1-24 HP by Community News Service

P P Hamilton ton ost Hamilton ost JANUARY 2024

COMMUNITYNEWS.ORG

2024 HAMILTON TOWNSHIP JOIN HAMILTON TOWNSHIP’S BUSINESS GROUP VISIT WWW.SHOPHAMILTONNJ.COM

Retiring Hughes reflects on 20 years as county executive

tive. His achievements are many, and they include the reviFor the first time in two talization of the Trenton-Mercer decades, long-time Mercer (and the approval of a new terCounty Executive Brian Hughes minal and parking garage at the won’t be sitting behind the desk site), the preservation of thouof the county’s top administra- sands of acres of open space, tive elected official. numerous recreational projects, Former Assemblyman Dan multiple economic initiatives, Benson — a Democrat who and helping to shepherd the was overwhelmingly county through the elected in November Covid-19 pandemic. over Republican Lisa Hughes, a resident Richford — will be of Princeton, is the sworn in at the counson of former goverty’s annual reorganinor and N.J. Supreme zation meeting, which Court Chief Justice was set to be held Richard J. Hughes. at the Trenton War Before being Memorial on Thurselected county execHughes day, Jan. 4, at 6 p.m. utive in November Hughes, who was 2003, he served two not chosen to run terms on the Board again in favor of Benson during of Chosen Freeholders (now the the Mercer Democratic Party Board of County CommissionConvention last March, will be ers), first being elected in 1997. looking to move on to greener Before that, he served as deputy pastures after many years in executive director of the Goverelected office. nor’s Council on Alcoholism and When asked in a recent inter- Drug Abuse. view about what Benson’s bigTrenton Mayor Reed Gusgest challenge will be, Hughes ciora lauded Hughes when he joked: “Removing all the Brian endorsed him at the DemoHughes signs from across the cratic Convention: “He has county.” kept County taxes stable. He Many of those signs highlight acquired over 5,000 acres of Hughes’ accomplishments dur- open space, preserving and See HUGHES, Page 12 ing his years as county execu-

FREE

INTerVieW By BiLL SANserViNO

Scott Chianese, director of the Hamilton Township Public Library, with Jeff Guear, the recently appointed Hamilton Township Historian. (Photo by EMH Studios.)

Hamilton library welcomes new township historian By SUe FerrArA

If Hamilton still had a town crier, we might have all awakened to this cry one morning: “Hear Ye! Hear Ye! There’s a new township historian at work!” Meet Jeff Guear, a 50-something-year-old (he

thinks his age is irrelevant), life-long Hamiltonian, a 1987 graduate of Hamilton High West, and an eager consumer of Hamilton Township history. Guear’s office is located in a room on the lower level of the Hamilton Township Public Library. Guear replaced long-time local historian Tom Glover, who,

The best kind of back support is spine care close to home. Do it right. Here.

at 90 years old, has decided it was time to retire after serving the Hamilton community for 25 years. Former mayor Jack Rafferty created the historian’s position; he appointed Glover because of his many local connections, as well as his many recollections of growing up in Hamilton. See HISTORIAN, Page 10

Academy Dental CHILDREN & ADULTS Complete Dentistry for the Whole Family

AcademyDentalNJ.com

rwjbh.org/spine

Currently Open for Emergency Dental Care See our ad on page 11

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID SPRINGFIELD,1179 MA NEWARK, NJ PERMIT NO. 142

RWJUH Hamilton January Healthy Living / Community Education Programs GOT STRESS?

Wednesday, Jan. 3; 11:00 – 12:00 p.m.

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

CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP Wednesday, Jan. 3; 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Supportive discussion group for those caring for a loved one who is aging or has a chronic illness-shared experiences can be healing.

GRIEF & LOSS SUPPORT GROUP Thursdays, Jan. 4 and Jan 18; 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

If you have lost a loved one or been separated from your support system, you can find comfort and begin to cope better by interacting with others.

KIDS IN THE KITCHENFROSTED WONDERLAND

Thursday, Jan. 4; 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.

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

CARING FOR LOVED ONES WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS

Monday, Jan. 8 and 22; 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Jan. 8: Ways to Manage Caregiver Stress Jan. 22: Importance of a Medical Living Will

ADULT CHILDREN CARING FOR PARENTS Monday, Jan. 8 and 22; 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

Jan. 8: Balancing Caregiving, Family & Work

Jan. 22: Strategies for Keeping Your Loved Ones Engaged

SWEET SUCCESS SOCIETY: A DIABETES GROUP Monday, Jan. 8; 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 5; 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

A group for anyone with diabetes or caring for one of the 37 million Americans living with diabetes. Learn and discuss healthy ways to manage diabetes alongside peers and Taryn Krietzman, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.

LETTING GO OF CLUTTER Tuesday, Jan. 9; 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.

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

DIZZINESS? VERTIGO? – UNDERSTANDING WHY MANY ADULTS DEVELOP DIZZINESS Wednesday, Jan. 10; 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Dizziness and imbalance are amongst the most common complaints in older people, and are a concern as it puts you at a higher risk of falling. Although the causes of dizziness in older people are multifactorial, peripheral vestibular dysfunction is one of the most frequent causes. Join Audiologist, Dr. Lorraine Sgarlato, Au.D.to understand more about the causes and treatments of dizziness.

WHAT’S EATING YOU?

Monday, Jan. 15; 11:00 – 12:00 p.m.

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

PREDIABETES CONNECT GROUP Tuesday, Jan. 16; 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

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

WHAT’S IN STORE IN 24 VISION BOARD WORKSHOP Tuesday. Jan. 16; 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Create a vision board for the year ahead of what you would like to manifest in 2024. Please bring scissors, all other materials will be provided.

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION Wednesday, Jan. 17; 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

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

WHAT IS SEPSIS?

Thursday, Jan. 18; 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

Learn about this life threatening response to infections with our Chairman Dept. of Emergency Services and a Medical Staff Officer, Lasanta S. Horana, MD, RWJUH Hamilton.

CRYSTAL BOWL SOUND BATH Monday, Jan. 22; 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

Sound healing uses instruments like singing bowls, gongs, drums & chimes to create an atmosphere promoting deep rest, nervous system re-balancing, & emotional release. Participants sit or lay in a comfortable position while the practitioner takes you on a sound journey for mind, body & spirit. Bring a yoga mat, blanket, pillow to make yourself comfortable. Adriana Hansen, RYT200, SHA1. Fee: $15 per person.

CREATING HABITS THAT STICKA JOURNEY TO SELF-LOVE Tuesday, Jan. 23; 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP

Join Erin Bogdan, trauma-informed authenticity & confidence coach, for an interactive & engaging workshop to learn how to pour into you so that you can create a life of alignment, purpose, & impact.

Support and information for family and

REIKI SHARE

Wednesday, Jan. 17; 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.

For those Certified in Reiki (at any level) to share the gift of Reiki with other practitioners. Give a session; get a session. Please bring a small sheet and pillow.

Wednesday, Jan. 17: 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.

TAKE HOME COLORECTAL SCREEN friends of people with Alzheimer’s. Monday, Jan. 15; 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. HEALTHRYTHMS® DRUM CIRCLE Learn about ways to keep your colon healthy and possibly prevent colorectal cancer. You will be given a test to do at home and mail back.

reliever. Drums will be provided. Mauri Tyler, CTRS,CMP $15

Drum your cares away with our Drum Circle. It’s lots of fun and a great stress

Wednesday, Jan. 24; 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

WISE WOMEN

Thursday, Jan. 25; 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

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

DANCE IT OUT!

Friday, Jan. 29; 11:00 – 12:00 p.m.

Don’t let the winter blues leave you out in the cold. Warm up and feel energized through body movements. Never miss a chance to dance! All ages welcome, no experience required.

AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE

Wednesday, Jan. 31; 9:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Join the Red Cross as they host a blood drive to save lives. Donations made during this blood drive will automatically enter you in the Red Cross Super Bowl LVIII giveaway. The winner will receive a trip to SB LVIII for you & a guest. Prize includes travel, hotel, $1,000 gift card, pre-game activities & more! Scan the QR Code to schedule your appointment to make a life saving blood donation. *All programs require registration and are held at the RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center, 3100 Quakerbridge Rd., Hamilton, NJ, unless otherwise noted.

Better Health Programs/Complimentary Membership at 65+ Years Old A SENIOR SOCIAL GROUP

Wednesday, Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, & 31; 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

TAI CHI CLASS

Thursday, Jan. 4 and 18; 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

A MATTER OF BALANCE: A 4-WEEK SERIES

Mondays & Wednesdays, Jan. 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29, 31; 1:00 to 3:00 pm

YOGA CLASSES

Tuesday, Jan. 9 and 23; 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

MEDITATION CLASSES

Tuesday, Jan. 9 and 23; 11:15 to 11:45 a.m.

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

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

Tuesday, Jan. 9; Noon to 12:45 a.m.

Krystal Loughlin, certified RYT, is introducing Chair Yoga to our Better Health Program. Using a chair for seated poses and also for balancing poses, this class is perfect for those

2Hamilton Post | Januar y 2024

who haven’t moved their bodies for a while, recovering from an injury or have mobility/balancing difficulties.

SOCRATES CAFÉ,

SETH D. ROSENBAUM, MD, MMM, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT & CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, RWJUH HAMILTON ON COLDS VS. FLU

Thursday, Jan. 18; 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 11; 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

Specializes in Infectious Disease. January brings cold symptoms and Dr. Rosenbaum will thoroughly review differences between the multitudes of winter illnesses.

RULES OF THE ROAD: INVESTING IN RETIREMENT Tuesday, Jan.16; 10:00 to 11:00 am

Edward Jones’ 10 Rules of the Road to investing. Investing strategies to help reach their long-term goals. What they can do now to enjoy retirement. Ty Robinson, Edward Jones

Thursday, Jan. 16; 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

GAME TIME

DR. ALI HOSTS A “JEOPARDY PARTY” LUNCH Friday, Jan. 19; Noon to 1:30 p.m.

A new Jeopardy focused on Innovations in Medicine. Tables will compete as teams as we test your knowledge. Don’t panic, this will be fun and interactive and there will even be prizes along with lunch.

WINTER SAFETY TIPS WITH PHYSICAL THERAPY Tuesday, Jan. 23; Noon to 1:00 p.m.

A spill, a slip, a hospital trip. Learn the do’s and don’ts in wintry weather with physical therapist Chris Robinson, PT, DPT.

MEN’S HEALTH, LUNCH & LEARN WITH DEEP TRIVEDI, MD Thursday, Jan. 25; 12:00 to 1:30 p.m.

Join us for a frank conversation led by Deep Trivedi, MD, Board-Certified in Urology with a special interest in multiple urologic areas including stone disease, benign prostate hyperplasia, erectile dysfunction/low T, incontinence, cancer and sexual/reproductive health. Men and Women are welcomed.

IT’S FREEZING OUT! LET’S BREAK THE ICE! Tuesday, Jan. 30; 2:00 to 3:00 pm

A new year marks a wonderful opportunity to make new acquaintances! Join together with new and familiar friends and participate in activities that will help us get to know each other better. Registration is required.

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

Januar y 2024 | Hamilton Post3

COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR!*

Introducing VINTAGE AT HAMILTON, a spectacular community of 122 luxury townhomes and duplexes in Hamilton Twp., Mercer County...exclusively for active adults 55+.

This is where you’ll savor life to the fullest. All in an area known for its wealth of cultural offerings, recreational opportunities, dining and shopping. Vintage at Hamilton is in the center of it all, close to I-195 and the New Jersey Turnpike and just minutes from the Hamilton Train with direct service to New York City and Philadelphia.

Don’t miss your chance to own a fine Vintage!

• 3 bedrooms, 2½ baths • Full basement (with option to finish!) • 1-2 car garage • Clubhouse with pool

Priced from the low $500s

609-900-3130 | sharbell.com 5 Sportsman Blvd, Hamilton, NJ 08690 Sales office open Friday-Tuesday from 11am–5pm.

Prices subject to change without notice. See Sales Consultant for details. ©2023 Sharbell Development Corp. Equal Housing Opportunity. * Honored with Community of the Year at the esteemed FAME Awards from the Shore Builders of Central NJ, showcasing the finest product designs, communities, and exceptional talent within the industry.

4Hamilton Post | Januar y 2024

Hamilton Post

We are a newsroom of your neighbors. The Hamilton Post is for local people, by local people. As part of the community, the Gazette does more than just report the news—it connects businesses with their customers, organizations with their members and neighbors with one another. As such, our staﬀ sets out to make our town a closer place by giving readers a reliable source to turn to when they want to know what’s going on in their neighborhood. EDITOR Joe Emanski (Ext. 120) CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Sue Ferrara, Rich Fisher, Bill Sanservino CONTRIBUTING COLUMNISTS Peter Dabbene, Thomas Kelly AD LAYOUT & PRODUCTION Stacey Micallef (Ext. 131) SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Jennifer Steﬀen (Ext. 113)

Community News Service 9 Princess Road, Suite M Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 Phone: (609) 396-1511 News: news@communitynews.org Events: events@communitynews.org Sports: sports@communitynews.org Letters: jemanski@communitynews.org Website: hamiltonpost.com Facebook: facebook.com/hamiltonpostnj Twitter: twitter.com/mercerspace 40,000 copies of the Hamilton Post are mailed or bulk-distributed to the residences and businesses of Hamilton 12 times a year.

An award-winning publication of Community News Service, LLC. © Copyright 2024. All rights reserved. Trademark and U.S. Copyright Laws protect Community News Service LLC Publications. Nothing herein may be reproduced in whole or part without written permission of the Publisher.

CO-PUBLISHER Jamie Griswold

CO-PUBLISHER Tom Valeri

MANAGING EDITOR, METRO DIVISION Sara Hastings ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Thomas Fritts

PRODUCTION MANAGER Stacey Micallef DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL INITIATIVES Joe Emanski

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

QUALITY OF LIFE HERE IN HAMILTON PROTECT YOURTO PROTECT YOUR TOWNSHIP/NO (View of property in RRC zone) PROTECT YOUR QUALITY QUALITY OF LIFE QUALITY OF LIFE WAREHOUSE SPRAWL HERE IN HAMILTON OF LIFE HERE IN HAMILTON HERE IN HAMILTON WHAT’S AT STAKE: TOWNSHIP/NO TOWNSHIP/NO TO TOWNSHIP/NO TO TO WAREHOUSE SPRAWL WAREHOUSE SPRAWL WAREHOUSE SPRAWL WHAT’S AT STAKE: WHAT’S AT STAKE:

(View of property in RRC zone)

• PRIME FARMLAND • ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE LAND • FOREST HABITAT, WETLANDS, AND FIELDS • SAFE, RURAL, UNCONGESTED ROADS • QUIET NEIGHBORHOODS • PROTECTION OF THE RURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION (RRC) ZONE

• PRIME FARMLAND AN IMPORTANT PROPERTY ~ 100 acres • ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE LAND IN THE RRC ZONE IS THREATENED BY (View of property in RRC zone) • FOREST HABITAT, WETLANDS, AND FIELDS DEVELOPMENT LOCATED NEAR EDGE(View of property in RRC zone) • SAFE, RURAL, UNCONGESTED ROADS BROOK AND CROSSWICKS – HAMILTON • QUIET NEIGHBORHOODS SQUARE ROAD EAST OF THE ROUTE 130 • PROTECTION OF THE RURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION (RRC) ZONE COMMERCIAL ZONE AN IMPORTANT PROPERTY ~ 100 acres IN THE RRC ZONE IS THREATENED BY DEVELOPMENT LOCATED NEAR EDGEBROOK AND CROSSWICKS – HAMILTON SQUARE ROAD EAST OF THE ROUTE 130 COMMERCIAL ZONE • PRIME FARMLAND • PRIME FARMLAND • ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE LAND • ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE LAND WHATAND YOU CAN DO: • FOREST HABITAT, WETLANDS, FIELDS • FOREST HABITAT, WETLANDS, AND FIELDS • SAFE, RURAL, UNCONGESTED ROADS • SAFE, RURAL, 1ST UNCONGESTED ROADS Email mayor Martin at Mayor@hamiltonnj.com and/or Email your council member at •Martin QUIET NEIGHBORHOODS Email Mayor at >Mayor@hamiltonnj.com and/or Email(please your council at Government • 1ST QUIET NEIGHBORHOODS Government Township Council at hamiltonnj.com send a member copy to North Crosswicks> Township Council • PROTECTION OF THE RURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION (RRC) ZONE at hamiltonnj.com (please send a copy to North Crosswicks Friends of Open Space at oranjpaddler47@gmail.com so we can • PROTECTION Friends OF THEof RURAL CONSERVATION (RRC) ZONE OpenRESOURCE Space at oranjpaddler47@gmail.com so we can track your efforts) AN IMPORTANT PROPERTY ~ 100 acres IN THE RRC ZONE IS THREATENED BY track your efforts) AN IMPORTANT PROPERTY ~ 100toacres IN the THETownship RRC ZONE IS THREATENED BY 2ND PLAN attend Council meeting concerning an –ordinance to rezone the DEVELOPMENT LOCATED NEAR EDGEBROOK AND CROSSWICKS HAMILTON SQUARE 2ND PLAN to attend the Township Council meeting concerning an ordinance to rezone the referenced properties from the DEVELOPMENT LOCATED NEARproperties EDGEBROOK AND CROSSWICKS – look HAMILTON SQUARE referenced from the RRC zone to RD, for the announcement on Hamiltonnj. ROAD EAST OF THE ROUTE 130 COMMERCIAL ZONE RRC zone to RD, look for the announcement on Hamiltonnj.com, in the newspaper, or call NCFOS at 609 298-1157 ROAD EAST OF THE com, ROUTE COMMERCIAL ZONE in 130 the newspaper, or call NCFOS at 609 298-1157 IN YOUR EMAILINAND THE MEETING, THEM: PROTECT THE RURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION ZONE NO TO THE AT PHONE CALL ANDTELL AT THE MEETING, TELL THEM: PROTECT THE RURAL WHAT YOU CAN DO: REZONING THIS PROPERTY FROM THE RRC ZONE TO A RD (RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT) RESOURCE CONSERVATION ZONE NO TO REZONING THIS PROPERTY FROM ZONE AND NO MORE WHAT YOU CAN DO: WAREHOUSESTHE OR RRC OTHER COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT ON FARMLAND,ZONE WETLANDS, AND IN WOODS IN THIS AREA ZONE TO A RD (RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT) AND NO MORE 1ST at Email mayor Martin at Mayor@hamiltonnj.com and/ormember Email your member at 1ST Email mayor Martin Mayor@hamiltonnj.com and/or EmailDEVELOPMENT your council at council WETLANDS, WAREHOUSES OR OTHER COMMERCIAL ON FARMLAND, Government > hamiltonnj.com Township Council at hamiltonnj.com (please a copy to North Crosswicks Government > Township Council at (please send a copy to Northsend Crosswicks AND IN WOODS IN THIS AREA Friends of Open Space at oranjpaddler47@gmail.com so we can Friends of Open Space at oranjpaddler47@gmail.com so we can track your efforts) track your efforts) PLAN to attend Township Council an meeting concerning an ordinance to rezone the 2ND PLAN to attend2ND the Township Councilthe meeting concerning ordinance to rezone the For more information call Dan Dill at referenced properties from the RRC zone to RD, look for the announcement on Hamiltonnj. referenced properties from the RRC zone to RD, look for the announcement on Hamiltonnj. com, in the newspaper, or call NCFOS at 609 298-1157 com, in the newspaper, or call NCFOS at 609 298-1157

(View of property in RRC zone)

For more information call Dan Dill at North Crosswicks Friends of Open Space (NCFOS): 609 298-1157 North Crosswicks Friends of Open Space (NCFOS):

THE AT PHONE CALL ANDTELL AT THE MEETING, TELL IN THE PHONE CALLINAND THE MEETING, THEM: PROTECT THETHEM: RURALPROTECT THE RURAL 609 298-1157 RESOURCE CONSERVATION ZONE NO TO REZONING THIS PROPERTY FROM RESOURCE CONSERVATION ZONE NO TO REZONING THIS PROPERTY FROM THE RRC ZONE TO A RD (RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT) ZONE AND NO MORE

Januar y 2024 | Hamilton Post5

DOG LICENSE REMINDER All Hamilton resident dog owners must license their dog(s) for 2024 between Jan. 1 - Feb. 29, 2024 The Hamilton Township Division of Health requires that all dogs over 6 months of age be licensed with Hamilton Township.

How to license: O Online: www.HamiltonNJ.com/DogLicense At the Animal Shelter: 2100 Sylvan Ave, Hamilton, NJ 08610 Questions? Call the Animal Shelter: 609-890-3555 Fees: Spayed or Neutered: $18 (Senior Citizen Fee: $2) Non-Spayed or Non-Neutered: $21 (Senior Citizen Fee: $5) Late fees begin March 1, 2024 What you need to apply: Proof of current rabies vaccine, which must be valid through November 1, 2024 Proof if dog is spayed or neutered ID, if requesting senior discount Accepted payments: cash, money order, checks and major credit cards

www.HamiltonNJ.com/DogLicense

Need a rabies vaccination? The Hamilton Township Division of Health offers free rabies immunizations for residents’ dogs and cats. If your dog/cat needs a rabies vaccination please schedule an appointment at one of the upcoming clinics in 2024: January 13, 9am-1pm February 10, 9am-1pm March 23, 9am-12pm Visit www.HamiltonNJ.com/RabiesClinics or call 609-890-3555 to pre-register for a clinic.

RECORDATORIO DE LICENCIA PARA PERROS Todos los dueños de perros residentes de Hamilton deben obtener una licencia para su(s) perro(s) para 2024 entre el 1 de enero y el 29 de febrero de 2024. La División de Salud de Hamilton Township exige que todos los perros mayores de 6 meses tengan una licencia de Hamilton Township.

