6-24 LG

Winding up

Officials address politics, equity and diverty in Lawrence schools

INTerVieW By BiLL SANserViNO

The Lawrence Gazette recently sat down with officials from the Lawrence Township Public Schools to talk about issues confronting the district.

Past articles resulting from that interview ran in the April and May issues of the Gazette and addressed topics such as school finances, the reconfiguration of grades at elementary schools and the Lawrence Intermediate School, and the teacher shortage crisis. Those articles

can be read online at communitynews.org.

This month, Superintendent Robyn Klim, Business Administrator Thomas Eldridge and Sean Fry, the director of personnel and administrative services, talk with Lawrence Gazette editor Bill Sanservino about politics in education and diversity within the district.

The below Q&A has been edited for grammar and clarity.

Lawrence Gazette: When you talk about the education profession, in some instances it

has become a politically charged environment. Parents, maybe more than ever, are really interested, and there’s a lot of misinformation out there.

For example, last year I got a call from a resident after I did a story about the candidates running for school board.

The woman said I didn’t address, some important issues, like whether the district is teaching “they/them” pronouns. Things like that.

How do teachers and school

See SCHOOLS, Page 7

LTPS appoints new directors in administrative reconfiguration

EDiTeD By BiLL SANserViNO

The Lawrence Township Board of Education recently appointed two new director positions.

On July 1, current Slackwood Elementary School Principal Jeanne Muzi will step into the new role of director of student achievement, equity and opportunity, and current Guidance Supervisor Melanie Fillmyer will assume the title director of

school counseling and student supports.

The district underwent a strategic reconfiguration of administrative responsibilities following the retirement announcement of Clifton Thompson, the director of diversity, equity and inclusion.

The purpose of the reconfiguration is to optimize the support and resources available to students, ensuring that every learner receives the neces-

sary assistance to thrive, said a school district news release.

As a result of the reconfiguration, the new director of student achievement, equity and opportunity will report to Rajneet (Pimmi) Goomer, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, and the district will see the director of school counseling and student supports reporting to Vanessa Bekarciak, assistant superintendent

Paige Van Hise on the pitcher’s mound during a recent LHS softball game. For more on Van Hise and the team, turn to Page 8. (Photo by Sam Pastorella/Pastorella Photos.)

RWJUH Hamilton June Healthy Living / Community Education Programs

BRAIN HEALTH-LEARN PROVEN WAYS TO KEEP YOUR BRAIN YOUNG

Monday, June 3; 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

With so much information out today on brain health, what methods really work?

Join Lorraine Sgarlato, Au.D., Senior Audiologist, to learn more about how to keep your brain young and turn back the clock on your brain.

SWEET SUCCESS SOCIETY: A DIABETES GROUP

Monday, June 3; 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Monday, June 10; 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 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.

DANCE IT OUT!

Thursday, June 6; 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

When in doubt, dance it out! Find your rhythm and ease the everyday stresses of life with movement. All ages welcome.

WHAT’S EATING YOU?

Monday, June 10; 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

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

HOW SOUND HEALS: THE SCIENCE OF SOUND HEALING

Monday, June 10; 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Science is catching up with what healers

have known for centuries, sound and vibration affect our mind, body and spirit. Adriana Hansen, will discuss the science behind sound and vibration and show you how and why certain sounds can help you sleep better, improve your mood, improve body function and even reduce pain! This is an interactive discussion, so come prepared to feel the good vibrations!

WHAT’S IN THE BOX?

Tuesday, June 13; 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

All things seasonal, all the time! Learn what wonderful fruits and veggies are up to this time of year and how to make them shine! Enjoy being an in-person studio-audience member as Taryn Krietzman, RDN, does a live taping or join us from your home via our live Zoom.

COOKING WITH CARDIOLOGY: STAY HEALTHY WITH SUMMER GRILLING

Thursday, June 13; 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

When done right, grilling can be one of the more healthful ways to prepare food. Very little fat needs to be added to foods cooked on the grill. Join Shakil Shaikh, DO, Cardiology, RWJUH Hamilton, and member of Hamilton Cardiology Associates, for a delicious insight on summer cooking.

SACRED BREATHWORK EXPERIENCE

Thursday, June 13; 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Kim Huston, Reiki Master and Certified Breathwork facilitator, is passionate about sharing this modality with anyone looking for true healing. Sacred

breathwork can help release negative patterns and fears that keep us stuck. Bring a yoga mat and blanket; chairs will also be available. Fee: $15

ANNUAL REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

Monday, June 17; 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Join RWJUH Hamilton for their annual report to the community meeting. Registration is required, and a complimentary light breakfast will be served. Lisa Breza, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, Chief Administrative Officer, will provide an overview of the hospital’s recent accomplishments and plans for future growth.

ASK THE DIETITIAN

Monday, June 17; 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Do you have a question about diet and nutrition? Join a community education dietitian for a one-on-one Q&A. Preregistration for each 1/2 hour appointment is required.

PREDIABETES CONNECT GROUP

Tuesday, June 18; 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

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

COLOR ME HOOPY: HOOLAHOOPING FOR FUN & FITNESS!

Tuesday, June 18; 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

If you think you can’t hoola-hoop, you’re mistaken! This class is so much fun that you don’t even realize that you are working out! It’s much easier with an adult-sized hoop... which is provided at the class. No experience necessary.

Angela Reitter, Certified HoopLove coach and Hoopa-Fit instructor. Fee: $15

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION

Wednesday, June 19; 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

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

HEALTHRHYTHMS® DRUM CIRCLE

Wednesday, June 19; 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Drum your cares away with our monthly drum circle. It’s lots of fun and a great stress reliever. Beginners welcome; drums will be provided. Mauri Tyler, CTRS,CMP. Fee: $15

LGBTQ+ BREAST/CHEST HEALTH

Thursday, June 20; 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Join Cecilia Gomez, BS, Community Cancer Control Specialist, RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute, for this presentation that covers the basics of breast cancer as it relates to the LGBTQ+ community. We will discuss screening guidelines, health disparities, diet and lifestyle, and genetic counseling.

VISION BOARD WORKSHOP

Tuesday, June 25; 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Join this fun, interactive workshop where we will explore your vision, hope and intentions for the future. Please bring scissors; all other materials are provided.

KIDS IN THE KITCHEN: SUMMERTIME STAPLES

Wednesday, June 26; 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.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. Taryn Krietzman, RDN. Fee: $5 per person

REIKI SHARE

Wednesday, June 26; 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Share the gift of Reiki with other practitioners. Give a session; get a session. Please bring a small sheet and pillow. Restricted to those certified in Reiki (any level).

BARIATRIC WEIGHT LOSS SUPPORT GROUP

Tuesday, July 9; 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

If you are considering surgery, are in the process of preparing or have undergone surgery, you are welcome to attend our support group meetings. Family, friends and support persons are also invited to attend. This is a great opportunity to meet others going through the same weight loss journey. Our meetings focus on achieving optimal wellness through weight loss surgery. Each month, we will discuss a different topic on nutrition, exercise and healthy living behaviors. To register or for more information, call 609-249-7510.

*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

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

A SENIOR SOCIAL GROUP

Wednesday, June 5, 12, 19, 26

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Please join us for our ongoing program, “A Senior Social Group,” gathering in a collaborative setting to exchange thoughts, feelings and experiences amongst peers. This is a safe zone designed to be welcoming and understanding of all attendees while exploring this season of our lives – the ups and the challenges. This is a weekly program. Please feel free to attend one or all.

GROUNDS FOR SCULPTURE TOUR

Wednesday, June 5; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

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

Join us for a guided tour that provides a deeper look into the sculptural secrets and rich history of Grounds for Sculpture. Plenty to see and learn with over 42 acres and approximately 350 works of art!

MIND OVER MATTER BREAKFAST AND LEARN

Tuesday, June 11; 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Is there a correlation between our thinking and our eating habits?

Ekta Makani, FNP-C, MSN, Advanced Practice Nurse, will discuss this topic and the science behind the behaviors. This will be an engaging and fascinating conversation, providing answers to this age-old question.

TAI CHI CLASSES

Thursday, June 13 + 27; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Tai Chi is recommended for seniors because it improves balance, strengthens muscles in the legs, and increases flexibility and stability in the ankles. It can help reduce falls and back pain. Beginners welcome.

YOGA CLASSES

Tuesday, June 18 + 25; 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Krystal Loughlin, certified RYT, will be leading this gentle yoga class using traditional postures and breathing techniques, offering modifications of the poses for your body so that you can confidently participate. Beginners welcome.

MEDITATION CLASSES

Tuesday, June 18 + 25; 11:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.

Krystal Loughlin, certified RYT, will lead this meditation class focusing on reducing stress and bringing inner peace. See how you can easily learn to practice meditation whenever you need it most. Beginners welcome.

CHAIR YOGA

Tuesday, June 18 + 25; 12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.

Krystal Loughlin, certified RYT, will be teaching Chair Yoga. Using a chair for seated poses and also for balancing poses, this class is perfect for those who haven’t moved their bodies for a while, are recovering from an injury or have mobility/balancing difficulties. A great place to start practicing yoga to help boost your flexibility, find inner peace, unwind and stretch. Many options are given to customize the practice for YOU!

TEA PARTY

Friday, June 28; 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Pinkies up! Let’s talk tea and try some famously tasty pairings. Hats are encouraged!

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

NEWS BrIEFS

NEWS BRIEFS continued from Page 1

for student services.

“The newly established positions will enhance our ability to provide equitable opportunities and support student wellbeing and achievement,” said Robyn Klim, LTPS superintendent.

Muzi referenced Jim Collins’ book From Good to Great in her decision to move from Slackwood principal into this new role. The “bus theory” of great organizations asserts that those who build great organizations make sure they have the right people on the bus and the right people in the key seats, before they figure out where to drive the bus, she said.

“I believe this is the right seat for me during this critical time in the district’s history,” said Muzi, referring to the upcoming reconfiguration of grade bands in Lawrence Township Public Schools over the next few years. “In all my years in Lawrence, this is by far the most innovative, data-driven direction for which the district to move. I could not be more excited to play a pivotal role in ensuring student success and equity during this transformation and beyond.”

Muzi brings a wealth of experience in

the areas of instruction, curriculum and developing systems of equitable learning to this new position.

She has served on many state education committees and panels, and has presented at local, state and regional conferences on STEM/STEAM, higher order questioning, cultivating creativity, engagement techniques, and technology integration.

She brings with her vast experience from honors she has earned. These include being a Smithsonian Teacher Ambassador, a National Geographic Teaching Fellow, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Teacher at Sea, and a New Jersey State Teacher of the Year.

Muzi holds degrees from Eisenhower College of the Rochester Institute of Technology, Rider University and the Riley School of Education at Walden University.

She earned her administrative certifications through the NJEXCEL program at the NJ Principals and Supervisors Association. Muzi and her family have lived in Lawrence Township for more

See NEWS BRIEFS, Page 4

LAWRENCE GAZETTE

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

EDITOR

Bill Sanservino (Ext. 104)

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Rich Fisher

AD LAYOUT AND PRODUCTION

Stacey Micallef (Ext. 131)

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Christine Storie (Ext. 115)

Community News Service

9 Princess Road, Suite M Lawrenceville, NJ 08648

Phone: (609) 396-1511

News: news@communitynews.org

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Website: lawrencegazette.com

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15,000 copies of the Lawrence Gazette are mailed or bulk-distributed to the residences and businesses of Lawrence 12 times a year.

TO adVERTISE

call (609) 396-1511, ext. 110 or e-mail advertise@communitynews.org

A proud member of:

NEWS BRIEFS continued from Page 3 than 30 years.

Fillmyer has served for eight years as the LTPS supervisor of guidance and testing coordinator.

“Fillmyer has created several processes and programs that support our students’ and staff’s wellbeing; these programs include the district’s anti-bullying initiatives, health and wellness events, and intervention and referral services.” said the news release.

Additionally, Fillmyer oversees crisis intervention and support services, coordinating efforts to provide counseling and grief services for students, staff and families when a traumatic event occurs.

Lattimer named new Slackwood principal

The Lawrence Township School Board in May approved the appointment of Ebony Lattimer as the new principal of Slackwood Elementary School.

“Lattimer brings more than 20 years of experience in education, with a proven track record of creating equitable learning communities for each child,” said the LTPS website. “Ms. Lattimer’s journey in education has been marked by a passion for curriculum, a dedication to inclusion and meeting the learning needs of all children, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.”

Home Visiting

JUNE

WPSL TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 7PM vs. SJEB

SUNDAY, JUNE 30, 7PM vs. FEVER

JULY

Fillmyer’s efforts have increased contact time between counselors and students and provided more targeted services for vulnerable student populations, including ELL learners, LGBTQIA students, and students that face socioeconomic barriers.

Fillmyer holds degrees from Widener and Rutgers University. She earned her administrative certifications through the NJEXCEL program at the N.J. Principals and Supervisors Association. She obtained her Standard Principal Certification during her time as a high school assistant principal prior to coming to Lawrence.

Lattimer completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Pittsburgh and graduate degree at Georgian Court University. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her three children and serving her community through her various community service organizations, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Jack and Jill of America and the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa.

Lattimer, who previously worked as an elementary school principal in the Princeton Publi Schools, has a background in science and inclusion, and honed her skills in the multi-tiered system of supports and restorative justice.

“Ms. Lattimer is thrilled to bring their expertise and energy to Lawrence Township Public Schools, and is excited to contribute to Slackwood Elementary School. Ms. Lattimer is committed to all students understanding how to be their best selves academically, socially-emotionally, and being brave thinkers that contribute positively to the community.”

Scholar of the Year accolade awarded

Lawrence Township native Mason Russo received Scholar of the Year honors from ARCS Foundation Honolulu Chapter.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa PhD student in entomology was one of 18 outstanding graduate students to receive the organizations 2024 ARCS Scholar Awards, which are presented to outstanding students in science disciplines. Russo studies invasive and potentially destructive insects.

Russo’s research involves evaluating the impacts of the invasive hala scale on native hala forest regeneration in the Hawaiian Islands

Hala scale is an invasive insect that damages the native hala tree used for weaving, lei-making and landscape in poor soils. Russo is working to determine distribution of the scale in the islands and identify chemical control methods. He

also studies the invasive and destructive coconut rhinoceros beetle.

Russo holds a bachelor’s degree in in entomology and nematology from the University of Florida and a master’s in Entomology from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa.

Mercer man charged with threatening/ planning mass shooting

A Mercer County man was arrested May 10 for sending an internet post containing threats to kill white people, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced on May 14.

Joshua Cobb, 23, of Trenton was charged by complaint with one count of transmitting a threat in interstate and foreign commerce. Cobb, a former U.S. Marine, mentioned the Jersey Strong Gym in Robbinsville and Aldi as potential sites for a mass shooting, authorities said.

Documents filed in the case and statements made in court allege that on Dec. 17, 2022, Cobb used a social media application to post a message, stating:

• I want to cause mayhem on the white community. The reason i specifically want to target white people is because as a black male, they will NEVER understand my struggles. Same way I will never understand their struggles, but I don’t care to. I want to erase them. All of them really, but in this case as many as I possibly can.

As of today I have officially began planning my attack. It is going to take place in 2023 in the state of New Jersey, I have not chosen a exact date but I am going to be sure it is close to an important holiday to their race. I have a location in mind already which I have frequented for the past year and I am certain nobody there is armed to be able to stop me from spraying them to the ground. I have already acquired 2 of the 4 firearms I plan to use for my attack, and I also know my entry and exit points already after the mayhem.

Following this post, in April and May 2023, Cobb made several additional posts on another social media application, in which he discussed his hopes of progressing into a serial killer, stating:

• Imagine the rush you’d feel while shooting some sh*t up. Probably could get literally high off the adrenaline alone. I’d probably OD on my own adrenaline after the 10th body goes down.

• 100% someday. Just not yet thought. I want to continue training and buying more ammunition.

• Tbh I hope I do progress into a serial killer because I f*cking hate life man... But one day everyone will suffer. I promise I will make everyone feel my f*ucking pain. My deep, sincere, raw, & sharp pain.

• There is no way out for me. The only

way out is bloodshed.

• Just wait man. Remember [my username]. [I] will leave clues when im done.

• I’m just leaving evidence for whoever investigates my case.

Cobb joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 2023 and began basic training in June 2023. Cobb was stationed in California until his recent discharge.

In statements to law enforcement, Cobb admitted to writing the above-described posts and provided detailed information on locations he had considered as possible targets for his attack, including the Jersey Strong gym in Robbinsville and a nearby Aldi grocery store. Authorities did not specify which Aldi location was being targeted. Cobb also discussed his access to guns and idolized other mass shooters.

Authorities said that a search of Cobb’s cell phone revealed additional notes from April and May 2023 expressing Cobb’s homicidal ideations, stating:

• It’s all a f*cking game and you all are going to die. I currently lack the means necessary to kill as many as I intend to but one day I will have the available resources (finance) to purchase the appropriate weaponry for my killing(s).

• All my life I have been doubyed… I’ve been taken as the joke… ive (sic) been f*cked around with… well now its my turn. I am going to kill one of you mother*ckers I f*cking hate humanity. All of you f*cking duck and I don’t give a single f*ck about any of you though I may appear I do.

• Im ready to grt to the good part of my story where I start taking you mother f*ckers out and killing you all… My rampage will soon happen… I plan to now continue accumulating the necessary equipment needed to execute. Once all equipment is in, time will then tell. You will all die.

• I hate all of this sh*t and I feel like my only way out of the pain and suffering is by exploding. So I await… I await that moment so I can make those moments final. For whomever… myself or a victim.

Cobb’s phone also contained notes on how to bring guns into New Jersey.

The charge of transmitting a threat in interstate and foreign commerce is punishable by a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents and task force officers of the FBI Newark Joint Terrorism Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy, with the investigation leading to the arrest. He also thanked the Naval Criminal Investigative Service; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, under the direction of U.S. Attorney E. Martin Estrada, agents of the FBI Field Office in Los Angeles, California, under the direction of Acting Assis-

e

per student.

NEW AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING LOTTERY

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The Alice is accepting rental preapplications June 1, 2024 through June 30, 2024 Preapplicat ons must be received on or before June 30, 2024, or be postmarked by June 30, 2024 A virtual information session wil be recorded and posted on the website for reference The Lottery will be held on July 15th, 2024 at 3:00PM *The Alice Princeton is currently under construction for 2024/2025 move ins

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Applications will be Available:

The Alice Pop-Up Leasing Office - 330 North Harrison Street Suite 1 Princeton, NJ 08540

Mercer County Library Headquarters - 2751 Brunswick Pike Lawrenceville, NJ 08648

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Monmouth County Headquarters Library - 125 Symmes Drive Manalapan NJ 07726 Ocean County Library - 101 Washington Street, Toms R ver, NJ 08753

Mercer County Administration Building - 640 South Broad Street Trenton, NJ 08650-0068

Ocean County Admin stration Building - 101 Hooper Ave Toms River, NJ 08753

County of Monmouth Hall of Records - 33 Mechanic Street Freehold NJ 07728 Princeton Public Library - 65 Witherspoon Street Princeton, NJ 08542

tant Director in Charge Mehtab Syed; the Hamilton Police Division, under the direction of Chief Kenneth R. DeBoskey; the Robbinsville Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael K. Polaski; and the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vera Varshavsky of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s National Security Unit, with assistance from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Counterterrorism Section of the National Security Division.

MCCC named HispanicServing Institution

Mercer County Community College (has earned the designation of HispanicServing Institution from the U.S. Department of Education.

MCCC PresidentDeborah Preston said the designation “will allow us to continue providing the tools needed to empower our Hispanic and Latino students, and ultimately the broader community.”

In 2023, the Biden-Harris administration awarded more than $40 million to HSIs around the U.S. to expand educational opportunities, strengthen resources and improve retention of Hispanic and Latino students and the institutions preparing them for the future.

“Congratulations to the faculty and staff at MCCC for their hard work and continued dedication to meeting the needs of our growing Hispanic community, and all our students,” said Mercer County Executive, Dan Benson.

This designation provides opportunities to apply for grants within the Titles III and V programs.

Eligible applicants may not have a financial interest in the development Total annual household income from all sources and all members of the household must be at or below 30%, 50% or 80% of area median income, as defined by HUD and adjusted for household size Reasonable Accommodations Available for Persons with Disabilities Language assistance is available at no cost.

To be eligible for this designation, the U.S. DOE completes an assessment that requires the designee to have at least a 25% enrollment of full-time students who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino. MCCC met this criteria based on Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System data.

The Alice is accepting rental preapplications June 1, 2024 through June 30, 2024 Preapplications must be received on or before June 30, 2024, or be postmarked by June 30, 2024. A virtual information session will be recorded and posted on the website for reference. The Lottery will be held on July 15th, 2024 at 3:00PM.

You can also download a rental preapplication on the website: www LiveTheAlice com Submission of a preapplicat on will not guarantee housing for occupancy there wil be a screening process Once the nitia ease up has been completed your hous ng applicat on ottery

*The Alice Princeton is currently under construction for 2024/2025 move ins.

The designation also requires that criteria be met pertaining to the enrollment of low-income students and university cost

Applications will be Available:

It also allows MCCC to tap into other resources including waiver eligibility of the non-Federal share matching requirements under the Federal Work Study Program, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program, and the TRIO Student Support Services Program that are intended to enhance academic programs, facilities, and services that expand educational opportunities for Hispanic Americans.

The Alice Pop-Up Leasing Office - 330 North Harrison Street Suite 1 Princeton NJ 08540

Mercer County Library Headquarters - 2751 Brunswic Monmouth County Headquarters Library - 125 Symm

Ocean County Library - 101 Washington Stree

Eligible applicants may not have a financial interest in the development. Total annual household income from all sources and all members of the house hold must be at or below 30%, 50% or 80% of area median income,as defined by HUD and adjusted for household size. Reasonable Accommodations Available for Persons with Disabilities. Language assistance is available at no cost.

Mercer County Administration Building - 640 South Bro 6

Eligible applicants may not have a financial interest in the development. Total annual household income from all sources and all members of the household must be at or below 30%, 50% or 80% of area median income, as defined by HUD and adjusted for household size. Reasonable Accommodations Available for Persons with Disabilities. Language assistance is available at no cost

Ocean County Administration Building - 101 Hoop County of Monmouth Hall of Records - 33 Mechan Princeton Public Library - 65 Witherspoon Str

The Alice is accepting rental preapplications June 1, 2024 through June 30, 2024. Preapplications must be received on or before June 30, 2024, or be postmarked by June 30, 2024. A virtual information session will be recorded and posted on the website for reference. The Lottery will be held on July 15th, 2024 at 3:00PM.

You can also download a rental preapplication on the e

ons June 1, 2024 through June 30, 2024. Preapplications must be postmarked by June 30, 2024 A virtual information session will be reference The Lottery will be held on July 15th, 2024 at 3:00PM rrently under construction for 2024/2025 move ins.

Submission of a preapplication will not guarantee housing for occupancy

*The Alice Princeton is currently under construction for 2024/2025 move ins. Applications will be Available:

Once the initial lease up has been completed, your housing application lottery placement number will become your waitlist number for future occupancy Only completed and signed pre-applications will be considered for the Lottery Anticipated occupancy is December 2024. For more information or reasonable accommodations, email TheAlice@winnco.com.

The Alice Pop-Up Leasing O ce - 330 North Harrison Street, Suite 1, Princeton, NJ 08540

ications will be Available:

The Alice is accepting rental preapplications June 1, 2024 through June 30, 2024 Preapplications must be received on or before June 30, 2024, or be postmarked by June 30, 2024 A virtual information session will be recorded and posted on the website for reference The Lottery will be held on July 15th, 2024 at 3:00PM

Mercer County Library Headquarters - 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648

Monmouth County Headquarters Library - 125 Symmes Drive, Manalapan, NJ 07726

*The Alice Princeton is currently under construction for 2024/2025 move ins.

- 330 North Harrison Street, Suite 1, Princeton, NJ 08540 uarters - 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 ers Library - 125 Symmes Drive, Manalapan, NJ 07726 - 101 Washington Street, Toms River, NJ 08753 ilding - 640 South Broad Street Trenton, NJ 08650-0068 on Building - 101 Hooper Ave Toms River, NJ 08753 f Records - 33 Mechanic Street, Freehold, NJ 07728 y - 65 Witherspoon Street, Princeton, NJ 08542

Ocean County Library - 101 Washington Street, Toms River, NJ 08753

Applications will be Available:

The Alice Pop-Up Leasing Office - 330 North Harrison Street, Suite 1, Princeton NJ 08540

Mercer County Administration Building - 640 South Broad Street. Trenton, NJ 08650-0068

Mercer County Library Headquarters - 2751 Brunswick Pike Lawrenceville, NJ 08648

Ocean County Administration Building - 101 Hooper Ave. Toms River, NJ 08753

Monmouth County Headquarters Library - 125 Symmes Drive, Manalapan NJ 07726

County of Monmouth Hall of Records - 33 Mechanic Street, Freehold, NJ 07728

Ocean County Library - 101 Washington Street, Toms River, NJ 08753

Mercer County Administrat on Building - 640 South Broad Street Trenton, NJ 08650-0068

Princeton Public Library - 65 Witherspoon Street, Princeton, NJ 08542

Ocean County Administration Bu lding - 101 Hooper Ave Toms River, NJ 08753

County of Monmouth Hall of Records - 33 Mechanic Street Freehold, NJ 07728

You can also download a rental preapplication on the website: www.LiveTheAlice.com

- 65 Witherspoon Street, Princeton, NJ 08542

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June kicks off festival season throughout Central New Jersey

By Joe Emanski

Summertime means festivals and fairs, and June is a fine time to be outdoors in Central New Jersey. Community News takes you through just some of the area events that are planned to help you get out of the house and enjoy the weather — and maybe a little bit of culture, too.

One of the area’s most popular annual festivals is already in progress as we enter June: the New Jersey Renaissance Faire, which began on May 18 and is set to continue through June 9.

(Photos

Now in its 15th edition, the Renaissance Faire looks to recreate a pocket of 16thcentury England at the Burlington County Fairgrounds in nearby Columbus. Vendors, artists, musicians and performers, many in period costume, look to entertain and edify festivalgoers each weekend. Attendees are invited to dress up in period clothes as well, and many do, but it is not required. Every year’s faire has a theme, and this year’s theme is “The Brothers Grimm.”

The Brothers Grimm are neither from the 1500’s nor were they English (they were German), but they are known for popularizing many familiar folk tales, including “Cinderella,” “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Hansel and Gretel,” “Rapunzel” and “Sleeping Beauty,” among many others.

This year, Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm are visiting the Ren Faire and its make-believe village of Crossford. The brothers and some of their famous fairy-tale characters can be seen wandering the faire grounds each Saturday and Sunday to offer interactive storytelling.

There are six stages at the faire, each offering a variety of entertainment that includes belly dancing, live jousting, magic shows, circus shows, story times, comedy and more. Live music is scheduled throughout the day on the Evergreen Stage and at Fiddler’s Green; visit njrenfaire.com for schedules pertaining to each weekend of the festival.

Food vendors offer both period and modern cuisine, and wine and beer are available for purchase. Whisky tasting takes place in the Whiskey Tent. Some events require ticket purchases beyond the cost of admission, and while most are family friendly, some are marked as being appropriate for adults only. These include the after-hours concerts, which also have an additional

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The NJ Renaissance Faire has grown over its 15 years, and now boasts of crowds of more than 5,000 daily.

“We are building and producing the show that we have always wanted, and can’t wait to celebrate with our faire family and fans this season when they see how different the shire looks and feels,” says NJRF general manager TJ Miller. Those differences include a new front gate with two 16-foottall towers, a new kids’ area and two 80-by40-foot tents for eating and relaxing.

Tickets are available on the Ren Faire website and include a number of pricing options for adults and children. Saturday and Sunday, June 1–2 and June 8–9 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., rain or shine. Burlington

County Fairgrounds, 1990 Jacksonville Jobstown Road, Columbus NJ.

Those looking to remain firmly ensconced in the year 2024 can head over instead to Mercer County Park, where the county will be hosting the 12th annual Cultural Festival and Food Truck Rally. The festival is set to feature live music and traditional dance performances featuring area residents with a diverse array of cultural backgrounds. The county says there will be art demonstrations, heritage crafters, children’s activities and a beer garden.

The county’s Division of Culture and Heritage makes an effort to keep the festival as diverse as possible, and that can be seen in the art, music and dance performances as well as in the food trucks on offer, which are set to represent the cui-

sines of the world.

Food trucks and food and drink vendors set to attend include those representing the cultures of Liberia, Colombia, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Mexico, Italy, Greece, Belgium, China, Korea, Thailand and Philippines. American regional cuisines including soul food and coastal New England will also be represented.

The event is free to attend and is scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 8 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Food and drink is provided for a cost. For weather updates, search for “Mercer County Cultural and Heritage Commission” on Facebook and follow the link. * * *

Two-time Grammy Award-winning soprano Angel Blue has been tapped to open this year’s June 7-22 Princeton Festival on Friday, June 7 at 8 p.m.

The soprano is expected to perform arias by Giacomo Puccini, Giuseppe Verdi, and George Gershwin. She will be accompanied by Princeton Symphony Orchestra’s Edward T. Cone Music Director Rossen Milanov as the orchestra performs orchestral pieces by Dvořák, Puccini, Ruperto Chapí, and Frederick Delius.

The Princeton Symphony Orchestra’s 16-day showcase for the performing arts is set to include fully staged performances of Mozart’s comic opera Così fan tutte, Broadway cabaret with Santino Fontana, orchestral music, Baroque and chamber concerts, dance with American Repertory Ballet and a Juneteenth celebration.

Rounding out opening weekend are The Music of Tina Turner with LaKisha Jones, Nova Payton and Matthew Johnson on Saturday, June 8 at 7 p.m. and a Family Day culminating with a concert featuring Latin Grammy Award nominee Sonia De Los Santos on Sunday, June 9 at 4 p.m. All three performances take place in the out-

A jousting exhibition at a recent year’s New Jersey Renaissance Faire. (Photo by Michael Ulrich.)

Let’s Cycle NJ CEO Doug Smarr and Juneteenth Freedom Ride rider. (Photo courtesy of Let’s Cycle NJ.)

door performance pavilion on the grounds of Morven Museum & Garden.

For a complete listing of Festival events at the pavilion and at nearby Trinity Church, visit princetonsymphony.org/festival.

This year’s Festival Family Day is Sunday, June 9, and begins with a free yoga class at 9 a.m. on the front lawn of Morven Museum and Garden (ages 10 and up).

From 1:30-3:30 p.m., there will be a middle school Listen Up! art exhibition opening, plus free hands-on musical activities and treats for children of all ages, followed by the 4 p.m. family concert featuring Sonia De Los Santos and her band, performing original songs sung in Spanish and English. Tickets are available now for all 2024 Princeton Festival events at Morven Museum & Garden and nearby Trinity Church, ranging in price from $10 to $150. Tickets can also be purchased online at princetonsymphony.org/festival.

* * *

On the following Saturday, gear up for one of the area’s newest annual festivals, the Juneteenth Freedom Day Ride followed by the Fourth Annual Juneteenth Festival, both in Mercer County Park.

The bike ride and festival have been held since 2021 in honor of Juneteenth, the federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. The bike ride is presented by nonprofit organization Let’s Cycle NJ along with the Samuel McCoy III Scholarship Fund.

Things kick off at 7 a.m. on Saturday, June 15 when in-person registration for the bike ride begins at the park. Riders have their choice of four levels of ride: a 75-mile ride, a 50-mile ride, a 35-mile ride and a nov-

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Participating food trucks and vendors for the 2024 Mercer County Cultural Festival and Food Truck Rally. (Courtesy of Mercer County Division of Culture and Heritage.)

ice ride, all set for staggered starts beginning at 8:30 a.m. Registration is online now at juneteenthridenj.com.

The Juneteenth Festival, organized by the African American Cultural Collaboration of Mercer County, is set to begin following the completion of the bike rides. Organizers say that the festival will feature live music, food trucks, vendors and reserved areas for members of participating cycling clubs.

More information is available on the website, or by emailing organizers Doug Smarr at dougsmarr@gmail.com or Tennille R. McCoy at tmccoy72@me.com.

* * *

One of the longest running fairs in the area is the St. Gregory the Great Carnival, an annual June tradition in Hamilton that was briefly pushed to fall by the pandemic. It’s back in June, and set for Monday, June 17 through Saturday, June 22 this year.

The Catholic church on Nottingham Way raises funds for its K-8 academy through the carnival, which features rides, a midway, food vendors, a balloon man, two nights of fireworks (Tuesday and Saturday) a drone light show on Thursday, June 20, and of course, the super 50/50 raffle, which

rises into the tens of thousands of dollars each year. Organizers say that more than 100,000 people attend the carnival each year.

The carnival’s 22 rides are usually divided into rides for kids 8 and younger and for kids 8 and older, up to adults. There are 16 games of chance plus a money wheel. Food for sale includes carnival staples like fried Oreos and funnel cake, as well as stands from Four Boys Ice Cream, Momma Rosa Pizza, Kona Ice and G&L Gyros.

Rain is often a factor that time of year, and all dates are weather permitting. The carnival is open from 6 to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from noon to 5 p.m. and 6 to 11 p.m. on Saturday.

St. Gregory the Great is located at 4620 Nottingham Way, Hamilton. Web: sggcarnival.com.

Those who haven’t got enough of the carnival vibe after St. Gregory’s rolls out of town will be able to head over to Mercer County Park starting Friday, June 28 for the annual L.E.A.D. Fest State Fair.

L.E.A.D. Fest events feature rides, food vendors, craft vendors, local business and community organization kiosks and live entertainment.

L.E.A.D. stands for Law Enforcement Against Drugs, and the national nonprofit organization supported by police officers focuses its efforts on protecting youth and

De Los Santos and her band will perform original songs in Spanish in English at the Princeton Festival on June 9. (Photo by

communities from drugs, drug-related crime, cyberbullying and violence. L.E.A.D. holds fairs throughout the country each year to spread its message.

Organizers of the New Jersey state fair

say that more than 60,000 people attended last year’s event. Tickets are $7 during the week and $8 on the weekends, and can be purchased online at theleadfest.com. For more information, turn to page 12.

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L’Annexe de Mamie Colette brings Brittany to Central NJ

By Joe Emanski

Central New Jersey’s burgeoning bakery scene received a fresh boost in March when L’Annexe de Mamie Colette opened the doors to its brand new building on River Road in Titusville.

A good number of bakeries have opened in the past 10 years in the region, a welcome rebound for a business model that had once seemed all but eliminated by competition from supermarkets and chains.

Just in Hopewell Valley, Madame Cupcake opened in Hopewell in January 2022, and Terra Momo Bread Company opened its second location in Pennington in May 2023. Down the road in Ewing, Hamiltonbased Nino’s Pastry Shop opened a second location on Scotch Road also in May of last year.

For many pastry chefs, an independent bakery is a labor of love, and such is the case for Magali and Isabelle Henry Noblanc, the married business partners behind Mamie Colette — a viennoiserie

in Newtown, Pennsylvania that opened in November 2022 — and now L’Annexe.

Mamie Colette is known for its croissants and danish, which Chef Magali and staff make in house in a process that takes up to three days.

L’Annexe has croissants, too. But the new bake shop is no mere copy of the original. L’Annexe features sweet and savory crêpes in the style of Brittany, France, as well as pastries of the kind that can be found in the city of Chartres.

L’Annexe crêpes are made with buckwheat, which is the way they are made in Brittany, known as the birthplace of crêpes. Brittany also happens to be the part of France where Isabelle spent the early part of her life.

The most popular savory crêpe since L’Annexe opened has been the egg, Swiss cheese and ham crêpe. Also popular has been the crêpe with goat cheese, fig jam, walnuts and arugula.

Sweet crêpes include one with lemon, almonds and honey, one with housemade chocolate sauce and one with salted butter caramel.

Also in the display cases are brioches, meringues and choupinettes — a choux pastry filled with different flavors of creamy pudding, such as pistachio raspberry, sea salt caramel and hazelnut praline and passionfruit.

Also setting L’Annexe apart from Mamie Colette is that it has a bread bakery onsite. The shop in Newtown did not have enough room to allow for bread baking, though breads made at L’Annexe now find their way to the Pennsylvania side.

“Our customers were all asking for bread, they said the croissants were great but they wanted bread as well,” Isabelle says. “Our ovens (for baking viennoiserie) are ginormous, we didn’t have enough room. So we started looking for a commercial kitchen where we could actually bake bread.”

Bread baked on site at L’Annexe de Mamie Colette on River Road in Titusville. (Photo courtesy of L’Annexe de Mamie Colette.)

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Breads for sale include baguettes, multigrain buckwheat loaves and levain sourdough loaves, which Isabelle describes as a “very different sourdough — it doesn’t taste acidic or sour. It’s made the way we make it in France.”

Once the pair had decided on opening a second location, they searched first in Pennsylvania and then in New Jersey for a suitable location for the new venture. Their first thought was Lambertville, and Isabelle remembers one day driving through Titus-

ville on the way north and seeing the building that would become L’Annexe.

“We saw the buildings and thought they were beautiful,” she says. “We thought, whoever was going to be in that location would be really lucky. Then one day we saw a ‘for lease’ sign, called and met with the owners of the building, and now we’re the lucky people who get to work there.”

Isabelle is originally from Brittany, and Magali from Chartres. Though they met in France, Isabelle was living in the U.S. at the time, and only temporarily back in France for her job as a business development professional.

When Isabelle returned home to the U.S., Magali moved with her, and took the opportunity to leave behind her unfulfilling job as a sales executive and embark on a new career as a pastry chef. She studied bread and viennoiserie baking at l’Ecole Banette in France, and worked for several bakeries in the Netherlands, France and New Jersey honing her craft.

Croissants became her passion, and when she and Isabelle decided to open a small business of their own, they made croissants and other viennoiseries such as pain au chocolat the centerpiece of their

She says that many customers have told them that they can tell the difference between their handmade croissants and those that come from other vendors, which are often made in industrial bakeries.

“Here, we wanted to introduce the real thing, show the real thing when it’s made from scratch, by hand,” Isabelle says.

While Mamie Colette and L’Annexe de Mamie Colette both rotate some of the flavors of their sweet and savory fillings, Isabelle says that the menu is generally fixed — as is the tradition in Brittany.

“In France, you go to a bakery, there’s never anything different on the menu,” she says. “You could go back one year or 10 years later, there’s the same things on the menu.”

In addition to the pastries and breads, L’Annexe also has a variety of coffee, tea and French juices for sale. Isabelle says some customers make regular stops in just for the coffee on their way to work. Though surely, there are days when they can’t quite resist getting a croissant or crêpe to go as well.

bakery. Le Cordon Bleu, the legendary Paris-based culinary school, describes viennoiserie as “the bridge between patisserie and French bread.”

They financed the new business themselves, and named the bakery after Magali’s grandmother, Colette, a native of Guadaloupe who moved to Chartres with her six children in search of a better life. Magali says it was Colette who introduced her to

Mamie Colette pastries are made in house, from scratch daily. Isabelle says they are committed to using ingredients that are preservative and chemical free.

L’Annexe de Mamie Colette, 1462 River Road, Titusville NJ. Phone: (609) 303-7595. Hours: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays through Sundays. Closed Mondays.

Web: mamiecolettebakery.com.

Left: L’Annexe de Mamie Colette in Titusville. Right: Magali and Isabelle Henry Noblanc, the married couple behind the new bakery. Photos courtesy of L’Annexe de Mamie Colette.

Slew of new restaurants open in Hopewell Valley

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Gretalia Hospitality Group has been busy lately, and especially busy in Hopewell Valley, where it is set to open no fewer than three restaurants in 2024. Two are already open: Union Boil Co. and Aperitivo, both located in the former TJ’s Trattoria space in Pennington Square (aka the shopping center with Pennington Quality Market).

Union Boil Co. — the brain wants the word “Seafood” between Boil and Co. — is a game attempt to jumpstart Mercer County’s nearly dead seafood scene. Union Boil Co.’s New England-style “Union Boil” is said to serve eight at a cost of just $250. It includes jumbo shrimp, crab legs and crawfish alongside the corn, potatoes and Andouille sausage.

A “Lil Boil,” intended for two or three people, costs $80. Aside from the boils, Union Boil Co is a pretty standard seafood restaurant, featuring fresh fish at market rate prices, crab cakes, oysters, clam chowder and more. Web: unionboil.com.

Aperitivo’s menu has an “coastal Italian tapas” vibe, featuring a variety of Mediterranean apps alongside crostones, bruschetta, “Venetian Tea Sandwiches,” stuffed panini, meat and cheese plates and salads, as well as two entrees: mixed meats with polenta,

and poached cod in a white wine sauce. The restaurants share a liquor license. Web: getforky.com/aperitivobar. Both restaurants are located at 25 Route 31 in Pennington (actually Hopewell Township).

Not yet open nor directly linked on the Gretalia website is Nimbu Indian Street Food, whose signs are already up at its future location on Tree Farm Road, near another Gretalia restaurant, Osteria Procaccini. Nimbu means lemon in Hindi. Future location 7 Tree Farm Road, Pennington. Web placeholder: getforky.com/ nimbu.

Gretalia — which owns and/or operates the growing array of PJ’s Pancake Houses in the area, as well Osteria Procaccini and several other, newer brands like Tavola Rustica in Lambertville and Lyberry Coffee Co. in Cranbury, is not the only chain-style restaurant with eyes on Hopewell Valley in general or Pennington Square in particular.

Bubbakoo’s Burritos, a Point Pleasantbased fast-casual chain started in 2008, has also opened a new location at 25 Route 31. Anyone familiar with Chipotle will be able to walk up and order something at Bubbakoo’s, although Bubbakoo’s leans a bit more americano with wrinkles such as buffalo, BBQ and Nashville hot-style burritos in addition to curly fries and wings. Web: bubbakoos.com.

Left: drinks at Aperitivo. Right: a plate of lobster, potato, corn and mushrooms at Union Boil Co. (Instagram photos.)

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L.E.A.D. FEST

Coming to Mercer County Park June 28 to July 7

Carnivals and state fairs are beloved summer traditions. There’s no better place for the whole family to enjoy rides, food, music and fun than at 2024 L.E.A.D. FEST events. Bigger and better than ever, this year’s events include carnivals and a 10-day State Fair taking place from June 28 to July 7 at Mercer County Park Fairgrounds, 1638 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor Township.

Presented by L.E.A.D. (Law Enforcement Against Drugs and Violence), L.E.A.D. FEST events benefit the organization’s programs and related initiatives. L.E.A.D. provides the leadership, resources, and management to ensure law enforcement agencies have the means to partner with educators, community leaders, and families. The Allentown-based national nonprofit’s programs help to provide youth and adults strategies for avoiding drug use, drug-related crimes, bullying, and violence. L.E.A.D. is committed to reinforcing the mutual respect, goodwill, and relations between law enforcement agencies and their communities.

“The L.E.A.D. State Fair saw its biggest year ever in 2023 with more than 30,000 attendees. We hope to hit a new milestone in 2024,” said Nick DeMauro, L.E.A.D. executive director. “Funds raised

at our carnivals and the State Fair are important to L.E.A.D.’s mission, allowing us to make our programs more accessible to a greater number of youngsters in the communities we serve. We are excited to bring more amazing events to New Jersey this year. Our goal is to create familyfriendly, community-based events that are fun for everyone while at the same time promoting anti-drug and anti-violence activities in the state.”

The jam-packed State Fair promises something for everyone including free nightly musical entertainment as well as a Business and Craft Vendor Tent on the weekends. Favorite fan attractions include Robinson’s Racing Pigs, the always-popular pie eating contest, Cowtown U.S.A., and an all-day exhibit that contains an old-time creamery where patrons participate in preparing a cow for milking by hand.

The State Fair’s midway provider, Reithoffer Shows, will ensure there’s plenty of delicious food, carnival games and prizes, and rides for children and adults alike — from a first-class Kiddie Land to superspectacular thrill rides and everything in between.

Gate admission is $7 on weekdays and $8 on weekends. General admission, ride tickets, and Mega Passes are on sale now at theleadfest.com. Purchase tickets early for special presale discounts!

Additional L.E.A.D. FEST carnivals bring the fun to different locations throughout the Garden State this

summer. General admission, ride tickets, and Mega Passes for all carnivals can be purchased in advance online at theleadfest.com.

Westfield Garden State Plaza (One Garden State Plaza, Paramus) from May 23-27; May 29-June 2; and June 5-9. Hours are Wednesday through Friday from 5 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday and Memorial Day from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Midway will be provided by Reithoffer Shows. “Once again, our Paramus event starts on Memorial Day weekend,” DeMauro said. “Attending the carnival that weekend is a great way to have fun and usher in the start of the summer season.”

Voorhees Town Center (180 Route 35, Eatontown) from June 14-23. Hours are Monday through Friday from 5 to 11 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 3 to 11 p.m. Midway

provided by Reithoffer Shows. Howell Township (5361 US Route 9, Howell) from June 27-July 7. Hours are Monday through Friday from 5 to 11 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 3 to 11 p.m. Midway provided by Reithoffer Shows.

Mercer County Park from June 28 to July 7. Hours are Monday to Friday from 5 to close and Saturday, Sunday and Holiday from 3 p.m. to close. Midway provided by Reithoffer Shows.

For more information and tickets, visit theleadfest.com. Check the website for attendance policies. Hours subject to change due to weather or safety situations. For more information about L.E.A.D., visit leadrugs.org or email info@leadrugs. org.

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SCHOOLS continued from Page 1 officials address an environment where education has become so political?

Robyn Klim: I’m going to go back back to the district’s goals.

Our strategic plan talks about all kids mattering and all kids belonging, regardless of any political pressures that come in and sort of infiltrate at different times. It matters to us that our kids belong. I think that when you stay central to the goal of teaching the hearts and minds of every young person that we face, that noise sort of dissipates.

Why I say noise, is because sometimes it takes us off track of what our purpose is, and that is to educate and grow future leaders, future students who are going to contribute to this society, regardless of anyone’s political affiliation. The student matters before us first.

LG: So, the district doesn’t try to espouse any kind of political ideology?

RK: No. I think we are charged with utilizing the state curriculum. We certainly write the curriculum in a way that is more inclusive. We want students to feel that they are represented somewhere in that curriculum. That’s a that’s part of the “mattering” piece, the “belonging” piece. I don’t feel that we’re teaching one side or another. I think we’re teaching the learner to have their own understanding of how they’re going to synthesize this information and contribute to the greater society. I mean, that’s really what it’s about at the end of the day.

LG: Lawrence is a very diverse school district. You range from being on the border of Princeton, which is at one economic level, to then being on the border of Trenton, which is basically more urban rim. What has the district done to address this type of diversity within the town?

RK: Well, I think we would start with

Mr. Fry and our hiring practices.

Sean Fry: To the extent possible, one of our goals is to diversify the hiring of our staff. We think it’s important that children have someone that looks like them. That being said, diversity comes in all different looks and ways like. It’s not just that somebody has a certain race or ethnicity. It’s well beyond that.

We try to hire people with a diverse group of experiences and backgrounds. We think that that’s important. We take our hiring very seriously. You’ll see a central office administrator who will be involved in the hiring process. When we hire our certified staff, it’s often times multiple central office administrators. Dr. Klim, as her schedule allows, is pretty much on almost all of those interviews as well.

We believe that bringing in the right people is essential, and part of the challenge we face is that the pipeline dries up sometimes, and that makes it difficult to retain and recruit people of any background.

But with that said, although the pipeline is decreasing and getting smaller, it is becoming more diversified naturally. That’s just because the overall percentage of the population in that generation in New Jersey is changing. The demographics of New Jersey are changing.

So even though it’s the younger Millennials and Gen Z-ers that we’re now seeing trickling out of these education preparation programs, that population as a whole is more diverse than the previous generations. So as a result, our numbers are shifting in terms of the candidates that are applying for positions. And that’s also a matter of fact, based on population trends.

Thomas Eldridge: A distinction of what we do differently, is that we notice, and you cannot put a program around that.

That’s a value set you’re hired with. And that’s a value where if you don’t if you don’t

have the skill, it’s what you’re led towards. So, you can have all the best systems in the world, but if you don’t notice the opportunity to step in and be courageous enough to do it, it won’t matter.

When you listen to Dr. Klim talk, she notices for you. She’ll notice from me. Even if you’re not a person of color and diversified, and by visual for the child to see someone like themselves, the expectation for you as a staff member is when you notice that kid, you do something. And that’s what she does. She makes you want to notice, because she notices, and she leads with notice.

When she sees somebody who might need a moment, she’s going to go out and get that moment and deliver it for you. Maybe it’s a moment that you need to celebrate, or maybe it’s a moment you need a hug. Maybe it’s a moment where somebody stands by you and watches with you because you’re alone. And once you’re there, you’re there. You’re ready. That’s a gift she brings.

Dr. Klim, I don’t know where you learn that from, but you have it. And you taught us those things. You got your doctoral degree, but you had that gift long before then. So where did that come from? Because it’s what makes a difference for every kid.

RK: Wow. Thank you, Tom. It’s funny— somebody once asked me, “What is your superpower?” And I said, “Noticing and building relationships from that moment.”

I truly believe that. I think that I will find ways to connect and interact. I look for opportunities for that in my day, or to make someone’s day better, or to think outside the box or build something creative. It’s because I’ve taken it all in, and I’m figuring out what they need.

I was trained clinically in mental health to always target the unmet need, and then

that sort of developed through my special ed director positions and now here as the superintendent. I just have this clinical intuition to know what the targeted goals should be, whether that person’s ready to address it or not.

Right now, we’re in the middle of Ramadan. You mentioned diversity, and I have young ladies that are at the high school, and they’re hungry.

So, we open up the library during the lunch period so that they’re not stuck in a lunchroom with kids that are eating. And they have prayer space available and a club after school to go to.

We just celebrated Black History Month, and we had this beautiful weekend extravagant event, and we celebrated heroes— just these trailblazers in our community. People of color that have sort of gone onward and upward. That was sort of our mantra going through this ceremony.

And we’ve done Hispanic Heritage Night. And we have talking devices at the disposal of secretaries and guidance counselors and nurses to talk to our families that are Ukraine, that come in. And we have students from Russia. These kids from a trauma background—war torn country—coming in like seeking education here in Lawrence Township. We don’t take that lightly. That kid will be seen through a trauma-informed lens. That kid’s needs will be addressed first before the learning happens. I think that might be what separates us from some of the other philosophies of how to educate kids.

I think we understand the mental health and basic needs component. Is so incredibly valuable. I always say connection before content. If you don’t know the kid and you can’t connect, you’re not going to teach and you’re not going to move that kid.

609.987.8889 atustin@kw.com www.Anne-MarieTustin.com

Van Hise displays her talents after overcoming injuries

By Rich Fisher

When the injury gods finally decided to leave Paige Van Hise alone, she got the chance to show what she could do.

The Lawrence High senior suffered shoulder issues from swimming as a freshman; a torn meniscus from sliding into a base as a sophomore; and had two teeth knocked out by a ground ball hit by coach Dana Williams as a junior. It limited her to just 20 at-bats in her first three seasons of varsity softball.

Finally free to display her talents, Van Hise was hitting .370 with two doubles, a triple, eight RBI and eight runs scored through the Cardinals first 20 games. As of May 17 she was second on the team to Emma Dobkin in average and hits (20).

Van Hise’s efforts helped LHS into the Mercer County Invitational Tournament finals and a berth in the Central Jersey Group III tournament as Lawrence tried improving on its 7-13 record.

“We’re just not stringing hits together and we’re leaving a lot of people on base,”

Williams said. “We’ve had some really close games. We’ve been right there.” .

Van Hise added that “We’ve had so much trouble picking ourselves up after an error.

We’ll get so close and then we’ll lose by a run. Just one little thing can happen and we struggle to keep our heads up. It gets so frustrating.”

Not half as frustrating as not playing, however, and Van Hise has enjoyed her final season of softball despite the losing record.

“It was kind of a surprise,” she said of her hot hitting. “But I just went into it with the mentality of it’s my senior season and I have nothing to lose. There’s no stress on me so I just do what I know and it’s working out.”

Van Hise has also been able to pitch again and notched victories over Hamil-

ton West and Hopewell Valley.

“She brings an awesome balance to our pitching with Emma Dobkin,” Williams said. “She’s just an awesome all-around kid. This is her first healthy season all the way through and at the plate she’s just the definition of consistent.”

Williams still bemoans the ball she hit that took a funny hop off the dirt and smashed into Van Hise’s mouth.

“She had to go to an emergency dentist,” the coach said. “and she handled that like an absolute champ.”

Paige is the second Van Hise to contribute to Lawrence’s athletic program as her brother, Tyler, caught for three years on the baseball team before graduating in 2022.

Following her big brother into the sports arena, Van Hise began playing soft-

ball for Lawrence recreation at age 6. She moved to Lawrence travel at 8 and went to West Windsor’s travel program at 10. She played there until this past year and decided to take a break from travel.

“It was nice to just relax,” Van Hise said. “And this season I just came in and told myself ‘Don’t worry about what happens, just have fun.’ In the past I felt pressure to do well in school and also have to do travel.”

Williams felt the time off aided Van Hise where the high school season was concerned.

“She put in the time with travel over the years,” the coach said. “Once she took a little bit of a break, that might have also made her motivated for softball this spring.”

As the Cardinals leadoff hitter, