5-23 HP

Seward Johnson sculpture to have new Awakening

By SUe Ferrara

Rare is the local resident who has not come upon a person engaged in a daily routine, only to discover the “person” is made of bronze. Commuters can’t navigate to the NJ Transit train station in Hamilton without seeing the larger-than-life mariachi band, or the characters from Grant Wood’s American Gothic, standing tall, with a suitcase.

These creations and more are the work of J. Seward Johnson, a man who serendipitously left his mark on the art world, and did so until March of 2020, when he died of cancer at the age of 89.

On Sunday, May 21 at 11 a.m., the Hopewell Valley Arts Council and The Seward Johnson Atelier–in conjunction with D&R Greenway Land Trust, and the artist’s family–will host an opening ceremony for a six-month-long celebration of Johnson’s life and artwork. The event will be held on the grounds of D&R Greenway’s St. Michaels Farm Preserve, where one of Johnson’s iconic

See AWAKENING, Page 16

Billy Briggs Scholarship gives teens a taste of Irish Culture

By Joe Emanski

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

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

Joey’s Place gives Hamilton a new place ‘Where angels play’

By Joe Emanski

Hundreds gathered in Limewood Park on April 6 to celebrate the grand opening of Hamilton Township’s newest playground — one with deep sentimental meaning for many of those in attendance.

The sign above the walkway leading to the playground reads, “Joey’s Place.” Joey is

Joey Angiolino, a township resident who was diagnosed in 2009 with Hurler’s Syndrome, a rare genetic disease. He was seven months old.

Joey’s parents James and Nicole Rogers Angiolino, tried every treatment for Joey in the fight to overcome the illness. Despite their best efforts, Joey died in the pediatric intensive care unit of Duke University

Hospital in July 2010.

In honor of their son, they created Joey’s Little Angels, a nonprofit organization that raises money with the aim of donating it to pediatric hospitals across the country.

Joey’s Little Angels also joined forces with a regional nonprofit organization, the Where Angels Play Foundation, to build the

See JOEY, Page 14

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

Michaela McFadden and Lauren Tracey were the first two winners of the scholarship. Thirteen years later, the Steinert High Graduates remain a part of the program, serving as co-chairs.

To help raise some of the funds needed to keep the schol-

See BRIGGS, Page 18

Joey’s Place, a playground in Limewood Park in Hamilton, was dedicated on April 6, 2023 to Joey Angiolino, who died at the age of 15 months in 2009 due to a rare disease. (Photo by Joe Emanski.)

Rain Barrel Workshop

When: Saturday, May 6th 1PM-3:30PM

Where: Tulpehaking Nature Center

157 Westcott Avenue, Hamilton, NJ 08610

Workshop includes: Introductory presentation on rain barrels, rain barrel supplies, and hands-on instruction!

Only 30 spots available. Please email wma20.njwap@gmail.com to register.

Cost: $25 If you are interested in attending the presentation but NOT taking a barrel home, you can register for FREE!

Reminder: Please be sure to have room in your vehicle to take your barrel home!

Thank you to our sponsors, the Hamilton Township Environmental Commission and Green Team

BalletCNJ brings home Outstanding School Award

BalletCNJ, a local ballet school, has announced that it was named the winner of the Outstanding School Award in the YAGP New York 2023 semi-final.

The award was given by Youth America Grand Prix, a nonprofit student ballet competition and scholarship program. The Outstanding School Award is given in recognition of a school’s body of work and students’ performances. It is part of a special group of awards presented by YAGP at the semi-finals every year.

“We are so honored for this recognition,” said school director Thiago Silva. “We could not be more proud of the wonderful community we have created.”

BalletCNJ is a local ballet school located in Hamilton. BalletCNJ directors have been awarded Outstanding Teachers for three consecutive years, up until 2022. This is the first time BalletCNJ has won the Outstanding School Award, which commemorates the success of the school, the staff, and its students as a

whole.

“We dedicate this to our students and families,” said artistic director Alexander Dutko. “It means a lot to us. Especially after the pandemic, this means we’re stronger than ever.”

BalletCNJ has been invited to participate in the YAGP international finals for groups and soloists representing the U.S.A. and New Jersey. The finals are held at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa.

Patriotic Committee to observe Armed Forces Day

The Hamilton Township Patriotic Committee has plans to conduct a tribute honoring the U.S. Armed Forces on Armed Forces Day. The ceremony will be held at the East Entrance to Veterans Park in Hamilton Township, on Yardville-Hamilton Square Road. A special program has

See NEWS, Page 8

Hamilton Post

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

EDITOR

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Credit Union of NJ opens new branch in Deer Path Pavilion

Taking part in the April 17, 2023 ribbon-cutting event for the Credit Union of New Jersey’s new branch in Deer Path Pavilion are Philip Prassas Credit Union of New Jersey board member; Anthony Carabelli, Hamilton Township councilman and Director of Mercer County Economic Development; Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo; Hamilton Mayor Jeff Martin; Gary Chizmadia, Credit Union of New Jersey board chairman; Tom Valeri, Credit Union of New Jersey board vice chairman (and Hamilton Post co-publisher); Magdalena Giacone, Credit Union of New Jersey Hamilton Branch Manager; and Andrew L. Jaeger, Credit Union of New Jersey president and chief executive officer.

Credit Union of New Jersey has announced the opening of its fourth and newest branch at 691 Route 130 North in the Deer Path Pavilion Shopping Center in Hamilton. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on April 17.

The Hamilton branch features new ITM banking technology, which is intended to enhance member experience and simplify banking services.

“This new branch is a testament to our commitment to serving our members and

the local community,” said Andrew Jaeger, President and CEO of Credit Union of New Jersey.

Jaeger continued: “Our new branch will provide convenient access to financial services, personalized assistance, and innovative solutions to help our members achieve their financial goals. We look forward to welcoming both existing and new members to our new location and continuing to build strong relationships with the community.” Web: cunj.org.

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been planned for the event, including color guards from various veteran organizations including the Hamilton Township Police Honor Guard, Trenton Ancient Order of Hibernians Pipe and Drum Band and Steinert High School Select Choir. A ribbon cutting will be held for all bricks installed on the committee’s Patriotic Walkway honoring loved ones andfamilies. This ceremony is free and open to the public.

Laundromat hosting Spin Fest charity drive

Spin Doctor Laundromat is running its annual Spring Spin-Fest through May 31. Spin Doctor, 1070 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road at Kuser Road, Hamilton Township, says it is pledging $2 from every comforter washed April 1 through May 31 to the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps, John T. Dempster Jr. Division, a nonprofit organization located in Lawrence Township, Mercer County. The organization’s mission is to foster teamwork and self-confidence and teaches leadership skills to young men and women ages 11 to 17 years old.

The division has supported events at Rutgers University, marched in parades, and trained with members of the mili-

tary and law enforcement. The charity drive will also feature a prize giveaway of a king-size bed set. On the Web: spindoctorlaundromat.com or call (609) 981-7746.

Azalea Festival returning after 4-year hiatus

Hamilton Township is once again set to host an Azalea Festival on Mothers Day weekend after a pandemic-enforced hiatus.

The festival was for many years an annual celebration centered on the colorful seasonal blooming of azalea, dogwood and rhododendron bushes in the township’s Sayen Gardens park. But it has been on hold since 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic led to its first of three cancellations.

The festival is set for Saturday, May 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Throughout the event, visitors can tour the Sayen House, visit crafters and vendors, grab a bite to eat from food trucks or listen to live musical entertainment.

For more information, including vendor and sponsorship information, go online to hamiltonnj.com/AzaleaFestival. The rain date for the event is Sunday, May 14.

The Steinert High School a cappella choir, the Spartones, directed by Medelyn Curtin, are set to open the Foreigner concert at PNC Bank Arts Center on Sept. 3, as a result of winning a singing contest. Pictured are (back row) Jack Buckley, Dream Hemingway, Matthew Catalfomo, David Zara, Ryan James; (middle row) Sophie Smith, Rylee Cascone, Paige Schultz, Olivia Dzbenski, Jessalyn Aderhold; (front row) Molly Devlin, Daniella Conte, Samantha Krall, Anna Acuna and Diana Schulz. (Photo by Laura Geltch.)

$16,408.26

DINE & DONATE DAY

In

will

1973

Please

YEARS

UPCOMING CHARITABLE EVENTS:

2023

JUNE 11: NJ Autism

JULY 9: Joeys Little Angels

AUGUST 6: Whats My Name

SEPTEMBER 10: Ryans Quest

OCTOBER 8: I Believe in Pink

1973

NOVEMBER 12: Shine & Inspire

DECEMBER 10: OneProjectNJ & Mobile Meals of Hamilton

DOUGH RAISED:

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

YEARS

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

MAR.12: The Hamilton YMCA $4,398.07

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

2023

Please consider visiting the websites of these organizations for additional donation opportunities!

217 Route 130 N, Bordentown, NJ

RWJ to host 7th annual ‘We vs. C’ fundraiser event

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, is preparing to host the 7th annual We vs. C on Saturday, June 3 at 6 p.m. at Glenmoore Farm in Hopewell.

Guests will be invited to celebrate La Dolce Vita with a presentation of Italian culinary creations, an exotic car exhibition featuring Ferrari and Maserati, and live entertainment.

Organizers say that the Under the Italian Skythemed event will benefit the Holistic Program at the Cancer Center at RWJUH Hamilton.

Tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis through May 24, and are priced at $175 for a single guest ticket and $325 for a pair of guest tickets. The event will also offer a range of sponsorship tiers, starting at the $1,500.

For more details and event information visit rwjbh.org/wevscundertheitaliansky or email hamiltonfoundation@rwjbh.org.

‘Big Reck Bash’ to honor long-time band director

The Big Reck Memorial Foundation is planning a big celebration for this month to celebrate the life and teaching career of long-time Hamilton High West band director Karl J. Recktenwald III.

The Big Reck Bash is scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 20 at Villa Mannino in Bordentown from noon to 4 p.m. The Big Reck Memorial Foundation Committee says that funds raised from the luncheon will go toward a memorial scholarship in Recktenwald’s name.

Recktenwald, a Bordentown resident, died in November 2020 at the age of 74 from Covid-19 related illness. He grew up in Hamilton, attending Kuser School and Steinert High School.

After graduating from Trenton State College (The College of New Jersey), he took a job as a teacher and band director at Hamilton High School West, building up the band from around 15 members to more than 350 at its height. He met his wife, Carmela, at West, where they collaborated on the annual school musicals.

Big Reck passed away in November 2020 and because of covid, as well as his personal wishes, the services were kept private. Sharing this story would bring a sense of comfort and closure to his family, friends, colleagues and former students.

Tickets to the buffet luncheon are limited and cost $50. To find out how to attend, email bigreckmemorial@gmail.com.

Mother-daughter duo celebrate a pair of awards

American Medical Women’s Association leader, Dr. Mary Rorro, has been honored with the Presidential Gold Volunteer Service Award, an award bestowed by the president of the United States.

