5-23 HE

Briggs scholarship gives teens a 3-week taste of Irish culture

‘Three-Pint Challenge’ run to raise funds for Hibernians program

By JOe EMANsKi

Billy Briggs created more than just a bar when he opened Tír na nOg on Hamilton Avenue in Trenton in 1991. He also created a community.

And although the man widely known as “Irish Billy Briggs” died in 2008, his bar, his legacy and that community endure to this day.

part of the program, serving as co-chairs.

To help raise some of the funds needed to keep the scholarship going, 10 intrepid runners are set to take part in the “Three Pint Challenge,” a fivemile trek starting at The Blend Bar and Bistro on Route 33 in Hamilton and ending at Tír na nOg. The route will take the runners by another local bar, Killarney’s Publick House in Hamilton, and the runners have pledged to drink a pint of beer at all three locations before continuing to the finish.

how far would you go if they were sick?

The Ancient Order of Hibernians Division No. 10 is a fraternal organization that sees Tír na nOg as a sort of second home. In 2010, Division 10 created a scholarship program in Briggs’ name as a way to honor him. Each year, the program sends two high school seniors on a three-week journey to County Donegal, Ireland, where they are immersed in Irish culture and history.

Michaela McFadden and Lauren Tracey were the first two winners of the scholarship. Thirteen years later, the Bordentown residents remain a

Tír na nOg owner Todd Faulkner is among those set to take part. Also planning to run are Dennis Griffin, John Knapp, Toby Oberg, Eoin O’Reilly, Natalie Wilson, Justin Lotter, Eric Nutt, Bryan Wible and Katie Gallagher. Many of the runners are either Division 10 members, Tír na nOg regulars, or both.

The run is scheduled for Sunday, May 7. Though McFadden and Tracey won’t be taking part in the run, they are certainly supporters of the event, whose runners look to raise more than $6,000 to help cover the costs of the scholarship program.

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“It was Todd’s idea,” Tracey says. “He reached out to us and

See BRIGGS, Page 4

When someone you care about is sick, you’ll do whatever it takes to make sure they get the best care. And so do we.

Seward Johnson sculpture set for a new Awakening in Hopewell

By SUe FerrArA

Sometimes news stories can’t help but become personal due to a concept Swiss psychologist Carl Jung called synchronicity–a term which recognizes that two or more events can align seemingly by coincidence. Such is the case for this writer, as the Hopewell Valley Arts Council prepares to embark on

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a celebration of the life and art of sculptor J. Seward Johnson, who died in March 2020 at the age of 89.

The six-month celebration begins with an opening ceremony on Sunday, May 21, at D&R Greenway’s St. Michaels Preserve, and will take place around one of my favorite Johnson sculptures, “The Awakening.” The event, sponsored by

the Hopewell Valley Arts Council and The Seward Johnson Atelier–in conjunction with D&R Greenway Land Trust and the artist’s family–begins at 11 a.m..

In an interview, Carol Lipson, executive director for the Hopewell Valley Arts Council, said she always wondered why Seward Johnson’s work was never displayed in the town

See AWAKENING, Page 8

“The Awakening,” a sculpture by the late Grounds For Sculpture founder, J. Seward Johnson, photographed mid-installation in April 2023. (Photo by E.M. Hume.)

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Hope Loves Company founder Jodi O’Donnell Ames and her husband, Benton Ames, have made plans to make a bike of nearly 400 miles to raise funds for the organization.

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said we would love to do this and give the money to the Billy Briggs Memorial Scholarship. Todd has kept Tír na nOg exactly the same (as it was when Briggs owned it), and I think Billy would be really proud.”

Briggs was born in Camden and grew up in Bordentown, graduating from Bordentown Regional High School. But his great passion was Irish causes.

He was a naturalized Irish citizen and a co-founder of the Luke Dillon Division of Irish Northern Aid. He received an Irish Patriot award from Sinn Féin vice president Pat Doherty. Briggs married an Irish woman, Margaret O’Donnell, with whom he had two children, twins Mairéad and Ellen. After his death, Briggs was buried in Ireland in accordance with his wishes.

Tracey and McFadden, both first generation Irish-Americans, say that when their fathers, Jude and Mark, immigrated to the U.S. from Ireland, they sought out Billy Briggs. Jude Tracey has been a bartender at Tír na nOg since the year it opened.

Faulkner says he and wife Maureen have always looked for more ways to support a scholarship that bears the name of the person who created the pub that they now own.

“It’s a great way to keep his name going strong in memory of him, and sending two kids to Ireland to learn what Billy was so passionate about,” he says.

The scholarship is open to high school seniors who either attend school in Mercer County or who have a parent or grandparent who is involved in a local IrishAmerican organization such as the AOH. Applicants are asked to submit essays with the theme, “My Irish Heritage and What it Means to Me.”

A panel of judges select two winners from all applicants to receive a threeweek trip to Coláiste Bhun An Inbhir, an Irish Cultural College in County Done-

gal. Winners stay with a host family and are exposed to the language, culture and sports of Ireland. This year’s winners, Christopher Whalen of Hamilton and Matthew Guhl-Erdie of Lawrence, are set to depart for Ireland on July 15, returning home on Aug. 7.

McFadden and Tracey became cochairs of the program in 2020. As the first recipients of the scholarship, McFadden and Tracey are able to share firsthand experience with each year’s winners.

“We know the environment, we’ve been on the trip,” Tracey says. “Doing this for 13 years, we’ve grown a great relationship with the school. They look forward to having the Americans there every year.”

McFadden says kids who go on the trip

See BRIGGS, Page 6

Billy Briggs Memorial Scholarship co-chairs Michaela McFadden, left, and Lauren Tracey, right, with Tracey’s father Jude, a bartender at Tír na nOg, an Irish pub in Trenton. A portrait of Billy Briggs hangs on the wall behind them.

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often come back with a newfound sense of independence, having made lifelong friends in the process. “Me and Lauren, when we go back to Ireland, we meet up with the kids we met on the trip,” she says. “In fact, we were recently both just bridesmaids at one of their weddings.”

The Three-Pint Challenge is by no means the only fundraising effort for the Billy Briggs Memorial Scholarship. AOH Division 10 hosts an annual golf tournament that supports the scholarship as well as local nonprofit organization City of Angels. The Hibernians and Tír na nOg also host guest bartender nights and raffles to raise money.

Dennis Griffin is among the 10 who are training to run in the Three-Pint Challenge. Griffin, a Pennington resident, has also set up a GoFundMe page for fundraising for the event(search for “Three Pint Challenge” on gofundme.com).

Griffin was a regular at Tír na nOg and a friend of Billy Briggs. Briggs was godfather to Grif-

fin’s daughter, Rosemarie, and Rosemarie was among the first recipients of the scholarship.

“Being teenagers, it’s a good time to meet up with people from another culture,” Griffin says. “My daughter met some lifelong friends there.”

Griffin and his wife, Caroline, have another daughter, Alanna, a musician who performs regularly at Tír na nOg and who regularly takes part in Irish music competitions in Ireland.

A cybersecurity engineer, Griffin seems a little trepidatious about the commitment to down pints at each stop on the run. “I told people I would, so I think I have to,” he says. “The first one is going to be the hard one I think, and the second one will probably be easy because I’ll be thirsty. The third, fourth and fifth ones at Tír na nOg will definitely go down easy.”

runners, but they’re sacrificing and doing it with us.”

The Three-Pint Challenge is not open to further participants. The route from The Blend to Tír na nOg would be difficult, if not impossible, to close down for an organized event, so the runners will be out on the road with just the other nine for company. Those interested in supporting the runners or the scholarship are welcome to join them at Tír na nOg in the afternoon, after they conclude their five-mile journey.

CAUTION

HAZARDOUS WASTE

Faulkner says he and Eric Nutt, another Tír na nOg regular, first had the idea to do a fundraising run a few years ago. This year, they finally turned those plans into reality, recruiting eight other people to do the

run with them.

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION AND ELECTRONICS RECYCLING EVENT

“I reached out to people I thought would be interested, that I know enjoy running and

SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2023

that support the pub and would support the scholarship,” he says. “There are a couple people too that I wouldn’t classify as

“My hopes are we do it as an annual thing and each year we do it better. That way it takes pressure off the committee to raise funds every year,” Faulkner says. “If we can help them by raising money, that’s one less task they have to do, and the Tír na nOg is all about helping out. Being a Division 10 Hibernian, I love to support this, and it’s a great idea that our division came up with.”

More information about the Billy Briggs Memorial Scholarship is online at aohdiv10.com or on Facebook (search for Billy Briggs Memorial Scholarship).

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Pennington residents Caroline Griffin, left, and Three-Pint Challenge participant Dennis Griffin at Tír na nOg in Trenton with friend and former Tír na nOg bartender Frank Connell.

AWAKENING continued from Page 1

where he lived. That wondering led to the idea of holding a celebration of the artist’s life and work.

It took a year for Lipson and Lynn DeClemente Losavio, program officer for the Johnson Atelier, to design a plan. During that time, they reached out to Linda Mead, the Executive Director of the D&R Greenway Land Trust, who received permission from her board to host the sculpture. The installation has been funded by a grant to The Johnson Atelier from the Atlantic Foundation, a Johnson family foundation.

“Through this public art project, we are honoring the legacy of Seward,” Lipson said.

Lipson called The Awakening “a testament to Johnson’s creative thinking.”

According to the Smithsonian’s Art Inventories Catalog, the first edition of the sculpture was cast in five parts over a two-year period. Depending how the sculpture is positioned, “The Awakening” is 70 to 72 feet long; the aluminum sculpture’s five parts include a left hand, a 17-foot-long outstretched right arm with hand — the tallest point of the statue — a right foot, a left leg with bent knee, and a head with beard and mustache, and an open mouth which could emit loud grunts as this buried man tries to emerge from the earth.