Cómo obtener una licencia: En línea: www.HamiltonNJ.com/DogLicense En el refugio de animales: 2100 Sylvan Ave, Hamilton, NJ 08610 ¿Preguntas? Llame al refugio de animales: 609-890-3555 Honorarios: Esterilizados o Castrados: $18 Tarifa para personas mayores: $2 No esterilizados o no castrados: $21 Tarifa para personas mayores: $5 Los cargos por pagos atrasados comienzan el 1 de marzo de 2024 Lo que necesitas para aplicar: Comprobante de vacuna antirrábica vigente, que debe tener validez hasta el 1 de noviembre de 2024. Prueba si el perro está esterilizado o castrado DNI, si solicita descuento para personas mayores Pagos aceptados: efectivo, giro postal, cheques y las tarjetas de crédito.

6Hamilton Post | Januar y 2024

www.HamiltonNJ.com/DogLicense

¿Necesita una vacuna contra la rabia? La División de Salud del municipio de Hamilton ofrece vacunas contra la rabia gratuitas para los perros y gatos de los residentes. Si su perro/gato necesita una vacuna contra la rabia, programe una cita en una de las próximas clínicas en 2024: 13 de enero, 9am-1pm 10 de febrero, 9am-1pm 23 de marzo, 9am-12pm Visite www.HamiltonNJ.com/RabiesClinics o llame 609-890-3555 para preinscribirse en una clínica.

AROUND TOWN

Hamilton painter’s art helps swimming hole raise funds

With much apprecition we thank you and wish you a Happy New Year!

ating br

ce le

26 YEARS

Painting of the Hopewell Quarry public swimming hole by Hamilton artist Thomas Kelly. Kelly has lent the image to the nonprofit organization for use on merchandise. Regional painter and Hamilton resident Thomas Kelly has donated an image from his recent New York City gallery show, “Water, Water, Everywhere,” to help the nonprofit Hopewell Quarry raise funds for the operations of the facility. The original painting 30” x 48” depicts the iconic 100-year-old Hopewell quarry filled with swimmers, tubers and divers enjoying the spring-fed water on a warm day. For the better part of a century, the Hopewell Quarry Swim Club on Crusher Road in Hopewell was an old-fashioned, privately owned, members-only swimming hole on the site of a former mining operation. In 2021, the Friends of the Hopewell Quarry completed their purchase of the facility from former owns Jim and Nancy Gypton, converting it to preserved open space but maintaining the swimming facilities. Seasonal and oneday passes are available. Kelly, a regular Hamilton Post contributor, suggested that images of the painting be added to merchandise that is offered for sale by the organization. The quarry’s goal is to raise $100,000 to improve water quality, replace the water well and implement a lake management plan. Lindsey Young-Lockett, executive director, agreed, and the Quarry now offers T-shirts, hoodies and totes with the image. Kelly says that all proceeds will go

to the quarry restoration fund. Besides the one-acre, spring-fed quarry lake, the club offers volleyball, kids camps, picnic grounds, swim lessons and a second large pool on the 5-acre property. Web: hopewellquarry.org.

Hamilton Educational Foundation awards $7,500 in grants to HTSD Teachers in the Hamilton Township School District have been awarded $7,500 in educational grants from the Hamilton Educational Foundation. Each year, the HEF supports classroom projects through grant funding. Their mission is to assist and provide supplemental assets to HTSD administrators, teachers, and students to enhance their educational experience. The following HTSD teachers have received grants for the 2023-2024 school year: Melissa Brachelli, Wendy Balent, Matthew Koppenhaver, Jessica Eichhorn, Janice Zelins, Samantha Dow, Joe Hart, William Leonardo, and Janet Neis-Drobish. “Many teachers often have new and innovative ways to improve the learning environment for their students, and the availability of this grant program enables See NEWS, Page 8

Drs. Alex & Dawn Rockwell DMD

Dr. Natasha Rockwell

FULL MOUTH REHABILITATION INCLUDING IMPLANTS Implants • Oral Surgery • Root Canals • Periodontal Care Cosmetics • Whitening • Crowns • Veneers • Dentures Partials Same Day Repair • Nitrous Oxide

26 Years in Hamilton!

We speak, Spanish, Slovakian, Hindi and Russian

Approaching “300” five-star Google reviews!



A Division of NJ Top Docs

rockwelldentistry.com 609-890-9000

2139 Hwy 33 • Hamilton/Robbinsville • NJ

Januar y 2024 | Hamilton Post7

NEWS continued from Page 7 them to provide a better experience without dipping into their own pocket. The support of the business community, as well as the teachers themselves, is an important funding mechanism for our organization and our efforts,” said Jack Blair, HEF president, in a media release. In 27 years, the HEF has donated more than $437,000 to the district through grants, scholarships and special projects. As an independent entity, the HEF is a conduit for public education funding. “These grants provide our teachers with additional resources and materials to enhance the classroom experience for our students,” said Scott Rocco, HTSD superintendent of schools. For more information, email HEF grant committee chair Angela Belmont at hamHamilton Educational Foundation awaded grants to nine educators in 2023-24. iltonedfoundation@htsdnj.org. Pictured are Janice Zelins (teacher), Samantha Dow (teacher), Janet Neis-Drobish Wilson School launches (teacher), Angela Belmont (HEF board member), Matthew Koppenhaver (teacher), Jessica Eichhorn (teacher), Diana Vasil (Sayen Elementary School principal), Richard Rotary-sponsored Kanka (board of education member) and Scott Rocco, HTSD superintendent of EarlyAct service club schools. (Photo by Laura Geltch/Hamilton Township School District.) The George E. Wilson Elementary School in Hamilton has established an The club is run by the students with gen- Anderson Murillo, vice president; EarlyAct service club for its students. Kenedi Blakely, corresponding secreThe EarlyAct Club, sponsored by the eral guidance from faculty advisers. This year’s EarlyAct officers at the tary; Manar LaGuerre, recording secreRotary Club of Robbinsville Hamilton, was officially launched on Dec. 1 with an instal- school are Christian Jones, presi- tary; and Meili Castanza, treasurer. Faculty advisers are Kate McCarney lation of officers ceremony at the school. dent; Liliana Orellana, vice president;

1971 Route 33 Hamilton, NJ 08690 www.hamilatte.com Monday - Friday 6am - 9pm Saturday 8am - 9pm Sunday 8am - 4pm 8Hamilton Post | Januar y 2024

and Lindsay Franicevich, along with the Wilson’s climate culture specialist, Jennifer Barker. For its initial project, the club collected 302 pounds of food for the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank for distribution to families in need. Each grade in the school was involved in the collection. EarlyAct is designed to engage students in character-building activities and prepares them for leadership roles. Students can learn to identify and carry out service projects that improve the quality of life in their community and beyond. “It is heartwarming to see these young students enthusiastically and confidently organize and communicate on projects for the year,” said Kalpana Patel of the Rotary Club of Robbinsville Hamilton, who with fellow Rotarians serves as a liaison to the program at Wilson School. The EarlyAct program was established in 1997 by the Rotary Club of Robbinsville Hamilton. The first EarlyAct Club was formed at Morgan Elementary School in Hamilton, and the concept became popular around the world, with EarlyAct clubs now established as far away as Australia and Africa. Greenwood Elementary School in Hamilton is also in the process of establishing a Rotary-sponsored EarlyAct Club.

22 W Railroad Ave Jamesburg, NJ 08831 www.jamesbrewcafe.com

@eliaspressnj

Monday - Wednesday 6am - 4pm Thursday - Friday 6am - 9pm Saturday 8am - 9pm Sunday 8am - 4pm

RIS TOR ANTE & PIZ Z A

RIS TOR ANTE & PIZ Z A 1973

2023

The Carannante family would like to thank our customers for your support and patronage over the last 50 years. 1973 YEARS We look forward to serving you for generations to come! We wish you all a Happy and Healthy New Year!

YEARS RIS TOR ANTE & PIZ Z A

BRING ING FAMILY & FRIENDS TOG E THER SINCE 197 3

2023

In honor of our 50th year in business, Brother’s on Rt 33 hosted a “Dine and Donate Day” $50,000.04 $50,000.04 once a month during 2023, to give back to our local charities! With the help of our customers and the community, we have reached our goal of & raising a total of $50,000 forEcharity! BRING ING FAMILY FRIENDS TOG THER SINCE 197 3

1973

YEARS

JAN. 15: Sea Girt Polar Plunge $4,733.56

MAY 21: The Miracle League $4,860.53

SEPT. 10: Ryan’s Quest $4,625.64

FEB.19: Deborah Heart & Lung $3,680.33

JUNE 11: Autism New Jersey $3,871.84

OCT. 8: I Believe in Pink $3,767.34

MAR.12: The Hamilton YMCA $4,398.07

JULY 9: Joeys Little Angels $4,503.94

2023 AUG. 6: Whats My Name $3,575.66

NOV.12: Shine & Inspire $4,243.90 DEC. 10: OneProjectNJ & Mobile Meals of Hamilton $4,143.29

APR.16: Police Unity Tour 2023 $3,596.30

brotherspizza33.com BRING ING FAMILY & FRIENDS TOG E THER SINCE 197 3 Visit these websites for information about our other Carannante Family brands: BLEND BAR & BISTRO blendbar.com

NJ WEDDINGS AND EVENTS njweddingsandevents.com

CENTRAL JERSEY BEER FESTIVAL cjbeerfest.com Januar y 2024 | Hamilton Post9

AVÉ

GOLDSMITH SINCE 1995

Precious Metals Repair On Site Workshop Laser Welding/Soldering Diamond and Gemstone setting Replacement Watch Batteries Over 800 Bands & Straps Pearl and Bead Restringing HigHest Prices | Bonded and licensed CASH FOR GOLD Jewelry Mechanic On Duty

Buying gold, silver and diamonds 4481 S. Broad St, Yardville, NJ

609-588-5224

www.PaveDiamonds.com

Peace of Mind.

Your insurance shouldn’t be what keeps you up at night. Whether your needs are personal or business related, Nottingham Insurance offers an extensive selection of insurance products. With over 100 years of experience, we work

Youryouinsurance shouldn’t what keeps with to get the right coverage at be an affordable price. Soyou that

up at night. Whether your needsWe’re are personal or business you can focus on what is important. there when life happens. related, Nottingham Insurance offers an extensive selection of

insurance products. With over 100 years of experience, we work with you to get the right an affordable price. So that Serving NJ &coverage PA • at877.999.1886 • nottinghaminsurance.com you can focus on what is important. We’re there when 10Hamilton Post | Januar y 2024 life happens.

HISTORIAN continued from Page 1 During his tenure, Glover rescued volumes of bound copies of newspapers like the Trenton Evening Times and The State Gazette when they were discarded by another library system. Those volumes stand tall on shelves in the office. He collected photos, historical memorabilia and maps, and created an online website titled: “Hamilton Scrapbook: Local History with a Personal Touch.” “Tom was priceless,” said Scott Chianese, the library’s director. “He grew up with the Kusers; he knew so many people.” In a 2015 piece, Glover wrote about how he came to meet the Kuser family: “The Glover and Slabicki involvement with Kuser Farm goes back over 75 years, to the spring of 1939, when my older brother, the late Bill ‘Bud’ Glover, was told by our Trenton Times delivery boy that Fred Kuser was looking for a boy to roll the tennis court and do other odd jobs around Kuser Farm. Bud applied for the position and was hired. He stayed with the Kusers until 1945, when he went into the Navy, and I took his place. “That walk on those dark winter afternoons through Kuser’s Woods to the Kuser house was intimidating to a boy of 12, and I suggested to Mr. Kuser that my best buddy Don Slabicki would like to know if they needed an extra helper. They did, and Don was also brought on board. Following our 10 years at Kuser Farm, our little brothers Donny Glover and Ken Slabicki took over as trusted farm helpers, remaining until the mid 1950s. Guear also brings interesting historical recollections to the historian role. When asked about his memories of going to the library as a child, Guear spoke about the roots of the Hamilton Township Library system. The current building was erected in 1975; prior to having a centrally-located facility, the “library” was essentially a system of satellite locations—an idea which came to fruition thanks to an administrator with the Hamilton Township school district and members of the school district’s PTAs. Detailed on page 165, in a book written by local residents and titled A Narrative History of Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey — a project completed during the Rafferty administration — a reader learns that Hamilton essentially had little libraries scattered around the township. During fall 1922, through the efforts of James W. Alexander, Superintendent of Elementary Schools in the township, and members of the Parent Teacher Association, a petition was circulated and more than enough signatures were secured to place the library question on

Among Hamilton Township’s collection of historical artifacts is an il painting of Joseph McNerney, the first Hamilton resident to die during World War II. (Photo by EMH Studios.) the ballot. Residents voted in favor of the measure. In 1923, the Hamilton Townships Library Commission was established, and the library began operating in September, 1923 when small deposits of juvenile books were placed in each of the schools, and small collections of adult books were placed in library centers in fifteen to twenty locations throughout the township. These centers were maintained on a voluntary basis in homes, stores, community houses, churches and fire houses. Guear said his mom would take him to a location in Yardville, across from what is now the Iccara restaurant. Chianese remembers visiting a location which would have been in the strip mall on Route 33 between Whitehorse Hamilton Square Rd and Yardville Hamilton Square Road. Books were rotated around the various locations. Just think: Hamilton Township essentially had Little Free Libraries in 1923, long before the concept was introduced nationwide in 2009! *** The new historian has had an interesting career path. Guear worked for the Amateur Billiards League as an office manager. He also organized tournaments. Then he honed his talents as a chef, cooking at restaurants like Fedora in Lawrenceville, Antonio’s in West Trenton, and Graziellas here in Hamilton. But, those early memories of library visits infused him with his love of history and books. So, when offered the opportunity to work as Hamilton’s historian, he immediately said yes.

FAMILY DENTISTRY • IMPLANTS • ORTHODONTICS

AMERICA’S TOP DENTISTS

A collection of firehouse mugs is among the ephemera collected at the Hamilton Township public library. (Photo by EMH Studios.) In his new position, Guear has spent much time unearthing clippings and other items, eventually cataloging them for safekeeping. “I am still organizing what Tom [Glover] had in the office,” Guear said. “I have come across notes from people who wrote for the township history book. I move something on one shelf, only to discover more items.” Guear’s office looks like a used bookstore and thrift shop rolled into one. He showed off an array of old Hamilton Township high school yearbooks; the oldest in the collection is a 1932 Hamilton High West yearbook. There are also middle school yearbooks on the shelf. There is an old ink well from Hamilton High West. And, there are lots of maps. In fact, Guear wants to acquire a map case. Guear has been fortunate to have assistance with his endeavors from Hamilton resident Maxine Friedman, a retired archivist and volunteer for the Friends of the Library. Friedman has helped Guear order archival materials for storage purposes. She is a lover of second-hand stores, and has managed to find old Hamilton Township Fire Department mugs. Together, Guear and Friedman want to create a treasure trove of Hamilton history.

“The ultimate goal,” said Guear, “is to have a historical destination where people can come and do research.” Director Chianese fully supports the investment of time and money on local history. “I think it’s crucial,” Chianese said. “The library is the main source of information about Hamilton; it should be a one-stop destination.” Consequently, Guear wants to hear from residents who have memories and memorabilia. Whether residents have old letters, diaries, journals, old maps, old advertisements and anything historically connected to Hamilton, Guear wants to hear from you. Residents can call Guear’s office between 9 a.m. and noon at (609) 581-4060, Ext. 4016; or, email Guear at jguear@hamiltonnjpl.org. And, a final note. While organizing and moving treasures, Guear discovered an oil painting of Joseph A. McNerney, Jr. A small plate on the painting noted that McNerny was the first Hamilton Township serviceman to die in World War II. McNerney is buried in the Beverly National Cemetery in Burlington. (findagrave.com/memorial/2521723/ joseph-a-mcnerney). Guear is especially interested in knowing more about McNerney; maybe finding relatives.

We are here in a safe and clean environment for your Emergency Dental Needs! Call 609-454-6500 Accepting Most Insurances No Insurance? In-House Discount | Options / Membership

Check Out Our Online Reviews

731 Route 33 • Hamilton 609-454-6500 BOOK ONLINE 24/7 Januar y 2024 | Hamilton Post11

HUGHES continued from Page 1 protecting fully a quarter, some 27%, of Mercer County from development—forever. That is real environmental protection. And, he has promoted sustainability through the establishment of new bus routes, bike paths, EV charging stations and a massive solar field that has produced nearly a million dollars a year for education.” During his final days in office in December, Hughes spoke with the Hamilton Post about his challenges and accomplishments, as well as his thoughts on future issues confronting the county. An edited version of that interview is presented below in Q&A form. *** Hamilton Post: You have spent the last 20 years as Mercer County executive, and more as a public ser vant. What are your plans for the future? Do you want to continue with some kind of public ser vice? Brian Hughes: Well, I have a couple of irons in the fire, and I think when you believe in public service, it never really ends. My wife works at the Institute for Advanced Study, and she’s been there for about 32 years. Before that she worked at Princeton University. So, she is dedicated to educational service. My son is 24 years old, graduated from

County executive Brian Hughes With a veteran at Mercer County’s annual Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony at Greenwood Cemetery in Hamilton in May 2023. Princeton University and is working in future is something that I would certainly public service in Washington, D.C. So, I be interested in. HP: Can you share some of the think it’s something that’s in the bloodstream. Working in public service in the things you are pursuing after you

leave office? BH: Well, I have, I think, 34 years working for the State of New Jersey. They just finished figuring out what my pension is going to be, and I believe that if you work for the State of New Jersey for more than $17,500, you put your pension at risk — so I’m not looking for a job with the state or another county government entity. So, with that, I would say it would probably be a public service job with a nonprofit or something of that ilk. HP: I’m sure there’s a lot of charitable organizations and nonprofits that could benefit from your years of experience. BH: Yes, I would think so. I have not formalized what that would be. HP: A significant amount of open space has been preser ved throughout Mercer County over the last 20 years. Can you talk about why you chose to make that a priority and your philosophy on why open space preser vation is important? BH: I spent six years as a freeholder (before being elected county executive), and we did some open space projects, but not as many as I think we should have. Right now, I believe 20% of Mercer County is open space, and I’m proud of that fact. See HUGHES, Page 14

SAVE THE DATE

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING TRIBUTE Presented by Hamilton Township

JANUARY 11, 2024 | 7PM Faith Baptist Church - 2111 Kuser Road Join Hamilton Township, Faith Baptist Church, and CYO Bromley for an inspiring evening as we celebrate the remarkable achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and honor individuals from our community who embody his vision and values.

12Hamilton Post | Januar y 2024

JUMPSTART

YOUR YEAR! STATE-OF-THE-ART FITNESS CENTER, INDOOR POOL, SAUNA

JOIN US FOR A COMMUNITY

OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY, JANUARY 6 | 10 AM - 1 PM Kick off your 2024 Health & Fitness Goals at the Y! Start the year off right and see what The Y has to offer. Tour our state-of-the-art fitness center with indoor track and pool.

MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNTS $0 DOWN & $0 JOINER FEE

+ FREE

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!

Plus! A day full of fun for the whole family including a DJ, bounce house, face painting, crafts, sports and games! Hamilton Area YMCA | 1315 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road · Hamilton, NJ | 609.581.9622 | www.hamiltonymca.org Health Headlines by Capital Health | Hamilton Post13

RISTORANTE

We cater any affair We

It ’s Our S

pecial

t y!

•Rehearsal Dinner •Communion Parties •Wedding Showers Private Banquet Hall

609-208-0640

lapiazzaristorante.com

Looking for more Hamilton news? Visit our website or follow us on Facebook to get updates about your community all month long

communitynews.org

11 Church Street Allentown, NJ (just off Main St., Rt. 539)

TAKE-OUT • DELIVERY • DINE IN - BYOB 609-249-4159 3691 Nottingham Way, Hamilton NJ 08690

Order Online at www.amayasnj.com Open 7 days a week 10:30 am to 10:00 pm

2 Large Cheese Pizzas for

1 Large Pizza and 12 wings for

With coupon. Not to be combined with any other offers. Expires 1/31/24. One coupon per visit.

$21.99

$22.99

$5 off

when you spend $40 With coupon. Not to be combined with any other offers. Expires 1/31/24. One coupon per visit.

