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tonHamilton Post

Soup kitchen keeps on cooking

BY MICHELE ALPERIN

Amy Flynn, the new chief executive officer of the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, grew up poor on a dairy farm in rural Ohio, with early memories of an absence of heat during the cold winters.

She remembers “going to bed at night and my mom stacking blanket after blanket on top of me and waking up in the morning and seeing my breath.”

But an ethic of communal sharing trumped poverty in her farming community. “Even though our family didn’t have a lot, we never had so little that we didn’t have something to give back,” Flynn recalls. “We canned all summer to have food for the winter and shared some of that food with others who had less.”

This commitment to communal sharing was exemplified for Flynn by her grandmother, “a person of service, who was always giving back to the community.”

See TASK, Page 12

BY THOMAS KELLY

Aim High. Fly. Fight. Win. This has been the U.S. Air Force motto since 2010.

One example of living this motto is Capt. Anthony P.

Carella. A native of Mercerville, Carella is a decorated Air Force pilot who recently joined the elite 89th Airlift Wing, which operates Air Force One and Two, flying the president, vice

Hamilton

Mercerville native awarded Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross

president and other important passengers.

Carella attended Our Lady of Sorrows elementary in Mercerville and graduated from Notre Dame High School in Lawrence. His mother was an Italian teacher at Notre Dame for many years, and his dad owns a power generator business.

Carella is also grandson to the family that began the Hamilton staple Carella’s Shoe Store and

later Carella’s Chocolates, both on Nottingham way.

“My dad also worked on a farm at one time. I saw that and with helping with the generator business, I appreciated the hands-on, mechanical work that was necessary to be successful,” Carella says.

Carella, 30, attended Virginia Tech after high school. His goal was to study aerospace engi-

See PILOT, Page 10

Cub Scouts set to mark 50 years in Hamilton

BY RICH FISHER

On Feb. 23 at St. Gregory the Great’s Ferrante Hall, Cub Scout Pack 91 will celebrate its 50th Anniversary, which is something that may have seemed improbable just five years ago.

When Covid-19 gripped the country, scouting appeared headed for extinction in Hamilton.

“Not on my watch!” 91 Cub Master Georgia Reed assured. Reed, who began as a Den Master in 2014 and became Pack Leader in 2017, kept the interest high by thinking outside the box. She offered her scouts such virtual activities as museum tours, craft nights and trivia games, to name a few.

“We got as creative as we possibly could,” the Crockett Middle School music teacher andband director said.

When restrictions loosened the pack made sure to get outside and participate in hikes and bike rides while following social distancing guidelines. Reed and numerous other volunteers went above and beyond to make sure the program continued in

See SCOUTS, Page 6

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Charles Bolton, 18th Air Force commander, right, with recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross, assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing, at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, Jan. 23, 2025. Mercerville native, Capt. Anthony Carella, is second from left. (U.S. Air Force

Photo by Staff Sgt. Lauren Cobin.)

RWJUH Hamilton February Healthy Living / Community Education Programs

YOUR HEART MATTERS

Tuesday, Feb. 4; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Join Connie Moceri, MSN, RN, A-GNP-C, Administrative Director, Patient CareCardiovascular Services & Healthy Lives Program, and Ann Mancuso, CNS, RN, CHFN, Heart Failure Program Coordinator, Healthy Lives Program, RWJUH Hamilton, for an engaging lecture on maintaining a strong healthy heart.

BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP

Tuesday, Feb. 4; 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Presented by The Cancer Center at RWJUH Hamilton, this support group welcomes those who have received a breast cancer diagnosis in all phases of their journey. An oncology nurse navigator and certified oncology social worker will offer participants an opportunity to share personal experiences and helpful resources. Please call 609.584.2836 to confirm attendance.

THINGS EVERY CONSUMER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HEARING LOSS

Wednesday, Feb. 5; 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

After age 60, roughly two-thirds of people experience age-related hearing loss. Join Lorraine Sgarlato, Au.D., audiologist at RWJUH Hamilton’s Balance & Hearing Center, to learn all you need to know about living with hearing loss and helping friends and family members with hearing loss.

PAPER CRAFT CLASS

Wednesday, Feb 5; 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Join us to make a creative project using paper and other materials. No craft experience needed; please bring a pair of scissors.

YOGA CLASSES

Tuesday, Feb. 4 & 18; 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

MEDITATION CLASSES

Tuesday, Feb. 4 & 18; 11:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.

CHAIR YOGA

Tuesday, Feb. 4 & 18; 12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.

HOW SOUND HEALS: THE SCIENCE OF SOUND HEALING

Tuesday, Feb. 11; 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

In this workshop we will discuss the science behind sound and vibration and show you how and why certain sounds can help you sleep better, improve your mood, improve body function, and even reduce pain! The program requires a fee of $15, payable upon registration.

THE BASICS OF MEDICARE

Wednesday, Feb. 12; 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Join a licensed insurance agent specializing in Medicare and ACA for a discussion on Medicare. Learn the different parts of Medicare, how to avoid penalties, and when to apply for Medicare benefits. Light refreshments provided.

COLORECTAL LECTURE AND TAKE-HOME KIT

Thursday, Feb. 13; 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

The incidence of colon cancer is on the rise. Learn ways to help mitigate your risk and receive a test kit to take at home and mail back.

DANCE IT OUT!

Monday, Feb. 17; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

When in doubt, dance it out! Boost your well-being through the joy of dance. Whether you are a beginner or experienced dancer, this activity will lift your spirits and reduce stress. No experience required; all ages welcome.

PREDIABETES CONNECT GROUP

Tuesday, Feb. 18; 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Diagnosed with prediabetes? This group is for you to connect with others

A SOCIAL HOUR ESPECIALLY FOR SENIORS

Wednesday, Feb. 5, 12, 19, & 26; 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Don’t miss an opportunity to participate in lifechanging conversations, listening, learning, and exploring for this time in our lives. Topics created for you by you. Every week is new and something different. Join us on all three dates, two, or even one. It’s your choice. New folks are always welcome.

HEALING ART WORKSHOP-DEFINING HOPE

Thursday, Feb 6; 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Create your own piece of art using a variety of materials to express your own personal journey with hope.

affected. Share and explore ways to improve lifestyle changes.

GYNECOLOGIC CANCER SUPPORT GROUP

Tuesday, Feb. 18; 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

This group brings individuals with gynecologic cancer the support, education, and empowerment they need to move along the path to recovery. Topics discussed include coping with the emotional impact of cancer, adjusting to changes during and after treatment, and managing concerns about recurrence. For more information or to register call 609-584-6680. This program is located at the Cancer Center at RWJUH Hamilton, 2575 Klockner Rd.

AN EVENING OF YOGA NIDRA MEDITATION

Tuesday, Feb 18; 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

This practice guides brain waves into optimal states for relaxation, rejuvenation, and better sleep. Join us and learn why 45 minutes of Yoga Nidra and feel like 3 hours of sleep! Bring a yoga mat, blankets, and anything else that makes you comfortable. Chairs also available. The program requires a fee of $15, payable upon registration.

“WII” ARE POWERED GAME TIME

Tuesday, Feb. 19; 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Join RWJ Rehabilitation, RWJUH Hamilton, for this fun hour of Wii games and learn about safe mechanics. Mastering body movement is leveling up your real-life stats. Play smart, move like a pro, and stay in the game longer!

DIABETES CARE & SELF-MANAGEMENT

BREAKFAST: FROM INPATIENT TO OUTPATIENT

Friday, Feb. 7; 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Please join our expert, Shesha Desai. Pharm D. Rph.BC-ADM, Diabetes Program Coordinator and Medication Safety Pharmacist, to learn how best to manage your diabetes and the resources available to all diabetics.

LUNCH & LEARN WITH JUSTIN FOX, MD: CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION AND CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY

Monday, Feb. 10; 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Join Justin Fox, MD, a board-certified cardiologist and interventional cardiologist, Chair of the Department of Cardiology at RWJUH Hamilton, and member of Hamilton Cardiology Associates, for an in-depth conversation on the advancements and minimally invasive techniques available to diagnose and manage cardiovascular pathology to improve heart health.

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION FOR BEGINNERS

Wednesday, Feb 19; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Learn how to help heal your body and relax your busy mind. No experience necessary.

HEART & SOUL: SLIDE INTO BETTER HEALTH

Thursday, Feb. 20; 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Join us and pump up your heart and soul for group line dancing, Zumba, refreshments, health screenings, Ask-A-Cardiologist, heart health resources, and more. Don’t miss this fun, heart-healthy evening of dance. $10 per person collected at the door.

ORTHO 101: THE SPINE

Tuesday, Feb. 25; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Join Orthopedic Program Coordinator, Denise Berdecia, MSN, RN, ONC, and Lead Physical and Occupational Therapists, Maureen Stevens, PT, DPT, and Sarah Masco, OTD, for an in-depth discussion on common spine disorders. These experts will explain preventative treatment, how to determine if surgery is right for you, and what to expect during your surgery and recovery.

STROKE SUPPORT GROUP

Tuesday, Feb.25; 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Join us for the return of the Stroke Support Group at RWJUH Hamilton, a place for survivors and caregivers to build a community. The group will share personal experiences, feelings, recovery strategies, and firsthand information on managing life after stroke. Meetings will be facilitated by two outpatient rehabilitation therapists.

GAME TIME!

Friday, Feb. 7 & 28; 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FRAUD & SCAMS TARGETING OLDER ADULTS

Thursday, Feb. 13; 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Join Sergeant Michael Rosati from the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of New Jersey as he discusses the alarming rise in fraud and scams targeting older adults and provides insights into how these deceptive tactics work. Learn strategies to help you safeguard your finances and personal information, empowering you with the knowledge needed to recognize and prevent falling victim to these fraudulent activities.

TAI CHI CLASSES

Thursday, Feb. 13 & 27; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

REIKI SHARE

Wednesday, Feb 26; 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

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

WISE WOMEN DISCUSSION GROUP: CHANGING PRIORITIES

Thursday, Feb 27; 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

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

DINNER WITH A DOCTOR: ATRIAL FIBRILLATION

Thursday, Feb. 27; 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Join Zaw Win Tun, MD, RWJUH Hamilton, member of Hamilton Cardiology Associates, and an expert in cardiac electrophysiology, to explore the complexities of Atrial Fibrillation (A Fib), one of the most common heart rhythm disorders. Learn how minimally invasive alternatives offer stroke prevention. This discussion will cover the causes and symptoms of A Fib, current treatment options, and how devices are transforming patient outcomes. Dinner will be provided.

