10-24 HP by Community News Service

Friends of the Hamilton Library committed to supporting the township facility

BY KAITLIN BAVARO

The Friends of Hamilton Library, a nonprofit organization, provides yearround services to the Hamilton Township Library and Hamilton residents, such as the used book sales that it hosts at the library five times a year.

The next such sale will be on Nov. 16 and 18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. But that is just one of many things the all-volunteer organization does.

The organization works to help the library and community through fundraising and events, with the book sales being their primary source of revenue. Many library’s services are not funded by taxes, making book sales proceeds a major resource for the library programs and services.

Hamilton FOTL accepts books, ebooks, magazines,

See FRIENDS, Page 20

Irish music band The Natterjacks play at the 37th annual Irish Festival held by the Ancient Order of Hibernians Monsignor Crean Division 1. The 40th annual festival is this Oct. 4 and 5.

Irish Festival to celebrate 40th anniverary this October

BY JOE EMANSKI

Each year, the Ancient Order of Hibernians Monsignor Crean Division 1 in Hamilton invites both members of the organization and members of the public to head on out to Kuser Road to enjoy the club’s annual Irish Festival.

The celebration of Irish heritage scheduled for October has special significance: this year

is the 40th anniversary of the event.

Festivities are scheduled to kick off on Friday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. with the annual Pub Night, held indoors and on the patio at AOH. Irish food, Irish drink and Irish music will all be on the menu that evening.

The celebration will continue, weather permitting, on Saturday, Oct. 5 at noon with a full day of more of the same and more.

The day is set to feature Irish music, Irish food and drink, Irish dance, arts and crafts vendors, kids activities and party games. The rain date, if needed, would be Sunday, Oct. 6.

The Monsignor Crean division is one of two divisions of AOH in the Trenton area; Joe Cahill Division 10 is the other.

Long-time festival co-chair

Ray Murphy says that the festi-

See IRISH, Page 10

4 running for 3 seats on school board

BY JOE EMANSKI

Four candidates are on the ballot for Hamilton Township Board of Education this fall — two long-time incumbents, and two challengers, including one who has run for a seat on the board in years past.

Incumbents Richard Kanka and Susan Ferrara are on November’s ballot. They are joined there by candidates Stephanie Williams and Alexander Difalco, Jr. Difalco is running for the first time, while Williams ran in 2021 and 2022.

Incumbent Anthony Celentano is not running for re-election, meaning there will be at least one new member of the board come Jan. 1. With no municipal elections scheduled for this year, the school board contest will be the only one on the ballot for Hamilton voters, in terms of township races.

The Hamilton Post sent questionnaires to all four candidates asking them to lay out their cases for election or re-election as the case may be. Brief bios and their answers begin on page 12.

RWJUH Hamilton October Healthy Living / Community Education Programs

IN YOUR BREAST INTEREST: DINNER WITH DOCTORS

Thursday, Oct 3; 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Join us and our featured physicians from the Cancer Center at RWJUH Hamilton: Firas G. Eladoumikdachi, MD, FACS, Breast Surgical Oncology; Meera Yogarajah, MD, Medical Oncology; and Rachana Singh, MD, Clinical Director of Radiation Oncology. Learn the facts about breast health, myths about breast cancer, the latest treatments, and the importance of early detection and annual mammograms. Registered attendees will be offered a wellbalanced and healthy dinner.

THE AARP DRIVING COURSE

Monday, Oct 7; 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Be a safer, better driver. Most insurance companies will lower your premium with a completion certiﬁcate. Bring your NJ or PA driver’s license. Fee: $20 for AARP members presenting a valid AARP card; $25 for nonmembers. Bring cash (exact change) or check (payable to “AARP”) with you on the day of the class.

AUTUMN BOOK ART

Monday, Oct 7; 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Reﬂect upon art with poetry, and by making a fun, decorative pumpkin and or/turkey centerpiece by recycling discarded books. All materials included. Led by Rochelle Stern, Expressive Art Facilitator. $15

MEDICARE CHANGES FOR 2025

Monday; Oct 7; 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Be prepared for the upcoming year with changes to Medicare Part B, premiums and deductibles for 2025. Gina Rega, licensed insurance agent specializing in Medicare

and ACA, will discuss the changes you will be seeing for prescriptions, along with any other differences.

BREAST/CHEST HEALTH

Tuesday, Oct 15; 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Join Cecilia Gomez, BS, Community Cancer Control Specialist, RWJ Barnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute, for this presentation that covers the basics of breast cancer. We will discuss screening guidelines, health disparities, diet and lifestyle and genetic counseling.

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION

Wednesday, Oct 16; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Join us for our beginner meditation class to help calm your body and mind. No experience necessary. Patti McDougall, BSN, Integrative Therapies Nurse DINNER WITH A DOCTOR: POOR SLEEP AND DAYTIME SLEEPINESS

Wednesday, Oct 16; 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Are you exhausted or falling asleep during the day? Join Kevin Law, MD, for a discussion about why this may be happening. With over 25 years of experience, this sleep specialist may help you get the night of sleep you deserve. Dinner will be provided.

HEALTHRHYTHMS® DRUM CIRCLE

Wednesday, Oct 16; 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Join our drum circle to drum your cares away, have fun and relieve stress. No experience necessary; drums will be provided. Mauri Tyler, CTRS, CMP. $15

STANFORD CHRONIC DISEASE

SELF-MANAGEMENT SERIES

Six Tuesdays, Oct 22 - Nov 26; 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Chronic Disease Self-Management Program is a cost-effective, evidence-based health promotion program for people with chronic illness. This 6-session workshop is designed for people with any ongoing health condition, such as arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, and similar conditions. Participants will learn how to problem solve, set goals, and use relaxation techniques to help manage chronic conditions. The interactive curriculum will address topics such as pain and fatigue management, dealing with difﬁcult emotions, effective communication, medication management, physical activity, nutrition, and more. Participants must attend all 6 classes.

REIKI SHARE

Wednesday, Oct 23; 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

For folks who have been Reiki certiﬁed to come share the gift with fellow practitioners. Give a session and get a session. Bring a sheet and small pillow.

PREDIABETES CONNECT GROUP: MEAL PLANNING

Tuesday, Oct 29; 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Diagnosed with prediabetes? This group is for you to connect with others affected. Share and explore ways to improve lifestyle changes.

CRYSTAL BOWL SOUND IMMERSION

Wednesday, Oct 30; 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Sound healing uses instruments like singing bowls, gongs, drums and chimes to create a therapeutic atmosphere promoting deep rest, nervous system rebalancing, and emotional release. Participants sit or lay in a comfortable position while the practitioner takes you on a sound journey for mind, body and spirit. Please bring a yoga mat, blanket, pillow or anything that makes you comfortable. Adriana Hansen, RYT200, SHA1 of the Learning Collaborative. $15

COLOR ME HOOPY: HOOLAHOOPING FOR FUN & FITNESS!

Thursday, Oct 31; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

If you think you can’t hoola-hoop, you are mistaken! This class is so much fun that you don’t even realize that you are working out! It’s much easier with an adult sized hoop, provided at the class. No experience necessary. Angela Reitter, Certiﬁed HoopLove Coach and Hoola-Fit Instructor. $15

AUTUMN HEARING AID EXPO

Thursday, Nov 7; 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Lorraine Sgarlato, Au.D, is proud to offer a presentation on today’s “computers for your ears” along with demonstrations of the latest in hearing aid technology. Advances in today’s hearing aids allow us to connect to our world in exciting ways! Stream music, television, and more with ease. New technology offers better hearing in noise, tinnitus

therapy and helps protect our brains as we age. Learn about these new advances and receive a hands-on demonstration from representatives from Unitron and Signia.

FEAST ON FACTS: AFIB

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

Join Zaw Win Tun, MD, an expert in cardiac electrophysiology, as we explore atrial ﬁbrillation (AFib) - one of the most common heart rhythm disorders affecting millions worldwide. Dr. Tun will offer easy to understand insights into what AFib is, its causes, symptoms, and how it affects overall heart health. Dinner will be provided.

YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Saturday, Oct 26; 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Celebrate our 20th anniversary with us! Enjoy complete access to our state-ofthe-art center, featuring an expansive fitness floor and comprehensive aquatics center. Health screenings and wellness information from RWJUH Hamilton. Enjoy special group fitness classes designed to help you dance, sweat, and unwind. Take advantage of a complimentary InBody Assessment for a detailed analysis of your body composition and overall health. Engage in fun and exciting activities, classes, and demos designed especially for kids. Join special cooking demos with Novo Nordisk Spokesperson and Celebrity Chef, Doreen Colondres.

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

Better Health is a free program for VIP’s 65+ that combines medical education, interesting topics, and fun activities. Join today!

A SENIOR SOCIAL GROUP

Wednesday, Oct 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

GI PANEL DISCUSSION, LUNCH & LEARN

Thursday, Oct 3; 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Shivaprasad Marulendra, MD, and Joshua Weston, DO, members of RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group, will lead a panel discussion covering the fatty liver epidemic, GERD and colon cancer. There will be plenty of time for Q&A in this engaging program.

MEN’S GROUP

Wednesday, Oct 9; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov 13; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Who said men don’t talk? Men need a safe space to share thoughts and feelings too. That’s why this is a women-free zone just for men to talk about whatever is on their minds. This program

will be led by Ted Taylor, Director, Spiritual Care and Volunteerism, and Coordinator, Palliative Care and Bioethics.

TAI CHI CLASSES

Thursday, Oct 10 + 24; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

GAME TIME

Thursday, Oct 10 + 24; 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

YOGA CLASSES

Tuesday, Oct 15 + 29; 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

MEDITATION CLASSES

Tuesday, Oct 15 + 29; 11:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.

CHAIR YOGA

Tuesday, Oct 15 + 29; 12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.

GROUNDS FOR SCULPTURE CRAFT WITH CLAY

Wednesday, Oct 16; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Thursday, Oct 17; 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Clay is one of the oldest known materials for creative expression. As we push and pull the clay into shape, we enter into a dialogue with ourselves and each other and form a visual language of our collective ideas. Focus is on hand-building techniques using air-dry clay.

Adaptable to all skill levels, beginner to expert.

THE FUTURE OF WOMEN’S HEALTH, LUNCH & LEARN

Friday, Oct 25; 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Joining us for the ﬁrst-time is James Aikins, MD, Associate Professor, Clinical Division Rutgers Cancer Institute, Gynecologic Oncology.

Dr. Aikins will be speaking on “The Future of Women’s Health,” with education about uterine, cervical and ovarian cancers, the effectiveness of screenings and treatment, the age at which recommendations to stop screenings are, and the why behind it as cancers still appear in our advanced ages.

WHAT’S NEW WITH MEDICARE? MEDICARE OPEN ENROLLMENT IS HERE!

Monday, Oct 28; 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

All you need to know about changes and updates to your Medicare beneﬁts presented by NJ State Health Insurance Assistance Program (a Medicare information program sponsored by the NJ Department of Human Services, Division of Aging Services). Refreshments will be served.

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

Ex-colleague supports Ferrara in school board race

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I am writing to express my support for Sue Ferrara in this November’s school board election. Sue is not just qualified; she genuinely understands and appreciates the needs and aspirations of our students. Her dedication to our community makes her the ideal candidate to continue serving on our school board.

Since 2016, Sue has stood out among her colleagues because of her impressive work ethic. She has consistently demonstrated a willingness to work alongside all stakeholders to ensure every child receives a quality education.

Sue’s frequent visits to our schools have given her a firsthand appreciation of the challenges facing public education and the importance of fostering an inclusive learning environment tailored to meet each student’s needs.

A key feature of Sue’s tenure on the board is her sense of obligation to

transparency and accountability. She proactively engages with the community about our district’s successes and challenges, making us all feel involved in the process. Sue asks tough but necessary questions during board meetings, and when issues arise, she is the first to roll up her sleeves and tackle the situation head-on.

Our district has made significant progress over the last few years, in part due to Sue’s efforts. For this work to continue, we need school board members who put students first. Sue is one of those people and deserves your vote.

Christopher F. Scales

Scales was a member of the Hamilton Township Board of Education from 2015 to 2018.

Hamilton Post

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AROUND TOWN $49.2 million contract awarded for Hamilton municipal complex

The Mercer County Improvement Authority has awarded the Hamilton Township Municipal Complex project’s construction contract to Epic Management, Inc., of Piscataway.

