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McMahon expected to take big step for LHS girls’ hoops BY RICH FISHER
Outgoing Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes, (fourth from left) at Overdose Awareness Day in Lawrence Township in 2021.
Retiring Hughes reflects on how far would go if theyas county executive 20you years were sick?
was overwhelmingly elected in Party Convention last March, November over Republican Lisa will be looking to move on to For the first time in two Richford — will be sworn in at greener pastures after many decades, long-time Mercer the county’s annual reorganiza- years in elected office. County Executive Brian Hughes tion meeting, which was set to be When asked in a recent interwon’t be sitting behind the desk held at the Trenton War Memo- view with the Lawrence Gazette of the county’s top administrative rial on Thursday, Jan. 4, at 6 p.m. about what Benson’s biggest elected official. Hughes, who was not chosen challenge will be, Hughes joked: Welcome to Capital Health. Former Assemblyman Dan to run again in favor of Benson “Removing all the Brian Hughes See HUGHES, Page 3 Benson — a Democrat who during the Mercer Democratic When someone you care about is sick, you’ll do whatever it takes to make sure they get the best care. And so do we.
BY BILL SANSERVINO
Taryn McMahon works for Moe’s Mexican restaurant in Lawrenceville and it seems to be good training for what Lawrence High girls basketball coach Dana Williams has in mind for the junior this season. “I kind of do everything,” McMahon said. “Everyone does everything pretty much. I make the food, clean up, everything.” Which is exactly what Williams expects. When asked to assess her forward’s qualities and the roles she will play this year, Williams answer was, “Are you ready to write? It’s a long list.” And while Moe’s may be a training ground for everything, the LHS “Safe Driving” club that Taryn is part of, is a bit ironic. Because trying to drive the lane against the 5-10 shot blocker is anything but safe. “She’s strong, she plays even a couple inches taller than she is,” Williams said. “Defensively she doesn’t back down, which I love about her. She led us in blocked shots with 14, that’s a lot.” Rejections are something that McMahon prides herself on, explaining that her court aware-
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ness often helps her get blocks. “If my hands are in their face, it is what it is,” she said. “There’s been times I just read it. There are girls who come running over toward me and I say ‘OK, that wasn’t very smart.’ I just slide over and I’m like ‘I got this.’” As for fast breaks, she said, “I try to get downcourt as fast as I can in the center. I read who has the ball and I try to shift over to whatever side that’s on. But I see who else is coming down the court. A lot of times I’m already back there. If there’s two players they’re either gonna pass it or shoot it. If I stay in between them and read it and see what they’re doing and know what they’re looking for, that’s where I go.” Defense and rebounding have been McMahon’s strong points, as she grabbed 90 caroms last year and is the team’s third best returning rebounder behind Emma Dobkin and Jaslin Garcia. This year, she and Williams both expect improvement from her scoring average just over 2 per game. “We’re looking for her to score 10 points or so a game, See MCMAHON, Page 7
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RWJUH Hamilton January Healthy Living / Community Education Programs GOT STRESS?
Wednesday, Jan. 3; 11:00 – 12:00 p.m.
When you experience stress, your body produces physical and mental responses. Gain valuable insight about how others deal with similar situations.
CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP Wednesday, Jan. 3; 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Supportive discussion group for those caring for a loved one who is aging or has a chronic illness-shared experiences can be healing.
GRIEF & LOSS SUPPORT GROUP Thursdays, Jan. 4 and Jan 18; 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
If you have lost a loved one or been separated from your support system, you can find comfort and begin to cope better by interacting with others.
KIDS IN THE KITCHENFROSTED WONDERLAND
Thursday, Jan. 4; 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Healthy eating starts early! Empower kids with culinary skills and nutrition knowledge to become their healthiest selves! For children 5 years and older. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Fee: $5 per person. Taryn Krietzman, RDN
CARING FOR LOVED ONES WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS
Monday, Jan. 8 and 22; 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Jan. 8: Ways to Manage Caregiver Stress Jan. 22: Importance of a Medical Living Will
ADULT CHILDREN CARING FOR PARENTS Monday, Jan. 8 and 22; 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Jan. 8: Balancing Caregiving, Family & Work
Jan. 22: Strategies for Keeping Your Loved Ones Engaged
SWEET SUCCESS SOCIETY: A DIABETES GROUP Monday, Jan. 8; 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 5; 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
A group for anyone with diabetes or caring for one of the 37 million Americans living with diabetes. Learn and discuss healthy ways to manage diabetes alongside peers and Taryn Krietzman, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.
LETTING GO OF CLUTTER Tuesday, Jan. 9; 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
This support group explores how our emotional ties to our “stuff” can create clutter and affect our mood.
DIZZINESS? VERTIGO? – UNDERSTANDING WHY MANY ADULTS DEVELOP DIZZINESS Wednesday, Jan. 10; 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Dizziness and imbalance are amongst the most common complaints in older people, and are a concern as it puts you at a higher risk of falling. Although the causes of dizziness in older people are multifactorial, peripheral vestibular dysfunction is one of the most frequent causes. Join Audiologist, Dr. Lorraine Sgarlato, Au.D.to understand more about the causes and treatments of dizziness.
WHAT’S EATING YOU?
Monday, Jan. 15; 11:00 – 12:00 p.m.
Support group for people experiencing emotional eating. Peer support is key. We offer a safe space to connect with others who are going through similar experiences.
PREDIABETES CONNECT GROUP Tuesday, Jan. 16; 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Diagnosed with prediabetes? This group is for you to connect with others affected. Share and explore ways to improve lifestyle changes.
WHAT’S IN STORE IN 24 VISION BOARD WORKSHOP Tuesday. Jan. 16; 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Create a vision board for the year ahead of what you would like to manifest in 2024. Please bring scissors, all other materials will be provided.
MINDFULNESS MEDITATION Wednesday, Jan. 17; 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.
Quieting your mind, even just for a short while can have profound effects on both your body and your mind. Come learn to lower the volume of your minds chatter. No experience necessary.
WHAT IS SEPSIS?
Thursday, Jan. 18; 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Learn about this life threatening response to infections with our Emergency Department Chairmen, Lasanta Horana, MD, FACEP. Dinner will be provided.
CRYSTAL BOWL SOUND BATH Monday, Jan. 22; 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Sound healing uses instruments like singing bowls, gongs, drums & chimes to create an atmosphere promoting deep rest, nervous system re-balancing, & emotional release. Participants sit or lay in a comfortable position while the practitioner takes you on a sound journey for mind, body & spirit. Bring a yoga mat, blanket, pillow to make yourself comfortable. Adriana Hansen, RYT200, SHA1. Fee: $15 per person.
CREATING HABITS THAT STICKA JOURNEY TO SELF-LOVE Tuesday, Jan. 23; 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP
Join Erin Bogdan, trauma-informed authenticity & confidence coach, for an interactive & engaging workshop to learn how to pour into you so that you can create a life of alignment, purpose, & impact.
Support and information for family and
REIKI SHARE
Wednesday, Jan. 17; 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
For those Certified in Reiki (at any level) to share the gift of Reiki with other practitioners. Give a session; get a session. Please bring a small sheet and pillow.
Wednesday, Jan. 17: 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
TAKE HOME COLORECTAL SCREEN friends of people with Alzheimer’s. Monday, Jan. 15; 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. HEALTHRYTHMS® DRUM CIRCLE Learn about ways to keep your colon healthy and possibly prevent colorectal cancer. You will be given a test to do at home and mail back.
reliever. Drums will be provided. Mauri Tyler, CTRS,CMP $15
Drum your cares away with our Drum Circle. It’s lots of fun and a great stress
Wednesday, Jan. 24; 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
WISE WOMEN
Thursday, Jan. 25; 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Join a community of women as we discuss relevant topics and find purpose, meaning and community.
DANCE IT OUT!
Friday, Jan. 29; 11:00 – 12:00 p.m.
Don’t let the winter blues leave you out in the cold. Warm up and feel energized through body movements. Never miss a chance to dance! All ages welcome, no experience required.
AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE
Wednesday, Jan. 31; 9:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Join the Red Cross as they host a blood drive to save lives. Donations made during this blood drive will automatically enter you in the Red Cross Super Bowl LVIII giveaway. The winner will receive a trip to SB LVIII for you & a guest. Prize includes travel, hotel, $1,000 gift card, pre-game activities & more! Scan the QR Code to schedule your appointment to make a life saving blood donation. *All programs require registration and are held at the RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center, 3100 Quakerbridge Rd., Hamilton, NJ, unless otherwise noted.
Better Health Programs/Complimentary Membership at 65+ Years Old A SENIOR SOCIAL GROUP
who haven’t moved their bodies for a while, recovering from an injury or have mobility/balancing difficulties.
TAI CHI CLASS
DR. SETH ROSENBAUM, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER ON COLDS VS. FLU
Wednesday, Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, & 31 10 to 11 a.m.
Thursday, Jan. 4 and 18; 1 to 2 p.m.
A MATTER OF BALANCE: A 4-WEEK SERIES Mondays & Wednesdays, Jan. 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29, 31; 1 to 3 pm
YOGA CLASSES
Tuesday, Jan. 9 and 23; 10 to 11 a.m.
MEDITATION CLASSES
Tuesday, Jan. 9 and 23; 11:15 to 11:45 a.m.
NEW - CHAIR YOGA Scan the QR code to register and become a member or call 609-584-5900 or email bhprogram@rwjbh.org to learn more.
*Registration and free Membership required to attend the Better Health Programs
Tuesday, Jan. 9; Noon to 12:45 a.m.
Krystal Loughlin, certified RYT, is introducing Chair Yoga to our Better Health Program. Using a chair for seated poses and also for balancing poses, this class is perfect for those
2 Lawrence Gazette | Januar y 2024
Thursday, Jan. 11; 1 to 2 p.m.
Seth Rosenbaum, MD, MMM- SVP, Chief Medical Officer of RWJ University Hospital Hamilton, specializes in Infectious Disease. January brings cold symptoms and Dr. Rosenbaum will thoroughly review differences between the multitudes of winter illnesses.
SOCRATES CAFÉ,
Thursday, Jan. 16; 1 to 2 p.m.