This edition was installed in Washington, for the June 1980 International Sculpture Conference. Johnson’s statue used to sit on Hains Point, a spit of land which juts into the Potomac River in southwest D.C., near Reagan National Airport. While living in D.C., I often enjoyed sitting with the grandeur of the giant.

In 1989, Johnson told a Washington Post reporter that every cab driver would tell him how they took people to see his sculpture. There are five editions of The Awakening according to Emma Vitello, an Associate Curator at the Seward Johnson Atelier. The original one, which used to sit at Hains Point is now located at the National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland. That giant now emerges from sand.

The second edition sits along the Missouri River in Chesterfield, Missouri. The third and fourth editions can be found at the Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, and now in Hopewell. The fifth edition, done in fiberglass, is located in Viterbo. Italy.

The Hopewell giant came out of storage from the Seward Johnson Atelier. Atelier staff surveyed the preserve site with laser technology to establish where the giant would be placed.

Then crews dug out five strategic locations, laying down a layer of crushed stone. The five aluminum body parts arrived on three flatbeds and remained

strapped down while steel i-beams were set on the stones. Once in place, the sculptures were laid down and secured to the I-beam structure. The piece was then backfilled with the original soil.

Lipson said the statue will remain at the preserve for a minimum of 18 months. She noted that there has been pushback from some community members who find the giant unappealing.

Johnson discussed “The Awakening” in a 2014 interview for a book titled: “Seward Johnson: A Life in Public Art.”

“I created the piece for one main reason–to elicit a sense of wonder in its viewers. They are left to imagine in awe what the giant would look like if he stood up in front of them,” he said.

Johnson wanted people to interact with his art. In a second interview about “The Awakening,” Johnson chuckled: “It’s fun for kids to get into his mouth.”

During a 2003 trip to Washington, my husband and I took our daughters to see the statue. I have pictures of our youngest standing next to the giant’s foot. She was so taken with that sculpture that she wrote Johnson a letter about her adventure and sent him a photo. I have no memory of what she wrote to him. But the letter Johnson’s secretary sent in reply is in a scrapbook.

Dear Mei,

Thank you for your letter and that cute picture of you and my giant’s foot. I hope you didn’t try to tickle it, as sometimes he gets quite nasty.

I loved hearing from you.

Imagine the joy of an 8-year-old child receiving a letter like this; especially an 8-year-old child who loved art.

Fast-forward 20 years, and the 8-yearold is now a self-directed artist/photographer, and a FAA-licensed drone pilot. She emailed Carol Lipson, asking if she could take drone photos of The Awakening for the Arts Council.

Lipson replied: “We were planning to have some drone footage taken at the opening ceremony! And now, here you are!! I love your connection to sculpture.”

The synchronicity didn’t end there.

The grounds where the giant sits — St. Michaels Farm Preserve — was once the site of what was initially named St. Michaels Orphan Asylum and Industrial School, later called St. Michaels Orphanage. Owned by the Trenton Catholic diocese; and run by the Sisters of St. Francis; the institution was erected on the site of a 400-acre Hopewell farm once owned by Peter Vandyke.

Opening in 1897 and closing in 1973, there are still area residents who spent time at the facility as children. After the

Be a ‘Parte’ of the Past and Present at Point Breeze

The Bordentown estate of Joseph Bonaparte, the exiled king and Napoleon’s brother, gets right to the point with the May opening of a new Discovery Center in the renovated Gardener’s House at historic Point Breeze, page 2.

BY REBEKAH SCHROEDER

The Gardener’s House in Bordentown is the only building that remains standing from the time when Joseph Bonaparte, the exiled King of Naples and Spain, erected his extravagant estate at Point Breeze Ahead of its opening to the public as a longawaited Discovery Center this May, the renovated structure has received the royal treatment and will be a place where visitors can learn about the historic and natural narratives of the land.

Despite Point Breeze’s eras occupied by the Lenape Native Americans, a British politician, an entrepreneur, and several religious organizations, these stories were often blown past with the same swiftness suggested in the name—in favor of the former monarch, who was the older brother of Napoleon Bonaparte—rather than comprehensively told.

But the property that was once on the verge of being redeveloped has more chapters to come thanks to a collaboration of community conservation efforts from the City of Bordentown, the State of New Jersey’s Green Acres Program, and the nonprofit Delaware & Raritan Green-

way Land Trust, which partnered to purchase it in late 2020 from the Society of the Divine Word, or Divine Word Missionaries, its prior owner of 80 years.

D&R Greenway is the Princeton-based land preservation group that oversaw and funded the reconstruction of Bonaparte’s circa 1820 Gardener’s House, the two-story structure they bought in addition to one of the 60 available acres. With upcoming exhibitions and events, the environmental entity will operate the Discovery Center at Point Breeze as an extension of their commitment to protecting natural open space throughout New Jersey.

Linda Mead is the president and CEO of D&R Greenway, which is now finalizing their informational materials alongside Miles Truesdell III, the creative director and photographer of Leigh Visual Imaging in Princeton. Truesdell is responsible for the design and installation of the imagebased panels covering everything from archeology to horticulture, incorporating additional research by the D&R curatorial team.

D&R Greenway will debut these displays during their gala on Sunday, May 7, a fundraiser and garden party offering the first chance to take a docent-led tour of the Dis-

See Point

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Point Breeze, continued from Page 2 covery Center from 4 to 6 p.m. Be ready to browse the historic vegetable and herb garden they restored last year, which grows 27 heritage varieties reflective of what was planted in the 1820s.

Johan Firmenich is set to be awarded the 2023 Donald B. Jones Conservation Award for his leadership on Mountain View Road in Montgomery Township during the program. For tickets or more information, see the D&R Greenway website at drgreenway.org

The celebration at Point Breeze will recognize the region as part of the ancestral home of the Lenni Lenape, known as “Lenapehoking,” first stewarded 13,000 years ago.

Named after the upward winds that rise from where Crosswicks Creek flows into

and joins the Delaware River, this site sits at the confluence of the two waterways and is the southern access point to the Abbott Marshlands, a central New Jersey expanse of wetlands, woods, and diverse wildlife. As the grand unveiling of Point Breeze approaches on Saturday, May 20, the Discovery Center looks to reestablish the “spiritual connection” between the earth’s resources and its inhabitants, just as the “original people” (a literal translation for Leni Lenape) once did.

During the program, guests can enter the Discovery Center for a recommended yet voluntary $10 donation from 1 to 5 p.m. and attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony with key figures in the restoration saga, including a Native blessing by Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania storyteller Barbara “Bluejay” Michalski. Summer hours will then be on subsequent Thursdays and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m.

Mead suggested typing “Divine Word Missionaries” into the GPS rather than the address to avoid being sent downtown, then entering the estate at 101 Park Street and following the dirt road to the right. Bordentown has relocated its new municipal building complex with administrative offices and a city hall in the heart of the huge property, which will also be the site of the new police station.

As part of this evolution of civic engagement that culminated in the $4.6 million joint sale, the remaining state-owned land will continue serving as a public park that Mead hopes to see flourish and instruct visitors on exactly what the project protects.

Trained as a lawyer and diplomat, Joseph Bonaparte became the King of Naples when his younger sibling Napoleon, the ruthless French military commander who would declare himself the First Consul of France and emperor, rose to power.

In Naples, Joseph was relatively respected and admired, but Napoleon soon grew disappointed in his performance. He was deposed in favor of his younger sister Caroline’s husband, Joachim Murat, and made to govern Spain in the aftermath of the French invasion. Although Joseph ended the Spanish Inquisition, he failed to reclaim any semblance of his former popularity and would later abdicate the position—after making multiple offers of his own to do so—just before his brother’s Waterloo 1815 defeat.

As the allied troops encroached on Paris, Joseph left his French residence at the Château de Mortefontaine and escaped from Europe in the hull of a ship without his wife, Marie Julie Clary, surrounded by casks of wine and with papers designating him as an “M. Bouchard.” Joseph renamed himself “Comte de Survilliers,” or “Count of Survilliers,” after the title of a petite property near

his Mortefontaine residence, but he was swiftly recognized and encouraged to seek political asylum from President James Madison; while Madison rejected an official meeting with him, he permitted Joseph to stay as long as he did so discreetly.

Joseph settled in Bordentown the following year and purchased Point Breeze from Stephen Sayre, a merchant and the former High Sheriff of London.

Napoleon had personally recommended that Joseph find an area between Philadel-

phia and New York to settle, which made Point Breeze an optimal spot for him to live a lavish lifestyle away from prying eyes; he did so by building an enormous, three-story mansion of palatial grandeur that made any initial secrecy somewhat of a moot point for the ex-monarch.

He would ultimately own more than 1,800 acres in the surrounding area, which included the estate where he lived from 1816 to 1832 before returning to London and then splitting his time between the two

until 1839, when he left Point Breeze for the last time before his death.

The home touted what was regarded as both the earliest and most expansive major art gallery, including a copy of the oil painting “Napoleon Crossing the Alps” by Jacques-Louis David, as well as one of the first to implement landscape design. He was also known to have the largest collection of books in the country in his private library, which comprised over 8,000 volumes—even more than the Library of Con-

gress did.

Bonaparte erected numerous buildings and fixtures, both scenic and functional, on the bluff, such as a large belvedere observation tower to take in the view, bridges, a temple, and a massive European-style garden. To take care of everything and execute Joseph’s vision, the “picturesque” Point Breeze required an exorbitant number of laborers and maintenance workers, many of whom also lived on the grounds.

Gorgeous statuaries, fountains, and Etruscan vases populated Point Breeze in as much abundance as the diverse ani-

See Point Breeze, Page 4

D&R Greenway President Linda Mead and exhibit designer Miles Truesdell III of Leigh Visual Imaging pose in the “Crown Jewels Gallery,” left, in the Discovery Center at Point Breeze, which Joseph Bonaparte first built as the Gardener’s House. Image credit to Miles Truesdell III of Leigh Visual Imaging.