14Hamilton Post | Health Headlines by Capital Health

HUGHES continued from Page 12 That open space will live on for our children, our grandchildren and beyond. New Jersey is one of the most congested states in certainly the Northeast, and I think in the country. It needs places where there are open space park activities—wonderful things like the Lawrence-Hopewell Trail. Mercer County has received state and federal approvals to build a new terminal that is four times larger than the existing facility. The project also includes a parking garage for more than 1,000 vehicles. The Federal Aviation Administration has forecasted a 51% increase in flights from Mercer County, rising from 316,665 to 476,507 by the year 2035. HP: The revitalization of the Trenton-Mercer Airport happened during your time as county executive, and now the county is moving ahead with significant improvements there, including a new terminal. There are some people who have been against it, but I think in general, a lot of people are in favor of it. Can you tell me how you helped bring about the revitalization of the airport, and why you think it’s important to the county? BH: The airport that we currently have is crowded. It’s difficult to get your luggage. It’s difficult to use. I’d like to see a brand new airport. It’s something I’ve been working on for 10 or 15 years. The FAA, being a federal bureaucracy, has been exceedingly slow in granting approvals and giving funding. But the reason that the airport is successful is because we were able to negotiate with Frontier Airlines. They started very small, and we were able to convince them to expand — and they didn’t need much convincing, because they were making money out of the airport. We were able to give them space, taxiway space, gate space, and the things that they needed to expand the number of destinations that they flew to. When they first started there, they just flew to Florida and back. Now they have several airports that they fly to, and I think that made a difference. HP: I know a lot of people who use that airport, and it’s a significant convenience to be able to fly out of somewhere that’s close to home, instead of having to go to one of the big airports like Newark or Philadelphia and deal with the rigamarole that is involved with flying out of those big airports. I know that significant approvals have been granted, and that the project will be carried through by the Benson Administration, but can you give us an idea of what you think the timeline will be to get shovels in the dirt and see construction started there? BH: I think we could probably do it

within a year or even sooner. There needs to be a parking garage built, there needs to be a new terminal built, a terminal that has checkways — which we don’t have now — that would provide better access for people who are handicapped and who need assistance getting on and off a plane. There are a lot of things that I think could happen very quickly, but that’s going to be up to the next administration. HP: Based on what you’ve seen, once things finally do get started, what are the estimates as to how long it would take to get ever ything finished? BH: What you say is true about Newark, LeGuardia, JFK and Philadelphia. And the prices to fly out of Philadelphia are extremely high. We have plans in place and people should go take a look at it (ttnterminal. com/airport-master-plan). There is a design build plan already made, so all it takes is money and the will to do it. I believe the FAA is in a position now that they are willing and able to assist regional airports more than ever, so you could probably do it sooner rather than later. HP: When it comes to land use, the currently demand is for warehouses, and developers are planning to build warehouses on commercially zoned tracts thought the county (and state for that matter). For example, there’s the Bridge Point 8 plan in West Windsor that was approved for 5.5 million square feet of warehouse space. What are your thoughts on the proliferation of warehouse developments? BH: I think the warehouses like the Amazon one in Robbinsville were well placed, because they are less than a mile from an interstate highway, which would take them south to distribution centers down there, north on Route 295, Route 1, and many other places. I think it’s a mistake — and quite frankly, I’ve told the mayor of West Windsor that it’s a mistake — to build all those warehouses on Route 1. It will tie up traffic for years to come. It’s right across from QuakerBridge Mall. Now, I know the mall isn’t used as much as it used to be, but to tie up traffic on that corner on Route 1? What is that viability right there? HP: It’s a difficult location for over 5 million square feet of warehouses, isn’t it? BH: The trucks and traffic going there are going to have a greater impact on Route 1 and surrounding communities more than on West Windsor. They will see the tax benefit from the development, but it’s going to be a burden on the rest of the county, and I don’t really think that’s fair. Like I said, I’ve given my opinion to the mayor of West Windsor and to council members, and I guess they’re going to do

be inspired at medallioncabinetry.com

BIGDEALER WINTER LOGO Hughes speaks at the 10th anniversary celebration for Frontier Airlines at TrentonMercer Airport in 2022 what they want to do. Our planning board has some final decisions to make, but by law our scope is limited to things like water runoff. We’re not able to say, “You can’t build warehouses.” I wish we were, because I’d say, “You’re not able to go to build a warehouse there.” So that’s it. That’s a disappointment that the next administration is going to have to deal with. HP: And it’s not only West Windsor. I think almost ever y single town has some kind of big warehouse that it has approved or that they’re looking at approving. Do you have any concern that they’re going to overbuild and then wind up with a bunch of warehouses that are sitting empty? BH: I do. Amazon, which is one of the biggest companies in the world, is downsizing their warehouses to make them more efficient. Why some of the towns in this state — and particularly Mercer County — would approve more warehouses is beyond me. I suppose they want to build warehouses because they don’t want to build houses. And they don’t want to build houses because they don’t want to add kids to the schools. Well, the fact of the matter is that kids are going to keep coming whether you like it or not. And you’re going to have to build schools and pay teachers and buy lunches and do all the things you have to do, but that’s part of growth. HP: There’s going to be a new round of affordable housing requirements after 2025, and that’s going to force communities to provide for more affordable units, whether they want to or not. What are your

thoughts about that? BH: I live in Princeton, and Princeton began planning for their new obligations for housing, I believe, about two years ago, and they made investments where they needed to in new schools, and new structures and where a new school could go. Some towns throughout the state have done nothing — it’s not just in Mercer County. They know the beast is out there, but they’re putting off doing significant planning for the day when they are going to be compelled to do more affordable housing. I just don’t see much planning going on. HP: A lot of them had trouble even meeting their current requirements. Affordable housing is increasingly becoming necessar y because of the prices of housing. A lot of people just can’t afford to live here, especially the younger generations, people who are just starting out. BH: Well, even the affordable housing is not that affordable. If you’re just coming out of college and maybe you have a college loan, an affordable house at $400,000 or more isn’t that affordable. So, people are going to have to think a lot more about realistically priced apartments that people can afford in the first year or two out of either high school, vocational school or college. HP: Some towns have approved a lot of apartments in recent years, but they’re what’s being called “luxur y apartments,” and the rents are pretty expensive. BH: We could go back all the way to where we started this conversation. See HUGHES, Page 16

S AV I N G S

Come in for a

DEALER BeautifulPHONE Design and

a Free Estimate

Dealer Web Address

415 Pinehurst Rd. (Rt. 539) Cream Ridge, NJ Find us on

• Family Owned and Operated for 48 Years

609-758-7574 DYERSCABINETS.COM

OPEN HOUSE Sunday,

January 28, 2024 Hamilton Square, NJ

1:30pm – 3:30pm

Enrolling children in Pre-K3 through Grade 7 Full day Pre-School and Kindergarten Available Extended Day Program until 6pm Financial Assistance Available

For more information, call 609-587-1131 Or visit www.stgregorythegreatacademy.org

A 2014 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Health Headlines by Capital Health | Hamilton Post15

HUGHES continued from Page 15 Why did I make open space a priority? It’s because it kind of forces the hand of municipalities to realize their obligation to the upcoming generation. If they want taxpayers in their municipalities, they’re going to have to make their municipalities affordable. I haven’t seen a whole lot of affordable housing being built in Mercer County that’s affordable. So, they’re gonna have to lower the bar a little bit to reach the criteria that the government wants and seeks. HP: And if they don’t make it affordable enough, the courts are going to step in and force them to do it. BH: Right. My father was governor, but he was also the chief justice of the State Supreme Court, and there were a lot of decisions he had to make that were unpleasant to a lot of people. HP: Was he involved in the Mount Laurel decision (the 1975 case in which the Court outlawed exclusionar y zoning and required all towns to provide for their “fair share” of affordable housing units.) BH: He was very involved in the Mount Laurel decision. He was a Catholic that went to church every single day— even when he was on the road. I remember being at the Democratic National

Convention in 1986 in Chicago, which was a wild one. As you remember, that was the one with Abbie Hoffman where all heck broke loose (there were riots that broke out among protesters against the Vietnam War). I saw my dad at 7 in the morning coming back from church. I said, “What are you doing? You were up until 2:30 last night.” And he said, “Well, it’s just something I do.” And so, he had a lot of hard decisions to make, and I think our Supreme Court is going to have a lot of hard decisions to make in the upcoming years. HP: Mercer County has remained a desirable place to live and for businesses to locate. Why do you feel that that’s the case? BH: I think it’s because we have open space, because we have trails, because we are good government, and because we have municipal governments, and a county a government that cares about the people who come here and who live here. It’s a wonderful place. You’ve got Veterans Park in Hamilton, which the county added 86 acres to. You have Mercer County Park, which is an active park—it has ice skating and softball, and we have people, believe it or not, come out and play cricket there. Those folks stay out there all day long. I CARPET

spillabration

FLOORING

HERE TO FLOOR YOU.

SALES EVENT

BLOWOUT save up to SALE

Rich’s

CARPET

Special In stock

off

NOW! LUXURY VINYL CARPET

All 1st Quality Remnants

50% OFF

ZERO INTEREST IF PAID IN FULL WITHIN 18 MONTHS

During this unprecedented times Rich’s Carpet One Floor and Home is putting the health and safety of our communities, employees and customers first. We have reduced showroom LUXURY VINYL PLANK hours, but continue to work with customers over the phone and HARDWOOD private appointment.. following the CDC cleaning and social On purchases made with your Carpet One Synchrony HOME™ credit card between 1/2/2024 and distance guidelines to help combat Covid 19. 1/31/2024. Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date if the promotional balance is not paid in full within 18 months. Minimum monthly payments required.

ON ALL HARDWOOD, LUXURY VINYL PLANK, LUXURY VINYL TILE AND CERAMIC

ON HARDWOOD, LUXURY VINYL PLANK, LUXURY VINYL TILE & CERAMIC, CARPET & LAMINATE YOU TAKE AN ADDITIONAL

ONLY Carpet only

PREMIERE

Beautiful Hickory and Oak luxury vinylbehind planksthe that are texture 100% • We stand wear, waterproof for and easystain maintenance— retention, soil resistance ideal forcarpet. high-moisture areas. Total of this colors in both species, 3 • 20 yr available performance & installation Hickory and 1 Oak. guarantee

REG. REG. $2.25

$3.99

$ 99 $ 99

NOW!

SALE

SF MATERIALS

S/F ONLY

Carpet only

FALL MANOR IN STOCK SPECIAL!

A• 20ml soft-scraped hardwood floor spc for superior that providesresistance. comfortable, indentation versatile at awarranty. superb • Lifetimestyling residential value. in 2 color • 15 yr Available heavy commercial options. warranty

REG.

$$ 49 69

NOW! SALE

S/F SF

Vinyl only MATERIALS

12 or 18 months

18 months

SPECIAL FINANCING AVAILABLE

ONLY

on purchases made with your Carpet One credit card between 3/26/20 and 5/3/20

(our already low regular sale price)

With this coupon. Limit 1 coupon per person. Cannot bediscount combined with any other discounts, this coupon. Limit Maximum $1,000.00. Rich’spromotional Carpet One,WithMercerville, NJ1 coupon per person. Cannot be combined with any other discounts, promotional sale items, financing, previous sales or commercial sales. Offer expires 5/3/2020. sale items, financing, previous sales or commercial sales. Offer expires 5/3/2020.

ONLY ONE HASHAS YOUYOU TOTALLY COVERED. ONLYCARPET CARPET ONE TOTALLY COVERED. When on your consider the value of advice from trained professional Whendeciding deciding onpurchase your purchase consider the value of advice from sales people, the beauty of professional installation, and the peace of mind knowing that you have a trained professional the beauty of professional installation, local business owner to callsales on withpeople, any questions or concerns about your purchase. and the peace of mind knowing that you have a local business owner to *Applies to select only. or At participating only. your Some restrictions apply. call on withflooring any materials questions concernsstores about purchase.

S/FMATERIALS

PENNY PLAIN ANCHOR WAY

REG. $4.49 $4.39

*With this coupon. Limitremnants) 1 coupon per person. Cannot be combined with any other discounts, (including labor) 10’ x 12’ or Larger (excludes promotional sale items, previous sales, or commercial sales. Minimum purchase $1500.00.

• 100% BCF Solution Dyed PET Polyester

(our already low regular sale price)

20-50 off % ALL 1ST 2024 % OFFOFF QUALITY 10% Special OFF Yourtotal Entirepurchase Purchase of Select Flooring REMNANTS ffer Your

ONLY only Carpet

$ 59 89 $

SALE

Step into the New Year with style and Savings! Our New Year’s Flooring Blowout Sale is the key to transforming your space with unbeatable deals. From waterproof wonders to kid-friendly classics, find the perfect fit for your lifestyle. Revamp your x 12’ ORdiscounts LARGER and special financing. Don’t miss out on this surroundings10’ and enjoy limited-time up to chance to redefine your home at a fraction of the cost!

SPECIAL FINANCING AVAILABLE **

Visit us at www.richscarpetone.com

RICH’S 3

EST. 1933

MATERIALS S/F

ACORA budget-friendly carpet that combines with • Stylish andsoftness practical breakthrough stain prevention carpet choice. technology. Available 10 color • Guaranteed to fitininto any options budget.

REG. REG. $3.79 $2.59

SAVE 50%

SO EXPRESSIVE

CARPET CARPET

A great choice and perfect look for active families with • Heavy dense, velvet saxony. the performance you deserve! • Tightly twisted for superior Available in 8 color options. performance. • Super softness that last, and highly stain resistant! REG. $4.79 REG. $3.19 SF NOW!

$$ 49 39

UP TO* on select floors

HP: Which is surprising, because I far as I have ever seen, it was a ver y successful team. Did it do well there? BH: It was successful, but I think they didn’t think there were enough after-thegame activities to stay in Trenton. So, they went to Somerset, but I don’t see any activities there either — unless you want to buy a car in Flemington or something. But, that’s how it went. That doesn’t mean we’re going to stop looking for a Minor League team that’s associated with a Major League Baseball team. HP: Do you have any other thoughts in closing? BH: You know, let me say — I lost (to Benson) at the convention. At first, I was gonna put up a fight. I was going to run in the primary, but then I thought about the party. I thought about where we needed to go. We should have unity rather than division. Ever since I made that decision, people call me up and ask if I’m all right and if I’m feeling okay, and frankly, I feel like the Sword of Damocles was taken away from my head. I really feel like I put my time in. I did my 34 years or 36 years and served this state well. Sometimes it’s time to go and sometimes it’s time to stay. HP: And sometimes it’s good to get a get a fresh start. BH: Yeah, it really is.

FEELING GOOD BLOWOUTS 50% DX108

SALE

50 Sale Starts Jan. 2

don’t know if you ever watched cricket—a game takes like six hours. We have Mercer County Lake. We have a very great passive park in Mercer County Park Northwest. We have golf courses. We have all types of activities that people can enjoy. I think that’s one of the reasons they come here. HP: There’s also the arena and the baseball stadium. BH: Well, the arena and the baseball stadium have been disappointments to me, quite frankly. HP: Why is that? BH: Well, the arena was built for a skating team that went away. The baseball stadium was built for a baseball team that went away. And while we’re finding alternative uses for them, it’s just not the same as having the revenue. number one, or the excitement and the experience of going to a baseball game or going to a hockey game. HP: There were a lot of people who were disappointed when the hockey team didn’t work out and when the Yankees pulled the minor league team out of out of Trenton. BH: I think that is something that Major League Baseball did. They changed the number of minor league teams from 86 to, I think, 42. Somebody had to go, and unfortunately it was us.

Experience ExperienceThe The“UNEXPECTED” “UNEXPECTED’InInCustomer CustomerService Service® ®

825 825Route Route33 33••Mercerville, Mercerville,NJ NJ 08619 08619

609-890-6111 609-890-6111

See store for details. Photos for illustrative purposes only. Not responsible for typographical errors. Offer ends 5/3/2020. Offer cannot be combined with other discounts or promotional offers and is not valid on previous purchases. ©2020 Carpet One Floor & Home®. Rights Mon.Store Mon,- Thurs, StoreAllHours: thru Hours: Fri. 10am 6pm Friday: 10-8 Reserved. **Subject to credit approval. Minimum monthly payments required. See store for details. Saturday 9am - 5pm, Sunday 10am 4pm9-6, Sun: 10-4 Tues-Wed: 10-6, -Sat:

Visit us at www.richscarpetone.com

16Hamilton Post | Health Headlines by Capital Health

Synchrony GE Capital Bank Financing Financing

TUESDAY FRIDAY TRIVIA TUESDAYS TRIVIA TUESDAYS FLIGHT NIGHT!

5 ROUNDS • STARTS AT 7 • WIN PRIZES! 1/2 PRICE WINE BY THE BOTTLE

Now Serving

WEDNESDAY WING WEDNESDAY

1/2 PRICE BEER FLIGHTS

WEEKEND

BRUNCH BRUNCH SATURDAY & SUNDAY 11-2

$1.50/JUMBO WING • NEW SAUCES 5-9 PM • KIDS MEALS ONLY $2.99 NO MORE THAN 2 KIDS PER ADULT PLEASE

THURSDAY Speciayy Priced Drinks Specia Speciay Priced Drinks LIVE MUSIC MIMOSAS + BLOODY MARYS + BELINIS MIMOSAS + BLOODY MARYS + PEACH BELLINIS

WITH ERNIE WHITE BREAKFAST PIZZA, EGGS BENEDICT, 1/2SATURDAY PRICE NACHOS & SUNDAY 11:00AM - 2:00PM CHICKEN & WAFFLES AND MUCH MORE!

15% off any Brunch order

Bring this ad - dine in only - can’t be combined with other offers - good thru 1/31/24 2110 WHITEHORSE-MERCERVILLE RD, HAMILTON TOWNSHIP 2110 WHITEHORSE-MERCERVILLE RD, HAMILTON TOWNSHIP WWW.ROSSISBARANDGRILL.COM 609-890-2004

SIX09 ARTS > FOOD > CULTURE

wINTeR weLLNeSS Special Edition See pg 6

thesix09.com JANUARY 2024

HOW AN “OFF THE CUFF” WRITING CONTEST CONNECTS TO HEALING

PRINCETON UNIVERSIT Y CONCERTS AND SULEIKA JAOUAD, CREATOR OF THE ISOLATION JOURNALS, LAUNCH THE “IMPROMPTU CHALLENGE” WITH A WRITING PROMPT RECOGNIZING

MUSIC’S ABILIT Y TO RESTORE, PAGE 2.

DESTRIBATS CAMPBELL STAUB & SCHROTH, LLC established 1972

criminal law • municipal court law • wills & estates criminal law • municipal court law medical malpractice • personal injury • general litigation wills & estatescompensation • medical •malpractice employment • workers corporate/tax law real Estate • real estate tax appeals litigation • family law personal injury • general

employment • workers compensation Anthony J. Destribats corporate/tax law • real Estate Bernard A. Campbell, Jr. real estate tax appeals • family law Raymond C. Staub David P. Schroth Kimberly A. Greenberg

Adam Lipps Anthony J. Destribats ••• Bernard A. Campbell, Jr. Jay G. Destribats (1969-2015) Raymond C. Staub David P.Avenue, Schroth 247 White Horse Avenue 795 Parkway Suite A3 Hamilton, NJ 08610 Ewing, 08618 Kimberly A.NJ Greenberg Phone (609) 585-2443 • www.destribatslaw.com Patrick R. Welsh ••• Jay G. Destribats (1969-2015)

247 White Horse Ave • Hamilton • NJ • 08610

(609) 585-2443 • www.destribatslaw.com

DELHAGEN

Financing Available ALL HVAC EQUIPMENT COMES WITH A 10 YEAR PARTS & LABOR WARRANTY

Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, LLC. 609-586-4969 Hamilton Square, NJ www.delhagen-nj.com

Plumbing Lic # BI0104900 I Lic # 13VHO1158200 | HVAC Lic # 19HC00456500 Service & Maintenance I Agreements Available

delhagenplumbin@optonline.net

Call Now to Schedule your Service/Maintenance Appointment. Serving: Hamilton, Robbinsville, Bordentown, Ewing, Lawrenceville, Princeton, Yardville, Allentown, West Windsor & East Windsor

Special Limited Time Offer!

$200 OFF Installation of Complete “Coleman” Air Condition & Heating System Mention coupon when calling. Cannot be combined with other offers.

$175

On the Cover Journaling the Journey to Wellness with PUC’s “Impromptu Challenge” BY REBEKAH SCHROEDER

Music is a language of its own, one that every person feels a different connection to. Some are reborn in the chords or chorus of a triumphant melody, while others seek rhythmic clarity, release, or comfort. It is an entirely personal experience to love a piece down to its every note—an intimate diary entry of what truly listening to music can mean for its audience. But Princeton University Concerts sings a new tune this year by combining its annual “Creative Reactions” and “Audience Voices” competitions into a new creative writing project encouraging writers across the globe to express their unique bonds with music in journal responses thematically related to past and future PUC “Healing with Music” series events. The 2023–24 “Impromptu Challenge” is the result of a partnership between PUC and The Isolation Journals, described on its website as “an artist-led community and publishing platform” that shares its weekly journaling prompt newsletter with over 100,000 participants worldwide.

EDITOR Rebekah Schroeder ARTS EDITOR Dan Aubrey AD LAYOUT & PRODUCTION Stacey Micallef SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Jennifer Steﬀen (Ext. 113)

HVAC Inspection

$75 OFF $25 OFF Any Water Heater or Boiler Installation

Any Service or Repair Call Over $150

Mention coupon when calling. Cannot be combined with other offers. For a limited time only.

2SIX09 | Januar y 2024

See IMPROMPTU, Page 4

SIX09

+ tax

Mention coupon when calling. Cannot be combined with other offers.

Since writer and Princeton University alum Suleika Jaouad founded The Isolation Journals during the pandemic, the group has grown into “a living archive of human creativity to document an unforgettable era” under the belief that “creative expression” can “edify, heal, and unite,” according to theisolationjournals.com. The Impromptu Challenge encompasses both the 2023–24 “Creative Reactions” contest, which connects Princeton University students to the performing arts and classical music, as well as “Audience Voices,” a writing and drawing contest for patrons that began last season. The journaling-styled competition began on December 3 with the announcement of its first prompt and will continue with one new topic each month in January and February 2024. Jaouad had just graduated from Princeton University when she was diagnosed with leukemia in 2010. Throughout her cancer treatments, she wrote the New York Times column “Life, Interrupted,” largely from her hospital room. Now, after receiving an Emmy for the video series adaptation of those times and publishing the bestselling memoir

CO-PUBLISHER Jamie Griswold

CO-PUBLISHER Tom Valeri

MANAGING EDITOR, METRO DIVISION Sara Hastings ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Thomas Fritts

PRODUCTION MANAGER Stacey Micallef DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL INITIATIVES Joe Emanski

Community News Service 9 Princess Road, Suite M Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 Phone: (609) 396-1511 News: news@communitynews.org Events: events@communitynews.org Letters: rschroeder@communitynews.org Website: communitynews.org Facebook: facebook.com/mercereats Twitter: twitter.com/mercerspace Six09 is inserted into each of Community News Service’s nine hyperlocal monthly publications. Over 125,000 copies are distributed each month in the Greater Mercer County, N.J. area.

TO aDVeRTISe call (609) 396-1511, ext. 110 or e-mail advertise@communitynews.org A proud member of:

STOP YOUR PAIN. START YOUR LIFE. TAKING THE FIGHT AGAINST CHRONIC PAIN TO NEW LEVELS

• Back Pain and Neck Pain • PRP & Stem Cell Therapy • Knee Osteoarthritis Injections • Non-Surgical Orthopedics • Double Board Certiﬁed Pain Management Physician

NJPAINDOC.COM STEM CELL & PRP THERAPY • Regenerative medicine goes beyond disease management to search for and discover therapies that support the body in repairing, regenerating and restoring itself to a state of well-being. • What are stem cells? Stem cells are the bank cells within your body that can morph in many diﬀerent types of cell depending on what your body needs them for. Stem cells are your body’s repair systems.

