mahon was first stationed at the labs at Princeton University, helping engineer early prototypes for OLED displays. Some of the most pivotal projects include replacing the display of a landline telephone and replacing it with an OLED display. Princeton believed UDC’s ideas were becoming too commercialized for a university, urging them to find a new home.

“We’ve grown from what was 15 employees to now about 450 with about

Over the years, Mahon wore a dozen different hats, helping the corporation evolve across sectors: from sweeping the floor, to product education to research and development. She joined the company before flat panel displays reached the mainstream, explaining that CRTs were all people were familiar with. The biggest change she has witnessed is UDC’s gradual transformation to a key provider for OLED materials for myriad applications. What hasn’t changed is the tightly knit community and nurturing work culture that has existed from the beginning.

“When I joined the company our founder Sherwin Seligsohn, our leader Steve Abramson and former Executive VP Sidney Rosenblatt, had marvelous value systems, morals, ethics, and I thought when the company got to be 25 employees it would change. It didn’t. When it got

Officials celebrate the grand opening of the Universal Display Corporation’s headquarters in Ewing in 1999. Pictured are Mike Hack (left), Julie Brown, Steve Abramson, Sherwin Seligsohn, Sidney Rosenblatt and Janice Mahon.

Oldest canoe club in U.S. seeks next generation of paddlers

By Jasmine Lee

The gentle lap of water against a canoe, the rhythmic dip of a paddle, the call of birds overhead—these are the sounds that have filled the lives of Mohawk Canoe Club members for more than 120 years. Founded in 1903 by a group of Trenton businessmen, the Mohawk Canoe Club has survived two world wars, the Great Depression, floods and fuel crises. It was originally a men-only organization dedicated to the sport of canoeing, which named itself after the Mohawk people, who were renowned for their canoeing skills. In its early days, the club thrived, even boasting a magnificent mahogany clubhouse.

The club adapted over time, opening its doors to women and families of all ages in 1968. “We had families coming in with their kids and those kids grew up with the club and brought their kids. It was good, it was good,” says Ruth Gibson, the current and first female president in the club’s history.

Gibson recalls that it was a spur-ofthe-moment inflatable tube ride on the river that turned comical for herself and a friend one Fourth of July weekend that

its glory days throughout the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s. It had more than 100 members embarking on adventurous trips ranging from peaceful flatwater paddles to exhilarating whitewater rapids.

The club’s members and instructors— a number of whom come from the Mercer County area—have paddled on several bodies of water in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York, including the Delaware, Toms, Musconetcong and Lehigh rivers.

But beneath the serene surface of those rivers, a current of change flows that threatens the future of the historic club—the Mohawk Canoe Club has struggled to recover and stay afloat after COVID-19.

sparked her interest in canoeing.

The oars malfunctioned, leaving them paddling with their hands. Witnessing the limitations of their inflatable vessel, Gibson’s friend declared, “If we’re going to do this, I’d rather have a canoe.”

Little did they know, the situation would be the start of a lifelong passion for Gibson, leading her to eventually become

a leader in the very club that would turn them into skilled paddlers.

Tom Wilkins, a longtime member and instructor at the Mohawk Canoe Club, highlighted that this is the oldest canoe club in the United States, with members historically seen paddling down the Delaware River in wooden canoes.

Mohawk Canoe Club experienced

The pandemic took a heavy toll on the club. Membership dwindled and fragmented the once-vibrant social scene of monthly meetings and shared Thanksgiving dinners.

COVID-19’s impact led to the abandonment of the annual river training program, a cornerstone of safety and skill development. And like many other recreational organizations, the club has struggled to return to its pre-pandemic status.

Members of the Mohawk Canoe Club paddle under a bridge on the Delaware and Raritan Canal.

While members can still look forward to various outdoor activities, including paddling trips, social gatherings, river cleanups, camping and more, many of these activities have had to be curtailed due to the club’s struggles with participant numbers.

The club and its members are working to spread the word about the importance of preserving the club for years to come.

One of the key advantages of joining a club rather than paddling solo is the shuttle service, which allows members to leave their boat at the “put-in” and have their car waiting at the “take-out,” eliminating any transportation issues.

Additionally, paddling with a group not only enhances skills but also provides for safety and fellowship with other members. “Any trip you go on in our club is a learning trip. There is always someone to show you how to paddle better,” says Gibson.

New members need to buy or acquire all the necessary equipment and a boat to join. Although this initial investment may seem high, many items will last for years, making it worthwhile for the experiences you’ll gain, says Wilkins.

New members will learn about safety, new paddling techniques, and essential skills like securing their canoe or kayak to their vehicle.

Despite the club being around for decades, the club has never experienced a serious fatality or injury. No matter how harsh the waters

became, trip leaders and the more experienced people went through first, waited at the bottom, and pulled down the others one boat at a time.

The club has fostered a sense of community and helping each other no matter the skill level they are always welcoming newcomers. Wilkins expressed how the Mohawk Canoe Club revived his love for paddling.

He began paddling as a Boy Scout and continued until he graduated high school, a time he described as long ago. However, after marrying and starting a family, this enjoyable activity faded into the background. Despite this, Wilkins always harbored a desire to return to canoeing or paddling.

It wasn’t until he turned 40 that he decided to rekindle his passion. During a conversation with a Red Cross member involved in the Mohawk Canoe Club, Wilkins received the contact information he needed. The rest, as they say, is history.

For Wilkins and fellow club members, paddling nurtured a mutual appreciation for nature and provided a refuge from daily stresses by offering a change of scenery.

“There’s no stress in canoeing, and I’ve never seen a canoe paddle wrapped around a tree, but I’ve walked through golf courses and have seen clubs wrapped around trees,” says Wilkins.

Wilkins shared that on tough days, paddling would lower his blood pressure. Regard-

less of one’s mood, being in nature with fresh air, clouds above and cooler underfoot makes life feel good.

Rivers have the power to transport people into tranquility, away from the hustle and bustle of metropolitan life, and into an entirely different world. Witnessing New Jersey’s beauty from a car is one thing, but paddling at around three miles an hour in a canoe allows canoers to be immersed in the scenery, sit back, appreciate it and realize how fortunate the residents of this marvelous state are.

Gibson says that being the captain of your boat, putting the cellular device down and stepping away from the hassles of everyday life is one of the many beauties that this kind of activity can bring into your life.

“If you want to go slow, we can let you paddle slow,” Wilkins says. “If you want to paddle fast, we will keep up with you. I will let you go. We just go out, have fun and enjoy the environment,” says Wilkins.