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

NOURISH YOUR BRAIN: COOKING FOR BRAIN HEALTH

Friday, Feb. 14; 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Have some fun while learning recipes that can help fuel your brain.

LUNCH & LEARN: COMBATING HEALTH EQUITY FOR BLACK WOMEN IN THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

Friday, Feb. 21; 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

This sensitive and insightful discussion will be facilitated by Andrew Thomas, Vice President of Health Equity at RWJBarnabas Health, and Meika Neblett, MD, MS, Chief Medical Officer, Chief Quality Officer and Chief Academic Officer at Community Medical Center in Toms River, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, and will explore health care challenges with a focus on how to best improve and advocate for better health care for Black women.

Scan QR code to view, learn more & register on-line for the programs listed

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PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY

Greenwood principal honored with community service award

The Hamilton Township Municipal Office recognized Greenwood Elementary School principal, Dr. Nicole DickensSimon for her leadership and dedication with the Spirit of Community Service Award on Jan. 13 at the Faith Baptist Church on Kuser Road in Hamilton.

“Thank you to The Hamilton Township Tribute Committee for reviewing my body of work and selecting me to receive The 2025 Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Spirit of Community Service Award. I appreciate the opportunity to have served The Nottingham High School, Hamilton High West and Greenwood Elementary School communities,” said Dickens-Simon.

The Hamilton High School Jazz Band attended this event under the direction of Pete Certo. Additionally, Gino DiNatale from Steinert High School, along with Jaela Rivera and Gina Wong from Hamilton West, were awarded the 11th annual

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Scholarship Awards in recognition of their academic excellence and collaborative spirit.

“Dr. Dickens-Simon is an outstanding leader, educator, and person. She puts others before herself and consistentlly works to create a wonderful school community for students, staff, and families at Greenwood Elementary School. Dr. Dickens-Simon receiving this award affirms the positive efforts to Make Each Day Count as a Principal,” said Dr. Scott Rocco, HTSD Superintendent of Schools.

RWJUH Hamilton recognized as ‘AgeFriendly Health System’

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, announced on Jan. 17 that it is part of a movement to improve health

TREATMENTS

Hamilton Post

AllCure Spine and Sports Medicine is pleased to announce their new program for treating Peripheral Neuropathy, which includes a combination of advanced FDA-cleared treatments with breakthrough technology that aids in healing the damaged nerves. The effects of this program can be felt on the first few visits. This treatment restores, stabilizes, and rebuilds the nerves in your extremities. Treatment has also been effective in addressing painful symptoms of arthritis, MS, and other forms of chronic pain, Patients generally feel relief physically throughout the treatment period and even feel better emotionally after experiencing a reduction in pain.

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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.

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goals and preferences.

“The Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative at RWJUH Hamilton is an important component of our overarching vision to provide every older adult with the best care possible,” says Lisa Breza, chief administrative officer for RWJUH Hamilton. “Our participation in this vital movement complements our NICHE Designation, which recognizes our commitment to delivering patient-centered care to create a positive experience and better outcomes for older adults.

“With the number of aging adults quickly rising in the United States, and here in our New Jersey region, it is imperative that we remain focused on addressing the unique health care needs and challenges faced by older adults today and in the future, and provide them individual high-quality care and at every access point across our health system.”

care for older adults and was recognized for being on the journey to becoming an Age-Friendly Health System.

RWJUH Hamilton joins an international group of more than 2,700 health systems working to tailor care to patients’

As part of the Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative, The John A. Hartford Foundation and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, in partnership with the American Hospital Association and the Catholic Health Association of the United States, are helping hospitals and other care settings implement a set of evidence-based interventions specifically designed to improve care for older adults.

Greenwood principal Nicole DickensSimon with her Spirit of Community Service Award.

the safest ways possible.

Pack 91 emerged stronger than ever; absorbing members of several other township packs that had their membership dwindle due to the pandemic. After graduating 20 fifth-graders in February, the pack will still have 50 scouts returning.

And for that, local charities are happy. The scouts not only do fun things for themselves — the Pinewood Derby, march in Memorial Day Parade, the Raingutter Regatta Boat Race, day camp — they make it their mission to help others. In an era where many youngsters

stay inside playing video games or browsing the internet, Pack 91 is out in the community aiding such organizations as Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, Ginny’s Pantry and Shine and Inspire Closets. Each month they work on a service requirement to aid the charities.

TASK feeds the hungry and offers programs and services to encourage selfsufficiency and improve quality of life for people in the Greater Trenton Area. On a cold January night, Reed’s den of fifthgraders completed their service requirements for the scout year by making medicine bags, utensil packets and lunch bags for TASK.

Shine and Inspire Closets, which are featured at several area schools, looks to enhance the quality of life for Mercer residents through gifts of local businesses and members of the community. Hygiene items, school supplies and non-perishable food fill 25 school closets across the county.

Ginny’s Pantry is a monthly food pantry operated by Christ Presbyterian Church of Hamilton Township and First Presbyterian Church of Hamilton Square. It is open to Mercer County households enrolled in qualifying government programs or of a certain income.

through fifth grade in 1975, first-grade rank of Tiger was later added and in 2017 Scouting America allowed females into Cub Scout dens and Boy Scout groups. One year later, a program was added for Kindergarteners.

Reed began as a den leader in 2014 when her oldest son, Jackson Balog, was in first grade. Her son, Cooper Balog, joined the following year and for a brief time she ran two dens (based on age groups). When the Cub Master left in 2017, Reed said with a chuckle, “The committee members had a super secret meeting I wasn’t invited to and they nominated me as the new Cub Master. I laughed it all off and it was fine.”

“Pack 91 has been supporting Ginny’s Pantry for several years with donations of food they collect,” said Bill Hoppock, who runs the Pantry with wife Amy. “It’s a good relationship and we greatly value their support. They’re always very helpful. Local support from groups like Pack 91 means a lot to our pantry volunteers and clients.”

It also means a lot to the Cub Scouts themselves, as they learn the value of helping others while becoming better people.

That has been the mission since Cub Scouts were founded in 1916 for boys ages 9-11. That was the prelude to the Boy Scouts (now named Scouts BSA). Pack 91 was established for boys in second

She embraced the position with vigor. Reed’s daughter Reagan Balog, who grew up watching den meetings in her home, joined when girls were allowed and Reed now runs her den as well as the pack. After 12 years with Pack 91, she understands what the organization does for youngsters as well as anyone.

“The Cub Scouts are so important right now because it’s teaching life skills and community lessons that you don’t get anywhere else,” Reed said. “You’re learning valuable lessons about your community, your community leaders, about nature, how to appreciate it and care for it and identify it. You’re learning health and nutri-

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Arrow of Light Den members put together care packages for Trenton Area Soup Kitchen. Members are Reagan Balog, Connor Kelleher, Strider Hicks, Cully Turley, Colin O’Mara, Gavin Clarke, Kaitlyn Hamilton and Aiden Rodriguez.

tion and promoting a healthy lifestyle. Not just you but your family. Everything in Cub Scouts is geared toward the family.”

Another lesson is to appreciate various religions. “I’ll have nine kids in a group and each one of them will practice religion completely differently,” Reed said. “It’s an opportunity to be open minded to things that are different within your own backyard.”

The veteran educator, who feels her teaching profession aids her scouting duties, noted that the experience aids in leadership skills as well. The older scouts who advance to Scouting BSA teach the younger Cub Scouts

“They’re learning different ways to approach different types of learners,” Reed said.

and independence. It starts at the roots and just builds each year. It doesn’t matter when you begin scouting; whether you come in at kindergarten or third grade you will cover all the basics and get what you need at an age-appropriate level.”

The scouts learn such things as cooking and medical training, which paid off recently when Reed’s son Jackson — a member of the Hamilton West swim team — was able to do a full concussion test on a teammate who hit her head on a wall.

“That was based on the skills he learned in Cub Scouts,” Reed said. “We’re teaching these kids self-esteem and independence. It’s such a wonderful thing and the kids are having fun. They keep coming back because they love it.”

That love will be celebrated at the end of

“It’s also teaching these kids self-esteem See SCOUTS, Page 9

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this month with the Blue & Gold Banquet graduation ceremony. The departing fifthgraders will walk across a symbolic bridge that was built 50 years ago, as they cross over from Cub Scouts to Scouts BSA. There will be a presentation of their new uniform and Reed will “be bawling like a baby,” when Reagan graduates to Scouts.

The observance coincides with the birthdate of the Cub Scouts, and this year it will double as Pack 91’s 50th anniversary celebration. To honor the landmark, Reed has gathered photo albums from the past 50 years and will present a slide show commemorating a half century of activities and service. There will also be an on-line trivia game everyone can play on their cell phones.

“Everything we do from here on out will have the advertisement of 50 years of our pack,” Reed said.

Pack 91 will begin their second 50 years without Reed, a hard-working single mom who is stepping down now that all her kids are in Scouts BSA. She will be replaced by Brad Carlton, a den leader for six years.

“Brad’s an Eagle Scout so he has a lot to offer the kids,” Reed said. “He’s awesome with outdoor adventuring. He finds our campsites and all that kind of stuff.”

The organization does not depend on just one person, of course.

Carlton’s wife, Keri, is the committee chairperson who makes sure everything behind the scenes runs smoothly. Another key position is held by Kara Kelleher, the membership chairman who provides all the information necessary for those interested in joining.

There is also a rotating group of volunteers to serve as den leaders, treasurer, secretary, fundraiser chairperson and outdoor chairperson.

Through their dedication, Pack 91 has

survived and thrived. Reed knows she is leaving it in good hands, and will look back on her years with pride and great memories.

“I’ve known a lot of the kids their entire schooling career,” she said. “It’s so important to see them not only have the interaction socially but to know theyre getting something useful out of it and to know they’re having fun as their relationships build. It’s very important to me. It’s a value I look for when I’m planning activities for my own kids. To know that I can extend that to other kids in the community, it makes my heart happy.”