The award was established by executive order by George W. Bush to honor outstanding volunteers that give hundreds of hours per year helping others and recognizes the impact they make, through the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation. Gold level indicates over 600 hours committed to community service.

Rorro is a physician, songwriter and published poet and writer. She is physi-

Recktenwald

cian chair for the AMWA Music and Medicine Committee and Co-Chair of AMWA’s Medical Humanities Committee.

In her psychiatric practice at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Dr. Rorro can be found playing the viola for patients under her care as part of a music program she created in the VA, known as “A Few Good Notes.”

Her mother, Hamilton resident Gilda Rorro, has also recently been honored with a noted award. She was one of the honorees in Massachusetts on April 1 to receive the Pirandello Lyceum I Migliori in Mens et Gesta: The Best in Mind and Deeds, 2023 Honor Awards. Her category was as an Italian Culture Advocate, Educator, Author. Boston Magazine has called the I Migliori Award the most prestigious honor to be received by a person of Italian descent.

‘Unstoppable’ Hamilton businesses honored by Mercer County

In March, Small Business Development Centers across the nation celebrated National SBDC Day.

The SBDC at the College of New Jersey took its celebration one step further this year when five Mercer County businesses were presented with certificates of appreciation as part of the SBDC at TCNJ’s 2nd Annual Mercer Unstoppables Program. Three of the five businesses honored are based in Hamilton.

The NJSBDC at TCNJ said the businesses honored as Mercer Unstoppables were selected by NJSBDC at TCNJ for their ability to expand their existing businesses or launch entirely new businesses under challenging economic and labor conditions. Learn more about these businesses and their stories atsbdcnj.com/ unstoppables.

Brian M. Hughes, Mercer County executive, and Anthony Carabelli, Mercer County director of economic development, presented the certificates along with NJSBDC at TCNJ regional director, Lilian Mauro.

Here are the 2023 Mercer County Unstoppable Businesses:

Enterprise Solutions Accounting LLC –Henry Pulido, Owner (Hamilton); K’s Event Decorations and Rentals –Antonia James, Owner (Hamilton); Little King Sandwiches – Robert Mustardo, Owner (Hamilton); Nonstop Fitness – Marcus Eaddy and David Milligan, Owners (Lawrenceville); Walkers Caribbean Grill – Lovell Walker and Nordia Henry-Walker, Co-Owners (Ewing). Web: sbdcnj.com.

Gilda Rorro, left, with daughter Mary Rorro, recipient of the Presidential Gold Volunteer Service award.

Township 8-year-old a finalist in national NASA essay contest

By Joe Emanski

Noelle Moore is a big fan of The Space Gal — otherwise known as Emily Calendrelli — an M.I.T.-trained engineer and the host of such TV programs as Xploration Outer Space on Fox and Emily’s Wonder Lab on Netflix.

Moore, an 8-year-old Hamilton resident, has a thirst for knowledge about space and space science, and The Space Gal’s television shows, YouTube videos and books are just some of the ways she learns about her favorite subject.

Last year, NASA invited students in grades K-12 to submit essays for its “Power to Explore” challenge. The challenge asked entrants to watch a video about radioisotope power systems, or RPS, and “dream up a new RPS-powered space mission.”

Moore was among the 1,600 students nationwide who submitted essays for the challenge. In March, she learned that she had been chosen as a semifinalist in the contest, and in April, she found out that she was chosen as one of three finalists in grades K-4. Luca Pollack of Carlsbad, California, was announced as the winner of the age group on April 25.

“I really want to be an aerospace engineer when I grow up, and build rockets,” Moore told the Hamilton Post. “I really think space is cool, and all the planets and I want to see if there are any different

lifeforms maybe. When I’m older I want to see if I can go to Olympus Mons (on Mars) and, like, fact find and see if there’s any lifeforms there.”

Moore, 8, is a student at Princeton Day School. Her brother, Sebastian, 13, is also a student there. Mom Sarah, a Steinert High School graduate, is supervisor of elementary education for Princeton Public Schools. Dad David, a biochemist, graduated from Hamilton High School West.

“We are always really proud of both of the kids, but really pleasantly surprised when Noelle made the top 15 out of 1,600 applicants,” Sarah Moore said. “We told her don’t worry (if you don’t win), it’s an honor to get that far. When we found out that she was in the top 3, it was super exciting for her.”

NASA asked entrants to submit Q&A responses in addition to their essays. In response to the question, “Why did you choose to submit an essay?” she wrote:

“I’ve loved space and engineering since I was three. I’m always reading about space, watching videos about aerospace engineering, and my entire bedroom is decorated with NASA items.”

Noelle’s essay is on the right.

Saturday - May 13, 2023

RPS Helping The Mars Mission

By Noelle Moore

The year is 2038, and I am currently building my first spacecraft as an aerospace engineer at NASA. This spacecraft will use radioisotope power systems on its mission to Mars. The spacecraft’s goal is to explore Olympus Mons, which is the largest volcano in the solar system. It is three times the size of Mount Everest. The RPS on my spacecraft will fuel and heat my spacecraft so that I can do research around how we can tap into ancient pockets of water in Olympus Mons to help encourage settlement on Mars.

Water is important to help create an environment where people can live. If we can figure out how to access water from Olympus Mons, we can help support settlement on Mars.

My superpower is that I’m dyslexic, but I’m very good at reading because I’ve worked hard to practice. I think my superpower will help me work at NASA, because I am VERY talented at math and science, and I’m a creative thinker. A percentage of NASA employees are dyslexic, so I think my superpower will help me fit in.

am- pm 10 4

Raindate: Sunday - May 14th

Noelle Moore was named a national finalist in NASA’s “Power to Explore” essay challenge.

playground in Limewood Park that bears Joey’s name.

April 6, the date of the grand opening, would have been Joey’s 14th birthday.

“This has been a priority for us, building this playground and making it as special as it is,” said James Angiolino, who serves as the chairman of the board for Joey’s Little Angels. “Every day when I go by there or my wife goes by, it is always packed. Our goal was to make it a place for families to make memories.”

Joey’s Little Angels may be best known for its holiday toy drives. Each fall, the organization collects toys with the goal of donating them to pediatric hospitals around the country, donating more than 40,000 toys to date.

But the nonprofit has other missions as well. To date, Joey’s Little Angels reports having raised more than $250,000 to donate to the Duke Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Family Support Program and other families who have a child seeking medical treatment. In the next few years, Angiolino says the organization hopes to increase distribution from nationwide to worldwide.

Joey’s Little Angels also raised more than $100,000 to help fund the playground

project, which has been in the works since before the pandemic. The Angiolinos had originally hoped to break ground in spring 2020, but the coronavirus crisis

forced delays of more than two years. Not to be daunted, the Angiolinos and their organization used the time to seek further donations. “The pandemic

pushed us back considerably, but with some time to raise more funds, we were able to persevere to build an even bigger playground,” Angiolino told the Post.

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Left: The Angiolino family at the grand opening event at Limewood Park for Joey’s Place — Nicholas, Nicole, James, Matthew and Olivia.Right: A sign for Joey Angiolino on the playground site.

Brick pavers on the walkway to Joey’s Place with inscriptions to Joey Angiolino from the family and from community members. (Photo by Joe Emanski.)

Joey’s Little Angels partnered with Where Angels Play, a nonprofit organization that specializes in building playgrounds throughout the tri-state area. James and Nicole met with Where Angels Play founder Bill Lavin and his daughter, executive director MaryKate Lavin, and agreed on a plan to build a playground in Hamilton.

They also met with Hamilton Mayor Jeff Martin, who helped them choose the site for the playground. “My wife grew up in that area,” Angiolino said. “It felt right, like a good place to build Joey’s Place.”

Angiolino said that the playground project would never have turned out as well as it did without the hard volunteer work of Massimo Zomparelli and his team from

of Ripi Concrete, who laid the foundation of the playground and every brick.

In addition to the playground, the site features a walkway of brick pavers leading from the street. Many of the bricks are inscribed with dedications from donors who purchased bricks to help raise the funds necessary to build the park. Some bricks are still available for inscription; for more info, email joeyslittleangels@yahoo.com.

James Angiolino is dean of students at Notre Dame High School in Lawrence, where he also coaches soccer and softball. He was a teacher in the Hamilton Township School District for 15 years, teaching and coaching at both Reynolds and Steinert.

Nicole Angiolino is also a teacher, working at Sayen Elementary School, where she teaches basic skills to students in grades K–5.

Also a big part of the organization and the effort to build Joey’s Place are James and Nicole’s other children: Nicholas, a freshman at Notre Dame High School and Joey’s elder brother; and twins Olivia and Matthew, Joey’s younger siblings.

“After Joey passed away, Nicholas — he was 2 and a half — Nicholas was the driving force of getting us out of bed every day. He gave us purpose at that point. He’ll never know how important he was to get us through that dark time,” James said.

“After Joey, we were blessed with twins Olivia and Matthew, who just truly are compassionate kids. They’re always looking to help any way they can, whether it’s packing toys or giving away Joey’s T-shirts. They’re always looking to be a help. Having compassionate and empathetic kids is truly a gift. Nicole and I are lucky to have three great kids.”

On the web: joeyslittleangels.org and whereangelsplayfoundation.org.

sculptures, “The Awakening,” has been installed.

In an interview, Carol Lipson, Executive Director for the Hopewell Valley Arts Council, said she always wondered why Seward Johnson’s work was never displayed in the town where he lived. That wondering led to the idea of holding a celebration of the artist’s life and work. It took a year for Lipson, and Lynn DeClemente Losavio, program officer for the Johnson Atelier, to design a plan; while in the process, they reached out to Linda Mead, the Executive Director of the D&R Greenway Land Trust.

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

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

According to the Smithsonian’s Art Inventories Catalog, the first edition of “The Awakening” was cast in five parts over a two year period” and was installed on Hains Point in Washington, DC for the June 1980 International Sculpture Conference. Depending on the positioning, The Awakening is 70-72 feet long; the aluminum sculpture’s five parts include a left hand, a 17-foot-long outstretched right arm with hand–the tallest point of the statue–a right foot, a

left leg with bent knee, and a head with beard and mustache, and an open mouth which could emit loud grunts as this buried man tries to emerge from the earth.

There are actually five editions of The Awakening. The one which used to sit at Hains Point is now located on the Potomac River at the National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Congress voted

to have a Peace Park erected at Hains Point. Those in charge of that project didn’t think a giant fit that mission, so The Awakening had to be moved. Johnson, who had loaned the piece to the National Park Service, was a bit mystified by the decision. In 1989, he told a Washington Post reporter, “In every mythology there’s a giant. It’s sort of hit a common chord. And every taxi driver that I take in Washington says they take everybody there” to see my work.