GAME TIME
Thursday, Jan. 18; 2 to 3:30 p.m.
DR. ALI HOSTS A “JEOPARDY PARTY” LUNCH & LEARN Friday, Jan. 19; Noon to 1:30 p.m.
A new Jeopardy focused on Innovations in Medicine. Tables will compete as teams as we test your knowledge. Don’t panic, this will be fun and interactive and there will even be prizes along with lunch.
RULES OF THE ROAD: INVESTING IN RETIREMENT
WINTER SAFETY TIPS WITH PHYSICAL THERAPY
Edward Jones’ 10 Rules of the Road to investing. Investing strategies to help reach their long-term goals. What they can do now to enjoy retirement. Ty Robinson, Edward Jones
A spill, a slip, a hospital trip. Learn the do’s and don’ts in wintry weather with physical therapist Chris Robinson, PT, DPT.
Tuesday, Jan.16; 10 to 11 am
Tuesday, Jan. 23; Noon to 1 p.m.
MEN’S HEALTH, LUNCH & LEARN WITH DR. DEEP TRIVEDI Thursday, Jan. 25; 12 to 1:30 p.m.
Join us for a frank conversation led by Dr. Deep Trivedi, Board-Certified in Urology with a special interest in multiple urologic areas including stone disease, benign prostate hyperplasia, erectile dysfunction/low T, incontinence, cancer and sexual/reproductive health. Men and Women are welcomed.
IT’S FREEZING OUT! LET’S BREAK THE ICE! Tuesday, Jan. 30; 2 to 3 pm
A new year marks a wonderful opportunity to make new acquaintances! Join together with new and familiar friends and participate in activities that will help us get to know each other better. Registration is required.
Scan QR code to view, learn more & register on-line for the programs listed above. Or visit rwjbh.org/HamiltonPrograms Email CommunityEdHam@rwjbh.org or call 609-584-5900 to learn more
HUGHES continued from Page 1 signs from across the county.” Many of those signs highlight Hughes’ accomplishments during his years as county executive. His achievements are many, and they include the revitalization of the Trenton-Mercer (and the approval of a new terminal and parking garage at the site), the preservation of thousands of acres of open space, numerous recreational projects, multiple economic initiatives, and helping to shepherd the county through the COVID-19 pandemic. Hughes, a resident of Princeton, is the son of former governor and N.J. Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard J. Hughes. Before being elected county executive in November 2003, he served two terms on the Board of Chosen Freeholders (now the Board of County Commissioners), first being elected in 1997. Before that, he served as deputy executive director of the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. During his final days in office in December, Hughes spoke with reporter Bill Sanservino about his challenges and accomplishments, as well as his thoughts on future issues confronting the county. An edited version of that interview is presented below in Q&A form. *** Lawrence Gazette: You have spent
the last 20 years as Mercer County executive, and more as a public servant. What are your plans for the future? Do you want to continue with some kind of public service? Brian Hughes: Well, I have a couple of irons in the fire, and I think when you believe in public service, it never really ends. My wife works at the Institute for Advanced Study, and she’s been there for about 32 years. Before that she worked at Princeton University. So, she is dedicated to educational service. My son is 24 years old, graduated from Princeton University and is working in public service in Washington, DC. So, I think it’s something that’s in the bloodstream. Working in public service in the future is something that I would certainly be interested in. LG: Can you share some of the things you are pursuing after you leave office? BH: Well, I have, I think, 34 years working for the State of New Jersey. They just finished figuring out what my pension is going to be, and I believe that if you work for the State of New Jersey for more than $17,500, you put your pension at risk — so I’m not looking for a job with the state or another county government entity. So, with that, I would say it would probably See HUGHES, Page 4
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HUGHES continued from Page 3 be a public service job with a nonprofit or something of that ilk. LG: I’m sure there’s a lot of charitable organizations and nonprofits that could benefit from your years of experience. BH: Yes, I would think so. I have not formalized what that would be. *** LG: A significant amount of open space has been preserved throughout Mercer County. Can you talk about why you chose to make that a priority and your philosophy on why open space preservation is important? BH: I spent six years as a freeholder (before being elected county executive), and we did some open space projects, but not as many as I think we should have. Right now, I believe 20% of Mercer County is open space, and I’m proud of that fact. That open space will live on for our children, our grandchildren and beyond. New Jersey is one of the most congested states in certainly the Northeast, and I think in the country. It needs places where there are open space park activities—wonderful things like the Lawrence-Hopewell Trail. *** Mercer County has received state and federal approvals to build a new terminal that is four times larger than the existing facility. The project also includes a parking garage for more than 1,000 vehicles. The Federal Aviation Administration has forecasted a 51% increase in flights from Mercer County, rising from 316,665 to 476,507 by the year 2035. LG: The revitalization of the Trenton-Mercer Airport happened during your time as county executive, and now the county is moving ahead with significant improvements there, including a new terminal. There are some people who have been against it, but I think in general, a lot of people are in favor of it. Can you tell me how you helped bring about the revitalization of the airport, and why you think
Hughes greets passengers boarding a Frontier Airlines flight to West Palm Beach at the Trenton-Mercer Airport in 2017. it’s important to the county? BH: The airport that we currently have is crowded. It’s difficult to get your luggage. It’s difficult to use. I’d like to see a brand-new airport. It’s something I’ve been working on for 10 or 15 years. The FAA, being a federal bureaucracy, has been exceedingly slow in granting approvals and giving funding. But the reason that the airport is successful is because we were able to negotiate with Frontier Airlines. They started very small, and we were able to convince them to expand — and they didn’t need much convincing, because they were making money out of the airport. We were able to give them space, taxiway space, gate space, and the things that they needed to expand the number of destinations that they flew to. When they first started there, they just flew to Florida and back. Now they have several airports that they fly to, and I think that made a difference.
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LG: I know a lot of people who use that airport, and it’s a significant convenience to be able to fly out of somewhere that’s close to home, instead of having to go to one of the big airports like Newark or Philadelphia and deal with the rigamarole that is involved with flying out of those big airports. I know that significant approvals have been granted, and that the project will be carried through by the Benson Administration, but can you give us an idea of what you think the timeline will be to get shovels in the dirt and see construction started there? BH: I think we could probably do it within a year or even sooner. There needs to be a parking garage built, there needs to be a new terminal built, a terminal that has checkways — which we don’t have now — that would provide better access for people who are handicapped and who need assistance getting on and off a plane. There are a lot of things that I think could
happen very quickly, but that’s going to be up to the next administration. LG: Based on what you’ve seen, once things finally do get started, what are the estimates as to how long it would take to get everything finished? BH: What you say is true about Newark, LeGuardia, JFK and Philadelphia. And the prices to fly out of Philadelphia are extremely high. We have plans in place and people should go take a look at it (ttnterminal. com/airport-master-plan). There is a design build plan already made, so all it takes is money and the will to do it. I believe the FAA is in a position now that they are willing and able to assist regional airports more than ever, so you could probably do it sooner rather than later. LG: In 2021, Congress and President Biden approved the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that included money for airport improvements. Do you know if any funds have been earmarked for smaller airports like Trenton? BH: I don’t have figures to give you right now, but I do believe that money was set aside for smaller regional airports. Now, you hear stories all the time about smaller regional airports in places like Kansas and Arkansas closing down because their federal funding ran out, but I don’t think that’s the case in Trenton. We draw from Monmouth County, Somerset County. Believe it or not, even though we get some noise complaints from Pennsylvania, we get a lot of customers from there as well. We have signed a contract with Frontier Airlines that is good for another five to seven years. I don’t have it in front of me, but they’re willing to make an investment in Trenton, and we are willing to make an investment in them. *** LG: When it comes to land use, the currently demand is for warehouses, and developers are planning to build warehouses on commercially zoned
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tracts thought the county (and state for that matter). For example, there’s the Bridge Point 8 plan in West Windsor that was approved for 5.5 million square feet of warehouse space. What are your thoughts on the proliferation of warehouse developments? BH: I think the warehouses like the Amazon one in Robbinsville were well placed, because they are less than a mile from an interstate highway, which would take them south to distribution centers down there, north on Route 295, Route 1, and many other places. I think it’s a mistake — and quite frankly, I’ve told the mayor of West Windsor that it’s a mistake — to build all those warehouses on Route 1. It will tie up traffic for years to come. The trucks and traffic going there are going to have a greater impact on Route 1 and surrounding communities more than on West Windsor. They will see the tax benefit from the development, but it’s going to be a burden on the rest of the county, and I don’t really think that’s fair. Like I said, I’ve given my opinion to the mayor of West Windsor and to council members, and I guess they’re going to do what they want to do. Our planning board has some final decisions to make, but by law our scope is limited to things like water runoff. We’re not able to say, “You
can’t build warehouses.” I wish we were, because I’d say, “You’re not able to go to build a warehouse there.” So that’s it. That’s a disappointment that the next administration is going to have to deal with. LG: And it’s not only West Windsor. I think almost every single town has some kind of big warehouse that it has approved or that they’re looking at approving. Do you have any concern that they’re going to overbuild and then wind up with a bunch of warehouses that are sitting empty? BH: I do. Amazon, which is one of the biggest companies in the world, is downsizing their warehouses to make them more efficient. Why some of the towns in this state — and particularly Mercer County — would approve more warehouses is beyond me. I suppose they want to build warehouses because they don’t want to build houses. And they don’t want to build houses because they don’t want to add kids to the schools. Well, the fact of the matter is that kids are going to keep coming whether you like it or not. And you’re going to have to build schools and pay teachers and buy lunches and do all the things you have to do, but that’s part of growth. *** LG: There’s going to be a new round
of affordable housing requirements after 2025, and that’s going to force communities to provide for more affordable units whether they want to or not. What are your thoughts about that? BH: I live in Princeton, and Princeton began planning for their new obligations for housing, I believe, about two years ago, and they made investments where they needed to in new schools, and new structures and where a new school could go. Some towns throughout the state have done nothing — it’s not just in Mercer County. They know the beast is out there, but they’re putting off doing significant planning for the day when they are going to be compelled to do more affordable housing. I just don’t see much planning going on. In addition, affordable housing is not that affordable. If you’re just coming out of college and maybe you have a college loan, an affordable house at $400,000 or more isn’t that affordable. So, people are going to have to think a lot more about realistically priced apartments that people can afford in the first year or two out of either high school, vocational school or college. I haven’t seen a whole lot of affordable housing being built in Mercer County that’s affordable. So, they’re gonna have to lower the bar a little bit to reach the crite-