For further information on Pack 91, follow it on Facebook/Instagram at CubScoutPack91HamiltonNJ or email pack91.hamilton@gmail.com.

Cub Scout Reagan Balog marches in Memorial Day Parade.

PILOT

neering. While at Virginia Tech, Carella also joined the Corps of Cadets in his freshman year.

The Corp of Cadets is in the same vein as Reserve Officer Training Corps, but often requires full immersion in the military lifestyle.

So while excelling at his aerospace engineering major, Carella was taking minors in mathematics and leadership. It was at that point where discussions with the other cadets made Carella feel as though he had a chance at pilot school. His education in aerospace and leadership gave him a leg up to get chosen for the highly sought posting.

He was accepted, and on his Virginia Tech graduation day was also commissioned by the Air Force as a second lieutenant. Pilot school did not begin until January, so Carella worked construction at the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford.

Pilot training was at Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas, near the border with Mexico.

“It was the hardest thing I have ever done. One and a half years. It was like a fire hose of information. We started with learning the DA20 propeller plane, then the T6 Turbo Prop. We moved up to T1 Jayhawk Twin Jet engine trainer plane,” Carella says.

“We had to memorize how each plane operated and all of the emergency procedures.”

Carella felt that flying also corresponded to how he approached his previous schooling. “The math, science and my mechanical understanding, really help me understand flying and the dynamics of piloting these planes,” he says.

Carella graduated pilot school in May 2019 and got his wings. “After getting your wings, it is what is called Drop Night. The orders drop with the information about where you will be stationed. My orders had me report to MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. The base is right in the middle of Tampa Bay,” he says.

The wing he was assigned was a refueling detail and he would be flying KC135s.

The KC135 training was in Oklahoma, where the air space was more empty and available than the east coast.

The KC135 training was 5 months long. The KC135s operate with a 3 person crew of two pilots and a boom operator. The refueling plane can carry more than 20,000 gallons of fuel. The boom operator delivers the fuel via a long boom to which the fighters and other planes connect to while in flight.

Leaving Oklahoma brought Carella to Washington State for survival training. The survival training brings the possible

She was staying on at VT attending medical school. “It was very hard while we were apart. While in New Jersey, I could drive down on weekends, but when I was away, we kept together with late night phone calls, keeping all the time differences in mind,” he says.

They were married in 2021 during a break from both their busy schedules. Tara is from Long Island, and is now finishing her residency in Tampa.

They will finally be together full time again in a few months. “The first deployment was really tough. It gets a little easier but you know...” he says, as his voice trails off.

It was during Carella’s fourth deployment to the Middle East when events took a turn from routine to being in the line of fire. On April 13, 2024, during Operation Inherent Resolve, flying in the Central Command area of responsibility, Carella’s plane was on a combat refueling mission.

threat of being stranded behind enemy lines into real focus for the pilots.

Carella was back in Florida for a brief stay before being deployed to Qatar on the Arabian Peninsula. The KC135 wing kept the fighters and other military planes fueled over the Middle Eastern skies.

Back home was Carella’s girlfriend, Tara. The couple met at Virginia Tech.

As the Air Force special order reads, “The crew found themselves in a direct line of fire between two regional adversaries.” Which proved to be local adversaries firing missiles, rockets, and armed drones at another region in the area, putting Carella and crew in the very dangerous airspace.

“All of a sudden there were streaks of light all over the night skies. I mean all

Air Force Two pilot Anthony Carella and wife, Tara Feehan Carella.

over. Our training kicked in high gear and we kept to our mission,” Carella says. “We made some evasive adjustments, but kept the fighter planes fueled as they were able to hunt and neutralize hundreds of drones.”

The regional adversary attack failed, and this contributed to the de-escalation of the regions tensions over the next few days. For his actions, Carella received the Distinguished Flying Cross, a military decoration awarded to members of the United States armed forces for exceptional achievement or heroism during aerial flight.

“We were doing what we always do. We are so well trained that what we do is automatic,” Carella says humbly. “There is no time to think, just to react.”

Back home in Tampa, Carella tried for and was invited to apply in person for the 89th Airlift Wing based out Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. The Executive Air Force Wing is in charge of transporting elected and military officials on Air Force One and Two.

The president and vice president are two of the hundred odd passengers that might travel on the Executive Airlift Aircraft. The plane utilized depends on the number of passengers and the destination. There are multiple 737s specially outfitted and maintained.

“The interview process was intense.

It was a weeklong in person interview. There was flying, testing, background, and psychological testing. The final interview was with a board of very senior officers.”

Carella was accepted, and began with the Air Force Two detail in October 2024. He is currently a co-pilot who flies up to five times a month. He is on track to eventually be a primary pilot.

“I am happy to be back closer to my family in New Jersey and Tara’s family on Long Island,” Carella says. “She is so supportive, I cannot wait until she is able to move up to the Annapolis area, where we will live. She is an OB-GYN physician and already has a job here waiting.”

Carella says that the duty of flying Air Force Two really does give him a sense of higher purpose — no pun intended.

“Yes we are transporting people from A to B, but we are assisting and helping diplomacy and other events of national interest to happen,” he says. “This is no joyride. This is meaningful. We have a mission, and perform it with purpose and pride.”

Flying the heads of the country is a huge responsibility and Capt. Carella takes it very seriously. Before the U.S. Air Force’s Aim High motto came about, the words of inspiration were: I Pursue with Wings. With wings indeed.

Flynn says that the big meals her grandmother cooked for everyone at harvest time are reminiscent of TASK’s mission and the critical involvement of volunteers in realizing it. Not only does TASK provide food for the hungry six days a week at its Escher Street home, no questions asked, it also gives more than 4,000 volunteers a year a chance to give back to their community.

“TASK has a doctrine of radical hospitality. It takes me back to growing up—neighbors helping neighbors,” Flynn says.

Flynn, a resident of Ewing, started as the CEO of TASK on Jan. 21, after being named to the position by the nonprofit’s board of trustees earlier in the month. She replaces Joyce Campbell, who retired on Dec. 31 after more than eight years at the helm.

After many years working for nonprofits in Ohio, Washington and California, Flynn and her husband moved closer to their two daughters in New Jersey. Having worked closely with Meals on Wheels in Ohio, Flynn became chief executive officer of Meals on Wheels of Mercer County.

A year after joining Meals on Wheels, Flynn learned that TASK was looking for an executive director. “I decided at the last minute to throw my name in the hat. It’s such an amazing local organization,”

she says.

In fact, Flynn already had a connection with Campbell. When Flynn came to town, Campbell, she says, “got me connected to the right people and helped me learn about the nonprofit landscape here.”

Michelle Wexler, TASK’s chief development officer, said that Campbell’s eight years as executive director was a period that included accelerated growth brought on by COVID. She also shared some challenges that the nonprofit will face under Flynn’s leadership.

TASK’s cornerstone program, meal service, involves preparing and serving over 11,000 meals weekly from its Escher Street kitchen. About a third of these meals are served in the Escher Street dining room, with lunch provided six days a week and dinner five days a week.

ing food prices and rent increases that have outpaced rises in wages (in January, average monthly rent in Trenton for a studio is $1,000 and $1,400 for a one bedroom).

Anecdotally, Wexler says, “we hear that food ends up being a flexible expense. People will forgo meals to pay rent, keep a car or pay a bill.”

But, Wexler says, “the inability to access food can be really detrimental and stressful; it has a negative impact physically and mentally—not knowing where your next meal is coming from.”

The remainder of meals are distributed to more than 40 community meal sites, both public (churches or community centers) and private (after-school programs). Several sites are served by food trucks.

The need is significant: over the last fiscal year, TASK has served 596,000 meals. Driving people to soup kitchens are skyrocket-

“Our goal is to provide additional access,” Wexler says, but there are a number of potential barriers to service: lack of transport, stigma (the discomfort of coming to a soup kitchen, which they try to counter with their “no questions asked” policy), and even hours of operation.

TASK also has programs and services meant to address some of the underlying causes of food insecurity: case management; advocacy; education; creative arts; job search assistance; and patron services (providing, e.g., warm winter gear, a place for mail delivery, eyeglasses, and

hygiene products).

“Going forward, our biggest opportunity but also our biggest challenge is space,” Wexler says. “Often, we can’t comfortably serve all the people who come at once. We had to go to one in, one out, to make sure flow is there and everyone can relax a bit. We are using every available inch.”

TASK is also looking for ways to bring in additional revenue through social entrepreneurship, for example, using food trucks for private events or catering—in order to maintain sustainability as expenses continue to increase. Today TASK is almost exclusively funded through individuals and businesses via fundraising and philanthropy.

Looking toward her new job, Flynn says she wants to preserve and build on Campbell’s “incredible legacy of impact.”

“I know I am going to be standing on her shoulders; I know she has great team; and I’m just looking forward to continuing with that tradition of service,” she says.

As the interview closes, Flynn had two more things to say. First, she urges readers to volunteer at TASK or Meals on Wheels. Helping to feed the hungry, she says, “is incredibly rewarding.”

Web: trentonsoupkitchen.org.

For a longer version of this story, visit our website, communitynews.org.

CELEB R ATING

ARY

Flynn

DOG LICENSE REMINDER

All Hamilton resident dog owners must license their dog(s) for 2025 between Jan. 1 - Feb. 28, 2025

The Hamilton Township Division of Health requires that all dogs over 6 months of age be licensed with Hamilton Township.

How to license:

Fees:

Online: www.HamiltonNJ.com/DogLicense

At the Animal Shelter: 2100 Sylvan Ave, Hamilton, NJ 08610

Questions? Call the Animal Shelter: 609-890-3555

Spayed or Neutered: $18

(Senior Citizen Fee: $2)

Non-Spayed or Non-Neutered: $21

(Senior Citizen Fee: $5)

Late fees begin March 1, 2025

What you need to apply:

Proof of current rabies vaccine, which must be valid through December 1, 2025

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 2025: January 11, 9am-1pm January 25, 9am-1pm February 8, 9am-1pm March 8, 9am-12pm

RECORDATORIO DE LICENCIA PARA PERROS

Todos los dueños de perros residentes de Hamilton deben obtener una licencia para su(s) perro(s) para 2025 entre el 1 de enero y el 28 de febrero de 2025.