Eventually, Johnson decided to sell the piece. Developers of the National Harbor knew how much people adored The Awakening and didn’t want to see it leave the DC area. In 2007, they purchased the artwork. That giant now emerges from sand.

The second edition of the piece sits along the Missouri River in Chesterfield, Missouri. The city acquired The Awakening in October of 2009. The third and fourth editions remain in Mercer County–one can be found at the Grounds for Sculpture in the area called The Meadow; the other is now in Hopewell. A fifth edition, done in fiberglass, can be found in Viterbo, Italy.

The Hopewell edition was taken from storage at the Grounds for Sculpture and transported on three flatbeds to Hopewell for installation in a field at St. Michaels

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

BRIGGS continued from Page 1

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

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

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

“It was Todd’s idea,” Tracey says. “He reached out to us and said we would love to do this and give the money to the Billy Briggs Memorial Scholarship. Todd has kept Tír na nOg exactly the same (as it was when Briggs owned it), and I think Billy would be really proud.”

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

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

Ellen. After his death, Briggs was buried in Ireland in accordance with his wishes.

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

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

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

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

A panel of judges select two winners from all applicants to receive a three-week trip to Coláiste Bhun An Inbhir, an Irish Cultural College in County Donegal. Winners stay with a host family and are exposed to the language, culture and sports of Ireland. This year’s winners, Christopher Whalen of Hamilton and Matthew Guhl-Erdie of Lawrence, are set to depart for Ireland on July 15, returning home on Aug. 7.

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

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

See BRIGGS, Page 20

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

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

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

Griffin was a regular at Tír na nOg and a friend of Billy Briggs. Briggs was godfather to Griffin’s daughter, Rosemarie, and Rosemarie was among the first recipients of the scholarship.

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

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

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

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

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

“I reached out to people I thought would be interested, that I know enjoy running and that support the pub and would support the scholarship,” he says. “There are a couple people too that I wouldn’t classify as runners, but they’re sacrificing and doing it with us.”

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

“My hopes are we do it as an annual thing

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

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

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

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

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

BY REBEKAH SCHROEDER

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

gress did.

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

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

See Point Breeze, Page 4

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

From the garden at the rear of what will

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

open space from turning into housing complexes or warehouses.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Top of the Line Care That You Can Count On

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

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

JANS Caregiver Services can provide the following therapeutic

services in home care, both short and long term.

Short Term:

• Post Surgery

• Post Injury

• Short term disability

Long Term:

• Elder Care

• Memory Issues

• Mobility Issues

We are trained and certified to

assist with the following chronic health conditions:

• Alzheimer’s

• Dementia

• Diabetes

• Parkinson’s

• Fibromialgia

Our services Include:

• Personalized In Home Care

• Basic Grooming

• Bathing

• Feeding and Specialized Diet needs

• Light housekeeping including (laundry, dishes, vacuum)

• Meal Preparation (Including special diet needs and restrictions)

• Medication Reminders

• Mobility Assistance

• Personal Hygiene

• Physical Therapy Assistance/ Continuation of care plan

• Toileting and Incontinent Care

• Transferring and Positioning

• Companion and Security Care

• Spending time in conversation

• Card and Board Games

• Puzzles and other activities that stimulate active thinking

• Providing the security of loved one not home alone

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

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

See ad, page 16

From

Our

you thought possible.

Our

analyze your movement and restore normal movement patterns.

women’s health

Regenerative Spine and Pain Institute

Treating Pain with PRP and Stem Cell Therapy

Pain.

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

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

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

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

• Osteoarthritis

• Rotator cuff tear

• Back pain

• Meniscus tears

• Tennis elbow

• Disc herniations

• Tendonitis

• Neck pain

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

procedures.

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

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

So how does PRP therapy work?

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

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

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

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

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

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

See ad, page 3.

Dr. Ronak Patel MD

Roxanne Gennari, Coldwell Banker

A Top Producer in the Mercer County Region

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

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

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

The Roxanne Gennari Team

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

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

www.RoxanneGennari.com Rox@RoxanneGennari.com

The Roxanne Gennari Team

Top Producing Agent

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

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

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

See ad, page 17

“Radiology

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

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

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

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

See ad, page 14.

women’s health

Fluid Physio Helping People Move

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

health

RWJUH Programs and Support Groups

Healthy Living for Mind, Body, Spirit & Support

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

many health screenings. Most of these programs are free.

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

LESS TIME IN THE MRI

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See ad, page 15

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

Wide Bore available at Lawrenceville

RWJ Hamilton Healthy Living / May Community Education Programs

All programs require registration.

Colon Cancer Isn’t Just a 50+ Disease

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

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

Raised Bed Basics

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

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

Bubbles and Brushes

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

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

Osteoporosis Screening

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

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

Stroke: Every Second Counts

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

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

Safety and Security Awareness in Today’s World

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

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

Take Home Colorectal Screening and Lecture

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

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

Chakras 101: Understanding Your Energetic Anatomy

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

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

Dance It Out!

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

May 16: Kick Up Your Heels Line Dancing

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

Ask the Dietitian

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

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

Mindfulness Meditation for Beginners

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

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

HealthRythms® Drumming Circle

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

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

What’s in the Box? *VIRTUAL*

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

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

Woman’s Situational Awareness and Self Defense

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

Seasonal Anxiety-Watch out for Spring Fever!

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

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

Better Health Programs/Complimentary

Let’s Talk, A Senior Social Group

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

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

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

Tai Chi Classes

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

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

How Smart are Animals

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

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

Meditation Classes

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kids Fit in the Kitchen!

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

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

Reiki Share

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

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

Wise Women Discussion Group

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

The M Word: Menopause

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

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

Lung Cancer Screening-Who Qualifies and When to Get Screened

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

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

at 65+ Years Old

Spring Fling Lunch and Music

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

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

No Place Like home, Lunch & Learn & More!

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

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

Grounds for Sculpture Wellness Walk

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

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

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

RWJBarnabas Health

What Healthy Women Know: 5 Keys to Optimal Health

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

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

risk of breast cancer should have a mammogram yearly.”

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

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

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

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

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

Tufankjian, DO, RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group

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

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

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

The Dental Difference

Mini Dental Implants: A True Innovation in Dentistry

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

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

What are the advantages of MDI placement?

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

Other advantages associated with MDIs may include:

• Better smelling breath

• More self-esteem

• Clearer speech

• Easier chewing and biting

• Easier cleaning

• Firmer denture fit

• Good success rate

• Less denture discomfort

• No cutting or sutures

• No need for adhesives or messy bonding agents

• No rotting food beneath the denture

• No slipping or wobbling

• Quick treatment time

• Reduced costs

How are mini dental implants placed?

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

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

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

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

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

Dr. Kevin Mosmen

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

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

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

Puzzle solutions on pg 20

HELP WANTED

Part-time secretary in Dr’s office. Evening and Saturday work, some secretarial experience preferred. Please call 609-587-2255 or fax resume to 609-587-7255.

KEEP YOUR DAY JOB Work

Part-Time and Make an Extra $1000 or More Per Month! Visit the website below for more information: www.livegood. com/liveandthrive

WHAT WOULD A RELIABLE RESIDUAL INCOME MEAN

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GET PAID DAILY! WORK FROM HOME! Call: 609-510-0292

SERVICES

LEGAL SERVICES Wills, Power of Attorney, Real Estate, Federal and NJ Taxes, House calls available. Bruce Cooke, Esq. 609-799-4674, 609-721-4358.

Senior Concierge. Let me be your helper. In the home or on the road. Part-time/Day or evening. Very good references. Call Mary Anne, 609-298-4456.

F,D,Mason Contractor, Over 30 years of experience.

Brick, Block, Stone, Concrete. No job too large or small. Fully Insured and Licensed. Free Estimates 908-385-5701 Lic#13VH05475900.

Are you single? Try us first! We are an enjoyable alternative to online dating. Sweet Beginnings Matchmaker, 215-539-2894, www.sweetbeginnings.info.

WANTED TO BUY

Wanted: Baseball, football, basketball, hockey. Cards,

autographs, photos, memorabilia. Highest cash prices paid! Licensed corporation, will travel. 4thelovofcards, 908-596-0976. allstar115@verizon.net.

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

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Senior leaders help Steinert lax get off to roaring start

By Rich Fisher

It took nine games this season to accomplish what it took 17 to do last year for the Steinert High girls lacrosse team. After defeating Nottingham on April 24 to clinch a second straight Colonial Valley Conference Patriot Division title, the Spartans sported an 8-1 record. Their final record in 2022? Eight wins, nine losses.

What happened?

“The difference is the girls want to be here, they want to do well, they want to do well for each other,” second-year coach Mike Newton said. “We’re a young team, a hungry team. We have a lot of talent from attack to midfield to defense and goalie.”

The girls come in and work hard every day. “They want to get better. That’s the biggest component right there,” he said. He’s not kidding about the team being young, as Caitlin McCarthy and Gracyn Nutt are its only seniors. They are also

captains along with junior Brooke Sinay.

McCarthy is in her third varsity season, and Nutt is in her second. Both have a good grasp of how things have gotten better.

“Since we’ve been playing together for a while we’re playing as a team better,” McCarthy said. “The young kids are all really talented. They all want to work for it and want to win, which is obviously a good thing.”

Nutt added that the team is playing collectively to the best of its abilities.

“We’re being pushed harder than we’ve ever been pushed but we’re seeing results because of it. We’re being pushed by each other to do our best, pushed by our coaching staff and by other teams because there is a lot of talent all around,” she said.

HOUSEHOLD

Steinert graduated nine seniors from last year but returned a bevy of girls who already had varsity experience.

“There’s a lot of new faces, but luckily there are a lot of familiar faces in the

program,” Newton said. “It’s been nice to see their development from freshmen to sophomores and so forth.

“We are very talented offensively. We have a lot of girls that look for each other. We’re also very lucky to have a strong defense and girls who want to do the draw. So we have leaders in every area, which makes everything kind of just click along the way.”

Steinert has been an offensive juggernaut. Through the first nine games, the Spartans were averaging 15 goals per contest behind an attack that features all juniors.

Sabrina Beckman is coming off 21 goals last year. This year, she was leading the way with 29 goals and 37 points.

Emily and Laura Hardiman, one of two sets of twins in the starting lineup, have also been dynamic. Emily had 25 goals and nine assists, and Laura had 24 goals and an assist.

Jolea Terman rounds out the attack with three goals and six assists.

The all-important midfield features sophomore Teagan Fairfax and juniors Brenna Riddell and Sinay. Riddell had 17 goals, five assists and a team-high 45 draw controls; Sinay had eight goals, 11 assists, 25 draw controls and a team-high 22 ground ball pickups; and Fairfax had collected 18 goals, six assists and 19 draw controls.

Defenders include McCarthy, junior twins Katie and Ali Longo, and junior Alyssa Hendricksen. Freshman Jada Oczkowski has manned the goal.

It is a close-knit team guided by its captains.