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ria that the government wants and seeks. LG: And if they don’t make it affordable enough, the courts are going to step in and force them to do it. BH: Right. I think our Supreme Court is going to have a lot of hard decisions to make in the upcoming years. *** LG: What are some things I haven’t mentioned that you’re particularly proud of? BH: The fact that we were able to keep a cabinet together, for the most part, for close to 20 years. I’m looking at a picture right now, and I think we have 14 people in the picture that started with the administration that are still here. That kind of continuity serves you well. And the other thing I would say are I’ve been proud of is our MCBOSS (the Mercer County Board of Social Services). We stayed open there every single day of the pandemic to provide welfare checks and food stamps and other services that people need. We never closed down that office one day, and for that, I’m proud. We took a lot of heat during the pandemic. There were criticisms that we didn’t have enough tests fast enough. We didn’t give enough shots fast enough. We were not made one of the counties that had a super site (locations that received large See HUGHES, Page 6
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Januar y 2024 | Lawrence Gazette5
HUGHES continued from Page 5 numbers of vaccinations to server the region) and Burlington was. Well, Burlington goes from the Delaware River to the Atlantic Ocean. I did not really mind them being a super site, and we were able to get up and running. We made the CURE Arena (in Trenton) a place for tests and a place for shots. Also, it was a place in Trenton, which I think was important. And we were able to continue working in the suburban areas by having a site at the Mercer County Community College in West Windsor. We did as good as we could with the supplies we had — and there were some weeks when we would get six vaccinations. I’m not talking 60, or six boxes. We would get six vaccinations. It was very tough to tell a town they weren’t getting any vaccinations that week. They asked why not, and we had to tell them that we only got six vaccinations and that’s all. And so, the towns were mad at us. People were mad at us. But I think we did a lot of things right. We changed our goals very quickly. We worked with the Trenton Health team. We changed all of our TRADE buses, which are made to transport senior citizens to doctor’s appointments. I have to congratulate those people, too, because they worked every day. We changed them from taking people to doctor’s offices to deliver-
ing food all over the county to senior citizens. So, there were a couple of things I think we did right. But, you know, it was a difficult time. *** LG: Aside from some of the things you mentioned, what were some of the biggest challenges you faced? BH: Well, I don’t know if you know this or not, but Mercer County has a horse farm on the border of Hopewell and Ewing (Mercer Meadows Equestrian Center). There were a lot of people who wanted us to shut it down. They said, “It’s a waste of money,” or “It doesn’t do the county any good.” But I knew that children with special needs, children who had never been exposed to any type of animal before would be taken — mostly from Trenton — and be exposed and be able to ride a horse for the first time ever. It made such a fantastic difference in their lives. If you could just go out there and see the experience that went on and that goes on—it made a difference to a lot of people. So even though I would get a lot of letters or complaints about keeping that open, I thought it was important. LG: Mercer County has remained a desirable place to live and for businesses to locate. Why do you feel that that’s the case? BH: I think it’s because we have open
6 Lawrence Gazette | Januar y 2024
space, because we have trails, because we are good government, and because we have municipal governments, and a county a government that cares about the people who come here and who live here. It’s a wonderful place. You’ve got Veterans Park in Hamilton, which the county added 86 acres to. You have Mercer County Park, which is an active park—it has ice skating and softball, and we have people, believe it or not, come out and play cricket there. Those folks stay out there all day long. I don’t know if you ever watched cricket—a game takes like six hours. We have Mercer County Lake. We have a very great passive park in Mercer County Park Northwest. We have golf courses. We have all types of activities that people can enjoy. I think that’s one of the reasons they come here. LG: There’s also the arena and the baseball stadium. BH: Well, the arena and the baseball stadium have been disappointments to me, quite frankly. The arena was built for a skating team that went away. The baseball stadium was built for a baseball team that went away. And while we’re finding alternative uses for them, it’s just not the same as having the revenue, number one, or the excitement and the experience of going to a
baseball game or going to a hockey game. LG: There were a lot of people who were disappointed when the Yankees pulled their minor league team out of out of Trenton. BH: I think something that Major League Baseball did. They changed the number of minor league teams from 86 to, I think, 42. Somebody had to go and unfortunately it was us. That doesn’t mean we’re going to stop looking for a Minor League team that’s associated with a Major League Baseball team. LG: Do you have any other thoughts in closing? BH: You know, let me say — I lost (to Benson) at the convention. At first, I was gonna put up a fight. I was going to run in the primary, but then I thought about the party. I thought about where we needed to go. We should have unity rather than division. Ever since I made that decision, people call me up and ask if I’m alright and if I’m feeling okay, and frankly, I feel like the Sword of Damocles was taken away from my head. I really feel like I put my time in. I did my 34 years and served this state well. Sometimes it’s time to go and sometimes it’s time to stay. LG: And sometimes it’s good to get a get a fresh start. BH: Yeah, it really is.
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On the Cover Journaling the Journey to Wellness with PUC’s “Impromptu Challenge” BY REBEKAH SCHROEDER
Music is a language of its own, one that every person feels a different connection to. Some are reborn in the chords or chorus of a triumphant melody, while others seek rhythmic clarity, release, or comfort. It is an entirely personal experience to love a piece down to its every note—an intimate diary entry of what truly listening to music can mean for its audience. But Princeton University Concerts sings a new tune this year by combining its annual “Creative Reactions” and “Audience Voices” competitions into a new creative writing project encouraging writers across the globe to express their unique bonds with music in journal responses thematically related to past and future PUC “Healing with Music” series events. The 2023–24 “Impromptu Challenge” is the result of a partnership between PUC and The Isolation Journals, described on its website as “an artist-led community and publishing platform” that shares its weekly journaling prompt newsletter with over 100,000 participants worldwide.
EDITOR Rebekah Schroeder ARTS EDITOR Dan Aubrey AD LAYOUT & PRODUCTION Stacey Micallef SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Jennifer Steffen (Ext. 113)
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Since writer and Princeton University alum Suleika Jaouad founded The Isolation Journals during the pandemic, the group has grown into “a living archive of human creativity to document an unforgettable era” under the belief that “creative expression” can “edify, heal, and unite,” according to theisolationjournals.com. The Impromptu Challenge encompasses both the 2023–24 “Creative Reactions” contest, which connects Princeton University students to the performing arts and classical music, as well as “Audience Voices,” a writing and drawing contest for patrons that began last season. The journaling-styled competition began on December 3 with the announcement of its first prompt and will continue with one new topic each month in January and February 2024. Jaouad had just graduated from Princeton University when she was diagnosed with leukemia in 2010. Throughout her cancer treatments, she wrote the New York Times column “Life, Interrupted,” largely from her hospital room. Now, after receiving an Emmy for the video series adaptation of those times and publishing the bestselling memoir
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YEARS
Grammy-winning musician and composer Jon Batiste, left, with wife Suleika Jaouad, a New York Times bestselling author and founder of “The Isolation Journals,” middle, at the Princeton University Concerts’ sold-out “Healing with Music” event on November 15, above.
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“Between Two Kingdoms,” Jaouad returns to PUC on the heels of a sold-out November 15 “Healing with Music” event with her husband, Grammy-winning musician and composer Jon Batiste, “The Beat Goes On: Healing from Cancer through Music.” The idea for the inaugural month’s “Impromptu Challenge” takes inspiration from that day, which doubled as a bone marrow donor drive on campus held in conjunction with Princeton’s Office of Community and Regional Affairs and the National Marrow Donor Program’s “Be The Match” donor registry. According to the Be the Match website, “ethnically diverse” patients diagnosed with blood cancers and disorders must navigate a longer, more challenging process to find unrelated donors for blood stem cells and marrow transplants due to lower donation rates—a barrier that is even greater for people of mixed ethnicities like Jaouad. Jaouad and Batiste’s tale of love, survival, and creativity was the subject of the biographical documentary “American Symphony,” which debuted on Netflix in late November and follows many of the ideas discussed at the couple’s November “Healing with Music” event. Director Matthew Heineman’s film captures how, just as Batiste is recognized with 11 Grammy nominations—five of which he would win—and an Oscar for co-writing the score for Pixar’s “Soul,” Jaouad’s cancer returns after being in remission for almost a decade. Batiste sits on the cusp of composing
and practicing for the biggest one-night orchestral performance of his life at Carnegie Hall as Jaouad encourages him to continue, resuming her fight against leukemia while undergoing another bone marrow transplant. Despite being in contrasting circumstances, the couple’s story depicts creativity as an expression of love and a cathartic, restorative force that ultimately strengthens their bond. It is fitting, then, that Jaouad issued the following prompt: “Write about a time when music served as a healing force in your life or in the lives of those around you.” To enter, participants must answer one of the three prompts by Friday, March 22, 2024, with separate categories for members of the general public and Princeton University students. All entries must be submitted in PDF or Word document format with no reference to the author’s identity in the titles for anonymous evaluation by a panel of judges, as the PUC website continued, “from across the Princeton University campus and town community.” Princeton University Concerts will feature all winners in online and print media publications, yet prize recipients who do not want to disclose their identities can be published anonymously. While there are no submission limits for virtually all writers, anyone who has previously won the “Creative Reactions” or “Audience Voices” prizes must wait two years before registering again. According to the PUC page for the challenge, which includes the submission portal, concerts.princeton.edu/impromptu-
The “Impromptu Challenge” winners will be announced at the final “Healing with Music” event of the 23-24 season, “Anxiety, Depression, and Music,” described as “an intimate concert-conversation” featuring live performances by pianist Jonathan Biss, right, and excerpts from writer Adam Haslett’s 2016 novel, “Imagine Me Gone,” left and middle, on Wednesday, April 24, in the Richardson Auditorium’s Alexander Hall. Images, from left to right, courtesy of Annette Hornischer, PUC, and Benjamin Ealovega.