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 2025

Lo que necesitas para aplicar:

Comprobante de vacuna antirrábica vigente, que debe tener validez hasta el 1 de diciembre de 2025

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

Visit www.HamiltonNJ.com/RabiesClinics or call 609-890-3555 to pre-register for a clinic.

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 2025: 11 de enero, 9am-1pm 25 de enero, 9am-1pm 8 de febrero, 9am-1pm 8 de marzo, 9am-12pm

Visite www.HamiltonNJ.com/RabiesClinics o llame 609-890-3555 para preinscribirse en una clínica : 5:

Use Virtual Care During Cold and Flu Season

Capital Health Virtual Care, part of Capital Health Medical Group, offers telehealth services to individuals in New Jersey and Pennsylvania (ages 16 and older) who wish to receive support in managing common health issues from the comfort of their home or anywhere in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Capital Health’s team of more than 50 virtual primary care providers can address a wide range of health conditions, including (but not limited to) symptoms of COVID-19, sinus problems, upper respiratory infection, sore throat, urinary tract infection, cough, flu, rash, common cold, eye infection, and more.

To learn more or to request an appointment, visit capitalvirtualcare.org or scan the QR code to complete the online form.

WHAT WE CAN TREAT DURING A VIRTUAL CARE VISIT

During virtual care visits with patients who aren’t feeling well, our clinicians address symptoms of numerous health conditions and issues, including but not limited to:

… COVID-19

… Sinusitis

… Upper respiratory infection … Sore throat

… Urinary tract infection

… Cough

… Influenza (Flu)

… Rash

… Common cold

… Yeast infection

… Allergies

… Eye infection

… Insect bites

… Nausea

… Back pain

… Tick bites

Calendar of events

For a complete list of February events, visit our website, communitynews.org.

Saturday, February 1

Clifford Ward: I’ll Make Me a World, prologue, Artworks. 6 p.m. 19 Everett Alley, Trenton. artworkstrenton.org.

James & the Giant Peach Presented by Spirit Players, Kelsey Theatre. 1 and 4 p.m. Presented by Spirit Players. 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. kelseyatmccc.com.

read and explore: animal tracks, Terhune Orchards. 10 a.m. Read books about animals in winter and talk about wintertime in nature. After story time, make bird feeders with wild bird seed for everyone to take home. Weather permitting, visit farm animals. terhuneorchards.com.

Winery Weekend Music Series with Firepits & Mulled Wine, Terhune Orchards Vineyard & Winery. Noon. Music 1-4 p.m. No admission fee. Reservations required for groups of 8 or more. Families welcome. No outside food or pets. 330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton. terhuneorchards.com.

tap the Sugar Maples, Howell Living History Farm. 10 a.m. 70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell. howellfarm.org.

Sunday, February 2

Family Sundays at the nature Center, Tulpehaking Nature Center. 1:30 p.m. Free naturalist-guided program geared towards kids and families. All ages. No registration re-

quired. First Sunday each month: Feed the Animals. 157 Westcott Ave, Hamilton. abbottmarshlands.org.

James & the Giant Peach Presented by Spirit Players, Kelsey Theatre. 1 and 4 p.m. Presented by Spirit Players. 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. kelseyatmccc.com.

Monday, February 3

Voices Chorale nJ Spring auditions, Music Together. 7:15 p.m. Set up a brief audition. All voice parts welcome, especially tenors and basses. Auditions before rehearsals. We rehearse Mondays 7:30pm-9:30pm at Music Together, 225 Pennington-Hopewell Road, Hopewell. voiceschoralenj.org.

tueSday, February 4

Stand tall yoga, Tulpehaking Nature Center. 10 a.m. Bring mat. All levels welcome. Free for Friends of the Abbott Marshlands members; $5 for all others. Class size limited; registration required. 157 Westcott Avenue, Hamilton. abbottmarshlands.org.

WedneSday, February 5

Family Story time, Pennington Public Library. 10:30 a.m. In children’s area for stories, music and more. No registration required. 30 North Main St, Pennington. penningtonlibrary.org.

Wednesday Wonder Walk, Tulpehaking Nature Center. 10 a.m. Explore the trails of Roebling Park. Free. No registration re-

See EVENTS, Page 16

quired. Cancellations posted by 9 a.m. on website. 157 Westcott Avenue, Hamilton. abbottmarshlands.org.

thurSday, February 6

disney on Ice presents Frozen & encanto, CURE Insurance Arena. 7 p.m. 81 Hamilton Ave, Trenton.

James & the Giant Peach Presented by Spirit Players, Kelsey Theatre. special daytime show for groups at 10 a.m. Presented by Spirit Players. 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. kelseyatmccc.com.

FrIday, February 7

noli timere, McCarter Theatre. 7:30 p.m. 91 University Place, Princeton. mccarter.org. trivia in the Winery, Terhune Orchards. 5 p.m. Prizes with DJ Iron Mike in the winery. Categories such as general knowledge, entertainment, history and geography, sports and name that tune. No cover. 330 Cold Soil Rd., Princeton. terhuneorchards.com. the Williamsboy, Trenton Tir Na nOg. 9 p.m. 1324 Hamilton Ave, Trenton. trentontirnanog.com/calendar

Saturday, February 8

all Mozart with orli Shaham at Richardson Auditorium. 8 p.m. Gérard Korsten leads the PSO in this all-Mozart program. Princeton. princetonsymphony.org.

dave & ellen anderson, Trenton Tir Na nOg. 9 p.m. 1324 Hamilton Ave, Trenton. trentontirnanog.com/calendar

disney on Ice presents Frozen & encanto, CURE Insurance Arena. 11 a.m. 81 Hamilton Ave, Trenton.

noli timere, McCarter Theatre. 8 p.m. 91 University Place, Princeton. mccarter.org.

Sunday, February 9

all Mozart with orli Shaham at Richardson Auditorium, 4 p.m. Gérard Korsten leads the PSO in this all-Mozart program. Princeton. princetonsymphony.org.

disney on Ice presents Frozen & encanto, CURE Insurance Arena. 11 a.m. 81 Hamilton Ave, Trenton.

Family Sundays at the nature Center, Tulpehaking Nature Center. 1:30 p.m. Free naturalist-guided program geared towards kids and families. All ages. No registration

required. Second Sunday each month: Nature Art. 157 Westcott Ave, Hamilton. abbottmarshlands.org.

James & the Giant Peach Presented by Spirit Players, Kelsey Theatre. 1 and 4 p.m. Presented by Spirit Players. 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. kelseyatmccc.com.

Valentine’s brunch, Hopewell Valley Vineyards. 11 a.m. Valentine’s Day Brunch Buffet. Enjoy a Brunch Buffet at the winery with your Valentine, Friends & Family. $38.95+tax & gratuity. Reserve online hopewellvalleyvineyards.com or Call 609-737-4465. 46 Yard Rd, Pennington. hopewellvalleyvineyards.com.

tueSday, February 11

Stand tall yoga, Tulpehaking Nature Center. 10 a.m. Bring mat. All levels welcome. Free for Friends of the Abbott Marshlands members; $5 for all others. Class size limited; registration required. 157 Westcott Avenue, Hamilton. abbottmarshlands.org.

WedneSday, February 12

Wednesday Wonder Walk, Tulpehaking Nature Center. 10 a.m. Explore the trails of Roebling Park. Free. No registration required. Cancellations posted by 9 a.m. on website. 157 Westcott Avenue, Hamilton. abbottmarshlands.org.

thurSday, February 13

Chief adjuah, McCarter Theatre. 7:30 p.m. 91 University Place, Princeton. mccarter.org.

FrIday, February 14

Guess Who’s Coming to dinner, Kelsey Theatre. 8 p.m. Presented by the MTM Players. Special Guest Director Diane L. Parker. 1200 Old Trenton Rd, West Windsor. kelseyatmccc.com.

Mandy Patinkin In Concert: being alive, McCarter Theatre. 12 a.m. 91 University Place, Princeton. mccarter.org/events

Saturday, February 15

Guess Who’s Coming to dinner, Kelsey Theatre. 8 p.m. Presented by the MTM Players. 1200 Old Trenton Rd, West Windsor. kelseyatmccc.com.

Comedian Jon bramnick, Catch a Rising Star, Hyatt Regency Princeton. Shows Every Friday at 8pm and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. 102

Blues guitarist Chris Smither will be at Christ Congregation Church in Princeton on Friday, Feb. 21. (Photo by Joanna Chattman.)

Carnegie Center, Princeton. Maple Sugaring, Howell Living History Farm. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 70 Woodens Ln, Hopewell. howellfarm.org/page-1075308

Meshell ndegeocello - no More Water: the Gospel of James baldwin, McCarter Theatre. 7:30 p.m. 91 University Place, Princeton. mccarter.org.

old-Fashioned Valentine’s day, Howell Living History Farm. 10 a.m. 70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell. howellfarm.org. red, White & brew Fest, CURE Insurance Arena. Noon. 81 Hamilton Ave, Trenton. cureinsurancearena.com.

Sunday, February 16

Family Sundays at the nature Center, Tulpehaking Nature Center. 1:30 p.m. Free naturalist-guided program geared towards kids and families. All ages. No registration required. Third Sunday each month: Sundays are for STEM. 157 Westcott Ave, Hamilton. abbottmarshlands.org.

Guess Who’s Coming to dinner, Kelsey The-

atre. 2 p.m. Presented by the MTM Players. 1200 Old Trenton Rd, West Windsor. kelseyatmccc.org.

Irish Session hosted by billy o’neal, Trenton Tir Na nOg. 3 p.m. 1324 Hamilton Ave, Trenton. trentontirnanog.com.

tueSday, February 18

open Mic w/ Jerry & John Monk, Trenton Tir Na nOg. 8 p.m. 1324 Hamilton Ave, Trenton. trentontirnanog.com.

Stand tall yoga, Tulpehaking Nature Center. 10 a.m. Bring mat. All levels welcome. Free for Friends of the Abbott Marshlands members; $5 for all others. Class size limited; registration required. 157 Westcott Avenue, Hamilton. abbottmarshlands.org.