“You can’t ask for much better with the leadership I have,” Newton said. “They are fantastic. They’re really good athletes but really good kids. They come to practice and sometimes I feel they’re like the player-coach. They’re out there saying ‘Hey we gotta pick it up here, we gotta do this better.’ Or “Oh we’re doing this well, keep it up.” They’re the on-field coaches.”

The soft-spoken McCarthy, who began

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playing lacrosse in sixth grade in Robbinsville’s program, prefers to lead by example. Nutt, who didn’t start the sport until her freshman year, is a bit more talkative.

“I do enjoy being a leader,” Nutt said. “I think it does, in a sense, come naturally to me. I am an older sister, I have a lot of younger siblings and cousins and stuff like that. So that’s something I work well with. I like being someone people can come to with questions and someone people look up to.”

Aside from the leadership, the Spartans have the built-in component of strong team cohesion.

“The girls gel well together,” Newton said. “They like being around each other, playing with each other and playing for each other. It’s a team-first mentality, which is a big thing. They all come ready to go for each other.”

Nutt agreed, saying: “A lot of us are friends outside the sport and we play other sports together so we already have that chemistry. But playing this sport is great because there is that communication involved; and because we all are so close, we have a team bond, we work really well together.”

Entering the season, Steinert set goals of repeating as Patriot Division champs, surpassing last year’s win total, and quali-

fying for the top-half of the bracket for the Mercer County Tournament.

“Our goals are still in front of us,” Newton said after the 8-1 start. “We want to continue to win, play the game the right way, take care of the ball, play good defense. I knew this team was full of potential, it depended on how we wanted to come in, how we wanted to come out and play.”

Nutt said she entered the season with an open mind.

“I liked our season last year but wanted to always grow and always be better,” she said. “This year I did have big expectations. And with me and Cait as the only two seniors, I wanted us to have a part in it. I think we’re all working together really well.”

For McCarthy it’s a chance to enjoy success after two losing seasons.

“It’s a lot more fun,” she said. “We’re all just really excited to play and see if we can keep going, keep winning.”

And while victories are nice, Nutt quickly pointed out they are not everything.

“Wins are always great,” she said. “But if my whole team walks away feeling good at how they play and our coach is proud of us, then that’s really what matters to me.”

With an attitude like that, it’s hard to go wrong.

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Seniors Caitlyn McCarthy and Gracyn Nutt helped lead the Steinert girls’ lacrosse team to an 8-1 start this season. (Photo by Rich Fisher.)

Houston-bound hurler Michalak off to 10-0 start for Irish

By Rich Fisher

When the the clock struck 12, it had the opposite effect on Rylee Michalak than it did on Cinderella. Her gown did not revert to rags, but a red and white Cougars uniform; and her carriage did not turn into a pumpkin, but a jet airliner to Texas.

By the end of the weekend, University of Houston head coach Kristin Vesely placed a red softball slipper on her foot. It fit perfectly, meaning Michalak would be part of the UH kingdom beginning in 2024.

And that clock striking 12 thing is no fairy tale. When the official recruiting date for high school juniors began on Sep. 1, Houston had its phone locked and loaded at 11:59 p.m. Aug. 31, 2022.

“They were the first text I received, right at midnight,” the Notre Dame High junior pitcher said. “It was their pitching coach, Lacey Waldrop, saying she was looking forward to getting to know me and talking to me more.”

An on-campus visit was set up for Sept. 16. After a whirlwind weekend of tours, uniform photos, meetings with

coaches and fellow recruits and a zoom meeting with her mom (who couldn’t make the trip), Michalak committed. She had made one previous visit to Indiana and also had trips to Penn State, Iowa, Northern Illinois and Lehigh set up, but it didn’t matter.

“I felt so at home there with the players, and the other girls on the visit, who also ended up committing,” Mihalak said.

“The coaches were amazing people; so easy to talk to. I didn’t need to see other schools.”

Thus, the Hamilton product will be playing high-profile softball in the Big 12 Conference which is where Houston is headed. It’s pretty much what was expected of her when she first toed the rubber for ND as a freshman. Due to her famed exploits in travel ball as a middle school pitcher, Michalak had an incredible amount of

pressure upon entering high school. And man, has she responded, getting better each year. Through Notre Dame’s 10-0 start this season, Michalak was 7-0 with a 0.18 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 38 innings. She had allowed one earned run and four overall, and had yielded just 20 hits and five walks.

As of Apr. 21 Rylee’s career record stood at 33-6 with a 1.35 ERA and 405 strikeouts in 248 innings. Not one to let drama build, Michalak knew she needed four strikeouts against Robbinsville to reach 400 on Apr. 20, and she fanned the first four Ravens she faced.

“It felt so good,” she said afterward. “Even during the day I was like ‘All right, big game, I’m close.’ So I’m glad I was able to get it done right away.”

Michalak has a defense mechanism against tight situation that she began cultivating in ninth grade when some of the nation’s most recognizable coaches were attending her games.

“It was so surreal,” the flame-thrower said. “Especially my freshman year. We were playing one of the top teams in the country and Patty Gasso from Oklahoma was there recruiting girls from that team. I was like ‘I’m pitching this game and she’s here watching!’ It was just crazy.”

Not long after, they were coming to watch Michalak, and she knew how to adapt.

“I started to realize I’m still playing this game for myself and my team,” she said. “So I just take a deep breath and realize I’m gonna find my home no matter what, so it’s really not all about the coaches anymore. It’s just me doing me, and they’re going to find me just doing that.”

Mihalak began playing t-ball at age 4 and was on the Hamilton Girls Softball Association 8U team at age 6. She was playing every position on the field and when the team needed a pitcher her response was ‘It’s worth a shot. I’ll try it

It’s not surprising. For a young player, See RYLEE, Page 26

Due to her exploits in travel softball, Michalak had a lot of pressure on her upon entering high school. And wow, has she responded.

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out.”

The joy of pitching immediately grabbed the right-hander and she began to pursue it. After playing for the Central Jersey A’s Michalak upgraded to the Jersey Flames and became their main pitcher at age 11.

“That’s when it really hit me that if I kept with it, I could have a really big future with it,” she said.

Rylee joined the New Jersey Intensity during her 14U season and is still with the acclaimed program, which once featured her future college pitching coach, Waldrop.

“I absolutely love it there,” Michalak said. “They are the reason I’ve been able to play on such a big stage and I’m so grateful for the coaches.”

Rylee also played two years for the 16U National team, whose coach, Brittany O’Donnell, is a former Notre Dame University and Red Bank Catholic star. O’Donnell has been Michalak’s private pitching coach the past four years.

“She’s done so much to help me with my movement and my control,” the hurler and student of the game said. “Before her I was with another great pitching coach and she did so much for me fundamentally and just getting the mechanics down. But when I made that switch to coach Brit

I was able to start working on gaining speed because she does a Power Hour for us. She helped me work tunnelling and controlling my pitches for different

counts. I think that my control has just made so much improvement being with her.”

Rylee now possesses a fastball, changeup, drop curve, curve, screwball and rise ball. She’ll use the curve, screw, rise and change-up predominantly, and mix in the drop curve when ahead in the count. Michalak is confident in them all but noted it’s an ongoing process.

“One day everything is there,” she said. “The next day it’s like “This isn’t as good.’ That’s all part of it. I really learn to work with what I have at the moment, which is a great thing. It’s all just coming

May 16, 2023

5:00pm - 8:00pm

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2631 Kuser Road

Hamilton, NJ 08691

Who? Students, Parents, Staff, & Hamilton Community

What? A showcase of the technology in our schools featuring:

● Technology in the Classroom Showcase

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Cost? FREE Admission!

Michalak’s first high school experience was a dream match-up, as she was pitching against the defending Group IV state champion Hightstown. The Rams won it in 2019, and there was no season in 2020 due to Covid, but numerous members of the championship team were still on the roster.

Michalak overcame some nerves and six walks to pitch ND to a 4-3 victory, marked by her 12 strikeouts. It was the first of 23 double-digit strikeout efforts through her first 39 games. She went 13-2 that year with a 1.62 ERA and her high school legacy had begun.

“She’s got a great attitude,” said former ND coach Marty Schafer, who stepped down after last season. “She brought it from day one. She stepped out there and the very first day of practice she established herself. She stood right in front of everybody and took over. She announced her presence and from day one it’s been that.

“Everything as advertised came true — winner, phenomenal player. Most of all a better kid than she is a player. She is without a doubt one of the most special kids I ever coached in my life.”

Michalak remembered back to that first year and admitted some tenseness.

“We had such a great freshman class (now a great junior class) and I definitely felt pressure coming in and taking the mound the first game,” she recalled. “Right off the bat, I was thrown into it.

“It was an adjustment getting used to a different kind of play and all of that was a learning curve for me. But I think it had to happen because I think we’re set to have a phenomenal next two years. There was definitely pressure, but it was great.”

Notre Dame junior Rylee Michalak has already committed to pitch for the University of Houston Cougars starting in 2024. (Photo by Rich Fisher.)

Schafer coached travel ball against Michalak when she was in middle school, and recalled her being fairly emotional.

“She’s still emotional, which she thrives on,” he said. “She gets into that circle and the presence just becomes bigger and everybody else feels that. She’s grown so much on that mound and I think it’s because of how she’s grown as a person at Notre Dame. She’s an ultra competitor, they all feel it and they thrive off of her.”

Michalak’s lone disappointment to date was last year’s Mercer County Tournament championship game against Steinert, which the Spartans won, 13-1. Since Steinert is where Michalak would have gone for public school, the loss drew added negative attention.

Showing the kind of person and teammate she is, Michalak shouldered all the blame despite some shoddy play behind her.

“I was so in my head that game,” she said. “There were some errors and I got even more in my head. We felt there were questionable calls and you combine that with the team we’re playing.

“I need to stop doing this. But I always put extra pressure on myself when we’re playing Steinert just because that’s where I would have been. I’ve grown up with all

these girls so I always put a little extra pressure, even (opening day this year, which Michalak won 3-2) I had a little extra pressure. I was putting too much on myself to do it alone when I had my whole team there. I think if I took a deep breath and stayed a little more calm and gotten out of my head it would have been a different game last year. It was very humbling.”

Schafer scoffed at all that.

“I don’t think that was the case,” he said. “I think it had a lot to do with myself, what we didn’t do and what Jen (Melker) and Steinert did. It wasn’t on Riley at all. Riley is a competitor. She’ll fire back. You saw what happened in the rematch this year.”

Michalak actually knew Melker from attending Crockett Middle School, and admitted it was tough to tell the Spartan coach she was headed elsewhere.

“Yeah a little bit; I kind of just made my exit quietly,” she said with a laugh. “Then it was like ‘Hey where’s Riley?’ ‘Oh she’s at Notre Dame.’ But there are no hard feelings. I have so much respect for that team. I love playing them. It’s fun, it really is.”

Almost as much fun as learning you are being invited to the Houston Cougars Ball at the stroke of midnight.