Anyone who wants to put their long-unused boat, canoe or kayak to good use should consider joining the Mohawk Canoe Club. This group encourages growth among its members, both new and old, and fosters lifelong friendships through the unique and wonderful experience of paddling.

For more information, visit the Mohawk Canoe Club’s website at mohawkcanoeclub. org. Anyone interested in becoming a member can contact Gibson at (609) 586-0588. EWING, NJ

238 Scotch Road

On the Cover

Prehab: Pete Davidson sets Aug. 18 tour stop in Trenton

By Joe Emanski

Saturday Night Live alumnus Pete Davidson is set to take the stage at Patriots Theater stage on Saturday, Aug. 18 as part of his “Prehab” comedy tour.

Davidson, who starred in the 2023 Peacock comedy-drama series Bupkis, has been on tour all summer, including a July 20 show at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City that one fan on Reddit’s Pete Davidson forum called “hysterical.”

He is scheduled to appear at the Trenton War Memorial at 7 p.m. on Aug. 18. Tickets are available online through Ticketmaster.

Bupkis, a semi-autobiographical comedy series that also starred Edie Falco and Joe Pesci, ran for one season on Peacock. It was picked up for a second season, but Davidson announced in March that the show would not continue.

Davidson joined the cast of NBC’s Sat-

another, Turbo Fonzarelli, debuted on Netflix in January.

Davidson co-wrote and starred in the 2020 Judd Apatow movie The King of Staten Island, which like Bupkis, is said to be partly based on the life of Davidson, a Staten Island native. He has also appeared in the movies The Suicide Squad, Bodies Bodies Bodies, Meet Cute, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts and Dumb Money. He is also set to play the role of Joey Ramone in the planned future Netflix movie I Slept With Joey Ramone, currently in production.

urday Night Live in 2014, when he was just 20. He remained a part of the performing ensemble through 2022, becoming known in his tenure for his “Weekend Update”

sketches. He returned to host the premiere episode of the 49th season of SNL on Oct. 14.

He filmed his first stand-up comedy special, Pete Davidson: SMD, in New York in 2016. His stand-up special, Alive From New York, ran on Netflix starting in 2020, and

Tickets for the Prehab show at Patriots Theater start at $49.50. The show is billed as a “phone-free experience,” with the use of phones, smart watches, and other digital accessories prohibited during the show. Guests must agree to secure their devices in locked Yondr pouches for the duration of the show. Guests keep the pouches with them and can open them in designated Phone Use Areas if needed. Guests who use devices during the show may be removed from the venue.

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the War Memorial in trenton, home to Patriots theater. (Photo courtesy of the state of New Jersey.)

Butterfly Festival returns to Watershed institute Aug. 3

The 24th annual Watershed Butterfly Festival is set to take place this year on Saturday, Aug. 3 at the Watershed Institute.

The event will feature tours of the Kate Gorrie Butterfly House and the Insect Zoo. Live music and entertainment is planned for throughout the day, including animal shows featuring Eyes of the Wild. The Butterfly and Bug Parade, led by Lady Monarch, Ms. Allison, is intended for young children.

At the festival, adults and children alike can learn through hands-on exhibits about watersheds and the need to protect rivers, lakes and streams. Food and drink will be available for sale, including a water truck provided by New Jersey American Water. Festival goers will also be able to purchase butterfly wings and other items at the Watershed Gift Shop.

There are two sessions scheduled: one for 9:30 a.m. to noon, and another for 12:30 to 3 p.m. Eyes of the Wild shows are scheduled for 10 a.m. for the morning session and 12:45 for the afternoon session. Pre-registration is available online

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at thewatershed.org/butterfly-festival. The price is $10 per person or $25 per carload up to six people per car.

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The Kate Gorrie Butterfly House opened in 2000. The outdoor structure features native plants that provide nectar for butterflies and other pollinators.

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children at the 2023 Watershed Butterfly festival. (facebook photo.)

‘Grown Up Camp’ offers adults a

For the parents out there who drop their kids off at summer camp each day and wish they could stick around and play along, there is an answer: Grown Up Camp.

On Aug. 10, Screamin’ Hill Brewery, Liberty Lake Picnics and Events and Blend Bar and Bistro will host the third annual Grown Up Camp at 60-acre Liberty Lake.

Planned “grown-up” activities include boating, rock climbing, water balloon tosses, swimming, mini golf and something called archery tag.

Also on the schedule are a threelegged race, wall ball, 3-v-3 hoops, pickle-

ball, tug of war, Wiffle ball, water trampoline, laser tag, kickball and flag football.

Live music will be provided by Jakfire. Craft beer will be provided by Cream Ridge-based Screamin’ Hill Brewery.

Food trucks Relish the Dog, Smokin’ Rev and Toscano’s will also be on hand.

Grown Up Camp is for grown-ups only and costs $30 to attend ($40 at the door).

To purchase discount tickets in advance, go to libertylakepicnic.com/grownupcamp. The event is semi rain or shine; in the event of extreme weather, the rain date is Sunday, Aug. 11, but mere rain will not be expected to be cause enough for cancellation.

Candlelight Concerts coming to Masonic Temple on Aug. 17

Candlelight Concerts look to bring the phenomenon of a live, multisensory musical experience to locations throughout the world.

On Saturday, Aug. 17, the concert series will be at the Masonic Temple in Trenton for a performance of the music of Antonio Vivaldi, followed by a second concert, a tribute to Taylor Swift, all under the gentle glow of candlelight.

The Highline String Quartet are set to take the stage at the Masonic Temple at 6:30 p.m. to perform works from Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” as well as selections from “Carnival of the Animals” by Camille Saint-Saens.

That concert will be followed by a second concert, “A Tribute to Taylor Swift,” at 9 p.m. The Highline Quartet will play interpretations of Taylor Swift songs including “Love Story,” “Cardigan,” “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” “Anti-Hero,” “You Belong With Me” and “Shake It Off.”

Admission to each concert is separate. Tickets for the concerts range in price from $35 to $60. The Highline String Quartet are scheduled to return on Saturday, Sept. 28 for an encore performance of Vivaldi, followed that night by a tribute concert featuring the music of Coldplay. The Masonic Temple is located at 100 Barrack Street, Trenton. Web: feverup. com. A candlelight concert in Madrid. (Photo courtesy

• 6 Weeks to 6 Years

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At St. George Preschool, we believe that each child has an innate drive for exploring, discovering, communicating, and learning. Our purpose is to provide a safe, warm, and nurturing environment for children to develop this innate drive to the fullest, and become life-long learners. Our goal is to help each child develop his/her individual interests, creativity and potential at their own pace by providing a wide variety of fun and age-appropriate activities and materials.