WedneSday, February 19

Wednesday Wonder Walk, Tulpehaking Nature Center. 10 a.m. Explore the trails of Roebling Park. Free. No registration required. Cancellations posted by 9 a.m. on website. 157 Westcott Avenue, Hamilton. abbottmarshlands.org.

FrIday, February 21

Chris Smither at Princeton Folk Music Society, Christ Congregation Church. 8 p.m. The Princeton Folk Music Society presents singer, guitarist and songwriter Chris Smither, a “towering figure in American acoustic blues.” 50 Walnut Lane, Princeton. princetonfolk.org.

Czech national Symphony orchestra, McCarter Theatre. 12 a.m. 91 University Place, Princeton. mccarter.org.

east Coast Indoor dirt nationals, CURE Insurance Arena. 6 p.m. 81 Hamilton Ave, Trenton. cureinsurancearena.com.

Guess Who’s Coming to dinner, Kelsey Theatre. 8 p.m. Presented by the MTM Players. 1200 Old Trenton Rd, West Windsor. kelseyatmccc.com.

organ concert: “Lift every Voice,” Princeton University Chapel. 7:30 p.m. University organist Eric Plutz presents a program of works by Black composers. Princeton. chapel.princeton.edu.

tully’s tales, Tulpehaking Nature Center. 10:30 a.m. Nature-themed story and play time, Tully’s Tales. Designed for preschoolers. Caregivers must remain. Free, no registration required. Cancellation will be

Saturday, February 22

east Coast Indoor dirt nationals, CURE Insurance Arena. 4 p.m. 81 Hamilton Ave, Trenton. cureinsurancearena.com.

Grand Pre ramadan & eid bazaar, Princeton Marriott at Forrestal. 11 a.m. 100 College Road East, Princeton. eventbrite.com/e/ grand-pre-ramadan-eid-bazaar-tickets-1119156730909.

Guess Who’s Coming to dinner, Kelsey Theatre. 8 p.m. Presented by the MTM Players. 1200 Old Trenton Rd, West Windsor. kelseyatmccc.com.

richard thompson: Ship to Shore tour Solo Show, McCarter Theatre. 7:30 p.m. 91 University Place, Princeton. mccarter.org.

Sunday, February 23

Family Sundays at the nature Center, Tulpehaking Nature Center. 1:30 p.m. Free naturalist-guided program geared towards kids and families. All ages. No registration required. Fourth Sunday each month: Exploration Station. 157 Westcott Ave, Hamilton. abbottmarshlands.org.

Guess Who’s Coming to dinner, Kelsey Theatre. 2 p.m. Presented by the MTM Players. 1200 Old Trenton Rd, West Windsor. kelseyatmccc.com.

Jason Isbell, McCarter Theatre. 7 p.m. 91 University Place, Princeton. mccarter.org.

tueSday, February 25

Stand tall yoga, Tulpehaking Nature Center. 10 a.m. Bring mat. All levels welcome. Free for Friends of the Abbott Marshlands members; $5 for all others. Class size lim-

ited; registration required. 157 Westcott Avenue, Hamilton. abbottmarshlands.org.

Jazz Vespers, Princeton University Chapel. 8 p.m. Poetry and music featuring jazz saxophonist Audrey Welber, pianist Adam Faulk. Princeton. chapel.princeton.edu.

WedneSday, February 26

Wednesday Wonder Walk, Tulpehaking Nature Center. 10 a.m. Explore the trails of Roebling Park. Free. No registration required. 157 Westcott Avenue, Hamilton. abbottmarshlands.org.

thurSday, February 27

Valencia baryton Project, 7 p.m. The second concert in the PSO’s new, 4-concert chamber series. The baryton is a cross between the viol da gamba and lirone, with 10 resonating and plucked strings down the back of the instrument. The baryton gives the traditional string trio an entirely new dimension. Trinity Church, Princeton. princetonsymphony.org.

FrIday, February 28

4th Friday Family Game night, Tulpehaking Nature Center. 6 p.m. Board games, bingo, turtle time and light refreshments. Registration required. 157 Westcott Ave, Hamilton. abbottmarshlands.org.

harlem Globetrotters 2025 World tour Presented by Jersey Mikes Subs, CURE Insurance Arena. 7 p.m. 81 Hamilton Ave, Trenton. cureinsurancearena.com.

new orleans Songbook, McCarter Theatre. 7:30 p.m. Jazz at Lincoln Center presents Luther Allison, Quiana Lynell and Milton Suggs. 91 University Place, Princeton. mccarter.org.

ROTARY CLUB OF HAMILTON TOWNSHIP

Hamilton, NJ

13th Annual

The Len Nemeroff “Soup 4 You” Cook Off

Come join us as we sample delicious soups offered by local area resturants and food establishments

YOU ARE THE SOUP JUDGE!

When: Monday, February 24, 2025 4:30 - 7pm

Where: RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center Hamilton, NJ 08690

Cost: $12 Per Person - Children under 8 free

Tickets can be purchased from Rotary Club members or at the door. Proceeds benefit local chari�es. Rotary Club of Hamilton Township Charitable Founda�on is a 501(c)(3) non-profit service organiza�on

1

sPorts

Steinert’s Giglio drawn to the energy of wrestling

by rICh FISher

Anthony Giglio was Steinert’s starting quarterback the past two years and is headed for Kean University’s football program next year.

There is no doubt as to his main sport, but the senior still loves his secondary sport despite the fact it is probably the most punishing when it comes to keeping in shape. That would be wrestling, a sport in which lifting weights coincides with cutting weight along with all the other physical anguish that goes into it.

Giglio craves it all.

“I love the energy about it and just everything about the sport,” he said. “I think wrestling is the greatest sport. It’s individual, you learn from it, learn from mistakes. You just grow upon it. I think that’s the best thing about it.

“Playing football helps with your mindset and determination. But wrestling

practice is way harder than football so it makes football way easier. It’s definitely like a grind with wrestling.”

Giglio was grinding his way to a stellar season by mid-January. Through Jan. 20, one week prior to the Colonial Valley Conference meet, Giglio was 17-5 with 13 pins, one technical fall and two major decisions. He had eight first-period pins and six sub-minute falls.

He reached the 190-pound finals of three early-season tournaments — the Blue Devil Classic, TCNJ Pride, and Rumble in the Pines — but lost each one. Those setbacks were to some tough opponents, however, including Brick Memorial’s two-time state champ, Harvey Ludington.

“You learn from that, you learn from your mistakes,” Giglio said. “You’re watching videos, showing the coaches, asking them what you can do better.”

Spartans coach Joe Panfili can see

Giglio doing a lot of things better since his freshman year.

“He’s been clutch,” Panfili said. “He started to turn the corner last year, really having some big wins for us. He was emerging for us. He was almost a region qualifier. He’s been working hard. This year he’s really taken the helm as a leader and I’m real happy with this progress. He’s been wrestling tough.”

Giglio began wrestling at age 7 in the Hamilton PAL, then went to Northern Burlington to wrestle with his cousins before coming back to PAL for one more year.

“My dad recommended it, I stuck with it and I loved it,” Giglio said.

“I started working on technique, did more research about wrestling. It definitely improves you on the mat.”

Panfili, who coached Giglio in freshman football, sympathized with his early struggles.

His love, however, did not show up in his work ethic for his first two years. He was 6-14 in ninth grade and 10-15 in 10th wrestling between 157 and 165.

“Freshman and sophomore year I didn’t really take it seriously,” Giglio said. “It wasn’t fun at the moment. I was bouncing through weight classes. I didn’t know what I wanted in the future. My junior year I decided to take it seriously. It’s probably the best thing I did. It helped me improve as a person too.

“He came to me with some wrestling experience but the problem is, your freshman year you’re 14 and you’re going against older guys,” the coach said. “He was in a tough weight division at 157 and he still did a lot for us. If we needed him to bump he was always willing to do that.”

But the wrestler’s dismay was apparent.

“I’m not gonna lie to you, it got a little tough for him,” Panfili said. “We had a lot of long talks, he got a little discouraged. It’s hard when you put in all that hard work and go out there and lose a lot, it’s a very humbling experience. To his credit, he came through, he persevered. Every year he got better, did what he had to do and now it’s starting to pay off.”

Giglio’s dedication began to pay off last season. Wrestling mainly at 165, he went 21-8 and finished fourth in districts and See GIGLIO, Page 20

Giglio

fourth in the county tournament. In the offseason he hit the weights like a man possessed and jumped a weight class to 190.

“We lifted a lot for football and I put on 25 pounds,” Giglio said. “People are definitely stronger (at 190) for sure. I think I get them with my speed. When I take a shot and I’m on top I just work from there.”

for us when he can. He’s really improved his game in all facets. He’s pinning people, he’s putting people on their back. He goes out there 110 miles an hour.”

Panfili has enjoyed watching Giglio’s progress as the two have formed a strong bond over four years.

Both Panfili and Giglio feel the grappler is strongest on his feet.

“A takedown is worth three points now and you can also get up to four backpoints, that’s definitely helpful to a guy like Anthony,” Panfili said. “He’s tough to take down, he’s just a tough kid. He’s a strong kid. He’s got big hands; quarterback hands. When he grabs you, you know he’s grabbing you. He’s really tough on his feet.”

“He was my freshman quarterback, I built a good relationship with him right off the bat,” the coach said. “Anthony just goes out there, he doesn’t let the pressure get to him. He’s one of those guys who knows what he has to do. A lot of the time if he loses or gets caught he has a pretty good attitude about it. Like ‘Ahh, I got caught, I’m gonna keep grinding, put in the work and get better.”

Like most quarterbacks, Giglio is used to getting attention.

Giglio agreed, saying “I think so, becauseI I set it up. I always have a step for the step. When I set it up I do some stuff and see how he reacts and then go from there and take a shot.”

Like any good wrestler, Giglio has a motor that won’t stop. He comes out at a high level and just accelerates from there.

“Anthony’s real strength is energy,” Panfili said. “He goes out there like a ball of energy. He’s always going. He’s a grinder. He’s looking to get bonus points

“He’s a true leader, he likes the spotlight, which is a good thing to have in football because he always likes the ball in his hands,” Panfili said. “In wrestling he likes to be in that position to win the match for you, so I think him being a quarterback has definitely helped him on the mat.”