Point Breeze, continued from Page 5 mal and plant life did, demonstrating how deeply Joseph, who was often hands-on and wore a coating of dirt he thought mightier than any crown, preferred his pastimes of “beautification” above all else.

Napoleon astutely predicted his brother’s American lifestyle in a quote that would prove true even in spite of setbacks: “He will be a bourgeois American and spend his fortune in making gardens.”

On January 4, 1820, the first mansion caught fire as Joseph returned from New York, with neighbors rushing to retrieve his belongings and nearly securing all the valuables that could be safely saved.

Richard F. Veit, Ph.D., a Monmouth University professor, historian, and archaeologist, has overseen the onsite excavations in 2007 where the first mansion was and in 2021 near the Gardener’s House, which resulted in the recovery of at least 20,000 artifacts.

This loss, according to Veit and Michael J. Gall’s 2011 “Archaeological Examination of Joseph Bonaparte’s Point Breeze Estate” report via the Abbott Marshlands website, led Joseph to start the process of building his second home. He then converted the estate’s preexisting horse stables closer to Park Street into an aesthetic resembling an “Italian villa,” a contrast to the other mansion’s neoclassical design.

Another addition was that Bonaparte also devised a system of underground tunnels to better maneuver across the vast estate, which connected to the waterway for commerce and transportation as well as to provide a potential escape route.

Yet, because of Julie Clary’s poor health, Joseph’s wife never came to live at Point Breeze and remained in Europe, while his daughters, Zénaïde and Charlotte, arrived a few years later—the former with naturalist Charles Lucien, a collaborator of John James Audubon who would become known as the “father of American descriptive ornithology.”

The son of Joseph and Napoleon’s younger brother, Lucien Bonaparte, Charles Lucien married his cousin, Zénaïde, which made him Joseph’s nephew and son-in-law. The couple lived in the “Lake House,” a new abode by the second mansion.

During this time, Joseph added more lodging for guests in the “Wash House,” as well as a residence for his gardener on the eastern side of the property, the “Gardener’s House.” Although the latter building’s exterior was initially a combination of brick and wood with a smooth white stucco that matched Joseph’s second home, the textured design was added during Divine Word’s ownership of the site.

From the garden at the rear of what will

now be the Discovery Center, the vestiges of the great orchard can be seen in the distance, leaving only a few trees in their place.

After officially opening in October of last year, the space will be used for varieties of plants from Bonaparte’s era, including several indigenous crops that the Lenape cultivated.

Gardener and land steward Lara Periard, who will also be the manager of the Discovery Center, researched the plants and aligned the plots according to the original ones from the historic 1847 map of the site with oversight from an advisory committee.

D&R’s Land and Property Steward, David Seiler, is also a carpenter with experience in historic renovations who designed and built the wooden fence to keep any animals, such as deer, from perusing the plants inside.

They began planting what they could in the fall of 2022, but being prepared at the start of the growing season this time around has enabled them to use more of the space for spring produce, Mead added, and she is especially looking forward to the squash and corn.

An arch indicates where the Gardener’s House’s back door and a flight of steps, one of which was discovered underground, would have been. Divine Word Missionaries donated a statue of St. Joseph, the patron saint of workers, families, travelers, and others who represent the diversity of individuals linked with Point Breeze, that presides over the native plants and French lavender growing nearby.

Originally founded as a center of camaraderie and study for anyone looking to pursue a religious profession, Divine Word changed courses to a high school seminary in the 1940s, expanding over the years with more facilities until Harris Hays Hammond’s mansion—which the prior owner had opulently transformed from the estate of Henry Beckett—caught fire in 1983.

This damage to the chapel and residence area marked the school’s closure, but thanks to its insurance policy, Divine Word was reimbursed for the losses and, following some litigation, was able to remodel the former classroom building and turn it into a residence for active and semiretired missionaries.

On the way into the house, there is a walkway made of recycled bluestone recovered from the second Joseph Bonaparte mansion, which has since been integrated into the patio and path as a starting point for tours, Mead said. This way, she added, those coming to the estate can “walk in the footsteps of history.”

The two bronze sturgeon statues by Kate Graves, Mead explained, gesturing to the rocks around the signature sycamore tree, remind her of Hammond, the investor and wealthy financier who owned the prop-

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erty from 1911 until he lost it in the 1929 stock market crash—at which point the bank repossessed it and it remained empty for more than a decade.

Hammond hired stonemasons to erect a Chinese water garden at the end of the property with waterfalls and a tunnel system that called to mind Bonaparte’s own, as the exhibit materials explain. The magical, almost fairylike aesthetics of the grotto area once encircled the perimeter of a swimming pool that Harris’ brother, inventor John Hays Hammond Jr., made his own history in.

Hammond Jr. was a torpedo of a force renowned as the “Father of Radio Control,” whose pioneering work became the basis for contemporary radio remote con-

trols. He acquired “over 400 patents” in his career, expanding science, communication, and even naval warfare equipment with missile guidance systems that are still in use today—and, according to Mead, he tested that very technology in the Point Breeze rock garden swimming pool.

When they lowered Graves’ sturgeon sculptures onto the ground using a crane and remote control, Mead said, it felt like a full-circle moment.

D&R Greenway began working on the Gardener’s House in the summer of 2021, and while the current structure is not an exact recreation of the original house, according to Mead, they hoped to instead “create a historical interpretation of the building” that will tell stories about the lay-

ers of land through a design evoking the period of its creation.

The main entrance was outfitted with paneled mahogany double doors based on historic drawings, which also showed two trees where the solitary sycamore now is.

Two flags will adorn the outside pole, with the first being specially made for the estate and representing the three Lenape clans—turtle, wolf, and turkey—designed by Eric Labacz. Truesdell is working on the other, which will have a crest symbolizing Joseph Bonaparte’s role at Point Breeze.

Mead emphasized that this project would not have been possible without the work of former mayor James “Jim” Lynch, whose spirited involvement helped safeguard the

open space from turning into housing complexes or warehouses.

Lynch was concerned about severing this connection to local history and the potential health dangers these facilities posed, as the Delaware River supplies clean drinking water to approximately 15 million people.

Thanks to care from those such as director-manager Father Poole and Rev. Martin H. Padovani, the latter of whom spent 60 years at Point Breeze and holds the record for the longest assignment there, Divine Word shared the same vision D&R Greenway had and approved the sale.

Through the “People of Point Breeze” room is the “Gardener’s Kitchen,” which has only been lightly updated with a deep sink perfect for washing produce. Hanging next to an 1830 Morris Tasker iron bake oven on the wall is a still life of vegetables by artist Paulette Z. Hill. She used the same list compiled by Val Sassaman and the Bordentown Historical Society’s vice president, Doug Kiovsky, to scout farmers’ markets for uncommon crops like white eggplants.

When they started work on the Gardener’s House, Mead noted that most of the building was outdated, with drop ceilings, shag carpeting, and dusty drapes, as a result of changes Divine Word made in the

The bluffs of Point Breeze sit above the confluence of Crosswicks Creek and the Delaware River in the Abbott Marshlands, left, as seen in an 1818 painting by Thomas Birch. The estate also has a historic garden growing produce from the 1820s, right, and represented in a still life by Paulette Z. Hill in the Discovery Center kitchen, center.

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1960s.

These also carried over to the left room, now known as the “Crown Jewels Gallery,” where non-bearing walls separated a path to the bathroom and the living spaces for the retired priests, four of whom were still living at Point Breeze until 2020.

After taking those down, the curatorial team discovered the antique, hand-printed wallpaper underneath and restored the picture rails in every room.

erect a “modern” residence of his own; the Vincentian Fathers of Philadelphia, an all-male Roman Catholic society of apostolic life who used it as a short-lived summer retreat; Hammond; and finally, Divine Word from 1940 to 2020.

• Patio and walkway repairs: sunken, uneven areas re-leveled and pitch corrected…patios and walkways cleaned and re-sanded.

• Steps and front porches: rebuild, or repair and renovate

• Cracked foundations: repair and re-stucco.

• Concrete steps and sidewalks: repaired and resurfaced. Township sidewalks creating a liability. We can fix that!

• We make steps safer!! Are your steps unsafe? Uneven or too deep? Are your steps greater than 8” from one step up to the next? We can help!

• Loose brick, cracked bricks, loose railings: We replace broken brick and repoint your brick walls and steps. We tighten loose railings.

• Masonry painting- epoxy and enamel-based masonry coatings for steps, porches and foundations.

Te

ST i MON i ALS :

“A craftsman in his work & a FIVE STAR rating in customer service!

Jo Schmidt, Pennington

“Greg is more than just a mason…he is a true craftsman, dedicated to finding innovative solutions. Precise planning, attention to detail, professional results…Re-New delivers it all!”

Julie M., Lawrenceville

In the exhibit materials, Veit wrote that the title of the space comes from the legend of when the former king, before coming to America, fled to and secretly buried crown jewels in Switzerland—as well as solitaire diamonds, rubies, emeralds, pearls, fashionable items of value like collars and epaulets, swords, belts, and more—then sent Louis Mailliard, his secretary, personal assistant, and “closest confidant,” to fetch them.

Those riches financed Joseph’s lavish lifestyle; he spent time in Hamilton’s Bow Hill mansion, rented a townhouse in Philadelphia, and purchased 150,000 acres in upstate New York around what is now called Bonaparte Lake.

The inaugural set of revolving exhibits will be displayed at least through the end of 2023 and showcase paintings of prominent spots, or “the Jewels of Point Breeze,” that align with D&R Greenway’s interpretation that “the land and the resources,” such as the fruit orchards, rock garden, carriage bridge, and the view from atop the Bordentown bluffs, hold the true value.

D&R trustee Wendy Kvalheim has donated the display cases that house wooden duck decoys, ceramic panels celebrating Divine Word’s annual gala, and archaeological finds.

Enhanced interior features highlight the historic components that culminate at Point Breeze. The house’s windows, for example, are now sporting Empire-style curtains from Nancy Robinson-Long and Bert Kerstetter of Calico Corners in Yardley, which were based on photographs of 1820s French drapes.