challenge, winners will receive the following prizes: an autographed concert poster signed by both Jaouad and Batiste; an original piece by Diana Weymar, founder of the Interwoven Stories project, featuring an embroidered excerpt from the submission; a copy of the Princeton University Press’ “Ways of Hearing: Reflections on Music in 26 Pieces” 2021 anthology; and more. For additional information or inquiries, contact the Princeton University Concerts office at 609-258-2800 or pucmail@princeton.edu. Future prompts will be directly related to topics raised in the final iterations of the 2023–24 “Healing with Music” series, such as the Sunday, March 3, “Dance for PD® (Parkinson’s Disease)” event, a Mark Morris Dance Group program that invites participants from local chapters of American Repertor y Ballet’s “Dance for Parkinson’s” initiatives to perform adapted choreography together in an onstage concert collaboration and panel discussion. (For more information, see the November 2023 Six09 cover story, “Dance for Parkinson’s at ARB Leads a Choreography of Change” by Rebekah Schroeder). Winners will also be announced at the last “Healing with Music” event of the season, “Anxiety, Depression, and Music,” featuring pianist Jonathan Biss and writer Adam Haslett on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. in the Richardson Auditorium’s Alexander Hall. The program is described as “an intimate concert-conversation” with live performances of piano works by Franz Schubert and Robert Schumann, excerpts from Haslett’s 2016 novel, “Imagine Me Gone,”
and a Q&A. Tickets are $25 for the general public, $10 for students, and free for Princeton University students through the Passport to the Performing Arts program. For more information, see the PUC website at concerts.princeton.edu/ events/23-24-jonathan-biss-adam-haslett. This event marks Biss’ return to the stage after appearing earlier in the month for PUC’s “Concert Classics” series alongside classical pianist and conductor Mitsuko Uchida on April 3. Biss and Uchida are the co-artistic directors of the Marlboro Music Festival, a retreat where participants of all experience levels come to classically train, collaborate, rehearse, and eventually perform chamber music works together live in concert. The duo’s debut show is already sold out, but the PUC website promises a “rare joint recital” focusing yet again on the work of Austrian composer Schubert, who was known for his “piano four hands” pieces where two musicians play one piano at the same time. According to his biography, Biss concluded a “decade-long project recording all of Beethoven’s 32 piano sonatas” before the third-generation professional musician— the son of violinist Miriam Fried and violist-violinist Paul Biss, as well as the grandson of cellist Raya Garbousova— ”took the rare step of publicly confronting a subject often considered taboo within the performing arts.” In his memoir “Unquiet: My Life with Beethoven,” published in 2021 as part of Audible’s Words + Music series, Biss “described his struggles with crippling
anxiety and the severe effects that a solitary performing career had on his mental health.” Through his poignant examination of life as a pianist and Beethoven interpreter, Biss, as the website continued, “gave voice to the ways in which Beethoven—and music, in general—helped him heal from his anxiety as much as he had contributed to it.” Haslett is a two-time Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award finalist with three fiction books to his name, as well as prior journalism experience covering culture and politics for papers like the New Yorker, Esquire, and more. According to his PUC bio, “Imagine Me Gone” was described by Pulitzer Prize judges as “’the quiet and compassionate saga of a family whose world is shaped by mental illness and the challenges and joys of caring for each other.’” “Drawing on his father’s suicide, Imagine Me Gone is the most personal book he has written—in his words, an attempt to ‘put the reader as far into the mind of someone with anxiety and depression as I can, and let them take from that what they will,’” the website continued.
*** Jaouad recorded her own response to the first “Impromptu Challenge” prompt on the Isolation Journals’ Substack page, theisolationjournals.substack.com, on December 3. But before answering, she reflected on the experience of watching “American Symphony” with over 150 staff from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where she underwent cancer treatments,
as well as two of the nurses who had supported her when she was diagnosed “with leukemia at 22 and then again at 33.” “It was such a full-circle moment to watch this film with the people who had walked through the valley with me. Illness usually has a clear beginning: the onset of symptoms, the diagnosis, the first day of treatment. But so often, the end of things is harder to pinpoint. This feels especially true for me this second time around, given the fact that I will be in treatment indefinitely. Spending the evening with these compassionate and dedicated humans felt like a culmination—like the most acute phase, the scariest phase, had come to an end.” That same night was also when the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center announced its own partnership with Be the Match, titled “Join the Symphony,” which Jaouad explained as “a campaign to make the registry look like the orchestra in American Symphony—to reflect the beautifully diverse tapestry of these United States.” “When I decided to take part in this documentary, my hope was that it might help others who are also facing great uncertainty. But as someone who has had two bone marrow transplants, I’ve also made it part of my mission to help expand and diversify the bone marrow registry. Currently the registry is marked by huge racial disparities: whereas a white person has a 79% chance of finding a match, a Black person has only a 29% chance, and statistics for people of mixed ethnicity like me are even lower,” she continued. “My doctors did search the registry for a non-relative match this time, fearing that if my brother Adam was my donor again, I’d be more likely to relapse—but there wasn’t one. I’m fortunate that Adam was willing and able to donate again and that so far, the leukemia is at bay. But I’ve known too many people whose hope for a cure ended when they couldn’t find a match. And it’s with them in mind that I’m asking you to spread the word—to ask others to Join the Symphony.” According to Be the Match, anyone ages 18 to 40 can donate blood stem cells with just a swab of the cheek. To join, donate, or learn more about the initiative, see the website at bethematchfoundation.org/site/ SPageNavigator/JointheSymphony. Jaouad then leads into her essay, which references the Princeton University Concerts program and reinforces its mission of expression: “A few weeks ago, Jon and I had the honor of taking part in the “Healing through Music” concert series at my alma
See IMPROMPTU, Page 6
Januar y 2024 | SIX095
winter wellness The more often a patient can meet with their dentist, the better care that doctor can provide. The frequency of appointments is determined by each New Year, New Smile dentist and usually coincides with a hygienist visit, usually every 6 months or twice a year. A recurring Smile, it’s a new year! A time that for many 6 month recall to your dentist is so important to means resolutions, and a renewed commitment to supporting oral and overall bodily health, that many health and improvement. A healthy smile is a big insurance companies outright cover many of recall part of that, and now you can care for your and your services included in the visit! family’s teeth all in one place. When families come The basic components of the preventive dental to HDA, they are happy because they can take appointment consist of: care of their own dental needs while everyone in • Review and update medical and dental history their family’s oral health is being looked after at the • Blood pressure screening same time. “It’s a win-win,” commented Dr. Irving • Oral cancer examination Djeng, pediatric dentist, “kids get attentive, gentle •Examination of the teeth and periodontal treatment by a dedicated, specialist team that works tissues (i.e. gum tissue and supporting bone). This only with kids, while parents and adult patients are includes a visual examination for signs of dental cared for by our experienced adult staff right down caries (cavities), other problems with the teeth the hall.” Dr. Lauren Levine, pediatric dentist, also (chips, broken fillings, etc.), looking for signs of commented, “We go to great lengths to make the Recall, but what does that mean? A “recall” or inflammation and infection, and periodontal probing, children feel comfortable because we know that “dental recall” visit is a regularly scheduled checkup which measures the depth of the gum pocket. teaching children good oral hygiene at a very young appointment to help dentists have an ongoing • Radiographic exam. The content and timing of age prepares them for a lifetime of healthy smiles.” knowledge of the status of their patients’ oral health. dental x-rays can vary and are customized to the You may have heard the term 6-Month Dental These visits are vital to both practice and patients. needs and disease susceptibility of the patient. The
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From IMPROMPTU, Page 5 mater, Princeton University. That night, we talked about the many ways art sustains us through the hardest things, and I shared a story about Jon writing lullabies for me during my second bone marrow transplant. I often think of what Jon said in his Grammy acceptance speech a couple of years ago—about the special power of a song to reach people at a point in their lives when they need it most. That’s what I wrote about, and what I’m inviting you to consider today.
Prompt 272. Lullabies The winter of 2022, I lived a more intense version of isolation than I’d ever experienced. I was undergoing my second bone marrow transplant to treat a relapse of leukemia, and the chemo I had done to prepare for it had obliterated my immune system, leaving me with literally zero white blood cells. In such a circumstance, being sequestered in a hospital bubble is a given. However, my transplant occurred during the covid omicron surge, so hospital restrictions were higher than normal and visitors were extremely limited. Not only could I not leave the eighth floor of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, but I also couldn’t see many of my beloveds. For a period of time, this included my husband Jon. He had work obligations,
6SIX09 | Januar y 2024
Jaouad and Batiste star in Matthew Heineman’s 2023 documentary, “American Symphony,” now streaming on Netflix. Image courtesy of Netflix. and he could not avoid being exposed to all kinds of pathogens—from covid to the common cold—that could have killed me. That he continued to work was a choice we’d made together months earlier, back when we learned my leukemia returned. We had many discussions about whether he would pull out of his obligations to be with me, and I had insisted he continue. He had worked tirelessly from the time he was a teenager to get to that point, and the idea that he would miss out on this big moment because of my relapse was com-
pletely unacceptable to me. Being apart was difficult for both of us, though in some ways, I believe it was even more difficult for Jon. He had to put on his professional face and move about the world when both his head and his heart wanted to be there at my bedside. But instead of wallowing in loneliness and despair, he came up with a creative solution. He connected a small keyboard to his computer, and he began composing lullabies and sending them to me. They were improvised, raw, and beautiful. (One of
them evolved to become “Butterfly,” one of my favorite songs on World Music Radio— which, no big deal, was nominated for a Grammy for Song of the Year.) Lullaby. It comes from the words “lull,” as in “to soothe,” and “by,” meaning “near.” Lullabies are often written in triple meter, which is a swaying or rocking rhythm that mimics what a baby feels in the womb as its mother moves. Jon’s melodies provided that sort of comfort, that sense of security. There was a week where I was in the most pain I’ve ever experienced, as close to the veil as I’ve ever been, suffering from three simultaneous infections—two in my bloodstream—and the whole time I played those gentle, mellifluous songs on loop, for hours and hours. Hospitals are noisy places, with the constant beeping of monitors, the wheezing of respirators, the blaring alarms on IV poles. Jon’s songs were a welcome counterpoint to that soundtrack. But more than that, Jon found solace in the making of those lullabies, and I found so much in listening to them. I could feel his tenderness, his love, and his support. He wasn’t physically there, but he was present with me.”