Building upon the strong foundation he formed last season, Giglio set goals this year to get over 20 wins, do well in the counties, qualify for regions and, if things break right, reach the states. But his biggest aim is success for the program, as he and fellow four-year wrestlers Elliot Mor-

ris and Alex Hart have formed a strong nucleus for the Spartans.

“I’ll do anything for the team,” he said. “Whatever it takes to win and do better for our team, I’ll do. We have a lot of goals to

accomplish at Steinert. We want to make some noise in New Jersey. With a full, healthy lineup I think we can, for sure.”

Having Giglio now wrestling at this full potential certainly doesn’t hurt the cause.

Experience the Juniper Difference

Juniper’s H’art and Soul of Dining signature program is about more than great food –it is a joyous social experience that nourishes our bodies and spirits. Come dine with us and learn why Juniper Village at Hamilton is the area’s most welcoming assisted living community.

Please call 609.439.6859 to schedule a personal tour and complimentary lunch and see what all the excitement is about before we are SOLD-OUT!

Juniper Village at Hamilton 1750 Yardville-Hamilton Square Road, Hamilton Square, NJ 08690 Hamilton.Sales@JuniperCommunities.com

ASSISTED LIVING I MEMORY CARE

Four-year Steinert wrestlers Anthony Giglio, Elliot Morris and Alex Hart. (Photo by Amanda Ruch.)

Bruch rediscovers the fun in wrestling for the Hornets

by rICh FISher

Hamilton West wrestler Luke Bruch hit a wall two years ago. This season, he is back and running through walls with renewed enthusiasm.

By the end of his sophomore season, Bruch wanted to get off the scale and into the refrigerator. Wrestling was no longer fun; just a reminder of how many meals he had to miss.

After finishing second in the districts as a freshman, Bruch lost his district quarterfinal last year and was far from upset about it.

“I was sick of it,” he said. “I just wanted it to end. I wanted to eat. I was starving.”

When his junior year came around, Bruch’s attitude hadn’t changed, and he opted not to wrestle.

“That kind of blind-sided me when he didn’t come out,” coach Gerard Belviso said. “He had a pretty good freshman year and we thought, ‘All right, we’ve got something here.’”

But last year, when Belviso went from assistant to head man, that something temporarily turned to nothing.

“You hear rumblings about different things,” Belviso said. “I spoke with him

and the grind of wrestling got to him. He fell out of love with the sport. It was tough. It was my first year taking over and I was like, ‘Aww man.’ He was a tremendous leader, even as a freshman and sophomore.”

Fortunately for the Hornets, the rumblings changed course this year.

“At the beginning of this season I heard rumblings that Luke is coming back,” Belviso said. “I didn’t really know what to expect. Taking a year off of wrestling, you don’t know how it will affect a guy.

“I was super excited to see what the future held but there were some unknowns. Before his first competition, with a week of practice, it was like’ All right, we’re picking up with a head of steam.’ It looked like he was rejuvenated. He had a renewed sense of motivation.”

His return didn’t start well, however.

Prior to the season-opening Blue Devil Classic at Ewing, Bruch had a wrestle-off with 2024 region qualifier Dan Figueroa to see who would wrestle at 165 for West.

“I got pinned by Figs, I was humiliated,” he said. “I sat there for 20 minutes, I thought, ‘I guess this was it, this is a wake-up call.’ It’s been my mentality since then that I’m gonna win.”

He wasted little time proving that mindset. As luck would have it, Hamilton was able to place two wrestlers in the 165pound weight class at Ewing and they met in the finals with Bruch taking a 13-8 decision over his talented teammate.

And the comeback was well underway. Bruch won his first 13 matches of the season — including the Rumble In the Pines Tournament championship — and as of Jan. 20, a week prior to the Colonial Valley Conference Tournament, he was 17-2 (counting two forfeit wins) with 11 pins, one technical fall and one major decision.

“He came out and was super focused,” Belviso said. “He’s one of the more competitive athletes I’ve been around coaching, but at the same time he’s super evenkeeled. He’s one of the hardest workers in the room. He’s vocal when he needs to be, but he just leads by example really well.”

In assessing Bruch’s technique, both the wrestler and his coach feel he is aggressive when necessary, but also calculating.

“He starts off a little elusive,” Belviso said. “He’s light on his feet, he’s good in neutral, he feels things out. I try to work with him on being the aggressor out of the gate. His defense is good, he shoots, his scoring success rate is very high.

person and have that mentality of never giving up, you’re going to win. Obviously there’s better wrestlers but if you want it you can get it. It’s a mentality.”

“He takes each match a little differently. He’s gone down in a couple matches against some pretty good wrestlers, but he takes off once he gets his offense going. I would say he’s a tactical wrestler. He’s smart. He doesn’t flail just to flail. He sets up well. He’s a long, strong kid, so he looks like he might be in tough positions and he can wrap with his long strong arms, which is nice.”

Bruch’s self-analysis is that “I’m aggressive, but there’s different levels of aggression. I try to bring it out there. My mentality is never give up. Especially when I’m on bottom. I always have the mentality ‘You’ve got to get up.’ If you can outpace the other

Bruch’s career began by “messing around” with his cousin Hunter Wadsworth, who wrestled for Steinert. He mostly played football but wrestled for Hamilton PAL from fifth to seventh grade until Covid hit. He picked it back up as a freshman at West, and also played football that year.

“It was a decent freshman year,” Bruch said. “It was definitely a reality check coming from PAL. I wasn’t bad. I knew I wanted to wrestle my sophomore year. The seniors my freshman year definitely helped. My friend Figs (Andy Figueroa) motivated me to do everything.”

Entering his sophomore year Bruch bumped from 120 to 126 and went 15-8

Senior Luke Bruch is back in the picture for Hamilton wrestling this year after taking his junior season off. (Photo by Rich Fisher.)

with an early loss in the districts.

Suddenly, the sport was becoming an albatross.

“I had to cut a lot of weight, I was walking around at 137 in the beginning of the season and had to cut down to 126,” Bruch recalled. “I wrestled a match at 126 and it was horrible. I just kind of broke down basically, my body.

“I went to wrestle at 132. I wasn’t cutting much weight. I got to counties and I just kind of shut down at counties and I was miserable. I was horrible at making weight, I had no energy and basically fell out of love with the sport.”

Taking the summer and fall off did not help. “When last year came around, there was no desire to cut weight at all,” Bruch said. “I started having to lose weight in October. And I was like ‘There’s no way I can do this for three months. I’m going to be miserable.’”

He gave Belviso the bad news and didn’t attend one match last season.

“I stayed away from the sport,” Bruch said. “I followed everything on Instagram. It just felt wrong to show up to a match. I just wanted to get a lot of it out of my head.”

No one was sure if they had seen the last of Bruch on a mat. Even he wasn’t certain.

“During the football season we weren’t having a very successful year and every-

body was talking about ‘Oh I’m excited to wrestle,’” Bruch said. “They were asking me if I was coming out again, I didn’t know. So I was like ‘You know what, I’m gonna come out and see what happens.’”

Bruch feels rejuvenated after being away for a year. A strong lifting regimen allowed him to move up to 165 and he is not scrambling to lose weight anymore. He also began to research nutrition and has stuck with whole foods.

“I just feel amazing,” he said. “I’ve seen a difference. I haven’t been cutting any weight. Coming into this year I was just like ‘I’ve taken a year off and now I have something to prove.”

Bruch, who is hoping for a career in law enforcement, is proving it every time he takes the mat.

“His attitude is one that you love,” Belviso said. “I’m not worried about his preparation or what happens after the match. His two losses were to really good guys and I know they grinded him up, but he was just like, ‘back to work.’ He’s not too low, not too high.

“It’s easy for your emotions to take over. But at the same time, his competitiveness is tremendous. He’s super strong. It really has been impressive to take a year off and do what he’s doing. Maybe it was the best thing for him.”

Through the season’s first six weeks, it sure seemed that way.

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GENOLY CARING CENTER

Ford pushes the pace for Northstars’ swimming

by rICh FISher

Among the six varsity or club sports that Jack Ford has, or will, compete in, swimming is his least favorite.

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And yet it is the one he has lasted the longest, and the one in which he has had the most success.

“I love all sports, and swimming is the hardest sport by far,” Ford said. “It’s so intense. It’s not like any sport I’ve ever done before. I’m used to running and stuff like that, but I never swam. When you can’t breathe in the water, that’s freaky. You’re using your whole body, arms and legs, everything.”

Ford has used them well this season.

Entering the Jan. 25 Colonial Valley Conference Championship Meet, the Nottingham Northstar had finished first six times and second once in his seven 50 freestyle races. Ford also added three firsts and a second in the 100 free and won the 100 fly and 500 free the one time he raced in those. As for relays, Ford was on seven winning teams and four that finished second.

Not bad for a guy who never swam club and did not start competitive swimming until his sophomore year.

Ford was ushered into the sport by his sister Audrey, a former Nottingham standout, and Northstars coach Brian Emerson, whom Jack enjoyed having as a freshman baseball coach.

“He was a skinny, lean, tall kid as a freshman,” Emerson said. “He played really well, played the outfield and first base. From there I made the connection and told him, ‘You gotta come out for the swim team.’”

Audrey had already been coaxing him to try it, and Emerson sealed the deal

with his sales pitch.

“We were struggling with numbers,” the coach said. “The year he came out I graduated a big group of seniors, we were down to eight or nine guys. I was lucky enough to convince him and a few other baseball players to come out.

“The pitch to Jack was ‘You’re athletic, you’re a three-sport athlete and swimming is one of the best ways to stay in shape.’ It’s about equal to track in cardio, but the muscle groups you activate when you’re swimming you don’t really appreciate, but swimming helps them a lot.”

So Ford came out his sophomore year and in Nottingham’s first 50 freestyle of the year, he set the fastest mark on the team, including four-year swimmers.

Jack Ford has proved a quick study in swimming. (Photo by Rich Fisher.)

“The kid never swam competitive before and in the first event of our first meet he set the high water mark,” Emerson said. “It was awesome.”

It was enough to convince Ford he made a good choice.