An American brass chandelier greets guests at the entrance, along with an Italian blown glass piece named “Vento” (“wind”) that floats over the staircase like the grass at Point Breeze and complements the Spanish fixture on the top floor.

These chronicle the chapters of Bonaparte’s life on the way to the “Walk Through Time” room, which delves into the other owners that succeeded him: Thomas Richards and his wife Anna Bartram, the granddaughter of botanist John Bartram; Beckett, the British Consul at Philadelphia, described as “a fervent Francophobe” who destroyed Bonaparte’s second mansion to

Another figure of focus here is Mailliard, Joseph’s “right hand man” for 36 years. In a Community News Service exclusive, Mead shared that the room’s mantel, the only original one left in the entire home, will be reunited with the visage of its most famous former tenant and display a neverbefore-seen 1819 French portrait of Joseph Bonaparte above the fireplace.

This 19th-century art piece (see cover) by Louis Goubaud was recently restored and had been privately held for years until the William S. Mailliard family learned of D&R Greenway’s work at Point Breeze and offered to loan it for a three-year period.

The “Natural World” room on the upper right will be home to a small library and display case with types of Native American patterned pottery fragments, an arrowhead collection, and stone tools. There is also contemporary work by Jane “Walkingstick” Roop, a member of the Lenape tribe of Pennsylvania and a Cape Maybased artist who creates wood carvings and animal beadwork.

Truesdell, a Pennington native who has lived in Mercer County his entire life, said learning about the full history of Point Breeze was an “eye opener” for him. In his perspective, the most challenging aspect of the exhibit process has been tying all of the elements together in a cohesive way that marries the global and local connections within Point Breeze’s legacy.

But Bonaparte is only one brushstroke of the Point Breeze portrait, with years of community-wide conservation converting each structure, whether debris or salvaged, into a synthesis of historic and natural knowledge.

Mead shared that a conversation with her Lenape advisors crystallized this important takeaway for her, which is that the land has been here before us and will be here after us, and with every generation come new stewards who will shape its future.

Humans have survived by cherishing this relationship, Mead noted, and so she has always felt a similarly strong pull towards preservation—and to do her part in layering these stories against the landscape of the Discovery Center at Point Breeze. ***

women’s health

Hamilton Dental Associates

How to Pick the Perfect Pediatric Dentist for Your Kids

Your child’s oral health is a complex issue for parents to deal with throughout childhood. Finding a pediatric dentist for your child’s ongoing oral health needs requires careful consideration before committing. If you make a good choice in your child’s pediatric dentist, you can help set the tone for your child’s relationship with their dental health for the rest of their life.

Knowing what to look for when selecting a pediatric dentistry practice can make a difference in your child’s oral health. Here are some of the most important factors to consider before making your child’s first appointment.

Know the Difference Between a Pediatric and Family Dentist. When picking a dentist for your child’s first dental checkup, you might do a quick Google search and find a

Aquatic Performance Training

The Safest and Most

Effective Exercise Program

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

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

Doctors told John to get in the water and he joined a local aqua aerobics program that included noodles, foam dumbbells, and kickboards. Although the water felt good on his injury, the program and

Finding a good pediatric dentist for you child can help them develop a positive relationship with dental health.

nearby family dentistry practice and call it a day. However, did you know that while a family dentist can treat patients of all ages, they might not have the same level of training as a pediatric dentist?

Not every dentist can practice on children. Dentists have to undergo years of extra training before diagnosing and treating children. Children’s oral health presents

unique challenges that adult dentists don’t have to deal with, so pediatric dentists must undergo specialist training to deal with these factors. Additionally, the training helps pediatric dentists learn how to better communicate with their young patients and have them feel as comfortable as possible in what can be an overwhelming situation.

A Kid-Friendly Atmosphere. For

many people, going to the dentist can spark feelings of anxiety and unease from the moment you step through the door. These feelings can get magnified in a child’s mind with their wild imaginations and distrust of new experiences. So when you’re deciding on a pediatric dental office to bring your child to for their next checkup, check out how the vibe of the website and office feels.

If you look online and in the actual building and you’re seeing a healthy dose of kids, bright colors, and a general sense that kids can come in and not feel overwhelmed by the office, it’s generally a good sign. A warm, open, and happy environment can do a lot of good for your child’s experience at our kid’s dentist’s office in Hamilton, NJ.

Initial Consultations. Building a good rapport between your child and their dentist remains a vital component of their dental experience. You want your child to be able to trust their dentist and feel comfortable in the chair during the examination.

More information: www. hamiltondental.com. See ad, page 16.

at the new Quakerbridge Road facility are a wide range of highenergy group sessions that are led by amazing instructors. Aquatic and land-based personal training are geared towards individuals who need more one on one attention and accountability. You will find the world’s first all aquatic gym that includes aqua bikes, underwater treadmills, aquatic ellipticals, and swimming. Anti-gravity treadmills increase your cardio health and leg strength without the wear and tear of normal land treadmills.

the equipment were not effective enough to deliver the results John was looking for. He started doing extensive research and education on more specialized equipment for the pool and began investing in underwater bikes, aquatic treadmills, and strength training equipment for the pool that would deliver the results he was looking for.

Aquatic Performance Training has been growing since 2010 and has

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

The different programs offered

The mission of Aquatic Performance Training is to provide the safest, most effective exercise and soon to be aqua therapy company in the country. We look forward to the opportunity to help you with your goals very soon!

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

More information: www. aquaticperformancetraining.com

See ad, page 12

health

JANS Caregiver Services

Top of the Line Care That You Can Count On

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

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

JANS Caregiver Services can provide the following therapeutic

services in home care, both short and long term.

Short Term:

• Post Surgery

• Post Injury

• Short term disability

Long Term:

• Elder Care

• Memory Issues

• Mobility Issues

We are trained and certified to

assist with the following chronic health conditions:

• Alzheimer’s

• Dementia

• Diabetes

• Parkinson’s

• Fibromialgia

Our services Include:

• Personalized In Home Care

• Basic Grooming

• Bathing

• Feeding and Specialized Diet needs

• Light housekeeping including (laundry, dishes, vacuum)

• Meal Preparation (Including special diet needs and restrictions)

• Medication Reminders

• Mobility Assistance

• Personal Hygiene

• Physical Therapy Assistance/ Continuation of care plan

• Toileting and Incontinent Care

• Transferring and Positioning

• Companion and Security Care

• Spending time in conversation

• Card and Board Games

• Puzzles and other activities that stimulate active thinking

• Providing the security of loved one not home alone

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

For more information call 609-7569089 or email info@janscaregiverservices.com. janscaregiverservices.com.

See ad, page 16

From

Our

you thought possible.

Our

analyze your movement and restore normal movement patterns.

women’s health

Regenerative Spine and Pain Institute

Treating Pain with PRP and Stem Cell Therapy

Pain.

It gnaws at you. It drains you. It becomes the focus of your life. Experiencing a few pain-free moments can be euphoric; it makes you realize how long you’ve been living with aches and pain. You might wonder how you can find a solution to relieve the pain and regain your freedom from discomfort.

Dr. Ronak Patel at Regenerative Spine and Pain Institute wants you to know there are two new revolutionary answers to pain relief.

Both platelet-rich therapy - otherwise known as PRP - and stem cell therapy give patients new hope by using the body’s powerful healing power to accelerate the battle against pain. Dr. Patel has seen incredible success implementing these cutting-edge treatments on hundreds of patients suffering from pain-related issues.

So if you are suffering from any of the ailments below, there’s a lifeline.

• Osteoarthritis

• Rotator cuff tear

• Back pain

• Meniscus tears

• Tennis elbow

• Disc herniations

• Tendonitis

• Neck pain

Here’s the best news: Neither PRP or stem cell therapy involves drug use with side effects or any surgical

procedures.

Both PRP and stem cell treatments use the body’s own healing resources to repair diseased or damaged tissue — and the results are quite remarkable.

PRP therapy involves injecting concentrated platelets and growth factors into damaged tissue to stimulate the faster growth of new healthy cells. Platelets are cells that prevent and stop bleeding. If a blood vessel is damaged, the body sends signals to our platelets to get on the job and start the healing. Some call platelets the body’s natural bandage.

So how does PRP therapy work?

It’s basically drawing a one small vial of blood from the patient and then using a centrifuge to turn it into a potent and concentrated form of platelets. It is then injected back into the patient. Think of it as a boost of your own blood — only superpowered.

Recovery time for PRP therapy is far shorter than for surgery. Patients usually experience soreness for a week or so, but the gradual improvement soon begins. Unlike a steroid shot, which gives you immediate relief and quickly wears off,

a PRP patient will see pain symptoms improve over a period of months, and up to 80 percent of patients will see relief for up to two years.

Stem cell therapy can be an even more powerful way to harness the body’s healing power. Stem cells are the building blocks for every cell in our body. These powerful cells can be harvested to produce powerful new cells to fight inflammation and disease. For those suffering from osteoarthritis, stem cell therapy has proven very effective. That’s because the stem cells may help develop new cartilage cells and suppress inflammation. Stem cells can be harvested through a sample of body fat or bone marrow or be harvested from donated umbilical cord tissue.

And yes, you can even augment PRP therapy with stem cell therapy for an even bigger boost!

Stop wondering if you’ll have to live with your pain forever. Contact Regenerative Spine and Pain Institute today at 609-269-4451 or go to www. njpaindoc.com to book an appointment and learn more.

See ad, page 3.

Dr. Ronak Patel MD

Roxanne Gennari, Coldwell Banker

A Top Producer in the Mercer County Region

Are you looking to buy or sell a property in Mercer County, Bucks County, or the surrounding areas? Look no further than Roxanne Gennari, a top producing real estate in the local region with Coldwell Banker Realty.