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Must call by May11th to register; contact CYO Bromley Center at (609) 587-8100

Yardville 4th grader wins state wrestling title

By Rich Fisher

As coach and owner of the highly respected Immortals Wrestling Club in Burlington, and as coach and vice president for Rancocas Valley Youth Wrestling, Russ Latkovich has a keen eye for talent.

So, in listening to his assessment of the future for Hamilton Township 10-year-old wrestler Sofia Torres, it’s hard not to get excited.

“The possibilities are endless,” said Latkovich, who has trained Torres the past two years. “If her mind is made up to be the greatest wrestler, she can be at the highest level there is; that is what is going to happen.”

Torres took a large step toward greatness on March 11 when she won the 10U 70-pound gold medal in the New Jersey Youth Wrestling Folkstyle Tournament at Trenton’s Cure Arena. While representing the Hamilton PAL and Immortals, Torres defeated three girls to claim the state crown in Folkstyle, which is comparable to high school wrestling style.

“I was very excited, happy, shocked, thrilled and jumping for joy and saying I’m a state champ! I’m a state champ!’” the Yardville School 4th-grader exclaimed. “I was happy to see coach Russ Latkovich with a big smile, because he worked hard with me to prepare me. It was a lot of work going to practice with Hamilton PAl from 5:30 to 7 p.m., and then driving to another practice at Rancocas Valley Wrestling from 7:20 to 8:30 every Tuesday and Thursday.”

That hard work paid off in a big way

as Torres dominated her state foes. She pinned her first opponent in the first period and planted her second in the second period.

“I was a little mad at the wrestler in that one because she kept pinching and scratching me,” she said.

Sofia had to face last year’s runner-up in the finals and won a major decision, 10-0, prompting her to note “I felt in control and felt confident to wrestle.”

While winning states was a thrill, it was never something Latkovich pressured his wrestler about during the season. He merely wanted her to wrestle in the way she felt comfortable; without dealing with the duress of setting a goal for states.

“In the wrestling room she works hard but I want her to have fun at the same time,” the coach said. “I always tell her ‘When you walk through the door and lace up your shoes it’s time to clock in,’ but I never spoke about having to be a state champ.”

On the day of the tournament, Latkovich took a relaxed approach and during weigh-ins, he told her “this is what we have worked for, it’s time to go to work. Have fun, score points. Don’t dwell on having to win, just take chances and keep scoring, the rest will take care of itself.”

Latkovich stuck to that same script prior to each match as she walked to the mat. He would then give Sofia a high five and turn her loose.

It was a beautiful sight.

“She performed just as I expected her to,” Latkovich said. “She was dialed in

See TORRES, Page 30

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May Events

Notary Oath Night

Thursday, May 4th, 3:00 - 7:00 PM

The Mercer County Clerk’s office will administer the oath to newly commissioned and renewing Notaries. Please call the Mercer County Clerk’s office to schedule (609) 989-6466 or email epagano@mercercounty.org

Welcome to Medicare

Tuesday, May 16th, 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Everyone with Medicare has different needs. Find out what’s best for you and your family. Presented by Mary McGeary, Program Director, NJ SHIP Program.

Interfaith Caregivers

Wednesday, May 17th, 10:30 - 11:30 AM

Learn about free support services for homebound elderly and disabled, including transportation, shopping, friendly visiting, respite care and other non -medical help. Find out how to become a volunteer!

FREE 15-Minutes with an Attorney

Wednesday, May 17th, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM

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

LAWYERS C.A.R.E*

FREE 15-minute consultation with an Attorney Lawyers C.A.R.E meeting will take place in-person Advanced registration is required. For more information please call (609) 890-9800 or visit website: www.mercerbar.com

Personal Safety Pr esentation Mercer County Sheriff Office

Thursday, May 25th, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

This program provides information to Seniors that will focus on reducing the likelihood of becoming a target by identifying potentially dangerous situation. One of the key points of the program is to focus on protecting themselves from becoming a victim with a few basic tips .

continued from Page 28

that day. No distractions, no pressure, she was clear headed. She wrestled just the way we drew it up. Every match was the same. Setups, swing singles, wrists and halfs.”

Latkovich was splitting time between Sofia and another match, but was assisted by Rancocas Valley High School head coach Tommy Callahan, who guided her in the first period of the finals.

“He is very technical and I could hear him walking her through her sequences of moves just like me and Sofia drew it up,” Latkovich said. “When I got there she was firing on all cylinders like she held her best match for her last. Relentless with her attacks, firing off three swing singles like it was programmed into a hard drive. Her opponent would defend and she would go right through her list of options of how to keep running through her moves.”

It was the latest highlight in a career that started when Sofia was 5-years-old. Her mother, Vanessa, and father, Tommy, a former New Brunswick High grappler, decided to enroll her in the sport to teach her self defense.

She became Hamilton PAL’s first female wrestler and one day Olympic U.S. champion Ken Chertow came in to speak. He decided to pit Torres against another boy with the winner getting a Chertow water bottle. After Sofia won the prize, Chertow told her dad she had talent.

“I told him, ‘That’s what the other coaches are telling me,’” Tom said. “They said she’s a natural on the mat, she moves in certain ways where she knows what she’s doing.”

First, however, Sofia had to overcome some nerves

“When I first went to practice for Hamilton PAL I was really scared because I did not know anything about wrestling,” she said. “But my father told me I needed to know how to defend myself against anyone and to develop confidence. I was also scared because there were no girls

in PAL. But I was learning more and more and I started having fun in all my practices.”

Torres progressed so quickly that by the end of the 2019 season she won her weight class in Pemberton’s Grapevine League Tournament. The following year she continued to improve and won a second straight Grapevine championship. Those titles were notable because Sofia was wrestling higher level club wrestlers, as opposed to rec wrestlers.

“She did great in all her matches, she was winning and we were noticing she had a talent for the sport,” Tom said. “I think what made her different from the other kids at her age level is that she can listen and is very disciplined and nothing distracts her. The other boys just wanted to play and roll around. Sofia was listening; she was coachable.”

At age 7 Torres joined the Revolution Wrestling Club and was coached by Tony Arroyo, who had three daughters in the club (although there were mainly boys participating). Tom liked the idea of her competing against some girls, and Arroyo drilled with her going over many of the basic skills. In a 2021 season shortened by Covid, she took a silver medal and was named All-America in a tournament at Harrah’s, Atlantic City.

In February 2022, she won a New Jersey State freestyle qualifier against all boys in Bordentown and, although she did not place in the boys state finals, she did take third place in the New Jersey Girls State Folkstyle event. She also won the NJ freestyle event at Sportika in Manalapan after taking second there a year ago while wrestling for the Revolution.

At the start of this season Sofia moved to the Immortals and in February she warmed up for her state title by winning two different weight-class titles against boys in the President’s Day Tournament in Haddon Heights.

After her third-place finish in states a year earlier, along with winning her boys qualifier, Torres felt confident for this

Hamilton

TORRES

year’s states, and so did her inner circle.

“What felt different this year was the support I got from my parents and coaches,” said Sofia, who also does well in the classroom. “My father insisted that I believe in myself and that this year would be the year to be state champion because I was putting in the hard work and it was paying off. I was confident because he would say to me things like ‘You have 28 wins and eight losses against the boys (in PAL competition) this season, there is a very good reason this is your year to win big.”

Latkovich had that confidence in his wrestler from the start.

“From the first day I worked with her I knew she was going to be something special,” he said. “There is far more than talent that makes someone great. I always say talent is 10 percent of the ingredient. Sofia has more than just talent. She works hard but her best attribute is she is coachable. She listens very well and responds great to criticism.”

Not to mention, she has strong convictions in her ability.

“My main strength is being confident and showing no fear when I step on the mat,” said Torres, who feels she is at her

best while wrestling on top.

Sofia is determined to continue her improvement in the sport and hopes by the time she reaches Steinert, the Spartans may have an all-girls team.

If not, Latkovich knows she will succeed at whatever is offered. He hopes she will get picked up by the Olympic Training Center and “becomes a world class athlete on the world stage.” For now he wants her to just enjoy being a kid and have fun but says “the possibilities of her being the greatest are not far fetched. The support is there. The choice is hers.”

“Sofia can do anything she wants to,” the coach continued. As long as she has her mind’s set on doing it, it’s possible. Her mom and dad are a great support group and put so much of their time into their daughter’s success. This sport is so hard and a lot of parents put pressure on their kids to be so much more than the child might actually want to be. But Tommy and Vanessa put a lot of trust and faith into me and let me do my job and they just be the parents.”

The result has been a well-rounded, personable wrestler whose state championship title may only be the beginning of great things on the mat.

Alon Baker, DO, FAAP, FACOP • Sonya Boor, MD, FAAP Laura Brandspiegel, MD, FAAP • Stefanie Fiderer, DO, FAAP

Yardville Elementary School 4th grader Sofia Torres, right, with Rancocas Valley Youth wrestling coach Russ Latkovich.

Firefighter seriously injured during survivor search

March 4 at 4:08 p.m. Engine2 as EMS with Capt. Gadsby dispatched to 1700 block of Chambers Street for a reported stabbing.

Hamilton Township Fire Division responded to 511 incidents in March. Included in the calls were 18 building fires, two passenger vehicle fires, two natural vegetation fires, 2 rubbish fires, one special outside fire, three rescue/ emergency EMS calls, seven assists to EMS crews, 216 EMS calls, one lock-in, three rescue/extrication calls, 20 combustible spills and leaks, two chemical releases, six electrical equipment problems. one potential accident. eight service calls, six persons in distress, seven water problems, one smoke/odor problem, two animal rescues, ten public service assists, two unauthorized burnings, two mutual aid cover assignments, six good intent calls, 62 calls dispatched and cancelled enroute, 12 calls wrong location or no emergency found, three controlled burning, five calls where steam mistaken for smoke, one hazmat investigation, two false alarms, 15 detector malfunctions, 39 unintentional system operations and 42 other type calls,

The following are a selection of incidents covered by Hamilton Fire Division during March 2023.

March 1 at 1:22 a.m. Engine 4 with Capt. Kevin McElroy, Truck 2 and Bat-

talion Chief Ferd Mather dispatched to South Gold Drive for a reported vehicle fire. Arriving unit discovered a utility bucket truck had contacted live wires and was on fire. Operator of the vehicle was discovered electrocuted and killed while working on fiber optic lines.

March 1at 12:57 p.m. Truck 1 with Capt. John Smisoff dispatched as rapid intervention team to a 3rd alarm dwelling fire at Cedar Court, Roosevelt. The female occupant of the home, who was being evicted, died after she turned on the gas and set the dwelling a blaze.

March 1st at 3:13 p.m. UTV 2 with Capt. William Kohut dispatched to 1500 block of Lamberton Street, Trenton to assist the Mercer County Prosecutors Office.