“I realized ‘Hey, maybe there’s some potential here,’” he said. “Originally I wasn’t giving 100 percent. I was doing it to hang out with my friends. So I realized I should put my all into it and maybe I’ll get better. It was a mental challenge, a physical challenge but I knew I could help out the team.”

Ford has been helping out all kinds of teams since arriving at Nottingham. In the fall he played soccer as a freshman and in the spring he played baseball as a freshman, golf for two years and this spring he will try out for lacrosse. He is also on Nottingham’s club volleyball team, and plans on joining The College of New Jersey’s club volleyball team next year.

The summer after his freshman year, Ford was introduced to golf and decided to try it at Nottingham. He enjoyed the sport and his teammates, but after two of his closest friends on the team graduated last year, he decided to try lacrosse this year. “If I get cut, I guess it’s back to golf,” he said with a laugh.

Emerson marvels at Ford’s willingness to attempt new sports.

“I told his dad, ‘Your son is an athlete first. He fits into any puzzle,’” the coach said. “He’s a multi-tool kind of kid and it works for him. He loves trying different things and he fits right in.”

Ford says there are other sports he enjoys more than swimming and calls it “a secondary sport.” But it’s the only one he has earned three letters with.

“I think it’s because of the coach,” Ford said. “I had him during baseball freshman year, and I loved the guy. And my team-

mates are another reason. I knew Ethan Wiebesiek from when I played little league at HTRBA and we got much closer during swim season. Mac Miller lives four feet behind me, I got super close with him. I wouldn’t stay if it wasn’t for Emerson and the people on the team.”

“And,” he added, “It’s a nice bonus that I’m winning.”

Growing up, Jack and Audrey would swim at their cousin’s house and enjoyed splashing around in the water. In fifth grade, they moved into a house with a pool. “We’d swim a lot, do basketball in the pool, practice my flips off the diving board,” Ford said. “It was just a fun thing I did on the side.”

With Audrey nudging him and Emerson convincing him that swimming would be beneficial, Jack finally made the jump.

As a sophomore he swam on a few winning relay teams while garnering two firsts and nine top-three finishes in the 100 free and seven top-three finishes in the 50 free. Last year he had two firsts and nine top-three finishes in the 50, a first and four top-threes in the 100 free and three firsts and two thirds in the 100 fly, which is not his favorite event.

“The fly was different,” Ford said. “It was a killer on your shoulders. I like the 50 butterfly, but the 100 butterfly is probably the second worst event behind the 500 free. It’s so long.”

Due to a health condition, Ford finds sprints most conducive to what he is physically able to handle.

“In my first meet, I did the 100 breast and got DQ’d and thought, ‘Maybe that’s not for me,’” he recalled. “I have exerciseinduced asthma. At practice, I can’t go very long. That was a factor that pushed me toward sprints.

“I have an inhaler, I take two puffs

Mercer County Connection’s February 2025 Events

and renewing Notaries.

Please call the Mercer County Clerk’s office to schedule (609) 989-6466 or email: espagano@mercercounty.org

FREE 15-Minutes with an Attorney

Thursday, February 13th, 2025 5:00PM - 6:00PM

The Public Education Committee of the Mercer County Bar Association and the Mercer County Executive Present:

C A R E* FREE 15-minute consultation with an Attorney (Virtually)

All Lawyers C.A.R.E. meetings will take place virtually.

For more information please call (609) 585-6200 or visit website: www.mercerbar.com

Registration required

Wednesday, February 19th, 2025 10:00AM - 1:00PM

Mercer County Connection, in partnership with Affordable Housing Alliance, provides an opportunity for Mercer County residents who are experiencing difficulties with mortgage payments to speak with a HUD Certified Counselor

before every meet and practice. That’s the best way to do it. It’s less now than when I was a little kid but it’s still there. It is a little scary. In a sprint I’m done quickly. If I’m swimming for a long time, that’s when it kicks in.”

No matter what the event, the thing that truly stands out in Ford is his dedication.

“I love his drive and his commitment,” Emerson said. “When he comes in he doesn’t make excuses, he doesn’t complain. He does what you ask him to do. He motivates his teammates and leads by example. It’s really the mental part of it that keeps him going. He has a never-saydie attitude that carries him.”

With Ford’s success, of course, comes the “what if” question. Unlike his sister, who swam for PASDA, what if Jack had done club swimming or even swam in ninth grade.

“I wonder if I did club swimming, or if I did it my freshman year,” he said. “In the back of my mind I always thought about what that would look like.”

So does Emerson.

“He never wanted to do club or come out his freshman year,” the coach said. “If he came out as a freshman and had one more year refining his mechanics and fundamentals, I think he would have way surpassed where he’s at now.

“But I’ve seen club swimming burn out a lot of kids and turn them away from the sport. Maybe that’s a silver lining that he never had that pressure put on him. All those hours in the pool get a little redundant if you’re not truly invested in it.”

Whatever Ford’s investment level in swimming is, he’s good at it. In picking his proudest moment, it came last year against Hamilton West when one of the Hornets butterflyers asked Emerson if Nottingham had anyone good in that event.

“Emerson said ‘No, not really,’” Ford recalled. “That was my second time swimming that race so we had no idea. I came out and beat him by one second. That was probably my best race.”

As for what he is proudest of overall, it is the progress he has made in his best event.

“I love swimming the 50 free because you have to be kind of perfect every single time to be good at it,” Ford said. “If you take too many strokes or breaths before the wall it slows you down significantly. Every second matters in the 50. It’s all about perfecting the craft. That’s what I like about it.”

With that kind of attitude, it’s no wonder Ford is able to play so many different sports. Whatever the challenge, he looks to be perfect at it.

Please call 609-890-9800 to Register

Do you or someone you know suffer from heart failure?

Ask The Doctor

Managing heart failure is challenging and can affect almost every part of life. Beyond the physical symptoms of fatigue, swelling and breathlessness, heart failure also impacts emotional health, relationships, and daily routines.

A unique approach to heart failure care at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJUH Hamilton), an RWJBarnabas Health facility, is the Healthy Lives Hamilton program, an impactful addition to the spectrum of heart and vascular services we provide.

What is Heart Failure?

Heart failure is a medical condition that can occur due to the heart being weak or stiff and can develop after the heart has been damaged by a heart attack, a virus, high blood pressure or other conditions.

Often it can’t be cured, but with the right medical treatment, lifestyle changes, and support, many patients can successfully manage the condition. The overall goal is to avoid hospitalizations and achieve good quality of life.

care physician and, perhaps most importantly, enrollment in the Healthy Lives Program.”

How Does Healthy Lives Hamilton Support Patients with Heart Failure?

See our ads in SIX09 section pgs 5 and 7

Healthy Lives Hamilton is an outpatient clinic on-site at RWJUH Hamilton designed to help heart failure patients and their families. From symptom monitoring and management to education, a team of experts guides patients towards living a healthy life.

“The Healthy Lives Hamilton team works with patients to create an individual plan that can help them reach their health goals,” says Connie Moceri, MSN, RN, AGNP-C, Administrative Director of Cardiovascular Services. She oversees the program along with Ann Mancuso, MSN, RN, CHFN, Heart Failure Coordinator. “For many heart failure patients, their goal is to minimize symptoms of their illness and maintain good quality of life without having to come back into the hospital.

Dr. Justin Fox

“At any given time, we care for ten to twenty patients admitted to our hospital with heart failure. Nationwide statistics show that up to one quarter of those patients will be readmitted to the hospital within 30 days, largely because heart failure is a challenging condition to treat and manage.” says Justin Fox, MD, a board-certified cardiologist and interventional cardiologist, Chair of the Department of Cardiology at RWJUH Hamilton, and member of Hamilton Cardiology Associates.

“Our task is to successfully guide the care of heart failure patients both during and after their hospitalization.” he says.

“During the hospital stay, my cardiologist colleagues and I work to provide optimal medical therapy and any needed procedures to stabilize and treat the patient,” he says. “After discharge, our best practice is to have a team approach to the follow-up care including timely visits with their outpatient cardiologist and primary

This is the highest distinction a hospital can earn for U.S. News’ Best Hospitals Procedures & Conditions ratings.

If you or someone you know is living with heart failure and would like to learn more about the program, please call 609-203-4326.

Visit rwjbh.org/heart

Programs at RWJUH Hamilton this month

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

tuesday, february 4

“These goals are achieved with thorough education to patients/ families, medication adjustments, blood work and providing IV treatments if necessary. Our team works to understand and help patients manage the psychosocial aspects of their condition, which is key to achieving better quality of life.”

Who is Eligible to Participate?

Referral to the Healthy Lives Hamilton program may occur during an inpatient stay at a hospital, or a physician may refer patients to the program on an outpatient basis. Patients with heart failure and other chronic conditions are eligible to be enrolled.

Note that the Healthy Lives team will collaborate with a patient’s medical providers for the most comprehensive care. Patients will still continue to be cared for by their regular cardiologist and other providers.

Ultimately, improving quality of life for those living with heart failure requires a multidisciplinary approach that addresses both the physical and psychosocial aspects of the disease, fostering a better life for patients.

In 2024, RWJUH Hamilton was named by U.S. News & World Report to its 2024-2025 Best Hospitals as a High Performing Hospital for Heart Failure.

RWJUH Hamilton, and Ann Mancuso, CNS, RN, CHFN, Heart Failure Program Coordinator, Healthy Lives Program, RWJUH Hamilton; for an engaging and life changing session on ways to improve and maintain a strong healthy heart.

monday, february 10

Lunch & Learn–Cardiac Catheterization & Coronary Angioplasty (Better Health). 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Join Justin Fox, MD, Chair of the Dept. of Cardiology, RWJUH Hamilton, member of Hamilton Cardiology Associates, board-certified cardiologist and interventional cardiologist, for an in-depth session on the advancements and minimally invasive techniques available to diagnose and manage cardiovascular pathology to improve heart health. A heart-healthy lunch will be provided & registration is required.

tHursday, february 27

Your Heart Matters (Community Health). 1-2 p.m. Join Connie Moceri, MSN, RN, A-GNPC, Administrative Director Patient Care-Cardiovascular Services, Healthy Lives Program (a Heart Failure Intervention Program),

Dinner with a Doctor–Atrial Fibrillation (Community Health). 5:30-7 p.m. Join Zaw Win Tun, MD, RWJUH Hamilton, member of Hamilton Cardiology Associates, and an expert in cardiac electro-physiology, to explore the complexities of Atrial Fibrillation (A Fib), one of the most common heart rhythm disorders. Learn how minimally invasive alternatives offer stroke prevention. This discussion will cover the causes and symptoms of A Fib, current treatment options, and how devices are transforming patient outcomes. A heart-healthy dinner will be provided & registration is required.