MCIA began advertising for Phase 2, construction of the project, earlier this summer. The lowest bid came in 15% under estimate. The MCIA Board voted at its meeting on Aug. 13 to award a $49.24 million contract to Epic Management to construct the complex.

A total of five companies bid on the project, with Epic being the lowest. Other bids ranged from $49.27 million to $63.47 million.

“Hamilton has explored a new municipal building for the township since the 1980s under then-Mayor Rafferty,” said Mayor Jeff Martin. “To update two facilities — the township building, built in 1929, and the school district building,

built in 1898, into one centrally located facility is a long time coming. To do it under budget and with the school district for the betterment of our residents makes it even better.”

In late 2020, Hamilton Township acquired the long-vacant property at 1750 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road. The property, the former home of a ShopRite supermarket, had been vacant for more than 15 years.

Looking to redevelop the property for public use, the township had requested the community to provide input for the site. While residents offered many ideas, the suggestion of a joint municipal complex stood out.

“The plan for a municipal complex would continue to foster decades of shared services to further the concept that the township and school district serve to benefit the township and school

communities and each other,” said a township news release.

In May 2022, the township entered into an interlocal services agreement with the MICA to manage and supervise the design and construction of the project.

In July 2023, demolition began on the property. Following demolition, Hamilton Township Municipal Government, Hamilton Township School District, MCIA, and Spiezle Architectural Group held a public forum to provide an update on the design progress of the new municipal complex and seek input on what the new site should include.

In January, those same organizations presented the draft design including renderings of the interior and maps of all three levels of the municipal complex, as well as cost estimates and a financing plan intended to limit the impact on Hamilton Township taxpayers.

Spiezle Architectural Group gave the public an understanding of the layout, sustainable design choices of the complex, and a schedule for when the building would be ready for occupancy.

Construction on the complex will begin this Fall, with the project expected to be completed and ready for occupancy in the Fall of 2026.

For updates on the project, visit hamiltonnj.com/NewMunicipalBuilding.

Young Professionals set to ‘Paint the Town Pink’

This October, Hamilton Township and surrounding Mercer County municipalities will be awash in a sea of pink when the Young Professionals Group and Development Committee at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton launches its inaugural Paint the Town Pink campaign to spread awareness about breast cancer and the importance of annual mammograms.

Funds raised during special events and activities held throughout the month with community partners like Carella’s Chocolates, Front and Center Dance

Studio, Haldeman Ford, HamiLatte, Primo Hoagies and Sky Zone Hamilton, will support the Cancer Center at RWJUH Hamilton. “We cannot stress enough the importance of breast cancer screening and early detection,” says Lisa Breza, chief administrative officer for Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton.

The 5th Annual Paint the Bar Pink, hosted by the Young Professionals Group of RWJUH Hamilton, is Paint the Town Pink’s signature event and will be held on Thursday, Oct. 10, at Killarney’s Publick House, located at 1644 Whitehorse Mercerville Road in Hamilton Township.

The event will include local celebrity bartenders, fundraising games, a buffet dinner and specialty pink drinks.

Hamilton Township Firefighter’s Mutual Benevolent Association will support the Cancer Center through a T-shirt sale.

The Hamilton FMBA and Hamilton Police Benevolent Association are also co-hosting a soccer match at 7 p.m. on Oct. 4 at Veterans Park. Admission is free.

On Oct. 3 at 6 p.m., RWJUH Hamilton Community Education will host “In Your Breast Interest: Dinner with Doctors.”

The free event will be held at RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center, Center for Health & Wellness, 3100 Quakerbridge Road, Hamilton. All are welcome and registration is required. For more information, call (609) 584-5900 or email communityedham@rwjbh.org.

On Oct. 9 at 3:30 p.m., RWJUH Hamilton will invite its team members, medical staff, supporters, donors and community members to join them by wearing this year’s special Paint the Town Pink T-shirts in order to create a living “Circle of Hope” at the Cancer Center, located at 2575 Klockner Avenue in Hamilton. Email jessica.alleman@rwjbh. org to register (required).

On Oct. 15 at 5 p.m., RWJUH Hamilton Community Education will host “Breast/ Chest Health.” The presentation will cover the basics of breast cancer,

screening guidelines, health disparities, diet and lifestyle and genetic counseling.

The free event will also be held at RWJ Fitness and Wellness Center, Registration is required. For more information, call (609) 584-5900 or email communityedham@rwjbh.org.

Tickets to events and T-shirts can also be obtained at rwjbh.org/paintthetown.

Sunnybrae Elementary School Launches ‘Bee A Champion’ Initiative

Sunnybrae Elementary School has kicked off a new initiative aimed at fostering a culture of attendance and perseverance amongst its students. Inspired by the Summer Olympics and Paralympics, the “Bee A Champion” program rewards students for their dedication to school and encourages them to strive for excellence.

Sunnybrae principal Roberto Kesting said the importance of regular attendance stating “Each day students attend school presents an opportunity for growth and development. Through a high level of attendance, students have a much greater chance for academic success. As educators, we have 180 chances to help young minds grow each year. Our goal is to make every day count by being

six students were honored with gold medals and three students (Raheem Harris, Ava Todaro, and Catalina Ucci) were celebrated as Sunnybrae’s Record Holders attending 187 consecutive days of school. Sunnybrae plans to continue kicking off the school year with a celebration of attendance, as Principal Kesting believes in rewarding students for their commitment to making every day count.

“Daily attendance is vital to student success. As a district we are focused on making every day count for our students during the school year. Sunnybrae’s ‘Bee A Champion’ exemplifies this effort,” shared Dr. Scott Rocco, Superintendent of Schools.’

RWJ to host free health and fitness fair

present and taking advantage of these opportunities.”

Sunnybrae has set a target of 95 percent daily attendance, rewarding the entire school with a special activity once this goal is achieved for 50 days. Individual achievements include recognition in the following attendance categories: Record Holder: 100% attendance (0 days absent);

Gold Medalists: 98-99.9% attendance (3 days or less absent);

Silver Medalists: 95- 97.9% attendance (4-9 days absent);

Bronze Medalists: 92-94.9% attendance (10-14 days absent).

Sunnybrae’s students and staff recognized attendance achievements of select students who were enrolled last year during their September assembly. Twenty-

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton’s Center for Health and Wellness, in partnership with RWJ Fitness and Wellness Center, will celebrate 20 years of health in Hamilton Township by hosting a free Health and Fitness Fair on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at RWJ Fitness and Wellness Center and RWJUH Hamilton’s Center for Health & Wellness, both located at 3100 Quakerbridge Road, Hamilton.

The event is open to the public. Activi-

Sunnybrae Elementary School attendance record holders, with 187 consecutive days of attendance: Ava Todaro, Raheem Harris and Catalina Ucci.

RWJUH Hamilton Community Health Team: Brian Weiner, director; Wendy Jones, educator; Taryn Krietzman, educator; Joyce Cantalice, manager, Better Health Program; Ines Lecerf, educator; Diane Grillo, vice president, health promotion; Patricia McDougall, educator; Roseanne Sondermeyer, technical specialist; Allison DeBlois, outreach educator; and Shannon Neely, specialist.

ties are set to include wellness programs, cooking demonstrations, health screenings and health information from RWJUH Hamilton, as well as kid-friendly seasonal crafts. Local vendors and self-care stations will also be present.

“Twenty years ago, we promised to do something bold and different: build a medically based fitness and wellness

center that would focus on keeping our community healthy and with the proper education and screening, hopefully out of the hospital. We are extremely proud of what our exceptional caregivers and team members at every level have accomplished in the pursuit of that goal,” says Diane Grillo, vice president, health promotions, RWJUH Hamilton.

With this coupon. Expires 10/31/24.

With this coupon. Expires 10/31/24. *Saturday and Sunday only.

val is intended to celebrate Irish heritage as well serve as an occasion for people to enjoy a day of fun, hopefully in the sun.

“The Irish Festival is really about bringing the community together,” Murphy says. “It’s about being able to put on an event and see people come and they just have smiles on their faces. They’re reuniting with friends. The camaraderie that everybody has that day, it’s a special day.”

Murphy co-chairs the festival with Lenny Pope. Other members of the committee are club treasurer David Adam, club president Ken Adam, Eileen Adam, Eileen Zoltanski, Monica Bruder, Shannon Keenan, Rosie DiBiasi, Lynn Miranda and Kevin Toal.

David Adam says that the festival is an opportunity for the local Irish-American community to get together. “They all show up and support us — the (St. Patrick’s Day) Parade committee, Irish dance schools, musicians, other Hibernians divisions. It’s a culminating event for the greater Mercer community to support Irish heritage.”

While the festival does serve as a gathering for local Irish groups,

Murphy and Adam both stress that everyone in the community is welcome, regardless of ancestry.

“That’s what we hear a lot from people. They say, ‘I didn’t realize I could go,’ or ‘I didn’t realize it was open to the public.’ No, we want everyone in the community to come,” Murphy says.

The 40th anniversary celebration is set to kick off inside on Friday night with Joe Immordino and AOH-based catering company JI’s Greenhouse serving pub fare and the club’s bartenders on hand with a variety of Irish and domestic ales on tap.

Musical entertainment will be provided by club favorite the Natterjacks, playing the music of Irish favorites such as The Wolfe Tones, Saw Doctors, Chieftains and Paddy Reilly.

Saturday’s festivities are set to begin at noon on the AOH grounds with playings of the U.S. and Ireland national anthems. Popular Ewing guitarist Bill O’Neal will be the first musical performer, to be followed throughout the day by The Shantys, Trenton AOH Pipes and Drums, Jamison, and to close out the evening, Birmingham 6.

In between musical sets, students from Emerald Isle Academy of Dance and Kotelnicki School of Irish Dance will also take the stage. Activities for kids are set to include pumpkin decorating and trick-or-treat bag decorating. There will also be several inflatable party game stations where kids can try their hand at basketball, skeet shooting and ax throwing. Cornhole will be set up for adults to play.

Under the food tent, the Hibernians and JI’s Greenhouse plan to serve a menu of corned beef Reubens, fish and chips, sausage with peppers and onions, hamburgers, hot dogs, pork roll and french fries. There will also be a beer tent where Irish and domestic ales will be on tap.

In addition to the entertainment, AOH has a number of celebrations planned, including recognition of officers who have served the club over the past 40 years. AOH will also salute its travel soccer teams during the festival, and a 50/50 drawing is set to be held at 6 p.m. Presence not required to win.

The club will also honor one of its own when it recognizes Sean Pender, a member who was elected national president of the Ancient

with those guys,” he says.

Web: trentonaoh.com. For weather information the day of the festival, search for “Msgr. Crean AOH Division 1” on Facebook and follow the link to the club’s Facebook page.

* * *

AOH Joe Cahill Division 10 along with LAOH Mathair Gael Division 10 are also planning to host their 15th annual golf tournament at Hopewell Valley Golf Club on Friday, Oct. 11.

The groups say that funds raised by the tournament go to the Billy Briggs Scholarship as well as local nonprofit organization City of Angels, Inc.

Through the Billy Briggs Scholarship, area youth ages 15-17 who apply may be selected for an expenses-paid, three week cultural and educational trip to Ireland. City of Angels works to combat the opioid epidemic.

The fee is $165 per golfer and includes a luncheon, hot dog snacks at the turn, refreshment cart and a 9 a.m. shotgun start. Also part of the outing are a hole-inone contest and 50/50 raffle.

Order of Hibernians in August. Murphy can’t remember how long he has been a chair of the festival committee, but says it’s been at least 10 years. “I do it because I enjoy doing it, and I enjoy the committee and the friendships I have

To register, go online to aohdiv10.com. For sponsorship opportunities, email president@aohdiv10.org. Hopewell Valley Golf Club, a Mercer County facility, is located at 114 Pennington-Hopewell Road in Hopewell Township.

Ancient Order of HIbernians Monsignor Crean Div. 1 member Sean Pender is the new national president of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.

ElEc TiON 2024: B OARD Of EDUcATiON

4 candidates for 3 seats on Hamilton Board of Education

Alexander Difalco, Jr., 19, is a retail associate and college student. The Hamilton Square resident has lived in the township for 12 years.

Sue Ferrara, 70, is a freelance writer who lives in Hamilton Square. She is a 20-year resident of the township.

Richard J. Kanka, 73, is a retired member of Plumbers Pipefitters and HVAC Techs Local 9. The Mercerville resident has lived in Hamilton for nearly his entire life. He is married to wife Maureen for 46 years. Daughter Jessica and son Jeremy attended Sayen, Reynolds and Steinert. Daughter Megan (deceased) attended Sayen.