March 2 at 5:31 a.m. Engine 2 with Capt. Damien Cooke dispatched to cover Trenton FD Headquarters, Perry Street. Trenton units had a 3rd alarm fire on the 900 block of Greenwood Avenue. One Trenton firefighter was injured when the ceiling fell on him.

March 3 at 1:55 p.m. Engine 2 with Capt. Cooke dispatched for a special assignment at Wilson Elementary School, Park Ave.

March 4 at 6:45 a.m. Engine 2 with Capt. Jarrett Gadsby, Squad 1, Trucks 1, 2, Rescue 1, Engines 3,4, and Battalion Chief Mather dispatched to first block of Redfern St to investigate an odor of smoke.

March 4 at 11:36 a.m. Squad 1 with Capt. Henry Roldan, Engine 4 and Battalion Chief Nicholas Burocci Sr. dispatched to 2000 block of Nottingham Way for a vehicle into the structure.

March 5 at 10:41 a.m. Squad 1 with Capt. LaMarch Hicks dispatched to 3300 block of U.S. 1, Lawrence for an odor of smoke in a business.

March 5 at 6:24 p.m. Engine 4 with Capt. Eric Wojcik, Truck 2 and Battalion Chief Jason Ryan dispatched to first block of East Acres Drive for a mulch fire.

March 6 at 4:36 p.m. Engine 4 with Capt. Ryan Peach, Truck 2 and Battalion Chief Chris Mull dispatched to Upper Freehold for a commercial fire alarm.

March 6 at 5:29 p.m. Engine 3 with Capt. Michael Danbury as EMS dispatched to stage at Kuser School for a gunshot victim on Francis Ave.

March 7 at 3:16 p.m. Engine 1 with Capt. Conti dispatched with Robbinsville Squad 40 to Devon Court to assist Robbinsville Police.

March 7 at 4:48 p.m. Truck 1 with Capt. Shane Mull, Engine 1 and Battalion Chief Timothy Sharpley dispatched to first block of Vahlsing Way, Robbinsville, for a residential fire alarm.

March 7 at 5:44 p.m. Engine 1 with Capt. Conti dispatched to 200 block of Gordon Road, Robbinsville for a commercial fire alarm.

March 8 at 3:08 a.m. Engine 1 with Capt. Christopher Conti, Truck 1 and Battalion Chief Sharpley dispatched to Klockner Road and Whitehorse Mercerville Road for an uncontrolled water leak, water main break. Hamilton Fire Police responded for traffic control.

March 8 at 11:23 a.m. Engine 1 with Capt. Wojcik, Rescue 1, Engines 2, 3, Truck 2, Squad 1 and Battalion Chief Mather dispatched to Hamilton Continuing Care, Edinburg Road for an interior odor of smoke.

March 8 at 11:51 a.m. Engine 2 with Capt. Gadsby, Marine units 1 and 2, and Battalion Chief Mather dispatched to first block of Sundance Drive for a water rescue.

March 9 at 8:28 p.m. EMS Engine 2 with Capt. Andrew Kmiecik dispatched to first block of Emanuel Street for a reported stabbing.

March 10 at 10:56 a.m. Engine 3 with Capt. Chris Dixon, Trucks 1, 2, Rescue 1, Squad 1, Engines 1, 2, and Battalion Chief Keith Greene dispatched to Trane Corporation, East State Street, for a reported building fire.

March 11 at 1:07 p.m. Engine 4 with Capt. Danbury and Truck 2 dispatched to Yardville Allentown and Crosswicks Hamilton Square Rds for a transformer fire.

Hamilton Fire Division, Engine Company 4, “B” Platoon. Captain Christian Balog, Firefighters Harry Eastburn and Ryan Shearer. (Photo by Bob Sherman Jr.)

Bob Sherman, Jr. FIRELINE

March 11 at 11:03 p.m. Engine 1 with Capt. Christopher Conti, Truck 1 and Battalion Chief Sharpley dispatched to first block of Pinehurst Ct. for a hazardous electrical condition.

March 13 at 4:24o.m. Engine 3 with Capt. Joseph Horn, Squad 1, Rescue 1, Engine 1, 2, Truck 1, 2, and Battalion Chief Nicholas Buroczi Sr. dispatched to first block of Montana Ave. for an interior odor of smoke. Investigated by Fire Marshal Scott McCormick.

March 13 at 11:08 p.m. Engine 4 with Capt. Ryan Peach, Truck 2 and Battalion Chief Ryan dispatched to Klockner Road and U.S. 130 for a transformer fire.

March 14 at1:46 p.m. Truck 2 with Capt. Joseph Pushman dispatched to White Horse Ave. and Kuser Road for a Pedestrian-Motor Vehicle Collusion.

March 15 at 1:13 a.m. Squad 1 with Capt. William Kohut, Engine 2, Rescue 1 and Battalion Chief Greene dispatched to 1800 block of Exton Ave. for a Motor Vehicle Collusion-Rescue assignment.

March 15 at 6:10 a.m. Squad 1 with Capt. William Kohut, Truck 2, Engine 2, Rescue 1 and Battalion Chief Greene dispatched to first block of Meredith Rd for an interion gas leak.

May 18th Hamilton Fire Police and Colonial Special Services participated in Hamilton’s St. Patrick’s Day parade.

May 18 at 8:13 p.m. Engine 2 with Capt. Cooke, Truck 2 and Battalion Chief Chris Mull dispatched to the 100 block of West Park Avenue to assist a citizen.

March 19 at 2:59 a.m. Truck 2 with Capt. Joseph Pushman, Squad 1, Engine 2, 3, Truck 1, Rescue 1, Engine 4 as Rapid Intervention Team and Battalion Chief Chris Mull. dispatched to 1800 block of West McGalliard Ave. for a dwelling fire. Arriving unit reported a fire on the outside of the vacant dwelling. Mull had Command and called the “All Hands” assignment.

Crews checked dwelling and reported negative entrapment, Fire started in the carport and spread to the structure. Three hose lines were used. Deputy Chief John Retalis was requested to the scene for investigation. Colonial volunteer firefighter, Danny Birkenstock responded with Special Services 18 to refill air packs.

March 19 at 7:38 a.m. Squad 1 with Capt. Brian Pfeiffer, Marine Units 1 and 2 and Battalion Chief Kinte Holt were dispatched to Interstate I-295 near Cypress Lane overpass for a blue sedan submerged in the water with one person in the car. Vehicle was removed from the water and firefighters extricated the victim from the car. The NJSP Serious Investigation Unit was called to the scene for the investigation.

March 19 at 12:30 p.m. Engine 3 with Capt. David Jurado, Rescue 1, Engines 1,

2, Trucks 1, 2, Squad 1 and Battalion Chief Holt dispatched to 1200 block of Hamilton Ave for reported dwelling fire.

March 20 at 2:41 a.m. Engine 2 with Capt. Cooke dispatched as EMS to East Park and South Clinton Avenues for a Pedestrian/Motor Vehicle Accident.

March 20 at 3 p.m. Engine 1 with Capt. Wojcik dispatched to The Cancer Institute of NJ, Klockner Road for brush fire.

March 20 at 10:25 p.m. Engine 3 with Capt. Nicola Creo, Rescue 1, Engines 1,2, Trucks 1, 2, Squad 1 and Battalion Chief Nicholas Buroczi Sr. dispatched to 200 block of Woodlawn Ave. for a dwelling fire. Investigated by Fire Marshal Jeff Peoples. Colonial Vol. firefighter, Danny Birkenstock responded with Special Services 18 to refill air packs.

March 21 at 3:38 p.m. Truck 1 with Capt. Joseph Smisloff, Rescue 1, Squad 1, Engines 1,2,3, Truck 2 and Battalion Chief Ryan dispatched to first block of Willow Court for reported dwelling fire.

March 21 at 4:23 p.m. Squad 1 with Capt. Joseph Flynn dispatched to Architect Building, Princeton University for an interior smoke condition.

March 22 at 8:47 a.m. Engine 4 with Capt. Ryan Peach dispatched to Allentown for interior gas leak.

Marv22 at 4:29 p.m. Engine 3 with Capt. Steve Dixon, Squad 1, Trucks 1, 2, Engine 3,4 and Battalion Chief Timothy Shapley dispatched to 500 block of Grand Ave. for an interior smoke condition.

March 22 at 6:21 p.m. Engine 1 with Capt. Chris Balog., Truck 1, Robbinsville Squad 40 and Battalion Chief Holt dispatched to WAWA, Route 33 for a mulch fire with exposure.

March 22 at 9:36 Engine 3 with Capt. Steve Dixon dispatched as EMS to Sloan Ave. and Klockner Road for a Pedestrian/ Motor Vehicle accident.

March 23 at 2:26 p.m. Rescue 1 with Capt. Michael Balog, Trucks 1,2, Engines 1, 2, 3, Squad 1 and Battalion Chief Nicholas Buroczi Sr. dispatched to Madeline Court for a dwelling fire. The ‘All Hands” assignment was called and multiple hose lines were placed in service. A fire captain from Squad 1 was seriously injured searching for anyone trapped inside the burning dwelling. He was transported to Capital Health Medical Center with a burn injury. Fire was investigated by Fire Marshal Scott McCormick. Colonial Vol. firefighter Brian Moss responded with Special Services 18 to refill air packs.

March 24 at 9:37 p.m. Engine 2 with Capt. Gadsby Squad 1, Truck 1,2, Engine 3, Rescue 1 and Battalion Chief Mather dispatched to QuickChek, South Olden Ave for a reported building fire.

March 26 at 8:52 p.m. Engine 3 with Capt. Steve Dixon, Truck 1 and Battalion Chief Greene dispatched to Moffatt Ave,

for an interior gas leak.

March 27 at 6.11 a.m. Squad 1 with Capt. William Kohut dispatched to high occupancy residential hall, Hidden Magie Road, Princeton, for an interior smoke condition in two rooms and they were in the process of evacuating the building.

March 27 at 10:22 p.m. Truck 1 with Capt. Shane Mull, Engines 1,2, 3,4, Truck 2, Squad 1, Rescue 1 and Battalion Chief Ryan dispatched to the 100 block of Cypress Lane. for an electrical fire in a dwelling.

March 28 at 11:35 p.m. Engine 4 with Capt. McElroy, Truck 2 and Engine 1 dispatched to Amazon Warehouse of Robbinsville for a building fire.

March 29 at 6:43 p.m. Squad 1 with Capt. William Kohut dispatched to Redwood Ave. for a rubbish fire.

March 30 at 2:44 a.m. Engine 2 with Capt. Andrew Kmiecik and Truck 2 dis-

Peace of Mind.

patched to the 200 block of Berg Ave. for a vehicle fire.

March 30 at 5:32 p.m. Engine 1 with Capt. Chris Balog, Trucks 1 ,2, Rescue 1, Squad 1, Engine 2, 3 and Battalion Chief Greene dispatched to Pinehurst Ave. for an oven fire.

March 31 at 6:41 p.m. Hamilton Fire Police along with East Windsor and West Windsor Fire Police were dispatched to assist Robbinsville Police with traffic control while investigating a fatal motorcycle accident on Old York Road.

May 31 at 7:59 p.m. Engine 2 with Capt. Cooke, Squad 1, and Battalion Chief Holt dispatched to S Broad and Mary Sts for motor vehicle into a pole.

Your insurance shouldn’t be what keeps you up at night. Whether your needs are personal or business related, Nottingham Insurance of fer s an extensive selection of insurance products. W ith over 100 years of experience, we work with you to get the right coverage at an af fordable price So that you can focus on what is impor tant. We’re t here when life happens.

Your insurance shouldn’t be what keeps you up at night. Whether your needs are personal or business related, Nottingham Insurance of fer s an extensive selection of insurance products. W ith over 100 years of experience, we work with you to get the right coverage at an af fordable price. So that you can focus on what is impor tant. We’re t here when life happens.

Bob Sherman, Jr. is an honorary chief and life member of Mercerville Volunteer Fire Company and a Hamilton resident.

THE HAMILTON PARTNERSHIP

NEWS TO KNOW

Leggo my Legos!

ANNOUCES NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Peter Dabbene COMPLEX SIMPLICITY

THE HAMILTON PARTNERSHIP ANNOUCES NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND EXECUTIVE

Shop Small, Shop Local, Shop Hamilton.

As you shop this summer please remember to support our local small businesses and our neighbors and friends who own them. Visit our websites Hamilton-Strong.com and ShopHamiltonNJ.com

DIRECTOR

My home recently underwent a “reorganization”—my wife’s favored euphemism for the rearranging of items so that I can no longer find them. Supposedly, these periodic cleanouts are conducted in the name of efficiency, but I believe they’re at least partially motivated by her secret delight in keeping me in a perpetual state of confusion and bewilderment.

Jeannine Cimino

Board Chairman Rachel Holland Executive Director

The Hamilton Partnership is proud to announce

Jeannine Cimino, as newly elected Chaiman of the Board and Rachel Holland as the newly appointed Executive Director.

Jeannine Cimino Rachel Holland Executive Director

While moving some books from one area to another, she commented on the need to buy a small bookcase to house them. As my ears perked up and I prepared to ask my standard, alwaysappreciated battery of questions to aid her in determining whether the proposed purchase was really necessary, I realized that a better solution was readily available, in the form of several thousand tiny plastic bricks.

Lego bricks have been put to use in a myriad of unconventional ways, as mosaic, sculpture, and even prosthetic animal limbs. My own experience

with Legos goes back more than 40 years, to an era when Lego minifigures stood blankly where they were placed, straight, immobile, and faceless. The “Lego Space” sets of the late 1970s and early 1980s were among my favorite playthings as a kid, and I loved looking at Lego idea books, which wordlessly immersed a kid’s imagination in a world of possibilities—if only we had the bricks. I still have photographs of some of my childhood creations, including many residences (or, as I preferred, “headquarters”) built for later-edition minifigures lucky enough to have actual faces and movable arms and legs. Although I didn’t become an architect— contrary to my parents’ predictions—the abundance of hand-cranked elevators, slides, and trap doors in those structures, along with a lack of interior walls and a general preference for battlements instead of balconies, suggests that the world was better off designing its buildings without me.

When my own kids got into Legos, we attended “Brickfairs” in Virginia and Philadelphia, which showcased the elaborate works of mostly adult builders who used Legos to create everything

KUSER FARM MANSION

INVITES YOU TO HAMILTON’S:

The Hamilton Partnership is proud to announce Jeannine Cimino

Since 1993, The Hamilton Partnership has worked with community business leaders, government officials, and private decision-makers to deliver services and employment opportunities that are essential to Hamilton Township’s continued success.

Board and Executive Director.

Movie Night inside the Kuser Farm Mansion

Featuring: e Sandlot (1993)

THE HAMILTON PARTNERSHIP EXECUTIVE BOARD

Jeannine Cimino, Chair, William Penn Bank

Source: Unkown

Rachel Holland, Executive Director

Friday, May 5, 2023

7:00 p.m. (Doors open at 6:30)

390 Newkirk Ave, Hamilton NJ, 08610

Since 1993, The Hamilton Partnership has worked with community business leaders, government officials, and private decision-makers to deliver services and employment opportunities that are essential to Hamilton Township’s continued success.

@thehamiltonpartnership @Hamiltonnjstrong

Gregory Blair (Emeritus), Nottingham Insurance Co.

Hon. Jeff Martin, Mayor, Hamilton Township

#HamiltonNJStrong

Lee Boss, The Mercadien Group

Gerard Fennelly, NAI Fennelly

Richard Freeman, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Hamilton

Congratulations to Jeannine and Rachel, the first females to serve in each of their roles!

Frank Lucchesi, PSE&G

Patrick M. Ryan, First Bank

Enjoy us as this movie night tradition continues on the original 18 1/2 foot Cinemascope screen! Free admission. Light freshshments will be served.

THE HAMILTON PARTNERSHIP EXECUTIVE BOARD

Tom Troy, Sharbell Development Corp.

Since 1993, The Hamilton Partnership has worked with community business leaders, government o cials, and private decision-makers to deliver services and employment opportunities that are essential to Hamilton Township’s continued success.

Jeannine Cimino, Chair, William Penn Bank

Congratulations to Jeannine and Rachel, the first females to serve in each of their roles! FOR

Gerard Fennelly, NAI Fennelly

Richard Freeman, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Hamilton

Frank Lucchesi, PSE&G

KUSER FARM MANSION

INVITES YOU TO HAMILTON’S:

Chairs are provided, but for your comfort, you are invited to bring a chair cushion or your lawn chair. To RSVP, please call (609) 890-3630 or email Patti Krzywulak, Program Coordinator at; PKrzywulak@hamiltonnj.com

Movie Night inside the Kuser Farm Mansion

Kuser Mansion - 390 Newkirk Ave, Hamilton, NJ, 08610

Presenting: Star Wars (1977)

from World War II battle dioramas and replicas of famous buildings, to fantastic scenes featuring dragons, aliens, and memorably, “Amish in Space.”

Inspired by these displays, I sought raw building potential in the form of large quantities of bricks, and buying individual Lego sets was not the most cost-effective way to do it. I remember looking online around that time for bulk Lego bricks, and finding a guy with multiple eBay listings at a nearby apartment complex. I worked out a deal to buy in person and avoid shipping costs, and as I collected several heavy bags of color-sorted pieces from a large bouncer-type who didn’t speak and only opened his door wide enough to squeeze the bags through, the whole situation felt more like a drug deal than a toy purchase.

I used those bricks to build shelves and dividers for a thousand-plus CDs. They proved versatile, colorful, and functioned nicely as a conversation piece for many years. When I sold a number of the CDs, I dismantled the Lego shelves and boxed up the pieces. Now, like a hero dusting off the tools of his trade, I was being called upon once again to aid a family member in need.

“I don’t need that,” my wife protested. “I’ll just buy a bookcase.” She paused, then added, ”Really.”

“Nonsense,” I replied, dismissing her polite and much-too-delicate refusal. “Just give me the measurements you need.”

Over the next several days, I built to those measurements with the bricks I had, using five different colors—a choice born of necessity more than style—to create the finished product. “What do you think?” I asked my reluctant patron when it was finished. She delivered her verdict succinctly: “It’s hideous.”

Unfazed, I moved it into place, only to find that the measurements she’d provided were slightly off, and the bookcase didn’t fit where it needed to. I chose to view this as an accidental oversight rather than intentional sabotage, and perhaps out of guilt more than actual interest, my wife volunteered to help me rebuild the bookcase to fit the space.

I enjoyed the process—and I daresay, she did as well. It was like doing a jigsaw puzzle, but with a purpose, and it got me thinking about the potential for other Lego furniture in the house—desks, tables, chairs, beds… sure, there’d be some dot-sized imprint patterns on your skin to deal with, but a few thousand

SALE / LEASE

as expensive per foot as new Legos, but they’re not cheap, either. EverBlock’s kit to build a 10 foot long, 7 foot high wall costs more than $1600, and a kit to build a 6 foot sofa will run you about $1000.

smooth tile Lego pieces could fix that problem.

Building big things requires an awful lot of Lego bricks, but some companies have started manufacturing much larger plastic bricks with the purpose of making things on the scale of real people, not minifigures. This feels a bit like cheating or at least an admission of Lego-building incompetence to me, since in my childhood, larger-sized blocks like “Lego Duplo” were reserved for preschoolers who couldn’t be trusted not to eat the regular-sized Lego bricks.

There’s also the issue of price. One company, EverBlock, makes these larger sized bricks, or as they call them, “modular building blocks.” They’re not

Given the number of old sofas I see on curbs every year, maybe there’s something to be said for less-thanluxurious furniture that can be easily broken down, reused, and repurposed when it’s no longer wanted. Having used a good percentage of my brick inventory on the bookcase, however, I’ll be keeping my focus on building small objects of limited usefulness, like a preschooler making clay ashtrays, mixed media pencil holders, and yarn-covered drink coasters—except my items will be built out of Legos. The prospect of a Legobuilt chessboard intrigues me, and I’m hoping to stage a minifigure-populated Nativity scene atop the bookcase this Christmas. If your kids aren’t using their Legos—heck, even if they are—take a few moments, and a few bricks, and build yourself something nice, or at least something colorful. If you run short on building materials, there’s always eBay— or some big, silent dude selling Legos from his apartment.

Peter Dabbene’s website is peterdabbene.com, and his previous Hamilton Post columns can be read at communitynews.org. His latest work, “Dear Leader: Advice from the Heart and Mind of Kim Jong-un” can be read at www.fictionontheweb. co.uk. His short poem “Cocktails” can be read at eunoiareview.wordpress. com/2023/04/05/cocktails/ and another poem, “God Jazz,” can be heard on the podcast Dead letter Radio (Episode 59, from 4:38 to 8:44) at deadletterradio.libsyn.com/.

140 State Highway 33

Mercerville, Hamilton, NJ 08619

Well maintained, modern 2-story retail/office building located next to Mercerville CVS Pharmacy. Ideal for retail store, law office, medical/dental, accountant, insurance, engineering , apparel/tailor shop, beauty salon/day spa, etc. Locate your business here!

• High profile highway location

• Immediate occupancy

• Great signage

• Good parking

Lego books — in a Lego bookshelf, naturally.

10 questions with Grounds For Sculpture’s Melissa Kelly

Thomas Kelly

Melissa Kelly (no relation) is the manager of volunteer services at Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton. A resident of Bordentown, Kelly began working at GFS the year before the pandemic, and says that she is happy that the park is back to normal and even busier now than it was pre-pandemic.

Managing nearly 200 volunteers is a daunting task. That is as many people as a medium-size company might have. Coordinating the training, schedules and assignments for all of these volunteers is Kelly’s job.