Dr. Ronak Patel

• What is PRP? PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma. PRP is created from a sample of your own blood, which is drawn from the patient and then put into a machine to separate the platelet-rich plasma from the rest of your blood. • Am I a candidate for PRP or stem cell therapy? If you have pain due to injury, arthritis, bursitis, tendinitis, or any other condition, you are a candidate for cell-based therapy. Whether you are looking to heal from a traumatic injury, or regenerate older or diseased tissues, PRP or cell-based therapy could be something to help you heal and restore lost function and mobility.

(609) 269-4451 | info@njpaindoc.com | 666 Plainsboro Rd. Suite #100D Plainsboro, NJ 08536 Januar y 2024 | SIX093

YEARS

Grammy-winning musician and composer Jon Batiste, left, with wife Suleika Jaouad, a New York Times bestselling author and founder of “The Isolation Journals,” middle, at the Princeton University Concerts’ sold-out “Healing with Music” event on November 15, above.

ANNIVERSARY 609-584-5252 www.priornami.com

NEW W Equipment Equ quiipmment qu

Images courtesy of Princeton University Concerts.

1666 Hamilton Ave. Hamilton, NJ 08629

From IMPROMPTU, Page 2

PPrere-Ow Owned wn Equipment wned wn Equ quiipmment qu

Chill Out With HP LaserJet Pro M402n Monochrome Laser Printer

HP 243ii 24”” Monitor M it ADS-2700w Desktop Scanner Wireless

HP Elite Display 222 22” Monitor

HP LaserJet Pro M428fdn All –In-One Laser Printer

“Between Two Kingdoms,” Jaouad returns to PUC on the heels of a sold-out November 15 “Healing with Music” event with her husband, Grammy-winning musician and composer Jon Batiste, “The Beat Goes On: Healing from Cancer through Music.” The idea for the inaugural month’s “Impromptu Challenge” takes inspiration from that day, which doubled as a bone marrow donor drive on campus held in conjunction with Princeton’s Office of Community and Regional Affairs and the National Marrow Donor Program’s “Be The Match” donor registry. According to the Be the Match website, “ethnically diverse” patients diagnosed with blood cancers and disorders must navigate a longer, more challenging process to find unrelated donors for blood stem cells and marrow transplants due to lower donation rates—a barrier that is even greater for people of mixed ethnicities like Jaouad. Jaouad and Batiste’s tale of love, survival, and creativity was the subject of the biographical documentary “American Symphony,” which debuted on Netflix in late November and follows many of the ideas discussed at the couple’s November “Healing with Music” event. Director Matthew Heineman’s film captures how, just as Batiste is recognized with 11 Grammy nominations—five of which he would win—and an Oscar for co-writing the score for Pixar’s “Soul,” Jaouad’s cancer returns after being in remission for almost a decade. Batiste sits on the cusp of composing

and practicing for the biggest one-night orchestral performance of his life at Carnegie Hall as Jaouad encourages him to continue, resuming her fight against leukemia while undergoing another bone marrow transplant. Despite being in contrasting circumstances, the couple’s story depicts creativity as an expression of love and a cathartic, restorative force that ultimately strengthens their bond. It is fitting, then, that Jaouad issued the following prompt: “Write about a time when music served as a healing force in your life or in the lives of those around you.” To enter, participants must answer one of the three prompts by Friday, March 22, 2024, with separate categories for members of the general public and Princeton University students. All entries must be submitted in PDF or Word document format with no reference to the author’s identity in the titles for anonymous evaluation by a panel of judges, as the PUC website continued, “from across the Princeton University campus and town community.” Princeton University Concerts will feature all winners in online and print media publications, yet prize recipients who do not want to disclose their identities can be published anonymously. While there are no submission limits for virtually all writers, anyone who has previously won the “Creative Reactions” or “Audience Voices” prizes must wait two years before registering again. According to the PUC page for the challenge, which includes the submission portal, concerts.princeton.edu/impromptu-

The “Impromptu Challenge” winners will be announced at the ﬁnal “Healing with Music” event of the 23-24 season, “Anxiety, Depression, and Music,” described as “an intimate concert-conversation” featuring live performances by pianist Jonathan Biss, right, and excerpts from writer Adam Haslett’s 2016 novel, “Imagine Me Gone,” left and middle, on Wednesday, April 24, in the Richardson Auditorium’s Alexander Hall. Images, from left to right, courtesy of Annette Hornischer, PUC, and Benjamin Ealovega.

challenge, winners will receive the following prizes: an autographed concert poster signed by both Jaouad and Batiste; an original piece by Diana Weymar, founder of the Interwoven Stories project, featuring an embroidered excerpt from the submission; a copy of the Princeton University Press’ “Ways of Hearing: Reﬂections on Music in 26 Pieces” 2021 anthology; and more. For additional information or inquiries, contact the Princeton University Concerts office at 609-258-2800 or pucmail@princeton.edu. Future prompts will be directly related to topics raised in the final iterations of the 2023–24 “Healing with Music” series, such as the Sunday, March 3, “Dance for PD® (Parkinson’s Disease)” event, a Mark Morris Dance Group program that invites participants from local chapters of American Repertor y Ballet’s “Dance for Parkinson’s” initiatives to perform adapted choreography together in an onstage concert collaboration and panel discussion. (For more information, see the November 2023 Six09 cover story, “Dance for Parkinson’s at ARB Leads a Choreography of Change” by Rebekah Schroeder). Winners will also be announced at the last “Healing with Music” event of the season, “Anxiety, Depression, and Music,” featuring pianist Jonathan Biss and writer Adam Haslett on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. in the Richardson Auditorium’s Alexander Hall. The program is described as “an intimate concert-conversation” with live performances of piano works by Franz Schubert and Robert Schumann, excerpts from Haslett’s 2016 novel, “Imagine Me Gone,”

and a Q&A. Tickets are $25 for the general public, $10 for students, and free for Princeton University students through the Passport to the Performing Arts program. For more information, see the PUC website at concerts.princeton.edu/ events/23-24-jonathan-biss-adam-haslett. This event marks Biss’ return to the stage after appearing earlier in the month for PUC’s “Concert Classics” series alongside classical pianist and conductor Mitsuko Uchida on April 3. Biss and Uchida are the co-artistic directors of the Marlboro Music Festival, a retreat where participants of all experience levels come to classically train, collaborate, rehearse, and eventually perform chamber music works together live in concert. The duo’s debut show is already sold out, but the PUC website promises a “rare joint recital” focusing yet again on the work of Austrian composer Schubert, who was known for his “piano four hands” pieces where two musicians play one piano at the same time. According to his biography, Biss concluded a “decade-long project recording all of Beethoven’s 32 piano sonatas” before the third-generation professional musician— the son of violinist Miriam Fried and violist-violinist Paul Biss, as well as the grandson of cellist Raya Garbousova— ”took the rare step of publicly confronting a subject often considered taboo within the performing arts.” In his memoir “Unquiet: My Life with Beethoven,” published in 2021 as part of Audible’s Words + Music series, Biss “described his struggles with crippling

anxiety and the severe effects that a solitary performing career had on his mental health.” Through his poignant examination of life as a pianist and Beethoven interpreter, Biss, as the website continued, “gave voice to the ways in which Beethoven—and music, in general—helped him heal from his anxiety as much as he had contributed to it.” Haslett is a two-time Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award finalist with three fiction books to his name, as well as prior journalism experience covering culture and politics for papers like the New Yorker, Esquire, and more. According to his PUC bio, “Imagine Me Gone” was described by Pulitzer Prize judges as “’the quiet and compassionate saga of a family whose world is shaped by mental illness and the challenges and joys of caring for each other.’” “Drawing on his father’s suicide, Imagine Me Gone is the most personal book he has written—in his words, an attempt to ‘put the reader as far into the mind of someone with anxiety and depression as I can, and let them take from that what they will,’” the website continued.

*** Jaouad recorded her own response to the first “Impromptu Challenge” prompt on the Isolation Journals’ Substack page, theisolationjournals.substack.com, on December 3. But before answering, she reflected on the experience of watching “American Symphony” with over 150 staff from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where she underwent cancer treatments,

as well as two of the nurses who had supported her when she was diagnosed “with leukemia at 22 and then again at 33.” “It was such a full-circle moment to watch this film with the people who had walked through the valley with me. Illness usually has a clear beginning: the onset of symptoms, the diagnosis, the first day of treatment. But so often, the end of things is harder to pinpoint. This feels especially true for me this second time around, given the fact that I will be in treatment indefinitely. Spending the evening with these compassionate and dedicated humans felt like a culmination—like the most acute phase, the scariest phase, had come to an end.” That same night was also when the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center announced its own partnership with Be the Match, titled “Join the Symphony,” which Jaouad explained as “a campaign to make the registry look like the orchestra in American Symphony—to reflect the beautifully diverse tapestry of these United States.” “When I decided to take part in this documentary, my hope was that it might help others who are also facing great uncertainty. But as someone who has had two bone marrow transplants, I’ve also made it part of my mission to help expand and diversify the bone marrow registry. Currently the registry is marked by huge racial disparities: whereas a white person has a 79% chance of finding a match, a Black person has only a 29% chance, and statistics for people of mixed ethnicity like me are even lower,” she continued. “My doctors did search the registry for a non-relative match this time, fearing that if my brother Adam was my donor again, I’d be more likely to relapse—but there wasn’t one. I’m fortunate that Adam was willing and able to donate again and that so far, the leukemia is at bay. But I’ve known too many people whose hope for a cure ended when they couldn’t find a match. And it’s with them in mind that I’m asking you to spread the word—to ask others to Join the Symphony.” According to Be the Match, anyone ages 18 to 40 can donate blood stem cells with just a swab of the cheek. To join, donate, or learn more about the initiative, see the website at bethematchfoundation.org/site/ SPageNavigator/JointheSymphony. Jaouad then leads into her essay, which references the Princeton University Concerts program and reinforces its mission of expression: “A few weeks ago, Jon and I had the honor of taking part in the “Healing through Music” concert series at my alma

See IMPROMPTU, Page 6

Januar y 2024 | SIX095

winter wellness The more often a patient can meet with their dentist, the better care that doctor can provide. The frequency of appointments is determined by each New Year, New Smile dentist and usually coincides with a hygienist visit, usually every 6 months or twice a year. A recurring Smile, it’s a new year! A time that for many 6 month recall to your dentist is so important to means resolutions, and a renewed commitment to supporting oral and overall bodily health, that many health and improvement. A healthy smile is a big insurance companies outright cover many of recall part of that, and now you can care for your and your services included in the visit! family’s teeth all in one place. When families come The basic components of the preventive dental to HDA, they are happy because they can take appointment consist of: care of their own dental needs while everyone in • Review and update medical and dental history their family’s oral health is being looked after at the • Blood pressure screening same time. “It’s a win-win,” commented Dr. Irving • Oral cancer examination Djeng, pediatric dentist, “kids get attentive, gentle •Examination of the teeth and periodontal treatment by a dedicated, specialist team that works tissues (i.e. gum tissue and supporting bone). This only with kids, while parents and adult patients are includes a visual examination for signs of dental cared for by our experienced adult staff right down caries (cavities), other problems with the teeth the hall.” Dr. Lauren Levine, pediatric dentist, also (chips, broken fillings, etc.), looking for signs of commented, “We go to great lengths to make the Recall, but what does that mean? A “recall” or inflammation and infection, and periodontal probing, children feel comfortable because we know that “dental recall” visit is a regularly scheduled checkup which measures the depth of the gum pocket. teaching children good oral hygiene at a very young appointment to help dentists have an ongoing • Radiographic exam. The content and timing of age prepares them for a lifetime of healthy smiles.” knowledge of the status of their patients’ oral health. dental x-rays can vary and are customized to the You may have heard the term 6-Month Dental These visits are vital to both practice and patients. needs and disease susceptibility of the patient. The

Hamilton Dental Associates

From IMPROMPTU, Page 5 mater, Princeton University. That night, we talked about the many ways art sustains us through the hardest things, and I shared a story about Jon writing lullabies for me during my second bone marrow transplant. I often think of what Jon said in his Grammy acceptance speech a couple of years ago—about the special power of a song to reach people at a point in their lives when they need it most. That’s what I wrote about, and what I’m inviting you to consider today.

Prompt 272. Lullabies The winter of 2022, I lived a more intense version of isolation than I’d ever experienced. I was undergoing my second bone marrow transplant to treat a relapse of leukemia, and the chemo I had done to prepare for it had obliterated my immune system, leaving me with literally zero white blood cells. In such a circumstance, being sequestered in a hospital bubble is a given. However, my transplant occurred during the covid omicron surge, so hospital restrictions were higher than normal and visitors were extremely limited. Not only could I not leave the eighth floor of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, but I also couldn’t see many of my beloveds. For a period of time, this included my husband Jon. He had work obligations,

6SIX09 | Januar y 2024

Jaouad and Batiste star in Matthew Heineman’s 2023 documentary, “American Symphony,” now streaming on Netflix. Image courtesy of Netflix. and he could not avoid being exposed to all kinds of pathogens—from covid to the common cold—that could have killed me. That he continued to work was a choice we’d made together months earlier, back when we learned my leukemia returned. We had many discussions about whether he would pull out of his obligations to be with me, and I had insisted he continue. He had worked tirelessly from the time he was a teenager to get to that point, and the idea that he would miss out on this big moment because of my relapse was com-

pletely unacceptable to me. Being apart was difficult for both of us, though in some ways, I believe it was even more difficult for Jon. He had to put on his professional face and move about the world when both his head and his heart wanted to be there at my bedside. But instead of wallowing in loneliness and despair, he came up with a creative solution. He connected a small keyboard to his computer, and he began composing lullabies and sending them to me. They were improvised, raw, and beautiful. (One of

them evolved to become “Butterfly,” one of my favorite songs on World Music Radio— which, no big deal, was nominated for a Grammy for Song of the Year.) Lullaby. It comes from the words “lull,” as in “to soothe,” and “by,” meaning “near.” Lullabies are often written in triple meter, which is a swaying or rocking rhythm that mimics what a baby feels in the womb as its mother moves. Jon’s melodies provided that sort of comfort, that sense of security. There was a week where I was in the most pain I’ve ever experienced, as close to the veil as I’ve ever been, suffering from three simultaneous infections—two in my bloodstream—and the whole time I played those gentle, mellifluous songs on loop, for hours and hours. Hospitals are noisy places, with the constant beeping of monitors, the wheezing of respirators, the blaring alarms on IV poles. Jon’s songs were a welcome counterpoint to that soundtrack. But more than that, Jon found solace in the making of those lullabies, and I found so much in listening to them. I could feel his tenderness, his love, and his support. He wasn’t physically there, but he was present with me.”

*** For more on Princeton University Concerts’ and the Isolation Journals’ “Impromptu Challenge,” see the contest page on the PUC website, concerts.princeton.edu/impromptu-challenge.

winter wellness dental team weighs risk vs. benefits when taking dental x-rays, keeping radiation exposure to a minimum •An actual prophylaxis (cleaning) to mechanically remove any build up or plaque from tooth surfaces. •Application of a topical fluoride agent, when indicated. Usually at the end of the appointment, the dentist will review all the findings and radiographs, make any necessary diagnoses, and recommend treatment, if indicated. Hamilton Dental Associates (HDA) has been serving Hamilton and the Greater Central New Jersey area for over 50 years. While HDA’s roots are in pediatric dentistry, they also specialize in adult and cosmetic dentistry, orthodontics, oral surgery, periodontics, and endodontics. Patients are treated by specialists in their field. For example, orthodontic treatment is done by an orthodontic specialist, and patients requiring a root canal will be treated by an endodontist — a dentist who specializes in root canals. It’s all done under one roof which is time saving and eliminates the need for multiple referrals. Come see what all the smiling is about! To request an appointment, call 609-586-6603 or visit HamiltonDental. com. Locations are 2929 Klockner Road and 2501 Kuser Road, Hamilton, New Jersey. Happy New Year! We look forward to seeing your smile! See ad, page 12.

his Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine at Jefferson Health. He then went on to complete his Fellowship training in Gastroenterology at Jefferson Introducing Dr. Maulik Shah Health, where he was honored to Premier Gastroenterology of be selected as Chief Fellow. He is Hamilton prides itself on providing Board Certified in Internal Medicine exceptional care for advanced and Gastroenterology. He is an active digestive health in its beautiful office member of the American College conveniently located on Route 33 in of Gastroenterology, American Hamilton Township. Gastroenterological Association At Premier GI, compassionate and and the American Society for state of the art care will be provided Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. for a wide range of gastrointestinal Dr. Shah caters to a spectrum of problems such as abdominal medical needs, including (but not pain, colon polyps, colon cancer limited to) nausea and vomiting, screening, constipation, diarrhea, acid reflux, stomach pain, pancreatic ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, and biliary diseases, liver disease, hemorrhoids, gastroesophageal reflux diarrhea, IBD and IBS. He is an Dr. Maulik Shah disease, Barrett’s esophagus, difficulty expert in general gastroenterology with swallowing, peptic ulcer, GI bleed, procedures as well as advanced positive and fulfilling lifestyle. blood loss anemia, celiac disease, Outside of work he enjoys traveling, endoscopic procedures such as IBS, Women’s digestive health, gas hiking, cooking, golf, and spending ERCP, endoscopic luminal stenting, and bloating, hepatitis, cirrhosis, time with his family. and EMR. He has a strong passion for gallstone disease, pancreatic cysts, Call 609-917-9917 for an teaching and routinely gives lectures and pancreatic cancer. appointment. Locations are 2271 Rt to the community on a variety of The doctors and staff of Premier GI gastroenterology disorders. Dr. Shah 33, Suite 110 Hamilton, NJ 08690 and bring high tech, high-touch approach 601 Ewing St, Suite C7, Princeton, is committed to providing the highest to patient care. The advantage of a NJ 08540, 609-921-7620. quality of care to his patients to small practice is that the physicians See ad, page 11. ensure their longevity and to provide a and staff of Premier GI will get to know you personally and treat you like friends and family. They will work hard Call us Tis the every day to earn your trust and to before our winter season to make Premier GI, the practice of your promotions choice for advanced digestive health. feel better are all gone Among the exceptional, caring doctors of Premier GI is Dr. Maulik Shah, who obtained his medical Happy Holidays from all of us at Aquatic Performance Training! degree from Rowan-Virtua SOM Weight Loss in New Jersey. He completed Achieve Your ¥Health and Fitness Goals with

Premier GI of Hamilton

Aquatic Performance ¥ Sports Injuries Training

PIDGEON &PIDGEON. P.C.

The World’s Premier ¥ RehabAquatic Exercise Center Weight Loss • Sports Injuries • Rehab • Strength Training ¥ Strength Training

PERSONAL PROFESSIONAL

What is YOUR New Year’s Resolution? Complete your estate planning: • Living Will • Power of Attorney

• HIPAA Authorization • Last Will & Testament

Call Mary Ann Pidgeon at (609) 520-1010 or email her at mpidgeon@pidgeonlaw.com to discuss your estate planning needs.

600 Alexander Road, Princeton, NJ 08650

¥ Weight Loss

4054 Quakerbridge Road Lawrenceville, NJ 08619

4054 Quakerbridge Road Lawrenceville, NJ 08619 609-731-7057 609-731-7057 | aptperform@gmail.com aptperform@gmail.com www.aquaticperformancetraining.com www.aquaticperformancetraining.com

¥ Sports Injurie ¥ Rehab

Januar y 2024 | SIX097

WINTER WELLNESS

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 cuttingedge 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

Dr. Ronak Patel MD 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.

HAVE YOU BEEN TOLD YOU NEED DENTAL IMPLANTS TO REPLACE

MISSING TEETH OR TO SECURE LOOSE DENTURES?

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

MINI DENTAL IMPLANTS!

• 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.

Call TODAY for your free consult!

(609)445-3577

Kevin Mosmen, DMD, MS Sedation Permit #ESP0006

2131 Route 33, Suite A • Hamilton, NJ 08690 Across Route 33 from 7 Eleven and Hamilton Bagel and Grill in the Lexington Square business complex

ASK US

ABOUT OUR FINANCING OPTIONS

I.V. and Oral Sedation available! Our oﬃce is specialty permitted for

SEDATION DENTISTRY

Imagine having all of your dental work completed in as quickly as ONE VISIT with little to NO memory of the appointment! 8SIX09 | Januar y 2024

FREE MINI DENTAL IMPLANT EVALUATION $230 Value www.thedentaldiﬀerence.com

Whoever your heart beats for, our hearts beat for you. New Jersey’s top TAVR program. RWJBarnabas Health has a passion for heart health, with the largest adult and pediatric cardiac surgery programs in the state, a heart transplant program that’s in the top 10 nationally, the latest technology and medical advancements and hundreds of wellness and prevention programs to strengthen and protect healthy hearts. Whoever your heart beats for, our hearts beat for you. Learn more at rwjbh.org/tavr

RWJ-169 SYSTEM_Cardiac_TAVR_GrandmaBaby_9.375x10.375.indd 1

Januar y 2024 | 11/7/23 SIX099 12:12 PM

WINTER WELLNESS

The Dental Difference Mini Dental Implants: A True Innovation in Dentistry

SAY GOODBYE TO BACK & LEG PAIN...

WITHOUT SURGERY!

FREE 10 Minute consultation for the first 30 callers!

COMMON COMPLAINTS WITH LOWER BACK PAIN:  SCIATICA  BULGING HERNIATED DISCS  STENOSIS  DIFFICULTY BENDING, TWISTING, LIFTING, COME USE OUR NEW SPINAL STANDING, WALKING DECOMPRESION TABLE!  SHOOTING, BURNING, STABBING SENSATION

609-528-4417 100 Cabot Drive, Suite A Hamilton, NJ 08691

allcurespineandsports.com ACUPUNCTURE • PHYSICAL THERAPY • CHIROPRACTIC SERVICES 10SIX09 | Januar y 2024

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

Dr. Kevin Mosmen 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 8.