Stephanie Williams, 49, is an associate director, Distributor Relations at Integra.She recently moved to the Hamilton Square area after living in the Russell Terrace area in Hamilton for 21 years. Williams is married to husband, Victor, and together they have six children, five of whom have attended and graduated from schools in the HTSD. Their young-

est is currently a senior at Nottingham. Hamilton Post: Tell us about the moment that you decided to run, or run again, for the school board.

Alexander Difalco, Jr.: My decision was a culmination of witnessing the concerns of my fellow community members going unaddressed. The many teachers, parents, and as well as my classmates felt their valuable opinions and insight were being ignored. At one point during the end of my senior year at Steinert High School, seeing no real viable candidates opposing the status quo, I decided it was my duty to advocate for Hamilton residents who want to see change.

Sue Ferrara: I want to continue to represent the community, and hold the line on spending where possible, while working with the superintendent and his administration as they move forward in their efforts to continue strengthening the school system we call HTSD.

Rebuilding a district as large as ours takes time. It takes the will and support

of the community. Institutions—like public education—are always a work in progress.

Richard J. Kanka: The decision was discussed with my family about running for re-election because of the many hours committed it takes to be a effective board member. My decision comes with family support as I feel there’s more work to be completed.

Stephanie Williams: Mr. James Stevenson encouraged me to run years ago. I have a deep genuine passion for helping and encouraging others to be the best version of themselves they can be. I am running again because I would love an opportunity to be part of a team that is helping to make a positive differnce for those we serve in our community.

Hamilton Post: Grade the job the school board has done in the past year. What can you as a member of the school board do to maintain or improve this grade going forward?

board has an overall mixed track record this year. Starting with the good, I think the board’s partnership and cooperation with nearby colleges has been a positive development. The partnership with The College of New Jersey in training new teachers I believe shows that some members of the board are concerned with the poor academic performance of Hamilton schools. The more recent partnership regarding advanced placement courses with the college serves to expand the opportunities for Hamilton students.

One critical error this past year was the addition of two new vice principals to the district. I believe that this decision took away significant resources that should have been used to take care of and expand our teaching staff.

Sue Ferrara: A-/B+. A majority of current board members champion public education and work to find the balance needed to serve the needs and interests of all students. When a group of people

Alexander Difalco, Jr.: C. I think the See ELECTION, Page 14

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have the same vision, it becomes easier to make change and push forward. Supporting the superintendent in his initiatives has made the district vibrant. Despite significant communications from the district, some community members still complain about transparency. I think the issue stems from the fact that some people need to learn how to access social media sites; they need to learn how to use Zoom or Google Meet. It’s not cost effective to send mailings across the district. The district could do some outreach. I have to think about what that would look like.

Richard J. Kanka: I give a grade of A. This is based on the communication with the administration and many aggressive programs that are on the horizon. Our committee arrangements are very effective with good communication between each committee. If there’s anything that could improve, I think a greater interest and participation at the board meeting. To maintain the grade is to keep communication at the level it’s at right now.

Stephanie Williams: To be fair I would grade the job the school board has done in this past year with an B+. The only reason I’m grading with an B+ is because no one and no board will ever

be perfect but we have come such a long way and continue to make progress. I know special education has been a prioirty and absolutely needed focus over the past few years and I know so much progress this past year has been made. Yet, work still needs to be done and there is always going to be room for improvement. I see concerns over “transparency” but believe we need to do better as a board to direct parents where to find the information they feel may be hidden that is not. Communication with our community is essential. I would love an opportunity to work along side other members on the board to find ways to improve together.

are failing to teach the most essentials with even some effectiveness, leaving our students unprepared for college and the workforce.

Hamilton needs more teachers and smaller classroom sizes. We also need to attract teaching talent to our district through increased salaries and benefits for teaching staff. Another issue currently with the district is the lack of communication and transparency with the taxpayer. Addressing this issue can be as simple as mailing budgetary reports to taxpayers. This initiative would strengthen the community’s trust in the board.

ommend to the BOE this fall. And with growth comes expenses. My operative phrase is always: Finding balance. Being a good steward of taxpayer dollars while helping students reach their potential guides me. But school districts must work within many guidelines set by the federal and state governments. BOEs dance to many tunes—sometimes playing all at once.

Richard J. Kanka: The biggest challenge facing the board and the administration are test scores and student attendance. Develop programs that interest students and with that, interest in school may help with attendance, which will in turn may help with test scores. As we all know, with more participation comes a more efficient student.

Hamilton Post: What are two vital issues facing the school board today, and what will you do as a member of the board to address them?

Alexander Difalco, Jr.: The two biggest issues facing our board today are low test scores and a lack of budgetary transparency. 24.7% of our students are proficient in mathematics while only 38.5% are proficient in English language arts. We

Sue Ferrara: Currently, the biggest challenge facing the district is rapid enrollment growth. School opened this year with 12,600 students. That enrollment number will continue to fluctuate as Hamilton Township approves more housing developments. A committee of dedicated teachers, staff and community members have been developing a district Strategic Plan for addressing the overcrowding we are seeing. I am anxious to see what this committee will rec-

Stephanie Williams: It is vital to make sure our students have the resources needed to be successful in their futures. It is just as vital to make sure we attain top talent to lead our students to success. As a member of the board I would like to make sure we are doing all that we can to provide students and teachers the resources they need to be successful.

Hamilton Post: What will you bring, or what have you brought, to the school budget process that shows

See ELECTION, Page 16

Difalco

TAKING THE FIGHT AGAINST CHRONIC PAIN TO NEW LEVELS

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STEM CELL & PRP THERAPY

• Regenerative medicine goes beyond disease management to search for and discover therapies that support the body in repairing, regenerating and restoring itself to a state of well-being.

• What are stem cells? Stem cells are the bank cells within your body that can morph in many diﬀerent types of cell depending on what your body needs them for. Stem cells are your body’s repair systems.

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Experience the Juniper Difference

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ASSISTED LIVING I MEMORY CARE

you.

that you can be an asset to the board as it considers the 2025-26 budget next year?

Alexander Difalco, Jr.: Being a recent graduate from this school district, I am more familiar with the state of our schools than anyone else in this race. I know which aspects of our public school system need the most attention. My time in this district has provided me with insight into the state of our facilities, our staffing needs and the needs of our students.

Sue Ferrara: I previously served on a school board in New York State which is where I first learned to examine budgets and ask the hard questions. HTSD is fortunate to have, in my opinion, one of the best business administrators in New Jersey. She is responsive and knowledgeable. The district continues to have clean budget audits.

I will continue to do what I have done during my previous terms; thoroughly examine the budget. Ask questions. Think about the various needs in our

schools. And most importantly, think about the tax burden. That process includes engaging in conversations with my colleagues and listening. Again, it’s all about striking a balance.

Richard J. Kanka: As a current Financial Committee chairman, we have moved over the years from direct equipment purchases to a lease purchase program, The district has moved away from a NJ state health benefits program and is now self insured. Just these two moves have saved millions in cost to the district. With this, we have been able to increase funding for additional student programs.

As far as budgetary concerns, the committee has a consultant that is a watchdog for the district. We are assured to maintain a responsible spending practice with carryover surplus that doesn’t encumber the next year budget process.

Stephanie Williams: I have negotiated terms and contracts as part of my responsibilities for my day job. I have been recognized for my problem solving skills even in the most challenging of sitELECTION continued from Page 14

Ferrara

uations. I may not have experience with our budget yet but if elected I will roll up my sleeves and apply the skills I have to help support those sitting with me at the table every way that I can.

Hamilton Post: Do you believe that it is important that the board of education work to provide a safe and accepting environment for all students, regardless of race, religion, or sexual orientation? Why or why not?

Alexander Difalco, Jr.: I believe the board must create an environment where all are welcome. Our district encompasses students from many perspectives, opinions, and beliefs, we must ensure that all can be safe and accepted in Hamilton. We must have no tolerance for harassment, intimidation, or bullying of any kind.

to be loved and accepted on a very basic level.

The board president constantly reminds us that adults—especially parents—re role models. Our children watch how we respond; how we handle ourselves in public. We need to be respectful to one another.

That doesn’t mean a parent can’t limit what students come into their homes. It just means: Please don’t be mean to people not like you.

Richard J. Kanka: As of three years ago the district has moved in an aggressive direction of school safety. The addition of new entry into classrooms, Metal detectors, more police presence, and additional campus monitors at each elementary school. There are other initiatives in the works to increase student and staff safety.

THE KUSER FARM MANSION PRESENTS:

Ghost Hunting Information, Equipment and Stories!!

Equipment and Stories!!

When: Saturday, October 19, 2019

Sue Ferrara: Absolutely. One of the many goals of public education should is to learn how to respectfully coexist with all sorts of people. When to engage; when to walk away. Learning that my rights end where yours begin. At the end of the day, we are all human beings with the need

Stephanie Williams: Absolutely! This is one of the many reasons I would like an opportunity to serve those in our community. I love our kids and I love their families. School is a place for education regardless of your race, religion or sexual

See ELECTION, Page 18

The all-wooden ballroom floor is perfect for dancing the night away! Reach out to us today!

Time: 7:00 p.m. (Doors open at 6:45 p.m.)

When: Saturday, October 12, 2024

Time: 7:00p.m. (Doors open at 6:45p.m.)

Where: Kuser Farm Mansion

Time: 7:00 p.m. (Doors open at 6:45 p.m.)

390 Newkirk Avenue

Where: Kuser Farm Mansion

390 Newkirk Avenue Hamilton NJ 08610

Hamilton, NJ 08610

390 Newkirk Avenue

Hamilton, NJ 08610

Please join Matt Cook and his team from Princeton Area Paranormal as they demonstrate some ghost hunting techniques and equipment. They will have some experiences to share and will attempt to answer some of your paranormal questions. Just in time for Halloween! Can you make the Ghostbusters Claim? I ain’t ‘fraid of no ghost.

Please join Matt Cook and his team from Princeton Area Par-anormal as they demonstrate some ghost hunting tech-niques and equipment. They will have some experiences to share and will attempt to answer some of your paranormal questions. Just in time for Halloween! Can you make the Ghostbusters Claim? I ain’t ‘fraid of no ghost.

Chairs are provided, however you are invited to bring a chair cushion for extra comfort. Please call (609) 890-3630 or visit historicalhomes@hamiltonnj.com to register. Seating is limited, so reserve your spot now!

Chairs are provided, however you are invited to bring a chair cushion for extra comfort. Please call (609) 890-3630 to register or email Patti Krzywulak, Program Coordinator at PKrzywulak@hamiltonnj.com. Seating is limited, so reserve your spot now!

**Limited 2 seats per reservation**

**Not suitable for children under 13 years of age**

**Lite refreshments will be served**

Nottingham Ballroom A Perfect Location for Your Special Event!

**Lite refreshments will be served**

The Nottingham Ballroom is available to host a wide variety of events. It has been beautifully renovated with new flooring, ceiling, and fresh paint It is centrally located in the heart of Hamilton Square, NJ and is one of the largest halls in the Mercer County area

If you are planning A wedding, birthday party, graduation, holiday party, whatever your celebration may be, the Nottingham Ballroom can accommodate up to 300 guests.

Nottingham Ballroom 200 Mercer Street, Hamilton, NJ 08690

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Questions?

Contact our Program Coordinator: Caroline DeLellis Phone: 609-689-5846

Email: NottinghamBallroom@HamiltonNJ com

Kanka

per pupil dollar amount—it’s also busing costs.

When our kids are thriving so are we and so is our community. All I care about is that each and every one of them has an equal opportunity to better themselves with the resources we provide them so that they can have the future they dreamed of. They should definetely have a safe and accepting environment so they can thrive and we should all be proud to make sure they do!

Charter schools can subtly select students. So, for example, many charter schools encourage parents of students who need special services to use public schools. In some cases, charter schools are also segregated. It’s interesting to see state legislators encouraging small districts to combine into one larger district, while allowing charter schools to open as stand-alone entities.

Hamilton Post: Hamilton has a new charter school this year, Thrive Charter School, formerly Trenton Catholic Preparatory Academy. Would you consider enrolling a child in a charter school rather than a school in the Hamilton Township School District?

Alexander Difalco, Jr.: While I would consider it, my preference is to enroll my children in the Hamilton Township School District. The academic performance of our district would make any parent cautious in enrolling their children in our school district.