*** For more on Princeton University Concerts’ and the Isolation Journals’ “Impromptu Challenge,” see the contest page on the PUC website, concerts.princeton.edu/impromptu-challenge.
winter wellness dental team weighs risk vs. benefits when taking dental x-rays, keeping radiation exposure to a minimum •An actual prophylaxis (cleaning) to mechanically remove any build up or plaque from tooth surfaces. •Application of a topical fluoride agent, when indicated. Usually at the end of the appointment, the dentist will review all the findings and radiographs, make any necessary diagnoses, and recommend treatment, if indicated. Hamilton Dental Associates (HDA) has been serving Hamilton and the Greater Central New Jersey area for over 50 years. While HDA’s roots are in pediatric dentistry, they also specialize in adult and cosmetic dentistry, orthodontics, oral surgery, periodontics, and endodontics. Patients are treated by specialists in their field. For example, orthodontic treatment is done by an orthodontic specialist, and patients requiring a root canal will be treated by an endodontist — a dentist who specializes in root canals. It’s all done under one roof which is time saving and eliminates the need for multiple referrals. Come see what all the smiling is about! To request an appointment, call 609-586-6603 or visit HamiltonDental. com. Locations are 2929 Klockner Road and 2501 Kuser Road, Hamilton, New Jersey. Happy New Year! We look forward to seeing your smile! See ad, page 12.
his Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine at Jefferson Health. He then went on to complete his Fellowship training in Gastroenterology at Jefferson Introducing Dr. Maulik Shah Health, where he was honored to Premier Gastroenterology of be selected as Chief Fellow. He is Hamilton prides itself on providing Board Certified in Internal Medicine exceptional care for advanced and Gastroenterology. He is an active digestive health in its beautiful office member of the American College conveniently located on Route 33 in of Gastroenterology, American Hamilton Township. Gastroenterological Association At Premier GI, compassionate and and the American Society for state of the art care will be provided Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. for a wide range of gastrointestinal Dr. Shah caters to a spectrum of problems such as abdominal medical needs, including (but not pain, colon polyps, colon cancer limited to) nausea and vomiting, screening, constipation, diarrhea, acid reflux, stomach pain, pancreatic ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, and biliary diseases, liver disease, hemorrhoids, gastroesophageal reflux diarrhea, IBD and IBS. He is an disease, Barrett’s esophagus, difficulty expert in general gastroenterology with swallowing, peptic ulcer, GI bleed, procedures as well as advanced blood loss anemia, celiac disease, endoscopic procedures such as Dr. Maulik Shah IBS, Women’s digestive health, gas ERCP, endoscopic luminal stenting, and bloating, hepatitis, cirrhosis, and EMR. He has a strong passion for positive and fulfilling lifestyle. gallstone disease, pancreatic cysts, Outside of work he enjoys traveling, teaching and routinely gives lectures and pancreatic cancer. hiking, cooking, golf, and spending to the community on a variety of The doctors and staff of Premier GI gastroenterology disorders. Dr. Shah time with his family. bring high tech, high-touch approach Call 609-917-9917 for an is committed to providing the highest to patient care. The advantage of a appointment. quality of care to his patients to small practice is that the physicians See ad, page 11. ensure their longevity and to provide a and staff of Premier GI will get to know you personally and treat you like friends and family. They will work hard Call us Tis the every day to earn your trust and to before our winter season to make Premier GI, the practice of your promotions choice for advanced digestive health. feel better are all gone Among the exceptional, caring doctors of Premier GI is Dr. Maulik Shah, who obtained his medical Happy Holidays from all of us at Aquatic Performance Training! degree from Rowan-Virtua SOM Weight Loss in New Jersey. He completed Achieve Your ¥Health and Fitness Goals with
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Regenerative Spine and Pain Institute Treating Pain with PRP and Stem Cell Therapy Pain. It gnaws at you. It drains you. It becomes the focus of your life. Experiencing a few pain-free moments can be euphoric; it makes you realize how long you’ve been living with aches and pain. You might wonder how you can find a solution to relieve the pain and regain your freedom from discomfort. Dr. Ronak Patel at Regenerative Spine and Pain Institute wants you to know there are two new revolutionary answers to pain relief. Both platelet-rich therapy otherwise known as PRP - and stem cell therapy give patients new hope by using the body’s powerful healing power to accelerate the battle against pain. Dr. Patel has seen incredible success implementing these cuttingedge treatments on hundreds of patients suffering from pain-related issues.
So if you are suffering from any of the ailments below, there’s a lifeline. • Osteoarthritis • Rotator cuff tear • Back pain • Meniscus tears • Tennis elbow • Disc herniations • Tendonitis • Neck pain Here’s the best news: Neither PRP or stem cell therapy involves drug use with side effects or any surgical procedures. Both PRP and stem cell treatments use the body’s own healing resources to repair diseased or damaged tissue — and the results are quite remarkable. PRP therapy involves injecting concentrated platelets and growth factors into damaged tissue to stimulate the faster growth of new healthy cells. Platelets are cells that prevent and stop bleeding. If a blood vessel is damaged, the body sends signals to our platelets to get on the job and start the healing. Some call platelets the body’s natural bandage. So how does PRP therapy work? It’s basically drawing a one small
vial of blood from the patient and then using a centrifuge to turn it into a potent and concentrated form of platelets. It is then injected back into the patient. Think of it as a boost of your own blood — only superpowered. Recovery time for PRP therapy is far shorter than for surgery. Patients usually experience soreness for a week or so, but the gradual improvement soon begins. Unlike a steroid shot, which gives you immediate relief and quickly wears off, a PRP patient will see pain symptoms improve over a period of months, and up to 80 percent of patients will see relief for up to two years. Stem cell therapy can be an even more powerful way to harness the body’s healing power. Stem cells are the building blocks for every cell in our body. These powerful cells can be harvested to produce powerful new cells to fight inflammation and disease. For those suffering from osteoarthritis, stem cell therapy has proven very effective. That’s because the stem cells may help develop new cartilage cells and suppress
Dr. Ronak Patel MD inflammation. Stem cells can be harvested through a sample of body fat or bone marrow or be harvested from donated umbilical cord tissue. And yes, you can even augment PRP therapy with stem cell therapy for an even bigger boost! Stop wondering if you’ll have to live with your pain forever. Contact Regenerative Spine and Pain Institute today at 609-269-4451 or go to www.njpaindoc.com to book an appointment and learn more. See ad, page 3.
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Januar y 2024 | 11/7/23 SIX099 12:12 PM
WINTER WELLNESS
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Mini Dental Implants (MDIs) have changed the face of implant dentistry. Unlike traditional implant placement, where multiple dental visits are often required, MDIs can eliminate the need for extensive surgery. The most common use for MDIs is the stabilization of dentures and overdentures. MDIs firmly anchor the dental prosthesis, which means there is no longer a need to suffer with ill-fitting, loose and ANNOYING dentures! MDIs are designed to eliminate elaborate bone grafting and to expedite treatment. Traditional implants may require significant bone grafting and a longer recovery period. The latent period allows the anchor of the implant to properly embed itself into the jawbone. The smaller size of MDIs means that no recovery period is possible, and the denture can be fitted the same day. What are the advantages of MDI placement? MDIs are a true innovation for people who are reluctant to have invasive dental surgery and who are suffering denture wearers. One significant advantage MDIs have over traditional implants is that they offer a viable treatment choice for patients who have experienced extensive bone loss. Depending on the quality and density of jawbone available at the implant site, four or more of these mini implants may be implanted at one time. The most common use for MDIs is to stabilize a lower denture, however they can be placed anywhere in the mouth. Other advantages associated with MDIs may include: • Better smelling breath • More self-esteem • Clearer speech • Easier chewing and biting • Easier cleaning • Firmer denture fit • Good success rate • Less denture discomfort • No cutting or sutures • No need for adhesives or messy bonding agents • No rotting food beneath the
Dr. Kevin Mosmen denture • No slipping or wobbling • Quick treatment time • Reduced costs How are mini dental implants placed? The whole mini dental implant placement procedure takes approximately one hour. Generally, in the case of lower jaw implants, four to six MDIs will be placed about 5mm apart. Prior to inserting MDIs, Dr. Mosmen will use many diagnostic and planning tools to find the optimal location to implant them. After placement, a denture will be modified and affixed to the MDIs. The rubber O-ring on each MDI snaps into the designated spot on the denture, and the denture then rests snugly on the gum tissue. MDIs hold the denture comfortably in a tight-fitting way for the lifetime of that implant. In almost all cases, no stitching is required, and no real discomfort is felt after the procedure. When the denture placement procedure is complete, light eating can be resumed. The denture can be removed and cleaned at will. MDIs enhance the natural beauty of the smile and restore full functionality to the teeth. If you have any questions about mini dental implants, please call Dr. Kevin Mosmen for a FREE consultation appointment to see if you’re a candidate for this procedure or traditional implants. The Dental Difference – 2131 Route 33, Suite A, Hamilton, NJ 08690. 609-445-3577. www. thedentaldifference.com. See ad, page 8.
WINTER WELLNESS Our office also provides stateAllCure Spine and of-the-art modalities to assist each provider in getting patients back to Sports Medicine Personalized Solutions to Your Pain Concerns At AllCure, we understand that the summer can come with a lot of fun and activity. Often, we experience that patients will put off their pain concerns until the summer is over and plan to address them in the fall. At AllCure, we will do assessments to see where each person can benefit from our level of care. We offer chiropractic, physical therapy, and acupuncture services to provide high-level of conservative care to the community.
a higher quality of life. We also have X-ray on site to help diagnose the patients pain and discomfort. We offer 10 minute free consultations for anyone interested to make sure they feel comfortable and to ensure that we can help. We take pride in what we do and we make sure that each patient gets a high level of attention and care on each one of their visits. We make our plans specifically to fit each individual person‘s needs and do not offer blanket treatments for similar patient complaints. We have offices conveniently located in Monroe, Hamilton, and
Caruso Physical Therapy & Nutrition
A, Hamilton. 609-528-4417. 350 Forsgate Drive, Monroe Township. 732-521-9222. 1101 Randolph Road, Somerset. 732-823-9392. www. allcurespineandsports.com. See ad, page 10.
Welcoming Dr. Maulik Shah Gastroenterologist
Empowering Each Individual to Reach Their Boundless Potential At Caruso Physical Therapy and Nutrition, they had a vision for a place where they could practice what they preached. This clinic is the result of that. Now, the clinic’s amazing team is committed to carrying out that vision by guiding others in establishing and achieving their own health goals so they can look and feel their best! These services aren’t offered in the area separately, nor are they offered together in a single practice. However, combined, these things make a huge difference. That’s why we offer both, giving you the advantage of physical therapy and registered dietitians in the same clinic! Our services are provided by boardcertified physical therapists, physical therapy assistants, and board-certified registered dietitians. We’re focused on providing education, prevention, treatment, and wellness services that enhance our patients’ overall health and deter the onset of more costly pathology. It’s our goal to provide our patients with the best physical therapy and nutrition services in our community. The newest form of Physical Therapy we offer is Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy, which is a special subset of PT focusing on the muscles of the pelvic girdle. Pelvic dysfunction can cause pain and urinary leakage, among other personal issues that can
Somerset, NJ. Please visit our website or give us a call today to come in for a free consult, and get back to the quality of life you deserve. AllCure Spine & Sports Medicine, 140 Cabot Drive, Suite
Dr Maulik Shah is an expert in general gastroenterology procedures as well as advanced endoscopic procedures such as ERCP, endoscopic luminal stenting, and EMR. He has a strong passion for teaching and routinely gives lectures to the community on a variety of gastroenterology disorders. be successfully treated with education, exercise and hands-on techniques. Women’s Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy can assist with problems such as: urinary incontinence and urgency; overactive bladder; constipation; pelvic pain; low back pain; hip pain; dyspareunia; vaginismus; vulvodynia; scar tissue and pelvic organ prolapse. We also offer Sports PT for those recovering from injury or concussion to help them return safely to the field of play. At Caruso’s our mission is to empower each individual to realize their boundless potential. Contact us or visit our website to start your journey towards a healthier you! Caruso Physical Therapy and Nutrition, 1278 Yardville Allentown Road, Allentown. 609-738-3143. caruso@carusoptrd.com. carusoptrd. com. See ad, page 12.
Areas of expertise include: GERD • Peptic Ulcer • GI Bleeding • Celiac Disease Inflammatory Bowel Disease • IBS Women’s Digestive Health • Colon Cancer Screening Diverticular Disease • Gallstones • Hepatitis Liver Function Abnormalities Pancreatic Cysts and Cancer
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Phone (609) 917-9917 premierGIhamilton.com Januar y 2024 | SIX0911
WINTER WELLNESS that’s group fitness for the individual. The ethos of Rumble Boxing revolves around authenticity and a departure from the clichés often associated with group workouts. It champions the celebration of A New Fitness Haven individual uniqueness while fostering Lands in Town a collective environment where everyone fights for shared fitness If you’ve been in the Whole Foods goals. complex recently, you’ve seen the Rumble Boxing’s dedication to new gym that’ now open. Rumble authenticity doesn’t mean sacrificing Boxing, renowned for its immersive style or grace. On the contrary, it workouts that seamlessly blend the melds an edgy vibe with a touch of sweet science of boxing with the elegance, mirroring the multifaceted transformative power of strength nature of its workouts — raw, training, has expanded its domain, powerful, yet executed with finesse. bringing its unique brand of fitness The spirit of Rumble Boxing to the Mercer County area. Rumble Princeton is echoed through the Boxing has quickly become a stories shared by its members. They buzzworthy destination for fitness celebrate their individual fitness enthusiasts seeking a thrilling, yet journeys while acknowledging the challenging, workout experience. collective support that fuels their What sets Rumble Boxing progress. This celebration of unity Princeton apart isn’t just its and individuality within a fitness exceptional workout regimen; it’s community marks Rumble Boxing as a the philosophy that underpins every standout in Princeton’s fitness scene. jab, hook, and squat within its walls. At the core of Rumble’s appeal Emphasizing the power of collective lies its high-octane 10-round fight effort while celebrating individuality, Rumble Boxing curates an experience concept. This distinctive approach offers No matter what your "IT" may be!an authentic blend of High-
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Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), metabolic conditioning (MetCon), and the full benefits of cardio in a single, seamless class. Each round symbolizes a distinct challenge, weaving together boxing-inspired movements and targeted strength training exercises. From jab-cross combinations to bodyweight circuits, participants engage in a fusion of disciplines that elevate heart rates while sculpting and toning muscles, making each session a complete, full-body workout. The inclusive nature of Rumble Boxing’s community is evident in its diverse clientele. Novices and seasoned athletes find their place within the gym’s welcoming embrace, fostering a sense of belonging and encouragement. As Rumble Boxing becomes a fixture in Princeton’s fitness landscape, its ability to seamlessly merge the art of boxing with the science of HIIT, MetCon, and cardio solidifies its status as a revolutionary fitness destination. With each round symbolizing a step closer to personal
triumph, Rumble Boxing Princeton beckons individuals to step into the ring, embrace the challenge, and emerge stronger, fitter, and more empowered than ever before. Rumble Boxing Princeton, 3495 Route 1, Suite 120B, Windsor Green Shopping Center. 609-4648722. www.rumbleboxinggym.com/ princeton. See ad, page 13.
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SPORTS PHYSICAL THERAPY Caruso PTRD offers a unique, patient-centered physical therapy Looking to prevent or recover from a sports injury? We'll complete a full approach that offers patients the chance to work closely with a examination to determine if any outlying causes could put you at risk Caruso PTRD offers a unique, patient-centered physical therapy Doctorforofinjury Physical We towant topain. get Recovering back to being or couldTherapy. be contributing your you existing from you; approach that offers patients the chance to work closely with a Doctor a concussion? you on covered! balance and whether it’s gettingWe've yougot back the fiWe'll eld,address back at the offi ce, or back of Physical Therapy. Our therapists' main goals are to listen to each of to your sport safely. dizziness and help you return to running around with your children or grandkids! Treating pain is your needs and provide individualized care to treat your condition. only the first step! We want youSPORTS to get back to being you; whether it's getting you back PHYSICAL THERAPY PHYSICAL THERAPY
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Women’s Nutritional Services Pelvic Floor or weight loss goals through an approach that is anything but “cookie Our Nutrition Experts, RDN’s,are the ONLY medical Physical TherapySERVICES cutter”. NUTRITIONAL professionals qualified to give you nutrition advice. We don’t believe Caruso PTRDwith offersyour a unique, patient-centered physical therapy on the field, back at the office, or back to running around • Surgery/ Post Op Recovery approach that offers patients the chance to work closely with a Doctor children or grandkids! Treating pain is only ALL the first step! Achieve your body composition, sport’s performance, • Concussion AGES: of Physical Therapy. Our therapists' main goals are to listen to each of your needs and provide individualized care to treat your condition. We want you to get back to being you; whether it's getting you back
• Hips
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on the field, back at the office, or back to running around with your
ATTENTION ALL AGES: Achieve your body composition, perform• Running Assessment and Injuries childrensport' or grandkids! Treating pain is only the first step! fixesthat or the latest craze. We believe in life long change • Urinary andthrough in ance, nutrition•Incontinence or loss goals anquick approach is anything ITB weight Pain
without having to sacrifi ce ANYTHING that makes your life unique! butUrgency "cookie cutter". take the time to learn about you, any medical • Core We Strengthening ATTENTION ALL AGES: Achieve your body composition, sport' performconditions you may have and tailor to your individual needs. Our Nutrition • Overactive Bladder • Balance/ Stability Training nutritionto or give weight loss goals through an approach that is anything Experts, RDN's,are the ONLY medical professionalsance, qualified you
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Looking prevent orWerecover sports injury? We’ll complete but to "cookie cutter". take the from time toalearn about you, any medical
nutrition advice. We don't believe in quick fixes or the latest craze. you may and tailor if to your Our Nutrition a full conditions examination to have determine any individual outlyingneeds. causes could put • Pelvic Pain • Throwing Injury Prevention We believe in life long change without having toExperts, ANYTHING the ONLY medical professionals qualified to give you you at sacrifice riskforRDN's,are injury or could be contributing to your existing pain. • Ankle • Low Back Pain nutrition advice. We don't believe in quick fixes or the latest craze. that makes your life unique!
Recovering from a concussion? We’ve got you covered! We’ll address We believe in life long change without having to sacrifice ANYTHING • Hip Pain• All Re-injury Prevention balance and dizziness and help you return to your sport safely. that makes your life unique! • All Injury Prevention • Dyspareunia PILATES REFORMER • Vaginismus The most recognized and effective form of safe and successful exercise. PILATES REFORMER Theclient most recognized and effective form of safe and successful exercise. Pilates can be tailored to the specific needs of the to provide • Vulvodynia Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy is a special subset of PT focusing Pilates can be tailored to the specific needs of the client to provide injury prevention, work. We offerpelvic girdle. Pelvic dysfunction can cause theinjury muscles of the • Scar Tissue rehabilitation and muscleonstability prevention, rehabilitation and muscle stability work. We offer private and semi private sessions. pain and urinary leakage, among other personal issues that can private and semi private sessions. • Pelvic Organ Prolapse be successfully treated with education, exercise and hands-on techniques. I want to empower females to take back their lives, one Pelvic PT session at a time.