Recently named among the top sales professionals within Coldwell Banker Realty, Roxanne was awarded the 2022 International President’s Elite Team accolade. This award exemplifies the best and brightest in the real estate industry, and Roxanne is a testament to this. In 2022, Roxanne helped over 80 buyers and sellers’ complete successful real estate transactions totaling more than $49 million in Mercer County and the surrounding area.

With more than 40 years of real estate experience under her belt, Roxanne has built a reputation for

The Roxanne Gennari Team

providing exceptional service. Her continued success is based almost entirely on wordof-mouth referrals, a testament to the trust and respect she has earned in the local areas.

Roxanne’s name is a staple in the Real Estate community, and she loves what she does. Her passion for real estate is evident in every transaction she completes, and she always goes above and beyond to ensure her clients are satisfied.

www.RoxanneGennari.com Rox@RoxanneGennari.com

The Roxanne Gennari Team

Top Producing Agent

Gianmichele “John” Gennari, Sales Associate (305) 409-2828 - Cell John.Gennari@CBMoves.com

So, if you’re looking for a real estate agent who has the experience, expertise, and strong reputation, look no further than Roxanne Gennari. Contact her today via email at rox@ roxannegennari.com or via cell at 609-306-7148 to get started on your real estate journey.

Office 609-799-8181 Owned by a subsidiary of Anywhere Advisors LLC.

See ad, page 17

“Radiology

advancements in technology. We are excited to provide our patients with the most advanced imaging technology which will allow our radiologist to make recommendations that will lead to better patient outcomes.This continues the tradition of providing quality care for over 50 years to the residents of Mercer County”said Dr. Eric Bosworth, Chief Medical Officer for RAI Lawrenceville, Hamilton, and Windsor.

Patients are our first priority, and great healthcare depends on great technology. RAI’s new 3T MRI includes new and groundbreaking acceleration technology, which is powered by Artificial Intelligence. It takes advantage of convolutional neural networks to accelerate MR scans, making them faster than ever before.

Radiology Affiliates Imaging is a 33-physician radiology practice serving New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware for over 50 years. RAI is an affiliate of Radiolgy Partners, the largest physician-owned and physician-led radiology practice in the US.

We offer early morning, evening and weekend appointments. In addition to MRI services, RAI offers reduced radiation 64 slice CT and digital x-ray, ultrasound, thyroid biopsy, bone density,3D mammography, Breast MRI and Calcium Scoring. For more information the media can contact Ruth Hawthorne at Ruth. Hawthorne@radpartners.com.

See ad, page 14.

women’s health

Fluid Physio Helping People Move

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

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

Dr Gianna graduated from Temple University in 2003 and became a certified strength and conditioning specialist, complimented by her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. She became a certified orthopedic specialist. She worked with athletes of all ages (including children) and abilities (including at a professional level). Dr Gianna pursued a career in physical therapy after sustaining her own rowing sports injuries.

The emphasis here is not on machines, she said. There are

exercise balls, bands, and a giant mirror, among other therapy tools, but the primary treatment is manual therapy, including manipulating joints, soft tissue (muscles and ligaments), and nerves. “Manual therapy is followed by movement reeducation,” said Dr. Gianna “The body needs to learn how to move without the restrictions it previously had so that the effect of the therapy is lasting.”

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

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

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

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

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

Fluid Physio, 160 Lawrenceville Pennington Road, Suite 16, Lawrence. 609-436-0366. Fluidphysio.com. See ad, page 10

Let our office introduce you to one of the fastest growing dental products in North America:

• Mini Dental Implants are great for stabilizing loose, uncomfortable dentures & replacing some missing teeth.

• This quick,minimally invasive procedure will give you back your smile.

health

RWJUH Programs and Support Groups

Healthy Living for Mind, Body, Spirit & Support

Whether you are seeking support and camaraderie, trying to slim down, or searching for stress relief, the community education offerings provided by Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Hamilton, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, will help you make informed decisions about your health, wellness, and fitness. Each month, community members participate in more than 75 RWJUH Hamilton health and wellness programs, 11 support groups, and

many health screenings. Most of these programs are free.

Programs cater to a wide range of interests and ages, from young children to older adults. “Through surveys and research, we determine the top health needs of the surrounding communities and then design programs to address them,”

LESS TIME IN THE MRI

says Diane Grillo, Vice President, Health Promotion at RWJUH Hamilton. A Medical Advisory Panel composed of 28 board-certified physicians advises on program development to maximize the benefit to attendees. Programs are held in-person at the RWJUH Hamilton Center for Health and Wellness, located at 3100 Quakerbridge Road, in Hamilton, virtually online and out in our local communities.

Information and Education. The Mini-Medical School program is one of the many educational offerings available to the public through RWJUH Hamilton. This program is aimed at those who have an interest in healthcare as a career or just want a deeper understanding of human anatomy. RWJUH Hamilton physicians teach this 8-week course, focusing on a new element of healthcare and the body each week.

Holistic Health. RWJUH Hamilton’s holistic programs focus on non-medical wellness techniques, such as meditation, aromatherapy, and Reiki, which is a practice that promotes healing by improving energy flow around the body. In addition, the Holistic Program at RWJUH Hamilton’s Cancer Center offers a holistic approach to cancer care at no cost to our patients and their families.

A Focus on Nutrition. Learn new healthy eating habits from a Registered Dietician by attending a program in our demonstration kitchen at the RWJ Fitness and Wellness Center. These programs provide participants with quality nutritional information and are taught by a trained chef who understands the importance of healthy eating and loving the food you eat.

Better Health Program. There’s no better time to be 65+ and no greater way to enjoy this time than with RWJUH’s Better Health Program.

Become a member complimentary and experience the exclusive programs that engage the mind, encourage movement, and promote reflection. Participate as much or as little as you want, bring your friends or meet new friends, go on outings, and learn from doctors and professionals who prioritize your well-being. Healthy aging is a choice that requires nurturing of the body, mind, and spirit. The Better Health Program focuses on the whole person to create a personalized approach to wellness that is right for you.

“Given the variety of programs offered by RWJUH Hamilton like Tai Chi, yoga, meditation, nutrition and activities like art, crafts, music, spirit and more, there are Topics covered for everyone and any age to come and enjoy,” says Grillo.

On Tuesday, May 9, 6 to 7:30 p.m., RWJUH Hamilton is holding a Women’s Night special program, “Bubbles & Brushes,” where we will learn about the healing nature of painting while sipping bubbly and enjoying, chocolates and strawberries and each other’s company. The program will be led by Jane Zamost, artist and healing art instructor. Registration is required for the program and a $5 donation is kindly requested upon entry. Scan the QR code below to register.

Scan code to register for “Bubbles & Brushes” program on May 9, 2023! Visit rwjbh.org/HamiltonPrograms to view the monthly program calendar online.

Registration for any program can be completed online, by email CommunityEdHAM@rwjbh.org, or by phone at 609-584-5900.

See ad, page 15

Pictured from left are: Wendy Jones RN; Taryn Krietzman RD; Joyce Cantalice, Manager, Better Health; Christie Ring, Coordinator; Patricia McDougall RN; Kelly Zappley, Specialist; Brian Weiner, Director, Community Education; and Ines Lecerf LSW.

Wide Bore available at Lawrenceville

RWJ Hamilton Healthy Living / May Community Education Programs

All programs require registration.

Colon Cancer Isn’t Just a 50+ Disease

Wed., May 3; 6 to 7 p.m.

Join Meera Yogarajah, MD, Board Certified in Hematology and Oncology, for a discussion about colon cancer and the importance of recognizing symptoms, early screenings and interventions.

Raised Bed Basics

Tue., May 9; 1 to 2 p.m.

A little garden knowledge goes a long way towards enjoying bountiful crops of your own. Learn to plan ahead for a fruitful season! Fee: $10. Taryn Krietzman, RDN

Bubbles and Brushes

Tuesday, May 9; 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Ladies join us for a fun evening of relaxation with bubbly while you paint away the stresses of your day. Painting instruction will be led by Jane Zamost, Artist/Healing Art Instructor. A $5 donation will be requested at the door.

Osteoporosis Screening

Wed., May 10; 1 to 3 p.m.

Ultrasound of heel and personalized information. Appointment and registration required.

Stroke: Every Second Counts

Thu., May 11; 1 to 2 p.m.

Learn the signs of stroke and what increases your risk for having a stroke. Connie Moceri, MSN, RN, AGNP-C, Director of Disease Management and Stroke Coordinator will give you the knowledge and tools you need to reduce your stroke risk.

Safety and Security Awareness in Today’s World

Mon., May 15; 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Learn about cybersecurity, internet scams and how to protect against identify theft, as well as personal safety at home, in the community and in the work place. Bob Field Jr., Assistant VP of Support Services, Safety and Security at RWJBH Hamilton, has extensive knowledge and practical experience in physical and personal protection. FREE

Take Home Colorectal Screening and Lecture

Mon., May 15; 1 to 2 p.m.

Learn how to use a simple take-home test to detect early colon cancer and take part in a lecture about how to reduce your risk.

Chakras 101: Understanding Your Energetic Anatomy

Mon., May 15; 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

This workshop explores the chakras-energy centers within the body that interact with physical and emotional well-being. You will come away with an understanding of this energy system and the way it can help you lead your best life. Fee: $15. Michelle Gerdes, of Princeton Doula Center, RYT-200.

Dance It Out!

Tue., May 16; 1 to 2 p.m.

May 16: Kick Up Your Heels Line Dancing

Never miss a chance to dance! All ages welcome, no experience required.

Ask the Dietitian

Wed., May 17; 9 a.m. to noon

Do you have a question about diet and nutrition? Join a community education dietitian for a one-on-one Q&A. Taryn Krietzman, RDN

Mindfulness Meditation for Beginners

Wed., May 17; 1 to 2 p.m.

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

HealthRythms® Drumming Circle

Wed, May 17; 7 to 8 p.m.