Richard J. Kanka: I believe in the public school system. We have better resources and the staff to achieve a better learning environment.

Stephanie Williams: No, I would not consider enrolling my child in a charter school because I’m happy with our school district. As a parent I’ve learned that our childrens education is a partnership with the teachers and administrators. I do not feel my child would be served better at a charter school.

For all of its many shortcomings, we have many great people in the Hamilton Township School District working to ensure that our children receive the best education possible. While I am very skeptical of the policies and direction of the board, I trust the teachers and faculty members of our district to educate my children.

Sue Ferrara: Whether a parent enrolls a student in a charter school or not is not the issue. The issue is that every charter school pulls a significant amount of money from the district. It’s not just the

Hamilton Post: Why should voters elect you to serve the next three years on the school board?

Alexander Difalco, Jr.: Hamilton voters should elect me because I serve as the only candidate promising change in this election. Our district faces many challenges with test scores, bureaucracy, and transparency. I stand as the only candidate willing to tackle these issues headon. We need a fresh perspective and a new vision on this board if Hamilton is to overcome the challenges that lie ahead.

Sue Ferrara: Maintaining stability on the board as Dr. Scott Rocco continues his mission is key. The district high

Williams

schools begin block scheduling next

This is

At this juncture, I bring maturity and institutional knowledge to the board, having served since 2016. I weigh my decisions carefully. I do not allow loud voices to strip away student privacy rights under the law. I can be trusted to keep private matters private.

Richard J. Kanka: With what has been accomplished and more programs on the horizon I feel as an experienced board member my relationship and experience is a plus to see these programs to fruition.

Stephanie Williams: I hope our vot-

ers elect me this term because it would be such a great honor in serving those in our community! You can trust knowing my seat at the table will be one that brings positivitiy, encouragement and concern for all of our students all while working along side those already serving our great community. Wanting to see our youth be the best they can be and helping to ensure they have the resources they need and preparing them to go out into the world is all that matters to me. Having your vote in November would truly be an honor! I promise to work hard for you and your child while partnering with our school community.

Capital Health acquires naming rights to Miracle League Field of Dreams

Capital Health and The Miracle League of Mercer County have agreed to a fiveyear naming rights deal for the Miracle League Field of Dreams located at the Sawmill Facility on 185 Sawmill Road in Hamilton.

Miracle League of Mercer County executive director Dan Sczweck says that the agreement represents a long-term commitment from Capital Health that will help Miracle League continue to finance its expanding programs for individuals with special needs. The facility’s new official name will be Capital Health Stadium at the Miracle Field of Dreams.

“This is an Aaron Judge-esque home run,” Sczweck says. “Each year, we have pushed our programming to provide more and more opportunities for our players. That naturally increases our operating budget, and we run almost entirely on the support of our community sponsors and donors.”

“Capital Health is thrilled to be part of an organization that provides a safe and inclusive environment for their athletes in Mercer County,” said Samuel J. Plumeri,

PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY

is a condition that affects millions of Americans, commonly resulting in pain, tingling, numbness, and other painful symptoms in the hands, legs and feet. This pain changes your life and affects how you work, how you play and how you live.

Jr., chairman of the Capital Healthcare Inc. Board of Trustees. “As someone who has always loved baseball, giving children the opportunity to play no matter what their limitations is priceless.”

The agreement calls for Capital Health to make $10,000 contributions to Miracle League over the course of the five-year arrangement. Sczweck says that the contributions will go toward league operations, including expanded clinics and social programs, along with the growing travel baseball program.

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

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Founded in the fall of 2005, the Miracle League of Mercer County is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide individuals with special needs the opportunity to play baseball in a fully inclusive environment, on a barrier-free field.

The first Miracle League to be constructed in the northeastern region of the United States and the 15th Miracle League in the nation, MLMC has served more than 350 individuals with special needs. As of fall 2024, there are currently 236 active families in the league, participating in programs year-round.

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

OCTOBER EVENTS

Wills & Power of Attorney

OCTOBER EVENTS

Wills & Power of Attorney

OCTOBER EVENTS

Wednesday, October 2nd, 10:30-11:30 AM Presented by Adam Lipps, ESQ, Staff Attorney,

Wills & Power of Attorney

puzzles, anime and manga, CD and DVD donations, which are then sold during their large sales throughout the year. Donated items must be appropriate and in good condition. Books of all different genres are sold at the sales.

Wednesday, October 2nd, 10:30-11:30 AM Presented by Adam Lipps, ESQ, Staff Attorney,

Wednesday, October 2nd, 10:30-11:30 AM

The Mercer County Legal Services Project for the Elderly Registration Required

Presented by Adam Lipps, ESQ, Staff Attorney,

The Mercer County Legal Services Project for the Elderly Registration Required

Notary Oath Night

Thursday, October 3rd, 3:00-7:00PM

Notary Oath Night

The Mercer County Clerk’s office will administer the oath to newly commissioned and renewing Notaries.

Typically, each sales raises around $5,000, bringing the annual total to around $25,000 every year.

Thursday, October 3rd, 3:00-7:00PM

Notary Oath Night

Thursday, October 3rd, 3:00-7:00PM

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

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: espagano@mercercounty.org

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: espagano@mercercounty.org

PENN: Understanding & Treating Osteoporosis

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

Wednesday, October 9th, 3:00-4:00PM

PENN: Understanding & Treating Osteoporosis

Learn what a diagnosis of osteoporosis or osteopenia means and effective strategies to reduce your risk for fractures and optimize bone health at this informative program led by Anupama Anand, PT, Rehab Manager and Rehabilitation Physical Therapist.

The Hamilton Library also receives funding from the library store, which is also run by volunteers from the FOTL. The library store is on the main floor of the library, where the FOTL sells books, ebooks, magazines, puzzles, anime and manga, CDs and DVDs on a much smaller scale. Hawke says that the store had raised around $12,000 for the 2024 year as of mid-August.

Quilting project undertaken by the Friends of the Hamilton Library. FRIENDS continued from Page 1

Wednesday, October 9th, 3:00-4:00PM

PENN: Understanding & Treating Osteoporosis

Wednesday, October 9th, 3:00-4:00PM

Registration Required

FREE 15-Minutes with an Attorney

Wednesday, October 9th, 5:00-6:00PM

FREE 15-Minutes with an Attorney

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

Some donations are also sold on the Hamilton FOTL’s eBay. Typically, books sold at the in-person major sales are sold at around $5, unless they are rare books, and eBay is where Hamilton FOTL sells their more valuable and expensive items. Some rare items that Hamilton FOTL sold recently were Star Wars Christmas decorations and a Hot Wheels collection.

The organization also funds programs for children, teenagers and adults, respectively. For children, Hamilton FOTL holds summer reading groups

where kids have the chance to earn prizes, such as Barnes and Noble gift cards. They also have music programs for kids. For teenagers, Hamilton FOTL has held speaker events that spoke about figuring out what careers to pursue.

In 2023 and 2024, they’ve had several adult programs, including Linda Kenyon’s “Julia Says: Bon Appetit” and “A Life of My Own: Meeting Eleanor Roosevelt,” Michelle Wilson’s “Harriett Tubman and Legends and Lore of the Jersey Pines” and a Juneteenth 2024 Zawadi African

Wednesday, October 9th, 5:00-6:00PM

FREE 15-Minutes with an Attorney

Wednesday, October 9th, 5:00-6:00PM

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

LAWYERS C A R E*

FREE 15-minute consultation with an Attorney (Virtually) All Lawyers C.A.R.E. meetings will take place virtually.

LAWYERS C A R E*

The Public Education Committee of the Mercer County Bar Association and the Mercer County Executive Present: VIRTUAL LAWYERS C A R E*

FREE 15-minute consultation with an Attorney (Virtually) All Lawyers C.A.R.E. meetings will take place virtually.

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

FREE 15-minute consultation with an Attorney (Virtually) All Lawyers C.A.R.E. meetings will take place virtually.

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

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

to Medicare

Welcome to Medicare

Advanced registration is required

Tuesday, October 29, 2024 5:30-7:00PM

Guest Speaker: Mary McGeary, Program Director, NJ SHIP Program

Welcome to Medicare

Guest Speaker: Mary McGeary, Program Director, NJ SHIP Program

Tuesday, October 29, 2024 5:30-7:00PM

Guest Speaker: Mary McGeary, Program Director, NJ SHIP Program

Find out what changes are proposed for Medicare 2025’s open enrollment to help you make the best choices for you and your family.

Please call 609-890-9800 to Register

Please call 609-890-9800 to Register Welcome to Medicare Tuesday, October 29, 2024 5:30-7:00PM

Find out what changes are proposed for Medicare 2025’s open enrollment to help you make the best choices for you and your

Please call 609-890-9800 to Register

SATURDAY & SUNDAY OCTOBER 12 TH & 13 TH 10AM - 5PM

Dance and Drum Performance.

In addition to the organization’s agebased programs, they also host events that are beneficial to the Hamilton community, such as blood drives and CPR classes. Hamilton FOTL also helps Hamilton schools by having book giveaways for local teacher’s classrooms. In summer 2024, they gave away more than 1,000 books. The organization also provide the four Hamilton township high schools senior awards of $250 each for high-achieving students.

Another contribution by the FOTL is from former president Isabelle Hickman, an original member, who formed The Quilt Project’s Committee during her time. The Quilt Project’s Committee saw members and senior citizens sew a handmade quilt that hangs in the Hamilton Library. Each square on the quilt depicts a facet of township history.

Squares include Bow Hill Mansion, Lenape Native Americans, Mayor Rafferty, Abbot House, Hamilton Township Seal, Hamilton Township Municipal Building, Hamilton Square Monument and Kuser Mansion.

Hamilton FOTL has a budget of $57,000 for 2024 and plans to allocate it as follows: $5,400 for display cases, $16,000 for eBooks, $10,000 for family and adult programs, $10,000 for children’s

programs and events, $3,000 for museum passes, $1,500 for movie licensing and $1,000 for Hamilton Historian.

April saw the 40th anniversary of the organization. Hamilton FOTL was originally formed in 1982, but was disbanded before ever formally meeting. It was restarted again in April 1984. Many of the original members were retired or current school teachers, and still today, many members are former teachers or librarians.

Carol Hawke, a resident of Hamilton, joined the FOTL two years ago and has served as president for the last year. Hawke says one challenge Hamilton FOTL faces is finding younger volunteers.

“If you work, you can’t volunteer during the day,” she explains.

Hawke also said that she wishes more Hamilton residents knew of the work and services that FOTL volunteers provide.

“I don’t think a lot of people know what the library has,” Hawke said. “People don’t realize that your taxes aren’t paying for [every library service]. If [Hamilton FOTL] didn’t fund these programs, they wouldn’t be there for people to do.”

Despite that, Hawke is proud of how much Hamilton FOTL has grown since 1984.

On the web: hamiltonnjplfotl. wordpress.com. Email: hamiltonfotl@ gmail.com.

GENOLY CARING CENTER

Opa looks to satisfy lovers of Greek cuisine

BY KAITLIN BAVARO

Hamilton loves its annual Greek Fest, but unfortunately, it only happens one weekend a year.

Luckily for residents, Opa Greek Restaurant is now here all year round.

Opa Greek Restaurant combines traditional Greek food with classic and fresh pizza into one new and exciting dining experience.

The restaurant offers a variety of authentic Greek dishes, from cold appetizers like dolmades to Greek chicken soup, Greek salad with pita bread, gyros, gyro platters and desserts such as baklava and walnut cake. Also on the menu are classics including moussaka, spanikopita and hummus.

Chef George Vasilarakis, a Greek native and the owner of Opa Greek Restaurant, has spent most of his life as a chef. Over the last 40 years, he has worked in restaurants throughout New Jersey. In 1989, he opened what he says was the first Greek restaurant in Central Jersey: Giorgos Gyros and Souvlaki.

Today, he and his wife Despoina and their sons, Niki and Elias, run Opa Greek Restaurant, their family owned business. Their lives have been a whirlwind since they first opened for business on July 5.

As proprietor of the only Greek restaurant in Hamilton, the Vasilarakis family works hard to serve the community and give them a taste of Greek cuisine.

“We want to give the surrounding area a restaurant that’s reliable,” George Vasilarakis said. “We want to be the best.

We want to serve the customers as fast as possible, we want to provide them great food at a reasonable price.”

Vasilirakis, who has lived in Hamilton for over 40 years, says he is proud to be able to do what he loves for his community.

“Right now we have an opportunity to serve Hamilton and its surrounding areas with my Greek food and we’re gonna be a place [people] can count on for great food and good hospitality,” Vasilarakis said. “I know everyone in Hamilton loves the Greek Festival, so when we don’t have the festival, I’ll bring the festival to you.”

The meaning of the restaurant’s name is personal to Vasilarakis.

“Opa in the Greek language is like saying ‘Hurray!’ Opa is me: I like music, I like playing instruments, I’m one of those guys who says, ‘Hey look who it is!’ [to returning customers],” he said.

Vasilarakis has had the domain name for Opa Greek Restaurant’s website for the last decade, and has been waiting for the right time to start his dream restaurant.

“We’ve only been here for a few months, but we’re making new friends every day,” he said, adding that many Greek people from the area have already visited the restaurant.

Opa Greek Restaurant is located in Deerpath Pavilion, in the former location of Pi Pita Pizza. Members of the Vasilarakis family worked hard renovating the restaurant, and because the pizza ovens from Pi Pita Pizza remained, they have opted to keep pizza

Opa serves a traditional tomato pie and a New York style pie ($20), but can make other styles of pizza upon request. The restaurant also serves Greek imported lemonade.

Vasilarakis enjoys being a part of the Deerpath Pavilion, at the corner of Klockner Road and U.S. 130, noting how accessible and peaceful it is.

Opa Greek Restaurant has some indoor and outdoor seating, including an open kitchen at the rear of the establishment where chefs can look out at the diners and see what’s going on, which Vasilarakis said he enjoys.

“I like to see who’s coming, who’s going. I [get to] see people’s reactions to the food,” he said.

Vasilarakis prides his establishment on only using fresh ingredients and always remaining clean.

Opa Greek Restaurant also offers catering services that are available for

pick up and delivery.

Vasilarakis is planning to write and publish his first book at the beginning of next year, called “Let’s Cook Greek.” The book will be a memoir of his life as an executive chef and restaurant owner, and will also be a cookbook featuring some of his favorite Greek recipes, he said.

Vasilarakis also prides himself and his family on how hard they work to make Opa Greek Restaurant as great as it can be, and looks forward to connecting with the Hamilton community even more.

Opa Greek Restaurant is located at 3817 Crosswicks Hamilton Square Rd.

The restaurant is open seven days a week, from 11 a.m to 9 p.m Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m to 10 p.m on Fridays and Saturdays and from 11 a.m to 9 p.m on Sunday.

For more information or to order online, visit opagreekrestaurantnj.com or call (609) 438-9941 to place an order for delivery or pick up.

Peace of Mind.

Left: Chef-owner George Vasilarakis at Opa Greek Restaurant in Deerpath Pavilion. Right: some Greek specialties on the menu at Opa.

The annual Shine A Light NF Walk, a Walk to End NF, is scheduled to be held on Saturday, Oct. 5 in Veterans Park.

The Shine a Light NF Walk is the signature fundraising event of the Children’s Tumor Foundation. The organization’s stated goal is to spread awareness of neurofibromatosis and schwannomatosis — genetic conditions that collectively affect more than 4 million people worldwide — and raise critical funds to advance research and treatments.

Held in communities across the U.S., Shine a Light NF Walks are designed to be family-friendly events where NF patients, families, and friends can connect with others on a similar journey.

The walk is scheduled to start with registration at noon, followed by the walk at starting at 1 p.m. Participants and spectators are advised to enter Veterans Park at the South Entrance, then proceed to the Court Games Pavilion.

Online registration is available at shinealightwalk.org/newjersey2024.

According to the Children’s Tumor Foundation, 1 in 2,000 births is affected

by neurofibromatosis, a genetic condition that causes tumors to grow on nerves. There is no known cure.

Web: shinealightwalk.org.

Cristina, Michael and Anthony Alfieri, a local family affected by NF.

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Bill

ing the lanes against the running game.

Occasionally he will blitz.

“He’s the perfect story of a high school kid who put the work in from day one,” Papero said. “We’ve just seen him progress every year. Sophomore year, he was still learning, still maturing a little bit. Junior year we saw flashes of him being a special player, he was just a little inconsistent. You could see that it was there. He just had to get a little more consistent and mature a little bit.

“This year he’s all over the field. A big part of that is knowing where to be and knowing his assignment. He’s surrounded by a lot of young kids, we have a lot of sophomores and juniors. So he’s the constant, he’s always around the ball, he’s the leader. He’s one of our two captains. He has grown into a great football player and a great leader.”

Bing put it succinctly, saying: “At some point it just clicks. Everything comes together and you’re fine.”

Probably the biggest surprise is that he has become a leader. .

“Three or four years ago he’s not someone I would have said ‘This kid will be one of our captains,’” Papero said. “Not that he did anything wrong but he just didn’t show that leadership. That came with a BING continued from Page 25

lot of confidence and the kid’s got a motor that doesn’t stop.”

That leadership is something Bing takes pride in. He feels it will leave a mark on any success Hamilton will have beyond this season.

“I’m teaching some of the young guys what I know from being here the past couple years,” he said. “They learn pretty quickly so when I’m gone they should be perfectly set for what’s to come. They’re learning from everything I taught them.”

The Hornets defense started slowly this season, allowing 68 points in their first two games. They reduced that number to 21 against Trenton (and just 14 in regulation), and allowed Princeton just two field goals in a Week 3 win. Bing could see it coming after the Trenton game.

“Trenton, we were getting all the kinks out,” he said.

Papero said Bing is the most consistent player in a unit that is working hard to improve. “He’s surrounded by talent and he just knows where he’s supposed to be and knows where everybody else is supposed to be. He makes his reads and he goes. That’s what you want from a linebacker,” Papero said.

* * *

Bing began hitting the weight room

PRESENTS:

Our Third Annual Open House!! All are invited to tour the train layout and its operations and meet the members. New members are always welcomed to join! Admission is free. Be sure to bring the kids and cameras!

Saturday, October 5, 2024 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

For more information or to become a member of the JVMRR Club, please call 609-890-3630

could not be happier at how he has blossomed, and has been talking with Bryant University of the Colonial Athletic Association about playing there.

“It feels pretty good after the first three years of the bumps and bruises to get better, and eventually just know what you have to do,” Bing said. “When I got up to varsity some things I had already acquired and some things I had to learn.”

He has learned on and off the field, as Papero noted he has a high grade point average. Bing’s progress is what every coach strives for.

“As a staff, we’re just really proud of the growth,” Papero said. “He’s the epitome of what you want your high school players to be. They come in as a freshman, they have a little growing up to do. By senior year he’d done the growing up, he’s worked hard in the classroom, he doesn’t put up with any BS from teammates.”

He also doesn’t worry about the size of an opposing guard like the one he first encountered against Nottingham.

hard upon entering high school, and has never stopped. He feels it not only helps his strength and agility, but prevents him from feeling sluggish on the field. He

“He’s a defensive player,” Papero said. “Some kids just have that defensive mentality. He likes to attack. He doesn’t care how big that kid across from him is, he’s gonna take him head on.”

Only this time, he is usually the one winning the battle.

Hamilton senior linebacker Gabe Bing with teammate Nate Mehesky. (Photo by Rich Fisher.)

New charter school’s athletics programs hope to Thrive

By RICH FISHER

The gym will no longer be called the Iron Palace and state tournament qualifiers will be seeing different competition than in the past; but the bottom line is that high school athletics are still being played on Hamilton’s Leonard Avenue.

What was previously Trenton Catholic Preparatory Academy (and before that, Trenton Catholic Academy, McCorristin and St. Anthony’s) has become the Thrive Charter School.

The school is open to residents of Hamilton and Trenton, who must enter a lottery to have a chance to enroll. Students who were at TCPA have been grandfathered in (regardless of their residencies), meaning the athletic teams are a hybrid mixture of new players combined with those who were already competing.

Charged with overseeing the program is Pat Snyder, who coached the boys soccer team the past several years. Snyder is a Hamilton resident who played for Notre Dame and has been a head soccer coach at Mercer County Community College, New Jersey City University, Hamilton West and TCPA.

“Overall, I am happy with how things

are going so far,” Snyder said. “It’s exciting, it’s fun. I’m lucky being from the area, knowing a bunch of people. I’m able to lean on a lot of people to ask questions. Of course we can always be better at things and we’ll continue to improve.”

Aside from the behind-the-scenes responsibilities that now differ, there are two major changes to the program.

Teams will no longer have the Iron Mikes as their nickname, as a contest is being held among the students to declare a new mascot. And after always competing in the NJSIAA Non-Public B bracket for state competition, Thrive will be a member of Central Jersey Group 1, which consists of public schools with the smallest enrollments.

New teams have also been added. In the fall season, boys and girls soccer will be rejoined by girls tennis, which has not had a team since 2021. Boys and girls basketball remain as winter sports and indoor track and field has been added. In the spring, softball is back for the first time since 2021, while baseball and spring track and field return for the first time since 2022.

The teams will remain a member of the Burlington County Scholastic League,

with basketball playing in the Liberty Division and soccer competing in the Independence.

One of the most important responsibilities that Snyder needed to tend to was the hiring of new coaches, but his hands were tied until approval for the new school became official in July.

“It’s a fun process. It’s interesting to do,” Snyder said. “We had some good interest for soccer and quite a bit of interest in boys and girls basketball. I got about 25 applicants for the boys basketball job and 12 to 15 for girls basketball.”

The toughest part of that job for Snyder was replacing himself, since he is not allowed to coach in his new role as A.D.

“I get jealous watching the boys team, wishing I was out there,” he said with a laugh.

Taking over the boys program is Ruben Morales, who had the team off to a 3-2 start as of Sep. 24. Morales is a former Princeton High goalie who played for Snyder at MCCC and NJCU. Matt Stout will remain as an assistant after filling that role last year.

“Ruben helped us out a bit last year,” Snyder said. “He brings a lot of experience to the table. He comes from a very

similar place as these boys and he’s showing them a path to go to college and get a degree while trying to play soccer as well.

“It’s a family thing with Mercer soccer and all the tradition. It’s great for Ruben to come and be a part of. He knows the deal and Matt Stout knows the deal.”

Coaching girls soccer is Ashley Tutzauer, another former soccer goalkeeper. A Thrive physical education teacher now in her second year at the school, Tutzauer was a three-letter winner at both Toms River North and Cabrini University, and was a Susquehanna University assistant girls basketball coach. She will be assisted by former TCA standout Desiree Davis.

“Tut brings a lot of experience for us playing and excelling at the next level,” Snyder said. “She has a pretty good relationship with the students and I have to say the girls really drove this program coming back. They were pushing all the way through the spring. We have 17 on the roster. We started 0-3 but every game got a little better. It’s fun to see.

“A lot of the girls don’t have tons of outside playing experience, but coach has done a good job of teaching them the game.”

See THRIVE, Page 33

Capital Health Among Nation’s Top Performing Hospitals for Treatment of Heart Attack Patients

Capital Health Medical Center –Hopewell has received the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain — MI Registry Gold Performance Achievement Award for 2024. As of June 2024, Capital Health was one of only 61 hospitals nationwide to receive the honor, which recognizes commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients. The award also means that the Chest Pain Center at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell has reached an aggressive goal of treating these patients to the high standards outlined by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association clinical guidelines and recommendations.

To receive the Chest Pain — MI Registry Gold Performance Achievement Award, Capital Health has demonstrated sustained achievement in the Chest Pain — MI Registry for two consecutive years (2021 and 2022) and performed at the top level for specific performance measures. Full participation in registry empowers health care provider teams to consistently treat heart attack patients according to the most current, science-based guidelines and establishes a national standard for understanding and improving the quality, safety and outcomes of care provided for patients with coronary artery disease, specifically high-risk heart attack patients.

“It takes a concerted effort to meet the ACC’s rigorous standards for heart attack care, and this award was only possible thanks to the hard work of Medical Director Dr. Lara Samson and her team at our Chest Pain Center,” said Dr. Mark Arcaro, vice president of Clinical Performance at Capital Health. “As part of the ACC registry, the doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals at the Chest Pain Center provide care backed by data from other leading programs across the country. Congratulations to Dr. Samson and her team for this remarkable achievement, which lets patients in our region know Capital Health is nationally ranked in treating heart attack patients.”