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WINTER WELLNESS
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton Many people who could benefit from bariatric surgery don’t consider it because of widespread misconceptions About 30 percent of U.S. adults qualify as obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Bariatric (weight loss) surgery, which involves modifying the stomach to restrict the amount of food it can hold, could provide health benefits for many of those people— including reduction of medication, improvement of diabetes, a cure for obstructive sleep apnea and more. Nonetheless, people who are candidates for the surgery often don’t see it as an option because of widespread misconceptions, says Ragui W. Sadek, MD, Chief of Bariatrics for RWJ Barnabas Health. Here are some of the most common: MYTH #1: “You have to be several hundred pounds overweight to
consider weight loss surgery.” FACT: “People think that’s the case because of TV shows like My 600-lb Life,” says Dr. Sadek. “In fact, most of the patients I operate on are in the 250-to-300-pound range. They are surgery candidates because their obesity is causing other health conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and sleep apnea. After surgery, they see improvement in these conditions and can reduce or eliminate multiple medications.” MYTH #2: “Weight loss surgery is risky.” FACT: The risk of fatality during bariatric surgery is just 0.1 percent, Dr. Sadek says—lower than the risks of many common surgeries. MYTH #3: “Weight loss surgery is for people who don’t want to diet and exercise.” FACT: “Obesity is not about being lazy or not having willpower,” Dr. Sadek says. “We are getting more and more data that shows that people who are morbidly obese have certain genetic profiles that lead to obesity.” Besides, a healthy diet and exercise are a key part of the post-
surgery success, he notes. “At RWJUH Hamilton, weight loss surgery is more than just surgery—it’s a comprehensive program, including diet modifications, physical activity and making support available postsurgery.” MYTH #4: “Most people regain weight after bariatric surgery.” FACT: “Research shows that bariatric surgery is the most effective means of achieving long-term weight loss,” says Dr. Sadek. “The standard for failure of the surgery has been defined as a case in which the patient regains 50 percent or more of their excess body weight post-surgery. However, most patients keep off the majority of the weight they lose.” MYTH #5: “Weight loss surgery is a last resort.” FACT: On the contrary, obese patients and their physicians should consider it sooner, Dr. Sadek says. “Morbid obesity is a disease that should be dealt with as early as possible,” he says. “If you wait until you are taking multiple medications for related health problems, you may not be eligible for surgery because of those problems. The earlier you do it,
the better your potential outcome.” The Bariatric Surgery Program at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Hamilton, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, is certified for Bariatric Surgery by The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). Call RWJUH Hamilton’s Bariatric Program Coordinator at 609-2497510. Visit rwjbh.org/weightloss See ad, page 9.
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MCMAHON continued from Page 1 hopefully get 10 rebounds a game,” Williams said. “I think her goal this season against most teams would be to get that double double. Taryn has come such a long way just from her freshman year, with the effort she puts in at practice and in the off-season. “She has put in the time and energy and it shows how much she’s improved on game day. Her confidence has really soared over the past season. This summer she did a great job in the paint on offense in our summer league. She gets her hands up, she wants the basketball, she’s active. She used to be a little more quiet on the court. She would put her hands up but not really demand the ball. Now we see her wanting touches all the time.” McMahon showed sparks of that attitude last year. And after years of hearing how good she could be by applying herself, Taryn did just that in the summer. She played on the Cardinals’ summer league team and also played AAU for the first time with Team Elevation. “I’ve been playing since third grade, I know the game and I’ve been told for years that they see so much potential in me,” she said. “This summer I wanted to see what I can do when I put the work in. So I went for it. I was doing stuff six days a week. I went to a lot of college camp things, showcases, tournaments, it was a lot. “I hadn’t done AAU, I wasn’t looking to do it ever. But two of my teammates played and I would go to their practices and I was like’ I might as well try it.’” The results were positive. “It kind of opened my eyes up to what everyone else was like,” she said. “There are a lot of college coaches involved. It was eye opening to see what they’re look-
Taryn McMahon is hoping to increase her scoring this year. (Photo by Rich Fisher.) ing for and what other teams are like, and how everyone communicates. “Even at the tournaments, me and my mom would watch a random game. I’d look at the center on a team and what she’s doing or what move she’s doing. I’m looking to see if I can try the same thing when my games come around and I can try something new.” McMahon began playing in the Lawrence recreation league and also would go against her older and younger brothers at times. Taryn’s mom was her rec coach and she played with several girls who are now Cardinal teammates. “I loved rec,” she said. “It was a fun experience for me and it kept me in basketball. Then I joined middle school and I got COVID.” At Lawrence, she played JV as a freshman and made varsity last year when WilSee MCMAHON, Page 8
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Januar y 2024 | Lawrence Gazette7
MCMAHON continued from Page 7 liams returned after a hiatus of several years. After having a serious conversation with herself about what she wanted to do in hoops, McMahon opted to go to work. “For a while I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go to college for basketball,” she said. “But then I decided I was gonna try the process and go to all these college clinics. My mom helped me so much with that. I want to get better at the game, especially to help my high school team. I love coming to practice, I love my teammates, I enjoy the whole high school basketball experience and I have a passion for playing the game here.” One of the major things McMahon has improved on is her ball handling, which in turn has helped her penetration to the basket. Despite the club she is in, Taryn was not a safe driver when going to the hoop. “I’m not a strong ball handler and I’m working on that,” she said. “I didn’t drive a lot because it was scary to me because I’d turn the ball over when I drove. So I’d get in the paint and get the ball, but I didn’t do anything with it. I came to AAU and said ‘I’m gonna go for it.’ I was trying new things and it worked out.” In the preseason practices, Williams was thrilled at the improvement she saw in a girl she expects to be a key player. “Her confidence is a lot stronger from the summer,” the coach said. “Just being on the court and working out you can really see a difference from last season to the beginning of this season.” That confidence is shared in her teammates as well; as both McMahon and Williams are certain the Cardinals can improve on their five wins from last year. Second leading scorer Amber Wooding returns, and the sophomore was second on the team in assists (36) and first in steals (73). Dobkin (132 rebounds) and
Garcia (106 rebounds) will provide Taryn with help inside. “I very much think we’re gonna step it up a whole lot this year,” McMahon said. “Everybody improved obviously from summer league, summer practices. We have eight returners, with everybody stepping up together, I think this will be a better looking year.” And Taryn will be right in the middle of it. “Every day we look to improve,” Williams said. “We’re incredibly young, we’re still freshmen and sophomore heavy. We’re looking for her to be a leader on the court which I think comes very naturally for her. I told her she’s our glue, we need her to help keep everyone sticking all together. “She’s friends with everyone, she’s positive with everyone. There’s not a person on the team that she doesn’t talk to or doesn’t get along with. She’s always smoothing things over. When something is going tough in practice and I’m kind of on them she’s one of the first voices we hear trying to pick everybody up.” Another goal is to hold teams under 35 points per game. “I know that’s a lofty goal but I really think we can do it,” Williams said. “Taryn’s been watching the game, she goes to watch Rider all the time. She’s reading where to be on defense. Half of blocking a shot is getting yourself in the right position first. I think she’s doing a nice job off the ball there.” So, McMahon is being asked to produce double-doubles in points and rebounds, block shots, and hold the team together. Sounds like a lot to put on a junior. “We ask her to do that,” Williams said, “because she can handle it.” The bosses at Moe’s probably say the same thing.
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8 Lawrence Gazette | Januar y 2024
The NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) brings cancer trials and care delivery studies to people in their communities. Now as an NCORP affiliate site, Capital Health can give patients of our Cancer Center access to clinical trials and treatment delivery studies from top institutions around the world, bringing the latest state-of-the-art treatments to patients right here in our communities. It’s the advanced care you deserve close to home.
CapitalHealthCancer.org Januar y 2024 | Lawrence Gazette9
workers here and across America. To share your thanks or to support our Emergency Response Fund,
Medical and surgical weight loss offers a healthy way to slim down visit rwjbh.org/heroes
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This strategy may include: FDAapproved weight loss medication; coordination with a behavior specialist; coordination with a dietitian for customized diet and menu planning; Seeand ouranads in program designed exercise SIX09 sectionfor Weight Loss participants. specifically pgs 5Ifand 7 they meet the medical and Dr. Ragui Sadek is chief of bariatric psychological criteria, some patients and metabolic surgery service line at choose weight loss surgery, or bariatric RobertRWJ-104 Wood Johnson Barnabas health surgery. This is 4/17/20 a highly Heroes Work Here_4.313x11.25_HAM.indd 1 1:21 PM effective weight system. loss option that involves reducing the How does being over weight affect size of the stomach. our health? A patient will feel full sooner, eat More than 40 percent of less, and with the help of American adults are obese, other lifestyle changes, according to the National reduce their weight. Sleeve Health and Nutrition Gastrectomy and Gastric Examination Survey. Bypass are just two of the People with a body mass potential surgical options index (BMI)—a weightavailable. Your surgeon will height ratio—over 40 live help you choose the best 10 fewer years than those option for you. who have a lower BMI. How do patients Obesity can lead to maintain their weightsleep problems, heart loss success? disease, diabetes and Whether or not to Dr. Sadek uterine, esophageal and have weight-loss surgery colorectal cancers. Being is an important life overweight also increases decision. To help you the risk of dying from COVID-19 and decide if bariatric surgery is the right makes it more difficult to recover from choice for you, Robert Wood Johnson respiratory infections like pneumonia. University Hospital (RWJUH) Hamilton What medical weight loss options offers individualized guidance from are available to help patients live physicians, surgeons, Bariatric Program healthier, longer lives? coordinator and other team members. The Medical Weight Loss Program In addition, support group meetings, is a supportive and comprehensive dietary/nutritional classes and program for patients seeking a noneducational seminars to help you gather surgical approach to weight loss or additional information and insight. who do not meet the requirements for After surgery or along your nonsurgery. surgical weight loss journey, our
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physicians and counselors help you identify and establish the lifestyle changes they need to make your weight loss surgery a continuing success. RWJUH Hamilton also offers ongoing support group resources and nutritional counseling, exercise specialists and support staff to provide a full continuum of services and counseling. Losing weight is not easy, but the team at the Center for Weight Loss at RWJUH Hamilton will help you succeed. At every step in your journey, you will feel supported and in control. Start your weight loss journey today. Call our Bariatric Program Coordinator at 609-249-7510, or visit rwjbh.org/weightloss. Instagram-RWJUH_Hamilton.
Coming up this month at RWJU Hospital Hamilton For more information, call (609) 584-5900. To register for a program or for schedule changes go to rwjbh.org/ events.