WINTER WELLNESS Our office also provides stateAllCure Spine and of-the-art modalities to assist each provider in getting patients back to Sports Medicine Personalized Solutions to Your Pain Concerns At AllCure, we understand that the summer can come with a lot of fun and activity. Often, we experience that patients will put off their pain concerns until the summer is over and plan to address them in the fall. At AllCure, we will do assessments to see where each person can benefit from our level of care. We offer chiropractic, physical therapy, and acupuncture services to provide high-level of conservative care to the community.

a higher quality of life. We also have X-ray on site to help diagnose the patients pain and discomfort. We offer 10 minute free consultations for anyone interested to make sure they feel comfortable and to ensure that we can help. We take pride in what we do and we make sure that each patient gets a high level of attention and care on each one of their visits. We make our plans specifically to fit each individual person‘s needs and do not offer blanket treatments for similar patient complaints. We have offices conveniently located in Monroe, Hamilton, and

Caruso Physical Therapy & Nutrition

A, Hamilton. 609-528-4417. 350 Forsgate Drive, Monroe Township. 732-521-9222. 1101 Randolph Road, Somerset. 732-823-9392. www. allcurespineandsports.com. See ad, page 10.

Welcoming Dr. Maulik Shah Gastroenterologist

Empowering Each Individual to Reach Their Boundless Potential At Caruso Physical Therapy and Nutrition, they had a vision for a place where they could practice what they preached. This clinic is the result of that. Now, the clinic’s amazing team is committed to carrying out that vision by guiding others in establishing and achieving their own health goals so they can look and feel their best! These services aren’t offered in the area separately, nor are they offered together in a single practice. However, combined, these things make a huge difference. That’s why we offer both, giving you the advantage of physical therapy and registered dietitians in the same clinic! Our services are provided by boardcertified physical therapists, physical therapy assistants, and board-certified registered dietitians. We’re focused on providing education, prevention, treatment, and wellness services that enhance our patients’ overall health and deter the onset of more costly pathology. It’s our goal to provide our patients with the best physical therapy and nutrition services in our community. The newest form of Physical Therapy we offer is Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy, which is a special subset of PT focusing on the muscles of the pelvic girdle. Pelvic dysfunction can cause pain and urinary leakage, among other personal issues that can

Somerset, NJ. Please visit our website or give us a call today to come in for a free consult, and get back to the quality of life you deserve. AllCure Spine & Sports Medicine, 140 Cabot Drive, Suite

Dr Maulik Shah is an expert in general gastroenterology procedures as well as advanced endoscopic procedures such as ERCP, endoscopic luminal stenting, and EMR. He has a strong passion for teaching and routinely gives lectures to the community on a variety of gastroenterology disorders. be successfully treated with education, exercise and hands-on techniques. Women’s Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy can assist with problems such as: urinary incontinence and urgency; overactive bladder; constipation; pelvic pain; low back pain; hip pain; dyspareunia; vaginismus; vulvodynia; scar tissue and pelvic organ prolapse. We also offer Sports PT for those recovering from injury or concussion to help them return safely to the field of play. At Caruso’s our mission is to empower each individual to realize their boundless potential. Contact us or visit our website to start your journey towards a healthier you! Caruso Physical Therapy and Nutrition, 1278 Yardville Allentown Road, Allentown. 609-738-3143. caruso@carusoptrd.com. carusoptrd. com. See ad, page 12.

Areas of expertise include: GERD • Peptic Ulcer Disease • GI Bleeding Celiac Disease • Inflammatory Bowel Disease • IBS Abdonimal Pain • Diarrhea • Constipation Women’s Digestive Health • Colon Cancer Screening Diverticular Disease • Gallstones • Hepatitis Liver Function Abnormalities Pancreatic Cysts and Cancer 2271 Rt 33, Suite 110 Hamilton, NJ 08690 Ph: 609-917-9917 601 Ewing St, Suite C7 Princeton, NJ 08540 Ph: 609-921-7620 A DIVISION OF GANJ

(Gastroenterology Associates of NJ)

www.ganjllc.com Januar y 2024 | SIX0911

WINTER WELLNESS that’s group fitness for the individual. The ethos of Rumble Boxing revolves around authenticity and a departure from the clichés often associated with group workouts. It champions the celebration of A New Fitness Haven individual uniqueness while fostering Lands in Town a collective environment where everyone fights for shared fitness If you’ve been in the Whole Foods goals. complex recently, you’ve seen the Rumble Boxing’s dedication to new gym that’ now open. Rumble authenticity doesn’t mean sacrificing Boxing, renowned for its immersive style or grace. On the contrary, it workouts that seamlessly blend the melds an edgy vibe with a touch of sweet science of boxing with the elegance, mirroring the multifaceted transformative power of strength nature of its workouts — raw, training, has expanded its domain, powerful, yet executed with finesse. bringing its unique brand of fitness The spirit of Rumble Boxing to the Mercer County area. Rumble Princeton is echoed through the Boxing has quickly become a stories shared by its members. They buzzworthy destination for fitness celebrate their individual fitness enthusiasts seeking a thrilling, yet journeys while acknowledging the challenging, workout experience. collective support that fuels their What sets Rumble Boxing progress. This celebration of unity Princeton apart isn’t just its and individuality within a fitness exceptional workout regimen; it’s community marks Rumble Boxing as a the philosophy that underpins every standout in Princeton’s fitness scene. jab, hook, and squat within its walls. At the core of Rumble’s appeal Emphasizing the power of collective lies its high-octane 10-round fight effort while celebrating individuality, Rumble Boxing curates an experience concept. This distinctive approach offers No matter what your "IT" may be!an authentic blend of High-

Rumble Boxing Knocks Out Princeton

RAPY

juries

ated

WE'LL HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR "IT"...

SPORTS PHYSICAL THERAPY

Looking to prevent or recover from a sports injury? We'll complete a full

examination to determine if any outlying causes could put you at risk for injury or could be contributing to your existing pain. Recovering from No matter a concussion? We've got you covered! We'll address balance and what your "IT" may be!

Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), metabolic conditioning (MetCon), and the full benefits of cardio in a single, seamless class. Each round symbolizes a distinct challenge, weaving together boxing-inspired movements and targeted strength training exercises. From jab-cross combinations to bodyweight circuits, participants engage in a fusion of disciplines that elevate heart rates while sculpting and toning muscles, making each session a complete, full-body workout. The inclusive nature of Rumble Boxing’s community is evident in its diverse clientele. Novices and seasoned athletes find their place within the gym’s welcoming embrace, fostering a sense of belonging and encouragement. As Rumble Boxing becomes a fixture in Princeton’s fitness landscape, its ability to seamlessly merge the art of boxing with the science of HIIT, MetCon, and cardio solidifies its status as a revolutionary fitness destination. With each round symbolizing a step closer to personal

triumph, Rumble Boxing Princeton beckons individuals to step into the ring, embrace the challenge, and emerge stronger, fitter, and more empowered than ever before. Rumble Boxing Princeton, 3495 Route 1, Suite 120B, Windsor Green Shopping Center. 609-4648722. www.rumbleboxinggym.com/ princeton. See ad, page 13.

New Year, New Smile

Physical Therapy

dizziness and help you return to your sport safely.

SPORTS PHYSICAL THERAPY Caruso PTRD offers a unique, patient-centered physical therapy Looking to prevent or recover from a sports injury? We'll complete a full approach that offers patients the chance to work closely with a examination to determine if any outlying causes could put you at risk Caruso PTRD offers a unique, patient-centered physical therapy Doctorforofinjury Physical We towant topain. get Recovering back to being or couldTherapy. be contributing your you existing from you; approach that offers patients the chance to work closely with a Doctor a concussion? you on covered! balance and whether it’s gettingWe've yougot back the fiWe'll eld,address back at the offi ce, or back of Physical Therapy. Our therapists' main goals are to listen to each of to your sport safely. dizziness and help you return to running around with your children or grandkids! Treating pain is your needs and provide individualized care to treat your condition. only the first step! We want youSPORTS to get back to being you; whether it's getting you back PHYSICAL THERAPY PHYSICAL THERAPY

PHYSICAL THERAPY

Women’s Nutritional Services Pelvic Floor or weight loss goals through an approach that is anything but “cookie Our Nutrition Experts, RDN’s,are the ONLY medical Physical TherapySERVICES cutter”. NUTRITIONAL professionals qualiﬁed to give you nutrition advice. We don’t believe Caruso PTRDwith offersyour a unique, patient-centered physical therapy on the field, back at the office, or back to running around • Surgery/ Post Op Recovery approach that offers patients the chance to work closely with a Doctor children or grandkids! Treating pain is only ALL the first step! Achieve your body composition, sport’s performance, • Concussion AGES: of Physical Therapy. Our therapists' main goals are to listen to each of your needs and provide individualized care to treat your condition. We want you to get back to being you; whether it's getting you back

• Hips

• Knees

on the field, back at the office, or back to running around with your

ATTENTION ALL AGES: Achieve your body composition, perform• Running Assessment and Injuries childrensport' or grandkids! Treating pain is only the first step! ﬁxesthat or the latest craze. We believe in life long change • Urinary andthrough in ance, nutrition•Incontinence or loss goals anquick approach is anything ITB weight Pain

without having to sacriﬁ ce ANYTHING that makes your life unique! butUrgency "cookie cutter". take the time to learn about you, any medical • Core We Strengthening ATTENTION ALL AGES: Achieve your body composition, sport' performconditions you may have and tailor to your individual needs. Our Nutrition • Overactive Bladder • Balance/ Stability Training nutritionto or give weight loss goals through an approach that is anything Experts, RDN's,are the ONLY medical professionalsance, qualified you

NUTRITIONAL SERVICES

Sports Physical Therapy

• Constipation • Shoulder Stability Training

Looking prevent orWerecover sports injury? We’ll complete but to "cookie cutter". take the from time toalearn about you, any medical

nutrition advice. We don't believe in quick fixes or the latest craze. you may and tailor if to your Our Nutrition a full conditions examination to have determine any individual outlyingneeds. causes could put • Pelvic Pain • Throwing Injury Prevention We believe in life long change without having toExperts, ANYTHING the ONLY medical professionals qualified to give you you at sacrifice riskforRDN's,are injury or could be contributing to your existing pain. • Ankle • Low Back Pain nutrition advice. We don't believe in quick fixes or the latest craze. that makes your life unique!

Recovering from a concussion? We’ve got you covered! We’ll address We believe in life long change without having to sacrifice ANYTHING • Hip Pain• All Re-injury Prevention balance and dizziness and help you return to your sport safely. that makes your life unique! • All Injury Prevention • Dyspareunia PILATES REFORMER • Vaginismus The most recognized and effective form of safe and successful exercise. PILATES REFORMER Theclient most recognized and effective form of safe and successful exercise. Pilates can be tailored to the specific needs of the to provide • Vulvodynia Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy is a special subset of PT focusing Pilates can be tailored to the specific needs of the client to provide injury prevention, work. We offerpelvic girdle. Pelvic dysfunction can cause theinjury muscles of the • Scar Tissue rehabilitation and muscleonstability prevention, rehabilitation and muscle stability work. We offer private and semi private sessions. pain and urinary leakage, among other personal issues that can private and semi private sessions. • Pelvic Organ Prolapse be successfully treated with education, exercise and hands-on techniques. I want to empower females to take back their lives, one Pelvic PT session at a time.

Pediatric | Family Dentistry Cosmetic Dentistry | Orthodontic Services

Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

Family Owned & Operated

12SIX09 | Januar y 2024

1278 YARDVILLE -ALLENTOWN ROAD, STE 3

ALLENTOWN, NJ 08501 1278 YARDVILLE-ALLENTOWN P: 609.738.3143 • F: 609.738.314 4 ROAD CARUSOPTRD.COM ALLENTOWN, NJ 08501 PH: 609.738.3143 • FX: 609.738.3144

1278 YARDVILLE -ALLENTOWN ROAD, STE 3 ALLENTOWN, NJ 08501 P: 609.738.314 3 • F : 609.738.314 4 CARUSOPTRD.COM

hamiltondental.com NJ’s trusted family dental practice for over 50 years

CARUSOPTRD.COM

Dr. Irving Djeng

Dr. Michael DeLuca

Dr. Kevin Collins

Dr. Lauren Levine

Dr. Matthew Etter

Dr. Deolinda Reverendo

WINTER WELLNESS

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton Many people who could benefit from bariatric surgery don’t consider it because of widespread misconceptions About 30 percent of U.S. adults qualify as obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Bariatric (weight loss) surgery, which involves modifying the stomach to restrict the amount of food it can hold, could provide health benefits for many of those people— including reduction of medication, improvement of diabetes, a cure for obstructive sleep apnea and more. Nonetheless, people who are candidates for the surgery often don’t see it as an option because of widespread misconceptions, says Ragui W. Sadek, MD, Chief of Bariatrics for RWJ Barnabas Health. Here are some of the most common: MYTH #1: “You have to be several hundred pounds overweight to

consider weight loss surgery.” FACT: “People think that’s the case because of TV shows like My 600-lb Life,” says Dr. Sadek. “In fact, most of the patients I operate on are in the 250-to-300-pound range. They are surgery candidates because their obesity is causing other health conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and sleep apnea. After surgery, they see improvement in these conditions and can reduce or eliminate multiple medications.” MYTH #2: “Weight loss surgery is risky.” FACT: The risk of fatality during bariatric surgery is just 0.1 percent, Dr. Sadek says—lower than the risks of many common surgeries. MYTH #3: “Weight loss surgery is for people who don’t want to diet and exercise.” FACT: “Obesity is not about being lazy or not having willpower,” Dr. Sadek says. “We are getting more and more data that shows that people who are morbidly obese have certain genetic profiles that lead to obesity.” Besides, a healthy diet and exercise are a key part of the post-

surgery success, he notes. “At RWJUH Hamilton, weight loss surgery is more than just surgery—it’s a comprehensive program, including diet modifications, physical activity and making support available postsurgery.” MYTH #4: “Most people regain weight after bariatric surgery.” FACT: “Research shows that bariatric surgery is the most effective means of achieving long-term weight loss,” says Dr. Sadek. “The standard for failure of the surgery has been defined as a case in which the patient regains 50 percent or more of their excess body weight post-surgery. However, most patients keep off the majority of the weight they lose.” MYTH #5: “Weight loss surgery is a last resort.” FACT: On the contrary, obese patients and their physicians should consider it sooner, Dr. Sadek says. “Morbid obesity is a disease that should be dealt with as early as possible,” he says. “If you wait until you are taking multiple medications for related health problems, you may not be eligible for surgery because of those problems. The earlier you do it,

the better your potential outcome.” The Bariatric Surgery Program at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Hamilton, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, is certified for Bariatric Surgery by The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). Call RWJUH Hamilton’s Bariatric Program Coordinator at 609-2497510. Visit rwjbh.org/weightloss See ad, page 9.

NOW OPEN!

Januar y 2024 | SIX0913

at your service Complete Home Improvements

QUALITY

Advertise for $69 a month. For more information call 609-396-1511

RESIDENTIALCOMMERCIAL

Over 25 years experience Ask for Rony 609-954-4836 contreraspainting2015@gmail.com

We Buy Old Books, Rare Books

Two BroThers

NJ LIC# 12736

From minor plumbing repairs to complete remodels, Sewer replacement, Water Service replacement.

PERSONAL HOME AIDE Assist with Errands, Chores and Projects

Skilled – Consistent – Reliable AM & PM shifts available Call Nana Murphy in Ewing Township Certified Home Health Aide

215-626-3943

K&K Construction and Solutions LLC.

Victor Anleu, Project Manager

ROOFING & SIDING GUTTER - STUCCO - PAINTING FENCING - DECKS - PATIOS KITCHENS - BATHROOMS CONCRETE - DRIVEWAYS TILE - FLOORING

Also Buying Antiques, Collectibles, Jewelry, Old Postcards, Sports Cards, Pottery, Prints, Paintings, Old Toys, Coins, Stamps, Etc. Appraisals Available. Downsizing/Moving? Call Us! Larry Feldman (609)658-5213 LarryFeldman51@gmail.com

Licens e & Ins d ured

Free ! ates s E tim

609-538-8045 nj lic# 13vh01790800

•Renovations •Remodeling •Decks •Kitchens/Baths •Drywall •Siding •Repairs •Snow Plowing

Piano Tuning & RepaiRs

Over 30 Years Experience

COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL KKConstructionandSolutions@gmail.com • 609-977-3284

Licensed & Insured - Free Estimates

DOMINIC PETITO

609-259-7337 Mackay’s

Fully Insured

(609)712-0148 Ewing Twp, Mercer County

14SIX09 | Januar y 2024

Complete Tree Service Fire Wood

Drain Cleaning ServiCe NJ License # 13VH08851500

Reliable, Affordable References Provided

609•499•4774 609•883•3009 Fax: 609•499•8322

DAVID M. SMITH

groveplumbingllc@gmail.com

Contreras Painting, LLC Your local painter!

Kitchens • Baths • Windows Doors & More

Licensed & Insured NJ # 13VH02464300

BUILDING YOUR VISIONS

D. Smith Electric LLC

Tree Service

Stump Grinding

FullY INSuRED | FREE ESTIMATES

(609) 577-3949

SCOTT MACKAY - OWNER

resToraTion

609-672-4145 www.twobrothersmasons.com • Mason Restoration • Brick Pointing • Chimney Repair • Foundations & Steps • Waterproofing • Powerwashing •Painting

• Demolition • Land Clearing • Excavating • Pool Removal

• Home Improvements & Remodeling • Concrete work • Foundation & Yard Drainage

CALL US TODAY! 609-309-1501 supremeprosconstruction.com

Anthony’s hAndymAn lic#13vh05722200

Home Improvement & remodelIng Excavation • DEmolition • trEnching KitchEn • Bathroom • BasEmEnt concrEtE • Patios • WalKWay aDDitions • roofing • siDing

HELP HELP HELP WANTED WANTED WANTED

609-309-1501

Anthonyshandyman.com

Fully Insured “one Call does It All”

Expanding Territory

Community News Service, LLC, publishers of US1, Hamilton Post, Ewing Observer, Expanding Territory Expanding Territory LawrenceCommunity Gazette,News Bordentown Current, Service, LLC, publishers of Hamilton Post, Community News Service, LLC, publishers of US1, Hopewell Express, WWP News, Princeton Echo, US1, Hamilton Post, Ewing Observer, Ewing Observer, Lawrence Gazette, Bordentown Current, Hopewell Lawrence Gazette, Bordentown Current, Trenton &Princeton Robbinsville Advance,Downtowner & Express,Downtowner WWP News, Echo,Trenton Hopewell Express, WWP News, Princeton Echo, Robbinsville Advance, has a NEW position to fill: has a NEW position to fill: Trenton Downtowner & Robbinsville Advance, has a NEW position to fill:

Advertising Representative AdvertisingSales Sales Representative

Full/Part-time display advertising sales rep needed. Established Full/Part-time display advertising rep needed. Established Advertising Sales sales Representative account list provided plus cold calls required. Sales experience a account list provided plus cold calls required. Sales experience Full/Part-time display advertising sales rep needed. Establisheda must. Candidate must be self-motivated, energetic, outgoing must. Candidate must be self-motivated, energetic, outgoing anda and account list provided plus cold calls required. Sales experience customer-service oriented. must. Candidate must be self-motivated, energetic, outgoing and customer-service oriented. customer-service oriented.

e-mail as well as references and salary to: e-mailresume resume as well as references andexpectations salary expectations to: e-mail resume as well as references and salary expectations to: Thomas Fritts, Community News Service ThomasThomas Fritts, Community News Service Fritts, Community News Service E-mail: E-mail:tfritts@communitynews.org tfritts@communitynews.org E-mail: tfritts@communitynews.org EOE EOE EOE

classified Part time office work: 10-12 hours per week from mid-January- mid-April. Flexible schedule in small office. Please call 609-577-8244 for further details.

SERVICES I am a caregiver LOOKING FOR AN OPENING, Live in or out. 8 years of experience providing personal care, household tasks, responsible and trustworthy. Contact Celine at 617-806-6489. F,D,Mason Contractor, Over 30 years of experience.Brick, Block, Stone, Concrete. No job too large or small. Fully Insured and Licensed. Free Estimates 908-3855701 Lic#13VH05475900. Are you single? Try us first! We are an enjoyable alternative to online dating. Sweet Beginnings Matchmaker, 215-539-2894, www. sweetbeginnings.info. WANTED TO BUY Wanted: Baseball, football, basketball, hockey. Cards, autographs, photos, memorabilia. Highest cash prices paid! Licensed corporation, will travel. 4theloveofcards, 908596-0976. allstar115@ verizon.net.