In addition to the developmental goals in the areas of math, language, science, cognitive skills, motor skills, etc., stipulated by the state, the school aims to promote learning skills for life. At the same time, we aim to enhance the child’s social, moral, cultural and spiritual growth through group interactions, uplifting stories, cultural events and gentle guidance. Since “a healthy

mind is in a healthy body” as the Ancient Greeks said, we provide a huge indoors

gym and a beautiful play ground with regular physical activities.

We offer high quality academic English programs for Preschool (3 years and potty trained) and Pre-K (must be 4 years old by October 1 of school year). Early morning care, after care, and enrichment programs are also available. We are part of the Saint George Greek Orthodox Church and state licensed by the New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services. Our experienced staff has a passion building a foundation for a life-long love of learning. We are truly a family and we treat your children as such. For more information regarding our program, please visit our website: stgeorgepreschool.org.

Saint George Preschool, 1200 Klockner Road, Hamilton. 609-586-2223. Contact director Angela Gering at director@ stgeorgepreschool.org.

At Your service -

To book a classified ad in this section, please email your text and any other information to sjeronis@communitynews.org. Classifieds run at 75 cents per word with a $20 minimum per month. For more information, call 609-396-1511, ext. 132. SERVICES

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LEGAL SERVICES Wills, Power of Attorney, Real Estate, Federal and NJ Taxes, Education Law. House calls available. Bruce Cooke, Esq. 609-7994674, 609-721-4358.

Guitar and Ukulele lessons for Seniors. Call Jane 609 5101400. $25.00 per lesson.

Senior Companion. Let me be your helper. In the home or on the road. Part-time/Day or evening. Holidays and weekends no problem. Very good references. Call Mary Ann, 609-298-4456 Cell: 609-6764530. Viewthistimebesttime. wordpress.com For Sale by Owner

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Selling two single side by side crypts located at Princeton Memorial Park, Robbinsville, NJ. If interested, please call Cecilia Peters at 973-701-1638 or send an email to cecyandrichardpeters@ verizon.net

One furnished room with private bath in Ewing High area by 72-yr old, quiet male. Call Scott 609-883-8443

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Cash paid for World War II Military Items. Helmets, swords, medals, etc. Call: 609-

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Happy Heroes used books looking to buy old Mysteries, Science Fiction, Children’s Illustrated, kids series books (old Hardy boys-Nancy DrewJudy Bolton- Dana girls, WITH DUSTJACKETS in good shape), Dell Mapbacks - Good Girl Art PULPS - non-sports cards, good conditioned pre 1975 paperbacks old COLLIER’S. Call 609-619-3480 or email happyheroes@gmail.com.

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SNGs Burgers and Dogs focuses on serving the Ewing community

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Ewing Mayor Bert Steinmann and Business Administrator Aaron Watson celebrate the ribbon cutting of SNGs Burgers and Dogs with two of the restaurant’s owners earlier this year. Pictured are Watson (left), co-owner Chericka Lockhart, Mayor Steinmann and co-owner Roberta Barthelemy.

SNGs—a casual eatery in Ewing that specializes in serving a variety of hot dogs and smash burgers recently celebrated its one-year anniversary.

The eatery, which located in Birmingham Plaza shopping center on Parkway Avenue, is co-owned by four friends— Chericka Lockhart, Roberta Barthelemy, Davon Veal and Keith Williams.

“The guys participate and coach in the youth football program here in Ewing, and we used to do a lot of cookouts for the kids, where we would cook them burgers and dogs. One day we were hanging around, and we just thought it would be fun to open a restaurant.”

She adds: “We wanted to start a business where we could hire a lot of the kids that came from the football program and show them different aspects of business and give them some work ethic.”

SNGs opened in Spring 2023 featuring smash burgers, hot dogs (glizzies), steak and sausage sandwiches, and fries. SNGs aims to provide a welcoming, communityfocused environment and they are flexible in accommodating customer requests and dietary needs. While the restaurant is takeout, there is a seating area outside for people who want to eat on site.

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RAVE is the official notification system that calls your phone or sends you a text message or email to alert you to important Ewing news such as delayed trash pickup, fireworks, or emergency road closures. Community notifications connected to what is happening If you already have an account, need to update it to receive emergency messages.

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that. It’s good quality food at a really good price. We wanted to make it affordable for not just youth, but college students and adults.”

Lockhart points out that most of the food they serve is homemade. “We make most of our sauces—like our creole sauce, for example. Our burgers are from fresh ground beef and our cheese steaks are fresh-shaved ribeye.” They also recently added a homemade hot honey buffalo sauce.

Community notifications help you to stay connected to what is happening in Ewing! If you already have an account, you may need to update it to receive NONemergency messages.

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Community notifications help you to stay connected to what is happening in Ewing! If you already have an account, you may need to update it to receive NONemergency messages.

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WHAT IS RAVE? WHY SHOULD I SIGN UP?

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NEW REGISTRANTS

Community notifications help you to stay connected to what is happening in Ewing! If you already have an account, you may need to update it to receive NONemergency messages.

MAYOR BERT H. STEINMANN

• Go to www.ewingnj.org/ravealerts, or on a smartphone text SMART911 to 67283; or scan the QR code on this page.

2 JAKE GARZIO DRIVE, EWING NJ

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SNGs is currently open Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m. Lockhart said they are planning special August hours where they’ll be open on Mondays for lunch, from 11 a.m. to 2 or 3 p.m. “A lot of people and a lot of businesses are telling us that they want lunch from us. So we’re listening.”

MAYOR BERT H. STEINMANN 2 JAKE GARZIO DRIVE, EWING NJ

609-883-2900 | WWW.EWINGNJ.ORG

“We love Ewing, and although not all of us live in Ewing, we come here to do a lot of things,” Lockhart says. “We wanted to have a special place for kids of all ages to come and eat.”

She adds: “It’s kind of like fast food takeout, but it’s not McDonald’s or anything like

They’re also considering opening for breakfast. “Apparently the restaurant that we took over was the only one who did breakfast in this area. So, we’re learning that there is a market for that. We’re trying to get enough staff and see if we can open at 6 a.m. to accommodate what the community is asking for.”

While SNGs does not have a fully developed website yet, they maintain an active social media presence on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. Search for them on those sites for the most up-to-date information on their hours and offerings.

SNGs Burgers and Dogs, Birmingham Plaza shopping center, 1400 Parkway Ave., Ewing. (609) 323-7903.

609-883-2900 | WWW.EWINGNJ.ORG

Community notifications help you to stay connected to what is happening in Ewing! If you already have an account, you may need to update it to receive NONemergency messages.

HOW TO SIGN UP

• Click on the “Sign Up Now” button to access the registration form.

• Fill out all fields including a checkbox for Community Notifications, and click on “Create Account.” You will receive a verification code to complete your registration. Remember to save your login information!

EXISTING REGISTRANTS

MAYOR BERT H. STEINMANN

2 JAKE GARZIO DRIVE, EWING NJ 609-883-2900 | WWW.EWINGNJ.ORG

• Sign in to your RAVE account to update your preferences.

NEED ASSISTANCE? Ewing staff members are happy to help! 609-883-2900 x7777

sports Football tournament celebrates late coach’s legacy

Bu Justin Feil

Monica Brooks-Skinner always looks for signs of Darvin Henderson.

Her son was a 2008 Ewing High School graduate who gave back to his community as a coach and philanthropist before passing away tragically at 31 just days after Thanksgiving in 2021 due to asthma complications.

“I’m still sad and it’s been two years,” said Brooks-Skinner. “It seemed like it was yesterday.”

The inaugural Darvin Henderson Memorial 7on7 Tournament hosted by Ewing High on July 18 was a tribute to Henderson’s legacy, and she felt his presence as she stood and watched the six area teams play in his honor two weeks ahead of the start of their preseason.

“This was awesome and I know he just shining down, watching this,” said BrooksSkinner. “The clouds opened up and then this whole big red sun came out. I saluted to the sun. I don’t know if nobody noticed me, but I was in saluting it. Everything was

beautiful.”

Ewing football coach Ross Maddalon started organizing the event in February. He reached out to area teams Nottingham, Hopewell Valley, Trenton, Notre Dame and Lawrence, and all responded with enthusiasm.

“When I mentioned it to them back in February, they were all gung ho about it,” said Maddalon, who heads into his third season at the helm of the Blue Devils. “They were all extraordinarily excited. And they’re like, let’s do it. They were very appreciative. The coaches were great. And overall it was just a great evening.”

Hopewell prevailed in the final seconds of the final game to win the title. Each team played the other five teams in a sort of round robin. Games had a 25-minute running clock and they played three games at

a time – two split on the turf field and one on grass. Messages to Maddalon after the game all reflected a similar feeling.

“This was perfect,” he said. “They all felt it’s great to honor Darv. It was a great idea to do it. They were all very, very pleased with the turn out the competitiveness.”

Maddalon wanted to do something to honor Henderson, who he’d heard so much about following his death. After graduating from Ewing, Henderson went on to earn an associate’s degree from Monmouth University and a bachelor’s degree from Seton Hill University. After graduating from college, he established Playmaker Athletics, and he spent much of his life training and bettering others.

“He just wanted to train them kids and make sure their kids would be the best

they can be,” Brooks-Skinner said. “And they are so that was why my heart is happy now.”

She still hears from families that were impacted by Henderson’s training and the success that their son helped to create. He didn’t stop there. He raised funds and passed out turkeys and food around Thanksgiving – doing some days before his death – and supplied winter coats and items to those in need. He did more, but kept his contributions low key.

“Every single time I kept hearing his name, there was something positive to be said about him,” Maddalon said. “I’ve never heard one person speak ill will about him whatsoever and everything has been positive. He’s a had major impact, and been a positive influence, a great role model. Everything about him, he was in it for the kids, giving rides to kids, everything else. And you know, everything was fantastic.”

The first two years after his death, his mother gave away $3,000 to three college-bound student-athletes through the

Darvin Henderson Book Scholarship Fund. The inaugural 7on7 event helped today’s players remember his legacy from around the area. Henderson’s reach always went well beyond Ewing Township.

“I thought they might forget about him until coach Maddalon called,” BrooksSkinner said.

She was touched by the gesture. At the event’s conclusion, Maddalon invited Brooks-Skinner onto the field where the teams gathered at midfield. She gave some brief comments to all that gathered there about her son.

“It was so wonderful to bring all the football players together for my son because that’s all he loved was football,” BrooksSkinner said. “And all he loved was to pick people up and train kids.”

Said Maddalon: “She was very, very thankful and we were thankful for having her show up as well.”

He is hoping to continue holding the event in honor of Henderson. It was an event he would have loved. The six teams got to take a look at their skill positions in the leadup to the season.

“Every single team was very, very competitive,” Maddalon said. “They all played hard. I thought for the first time running it, I thought it went very well.”

Ewing has been holding workouts through the summer each week from

Monday through Thursday. They don’t always have the opportunity to do 7on7 though, and so this was a special event.

“I know a lot of the other teams do very, very similar things,” Maddalon said. “We’ll do a little bit of 7on7 against each other like inner squad, maybe a couple days a week after practice. But this is the only one that we do officially against other teams.

“Through the summer, I know teams like Hopewell and Notre Dame and Nottingham have gone to some others. They’ve gone to some either at their own place or they’ve done something, maybe at like a tournament or two. This is the only one that we have technically done, and it’s good.”

It’s a different look from a normal practice night. The quarterbacks and receivers as well as the secondary on defense all get some helpful work, though it’s different without the linemen there and some of the pressures that could come with them.

“It’s not always, I would say, realistic football at all,” Maddalon said. “But it’s something where at least you can work on for offense, your route timing, your route running, quarterback reads. Defensively, you could work your drop zones. You could work your man coverage. You could correct a lot of technique in 7on7, which is

See FOOTBALL, Page 16

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With preseason set to begin the second week of August, Maddalon is excited about the Blue Devils’ potential. They have been holding workouts and splitting time between getting stronger and faster in the weight room and fine tuning their skills on the field.

there’s things bigger than football,” Maddalon said. “There’s a bigger picture. There’s something always that’s going to be more important and we talk about things like being a good role model, we talk about integrity, we talk about character, we talk about being a good person and football teaches you those lessons.

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“We have a really good group of kids this year and we have a lot of great attitudes,” Maddalon said. “The kids are going to work hard and we’re really looking forward to getting going with them.”

He said that life teaches people many lot of things that they might not get from other places.

“At some point in a kid’s lifetime, unless they end up becoming an NFL football player, football’s going to be gone,” Maddalon said. “So we try to tell the kids, you’re doing this and you’re doing that to become a better football player, but getting the community involved.”

Are you looking for a rewarding career where you can make a difference in your community?

Ewing Township Police Department is seeking dedicated individuals to join our team of dispatchers. Start your journey!

The program makes it about more than football. In March, the team participated in the Read Across America campaign for the second straight year. They visited elementary schools and read to the kids. The week before the Darvin Henderson Memorial, the Blue Devils hosted a oneday youth clinic that helped connect with the Ewing community. It welcomed 46 players third through eighth grade.

Examples include things like the 7on7 tournament, youth clinics, and the Read Across Americ campaign.

Ewing Township Police Department is seeking dedicated individuals to join our team of dispatchers. Start your journey!

“We’re trying to promote the sport as much as possible and hopefully get back as much as we can,” Maddalon said.

Are you looking for a rewarding career where you can make a difference in your community?

rewarding career where you can make a difference in your community? Police Department is seeking dedicated our team of dispatchers. Start your journey!

Ewing Township Police Department is seeking dedicated individuals

Ewing Township Police Department is seeking

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Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/ewingpdcareers or scan the code.

are accepted on a For more information, https://bit.ly/ewingpdcareers code.

There’s a purposeful approach to involving the Ewing football players in such events. Henderson’s example was particularly meaningful for the outlook.

“We’re preaching to everybody there, not just Ewing, but all the teams that

“We need our kids to grow up to become respectable young adults,” he said. “Doing these things resonates with them. It may not hit them as much right now, but later on in life, when they look back hopefully it’s molding them to become fine young men.”

Henderson walked that walk. He lived his life for others after graduating from Ewing.

“He’s impacted the world,” said Brooks-Skinner.

Greater Access to Emergency Care at Capital Health Regional Medical Center

Expanded Emergency Department Capacity

Part of Continuing Investments in Trenton

Capital Health has officially opened expanded Emergency Department space for patient care at Capital Health Regional Medical Center (RMC) located at 750 Brunswick Avenue in Trenton. The Emergency Department at RMC has added 16 new beds to allow for 50 beds total (including fast track beds) with an additional trauma bay bringing the total of trauma-dedicated beds to three.

The project benefited significantly from a $6.3 million grant through the American Rescue Plan Act and a partnership with the Department of Community Affairs.

“The health care landscape in the City of Trenton has seen significant changes in recent years, so it’s more important than ever for Capital Health to preserve and expand key medical services and patient-centered care,” said Samuel J. Plumeri, Jr., chairman, Capital Healthcare Inc. Board of Trustees. “By pairing Capital Health’s commitment and vision with the key support of our elected officials, the Department of Community Affairs and the Department of Health, and other key partners, we can keep working to increase the breadth of emergency care available

to accommodate more patients and continue to address the pressing health care needs our neighbors face every day.”

“The expansion of our Emergency Department at Capital Health Regional Medical Center would not have been possible without the support of our elected officials as well as New Jersey’s Department of Community Affairs and Department of Health,” said Al Maghazehe, president and CEO of Capital Health. “Thanks to their support, we are able to make ongoing investments in the communities we serve and foster our shared commitment to providing Trenton area residents with access to advanced, comprehensive health care.”

This increase in capacity at the Emergency Department marks the beginning of extensive renovations at RMC that include additional patient floors and a new state-of-the-art cardiac surgery suite. The projects will all benefit from funding from the state, thanks to the support of the state legislative delegation for the 15th district and the Governor’s Office. Additional projects beyond the ED at RMC will also benefit from a $500,000 grant from Bank of America which was awarded to Capital Health to support expanded access at the Trenton location.

Capital Health Regional Medical Center is home to a state designated comprehensive stroke center (part of the Capital Institute for Neurosciences), the Level II Bristol-Myers Squibb Trauma Center, a cardiac surgery and cardiovascular services program, and Mercer County’s designated Emergency Mental Health Services Center. RMC also offers inpatient and outpatient radiology services, dialysis, and numerous other medical services.

For more information about Capital Health, visit capitalhealth.org. If you or a loved one is experiencing a medical emergency, please call 9-1-1.

Capital Health Partnering with TVAX Biomedical to Offer Brain Cancer Immunotherapy Trial

Only Participating Clinical Site in the Northeast United States

Capital Health Cancer Center has announced that it has joined TVAX Biomedical, Inc.’s clinical trial to study a potential novel therapy for glioblastoma (GBM), the most common type of malignant brain cancer. Capital Health Cancer Center is one of five clinical sites open in the United States and currently the only East Coast location north of Florida to offer access to the TVAX trial.

“Our participation in clinical trials is critical to Capital Health’s focus on providing the best and most personalized care possible for our patients,” said DR. NAVID REDJAL, director of Neurosurgical Oncology at Capital Health.

“Thanks to the efforts of our amazing clinical and research teams, we’re excited to offer this groundbreaking trial to our patients and contribute data to a study that could lead to an exciting new therapy for treating GBM.”

There have been many trials over the past 20 years seeking to use the power of the immune system to attack GBM. None to date has proven effective. The investigational approach proposed by the TVAX protocol utilizes a patient’s own tumor cells to create a vaccine, which then is given to the patient to generate a specific immune response to their tumor. The laboratory collects, activates and expands these anti-tumor immune cells, which may lead to a more robust immune response when given back to the patient. The goal of this study is to evaluate whether or not this approach will overcome the natural tumor immune suppression of GBM and allow the immune system to kill remaining tumor cells.

“TVAX Biomedical is very pleased to include Capital Health and the expertise of Drs. Navid Redjal and Michael Salacz and their entire staff in this study. We hope this late-stage clinical study will significantly improve clinical outcomes for these patients with so few options,” said Dr. Wayne Carter, CEO of TVAX Biomedical. The TVAX clinical trial at Capital Health Cancer Center is open to adults from age 18 to 80 with a new diagnosis of glioblastoma with methylguanine methyltranserase (MGMT) that is active or “unmethylated.” Because collecting enough cells to create the vaccine is the first step of this immune treatment, patients will need to be able to have surgery at Capital Health. Trial screening is required to determine if candidates meet the full criteria for participation in any clinical trial.

“We’re excited to be part of studies like the TVAX trial and offer patients new possibilities for treatment of glioblastoma,” said DR. MICHAEL SALACZ, director of Medical Neuro-Oncology at Capital Health. “This is a true personalized treatment approach that uses a patient’s own tumor to unlock the power of their immune system to kill any remaining cancer cells. Our participation in the study could lead to better outcomes for patients and their families fighting brain tumors like glioblastoma in our region and beyond.”