Most of the volunteers come from within an hour’s drive. A nonprofit enterprise such as the GFS Sculpture Park depends on its volunteers to provide guidance, knowledge, and the friendly atmosphere to make the park a friendly destination and a supply a memorable visit.

When did your interest in the arts begin?

My interest in the arts began with ballet. Taking ballet lessons and performing

from age 3 and through to young adulthood, I developed an interest in dance and the performing arts.

My interest in visual art was always present as I enjoyed sketching and drawing from a young age. My goal as a highschooler was to attend college for fashion, and I even wore my own designs for the formal social and prom but somehow that stretched and morphed once I entered Tyler School of Art into an Art History degree.

Who were/are some of your artistic influences?

In terms of visual art, I really love sculptor Louise Nevelson and there are so many others, probably just too many to mention, she’s my favorite at the moment.

How does working at the Grounds for Sculpture influence your own artistic outlook?

It’s extremely inspiring to work in such a gorgeous space every day. I love the fact that this is a contemporary collection.

So, while we have work from artists that are very well known, there are also these really lovely pieces from not so wellknown artists as well. Not only are there acres of art just outside my office window, but as soon as you step foot onto the grounds, the ever-changing landscapes and scents of our natural collection transport you into a tranquil dimension

What fight/struggle/ challenge do you have regarding the art and getting the word out to the local population?

It is interesting, we see people from all over the world coming to visit GFS. However, every so often I hear people from Trenton and Hamilton say they have never been here. Museums are funny that way, many people feel that museums aren’t for them, that they don’t represent them in any way and in some cases, it’s simply cost prohibitive for folks to visit.

The current struggle for many institutions is that they showcase work from an old world. One in which the art and artists are homogenous and reflect a very small slice of culture.

GFS has committed deeply to values and goals of relevance, social impact, responsiveness, inclusion, diversity (among our board, collection, artists, staff, volunteers). Visitors will see these values reflected in our exhibitions and program offerings.

We also participate in the Families First Discovery Pass program, which offers

rich arts and horticulture experiences to low-income families and individuals across the state of New Jersey. Part of our mission is this ongoing movement to reflect and connect with our community.

What are some positive arts experiences in the area? Events or venues that people should definitely get out and attend in person?

Well, there are bars such as Trenton Social and Joe’s Mill Hill that showcase local arts right in our neighborhood, and they have some great stuff that changes frequently. Artworks on Stockton, is a powerhouse of incredible art nearby, featuring inspiring and unusual exhibits as well as great programs.

And don’t forget to check out the fine and cultural art collections at the New Jersey State Museum.

What are some favorite art events or venues for youngsters in their immediate area and the region?

Well, of course, Grounds for Sculpture has some wonderful programs such as Tots for Sculpture and our Family Open Studios. Locally, I don’t personally know of too many, but there is a great little art schools called Leaping Dog Art Studio in Bordentown (see story, page 1). They feature classes for kids in sculpture, painting, et cetera, and I believe they even have drop-in programs.

Do you attend any workshops at GFS? Which do you see as crowd favorites?

I have attended a couple workshops. One in which we made castings of our hands, linking to the movement, func-

Kelly

tionality and beauty of one’s hands. That was really an enlightening and fun class> However, we receive great reviews about many of our other workshops and teambuilding sessions as well.

For instance, our wreath-making workshop, taught directly by our horticultural team, is incredible, and our classes such as our glass-blown ornaments workshop allows you to create one-of a kind pieces.

How does the seasonal appeal of the Grounds for Sculpture affect the core group of volunteers?

We have an incredible team of volunteers; they work with us in all kinds of weather, but I will say that the extreme cold in the winter months affects the level of volunteering. Lately, we have blossomed into an all-year attraction, so we actually see our volunteers year-round. Years ago, GFS was mostly closed in the winter, but we are open at least 6 days a week through all seasons. It is worth the trip in cold weather to see our gorgeous landscape covered in snow!

What is a dream project of yours?

A dream project for the volunteer team would be to work in the community. We would have community outreach projects propelled by the volunteer team – maybe a community garden or mobile arts lab.

What is on the horizon? What are you looking forward to?

Two really inspiring exhibitions that opened in April. One is Local Voices: Memories, Stories, and Portraits, created in partnership with 15 community members and led by artist, teacher, and journalist Madhusmita “Madhu” Bora. It features oral histories to present a range of diverse and uniquely personal stories within the Indian American community.

This exhibition centers on community members located throughout New Jersey who will share their stories through visual and audio presentations focusing on the intimate stories which connect us through love, loss, and resilience.

The other is Spiral Q: The Parade, is an exhibition rooted in communal, collective advocacy for the greater good. This immersive installation highlights Spiral Q’s rich history of processions and approaches to individual and community expression, such as memorial tributes, wearable structures, large scale puppetry, and more.

Melissa Kelly can be reached by email at mkelly@groundsforsculpture.org. Web: groundsforsculpture.org.

Thomas Kelly is a Hamilton-based artist and member of the Hamilton Arts Council. His work can be found at thomaskellyart.com.

What should women know about uterine fibroids?

And please, for them, stay home and safe.

Ask The Doctor

We’re committed to keeping women of all walks of life healthy, thriving and well-cared for, and by the age of 50, as many as 70 to 80 percent of women may have fibroids,” says Robert Mayson, MD, RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group. Here Dr. Mayson shares a quick guide to uterine fibroids.

What are Fibroids? Fibroids are noncancerous growths in the uterus. There are several types, defined by their location. Intramural fibroids are contained within the uterine wall. Submucosal fibroids protrude into the uterine cavity. Pedunculated fibroids are attached to the outside of the uterine wall by a stalk. What mainly determines whether fibroids will cause symptoms are their size and location. “Location is what matters most,” explains Dr. Mayson, “Submucosal fibroids are usually the ones that cause the most problems.” Symptoms can include heavy

menstrual bleeding (which can be severe enough to cause anemia); pelvic pain, pressure or bloating; increased urinary frequency and constipation.

In very rare cases, fibroids can be dangerous if they grow so large that the uterus expands and compresses blood vessels and other structures in the pelvis. Fibroids may stay the same size, grow larger or even shrink over time.

“Once a woman reaches menopause, fibroids tend to shrink,” says Dr. Mayson. “We don’t know if it’s estrogen, progesterone or a combination of the two hormones that cause fibroids to grow.”

Many women will only find out they have fibroids during a routine pelvic examination or on unrelated imaging.

Options for treatment

1. Observation: A doctor may decide to monitor the growths by doing repeat imaging every few months to assure they’re not increasing in size or number.

If symptoms are mild, a woman may not need any treatment or may be able to manage discomfort with over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen.

2. Prescription Medications: There are new prescription medications available that can reduce the heavy bleeding associated with fibroids. “But these medications can only be used up to 24 months because there’s a risk of bone loss and other side effects with longer use,” says Dr. Mayson.

3. Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE): “This is a procedure done by an interventional radiologist,” says Dr. Mayson. “The radiologist places a catheter in the patient’s groin. Using CT scan guidance, they guide the catheter to the blood vessels that supply the fibroids. They put a substance into the feeding blood vessels to decrease the fibroid’s blood supply.”

4. Hysteroscopic Fibroid Resection (also called Hysteroscopic Myomectomy): “This is a procedure that’s done without any incisions,” explains Dr. Mayson. “A camera is inserted into the uterus through the vagina, and fibroids within the cavity of the uterus, or partially in the cavity, can be removed.”

5. Myomectomy: “This is a surgery to remove just the fibroids,” says Dr. Mayson. “It can be done through an open surgical approach or laparoscopically.” This procedure is mainly recommended for women who want to retain their fertility. Patients need to understand that the risk of new fibroids forming may be as high as 60 percent.

6. Hysterectomy: “This surgery— removal of the uterus—is the only definitive management for symptomatic fibroids. Once you have your uterus removed, you’ll never have another fibroid or associated bleeding,” says Dr. Mayson. The surgery can usually be done minimally invasively with only tiny incisions. About 600,000 hysterectomies are done in the U.S.A. each year, and the most common reason for the surgery is fibroids.

Which treatment, if any, is right for you

Go to rwjbh.org/WomensHealth or call 888-724-7123 to find the nearest hospital near you and learn more about our women’s healthcare team.

is something you need to discuss with your doctor. Visit rwjbh.org/WomensHealth or call 888-724-7123 to learn more about the women’s healthcare team.

Coming up this month at RWJU Hospital Hamilton

For more information, call (609) 584-5900. To register for a program or for schedule changes go to rwjbh.org/ events.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 3

Colon Cancer Isn’t Just a 50+ Disease. 6 to 7 p.m. Join Meera Yogarajah, MD, Board Certified in Hematology and Oncology, for a discussion about colon cancer and the importance of recognizing symptoms, early screenings and interventions.

THURSDAY, MAY 11

Stroke: Every Second Counts. 1 to 2 p.m. Learn the signs stroke and what increases your risk for having a stroke. Connie Moceri, MSN, RN, A-GNP-C, Director of Disease Management and Stroke Coordinator with knowledge and tools to reduce stroke risk.

THURSDAY, MAY 18

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

Better Health Programs

Registration required for all programs. Must be a Better Health Member. Call (609) 584-5900 or go to rwjbh.org/events.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 3

Let’s Talk, a Senior Social Group. Also Wednesdays May 10, 17, 24, 31 and June 7. 10 to 11 a.m. Ongoing gathering in a collaborative setting to exchange thoughts, feelings and experiences among peers. This is a safe zone designed to be welcoming of all attendees. A partnership between RWJ University Hospital Hamilton and the PsycHealth Associates here in Hamilton.

MONDAY, MAY 8

My Aching Joints–Advancements in Arthritis Treatment and Joint Replacement with Dr. Michael Duch, Lunch & Learn. Noon to 1:30 p.m. Joining us for the first-time is Michael R. Duch, MD, Orthopedics. Interactive program about advancements in arthritis treatments and when joint replacement might be the best option.

FRIDAY, MAY 19

No Place Like Home, Lunch & Learn & More! Noon to 3 p.m. Living out our life at home should not be just a dream. Sheli Monnachio, Angelione Mobility expert, will speak about changes to safeguard your surroundings for comfort and safety with a focus on remaining in your home.

Dr. Robert Mayson

PROSPERITY has a new home in

PROSPERITY has a new home in

has a new home in

Our new Hamilton branch is now open.

691 US Highway 130 North in Hamilton, New Jersey

Our new Hamilton branch is now open.

691 US Highway 130 North in Hamilton, New Jersey

Located behind Wawa in the Deer Path Pavilion Shopping Center.

691 US Highway 130 North in Hamilton, New Jersey

Located behind Wawa in the Deer Path Pavilion Shopping Center.

Our new Hamilton branch is now open. Come say hi, or scan the code for more info.

Come say hi, or scan the code for more info.

Come say hi, or scan the code for more info.