Join our drumming circle and help drum your cares away. This evidence-based program is shown to reduce blood pressure, calm stress and increase the fun in your life. Drums provided. Fee: $15. Mauri Tyler, CTRS, CMP

What’s in the Box? *VIRTUAL*

Thu., May 18; noon to 1:00 p.m.

All things seasonal, all the time! Learn what wonderful fruits and vegetables are up to this time of year and how to make them shine! Taryn Krietzman, RDN

Woman’s Situational Awareness and Self Defense

Thurs., May 18, 25 and June 1; 6:30 to 8 p.m. This three part series will cover situational awareness, de-escalating conflict and escaping basic holds as well as vulnerable points on the human body in which to strike effectively. It is expected that participants engage in all three classes. Anthony Jackson, of Dao Concepts is a US Veteran Tai-Chi instructor and self-defense educator. $50 for the series of 3 classes.

Seasonal Anxiety-Watch out for Spring Fever!

Mon., May 22, 11 a.m. to noon

Discussion group about dealing with Spring Fever. Easy tips and different strategies one can employ for coping.

Better Health Programs/Complimentary

Let’s Talk, A Senior Social Group

Wed., May 3, 10, 17, 24, & 31 and June 7; 10 to 11 a.m. Gathering in a collaborative setting to exchange thoughts, feelings and experiences amongst peers. This group is a partnership between RWJ University Hospital Hamilton and the PsycHealth Associates here in Hamilton. This is a weekly program. Please feel free to attend one or all.

My Aching Joints – Advancements in Arthritis Treatment and Joint Replacement with Michael Duch, MD, Orthopededics, Lunch & Learn, Mon., May 8; Noon to 1:30 p.m.

Dr. Duch will lead this interactive program about advancements in arthritis treatments and when joint replacement might be the best option.

Tai Chi Classes

Tue., May 16 and 30; 10 to 11 a.m.

Tai Chi is recommended for seniors because it improves balance, strengthens muscles in the legs and helps reduce falls and back pain. Beginner’s welcome.

How Smart are Animals

Thu., May 11; Noon - 1 p.m.

Gabe Matt introduces his service dog Louie, and shares the process of training a service dog and their many talents for detecting early medical warnings. Marge Archer will share what animals are the smartest, can they solve problems, show emotions or identify illnesses? Join us to find out the answers.

Meditation Classes

Fri., May 12 & 26; 11:30 a.m. to Noon

Sifu Tony Jackson, DAO Concepts leads this program. Meditation can wipe away the day’s stress, bringing inner peace. Beginner’s welcome.

Socrates Café, Wed., May 17; 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.

“Socrates Café” is about discussing a topic, sharing our thoughts, our beliefs, our ideas, and experiences. Come with an open mind, respect for one another, and a willingness to see where it takes us.

Grounds for Sculpture Wellness Walk for New Better Health Member Attendees Only

Thu., May 18; 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. (Rain date: Thursday, May 25)

Kids Fit in the Kitchen!

Wed., May 24; 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Can You Make the Cut? Get put to the test! Learn knife safety and skills in this interactive class. For children ages 5 and older with a parent/ caregiver. Register early – Class size is limited! Fee: $5 per child, $5 per parent/caregiver. Taryn Krietzman, RDN

Reiki Share

Wed., May 24; 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

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

Wise Women Discussion Group

Thu., May 25, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Join a community of women as we discuss relevant topics and find purpose, meaning and community.

The M Word: Menopause

Thu., June 1; 5 to 6 p.m.

Hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, oh my! Come discuss perimenopause and menopause with Kunali Dalal, MD. With over 15 years of experience, Dr. Dalal will help you navigate all of the changes that are associated with this transition.

Lung Cancer Screening-Who Qualifies and When to Get Screened

Wed., June 7; 5 to 6 p.m.

Lung Screening Program Director, Dr. Eishan Patel and Program Manager Kaidlan Ricardo, CMA, BS-HA will discuss screening and early detection of lung cancer and treatment options.

at 65+ Years Old

Spring Fling Lunch and Music

Thu., June 1; 12 to 3 p.m.

Exclusive opportunity to join us as Grounds for Sculpture welcomes us for their Wellness Walk! Whether you are a fast or slower walker, there will be a group for you. Only first-time registrations will be honored. Member Attendees are invited to enjoy GFS for the remainder of the day.

No Place Like home, Lunch & Learn & More!

Friday, May 19: Noon to 3p.m.

Sara Ali, MD Board Certified Geriatrician, and Sheli Monnachio from Angelione Mobility will discuss how to best prepare to live-out your life at home from a medical perspective and from a safety perspective. There will be raffle drawings, lunch at noon, and camaraderie as you learn how to plan for your future.

Grounds for Sculpture Wellness Walk

Mon., May 22; 10 to 11 a.m. (Rain date: Mon., June 5)

Better Health members are invited to join the group for a guided Wellness Walk at Grounds for Sculpture! Attendees are invited to enjoy GFS for the remainder of the day.

Let’s celebrate Spring together with lunch, music, dancing, and more. Must be a Better Health Member to attend.

RWJBarnabas Health

What Healthy Women Know: 5 Keys to Optimal Health

Women go through many life stages and their health needs change accordingly. Staying healthy may seem daunting, but it’s not complicated. “Preventive health is extremely important,” says Lisa Tufankjian, DO, RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group. “Beyond having an annual physical — which every woman should do — there are screenings and tests that women should have at different ages, as well as steps they can take on their own, or in tandem with their healthcare provider, to help ward off disease.”

1. Maintain Your Gynecologic and Reproductive Health. Starting at age 21, women should have an annual gynecologic checkup that includes a pelvic exam, a Pap smear (generally every one to three years), a breast exam and other age-appropriate screenings, such as HPV tests. “All women should know how to do breast self-exams,” says Dr. Tufankjian. “And starting at age 40, women at average

risk of breast cancer should have a mammogram yearly.”

2. Eat a Healthy Diet. The adage “you are what you eat” is more than just a cliché. “All women should maintain a healthy diet that, generally speaking, includes a balance of lean protein, healthy fats, complex carbohydrates such as whole grains and a variety of fruits and vegetables,” says Dr. Tufankjian. Women who have special dietary needs, restrictions or health issues should consult with their primary care provider and/or a registered dietitian or nutritionist. “It’s important to limit salt and sugar intake and to choose fresh foods rather than processed foods whenever possible,” says Dr. Tufankjian.

3. Exercise Regularly. “It’s important to do some form of exercise every day,” says Dr. Tufankjian. While every woman’s needs and abilities are different, regular exercise is essential for optimal health. Take a walk, ride a bike, swim, dance — just get moving, and aim for at least a half hour of moderate exercise per day, incorporating strength training twice a week. “Being sedentary is not just bad for your heart, it’s also bad

for your bones,” says Dr. Tufankjian. Inadequate exercise can also affect your mental health. Studies have shown that exercise can help alleviate some symptoms of depression, stress and anxiety and can also help with selfesteem.

4. Get Proper Sleep. Sleep is more important than many people realize. “It is one of the few things we cannot live without,” says Dr. Tufankjian. “Like water and oxygen, it is essential to our survival.” Yet the majority of people either do not get enough sleep — usually seven to nine hours a night — or enough quality sleep, which means restful, restorative, uninterrupted sleep. To get restorative sleep, be consistent with your bedtime habits (i.e., try to go to bed and wake up at roughly the same time every day); sleep in a dark room; be sure your bedroom temperature is comfortable and not too warm; avoid large meals, caffeine and alcohol before bedtime; and turn off electronic devices, including your phone. “Exercising during the day will also help you sleep better at night,” says Dr. Tufankjian.

5. Don’t Neglect Your Mental Health. Simply put: Mental health is

Tufankjian, DO, RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group

health. Your mind is part of you, and, when it comes to staying healthy, it’s impossible to separate your body and your mind. It’s important to address and manage stress, anxiety and depression and to know when to seek professional help. Exercise, yoga and meditation can help alleviate mild symptoms, but if you begin to feel overwhelmed, you should seek professional help. Talk to your health provider and learn more at rwjbh.org/ behavioralhealth.

Use your smartphone camera to hover over the QR code and learn more about RWJBarnabas Health and our women’s healthcare team.

Visit rwjbh.org/ WomensHealth or call 888-724-7123.

The Dental Difference

Mini Dental Implants: A True Innovation in Dentistry

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

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

What are the advantages of MDI placement?

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

Other advantages associated with MDIs may include:

• Better smelling breath

• More self-esteem

• Clearer speech

• Easier chewing and biting

• Easier cleaning

• Firmer denture fit

• Good success rate

• Less denture discomfort

• No cutting or sutures

• No need for adhesives or messy bonding agents

• No rotting food beneath the denture

• No slipping or wobbling

• Quick treatment time

• Reduced costs

How are mini dental implants placed?

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

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

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

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

The Dental Difference – 2131 Route 33, Suite A, Hamilton, NJ 08690. 609-445-3577. www. thedentaldifference.com. See ad, page 13.

Dr. Kevin Mosmen

To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9. Copyright ©2023

Puzzle solutions on pg 20

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closure, the diocese wanted to sell the property to developers. Hopewell residents opposed the move.

A 2017 Trenton Times article reported that in late 2005, the diocese approached D&R Greenway, telling the nonprofit that if it could raise $11M by 2007, it would sell the 400+ acres to D&R for Open Space.

D&R Greenway took ownership of the property in January 2010. At the time, 20 acres were reserved for a possible parish center near St. Alphonsus Church; but D&R acquired that remaining land in 2017.

In a 2016 presentation titled “A Home in the Country,” Hopewell historian Jack Koeppel said the orphanage was built to address a need. The diocese recognized many families were in crisis and could no longer take care of their children. Koeppel noted in 1900, there were 1,000 orphanages in the United States taking care of the needs of more than 100,000 children.

We have had many conversations in our house about children who, for whatever reason, couldn’t stay with the people who brought them into the world. My daughter was born in China, coming home to America at the age of four months.