Thursday, January 4
Kids in the Kitchen-Frosted Wonderland. 5-6 p.m. Healthy eating starts early! Empower kids with culinary skills and nutrition knowledge to become their healthiest selves! For children 5 years and older. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Fee: $5 per person. Taryn Krietzman, RDN.
MONDAY, January 8
Sweet Success Society: A Diabetes Group. 5:30 -6:30 p.m. Also Monday, Feb. 5, 1–2 p.m. A group for anyone with diabetes or caring for one of the 37 million Americans living with diabetes. Learn and discuss healthy ways to manage diabetes alongside peers and Taryn Krietzman,
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. Empower yourself and others towards a healthy lifestyle and success in diabetes self-management.
WEDNESDAY, January 10
Dizziness? Vertigo? – Understanding Why Many Adults Develop Dizziness. 10–11 a.m. Dizziness and imbalance are amongst the most common complaints in older people, and are a growing public health concern as it puts you at a higher risk of falling. Although the causes of dizziness in older people are multifactorial, peripheral vestibular dysfunction is one of the most frequent causes. Join Audiologist, Dr. Lorraine Sgarlato, Au.D.to understand more about the causes and treatments of dizziness.
MONDAY, January 15
Take Home Colorectal Screen. 10 – 11 a.m. Learn about ways to keep your colon healthy and possibly prevent colorectal cancer. You will be given a test to do at home and mail back. What’s Eating You? 11 a.m.–Noon. Support group for people experiencing emotional eating. Peer support is key. We offer a safe space to connect with others who are going through similar experiences.
Tuesday, January 23
Creating Habits That Stick-A Journey To Self-Love. 6-7:30 p.m. Do you find yourself on a never-ending rat race always seeking the NEXT ‘thing’ believing that once you GET ‘it’, you’ll finally be happy? Join Erin Bogdan, trauma-informed authenticity & confidence coach, for an interactive & engaging workshop to learn how to pour into you so that you can create a life of alignment, purpose, & impact. In this session, you will: Bring awareness to the barriers that stop you from showing up for yourself. Learn the step-by-step process to create habits & routines that stick. Create habits & routines that support your authentic goals to build deeper levels of alignment. Generate commitment to take action that moves you boldly in the direction of your dreams, desires, & goals.
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Clarification on the grant-funded study for a potential central emergency management operations center of the community. These meetings will come once we have completed a needs assessment, and the elected officials 1) what we are doing is compiling FrOM THE MANAGEr’S dESK information to better understand what we have done their due diligence in better would need as a community if we decided understanding the data and the opinions As all of you may now be aware from rendered by the professionals we engage upon a central emergency management my earlier blog articles and posts on to conduct the studies. facility, and FB, the Township was the recipient of We will request that the representatives 2) once we understand the type of a $725,000 grant award from the New building that would be necessary to meet of the firm we engaged in conducting Jersey Department of Community Affairs all of the federal and state standards to the studies participate in the meetings for the engineering and architectural to ensure the meetings are productive house a Fire Department, Emergency design, environmental studies, and and involve a meaningful exchange of Medical Services and 911 Dispatch preparation of bid documents for a new information among the participants. center, where it can and should be centralized Emergency Management I have seen a post or two on Facebook located to best serve our community in a Operations Center. Importantly, the grant fiscally responsible way. expressing ideas about the Township has no requirement that our town take acquiring a commercial property to There is no question that our action to build a central station. The link locate a central facility. At this time, community needs to seriously study to the grant award is here: tinyurl.com/ the use of currently owned township our present fire fighting program, Lgemoc11. property makes much better sense which includes a combined career and We announced (in a prior blog financially for two reasons: volunteer force. As with many other article—the link is here: tinyurl.com/ 1) We don’t incur the cost of having to communities in our state and around nerwingrant) and other social media purchase commercial property (at a time the country, the ranks of volunteer sites when we received this grant award, firefighters are at an all-time low. when we don’t even know if we are going and then the community rumor mill went to build one) and, Communities (like ours) that relied wild, not unexpectedly. At the time, back historically (and) entirely on volunteers 2) we don’t take a property currently in July 2022, though many found the for fire response and now, more recently, paying taxes off the township tax rolls news to be good, concern resonated with with a combined fire department must (if which would require taxpayers to make our volunteer fire companies, which they responsible leadership means anything) took as a signal of their demise. Despite require us take a good hard look at our assurances that was not the case at all, it present and future fire response to make persisted. important decisions in the best interests They provide a valuable service to of public safety for our community. our community, and we are deeply The irrefutable data tells us we need indebted to all past and present volunteer to undertake this fact-gathering now firefighters. Then, when we announced with the understanding that there will that the initial location for a potential be pushback from those who feel deep site shifted from the Lawrence Road concern about a potential decision Fire House site at 1252 Lawrence Road made by our elected officials that may (a site we believed when we applied impact them personally, whether real or for the grant was township-owned but perceived (and both are valid). was revealed to be owned by the fire This grant allows us a unique company instead—long story about a opportunity to fact-gather using funds reverter clause in a deed decades old) that would otherwise come from the to a section on the southern portion of community’s taxpayers. At the end of the municipal land where our municipal process, we will understand exactly what building and police building presently would be involved in transitioning to a exist, the concern grew from just the central location for our Fire/EMS and volunteers to residents that live near the 911 departments. municipal complex. We will understand the type and quality As a result, a group of those residents of the facility that will be necessary to attended the last two council meetings, conduct operations and have a good basis expressing their concerns about the need to estimate the total cost involved (and for a central station and, of course, its potential long-term savings). It is the only location at the municipal complex. way for our elected officials to make an To quell a concern that was raised informed decision on the present and by one of the residents who spoke at future of a critical element of our overall the last meeting, the Township was public safety obligation to the community. authorized to use the grant funds to The elected officials are committed study the municipal complex as the to ensuring the process includes public possible site. Here is a link to the emails meetings to allow for public comment from the NJDLGS to us confirming and questions so they can better approval:tinyurl.com/DCAmemo11. understand the opinions and concerns Importantly, I want to emphasize to all,
KEVIN NERWINSKI two critical points:
up for the lost revenue in future budgets. Also, locating a facility on already existing township-owned property (in the same area experts deemed appropriate) makes sense since it would be a facility on township property being used for an important public safety purpose. However, NO DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE to have a central emergency management facility or where one would go, but we must go through the process of fact-gathering to put the elected officials in the best position to make an informed decision. They may decide at the end of this process that this idea of a central facility is inappropriate for our community and that other steps should be taken to address the public safety needs. But given our present circumstances, I believe it is their responsibility to take on this difficult issue to meet their obligations to the community they serve. Kevin Nerwinski serves as Lawrence Township’s municipal manager. He is a long-time resident of Lawrence.
Januar y 2024 | Lawrence Gazette11
Jan: 2, 16, 30 Jul: 2, 16, 30 Jan: 6, 15, 29 Jul: 1, 15, 29 Jan: 9, 23 Jul: 9, 23 Aug: 13, 27 Feb: 12, 26 Aug: 12, 26 Feb: 6, 20 Aug: 6, 20 Feb: 13, 27 Sep: 10, 24 Mar: 12, 26 Sep: 7, 16, 30 Mar: 11, 25 Sep: 9, 23 Sep: 3, 17 Mar: 5, 19 Apr: 9, 23 Oct: 8, 22 Oct: 7, 21 Apr: 2, 16, 30 Oct: 1, 15, 29 Apr: 8, 22 Apr: 1, 15, 29 Oct: 14, 28 Nov: 5, 19 May: 14,28 May: 6, 20 Nov: 4, 18 May: 13 Nov: 12, 26 May: 7, 21 Nov: 11, 25 Dec: 3, 17, 31 Dec: 2, 16, 30 Jun: 11, 25 Jun: 3, 17 Jun: 1, 10, 24 Dec: 9, 23 Dec: 10, 24 Jun: 4, 18
Jan: 8, 22 Feb: 5, 19 Mar: 4, 18
Jul: 8, 22 Aug: 5, 19
Jan: 3, 17, 31 Feb: 14,28 Mar: 13, 27
Jul: 3, 17, 31 Aug: 14, 28
Apr: 10, 24 May: 8, 22 Jun: 5, 19,
Sep: 11, 25 Oct: 9, 23 Nov: 6, 20 Dec: 4, 18
Jan: 11, 25 Jul: 11, 25 Jan: 4, 18 Jan: 10, 24 Jul: 6, 18 Jul: 10, 24 Aug: 8, 22 Feb: 1, 15, 29 Aug: 1, 15, 29 Feb: 8, 22 Feb: 7, 21 Aug: 7, 21 Sep: 5, 19 Mar: 7, 21 Sep: 4, 18 Mar: 14, 28 Sep: 12, 26 Mar: 6, 20 Apr: 4, 18 Oct: 3, 17, 31 Oct: 2, 16, 30 Apr: 11, 25 Apr: 3, 17 Oct: 10, 24 May: 2, 16, 30 Nov: 14, 30 May: 1, 15, 29 Nov: 13, 27 May: 9, 23 Nov: 7, 21 Jun: 13, 27 Dec: 12, 26 Jun: 6, 20 Jun: 12, 26 Dec: 5, 19 Dec: 11, 28
Jan: 12, 26 Jul: 12, 26 Feb: 9, 23 Aug: 9, 23 Sep: 6, 20 Mar: 8, 22 Apr: 5, 19 Oct: 4, 18 May: 3, 17, 31 Nov: 1, 15, 29 Jun: 14, 28 Dec: 13,27
MUNICIPAL RECYCLING AND PUBLIC WORKS: Ewing / 882-3382 Hamilton / 890-3560 Hopewell Boro / 466-0168 Hopewell Twp / 537-0250 Lawrence Twp / 587-1894
Pennington Boro / 737-9440 Princeton / 688-2566 Trenton / 989-3151 West Windsor / 799-8370 Robbinsville / 259-0422
East Windsor, Hightstown, Robbinsville: Call your Recycling /Public Works Office for your recycling schedule
12 Lawrence Gazette | Januar y 2024
Mercer County Participates in MERCER COUNTY
RECYCLES
ALL Recyclables EITHER Bucket!
No more separation anxiety!