Happy Heroes used books looking to buy old Mysteries, Science Fiction, Children’s Illustrated, kids series books (old Hardy boys-Nancy Drew-Judy Bolton- Dana girls, WITH DUSTJACKETS in good shape), Dell Mapbacks - Good Girl Art PULPS - non-sports cards, good conditioned pre 1975 paperbacks old COLLIER’S. Call 609-619-3480 or email happyheroes@gmail. com. Cash paid for World War II military items. Helmets, swords, medals, etc. Call 609-581-8290 or email mymilitarytoys@ optonline.net DATING Attention Single Men 64 - 71 local matchmaker is seeking an educated, nice, tall gentleman for one of my client’s. No Fees! Contact Jill Elliott 215-539-2894. Attention Gentlemen 35 – 50 Local matchmaker is seeking an educated gentleman match for my client, she is 39, petite, and a single mom. No Fees! Contact Jill Elliott 215-539-2894. National Classifieds Health & Fitness Dental Insurance Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Covers 350 procedures. Real insurance - not a discount plan. Get your

To book a classified ad in this section, please email your text and any other information to sjeronis@communitynews.org. Classifieds run at 75 cents per word with a $20 minimum per month. For more information, call 609-396-1511, ext. 130. free dental info kit! 1-855-526-1060 www. dental50plus.com/ads #6258 Attention oxygen therapy users! Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds. Free info kit. Call 877-929-9587 Home Services Aging Roof? New Homeowner? Got Storm Damage? You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind their work. Fast, free estimate. Financing available. Call 1-888-8789091 Water damage cleanup & restoration: A small amount of water can lead to major damage and mold growth in your home. Our trusted professionals do complete repairs to protect your family and your home’s value! Call 24/7: 1-888-872-2809 Miscellaneous Prepare for power outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 7-Year warranty with qualifying purchase* Call 1-855-9486176 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move. Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule free

LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-833610-1936 BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 855-761-1725 Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800-245-0398 HughesNet - Finally, super-fast internet no matter where you live. 25 Mbps just $59.99/mo! Unlimited Data is Here. Stream Video. Bundle TV & Internet. Free Installation. Call 866499-0141 Become a published author. We want to read your book! Dorrance Publishing trusted since 1920. Consultation, production, promotion & distribution. Call for free author’s guide 1-877-729-4998 or visit dorranceinfo.com/ads DISH TV $64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo Expires 1/31/24. 1-866479-1516

Safe Step. North America’s #1 Walk-in tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-theline installation and service. Now featuring our free shower package & $1600 off - limited time! Financing available. 1-855-417-1306 MobileHelp, America’s premier mobile medical alert system. Whether you’re home or away. For safety & peace of mind. No long term contracts! Free brochure! 1-888-4893936 Free high speed internet if qualified. Govt. pgm for recipients of select pgms incl. Medicaid, SNAP, Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Benefits, Lifeline, Tribal. 15 GB internet. Android tablet free w/one-time $20 copay. Free shipping. Call Maxsip Telecom! 1-833758-3892 Wesley Financial Group, LLC Timeshare Cancellation ExpertsOver $50,000,000 in timeshare debt & fees cancelled in 2019. Get free info package & learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. 833308-1971 DIRECTV Stream - Carries the most local MLB Games! Choice Package $89.99/mo for 12 mos Stream on 20 devices at once. HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/Choice

Package or higher.) No contract or hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-866-859-0405 Are you a pet owner? Do you want to get up to 100% back on vet bills? Physicians Mutual Insurance Company has pet coverage that can help! Call 1-844-774-0206 to get a free quote or visit insurebarkmeow.com/ ads Diagnosed with lung cancer & 65+? You may qualify for a substantial cash award. No obligation! We’ve recovered millions. Let us help! Call 24/7 1-877-7075707 Replace your roof w/the best looking & longest lasting material steel from Erie Metal Roofs! 3 styles & multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer up to 50% off install + Additional 10% off install (military, health & 1st responders.) 1-833370-1234 Jacuzzi Bath Remodel can install a new, custom bath or shower in as little as one day. Limited time, we’re waiving all installation costs! (Additional terms apply. Subject to change and vary by dealer. Offer ends 12/31/23 Call 1-844-5013208

Call today and receive a

SPE

CIA

FREE SHOWER PACKAGE PLUS $1600 OFF Call 866-643-0438 to schedule your free quote!

FFE

1-855-417-1306 With purchase of a new Safe Step Walk-In Tub. Not applicable with any previous walk-in tub purchase. Offer available while supplies last. No cash value. Must present offer at time of purchase. CSLB 1082165 NSCB 0082999 0083445

Januar y 2024 | SIX0915

16SIX09 | Januar y 2024

The NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) brings cancer trials and care delivery studies to people in their communities. Now as an NCORP affiliate site, Capital Health can give patients of our Cancer Center access to clinical trials and treatment delivery studies from top institutions around the world, bringing the latest state-of-the-art treatments to patients right here in our communities. It’s the advanced care you deserve close to home.

CapitalHealthCancer.org

Januar y 2024 | Hamilton Post17

SPORTS

Montclair soccer career a ‘crazy ride’ for PDS grad Davis By Rich Fisher

Donovan Davis had only one way to describe his collegiate soccer career. “It was,” he said, “one hundred percent a crazy ride.” And that may be understating it. Donovan’s career ended on a high note and he deserved it after all he went through. From the time Davis graduated from Princeton Day School as a two-time AllMercer County player in 2018, up through Montclair University’s penalty kick loss to Central Connecticut in the NCAA Division III tournament Nov. 18, he endured the kind of adversity that turns a boy into a man. “I think he matured drastically in his last two years,” Montclair coach Todd Tumelty said. “He’s grown. He understands things.” To his credit, Davis stuck with it despite circumstances that would cause others to wilt. This past fall, he was a key member off the bench in the Red Hawks’ drive to the New Jersey Athletic Conference championship and their run to the Division III Sweet 16. That made it all worthwhile for a guy whose career zig-zagged more than the stripe on Charlie Brown’s shirt. “It never goes according to plan,” Davis said with a laugh. “There’s always something that comes up. I’m just really happy I came back for this season. I was really

Princeton Day School grad and Hamilton resident Donovan Davis on the soccer pitch for Montclair University. debating it. But how we ended last year is why I wanted to come back this year.” Davis graduated last spring with a degree in physical education and a minor in coaching. He had a year of soc-

Let Us Do the Cleaning! Family Owned and Operated Since 1991

cer eligibility remaining and after a lot reserve did not faze Davis, and proved of soul searching, decided to use it and invaluable to the Hawks. “I told him to understand that early in is now pursuing a masters in sports the season we’re gonna try to let some of administration. See DAVIS, Page 20 The fact he went from a starter to a

GENOLY CARING CENTER DR. CHIOMA G. OBIUKWU, DNP/APN PMHNP-BC Family Psychiatric & Behavioral Services

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL • AFFORDABLE PRICES FULLY BONDED & INSURED

Sanitizing, Disinfecting, Move In’s, & Move Out Cleanings Purchase a Gift Certiﬁcate for a loved one Let us help clean your home!

Call Us Today!

FREE ESTIMATES (609) 888-1311 • (609) 737-7373 Weekly • Bi-Weekly • Monthly & Move Outs

18Hamilton Post | Januar y 2024

www.upstairsdownstairsnj.com

• Depression • Anxiety • Mood Disorders • Substance Abuse • Dual Diagnosis

• Bipolar • Schizophrenia- psychosis • Chronic Impulsivity • Medication Management • Obsessive Compulsion

941 Whitehouse Ave, Suite 12, Hamilton, NJ 08619 P: (609)585-0022 genolycaringcenter@gmail.com F: (609)585-0221

Nursing Home Neglect Get The Justice & Fair Treatment Your Family Member Deserves

Bed Sores ∙ Falls and Fractures ∙ Malnutrition ∙ Infections Medication Errors ∙ Abuse ∙ Death * ATTORNEYS AT LAW Sherri L. Warfel Nursing Home Practice Chair

609-520-0900 www.pralaw.com Lawrenceville, Cherry Hill, Morristown & Nutley

For over 15 years, Ms. Warfel’s practice has focused on assisting victims of nursing home abuse and negligence. She has been a featured speaker and panelist regarding issues in nursing home litigation and has worked to obtain favorable decisions on behalf of nursing home residents, including a notable case involving forced arbitration. Her eﬀorts have resulted in millions of dollars for her injured clients. Together, PR&A and Ms. Warfel will provide unrelenting representation to nursing home clients to ensure they are compensated fairly.

Contact Sherri Warfel: swarfel@pralaw.com A description of the methodology for this award can be found at https://www.bestlawfirms.usnews.com/methodology.aspx. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Januar y 2024 | Hamilton Post19

DAVIS continued from Page 18 the young guys learn a little; they need to get more time and understand how to grow,” Tumelty said. “But when we got down the stretch he was gonna find himself in a lot more games. He was mature enough to understand that, and he bought into it, which was good. “I think his value to the team was just being a steady ball winner in the middle of the field who was reliable. You knew what you’d get from Donovan Davis every time he stepped on the field. If we were up a goal and we felt we were in the driver’s seat we threw Donovan in there and he’d lock it up in the back for us.” There were two major factors in Davis’ decision to return. One is that Montclair was denied an NCAA berth in 2022 despite being ranked in the top 10 of Division III. The other is that he felt his career was just getting started. “When I was debating coming back this year, I kept saying last year felt like my first year of college soccer and it was my senior year (academically),” he said. *** There were a lot of reasons for that feeling. Things started normally enough, as Davis played in Hamilton rec and Hamilton travel. He moved to Upper Makefield travel in Pennsylvania, and eventually ended up with Match-Fit. After starting as a freshman for Hamilton West, Donovan transferred to PDS. “That was never about going to a better soccer program,” he said. “Moreso, the academic piece made it look more intriguing to colleges.” Davis was recruited by Division I Elon University as a center-back. But the Phoenix had four guys at that spot between 6-3 and 6-5 and coach Mark Reeves told Davis he may have trouble getting time right away. He began training at outside back with the goal of starting there. And then “the crazy ride” started. During preseason training in his freshman year, Davis herniated two discs in his lower back. “I thought my hamstring kind of went, and I would have woken up the next day and just rehab and practice,” he said. “I woke up and the back was locked up and I couldn’t walk.” Davis wanted surgery but the coaches and trainers advised against it. “They said ‘If you get major back surgery at 18, you’ll get another at 21,’” he said. “They gave me the talk that you want to be able to run around with your kids in the backyard. At 18, that was kind of funny to comprehend.” In lieu of surgery, Davis did physical therapy and received injections for the next five months. He took a medical redshirt and watched from the sidelines.

20Hamilton Post | Januar y 2024

“It was extremely frustrating,” he said. “I was so far away from home (in North Carolina). That was my first major injury. I’ve sprained ankles, broke a wrist, but nothing that’s sidelined me for that long. You’r coming in as a freshman, coaches are still loving ya, you’re gonna come in and star. Then you get there and two weeks in you’re done for six months.” Frustrations continued in 2019 when Davis rolled an ankle and then fell into bad graces with Reeves and did not play a game. “I was done with it,” he said. “Two years of not playing, I had all these dreams and aspirations at the time and it was like ‘Alright, probably time to move on.’” Even that became an issue when Covid hit in 2020. Davis entered the transfer portal and received Division I interest, but did not reciprocate. “It’s so tough at D-I, with all these international players these days, and in January you’re waking up at 6 a.m. to lift,” Davis said. “That’s what I was getting kind of sick of because I wasn’t playing. I’m doing all this extra work, for what?” He narrowed his choices to six Division III programs and was set to visit each when Covid shut down campuses throughout the country. Thus, Donovan opted for Montclair and his tour was a bit bizarre due to social distancing rules. He and his mom, Kelli, followed Tumelty in his car and the coach would point out various buildings through BlueTooth conversations. Davis decided on Montclair and started all six games in a Covid-shortened 2020 season. “I finally got a taste of it,” he said. “But with me, something always happens.” Yeah, it does. Two games into the 2021 season, Davis suffered a groin tear and missed the remainder of the season. In 2022, Donovan finally had the kind of season he hoped for, playing in 20 of 21 games and starting 12 of them for a nationally ranked team. Prosperity could only last so long, however, and Davis got in an auto accident one day before 2023 spring practice started. He missed the entire spring and wondered about returning for another year. But he knew the Hawks had a talented roster and wanted to be part of it, even if he wasn’t quite ready. “I probably wasn’t in the best shape,” he said. “I missed all of the spring season and I wasn’t sure if I was coming back, so that had something to do with it. We went to Germany for a preseason trip and I played a half and felt like I played three games off my life that day.” When Davis made it official that he would return, Tumelty had a talk with him about coming off the bench. “He’s a competitor, he wants to play,

but he also understands what’s best for the team,” the coach said. “In the beginning of the year I could see the frustration on his face like ‘I want to play, I want to play.’ “I told him ‘You’re breaking down a little bit, let’s make sure you’re totally healed. We’re gonna need you at the end more than the beginning. If you trust the process I guarantee you’ll be there in the end.’ As you get in the playoffs, tackles get harder, play gets more difficult and usually your veteran players respond well to those moments. That final game he started because we had an injury. I was happy that his career ended that way for us.” Tumelty attributed Davis’ injury issues to his being “a hard, tough player. He tackles hard and he gets hit hard on tackles.” Davis had no problem with coming off the bench, as he and Tumelty had gained a mutual respect for one another. “Coach always said I’m a gamer,” Davis said. “Last year, I didn’t always give 100 percent in practice, but when it was time to play he knew what he was getting. When it was a big game that’s when I got my minutes. “So it was definitely not like last year where I was starting and playing 90 min-

utes. But by the end it got to the point where I was in for the big games. Any time we got a lead, it was ‘Alright, go win headers, go win challenges in the middle of the field, be a leader, show some leadership presence out there.’” Davis not only showed leadership, he became the steadying influence, much to his surprise. “A bunch of the guys who played were freshmen,” he said. “It’s funny that I was the voice of reason. I was the one calming kids down, when my whole life it was the other way around. I was the hot head on the field. Now it got to the point where I was the one that had to calm everyone down.” The Red Hawk players were crushed after losing on PKs to Central Connecticut, especially when they had two overtime goals — one by Davis — disallowed. But the tournament experience was what Donovan waited six years for, prompting him to say “I’m very, very happy. I’m grateful for coming here.” He will now look to get into teaching and coaching with the ultimate goal of becoming an athletic director. He will always look back on his college days as a time of great personal growth. “It was,” he said, “a helluva ride for sure.”

Ristorante & Pizzeria

Order online or delivery thru the SLICE App View our menus online at villamannino.com

10% OFF Check Any Eat In Dining Room

Coupon may not be combined with any other offer. With coupon only. Expires: 1/31/24

73 ROUTE 130 • BORDENTOWN, NJ 08620

609-298-9000

Wet Basement?

A. PennAcchi & SonS. co. Mercer County’s Oldest Waterproofing Contractor Deal Directly with Owner/Operator

Email: paul@apennacchi.com • Web: www.APennacchi.com Contractor Lic. #13VH01138400

Call Today! (609) 394-7354 • All Phases of Waterproofing Above & Below Grade • French Drain Systems • Structure Repairs

• Foundation Restoration • Wall & Floor Coatings • Masonry Services • Sump Pumps Installed & Serviced

PAWS

If it’s important to you and your child, it’s important to us.

Pet Grooming

Full Grooming • Trim Ups Nail Trims • Bath & Brush Out Flea & Tick Shampoo & Dip Hot Oil Treatments Blueberry Facials Teeth Brushing

609-586-9860 1905 Rt 33, Hamilton Square pawspetgroomers.com • Accredited Curriculum: Language Arts, Handwriting, Math, Spanish, Music, Science and More • Flexible Schedules: 3, 4, 5 day schedules

• Secure Webcam Access • Breakfast, Lunch & Snack Included • UV Air Sanitization in HVAC Systems • Open ALL But 7 Days Per Year

Infants • Toddlers • Preschool • Pre K 3848 Quakerbridge Road • Hamilton, NJ 08619 (near Hughes Drive) 609-588-8808 • www.kiddieacademy.com/hamilton

$5 Off COMPLETE GROOMING

New Customers Only. Cannot be combined with other offers. With Coupon. Expires 1.31.24.

REGULAR CUSTOMERS RECEIVE Complimentary

TEETH BRUSHING OR OATMEAL BATH IN JANUARY

Cannot be combined with other offers. With Coupon. Expires 1.31.24.

Januar y 2024 | Hamilton Post21

LaBelle, Giordano make most of opportunities at Centenary Former Steinert basketball standouts take on key roles as head coach, sixth man

season, LaBelle was named head man. “It was definitely a surprise,” he said. “(Kelly) had some stuff going on, where he felt he needed to step away. The day before the Misericordia game, it got sprung on me. I just took it and ran with it. It’s an awesome opportunity. You obviously don’t like to have it happen the way it did, but it was a dream come true for me.” LaBelle was promoted on an interim basis, so the future is uncertain after this season. But the former Steinert/Trenton Catholic standout is going to embrace the moment. “I’m gonna come in and do everything I can to make the program succeed,” he said. “It’s an awesome opportunity. I’ll make the most of it this year. This school means a lot to me from playing and now coaching. There’s a lot of unknown at the end of this year, but I’m not worried about that. I’m just worried about the 20 guys in the lockerroom every day showing up and making sure they’re getting better.” One of those players is guard Trevor Giordano, a Steinert grad who is a senior academically, but who has another year of eligibility if he chooses to use it. The team’s leading 3-point shooter (16) and

By Rich Fisher

Most college assistant basketball coaches kill themselves to make contacts over the years and go through a grueling gauntlet of interviews before finally landing a head job. And then there’s Chris LaBelle. The Hamilton product didn’t go looking for anything, but when he showed up for work at Centenary University Nov. 10, he was told he’d be running the show for the men’s basketball program. After a playing career at the Hackettstown university in which LaBelle finished first in program history in career free throws and assists, second in career points, points per game and field goals, and third in 3-pointers, he became a Cyclones women’s assistant last season and took the same role for the men this year. When Dirk Kelly abruptly resigned for personal reasons one game into the

VISIT OUR SHOWROOMS

Lawrenceville, NJ 2850 Brunswick Pike (Business Rt. 1)

104 Years of Experience & 4 Generations of Jammer Quality & Commitment

609-883-0900

Mon-Fri: 8am - 4pm Saturday 8am - 12noon

Yardley, PA

10 N Main Street (At The Gristmill)

215-493-7709 By Appointment Only

NJ HIC# - 13VH02000800

PA HIC# - 022787

Garage Doors • Operators • Gate Openers • Entry Doors • Patio Doors • Storm Doors • Windows

Winter Savings! Toll Free 1-800-448-1920

SERVICE OR REPAIR PLUS PARTS

ON ANY RESIDENTIAL

GARAGE DOOR

Must present coupon at time of purchase. Additional parts & labor in excess of 1 hour will be at our scheduled rates. One coupon per customer/household. Coupon has no cash value. Expires 1/31/2024.

www.jammerdoors.com

100 OFF

ANY PURCHASE OF

$1500 OR MORE

Must present coupon at time of purchase. Not accepted at time of installation. Not valid with any other discounts, repairs or prior purchases. One coupon per customer/household. Coupon has no cash value. Expires 1/31/2024.

22Hamilton Post | Januar y 2024

200 OFF

ANY PURCHASE OF

$2500 OR MORE

second leading scorer (10.8) through the coach. He uses his youth as an advantage. first nine games, Giordano felt LaBelle “It builds an awesome connection with was the right man for the situation. these guys,” he said. “I was in their shoes “It definitely blindsided us when coach not long ago and had a pretty successful Kelly left. We respected him and the job career. If they can use me as a gateway to he did when he took over last season,” their own success and use me as a soundGiordano said. “When Coach Kelly was ing board that’s what I’m here for. out with Covid during one “It’s been really awesome of our scrimmages, Chris to be myself. They respect took over and we won the it, I really don’t need to yell scrimmage, and I think that and hoot and holler. There’s proved to me that Chris had been a level of respect, what it took to keep us on they’ve been locked in and the right track. I have full ready to go. I can’t ask for faith in him, I know the guys anything more in the effort have full faith in him just department.” from talking to them.” If the situation was going Those guys include to be weird for anyone, it Ewing High products Naire would be Giordano, since Preston and Kenny Rankin, the two were teammates just LaBelle who are both enjoying solid two seasons ago. freshman seasons. Rankin “I really haven’t seen it led the team in scoring as of as he used to be one of my Dec. 7 and Preston was third. The former teammates, I see it as he’s my coach now,” Blue Devils both feel having a 24-year- Trevor said. “I respect him, I just shut my old leading them is more a help than a mouth and do what he needs me to do. I drawback. know he needs help leading because he’s “It’s pretty nice,” Rankin said. “Him a young coach, he was thrown into the and my brother are the same age, he can job so it’s not something he was planning relate and he understands what we’re on doing. I’m helping out the best I can. going through because not too long ago The relationship is good, no bumps in the he was going through the same thing.” road.” Preston agreed, saying “He’s played Giordano made that statement after recently, he sees the game how we see going from a starter to one of the team’s the game since he played those four top reserves. years. That helps a lot.” “I enjoy the role of coming off the Giordano made it unanimous. “He defi- bench,” he said. “I survey the floor, see nitely gets our problems and what we’re what’s going on before actually getting in going through,” the guard said. the game. It gives me another edge, seing LaBelle understands that he doesn’t what my match-up is gonna be, what my have to be extra tough on the players so man may do to guard me, how I can guard they won’t take advantage of a fresh-faced other people. My shot attempts have

The Barber Shop

Fully staffed with 13 experienced, Master Barbers Availability and Convenience Open 7 days a week Walk ins or Appointments available! Book an appointment on our website

1959 Route 33, Hamilton 609-586-6029

www.tbsbarbershops.com

January Events Notary Oath Night Thursday, January 4th, 3:00 - 7:00 PM The Mercer County Clerk’s office will administer the oath to newly commissioned and renewing Notaries. Please call the Mercer County Clerk’s office to schedule (609) 989-6466 or email epagano@mercercounty.org

Steinert grad Trevor Giordano in action for Centenary University. (Photo by Jenna Glinko.) gone up and percentage-wise I’m doing a lot better.” Along with his playing ability, Giordano and senior Sean Falk, another ex-teammate of LaBelle’s, are providing the kind of leadership every new coach needs. “Those guys have been huge in this transition, the respect level has been awesome,” LaBelle said. “Having guys I played with setting the tone and having that level of respect, it trickles down through the whole program. “I just try to be myself with them. I was friends with these guys before and that’s not gonna change. There’s obviously a different level of respect they’re gonna have for me. But that relationship doesn’t change. I still want the best for them, they want the best for me at the end of the day.” LaBelle knows he has a lot to learn moving forward, but is thankful to have had one year under women’s coach Rose Haller and a preseason with the men under Kelly. “That helped tremendously,” he said. “It teaches you you’re not a player anymore, you gotta look at the game differently, learn how to teach the game right. I might know what’s going on on the court, but now I’ve got to learn how to describe it and teach it. That was the biggest thing. “I got to learn under coach Haller last year. She taught me a ton on how to coach, and how to talk to the players. That was a huge help.Now I’m getting to do my own kind of thing in coaching and have my own kind of philosophy. I’ve also taken things from other teams and other coaches. (TCA coaches) Fred Falchi and Bobby Fusik have been really huge. They’ve supported me whether it’s running ideas off them, or them just coming to games.” Through early December the results

were not glowing as Centenary was 1-8. But with an extremely young team learning to play for a new coach on the fly, it stood to reason things would take time to develop. “We had to piece together a starting lineup after the season started,” Giordano said. “Guys are gelling together now.” Rankin agreed, adding that, “I see the potential. We’ve had a couple mental lapses but we’re right there. If we come together as a team and learn about each other more, we’ll be good in the long run.” LaBelle, who also works as the athletic department’s transportation director, was undaunted by the slow start. He is more concerned with being ready for Atlantic East Conference play, which begins this month. “The expectations we set for ourselves are very high,” he said. “The people from the outside don’t give us too much of a shot this year, we’re gonna continue to show up, do what we have to do and then we’ll surprise some people come January.” However it turns out, LaBelle knows he has been given the chance to show what he can do as a head coach. He hopes to remove the interim tag but, whatever happens, he appreciates the experience he is getting at a young age. “You get to make all the decisions now, everything falls on you,” he said. “It’s been really cool, I’ve been enjoying the challenge. Taking over one game into the season adds a little craziness to that. I’m gonna make mistakes, I’m gonna have to learn from them just like the players are as well. I have to learn not to get too high and too low on myself. Show up every day, put the work in and trust that these guys are gonna do the same.”