Building Character & Community

DESTRIBATS CAMPBELL STAUB

9 questions with painter Elina Lorenz

Thomas Kelly FIGht In the MuSeuM

Bernard

Elina Lorenz paints colorful nature and animal pieces in an abstracted folk style that are full of color, forms and pattern. These paintings have a calmness and natural feel, with the abstracted shapes and bright colors.

Beside her paintings on panel, canvas and textiles, Lorenz paints faces for events and festivals. In this arena, the animal themes are vivid and intricate.

When did you begin in the arts?

I began as a child. I was born in Moldova. My mother and father were both artists. So, I pretty much grew up in the arts. We had different schools for different disciplines. I went to art school from 8th through 12th grade.

Which media do you work in?

I am trained in all the media, so I am proficient with mostly all. I make paintings with oil paint, acrylic, watercolor, pastels and even colored pencils. I will also make fabric art with textiles. My go-to is oil paint though, unless I wish for something that dries more quickly.

What subject matter most interests you?

I am drawn to nature-based art. I like to paint birds, cats and other animals. My work is a cross between more realistic and more abstract views of the animals and their backgrounds.

Who are some of your artistic inspirations or influences?

In school, I started loving the Impressionists, especially Monet. I was also inspired by the bright paintings of Van Gogh. I love Picasso and the use of colors and different forms. I have always found his imagination fascinating. The work of Matisse has also interested me. The later work with the colorful collages and cutouts are especially interesting.

How did you start with face painting?

I used to teach art classes for young people up to adults. Now I have started a face-painting business, Sublime Colors Face Painting. I am hired for events, birthday parties, fair and town festivals. I work in New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania.

Some current favorites are unicorns, lions and tigers and butterflies. There are always popular superheroes: Spiderman, Batman, Iron Man and Captain America. What fight/struggle do you have regarding your art?

may not be motivated. As artists, we wish to create, but we are forced to take care of the business end also. When I have commissions, I am motivated, as I give myself a deadline.

My mood is best when I am painting. I tend to paint more in winter, as I am a studio painter, and when it is cold I am inside more. I focus better in the studio.

Do people approach you for commissions?

I am approached by friends and people who see my work on social media. I get many requests to paint people’s cats once they see my work. I paint in my folkinspired style. I developed this style here. In Moldova, we studied to paint traditionally. Painting and drawing from the casted figures. When we started we were taught in two colors, white and black or brown and develop all of the tones from these two. Now I have simplified the compositions, but have livened up the paintings with much more color.

What are you working on now?

I am working on a 30x40-inch painting titled “At Night.” It will be a larger piece with a blue and white color scheme. It is oil on canvas. I usually paint oil on canvas and acrylic on panel.

I have also just completed painting a denim jacket with a Bob Marley piece. I like to paint the fabric wearable art also. What is on the horizon? What are you looking forward to?

I have a one person show coming up at Brookwood Café in the spring. I have a lot of work and am happy to show it. Smaller and medium size pieces will be exhibited. Web: sublime-colors.com/shop-art.

Thomas Kelly is a Hamilton-based artist. On the web: thomaskellyart.com. Anthony J. Destribats

Sometimes, if my art is not selling, I

A painting by Elina Lorenz.

ClassIfIed

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The brief, troubled lives of modern appliances

Peter Dabbene CoMPLeX SIMPLICIty

There are snowflakes in my kitchen, and it’s not because the freezer isn’t working correctly. Well, not exactly.

As an informal reference to people who are weak, spoiled, or overly delicate, the term “snowflake” gained popularity via Fox News in 2016, during Donald Trump’s first year in office, though it wasn’t actually used to refer to him.

The new usage was added to MerriamWebster’s dictionary in 2019, and while its appearances are less frequent these days, for a time “snowflakes” were everywhere. Now they’re in my kitchen, in the form of weak, spoiled, overly delicate appliances.

My last refrigerator—now replaced— had been a constant source of trouble, mainly because ice would form behind the freezer wall and block the internal fan from working. The water line would freeze, blocking water flow from the unit’s exterior dispenser. In its final weeks, unplugging the fridge to thaw out the water line had become an everyday occurance, a tricky maneuver when you’re trying to keep your ice cream in a solid state.

We also replaced a dishwasher recently, after the last one began regularly leaking small amounts of water—just enough to trip an internal water detector and prevent the machine from operating.

Both appliances, refrigerator and dishwasher, were about six years old. A moment of silence please, for they died much too young, according to the manufacturer’s lifespan estimates.

In both cases, problems that seemed fixable fell prey to a common out-ofwarranty conundrum: maybe a visit from a repair technician would fix the issue,

but maybe it wouldn’t. Are you feeling lucky?

With the dishwasher, I rolled the dice and lost. But for $150, I did get some sage advice from the technician: just buy a new dishwasher.

The replacement dishwasher connects to an app on your smartphone —handy if you develop a sudden desire to load your dishwasher before leaving for work, but then withhold the command to run it until lunchtime. After all, sometimes you’ve got to show the dishwasher who’s boss: “You wash dishes when I SAY you wash dishes.”

But, perhaps as a sacrifice to the new features, some useful elements that had been available in the older model were now absent.

For example, the old dishwasher had a screen that could display an error code if something wasn’t working correctly. This code provided valuable information as to the nature of the problem and how to fix it. But when the replacement dishwasher stopped working after three weeks, there was no screen with an error display to read, just a series of beeps, clicks, and flashing lights that even the company’s tech helpline couldn’t interpret.

A visit from an experienced technician—this time, covered by warranty—fixed it. The original installer had placed a screw improperly, a barely noticeable mistake, but one that prevented the dishwasher door from closing completely.

Instead of reading a quick error message from the dishwasher saying “door not closed,” though, we had to go all C-3PO on its R2-D2 to figure out the problem, interpreting patterns of colored flashing lights and sounds in the crude technological language also common to wireless speakers, routers, and a multitude of other electronic devices.

This did nothing to ease the ongoing need for that high cost-per-ounce

liquid gold known as “rinse aid,” which modern dishwashers demand like a diva insisting on fresh-cut flowers or a particular brand of snack basket before performing. Meanwhile, previous refrigerators demanded frequent water filter replacements, but the new model introduced yet another maintenance task, changing the air filter every six months as recommended “to ensure optimal performance.”

There was a time, not so long ago, when engineers and even product designers emphasized the practical, the efficient, the easy and successful operation of a product. Alas, that time seems to have passed in favor of a new era, marked by shorter lifespans for products due to systems that are both oversimplified and overcomplicated.

The overcomplicated is easy enough to see—touchscreens that are notoriously touchy, ovens with too many settings, vehicles and thermostats that all but demand wi-fi connections. They offer state-of-the-art conveniences, but every new feature adds to the level of complication, and the raises the odds of something going wrong.

In the old days, your dishwasher was loud and clunky, but it didn’t require rinse aid and it lasted a long time. Your refrigerator didn’t need regular replacement of its air filter, and it lasted a long time. Your thermostat lasted a long time, and its default setting wasn’t to save on energy costs by figuring out your patterns and predicting your needs, as my “smart thermostat” recently did. I noticed something was wrong when, despite the thermostat being set for 70 degrees, the temperature read 60, with no indications of impending change. Maybe AI is finally making its move on humanity—a slow and subtle first step, throwing us off our game by making us all slightly chilly.

At the other end of the dysfunctional spectrum, there’s oversimplication. Looking at many modern products, you might think that the quickest way to lose your job as a product designer is to utilize the English language. In their quest for sleek design, outward displays of information like words, letters, and numbers are frowned upon.

Thus, I’m stuck with power strip outlets that are much too sophisticated to have “ON” or “OFF” labels, but instead offer a filled-in circle and an unfilled-in circle, symbols non-intuitive enough (to me, anyway) that a round of experimentation is required every time to refresh my memory as to which is which.

A new FIOS set-top box I was forced to adopt by Verizon doesn’t show the time like the old one did; it’s smaller and sleeker, but sometimes you just want to know what time it is without having to check your phone. With no visible display of hour and minute, our TV room is beginning to feel like a casino.

In a nice “full (filled-in) circle” moment, an old radio/alarm clock that had gone unused for years may see a second life as a vital indicator of the passage of time.

I blame Steve Jobs for all this. Apple products always looked cool, but in my experience, weren’t as functional as other products on the market. Yet the world fell in love with iDevices, and its appearanceover-function credo has spread like a pandemic. Would it completely destroy the aesthetics of a television to make the on/off button a little more visible, or even a different color than the rest of the TV?

I have a message for the product designers—please stop reinventing the wheel by giving it the new, exciting twist of making it square. It’s unlikely they’ll listen, of course. In the same way text is the kiss of death for modern designers, an admission that “We’re kind of happy keeping things the way they are,” is anathema in the business world, a phenomenon I observed firsthand when I worked as a stock analyst. I attended or listened in on shareholder meetings for Snapple, Wrigley, and other companies, where they’d ask us to drink the delusional Kool-Aid (or Snapple Lemonade) while they explained their grand plans to convert large swaths of the globe into habitual iced tea drinkers and chewing gum enthusiasts.

It would be nice if some company introduced a “retro classic” line of products: simple, unsophisticated, but sturdy and reliable. Will there one day be a line of appliances where the the main feature is the lack of new features?

Hmm. The concept actually does exist in the cell phone industry, with products like the Jitterbug, a smartphone whose technology nearly dates back to the golden era of that dance. It’s extra loud, extra simple, and extra clear, but buying one would also kind of feel like giving up. So maybe I’ll stick it out with the snowflakes. At least they’ll look pretty for the short time before they disappear. In the meantime, I’ll keep a mop handy, along with a list of technical support phone numbers, ready for their next inevitable meltdown.

Peter Dabbene’s website is peterdabbene.com.

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.

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