We eschewed emotionally-laden words like orphan and adopted because they are short-term identities that, while potentially impacting one’s life, shouldn’t be allowed to define one’s life. But we know

all too well how these stories can end, in an awakening not of a child’s doing. There is often life-long pain for people who faced these realities as children–especially older children who knew one life and were thrust into another one, not by choice. Recently walking the grounds was emotional for me.

Seward Johnson, we should suspect, would approve of the Hopewell location, which allows easy access for community members. In a 2000 interview with a reporter, he said: “I want people who look at my sculpture to experience joy. It’s fun.” In that same interview, the artist said his work needed “people to react with it — they complete the sculpture.”

* * *

If fundraising is successful, Lipson said, 14 of Johnson’s life-sized sculptures will be installed throughout Hopewell Valley for a six-month period. Statues would even be located at schools in the Hopewell Valley Regional School district. As an artist, Johnson believed public sculpture was “art for actual people.”

Johnson infused his work with his sense of fun and whimsy — something art critics must have missed. In 2003, Washington Post art critic Blake Gopnik called an exhibition of Johnson’s work “hideous and dumb.” The statues Gopnik disliked are now at the Grounds For Sculpture, where people delight in having their pictures taken alongside those very statues.

Admirers, on the other hand, called Johnson a mischief maker. In a retrospective video presentation of Johnson’s life, viewers learn his grandchildren “appointed him president of the Naughty Club.” He was a Shakespearean Puck for our times, and we are richer for his vision.

An opening ceremony for The Awakening will be held on Sunday, May 21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at D&R Greenway’s St. Michaels Farm Preserve. Members of the community are invited to attend a celebration that will include dance, poetry, and music.

“This project celebrates Seward’s spirit,” said DeClemente Losavio. “He loved Hopewell Valley — the beautiful expanse of field and forest of St. Michaels Farm Preserve, a sense of well being and return to nature. He would have loved people wandering, wondering, and finding their own story as they enjoy the surrounding trails and community. The giant really amplifies this feeling.”

Remembering Seward Johnson: youtube.com/watch?v=xft2VCWeiRQ.

The Life and Work of Seward Johnson & the Johnson Family: youtube.com/ watch?v=n8Yz1NNF1kM

Hopewell Valley Arts Council: hvartscouncil.org.

Photographer E.M. Hume with a version of “The Awakening” sculpture in Washington 2003.

Hoppe hits big time for Hopewell Valley baseball

By Rich Fisher

When looking for a model of consistency, check Branyan Hoppe’s batting record through the first eight games of Hopewell Valley Central High School’s 2023 baseball season.

The junior went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored on opening day against West Windsor-Plainsboro South. From there, his average never went below .500, as he hit safely in six of the first eight games, scored runs in seven of them and drove in runs in four.

Hoppe’s 0-for-2 in an Apr. 18 loss to Robbinsville dropped him to an even .500 at 13-for-26. He led the Bulldogs in hits and runs (13) and was tied with Tyler Ottobre for team-lead in RBI with nine. He also stole six bases and drew five walks.

“Making my swing more simple really helped,” the left-handed batter said. “Instead of trying to do too much with the ball, I’m just staying within myself and good things come with that. I’ve also been working on staying behind the ball and hitting it the opposite way. If it is inside I’ll turn on it sometimes. But most of my hits are toward left field.”

His success is a far cry from the rightfielder’s sophomore campaign, when he made varsity but only received occasional starts and pinch-hitting appearances. The result was a .231 average with one extra base hit and one RBI, as opposed to this season’s four extra-base hits and .692

slugging percentage through the Bulldogs 5-3 start.

“I was really grateful and I felt lucky to be on varsity last year,” Hoppe said. “It’s

something I always wanted since I was young. I think I just let it get into my head a little too much, which is a hard thing to overcome in baseball. I felt I had to do an insane amount to try and get a start.”

HVCHS coach Ken Harrison understood what his young player was going through.

“He goes in last year as a sophomore

and is maybe playing for a senior who might have been struggling and I’m trying to give that person a rest,” Harrison said. “So he goes in and feels like ‘Oh, I’m competing with a senior, if I’m not producing I’m gonna be out of the lineup and he’ll be back in.’ When you’re getting spot starts like that there’s a little pressure like ‘I gotta produce or I’ll be out of the lineup.’ But this year, it’s a totally different story.”

Hoppe gives credit to Anderson and his coaching staff, who he said “are giving me the confidence I need. They prepared me for preseason throughout the winter. Last year it was a confidence thing, this year I have the confidence I needed.”

That was never an issue when Hoppe was excelling in the Hopewell youth baseball league. He played travel in Bordentown at age 12, and also played for Timberlane and Hopewell Post 339 before moving to the Diamondjacks last summer.

“Their coaches helped me prepare for the more upper levels,” Hoppe said.

Harrison noted that when Hoppe arrived as a freshman, the natural ability was evident, but he had to make the usual adjustments.

“The speed of the game is different,” the veteran coach said. “You’re playing with 18 year old kids who have been playing varsity for a while. Sometimes as a freshman and sophomore you’re not really used to that speed.

“It’s not for lack of talent. You just need experience. That’s the one thing you can’t teach as coaches. They gotta go out there and experience it for themselves. He got that year under his belt last year.”

Junior Branyan Hoppe has been a big hitter for Hopewell Valley this season, raising his batting average from .231 last year to .500 this year through 8 games. (Photo by Rich Fisher.)

Hoppe, who also plays defensive back and receiver for the football team, was a catcher up until high school. There was a logjam at that position when he arrived, so his new spot became right field.

“I still switch on and off to catching and outfield,” he said. “Catching is hard on your knees and your legs after catching a bunch of games in a week but it’s what you do, it’s your job.

“Playing outfield, there’s not as much wear and tear. Having the mixture between the two is nice. It gives your arm a break, it gives your legs a break and playing outfield you’re just catching some fly balls. But I’ve been wanting that fly ball (with a man on third) to see if I can do anything with my arm.”

And while Hoppe has turned it around offensively, it appeared that his bat might still be a problem in March.

“He struggled a little in the scrimmages,” Harrison said. “The first game it was like he flipped a switch and got into a different gear, and he’s been playing great ever since we started the regular season.

“He’s very athletic, and having a lefthanded bat always helps. He’s been doing a really nice job. He’s been coming up clutch for us, too, in some big spots. He’s been batting third or fourth, depending

on who’s in the lineup and he’s producing in key spots, not just when we’re up by seven.”

It’s what Harrison expects from his upperclassmen. He was patient with Hoppe’s scuffles as a sophomore, but wants production from his juniors and seniors.

Batting third or fourth means there are expectations to produce runs, and Branyan was meeting those demands in the season’s first weeks.

“I always thought I did decently well with pressure,” he said. “I try not to let it get to my head. I try to do what I can do, simple little basics, and good things will come from that.”

He also makes himself a tough out; as pitchers can’t put him away.

“He’s scrappy,” Harrison said. “You see him when he gets two strikes he’s up two inches on the bat. Oftentimes, some of his best swings are with two strikes, because he shortens up a little bit. But I like his toughness.”

Hoppe really bears down when he gets two strikes on him, Harrison said. “He hates striking out. He puts the ball in play. He just wants to do well,” he said.

And after a season of finding himself, Hoppe is now doing exactly what he wants.

Mother’s Day

Horseback Riding Camp 2023!

Horseback Riding Camp 2023!

Horseback Riding Camp 2023!

Horseback Riding Camp 2023!

Embrace your horse love at Duncraven Equestrian Center. Participants will learn safety on and around horses and ponies, grooming techniques, riding skills, and other primary horsemanship competencies. Sessions aim to help develop confidence and motor coordination while providing a supportive and fun environment for everyone! The perfect preparation for eager, young and aspiring equestrians.

Embrace your horse love at Duncraven Equestrian Center. Participants will learn safety on and around horses and ponies, grooming techniques, riding skills, and other primary horsemanship competencies. Sessions aim to help develop confidence and motor coordination while providing a supportive and fun environment for everyone!

Horseback Riding Camp 2023!

Horseback Riding Camp 2023!

Horseback Riding Camp 2023!

Embrace your horse love at Duncraven Equestrian Center. Participants will learn safety on and around horses and ponies, grooming techniques, riding skills, and other primary horsemanship competencies. Sessions aim to help develop confidence and motor coordination while providing a supportive and fun environment for everyone! The perfect preparation for eager, young and aspiring equestrians.

Embrace your horse love at Duncraven Equestrian Center. Participants will learn safety on and around horses and ponies, grooming techniques, riding skills, and other primary horsemanship competencies. Sessions aim to help develop confidence and motor coordination while providing a supportive and fun environment for everyone!

Embrace your horse love at Duncraven Equestrian Center. Participants will learn safety on and around horses and ponies, grooming techniques, riding skills, and other primary horsemanship competencies. Sessions aim to help develop confidence and motor coordination while providing a supportive and fun environment for everyone!

The perfect preparation for eager, young and aspiring equestrians.

Embrace your horse love at Duncraven Equestrian Center. Participants will learn safety on and around horses and ponies, grooming techniques, riding skills, and other primary horsemanship competencies. Sessions aim to help develop confidence and motor coordination while providing a supportive and fun environment for everyone! The perfect preparation for eager, young and aspiring equestrians. Program

Program Dates:

Program Dates:

The perfect preparation for eager, young and aspiring equestrians.

Embrace your horse love at Duncraven Equestrian Center. Participants will learn safety on and around horses and ponies, grooming techniques, riding skills, and other primary horsemanship competencies. Sessions aim to help develop confidence and motor coordination while providing a supportive and fun environment for everyone! The perfect preparation for eager, young and aspiring equestrians.

The perfect preparation for eager, young and aspiring equestrians.

Sessions (Monday - Friday)

Sessions (Monday - Friday)

Program Dates:

Program Dates:

Sessions (Monday - Friday)

Project Medicine Drop: Safe drug disposal in Hopewell Township

Uma Purandare

From the townshiP

Hopewell Township is taking proactive steps to prevent prescription drug abuse by participating in the Project Medicine Drop program.