Wills & Power of Attorney

Thursday, January 11th, 10:30 - 11:30 AM Presented by Jose D. Roman, Esq., Health and Elder Law Senior Staff Attorney, The Mercer County Legal Services Project for the Elderly

FREE 15-Minutes with an Attorney Thursday, January 18th, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM

The Public Education Committee of the Mercer County Bar Association and the Mercer County Executive present!

LAWYERS C.A.R.E*

FREE 15-minute consultation with an Attorney (virtually) All Lawyers C.A.R.E meetings will take place virtually. Advanced registration is required. For more information please call (609) 585-6200 or visit website: www.mercerbar.com

Please call 609-890-9800 to make an appointment

Mercer County Connection Notary Public Recycling Buckets Passport Processing

Vote by Mail info Living Will Kits Voter

Registration

957 Highway 33 at Paxson Avenue, Hamilton

Januar y 2024 | Hamilton Post23

Nottingham basketball’s Raymond a ‘coach’s dream’ By Rich Fisher

Domenic Raymond learned to love basketball as a little kid — after it got taken away from him. “It started when I got cut at a very young age,” the Nottingham High senior forward said. “It was in the second grade and I got cut. I would see all my friends talk about how they were on the team and how they had games, and I would just sit there and say, ‘I wish I was on a team.’ After that, I had a burning in my heart and a determination. I just wanted it so bad.” He went out and got it. In a big way. Raymond is one of the key figures for a Northstars team with high aspirations this year. After transferring from Trenton Catholic Academy, Raymond averaged 12 points and eight rebounds last season while collecting 46 assists and 23 steals. He helped Nottingham to the NJSIAA Group III state championship game, and returns this year with 3-point sniper Donte Alexander and wingman Jordan Raba (injured much of last year) to give Nottingham a strong inside-outside attack. Having him don the Blue & Gold was like hitting the lottery for Stars’ coach Chris “The Baron” Raba.

“I used to always see Dom courtside at every TCA game,” Raba said. “I have Dom on film two years in a row, when we played TCA in the semifinals and finals of the Mercer County Tournament; of him sitting courtside watching. He’s just one of those kids that eat, sleep, drink basketball. He’s a gym rat. “Dom was part of one of the greatest CYO teams of all time, coached by the legend, Bob Fusik. Over a three-year period they lost one or two games and they played parishes all over the state. I was at the CYO when Dom was named MVP. I turned around to my older son (Brandon), and said, ‘Damn, I wish he was going to Nottingham!’ We had no doubt that if Dom came to Nottingham, he would be an All-County player.” Raba eventually got his wish, and his All-County prediction also came true. But if it wasn’t for Raymond’s burning desire, he would never have gotten this far. *** After being cut, he worked even harder to make the Our Lady of Sorrows CYO team in third grade. Getting help from his mom, Isabella (formerly Doyle), and dad, Sam, both McCorristin (now TCA) grads, Dom grinded it out. Isabella and her sister, Margaret Doyle, played on state championship teams for the Iron Mikes

St. George Preschool

Enroll now for the 2024-2025 school year Classes for 3 year olds and 4 year olds Potty trained Full- 1/2 day, early morning drop oﬀ, late pick up schedules available Competitive tuition rates - secure environment indoor gym - outdoor playground - qualiﬁed educators

“Building a foundation for a lifetime love of learning” St. George Greek Orthodox Church 1200 Klockner Road, Hamilton, NJ 08619 www.stgeorgepreschool.org

Excellence in Early Education Angela Gering Director

24Hamilton Post | Januar y 2024

Call for more information: (609)586-ABCD (2223)

(Sam played baseball). “My mom helped me a lot,” he said. “She helped me wake up before school. I’d go to the YMCA, she’d help me shoot at a young age. I had a feeling I would make the team in third grade. Other kids weren’t doing what I was doing.” In sixth grade Raymond transferred to TCA and enjoyed playing for the aforementioned powerhouse, coached by Fusik. “He’s one of the best in the state,” Raymond said. “He taught me how to use my left hand. He had AAU games at Incarnation, and I played on his travel team. I was with him a lot.” Dom was on the high school JV team as a freshman and played sparingly his sophomore year, collecting 42 points and 32 rebounds in 21 games. Despite his limited time, Raba knew about Raymond’s potential, but figured he would only just see it from afar. “Dom always went to Catholic school and his whole family was really invested in McCorristin and TCA,” the Baron said. “So I knew when he was little that we had no chance of him coming to Nottingham even though he lives right around the block from the school.” But Raymond’s disillusionment with the coaching staff, coupled with the threat of TCA closing down, caused him to rethink things. He transferred to Nottingham along with the since-graduated JP Dickerson. “I knew Raba, I used to go play against Jordan at the CYO in Trenton,” Dom said. “I used to see Coach Raba all the time, just say ‘Hi, how ya doing.’ I love coach Raba. I wanted to play for him. I just had to adjust (to new teammates) for maybe like a week or two. They accepted me with open arms. I was grateful for all of them.” Raba was impressed with Raymond’s willingness to fit in and do whatever was asked of him; rather than trying to do whatever he wanted. “The most difficult thing for transfers to do as part of a new team is sacrifice,” the coach said. “It’s very easy for transfers to come in and be selfish. That’s typically the norm. That was a huge reason why Dom seamlessly fit right into our program and culture. He has that winning DNA, and that means more to him than individual stats and accolades. Dom hates to lose!” Raymond made an immediate impression with his relentlessness underneath providing numerous putback buckets and defensive boards. Unfortunately, he was less than half-speed for the state semifinal win over Moorestown and state final loss to Ramapo.

“It was terrible,” he said. “I had to go get needles in my legs. I needed acupuncture just so I could even walk. I couldn’t even bend my knee in the car. I couldn’t run. My thighs were like cement. “I think it (held me back), but that’s in the past. I’m worried about right now. It’s gonna be a great year.” Over the summer, Raymond focused on improving his all-around game, knowing that at his size he will likely be a perimeter player in college. He worked with former TCA standout and current Harlem Globetrotter La’Keisha Sutton on dribbling “and all the fullcourt stuff,” and worked with Camden High assistant Maurice Clarke on his shooting and ball handling. “It’s perimeter stuff,” he said. “I’m trying to become more of a guard.” And while that bodes well for his future, Raymond will still be depended on for inside work this season. “Dom’s role really isn’t going to change much this year,” Raba said. “We are expecting him to average a double double. He is going to be more boisterous on the court, in the locker room. He knows that we need his energy to get us going. We expect him to dominate.” At 6-3, Raymond gives away inches to opponents fairly regularly; but has found ways to work around that. “It doesn’t matter how big they are, if you’ve got a bigger heart you can do anything you want,” he said. “It also starts with your footwork. I got a coach, Dianne Tomosi, she’s helped me tremendously with my footwork. It’s all about moving, knowing how your defender moves and reacts.” It’s part of a work ethic that is second to none. “I put in seven hours a day,” he said. “I’m being for real. I’m ready.” Raymond cherishes every minute he can get on the court and knows to never get carried away with himself. “You always gotta stay humble,” he said. In his mind, being humble means working nonstop — even when he’s not allowed. “Most of the time we have to kick him out after practice, or he gets caught sneaking into the gym by our athletic director or custodians,” Raba said with a laugh. “He just can’t get enough. What makes Dom a tenacious competitor is he has a strong will to succeed. He understands that success starts with hard work. You can’t persevere in anything unless you put in hours of work a day. “No one puts in more time than Dom. He will lift with our team. If he misses, he

SCARPATI’S FAMILY OWNED OVER 40 YEARS

WE BUY SCRAP IRON & METALS ALUMINUM • BRASS • COPPER • CAST IRON APPLIANCES • HEAVY IRON • LITE IRON DUMPSTER SERVICE

AUTO SALVAGE We Buy Junk Cars & Trucks!

NEW & USED AUTO PARTS ALL MAKES AND MODELS Domenic Reymond takes aim on a free throw for Nottingham High School basketball last season against Hightstown. (Photo by Wes Kirkpatrick.) will lift with the football team. There’s no secret why Dom is successful. He doesn’t take for granted his success. He understands the hard work that is needed to become a good basketball player.” He also realizes the same thing is required in the classroom, which is why Dom proudly sports a 4.0 grade point average and is a member of the National Honor Society. “I approach my schoolwork and my game the exact same way,” he said. “If you want something in life you gotta go for it. You can’t just half stuff. I’ve made the honor roll every year. I made the National Honor Society at TCA and now at Nottingham.” He is looking for his team to be honored as a repeat sectional champion along with possibly winning county and state

titles. “Reaching the finals last year helped us a lot,” he said. “Coming into this year our experience is gonna help some of the other kids that didn’t experience it. We’ll keep building off of that. I think we’re gonna do really good this year. We all gotta stay connected and follow what coach Raba and coach Anth (Anthony “Jelly Bean” Alston) want for us.” Everyone wants the same thing — to be the best. Should that happen, Raymond will be a big piece of the puzzle. “He is a coach’s dream, and a great teammate,” Raba said. “He holds everyone accountable in our program.” Including himself, which is something he has done ever since a coach incorrectly deemed him unworthy in second grade.

FELTUS

RECYCLING IS OUR BUSINESS!

609-396-7040 1300-1350 NEW YORK AVE., TRENTON, NJ LICENSED-INSURED-DEP APPROVED-DEP #SW2108 7:30AM-4:30PM MONDAY-FRIDAY • 7:30AM-12:30PM SATURDAY

Are you looking for something to do during the day? Would you like to have the flexibility to work your own hours? Do you have a good driving record and are friendly? Haldeman Ford Subaru Hamilton is offering our Guests Pick up and Delivery service for their vehicles locally. Haldeman Ford Hamilton is looking for some people with good driving records to staff our pickup and delivery service at the Dealership.

INSURANCE SERVICES BETH FELTUS EMPLOYEE BENEFITS SPECIALIST Specializing in Small Businesses of 2 - 50 Employees (609) 393-1556 O. (609) 233-4113 C. (609) 498 7900 F. Email Beth@BethFeltus.com www.bethfeltus.com

609-586-7600

Please contact Zak G at the Dealership for an interview Januar y 2024 | Hamilton Post25

THE HAMILTON PARTNERSHIP

NEWS TO

ANNOUCES NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

KNOW

ShopHAMILTON Small, Shop Local, Shop Hamilton. THE PARTNERSHIP

ANNOUCES NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE As you shop this summer please remember BOARD AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR to support our local small businesses and our neighbors and friends who own them. Visit our websites Hamilton-Strong.com and ShopHamiltonNJ.com

Jeannine Cimino Board Chairman

Rachel Holland Executive Director

The Hamilton Partnership is proud to announce Jeannine Cimino, as newly elected Chaiman of the Board and Rachel Holland as the newly appointed Executive Director.

Jeannine Cimino Rachel Holland Since 1993, The Hamilton Partnership has worked Board Chairman Executive Director with community business leaders, government

officials, and private decision-makers to deliver services and employment opportunities that are essential to The Hamilton Partnership is proud to announce Hamilton success. JeannineTownship’s Cimino, as continued newly elected Chaiman of the Board and Rachel Holland as the newly appointed Congratulations Executive Director. to Jeannine and Rachel, the first females to serve in each of their roles!

Since 1993, The Hamilton Partnership has worked THE HAMILTONbusiness PARTNERSHIP with community leaders,EXECUTIVE governmentBOARD Jeannine decision-makers Cimino, Chair, William Penn Bank services officials, and private to deliver Source: Unkown Rachel Holland, Executive Director and employment opportunities that are essential to Gregory Blair (Emeritus), Nottingham Insurance Co. @thehamiltonpartnership @Hamiltonnjstrong Hamilton Township’s continued success. Hon. Jeff Martin, Mayor, Hamilton Township Lee#HamiltonNJStrong Boss, The Mercadien Group Gerard Fennelly, NAIand Fennelly Congratulations to Jeannine Rachel, the first Richard Freeman, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Hamilton Since 1993, The Hamilton Partnership has worked females to serve inFrank eachLucchesi, of their roles! with community PSE&G

business leaders, government officials, and private decision-makers to Patrick M. Ryan, First Bank deliver services and employment opportunities that are essential to Tom Troy, Sharbell Development Corp. THE HAMILTON PARTNERSHIP Hamilton Township’s continued success. EXECUTIVE BOARD Jeannine Cimino, Chair, William Penn Bank Rachel Holland, Executive Director FOR MORE INFORMATION ONCo. TO: Gregory Blair (Emeritus), NottinghamLOG Insurance Hon. Jeff Martin, Mayor, Hamilton Township Lee Boss, The Mercadien Group Gerard Fennelly, NAI Fennelly 26Hamilton Post | Januar y 2024 Richard Freeman, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Hamilton

WWW.THEHAMILTONPARTNERSHIP.COM

12 questions with illustrator Catherine Epps to digital to lower the strain on my wrist. However, I don’t see this as a bad thing, FIGHT IN THE MUSEUM as I’ve completely fallen in love with using my iPad for all my art. The ‘undo’ button really sells it. Catherine Epps, a recent graduate from Where do you get your ideas/subMoore College of Art and Design in Phila- ject matter from? delphia, is an illustration artist storming Every original piece of art I make, I her way into the two billion dollar comic like to tell some sort of story. Whether book market. it’s a comic that makes people laugh, or The 2019 Steinert High concept art that deals with grad sees the world differworld building. So, it makes ently and shares her stories sense that I am inspired via her illustrations and stofrom many of the stories rylines. She does freelance I encounter in the media illustration work, and will I consume. Specific ones soon publish her own comic include Calvin and Hobbes, book series. Studio Ghibli Movies, and When did you begin in most of the Cartoon Netthe arts? Were you always work shows. drawing? How long is the illusMy mother tells me that tration process from idea as a toddler, I often preto final approval? Epps ferred painting in my high My iPad conveniently chair rather than eating in it. keeps track of the hours I Unfortunately, as I got older, spend on each piece. It usuI had to often take breaks for less impor- ally ranges from 5 to 20 hours to render tant things, such as going to school. an illustration. However, this number What was the most important les- doesn’t track how long a certain idea son you learned in art school? has been bouncing around my head for, To sum it up simply, with all projects- which can be from weeks to years. I also start broadly, then work your way down physically can’t do it all in one go (believe to the details. Before coloring, make sure me, I’ve tried), so one illustration will your values work. Before outlining, do take about one to three months for me to a sketch. Place basic shapes across the complete. page before starting any details. Who are some of your artistic inspiI had a habit growing up of rush- rations or influences? ing through my art as fast as I could. I find myself inspired by a variety of It yielded good results up to a point; sources. The many variations in animabecause I never planned anything out, I tion styles are particularly hopeful, in the had no way of fixing basic mistakes. Forc- sense that both new styles and creators ing myself to slow down helped me take the time to plan ahead, and anticipate these problems. What did art school not prepare you for? The business side to being a freelance artist, mostly the money part, and how to think like a small business. The only reason I am aware of how to work my finances is because I sought out advice from my professors, friends, and partner (who is infinitely more patient with numbers, charts and finances then I am). Which media do you work in for your illustrations? All of my work is currently digital. I used to experiment with many traditional mediums, but due to a hand injury in high school, I had to switch completely Illustration by Catherine Epps.

Thomas Kelly

RYANS COMMERCIAL We take the stress out of your everyday maintenance MAINTENANCE

We take the stress out of your everyday maintenance

We take the stress out of your everyday maintenance • Lamp Replacement • Masonry Repair • Painting & Wall Repair • Fire Inspection Remediation • Ceiling Tile Work • Leaks, Drips & • Exterior Sealing Clogs • Fencing Repairs • Windows, Doors, • Pressure Washing & Hinges & Locks Chemical Cleaning

• Drafts & Noise

Family Owned • Insured ONE CALL Registered • BondedREPAIRS IT ALL • Light Welding

• Floor Stripping, ONE CALL REPAIRS IT ALL

NJ# 13VH08647400 Free Estimates Waxing & Buﬃng • And Much More... PA# 125477 Bill Ryan, Owner & Jill Ryan, General Manager

Free Estimates

Pages from Catherine Epps’ forthcoming comic book.

ONEBillCALL REPAIRS ITManager ALL Ryan, Owner & Jill Ryan, General FREE ESTIMATES Work Weekends &

are flourishing. What is on the horizon? What are The age of the internet means I also am you looking forward to? Bill Ryan, Owner &Hours Jill Ryan, General Manager shown a variety of independent artists on Right now, the future is full of infinite After Business my feed, whose styles have often influ- possibilities. In the short term, I would Family Owned Insured Registered Convenient Service Options Work Weekends & NJ# 13VH08647400 PA# 125477 enced me. like to build up my commission client With Our Installed Lockboxes After Business Hours How did you decide to work on base enough that I can make it a full time Family Owned Insured Registered children’s books and comic books? job. Long term, however, I’m not sure Works Weekends & NJ# 13VH08647400 PA# 125477 My art has always been sequential in where I’ll end up. The only thing I know After Business hours 609-570-5319 nature. During college, I found that this is I want to keep creating pictures and stolent itself very handily to being paired ries for people to enjoy. with text on a page. The natural next Web: doodlecatcreations.artstation. step was to pursue children’s books and com. Instagram: @doodlecatcreations. comic books, both of which I have highly Email: doodlecatcreations@gmail.com. enjoyed creating manuscripts for. What fight/struggle do you have Thomas Kelly is a Hamilton-based regarding your art? Right now, my main resource that I artist and a member of the Hamilton am lacking is time. Ever since getting a Arts Council. His work can be found at Estate Planning part time ‘not art’ job to pay rent, I have thomaskellyart.com. ■ Wills, Living Wills, POA, Codicil less time to work on my creative things. HOMETOWN AGENT I struggle with knowing when the right YOUR YOUR HOMETOWN AGENT YOUR HOMETOWN HOMETOWN AGENT AGENT ■ Mental Health Power of Attorney time will be to “jump ship,” and when YOUR YOUR HOMETOWN HOMETOWN AGENT AGENT YOUR YOUR HOMETOWN AGENT it will be financially worth it to wholly ■ Deed Transfers devote my time to creating art. Is it challenging to illustrate an All Municipal Matters entire book, to make the images be continuous and cohesive? ■ Criminal and Traffic Absolutely. It may sound surprising, making my comic book was a much Insurance ■ License Restoration Insurance Counselor Insurance Counselor Counselor Insurance Counselor Insurance Counselor harder task than creating all of my realisInsurance Counselor Insurance ■ Expungements Insurance Counselor Insurance Counselor Counselor tic portraits and paintings. This was simply because there was much more I had to think about: a plot, character personality, setting, and of course, continuity. 1260 Route South 1260 Route 33 South 1260 Route33 33 South What is a dream project of yours? Hamilton, 1260 Route 33 South 1260 Route 33 South Hamilton, New Jersey Hamilton, NJ 08690 NJ 08690 1260 Route 33 South Hamilton, NJ 08690 1260 Route 33 South Route 33 South Last year I finished writing what I con- 1260 1260 Route 33 South Hamilton, NJ 08690 Hamilton, NJ 08690 Ph: (609) 631-4286 Ph:Hamilton, (609) Hamilton, NJ08690 08690 Ph: (609)631-4286 631-4286 NJ sider to be the first volume in a comic Hamilton, NJ 08690 Hamilton, NJ 08690 meganseiber@optonline.net Ph: (609) 631-4286 (609) 337-2366 Ph:Cell: (609) 631-4286 Cell: (609) 337-2366 Ph: (609) 631-4286 Cell: (609) 337-2366 series called “Lil and Friends Die for Ph:Ph: (609) 631-4286 (609) 631-4286 Ph: (609) 631-4286 Cell: (609) 337-2366 Cell: (609) 337-2366 Cell:(609) (609)337-2366 337-2366 www. meganseiberlaw.com Real.” It would be a dream to find a pub- Cell: Cell: jwoloszyn@aaamidatlantic.com (609) 337-2366 Cell: (609) 337-2366 jwoloszyn@aaamidatlantic.com jwoloszyn@aaamidatlantic.com lisher for it, or be paid to keep working on jwoloszyn@aaamidatlantic.com jwoloszyn@aaamidatlantic.com (609) 631-9012 Telephone jwoloszyn@aaamidatlantic.com it. I’m currently looking into finding a way http://midatlantic.aaa.com/ jwoloszyn@aaamidatlantic.com http://midatlantic.aaa.com/ jwoloszyn@aaamidatlantic.com jwoloszyn@aaamidatlantic.com http://midatlantic.aaa.com/ Agent/jenniferwoloszyn to finance this. http://midatlantic.aaa.com/ (609) 631-9109 Facsimile Agent/jenniferwoloszyn Agent/jenniferwoloszyn http://midatlantic.aaa.com/