“It is an honor to award Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell with the Gold Performance Award for their valuable national leadership and dedication to meeting comprehensive performance measures in patient care,” said Dr. Michael C. Kontos, chair of the NCDR Chest Pain — MI Registry Steering Subcommittee, and cardiologist at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. “The receipt of this award indicates that Capital Health remains committed to providing top quality, guideline-driven care for heart attack patients. Their success ensures patients are receiving the highest quality cardiovascular care.”

To learn more about Capital Health’s Chest Pain Center, visit capitalchestpain.org.

Call 911 immediately if you or someone you know is experiencing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack.

Capital Health Regional Medical Center Nationally Recognized for Excellence in Stroke Care

Capital Health Regional Medical Center (RMC) recently received the American Heart Association’s Gold Plus Get with The Guidelines® Stroke Quality Achievement Award. This award recognizes the hospital’s commitment and success in ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.

The American Heart Association also awarded Capital Health Regional Medical Center its Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll Elite award. To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet quality measures developed to reduce the time between a patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with clot-busting medication.

Hospitals like Capital Health Regional Medical Center earn these awards by demonstrating a commitment to providing quality care and meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients. Before discharge, patients also receive education on managing their health and have a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions.

“Capital Health is committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines,” said Dr. Dustin Rochestie, director of the Stroke Program and director of Neurology and Neuro Critical Care at Capital Institute for Neurosciences. “Get With The Guidelines makes it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which studies show can help patients recover better. The end goal is to ensure more people in the Mercer and Bucks County region can experience longer, healthier lives.”

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the U.S. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so brain cells die. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and speeding recovery times. Get with the GuidelinesStroke was developed to assist health care professionals to

provide the most up-to-date, research-based guidelines for treating stroke patients.

“We are incredibly pleased to recognize Capital Health for its commitment to caring for patients with stroke,” said Dr. Steven Messe, volunteer chairperson of the American Heart Association Stroke System of Care Advisory Group. “Participation in Get With The Guidelines is associated with improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates a win for health care systems, families and communities.”

Additionally, Capital Health Regional Medical Center received the Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll award. Hospitals that qualify for this recognition ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.

Capital Health Regional Medical Center, located in Trenton, New Jersey, is the only Comprehensive Stroke Center in the region certified by The Joint Commission, and one of only nine such hospitals in New Jersey. As part of Capital Health’s Capital Institute for Neurosciences, it is available for patients who require the most advanced treatments for neurovascular and stroke care including neuro endovascular, neurosurgical and stroke services.

Stroke is a time-sensitive emergency. If you suspect you or a loved one is experiencing a stroke, call 911 immediately. To learn more about Capital Health’s commitment to providing advanced care for stroke patients and those with other complex disorders of the brain and spine, visit capitalneuro.org.

Mercer County Native Returns to Join Growing Team of Gynecologic Oncologists at Capital Health

DR. MONA SALEH, a fellowship trained gynecologic oncologist who grew up in Mercer County, has joined the nationally accredited Capital Health Cancer Center, located at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell.

Dr. Saleh joins Dr. Joyce Varughese in providing the most advanced testing and treatments for all gynecologic cancers, including ovarian, uterine/endometrial, cervical, vulvar, and vaginal as well as pre-cancerous conditions in the female reproductive system. Dr. Saleh is seeing patients at Capital Health Surgical Group, Two Capital Way, Suite 356, Pennington, NJ 08534 and 1690 Big Oak Road, Second Floor, Yardley, PA 19067.

“Our Center for Gynecologic Oncology fills an important need for women in our region and I’m excited to join Dr. Varughese and the rest of the team at Capital Health Cancer Center,” said Dr. Saleh. “I’m proud to be part of a team that offers access

to specialized services for women in our area who have cancer and might otherwise have to travel away from where they live or work to find the care they need. As someone who grew up here in Mercer County, this is especially meaningful, and I look forward to furthering Capital Health Cancer Center’s mission.”

Dr. Saleh completed her fellowship in gynecologic oncology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, New York. She completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at New York University Grossman School of Medicine, also in New York City. Fluent in Spanish and Arabic, she has a special interest in minimally invasive surgery and improving access to cancer care for all communities.

To make an appointment, call 609.537.6000 or visit capitalhealth.org/gynonc for more information.

Former Army Surgeon Specializing In Minimally Invasive Colorectal Procedures Joins Capital Health

DR. JOHN SMITH BERRY IV, a double board certified colorectal and general surgeon with a decade of experience in minimally invasive abdominal and transanal techniques, has joined Capital Health Surgical Group. He joins Dr. Ashlee Godshalk Ruggles, medical director of Colorectal Surgery, in providing surgical treatment for the prevention and management of cancer as well as benign diseases of the colon and lower gastrointestinal tract

“Capital Health is known for exceeding the highest standards of physician and nursing care. It has a reputation for leading surgical advances and comprehensive cancer treatment. My patients will get the best care possible here,” said Dr. Berry. “I’m honored to join Dr. Godshalk Ruggles and provide expert care so we can cure more patients and return them to their loved ones in good health. Together, we will continue to grow Capital Health Cancer Center and cement its reputation as the region’s best.”

Dr. Berry’s clinical interests include sphincter-preserving techniques for advanced rectal cancer, surgical treatment of advanced disease, and enhanced recovery protocols that allow patients to experience shorter, safer hospital stays and less time away from work.

Dr. Berry received his undergraduate degree in chemistry at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York and went on to receive military honors as an Armored Cavalry Officer. After his service, Dr. Berry received his medical degree from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Berry was fellowship trained in colon and rectal surgery at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Before joining Capital Health, Dr. Berry was a colorectal surgeon in the U.S. Army based at Fort Liberty, North Carolina. During this time, he served multiple deployments to the Middle East where he was Chief of Surgery at combat hospitals in Sinai, Egypt and Doha, Qatar.

To make an appointment, call 609.537.6000 or visit capitalsurgical.org for more information.

FREE UPCOMING HEALTH EDUCATION EVENTS

Register by calling 609.394.4153 or register online at capitalhealth.org/events and be sure to include your email address. Please register early. Class size is limited. Zoom meeting details will be provided via email 2 – 3 days before the program date. Registration ends 24 hours before the program date.

Lung Cancer Awareness: New Technology to Streamline Diagnosis

Monday, November 4, 2024 | 6 p.m.

Location: Zoom Meeting

Lung cancer symptoms often go undetected until its later stages, which is why advances in screening options are crucial to overcoming this disease. DR. DIANA KOLMAN, director of Interventional Pulmonology at Capital Health, will highlight the latest robotic technology that is increasing the precision and efficiency of lung biopsies. This allows for earlier and more accurate detection of cancerous cells and better patient outcomes in the fight against lung cancer.

Dementia: Recognize the Signs

Thursday, November 14, 2024 | 9:30 a.m.

Location: Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell

NJ PURE Conference Center, One Capital Way, Pennington, NJ 08534

Is forgetfulness a sign of underlying dementia or just a normal part of the aging process?

Join DR. AHMAD FAROOQ, a geriatric medicine doctor and medical director of Capital Health LIFE (a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly), to discuss this common question and the cognitive issues we may encounter as we age. A light breakfast will be served.

Snyder was enthused by the interest in the girls program, which had fallen into disarray recently.

“There was a group of girls knocking on my door, expressing interest, checking with me as the conversion was being completed,” Snyder said. “We were able to get started and have some summer practices. Once we hit preseason there was a little pushback with some games on our schedule before we knew everybody had clearance. But we’re off and running. It’s amazing to see; to watch something come back.”

The girls tennis team was still seeking its first win in late September, but 14 girls came out for the program. The head coach is Eusebio “Zeus” Smordoni, and former head man Don Swanson is assisting.

The girls team will be coached by Darnell Alford, a former Nottingham standout who went on to play at Lackawanna Community College and then overseas. Alford was Sherika Salmon’s assistant last year. Salmon is now assisting Bob Fusik at Mercer and is Thrive’s board president.

“Darnell’s experience over time, and having been a part of the program and what he can do can really help this next group of girls,” Snyder said. “We had four very good seniors last year, and quite a bit of talent coming behind them that needs to be developed and cultivated. He was the most suited to do this job from the people we spoke to.”

Still on the hiring docket are both track coaches along with baseball and softball.

PROGRAM EXTENDED UNTIL MAY 31

2024-2025 PROGRAM BEGINS October 1, 2024

The County of Mercer will be accepting applications for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) until May 31, 2018. Mercer County will continue accepting applications for the Universal Service Fund (USF) Program throughout the year. Residents who pay their own heating costs, and meet the following income guidelines, may be eligible to receive financial assistance with their winter heating bill. Residents with medical conditions may also be eligible to receive cooling assistance. MONTHLY INCOME GUIDELINES

The County of Mercer will be accepting applications for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for the 2024-2025 beginning October 1, 2024. Mercer County will continue accepting applications for the Universal Service Fund (USF) Program throughout the year. Residents who pay their own heating costs, and meet the following income guidelines, may be eligible to receive financial assistance with their winter heating bill. Residents with medical conditions may also be eligible to receive cooling assistance:

“The girls love it, they’re putting in a good effort,” Snyder said. “We had a fantastic turnout and Zeus is a great guy, super passionate. Our record isn’t great but they’re competing. They’re getting better and starting to push other teams.”

As for the winter sports, a familiar name takes over the boys basketball program as former TCA star Khalid Lewis is the new coach. Lewis runs the lower school athletic program for Christina Seix Academy in Trenton.

“I knew a little about him from who he is and being around,” Snyder said. “We’ve dealt with each other for a few things. Just getting to know him and talking to him more, he’s just what you’re looking for in that transition.

“Our boys team should be pretty good this year. As far as looking at where they are and trying to transition those guys into college, along with developing the future of the program, I feel he checks both of those boxes. Going from NonPublic to Group I Central, it could be a heck of a season for them.”

The entire operation is combining some of the old with some of the new as Snyder takes over for previous A.D. Marty Flynn.

“I guess the best way to describe it is that it’s a clean slate, but at least we have a structure to start from,” Snyder said. “We’ve started to tweak a few things. Some things will be dramatic changes. Other things, we stood pat. Marty set up a pretty good thing here, we have no reason to change some things he set up for TCPA. Other things had to change just because we are now operating as a charter school.

“With each of the programs so far, there’s still a connection with the school’s history. I love the fact there are people here who know about the past here. My hope is to keep that going, with people who have some connection or affiliation with us.”

As for scheduling, Snyder hopes to get some nonconference games with Colonial Valley Conference foes, particularly Trenton High and the Hamilton schools.

“That’s kind of a natural rivalry thing we’d like to have,” he said.

To request an application please contact the Mercer County Housing and Community Development Office at (609) 989-6858 or (609) 989-6959. Applications can also be obtained by visiting the Housing office at 640 South Broad Street, 1st floor, Room 106, Trenton, NJ 08650.

Locations & Hours: Trenton Office 640 South Broad Street – Rm 106 Trenton, NJ 08650 M-F 8:30am – 4:30pm (Wednesday open until 6:30pm)

NJ 08690 Tues & Thurs 10:00am-12:00pm (by appt. only) Saturdays – 4/7 & 5/5 10:00am-1:00pm (walk-ins)

Board of Chosen Edward Pattik Freeholders Housing Director

Brian M. Hughes, County Executive

Please call for incomes above 8 persons.

The public is permitted to enter the building without an appointment at this time. If an inperson appointment is necessary, clients can call 609-337-0933 or email housing@mercercounty.org to schedule an appointment. Applications can be sent by regular mail to 640 S. Broad Street Room 106, PO BOX 8068 Trenton, NJ 08650-0068 or faxed to 609-278-2758.

The County will continue to receive applications up until the deadline of June 30, 2025 by regular mail, fax, email and in person. Applications, forms, and information can be accessed at this site: http:/www.mercercounty.org/departments/housing-communitydevelopment/housingand-community-development-programs

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Applications can be sent by regular mail, fax, email and in person:

email address: housing@mercercounty.org Fax: 609-278-2758

Board of County Commissioners Edward Pattik Housing Director Daniel Benson, County Executive

Snyder

Sibling rivalries drive Bendas for SHS field hockey

By RICH FISHER

As the youngest of four siblings — two of whom were baseball-playing brothers — Mackenzie Bendas took her lumps during family contests as a kid.

when the ball comes, just do what I know best,” she said. “I keep my stick low, help my teammates.”

She helped Steinert recover from an 0-3 start with two straight wins as the Spartans had a 2-3 mark as of Sep. 23. That equaled their win total from all of last year.