The Center for Neuro-Oncology, part of Capital Institute for Neurosciences and Capital Health Cancer Center, is a referral center for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer involving the brain and spine. The Center is housed in state-of-the-art facilities where patients have access to an experienced and caring team of physicians, nurses and staff who work closely with referring physicians to facilitate rapid and thorough evaluations and recommendations for patients and their families. In addition to providing advanced neuro-oncologic and neuroscience care, the Center participates in clinical trials to develop better ways to fight cancer. To learn more, visit capitalhealth.org/neurooncology.

To learn more about this and other ongoing trials available at Capital Health’s Center for Neuro-Oncology, please call 609.394.4130.

Capital Health Attains National Reaccreditation from the American College of Surgeons National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers

Fourth consecutive accreditation demonstrates Capital Health’s commitment to improving comprehensive breast care

Capital Health’s Center for Comprehensive Breast Care, part of Capital Health Cancer Center, has received reaccreditation under the American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC).

“With this reaccreditation, patients can have confidence in our ability to accurately diagnose and provide the best possible treatment for breast cancer and other breast health conditions,” said Dr. Cataldo Doria, medical director of the Capital Health Cancer Center. “With a full range of breast care available under one roof, such as annual screenings, advanced diagnostics, genetic counseling and testing, leading-edge oncology care and a high risk breast cancer program, patients benefit from the combined knowledge of an expansive medical team that includes breast surgeons, radiologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, plastic surgeons, pathologists, rehabilitation services, and related support services.”

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women in the United States after skin cancer. Programs accredited by the NAPBC follow a model for organizing and managing a breast center to facilitate multidisciplinary, integrated, and comprehensive breast cancer services. The NAPBC focuses on the spectrum of a patient’s journey with breast cancer or breast disease, including prevention, screening, treatment, and survivorship. By setting high standards, NAPBC accreditation guides breast centers in providing comprehensive breast care based on scientific evidence.

“ACS Quality programs are grounded in more than a century of experience and participation is an important measure of a hospital’s surgical quality. As an ACS Surgical Quality Partner, Capital Health has shown a commitment to providing the best possible patient care, evaluating that care in a rigorous fashion, and dedicating themselves to continuous self-improvement,” said ACS Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Patricia L. Turner.

As an institution accredited by the NAPBC, Capital Health also becomes an ACS Surgical Quality Partner in recognition of its dedication to consistently improving procedures and approaches while maintaining a critical eye on process at every step. The Surgical Quality Partner designation lets patients know that Capital Health’s Center for Comprehensive Breast Care is dedicated to quality and relentless self-improvement and has been accredited by the ACS. Patients can trust that the care they receive at Surgical Quality Partner hospitals adheres to the most rigorous standards in surgical quality.

Capital Health’s Center for Comprehensive Breast Care offers a complete range of personalized, breast care programs and services from advanced diagnostics and genetic testing to leading edge cancer care all at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell. From cancer to cysts, abscesses, lesions, breast pain and other breast-related disorders, patients receive care from a multidisciplinary team that collaborates closely to develop a personalized treatment plan. For more information, call 609.537.6767 or visit capitalbreast.org.

Capital Health Cancer Center, located at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell, is home to the Center for Comprehensive Breast Care as well as other centers of excellence specializing in lung care, liver health, neuro-oncology, pancreatic health, and robotic-assisted surgery. To learn more, visit capitalhealthcancer.org.

Pediatric-Friendly Emergency Care at Capital Health – East Trenton

A trip to an emergency room can be overwhelming for anyone, but for children it can be especially scary. To help families in Trenton feel more comfortable while their children receive emergency care, Capital Health recently added pediatric-friendly rooms to the Emergency Department at Capital Health – East Trenton. Located at 601 Hamilton Avenue in Trenton, New Jersey (where St. Francis Medical Center used to be), the East Trenton emergency room facilities feature a section of rooms designed to put children more at ease with pediatric seating, a toy closet, and brighter new fabrics and décor.

“As health care evolves in Trenton, residents can rest assured that we continue to provide emergency care for our younger patients and that we are responsive to what the community needs and asks for,” said Al Maghazehe, president and CEO of Capital Health.

“The satellite emergency department at Capital Health – East Trenton is open 24/7 to the community with emergency room physicians and nurses who are specifically trained to care for all kinds of emergencies that children experience, including injuries and illnesses.”

The toy closet in the new pediatric-friendly Emergency Department space was made possible through the generosity of the Capital Health Auxiliary. The Capital Health Auxiliary is a dedicated group of individuals organized to support educational and health programs at Capital Health that benefit its patients and communities.

On December 21, 2022, Capital Health assumed responsibility for health care services previously provided by St. Francis Medical Center in Trenton, New Jersey. That campus, which now operates an Emergency Department and some outpatient services, has been renamed Capital Health – East Trenton and is home to an

outpatient medicine clinic, the Capital Health School of Nursing and School of Radiologic Technology, and the CARES Child Wellness Program.

In addition to the new pediatric-friendly area of the Emergency Department at Capital Health – East Trenton, Capital Health continues to operate a specialized Pediatric Emergency Department at its nearby Hopewell campus for patients in Mercer and Bucks counties who are newborns through 20 years of age. From the waiting room to all clinical areas, this 16-bed unit is designed just for children and parents and is staffed by boardcertified physicians and pediatric-trained nurses. Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell is also home to a Pediatric Observation Program that allows children who are not well enough to go home, but not sick enough to stay be admitted as inpatients to receive continuous, quality, family-centered care under observation for complaints such as respiratory disorders, dehydration, and illnesses by fever to name a few. If at any time a child requires additional care or an extended stay, Capital Health partners with local children’s hospitals who will assume care and help coordinate a transfer to their facility. For more information about Capital Health – East Trenton, visit capitalhealth.org/easttrenton.

Birmingham beautification

HELEN KULL

EWING THEN & NOW

Editor’s not: The following column was helf from the July issue of the Observer due to space limitations.

Once again this month, “Ewing Then and Now” features a recent “now” story— and it’s a beauty!

Anyone driving through the main intersection in West Trenton, where West Upper Ferry Road/Parkway Avenue, and Bear Tavern Road/Grand Avenue intersect, has no doubt noticed the beautiful improvement of the “pocket park” featured at the intersection. The West Trenton Garden Club recently engaged in an initiative to enhance the park, and they have done so in (and undoubtedly with) spades!