Drug overdoses increased during the COVID-19 pandemic as compared to the pre-pandemic era, leading to thousands of New Jersey residents entering addiction treatment programs due to prescription drug misuse.

Furthermore, recent data shows that 70% of opioid abuse starts with easy access to unused medication at home.

In response to this alarming trend, New Jersey’s Office of the Attorney General and Division of Consumer Affairs launched the Project Medicine Drop program to address this serious public health concern. * * *

Unused or expired medicines (both prescription and over-the-counter) can be

a risk if they are taken by someone they were not prescribed for.

They can be harmful if accidentally taken by a child or pet and dangerous, or even deadly, if not used as directed. So why put your family at risk by keeping unused or expired medicines?

As part of the Project Medicine Drop program, the Hopewell Township Police Department has installed a permanent medicine drop box in the lobby of the Hopewell Township police station located at 201 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road in Titusville.

This dropbox provides a safe, secure, and anonymous way for community members to dispose of unused and expired medications.

The drop box is accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with no questions asked. Please note, the drop box does not accept syringes, sharps or illicit (nonprescription) drugs.

Residents are encouraged to bring their medications, including opioids, and discard them in an environmentally safe manner. Liquid products, such as cough

syrup, should be placed in a container with the cap tightly sealed.

While the drop box is available year-round, April 22 was the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day initiative. On that day, Hopewell Township police collected and safely disposed of more than 200 pounds of unused drugs.

By participating in the Project Medicine Drop program, Hopewell Township is not only addressing the social impact of prescription drug abuse but also the environmental impact of improper drug disposal.

The Township is a Sustainable Jersey Certified Community, and the installation of the medicine drop box aligns with our commitment to preserving the environment and keeping waterways clean. Flushing medications down the toilet can have harmful effects on drinking water and aquatic life.

The availability of the drop box is not the solution to drug abuse. Drug abuse prevention is a shared responsibility

among public officials, law enforcement, and the local community.

Hopewell Township works in close collaboration with the Hopewell Valley Municipal Alliance to build caring, confident, and responsible youth. Our law enforcement personnel engage in community events to educate, train, and spread public awareness about drug safety. * * *

As part of spring cleaning, residents are encouraged to thoroughly check their cabinets, drawers, and other hidden places for unused or expired prescription medications and safely discard them at the medicine drop box.

For more information, visit the Hopewell Township website, hopewelltwp.org, and type “Project Medicine Drop” in the search bar, or call (609) 737-0605.

Uma Purandare is a member of the Hopewell Township Committee. Hopewell Township provided this content.

FACTS ABOUT UNDERAGE DRINKING AND THE LAW:

• It is a criminal offense in NJ to make your home or property available for allowing minors a place to consume alcohol.

• NJ’s Social Host Liability Law imposes civil penalties on social hosts who serve alcohol to minors who subsequently are involved in incidents causing death or injury.

• Drunk driving is a leading cause of death among teens in the U.S.

• Teen drinking can lead to academic problems, car crashes, unplanned pregnancies, changes in brain development, unintentional serious injuries, other drug use and alcohol dependence later in life.

• Binge drinking is common among teens who consume alcohol for the sole reason for getting drunk.

Don’t be a party to teenage drinking. It’s against the law.

Know your place

Robin Schore

sChore to PLeAse

I was traveling up Aunt Molly Road on my way to a party celebrating the indictment of the most corrupt person in the country, if not the world, when I said to myself: “Who is Aunt Molly?”

Historians can often capture information about the past by scrutinizing place names like towns and streets.

In pursuit of Aunt Molly, I contacted Doug Dixon of the Hopewell Valley History Project. Dixon directed me to page 188 of Hopewell: A Historical Geography (Hunter & Porter. 1990).

There I found out that Aunt Molly Road was named for Molly Titus, owner of the farm and sawmill located on this road during the late 19th century.

So, after all, it wasn’t derived from the Little Richard classic, “Good Golly Miss Molly.”

My off-handed curiosity and unprofessional speculation about local place names opened up not a can of

worms, but rather a massive resource of books and newsletters about local history. * * *

Most any kindergartner can tell you that Washington Crossing is named for the difficult traversing of the Delaware River by George Washington preceding his crucial victory at the Battle of Trenton. And most everyone in the area knows that Hart Avenue is named for John Hart, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and a Revolutionary War hero. But what about everywhere else?

Provinceline Road once marked the line between East and West Jersey, a divide that existed in the late 17th century.

Dublin Road housed a settlement of 19th century Irish railroad workers and was not a salute to James Joyce.

Model Avenue, according to Doug Dixon, was supposedly named for the public school built there in 1888, a “model” school.

Seminary Avenue was named after the Hopewell Seminary (duh!), built in 1865.

INTRO DUCING INTRO DUCING INTRO DUCING INTRO DUCING INTRO DUCING

provided the names for Marshall’s Corner, Search, Burd, VanDyke, and Blackwell Roads. Surprisingly, Cleveland Lane is named for Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th U.S. president, and not for the Grover of Sesame Street.

Among the more scenic thoroughfares in the area is Crusher Road, which I always assumed was named for a professional wrestler. Wrong! It refers to Cope’s stone crusher, a machine that operated at what is now the Quarry swimming area.

Pleasant Valley Road on a bike is only pleasant going downhill. Uphill it’s thoroughly unpleasant.

I incorrectly thought that Poor Farm Road was named for its crappy soil. But, no, it was the location of the townoperated farm set up in 1821 to house the poor and homeless. This “Pauper House” survived until 1951.

Similarly descriptive Moore’s Mill, Old Mill, Titus Mill, and Snook’s Mill (defunct) identified the sites of grist or saw mills.

Woosamonsa Road is derived from the Lenni Lenape word for place of wrinkled or shriveled trees. Despite a comprehensive search, I could not find the tree.

I also couldn’t find John Hart’s Cave where the Revolutionary War hero hid out from the British according to the historical marker on Lindbergh Road. When I waded into the woods, all I found were boulders and thorns.

Princeton Avenue is, of course, named after the [late] artist formerly known as Prince.

And as everyone knows Route 31 is named after 19th century cult leader Ezekiel “Thirty-one” Zeck, so nicknamed for the number of wives he had, all of whom hated him. County Route 518 was so named in commemoration of the

number of children Zeck fathered with his wives. Each child was a notorious brat.

I couldn’t find the source of either Jacob’s Creek or Beden’s Brook, but Fiddlers Creek is named, and misspelled, after John Fidler, who fought in the American Revolution.

Regarding the names of towns, Hopewell Borough was once called Columbia. Columbia Ave. is its relic.

Titusville was always Titusville, named for the family of Joseph Titus, who established two sawmills and a fishery there in the 1700’s.

Pennington was originally Queenstown, then Pennytown and finally Pennington, named after colonial governors related to William Penn.

Stephen Crane, best known for The Red Badge of Courage, attended the Pennington School for two years, leaving in 1887 after a teacher accused him of lying about some unidentified hazing incident. Was it swallowing goldfish? Paddling? Out-of-control beer pong?

Not to detract from Stephen Crane and John Hart, but highest in my pantheon of local heroes has to be Pennington native Cassidy Hutchinson who, in sworn testimony before Congress, revealed that the most corrupt person in the country, if not the world, had, in moments of anger, thrown platefuls of fast food against the walls of the Oval Office dining room. Furthermore, way beyond the call of duty, she helped clean the ketchup off the walls.

In case you want to know even more about Hopewell Valley, go crazy reading the Hopewell Valley Historical Society Newsletter (hopewellvalleyhistory.org). The archive goes back to 1975.

1 West Broad Street

Hopewell, NJ 08525

robin schore lives in Hopewell Borough.

Blink and they’re grown.

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NEW LISTING

FEATURED PROPERTIES

Lambertville | $307,500

Opportunity is knocking and Oh The Possibilities! A diamond in the rough nestled in the quaint and charming river town of Lambertville - a place where folks still greet you by your first name at the local neighborhood cafe.

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Hopewell Boro | $690,000

5 Bedroom 2.5 bath ranch with a 3-car garage sits on one of the largest residential lots on Hart Ave in downtown Hopewell Borough. Anderson windows and doors, new hot water heater, Central air is 7 years new, the garage roof is 1 year. The 1298 sq ft 3-car garage has quarry tile floors, heat & electric, and is plumbed for a bath.

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Pennington | $580,000

Beautiful 4 BR Hopewell Township home on 2 acres backing to hundreds of acres of preserved land! Renovated from top to bottom when the current owners moved in, they continue to add and improve. Features include; New roof, new oil tank, new septic, new heater, a 30 x 30 Morton building, a 2 car detached garage and a huge paved parking lot.

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This lovely townhome, situated in the heart of downtown Lambertville, is a beautiful example of historic charm. Built in 1860, it boasts a bright and vibrant brick exterior, complete with a charming front patio.

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Hopewell | $470,000

Stunning and bright 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath townhome in Hopewell Grant. Kitchen with granite, dining area open to family room with fireplace. 2nd floor laundry, 3 three spacious bedrooms, with plenty of closet space.

Hopewell | $989,000

This gracious home on 3.25 acres is perfect for casual entertainment. It features a stunning split staircase in the two-story foyer and a spacious family/game room with a billiards table. The formal dining room, living room, home office, and cook’s kitchen with island seating and breakfast nook complete the first level. Elegant woodwork and tall windows, French doors, and skylights enhance the lower level with natural light.

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Pennington Boro | $639,000

This 4th generation-owned home is coming on the market for the 1st time and you could be the next lucky owner. Gleaming HW floors and plaster walls throughout. The remodeled galley kitchen features cherry cabinets, granite counters, a huge walk-in pantry, and beautiful block glass allowing lots of natural light in. The sunny breakfast room and formal dining room are convenient to the kitchen.