MEGAN S. SEIBER, ESQ. ATTORNEY AT LAW

YOUR HOMETOWN AGENT YOUR HOMETOWN AGENT

Jennifer Jennifer Jennifer Jennifer Jennifer Jennifer Jennifer Jennifer Woloszyn Jennifer Woloszyn Woloszyn Woloszyn Woloszyn Woloszyn Woloszyn Woloszyn Woloszyn

http://midatlantic.aaa.com/ http://midatlantic.aaa.com/ Agent/jenniferwoloszyn http://midatlantic.aaa.com/ http://midatlantic.aaa.com/ Agent/jenniferwoloszyn Agent/jenniferwoloszyn Agent/jenniferwoloszyn Agent/jenniferwoloszyn Agent/jenniferwoloszyn

Januar y 2024 | Hamilton Post27

An ode to the great planners Peter Dabbene COMPLEX SIMPLICITY

Military strategists, chess grandmasters, and urban designers are all known for their planning skills, but this column is not about great figures in those fields. It’s about the personal planner, those little (or not so little) journals that include a calendar but also lots of other goodies. Not so long ago, a person might find himself gifted with several planners at year end, from employers, colleagues, family, and friends. With the advent of the smartphone, it’s become less crucial to jot reminders for upcoming appointments on paper. But apparently there’s a bit of a resurgence for printed planners; some people, even among those who grew up in the 21st century, find writing notes and reminders in a journal a more satisfying organizational experience than just posting a reminder on a smartphone calendar. I don’t consider myself a particularly organized person, and I’ve dedicated way more brainpower than necessary trying (not always successfully) to remember

important dates and appointments, instead of just writing them somewhere readily accessible, like a planner. Every year, I’d receive the blank books, their pages waiting to be filled with social engagements, doctor’s appointments, birthday reminders, family gatherings. And much like the average gym membership, my usage would peak in January, then quickly drop off. The journal would lie neglected until next year’s crop replaced it, and the cycle would begin again. The traditional use of planners—that is, planning—never appealed to me, but another aspect of them did. For a person like myself, an info junkie who enjoyed browsing encyclopedias as a kid, the allure of random facts is undeniable. And planners tend to be filled with all kinds of—you guessed it—random facts. I’m also fascinated by the variations among one planner and another, as one manufacturer might deem certain items invaluable, while another omits them entirely, in favor of other information. I’ve saved a few editions that illustrate these points while also serving as models of excellence among their peers. For instance, the inside cover of

the 2007 Music in Motion (Promoting Deaf Awareness with Music & Sign Language) planner includes a spot for Special Emergency Instructions, with blank spaces to fill in one’s blood type and allergies. This could be a life-saving feature, but strangely, it’s not a common one; other planners find alternative uses for that space, like recording your annual goals, but you can’t aspire to your highest goals if you’re dead. This pocket-sized planner offers the required space for daily entries, identifying each not just by the date and day of the week, but by the day of the year—critical for impressing the boss with greetings like “How are you, this fine 181st day of the year?” There are conversion tables for every kind of measurement, whether distance, temperature, or weight; a cursory page to enter addresses, like a palate cleanser before the main course; then, finally, the colorful eye-catcher of most daily planners, the maps. In this case, maps were restricted to the U.S.A. and Canada, showing cities and highways, area codes and time zones. The most uncommon element of this planner isn’t surprising, given its sponsor—a bookmark-sized

insert showing how to sign the letters of the ASL Manual Alphabet. The nicest planner I’ve ever owned was a 2010 American Express Appointment Book, an approximately 8-by-10-inch faux leatherbound hardcover volume, with a satin ribbon marker. This book aims to one-up other planners, and not just in appearance: for example, it includes a list of holidays, but while other journals might mark the Gregorian (standard American) calendar date of the Chinese New Year, this book further reveals the Chinese calendar year (4708) and Chinese zodiac year (Tiger). Since the target audience is made up of wealthy, sophisticated international travelers, there’s also an extended list of more obscure international holidays, because it would be utterly mortifying to be the one hotel guest in Acapulco who’s unaware of Benito Juárez’ birthday. The global emphasis extends to maps that detail the entire world— including Antarctica. There are charts galore, showing the air distance between any two major international cities, monthly precipitation and daily average temperature for selected cities, and international currencies

FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED • SERVING THE COMMUNITY FOR 25 YEARS Open Mon thru Fri 8am to 6pm. Closed Sat and Sun.

EXPERT AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR N.J. STATE INSPECTION CENTER

WHY SHOULD YOU DO BUSINESS WITH SUPERIOR AUTOMOTIVE? • 25 years in business • BBB A+ Rating • Napa Auto care Center • ASE certified technicians • Shuttle service • Competitive pricing/Price matching • Quick Turn around time • Over 100 years combined experience • Comfortable waiting area with large screen tv • Cable tv and coffee area with free Wifi • Financing available for any repairs over $199

Oil Change

10 OFF

Synthetic or synthetic blend oil change With this coupon. Must be presented at time of service write-up. One oﬀer per vechile. Not valid with other oﬀers.

Step Into Savings

10% OFF

Brake Pad & Rotor Service

$25 OFF

Front or Rear. Using top quality name brand parts. Includes: brake inspection, road test vehicle, inspect complete break system, measure DSC motor thickness

Labor

Up to $50 With this coupon. Must be presented at time of service write-up. One oﬀer per vechile. Not valid with other oﬀers.

With this coupon. Must be presented at time of service write-up. One oﬀer per vechile. Not valid with other oﬀers.

1137 Route 130 Robbinsville, NJ | 609-208-0111 | www.SuperiorAutomotiveNJ.com 28Hamilton Post | Januar y 2024

with approximate exchange rates. Also included are an international tipping guide, a complete list of U.S. area codes and International Dialing Codes, and a Directory of U.S. Embassies and Consulates, critical if you should spark an international incident, perhaps by downplaying the historical importance of Benito Juárez. There’s also a perpetual calendar, in case you’re really planning ahead and want to know what day your hundredth birthday will fall on (mine’s a Tuesday), or want to make sure you don’t miss Benito Juárez’s birthday ever again. The Fessenden Hall Incorporated 2018 Planner is a special one—a “Contractor’s Planner.” Aside from the standard daily entry features, an extensive front section compares the average weights of materials per square foot: “Coal, piled anthracite” versus “coal, piled bituminous,” for example (anthracite is heavier, in case you were wondering). Also included are standard gauges of steel, insulation R-values, a guide to different wood species, a guide to wire sizes and types, and a guide to standard nails. And where else would you come across the estimated daily frequency of operation for the door of a school toilet (1,250)? Much of this information seems more suited to quiet research and planning at an architect’s drafting table

instead of quick glances at a loud, hectic construction site. But if you’re a contractor who likes to be spontaneous and remodel “on the fly,” this portable planner could be quite a timesaver, not to mention a lawsuit-avoider. The book also contains a blank chart to record investments, ideal for the contractor who’s using the time he saves at work to day-trade stocks. In contrast to the American Express Planner’s focus on international air travel, Fessenden Hall’s mileage chart gives driving distances between U.S. cities. Don’t worry, though, there’s still a list of time zones and calling codes, in case that contracting job in Beach Haven turns out to be in the town in New Zealand, and not the Jersey shore. Fessenden Hall’s “Special Information” page is an all-purpose tool, a Swiss Army Knife of vital information for a busy contractor: a list of birthstones and flowers for each month, plus suggested wedding anniversary gifts for specific years of marriage. Did you know, for example, that the 4th anniversary gift is an electrical appliance? Not only can this page provide inspiration for lastminute gifts, it also constitutes proof that the gift wasn’t strictly your idea. An accompanying list of Presidents of the United States is tailor-made for trivia

nights at the local bar, where you’ll be spending lots of time after buying your spouse an electrical appliance and then blaming a book for it. Hamilton Township schools put together a nice planner for students every year, full of punctuation tips, math and science formulas, and a list of requirements for graduation. I’d imagine that specialized planners must exist for nearly every profession—one for psychics, with horoscopes and astrology charts; one for translators and diplomats, with important phrases in different languages, like “Where is the bathroom?” and “It’s okay, I have diplomatic immunity.” Today, several online print shops allow you to design your own unique planner by adding or modifying different pre-set modules. You can add staff paper to write music, graph paper to track activity, or illustrations to color when you’re bored. Or substitute a cleaning schedule, an illustrated travel landmark checklist, a budget worksheet, and Sudoku. I know I’d end up with a massive, Frankenstein’s monster of a planner— knowing the option was available, how could I not modify my daily calendar to include essentials like “phases of the moon,” for example? I’d also include a few go-to recipes, visual guides to hand-to-hand combat and first aid, some

favorite quotations, and as a sure-fire conversation starter, a list of the top 20 all-time home run leaders in Major League Baseball. Carrying a Swiss Army Knife makes one feel prepared for any situation; it provides a sense of comfort (unless you actually bring it to an airport check-in line, in which case the TSA will make you feel very uncomfortable). In much the same way, a good planner offers the same illusion of preparedness, even if you don’t plan to suddenly board a plane to a random country and leave your smartphone behind. You may be wondering, though—why the interest in planners if the primary appeal isn’t planning, but rather a handy and accessible collection of vaguely useful general knowledge? Why not seek out a good pocket-sized travel almanac, or even a trivia book, instead? Days slip past and for some reason I keep forgetting, but the simple truth is: I plan to. Peter Dabbene’s website is www. peterdabbene.com, and his previous Hamilton Post columns can be read at www.communitynews.org. His graphic novel biography George Washington: The Father of a Nation is now available through Amazon.com for $20 (print) or $10 (ebook).

“ give it your all ” 2330 Route 33, Suite 101, Robbinsville, NJ 08691 • Office: 609-259-1414 375 Farnsworth Ave., Bordentown NJ 08505 • Office: 609-298-9888 smiresandassociates.com HAMILTON $439,000

Natalie Smires, SA Edward Smires, BROKER Cell: 609-477-3168 Cell: 609-638-2904 3 bed 2 bath colonial, covered front porch, graciously sized rooms, back deck, large country kitchen, meticulously maintained, detached 3+ car garage, and large yard with a possibility for subdivision.

HAMILTON UNDER CONTRACT HAMILTON $349,000

Joseph Perilli, SA William “Bill” Perilli, SA Cell: 609-947-2435 Cell: 609-635-7370 3 bed ranch in Langtree Development. Updated Kitchen, Family Room with gas stove and Full Basement. Heated pool, hot tub and covered patio in yard. Full Basement.

Januar y 2024 | Hamilton Post29

workers here and across America. To share your thanks or to support our Emergency Response Fund,

Medical and surgical weight loss offers a healthy way to slim down visit rwjbh.org/heroes

And please, for them, stay home and safe.

support group resources and nutritional and an exercise program designed specifically for Weight Loss participants. counseling, exercise specialists and support staff to provide a full continuum If they meet the medical and of services and counseling. psychological criteria, some patients Losing weight is not choose weight loss Seesurgery, our adsorinbariatric easy, but the team at the SIX09 section Center for Weight Loss surgery. This is a highly pgseffective 5 and 7weight loss option at RWJUH Hamilton will Dr. Ragui Sadek is chief of bariatric help you succeed. At every that involves reducing the and metabolic surgery service line at step in your journey, you size of the stomach. RobertRWJ-104 Wood Johnson Barnabas health will feel supported and in A patient will feel Heroes Work Here_4.313x11.25_HAM.indd 1 4/17/20 full 1:21 PM system. control. sooner, eat less, and with How does being over weight affect the help of other lifestyle Start your weight our health? loss journey today. Call changes, reduce their More than 40 percent of American our Bariatric Program weight. Sleeve Gastrectomy adults are obese, according to Coordinator at 609-249and Gastric Bypass are the National Health and Nutrition 7510, or visit rwjbh.org/ just two of the potential Dr. Sadek Examination Survey. People with a body surgical options available. weightloss. Instagrammass index (BMI)—a weight-height RWJUH_Hamilton. Your surgeon will help you ratio—over 40 live 10 fewer years than choose the best option for you. Coming up this month at those who have a lower BMI. How do patients maintain their RWJU Hospital Hamilton Obesity can lead to sleep problems, weight-loss success? For more information, call (609) heart disease, diabetes and uterine, Whether or not to have weight-loss esophageal and colorectal cancers. surgery is an important life decision. To 584-5900. To register for a program or for schedule changes go to rwjbh.org/ Being overweight also increases the help you decide if bariatric surgery is events. risk of dying from COVID-19 and the right choice for you, Robert Wood makes it more difficult to recover from Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Thursday, January 4 respiratory infections like pneumonia. Hamilton offers individualized guidance Kids in the Kitchen-Frosted Wonderland. 5-6 p.m. Healthy eating starts early! EmWhat medical weight loss options from physicians, surgeons, Bariatric power kids with culinary skills and nutriare available to help patients live Program coordinator and other team tion knowledge to become their healthihealthier, longer lives? members. est selves! For children 5 years and older. The Medical Weight Loss Program In addition, support group meetings, All children must be accompanied by an adult. Fee: $5 per person. Taryn Kriis a supportive and comprehensive dietary/nutritional classes and etzman, RDN. program for patients seeking a noneducational seminars to help you gather surgical approach to weight loss or additional information and insight. MONDAY, January 8 who do not meet the requirements for After surgery or along your nonSweet Success Society: A Diabetes Group. surgery. surgical weight loss journey, our 5:30 -6:30 p.m. Also Monday, Feb. 5, 1–2 p.m. A group for anyone with diabetes This strategy may include: FDAphysicians and counselors help you or caring for one of the 37 million Ameriapproved weight loss medication; identify and establish the lifestyle cans living with diabetes. Learn and discoordination with a behavior specialist; changes they need to make your weight cuss healthy ways to manage diabetes coordination with a dietitian for loss surgery a continuing success. alongside peers and Taryn Krietzman, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. Emcustomized diet and menu planning; RWJUH Hamilton also offers ongoing

Ask The Doctor

Free Initial Consult

ORTHODONTICS MARK R. GRECO, DMD 1777 Klockner Road Mercerville, NJ 08619

2022

Member

www.grecoortho.com • (609) 586-2865 NJ Specialty Lic. #3447

30Hamilton Post | Januar y 2024

WEDNESDAY, January 10

Dizziness? Vertigo? – Understanding Why Many Adults Develop Dizziness. 10–11 a.m. Dizziness and imbalance are amongst the most common complaints in older people, and are a growing public health concern as it puts you at a higher risk of falling. Although the causes of dizziness in older people are multifactorial, peripheral vestibular dysfunction is one of the most frequent causes. Join Audiologist, Dr. Lorraine Sgarlato, Au.D.to understand more about the causes and treatments of dizziness.

MONDAY, January 15

Take Home Colorectal Screen. 10 – 11 a.m. Learn about ways to keep your colon healthy and possibly prevent colorectal cancer. You will be given a test to do at home and mail back. What’s Eating You? 11 a.m.–Noon. Support group for people experiencing emotional eating. Peer support is key. We offer a safe space to connect with others who are going through similar experiences.

Tuesday, January 23

Creating Habits That Stick-A Journey To Self-Love. 6-7:30 p.m. Do you find yourself on a never-ending rat race always seeking the NEXT ‘thing’ believing that once you GET ‘it’, you’ll finally be happy? Join Erin Bogdan, trauma-informed authenticity & confidence coach, for an interactive & engaging workshop to learn how to pour into you so that you can create a life of alignment, purpose, & impact. In this session, you will: Bring awareness to the barriers that stop you from showing up for yourself. Learn the step-by-step process to create habits & routines that stick. Create habits & routines that support your authentic goals to build deeper levels of alignment. Generate commitment to take action that moves you boldly in the direction of your dreams, desires, & goals.

DON’T LET THE STATE TAKE YOUR ESTATE

Kathleen Scott Chasar, Esq.

Elder and Family Law Asset Protection

Practice specializes in Orthodontics ◊ Invisalign Traditional Braces ◊ Clear Braces Dentofacial Orthopedics Most Insurances Accepted

power yourself and others towards a healthy lifestyle and success in diabetes self-management.

- Wills - Living Wills - Trusts - Power of Attorney - Probate - Real Estate Closing - Divorce (609) 882-2200 • 903 Parkway Avenue • Ewing, NJ 08618 Kschasar.law@gmail.com

Jan: 2, 16, 30 Jul: 2, 16, 30 Jan: 6, 15, 29 Jul: 1, 15, 29 Jan: 9, 23 Jul: 9, 23 Aug: 13, 27 Feb: 12, 26 Aug: 12, 26 Feb: 6, 20 Aug: 6, 20 Feb: 13, 27 Sep: 10, 24 Mar: 12, 26 Sep: 7, 16, 30 Mar: 11, 25 Sep: 9, 23 Sep: 3, 17 Mar: 5, 19 Apr: 9, 23 Oct: 8, 22 Oct: 7, 21 Apr: 2, 16, 30 Oct: 1, 15, 29 Apr: 8, 22 Apr: 1, 15, 29 Oct: 14, 28 Nov: 5, 19 May: 14,28 May: 6, 20 Nov: 4, 18 May: 13 Nov: 12, 26 May: 7, 21 Nov: 11, 25 Dec: 3, 17, 31 Dec: 2, 16, 30 Jun: 11, 25 Jun: 3, 17 Jun: 1, 10, 24 Dec: 9, 23 Dec: 10, 24 Jun: 4, 18

Jan: 8, 22 Feb: 5, 19 Mar: 4, 18

Jul: 8, 22 Aug: 5, 19

Jan: 3, 17, 31 Feb: 14,28 Mar: 13, 27

Jul: 3, 17, 31 Aug: 14, 28

Apr: 10, 24 May: 8, 22 Jun: 5, 19,

Sep: 11, 25 Oct: 9, 23 Nov: 6, 20 Dec: 4, 18

Jan: 11, 25 Jul: 11, 25 Jan: 4, 18 Jan: 10, 24 Jul: 6, 18 Jul: 10, 24 Aug: 8, 22 Feb: 1, 15, 29 Aug: 1, 15, 29 Feb: 8, 22 Feb: 7, 21 Aug: 7, 21 Sep: 5, 19 Mar: 7, 21 Sep: 4, 18 Mar: 14, 28 Sep: 12, 26 Mar: 6, 20 Apr: 4, 18 Oct: 3, 17, 31 Oct: 2, 16, 30 Apr: 11, 25 Apr: 3, 17 Oct: 10, 24 May: 2, 16, 30 Nov: 14, 30 May: 1, 15, 29 Nov: 13, 27 May: 9, 23 Nov: 7, 21 Jun: 13, 27 Dec: 12, 26 Jun: 6, 20 Jun: 12, 26 Dec: 5, 19 Dec: 11, 28

Jan: 12, 26 Jul: 12, 26 Feb: 9, 23 Aug: 9, 23 Sep: 6, 20 Mar: 8, 22 Apr: 5, 19 Oct: 4, 18 May: 3, 17, 31 Nov: 1, 15, 29 Jun: 14, 28 Dec: 13,27

MUNICIPAL RECYCLING AND PUBLIC WORKS: Ewing / 882-3382 Hamilton / 890-3560 Hopewell Boro / 466-0168 Hopewell Twp / 537-0250 Lawrence Twp / 587-1894

Pennington Boro / 737-9440 Princeton / 688-2566 Trenton / 989-3151 West Windsor / 799-8370 Robbinsville / 259-0422

East Windsor, Hightstown, Robbinsville: Call your Recycling /Public Works Office for your recycling schedule

Mercer County Participates in MERCER COUNTY

RECYCLES

ALL Recyclables EITHER Bucket!

No more separation anxiety!

Januar y 2024 | Hamilton Post31

P(609) 538-4061

www.cunj.org

6.00 %

APY*

On balances up to $25,000 if qualifications are met.

0.01 %

APY*

On all balances, even if qualifications are not met.

Earn a really high rate, paid monthly Refunds on ATM withdrawal fees, nationwide* No monthly maintenance fees, ever No minimum balance to earn your rewards

Scan to learn more

Earn a high rate in a free account with Kasasa Cash® Checking.

*Account approval, conditions, qualifications, limits, timeframes, enrollments, and other requirements apply. A $5 deposit is required to open the account. At least 1 Direct Deposit, ACH credit, ACH payment or bill pay transaction(s) is required each monthly qualification cycle. Enrollment and agreement to receive e-statements and at least 12 PIN-based / signature-based debit card purchases are conditions of this account each qualification cycle. When your monthly Kasasa Cash account qualifications are met, daily balances up to and including $25,000 in your Kasasa Cash account earn a dividend rate of 5.98% resulting in an APY of 6.00%; and daily balances over $25,000 earn a dividend rate of 0.75% on the portion of the daily balance over $25,000, resulting in a range from 6.00% to 1.80% APY depending on the account’s daily balance. When your Kasasa Cash qualifications are not met, the dividend rate earned on the account’s entire daily balance will be 0.01% resulting in an annual percentage yield of 0.01% and ATM withdrawal fees are not refunded. You will receive reimbursements up to an aggregate total of $25 for nationwide foreign ATM withdrawal fees incurred within your Kasasa Cash account during each monthly qualification cycle when qualifications are met. A foreign ATM fee reimbursement cap of up to $4.99 per transaction applies when qualifications are met. Limit of one account per member. Terms subject to change at any time. Kasasa and Kasasa Cash are trademarks of Kasasa, Ltd., registered in the U.S.A. | “Take back banking” is a trademark of Kasasa Ltd., registered in the U.S. Federally insured by NCUA | Equal Opportunity Lender

32Hamilton Post | Januar y 2024