Located at the crossroads in what was then known as the village of Birmingham where General Washington’s troops split in two directions on Christmas Night, 1776 in order to surprise the Hessians in Trenton with a two-pronged attack, the small plot of land has been the location for many homes and businesses over the centuries, including at one point the original location of the West Trenton Hardware Store.

But now the land is owned by the township, and maintained by the West Trenton Garden Club, a 70-year-old organization of horticultural enthusiasts and dedicated Township residents, committed to sharing “the love of gardening, the principles of flower design, and encouraging civic improvement with its members and the community.

Birmingham Park, as it is now known, has for five years been the home to a Blue Star Memorial By-Way monument. The Blue Star program was begun in 1944 by the NJ Council of Garden Clubs with the planting of 8000 Dogwood trees along Route 22 in N.J. as a living memorial to veterans of World War II.

The idea caught on, and now, in collaboration with state departments of transportation, the program has spread nationwide to honor all who serve in the United States Armed Services. The West Trenton Garden Club is proud to have a Blue Star Memorial in the park.

But club members felt that the memorial, and indeed the park itself, needed some improvements and enhancements. So they applied for a $1000 “Community Project” grant from the National Garden Club to provide for new benches and flags, infrastructure (water supply) improvements, and some plant

acquisitions for bed plantings surrounding the monument.

They were thrilled to be awarded the grant money in mid-December 2022, funds which were later supplemented by individual donations and a fundraising project of individualized, commemorative bricks.

The volunteer members of the Garden Club soon organized into teams to efficiently and effectively coordinate the various tasks necessary to complete the project, under the leadership of Rick Lazarick.

Coordination with partners such as Ewing Township Public Works, Rutgers University Department of Landscape Architecture, Bountiful Gardens and Mercer County Technical Schools Sypek Center helped to provide input for decisions, and move the project along smoothly.

Progress on the beautification of the park in 2023 included clearing out old growth in the park; replacing the benches; placing flags in the park; improving the access to water for the plantings; laying two areas of commemorative bricks; selecting and purchasing the red, white and blue-flowering perennials to surround the Blue Star Memorial, and other plants and trees for the rest of the garden; and finally planting more than 100 plants in September of 2023.

The plants strengthened their roots over the winter, and this spring, they sprung up from the ground, looking phenomenal! The members completed reporting and final aspects of the project, and held a public Celebration of the Enhancements just weeks ago in May.

Garden Club members, project partners, project donors, township officials and others were invited to view and enjoy the garden, and to celebrate the great work done by the Garden Club to beautify this pocket park in West Trenton.

There are many small “gems” in Ewing—people, places, institutions which shine in their own small way for all of us to see and enjoy.

Birmingham Park is one of these gems, and so is the West Trenton Garden Club and its generous, energetic members. Make sure to visit the park, give thanks for those who have served our country, and enjoy the beautiful, welcoming enhancements the Club has made!

And if you enjoy gardening, I’m sure the West Trenton Garden Club would welcome your participation! You can learn more about them at westtrentongc.org.

Ewing Recreation

August 2024

Ewing Recreation and Ewing Green Team are running the 9th annual Fall Spin Bike Ride on Saturday, September 21, starting at Campus Town and benefit the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen. Preregistration can be done online at communitypass.net. Riders can register the day of the ride starting at 7:45 am in the parking area. The ride starts at 8:15 a.m. For more information go to ewinggreenteam.org/ewingfallspin or call Ewing Rec Department.

On Saturday, October 26th, Ewing Recreation will host Trunk or Treat starting at 3:00 pm at TCNJ parking area. Activities include pumpkin decorating, arts and crafts, food, music, lots of candy and more.

Registration is being accepted online for the fall for youth tackle football and soccer. For football go to ewingjrbluedevils.com. Football games and practices are held at Moody Park and the program starts in early August. Soccer games and practices are held at Municipal Soccer Fields, next to Town Hall. The program starts in August and the games start in mid- September. Go to ewingunited.com to register. Ewing/Lawrence Little League is accepting registration for Fall Ball online at www.ltjbsa.com.

The Ewing Community Pools System offers two pools for seasonal members and daily patrons. The Hollowbrook

Pool located at 320 Hollowbrook Drive, is open Sunday – Friday, ESCC Pool, 999 Lower Ferry Rd is open daily, pools hours are Noon–8 pm, starting August 12, 12 – 7:30 pm.

Ewing Pickleball group plays at Banchoff Park on Tuesday mornings 8:30–10:30 am, Wednesday evenings 5:30–7:30 pm. To join the group, go to Team Reach app group E08638.

Ewing Recreation Department is taking applications for picnic area permits at the following parks, John Watson on Upper Ferry Rd., Banchoff on Mt. Vie 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.

Senior Corner

August 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. Mexican Train

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 (August Hiatus)

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

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 – (August Hiatus.)

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

Third Thursday of the month. General Body 10 a.m. Meeting is open to the public.

CLUBS: (All held in Room #201-202) (Hiatus in 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)

Senior Department Annual Picnic

Thursday, Sept. 5. Noon--2 p.m. ESCC pool patio area—weather permitting. Smooth vocals by “Peter Lieberman– Kings of Keys on the Keyboard.” Don’t miss this end of summer event. $5 pp/ $80 non-resident. Register and pay by Aug. 8.

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.

EWING RESIDENTS: HOLLOWBROOK COMMUNITY CENTER

2nd Floor Rm# 207 Senior Office QUESTIONS: 609-883-1776

Senior Corner is paid content by Ewing Township.

Second child syndrome

DONNIE BLACK BETTING

If you are the second born child, you will be able to relate to this. If you are the first-born child, pay attention because we second borners(is that a word?), we had it rough.

I couldn’t imagine being a third borner. Did I just make up a word? Oh well, call Webster’s and tell them to add it. My mother would be super upset if she saw the word “borner” in her column.

Forgive me Mother for I am not the wordsmith you were nor ever will be. I should probably grab a dictionary before I start writing. Well, back to second born children like myself.

Hand-me-downs were the second child’s future. Cribs, blankets, toys, cars—we’re getting the leftovers. Now, I had an older brother, so I don’t know anything about having a sibling of the different gender. I’m sure my wife Michelle wasn’t wearing her brother’s clothes, but I could be wrong.

I’m not a parent, but I know a few and when they have their first kid they are so protective. They won’t let the kid out of their sight.

The second one comes along and the parents are like “whatever he/she wants to do is cool, we don’t care.”

The second kid does get away with murder but still has to wear a six-year-old pair of pants and a shirt that is super outdated. In 1996, I was wearing a 1991 Chicago Bulls championship shirt.

Nowadays it’s called vintage or a throwback, but back then it was straight up old.

“Get a new shirt, kid!” I used to pray my brothers British Knights light up shoes didn’t lose their lights, because I knew in a couple years, those shoes would be mine. That’s a little white lie but you get the point. I remember one Christmas, I opened all of my gifts from Santa and was miserable because, if you know me, I was never happy(sorry mom and dad).

My brother had one more gift. It was in a big box wrapped in blue wrapping paper. I was a three years old sitting on our brown couch with the Yule Log playing on repeat on the TV hoping it was underwear or socks. No kid under 16 wanted underwear or socks. I will happily take them today!!

It was just the opposite. The next three minutes of my thre- year-old life were filled with my brother screaming “Nintendo” at the top of his lungs. He must have said it like 75 times. I was not happy and was thinking “dude, we get it. You got a stupid Nintendo and I’m stuck with the hand-me-down Atari.”

My mom was recording this entire thing on a huge black camcorder. Remember the old camcorders? They were stored in a big metal type suit case and the thing was about 30 pounds. You would put it on your shoulder like you were about to shoot off a missile. My buddies and I used that thing a ton in our later years. Getting carried away again, she videotaped the whole thing and got my response to my brothers dream gift of a Nintendo.

MILLER'S

I was caught on camera selfishly saying “I want another present.” At that moment, I knew I had to wait until Super Nintendo came out so I could get the Nintendo. I wish I still had that VHS tape, but I accidentally taped over it with an episode of Monday Night Raw. Oops! I mean it was 1999 and it was the Attitude Era of wrestling and Stone Cold Steve Austin was probably about to wrestle The Rock. So worth it!

Looking back on my childhood, being the second kid wasn’t so bad. My brother had already gotten in trouble for stuff and took the brunt of it so when I did it, it was normal activity. I did follow in my brothers footsteps when it came to schools and sports. Probably because I had to wait for him to get rid of the shoes he was wearing so I could finally wear them. Being the second kid isn’t so bad, it’s all about how you look at it. I still wish I got the Nintendo first!

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.

Smart ways to prevent drowning

Ask The Doctor

See our ads in SIX09 section pgs 5 and 7

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, accidental drownings lead to about 8,000 emergency department visits nationwide each year.

“Drowning can be fast and silent, but it may be prevented,” says Jasmeet Mehta, MD, Internal Medicine. Some ways to help reduce the risk of a potential drowning and potentially save a life include:

• KNOW: Small children can drown in shallow water.

high rip currents at the beach/shore. If you get caught in a rip current, allow it to carry you until you are able to swim parallel to the shore. Do not swim against the current, as this will tire you out and put you at risk of drowning. If you or a loved one is having an emergency or are in an emergency situation, immediately call 9-1-1.

Jasmeet K. Mehta, MD, Internal Medicine, is an RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group provider and practices at Medical Associates Hamilton & Primary Care Express, 3100 Quakerbridge Road, Hamilton and is affiliated with RWJUH Hamilton, an RWJBarnabas Health facility.

Dr. Jasmeet Mehta

• SUPERVISE: Make sure at least one adult swimmer provides constant supervision of any child/children near or in the water.

• PROTECT: Install fences and gates around home pools. Consider adding an alarm that alerts you anytime someone goes into the water.

• RESTRICT: Prohibit children from running around the outside of pools to reduce the risk of slips and falls.

• TEACH: Enroll children, and adults who can’t swim, in swim lessons. Make sure they wear life jackets, vests and floaties in the water if they can’t swim, but still be sure an adult swimmer provides constant supervision.

• JUMP: Never dive headfirst into water unless you know how deep it is. Instead, wade in or jump in feetfirst.

• RESPECT: Always swim near a lifeguard. Heed red-flag warnings for

To make an appointment or for more information, call (609) 245-7430 or visit rwjbh.org/ medgroupprimarycare to find a provider near you. Let’s be healthy together.

Programs at RWJU Hamilton this month

The following programs are open to all and registration is required. Programs are sponsored by RWJUH Hamilton Community Health/ Community Education and Better Health Program, a free membership program for anyone 65+ years old. All programs take place at the Center for Health & Wellness located at RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center, 3100 Quakerbridge Rd., Hamilton, unless otherwise noted. View the calendar of programs available online at rwjbh. org/hamiltonprograms, or for more information call (609) 584-5900.”

TUESDAY, AUGUST 13

Yoga class. (Better Health Program). 10- 11 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. Registration is required, and new members are welcome to join. Learn more online at rwjbh.org/ hamiltonbetterhealth.

THUrSDAY, AUGUST 15

Game time. (Better Health Program). Also Aug. 29. 1- 2:30 p.m. Join our Better Health members for game time! Snacks and some wholesome fun included. A variety of board games will be available, or you are welcome to bring your own. Registration is required, and new members are welcome to join. Learn more online at rwjbh.org/ hamiltonbetterhealth.

MONDAY, AUGUST 19

Dizziness: Causes and prevention. (Community Education). 10- 11 a.m. Are you lightheaded? Do you feel unsteady on your feet or off balance? Join Lorraine Sgarlato, AuD, Audiologist, RWJUH Hamilton’s Balance and Hearing Center, to learn about some causes and treatments for dizziness. The Balance and Hearing Center is located at 2 Hamilton Health Place, Hamilton, 609-2457390. Registration is required at rwjbh.org/ hamiltonprograms.

MONDAY, AUGUST 26

Orthopedics 101: Total hip replacement. (Community Education). 1-2 p.m. Join RWJUH Hamilton’s Orthopedic Program Coordinator, Denise Berdecia, MSN, RN, ONC; and RWJ Rehabilitation Hamilton’s Lead Re-

habilitation Therapists, Maureen Stevens, PT, DPT, GCS, Cert. MDT; and Sarah Masco, OTD, OTR/L, CLT-LANA, for an in-depth discussion about total hip replacements. These experts will explain the benefits of having the procedure at RWJUH Hamilton, treatment options, choosing a specialist, how to decide if surgery is right for you, and recovery options available through outpatient therapy at RWJ Rehab. RWJUH Hamilton is Joint Commission Certified as well as a Center for Excellence from The Joint Commission in hip and knee replacement, ensuring the highest standards in quality and patient safety. Registration is required at rwjbh.org/ hamiltonprograms.

TUESDAY,

AUGUST 27

Yoga class. (Better Health Program). Also Aug. 27. 10- 11 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.

THUrSDAY,

AUGUST 29

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