The Steinert High field hockey team has become the beneficiary of those early battles, as the young defender has no problem standing in front of a shot to block it.

“It’s like having a second goalie without pads on back there,” coach Lorraine LaMontagne raved. “She’s only a sophomore and the fact that we can rely so heavily on somebody in that sort of position on the younger side is pretty important to us. It’s really really nice to have.”

The coach reflected on a loss to Notre Dame, which is an offensive juggernaut.

“She had a couple of great defensive saves in that game,” LaMontagne said. “I lose my mind every time she does that.”

It’s safe to say the shooters lose their mind too, but in a different way as Bendas continues to perfect her craft.

“I really just try to work really hard

Bendas’ maturity in the back has helped, including her courage to stand in front of hard hit plastic balls.

“That’s not something we have to tell her to do,” LaMontagne said. “I told her to do stuff like that to a degree. But how she sort of naturally did it and where she stood and how she’s even with the goalie and how she works with our goalie, it’s kind of unspoken and she took that on. That was really nice to see.”

Bendas became interested in field hockey in seventh grade through a program held at Reynolds Middle School.

“I really fell in love with it so I stuck with it,” she said. “It was hard to learn everything, all the rules, but I just kept working hard, trying my best every practice and in every game. It got better from

23,

on the team – though not a club player –was defender Aleyia O’Neal.

“That helped a lot because I could connect with them,” said Bendas, whose dad, Adam, has served as Nottingham Little League President. “We could talk each other through things if we were not doing really good. We can give each other advice and encouragement and I think that really helped me.”

And the youngsters have been aided by the upperclassmen

“They’ve been really helpful giving us little tips and tricks along the way and they’re all very nice girls,” Bendas said. “It’s been easy to adapt to them.”

LaMontagne said she knew there was an experienced group coming in last year, which saved her some time when it came to coaching.

“Just those few years playing together before ninth grade showed they had skills that we didn’t need to teach them,” the coach said. “They were able to step into varsity pretty seamlessly.”

there. I always played defense. They put me back there one time, I liked it a lot so I stuck with it.”

After playing rec hockey in Bordentown, Bendas honed her skills with Blue Star field hockey in Burlington County. Upon reaching high school, she became a starter her freshman season.

“I didn’t expect to make varsity,” she said. “I just tried really hard and any team I made I thought would be good. I just wanted to keep playing. I was thrilled to make varsity, I really enjoyed it.”

Making things easier is that she made the team with three other freshmen who all played with Mackenzie at Blue Star Field Hockey. They included forwards Ella Salzano and Gia Graziano and midfielder Bella Coniglio. Another 9th-grader

Junior goalie Jada Oczkowski, a threeyear varsity player, has done a nice job aiding the defense.

“She’s helped a lot,” Bendas said. “Even when we’re up she’s telling us stuff we don’t see on the field that helps – ‘Look left, look right.’ She’s very good back there.”

Bendas has been pretty good herself. She came in with a tenacious attitude and some talent, and has honed that nicely in just two seasons.

“She has grown quite a bit between this year and last year,” LaMontagne said. “I don’t want to say that she didn’t have that kind of spunk to her, but I think that with experience comes a bit of confidence.

“She’s definitely showing she’s more confident than last year. Not just her play-

See BENDAS, Page 36

Registered Mercer County voters may cast their ballot in person, using a voting machine at any of the locations below.

Steinert’s Mackenzie Bendas in action against Lawrence at home, Sept.

2024. Lawrence won the game, 7-0. (Photo by Suzette Lucas.)

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BENDAS continued from Page 35

ing ability but her skills. That’s really helping. Our goal differential could have been a lot more than it was in our first three games and it was partially because of her.”

When it comes to defending, Bendas feels it’s more than just throwing the body around. Attention must be paid to detail.

“The key is making sure your stick is very low and watching the ball on to your stick and waiting for it to happen,” she said. “You don’t want to go quicker than the way the play is actually happening. Let it come to you, stop it and then do your next move. Don’t do it too quickly. Just do your little stuff and everything will follow.”

Bendas enjoys the best of both worlds in her sports activities. While she defends in field hockey, she is an offensive midfielder in lacrosse (but lists hockey as her number one sport).

She is also involved in the Miracle League and is a member of Steinert’s Tens on Fire Club, which helps those less fortunate with food drives and such. It’s part of her nature.

“I love the Miracle League,” she said. “It makes me really grateful for what I have. You realize not everyone is so fortunate. And it’s so nice watching their faces. They’re so happy.

Much like LaMontagne appreciates what Bendas brings to her program. In the Hamilton school district it’s rare to get polished players the minute they arrive.

“As a sophomore, compared to sophomores we’ve experienced in the past that come in as a freshman without having any knowledge of field hockey, it’s almost to the level of where that person is a senior,” LaMontagne said. “I’m very excited to see what that means for the rest of this season and the next two seasons.”

Especially considering Bendas is just one of five promising players in the Spartans strong sophomore class.

“They’re a good group to build off of and to build around,” LaMontagne said. “Their knowledge and skills are helping the older kids as well. We’re raising the level of where we were and expectations that we have. I think they are certainly pulling their weight.”

And Bendas is certainly excited to see what the future holds.

“I think there’s a lot of potential with us,” she said. “We’re all really good at working together and communicating and we have a lot of girls that will be back next year. I think we have a lot of hope for the future.”

Bendas is a big part of that future, thanks to some toughening up she went through in the past.

Mammograms: crucial to women’s health

Ask The Doctor

While researchers continue to make advancements in cancer detection and treatment for breast cancer, one of the best ways to tackle the disease is through early detection and screening with mammography. Firas G. Eladoumikdachi, MD, Breast Program Director at the Cancer Center at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJUH Hamilton), an RWJ Barnabas Health facility, in partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute, the state’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, shares more on the importance of this lifesaving cancer screening.

also may be at high risk if you have a mother or sister who developed breast or ovarian cancer or if you have multiple family members who developed breast, ovarian or prostate cancer.

See our ads in SIX09 section pgs 5 and 7

3. Early disease usually does not cause pain or other symptoms, and self-exams cannot find everything. As the cancer grows, symptoms may develop, such as, a lump, or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm area, change in the size or shape of the breast, or tenderness. Other symptoms include nipple discharge or the nipple pulled back into the breast, or a change in the way the skin of the breast, areola, or nipple looks or feels (warm, swollen, red, or scaly).

Dr. Eladoumikdachi

1. Breast cancer is a leading health concern for women. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most common cancer in U.S. women, behind only skin cancer. Approximately 13.1 percent of women will be diagnosed with female breast cancer at some point during their lifetime

2. There are several risk factors associated with breast cancer. As with many other diseases, risk of developing breast cancer increases as you get older until about the mid-7th decade of life. You

4. Using low-dose X-rays, mammograms can show abnormal areas or tissues in your breast and can help detect cancer before you have symptoms. Your breast is placed in a special machine between two plates. The plates move together to compress your breast tissue, so it’s easier for the X-ray to obtain a clear image. Once the images are created, they’re stored on a computer where they can be viewed and analyzed by the radiologist and your doctor.

5. When breast cancer is detected early, and hasn’t spread, the five-year relative survival rate is 99 percent. Breast cancers found during screening exams are more likely to be smaller and less likely to have spread outside the breast.

6. The United States Preventative Task

Force, The American Society of Breast Surgeons, The American College of Radiology, as well as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, all agree that women with average risk for developing breast cancer should start screening mammography at age 40. Take action now. If you are unsure about breast cancer screening recommendations for your personal situation, discuss with your doctor to make a decision that feels right for you. Learn more at rwjbh.org/mammo.

Programs at RWJU Hamilton this month

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

ScHedule an annual mammograPHy

(RWJUH Hamilton) At The Women’s Center at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, 1 Hamilton Health Place, Outpatient Building #5, Ground Floor. Appointments are required and appointments can be scheduled by calling the Mammography Department at 609-631-6832 and press “3” when prompted to schedule an appointment. Early detection of breast cancer saves lives. Learn more at rwjbh.org/mammo.

THurSday, ocTober 3

Dinner With Doctors—Breast cancer awareness event (Community Education). 6 to 7 p.m. Join us for “In Your Breast Interest;” FREE* dinner with doctors program featur-

ing our physicians: Firas G. Eladoumikdachi (Eladou), MD, FACS, Breast Surgical Oncology; Rachana Singh, MD, Clinical Director of Radiation Oncology; and Meera Yogarajah, MD, Medical Oncology. Learn the facts about breast health, myths about breast cancer, the latest treatments, and the importance of early detection and annual mammograms. *Registered attendees will be offered a wellbalanced and healthy dinner; registration is required and space is limited; first come first serve basis. This event will be held at RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center, Center for Health & Wellness, 3100 Quakerbridge Road, Hamilton, NJ 08619. For more information or to register, call 609-584-5900. Learn more online at rwjbh.org/hamiltonprograms

TueSday, ocTober 15

Breast/Chest Health (Community Education). 5 to 6 p.m. Join Cecilia Gomez, BS, Community Cancer Control Specialist, RWJ Barnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute, for this presentation that covers the basics of breast cancer. We will discuss screening guidelines, health disparities, diet and lifestyle and genetic counseling

WedneSday, ocTober 16

Dinner With a Doctor—Common sleep disorders (Community Education). 6 to 7:30 p.m. Join Kevin Law, MD, member of RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group, RWJUH Hamilton, on in depth discussion on common causes of poor sleep and day time sleepiness as well as sleep disorders, and learn if you need to schedule a sleep study at RWJUH Hamilton Sleep Care Center. Dr. Law has over 25 years of experience and is board-certified in critical care, pulmonary disease and sleep medicine. *Registered attendees will be offered a well-balanced and healthy dinner; registration is required and space is limited; first come first serve basis. This event will be held at RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center, Center for Health & Wellness, 3100 Quakerbridge Road, Hamilton, NJ 08619. For more information or to register, call 609-584-5900. Learn more online at rwjbh.org/hamiltonprograms

10 questions with muralist Marlon Davila

Marlon Davila is a teaching artist with ancestral ties to Guatemala. His collaborative murals with Delaware and Raritan Greenway and Latin American Legal Defense Education Fund students from Hamilton and other Mercer towns to create murals that celebrate heritage and nature are uplifting for both the artists and the community.

What are you communicating with your art?

What I am communicating with my art is definitely the message of love. For example, my current public exhibition at the Princeton Public Library “Phases of the Heart” which runs through October 20, 2024 communicates certain conditions a human heart could go through. At the end of the day it all really stems from love. Creatively, I’ve taken up the challenge to paint women with heart shaped faces all depicting an emotion or a phase that the heart may be going through. I first started with the one piece I call “Heart on Fire” then that led to a series of others.

What media do you use and why?

I appreciate Acrylics because it is so gratifying to see how fast the turnaround of your work can be. With oils on the other hand, I’ve had to learn a great deal of patience because of the turnaround is not as fast. The natural drying process is a much slower process and it’s taught me a great deal of how to be patient with the process. I was trained to paint with oil and if I had to pick, I’d have to go with oil because I love the luminosity of the colors, how smooth it is to blend and mix and blend colors, just like butter.

Your figures and compositions have mystical qualities.

I’ve always been fascinating with the spiritual world. The deeper I go into learning about my lineage and ancestors the more I am realizing that it is in my blood to be this way. Depending of the correlation of the stars they’d have ceremonies then build homes or plant crops in the area to highlight the power it had in their lives. I am obsessed with learning more about it. It inspires to implement certain things into my life.

For instance, something as simple as finding out who my spirit animal is and what’s it all about, or learning more about

MEGAN S. SEIBER, ESQ. ATTORNEY AT LAW

Hamilton, New Jersey

When I first started painting I also started studying the greats and one quote I took to heart is Leonardo Da Vinci’s quote “Nature is the source of all true knowledge. She has her own logic, her own laws, she has no effect without cause nor invention without necessity.”

Since then I make it a point to go out and explore, go out on hike, travel, and meet people. One single idea leads to many unfolding ideas, this helps me stay consistent with an overflow of creative works of art.

Where did you learn the style that you are working in now?

I studied the way Frida Kahlo was able to tell her own personal story with a brush and paint brush. I love Diego Rivera also. I simply love how they were able to convey a message, a point in history in time and that’s what I want to do. My work is influenced by how they told a story with a canvas, brush and paints.

the star constellations and what does it mean to me and my ancestors. Why did they build pyramids in alignment with the stars and what it all really means?

Where do the ideas come from?

Diego Rivera, is a big inspiration for being able to tell the history of Mexico during his living time on enormous walls. Frida Kahlo, love and honesty will forever keep me inspired and finally I love Picasso for breaking the curse of perfectionism and thinking outside the box.

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meganseiber@optonline.net

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(609) 631-9012 Telephone (609) 631-9109 Facsimile

Thomas Kelly FIGHT IN THE MUSEUM

“Metamorphosis” painting by Marlon Davila.

Does teaching inﬂuence your own artwork?

Teaching without a doubt influences my work because in many ways I get to understand and see different perceptions of perspectives from my students that I would have never imagined. It forces me to see different angles and get

inspired creatively as well.

Is it easier to paint large or small?

For me it is definitely easier to paint large because you have plenty of space to work with.

What fight/struggle do you have regarding your art?

Being an artist takes plenty of

discipline, staying focused is a big part of the job. Keeping up with your studio space consistently is a must! You must have a strong back bone and thick skin. Not everyone is going to appreciate or like your art, but that is ok. Everyone is entitled to have their own taste. I am my own sales guy, networker and marketing guy. Staying consistent in all these things and devoting nothing but love to your craft can help reach higher rewards.

Is it challenging to work with groups of students on murals?

For me it’s a lot of fun! I love learning from others and their creative process, especially when it’s a group of people the creative flow just becomes really powerful and exciting.

What is on the horizon?

I’m looking forward to more and new collaborations with other artists, more projects, more murals but above all more creativity and community for the world.

Website: 7ovechild.com. Instagram: @70vechild.

Thomas Kelly is a Hamiltonbased artist. His work can be found at thomaskellyart.com.

OCTOBER 19, 2024 • 1-3 PM

ROSEDALE PARK, PENNINGTON, NJ

Raising critical funding for Senior Nutritional Services as well as the Meals on Wheels of Mercer County Pet Pantry–keeping our homebound seniors and their pets healthy, happy & together

EVENT CO-CHAIRS:

Jennifer Keyes-Maloney, Executive Director of the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities

Michael Cucciniello, Vice President-Branch Manager at OceanFirst Bank

FEATURING:

•Exercise demonstrations.

•Food, nutrition and wellness exhibits

•Pet Adoption

•Pet Costume Contest

•Food Truck Rally

•Basket Auction

•Give–Aways & More

outreach@mealsonwheelsmercer.org https://www.mealsonwheelsmercer.org/a nnual-walk

609.695.3483

Artist Marlon Davila at work.

The creepy-cool road to nowhere

Peter Dabbene

COMPLEX SIMPLICITy

Exploring the abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike

The Talking Heads had a big hit with the song “Road to Nowhere” back in 1985, and now in 2024, I finally got to see a real one.

This particular road to nowhere is a 13-mile stretch of the Pennsylvania Turnpike that was abandoned in 1968, when the highway was rerouted to alleviate backups caused by two-lane traffic passing into one-lane tunnels. In its current incarnation, most of the road (about 8.5 miles from one end to the other), is a popular hiking and biking spot, with tunnels and abandoned buildings waiting to be explored.

A recent bike excursion in New Jersey’s D&R Canal State Park had me riding on a flat tire for the last 2 miles of the 8.9 mile Bull’s Head-toFrenchtown stretch; luckily, a bike shop

in Frenchtown was able to repair the tire while we ate lunch. From what I’d read, the Abandoned PA Turnpike was a much rougher surface to ride than the canal towpath: once paved roadway, it was now crumbling, much of it overtaken by nature.

Most concerning, warnings about broken glass on the route were common. I had no desire to repeat my flat tire experience in a more remote area without the ready aid of civilization and commerce. I bought a bike repair kit, packed some WD-40, and tried to prepare for any potential mishap, but a giant leap of faith, along with a three-hour drive, would be required to satisfy my curiosity.

My daughter and I arrived at the Breezewood parking area on a pretty perfect Labor Day, sun shining, not too hot. We unpacked our bikes and started our ride on the grass-invaded roadway, which was marked by colorful graffiti, some encouraging (“ONLY 1 MILE TO THE TUNNEL”), some not so much (“TURN BACK NOW”).

The first tunnel didn’t seem too intimidating, a bit less than three quarters of a mile long from the accounts

Mercer County Executive Dan Benson, the City of Trenton, and the Trenton Housing Authority host two Career and Resource Fairs for Trenton residents

I’d read, with a bit of daylight visible at the far end of it. My daughter turned on the LED light we’d attached to her handlebars, and in we went. I followed behind her, and by drifting farther back at times, just out of range of the light’s illumination, I got a sense of how difficult it would be to ride through in the dark. It was cold in the tunnel. Pieces of the roof hung down from the ceiling, and in some places we had to swerve to avoid rubble on the ground. It was like a reallife, imagination-aided video game—stay away from the far edges of the roadway, where broken glass seemed most likely to accumulate, but also avoid other debris, which could be anywhere.

Graffiti decorated nearly every inch of wall in the tunnels, some of it crude and unimpressive, some of it clever and showing real artistic skill; all of it added to the post-apocalyptic atmosphere.

After about another 4 miles, we came to the second tunnel; this one was twice as long as the first, and because of a slight arc in its run, we couldn’t see the opening on the other side. A sign warned that the Sideling Hill Tunnel was unlit and “may contain dangers including,

Wednesday, October 16, 2024 – 11am - 3pm

Mercer County and the Trenton Housing Authority host a resource and career fair at Donnelly Homes located at 875 North Willow Street, Trenton, NJ 08638 from 11am to 3pm with the Department of Motor Vehicle’s mobile unit.

• Attendees are invited to utilize the Department of Motor Vehicle’s mobile unit for REALID, registration renewal, initial permit, nondriver ID, duplicate/replacement title or registration by reserving a time slot at https://telegov.njportal.com/njmvcmobileunit

Wednesday, October 23, 2024 – 11am - 3pm

Mercer County and the Trenton Housing Authority host a resource and career fair at Wilson Homes located at 5 Eisenhower Avenue, Trenton, NJ 08638 from 11am - 3pm. No mobile unit. For more information or to table, please contact Terry West at twest@mercercounty.org

but not limited to: Spalling Concrete • Falling Debris • Wild Animals • Shattered Glass.”

I had to look up the word “spalling” (fragments breaking off from a larger body), but of more interest was the vague, all-encompassing legal disclaimer “not limited to,” which distanced the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from liability while, strictly speaking, allowing for the presence of robbers, psychos, zombies and anything else.

Scenes from the 2009 film The Road were shot here, but as we entered, I recalled not just that movie, but every post-apocalyptic tunnel scene I’d ever seen or read in any movie, book, or TV show. Maze Runner, The Stand, The Walking Dead… whether live bodies, dead bodies, or animated dead bodies, I mentally prepared myself.

Naturally, I eyed with suspicion the groups of flashlight-toting families and friends hiking through the tunnels. Occasionally, there’d be a lone hiker, shuffling along, footsteps echoing through the cavernous space. We kept our distance—to keep from slamming into them, but also to stay more than

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wondering how the heck she’d gotten this far.

It felt like we were earning that return trip, pedaling through the tunnels and open air with more urgency and effort than ever. The adrenaline boost fueled more Hollywood-inspired thoughts of escaping cave-ins and fighting off bandits. All of the people we talked to along the ride seemed very nice, actually. But was it just a façade, setting us up as an easy mark for later?

THE HAMILTON PARTNERSHIP

NEWS TO KNOW

arm’s reach away, just in case there were some undead brain-cravers among them.

Upon emerging from the tunnel, we again noted the stark contrasts in tone of the scrawled messages that greeted us. We read them upside-down on the ground, since they were intended for people arriving from the opposite terminus of the Abandoned Turnpike. One advised “ENTER IF YOU DARE,” while another, showing more sensitivity than the average graffito, read, “YOU ARE ENOUGH.”

We took a break, leaving the road and our bikes to explore an abandoned ventilation room on top of the tunnel. This is the sort of decision that leaves horror-movie audiences flabbergasted, and it did feel risky to ignore my New York City-imparted sense of vigilance and leave our bikes unattended.

But this was Pennsylvania, and even teenagers in search of a hangout, or homeless people seeking shelter might hesitate before making the trek to the tunnel. Certainly, all but the most dedicated and physically fit miscreants would avoid such an undertaking just to steal a bike.

After a few minutes navigating creepy stairways and deteriorating floors, we returned to find our bikes exactly as we left them, and resumed our journey.

The roadway went on for another mile or so, then came to an abrupt end. We turned and headed back, my daughter and I now switching bikes regularly. I don’t remember how many years ago we bought her bike, but it turns out, it isn’t ideal for her current height. Unable to fully extend her legs, uphills posed a much harder obstacle on her bike than on mine, so we switched often, me taking her bike for the steeper inclines and

We passed a solo shuffler again, who, from behind, now looked even more like a foot-dragging zombie. He might have simply been tired, but he also might have recently risen from the grave, seeking sustenance from the craniums of unwary travelers. I figure it was a coin flip, 50/50. We finally arrived at our car, exhausted but alive, satisfied that the shuffler and any brain-eating buddies of his were left safely behind. As paranoia faded, we looked at pictures we’d taken during the trip, and, scrolling from one to the next, watched an alarming transformation take place. We’d started as cheerful, vigorous, healthy-looking adventurers, but by the end we’d become something… less than human.

We were disheveled and haggard, muscles stiff and strained. I realized that instead of picking my feet up high as I walked, I’d begun to shuffle a bit. We were both hungry, and would have eaten just about anything—maybe even a brain. We looked at each other, and in a cinematic twist worthy of any horror movie, I realized that—(dramatic pause and music)—WE had become the zombies.

Nonetheless, I craved some decidedly pre-apocalyptic victuals, so instead of human brains, I decided to indulge in two McDonald’s McDoubles and two McChicken sandwiches before the ride home. Some might question how much of an upgrade that actually is, but it seemed like a better choice at the time. For me, an occasional fast food meal is an enjoyable experience that outweighs a few concerns—real or imagined— about personal health and longevity. Which, come to think of it, pretty well describes our trip on the creepy-cool Road to Nowhere.

Peter Dabbene’s website is peterdabbene.com. His story “Chipping” is included in TENacity: Brilliant Flash Fiction’s 10th Anniversary Anthology, available through Amazon.com. His graphic novel biography “George Washington: The Father of a Nation” is also available through Amazon.com for $20 (print) or $10 (ebook).

Shop Small, Shop Local, Shop Hamilton.

THE HAMILTON PARTNERSHIP ANNOUCES NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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

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

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.

The Hamilton Partnership is proud to announce Jeannine Cimino Board and Executive Director.

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

THE HAMILTON PARTNERSHIP EXECUTIVE BOARD

Jeannine Cimino, Chair, William Penn Bank

Source: Unkown

Rachel Holland, Executive Director

Gregory Blair (Emeritus), Nottingham Insurance Co.

Hon. Jeff Martin, Mayor, Hamilton Township

Lee Boss, The Mercadien Group

Gerard Fennelly, NAI Fennelly

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

Richard Freeman, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Hamilton Frank Lucchesi, PSE&G

Patrick M. Ryan, First Bank

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. @thehamiltonpartnership @Hamiltonnjstrong #HamiltonNJStrong

THE HAMILTON PARTNERSHIP EXECUTIVE BOARD

Jeannine Cimino, Chair, William Penn Bank

Gerard Fennelly, NAI Fennelly

Richard Freeman, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Hamilton Frank Lucchesi, PSE&G

An abandoned tunnel on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. (Photo by Lucia Dabbene.)

clASSifiED

Booking a classified ad has never been easier! Simply scan the QR code or visit www.communitynews.org/place_an_ ad. Questions? Call us at 609-396-1511 ext. 132.

Day or evening. Holidays and weekends no problem. Very good references. Call Mary Ann, 609-298-4456 Cell: 609-676-4530. View thistimebesttime.wordpress.com.

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cash paid for World War II military Items. Helmets, swords, medals, etc. Call: 609-581-8290, E-mail: lenny1944x@gmail. com

Happy Heroes used books looking to buy old Mysteries, Science Fiction, Children’s Illustrated, kids series books (old Hardy boys-Nancy Drew-Judy Bolton- Dana girls, WITH DUSTJACKETS in good shape), Dell Mapbacks - Good Girl Art PULPS - nonsports cards, good conditioned pre 1975 paperbacks old COLLIER’S. Call 609-6193480 or email happyheroes@gmail.com.

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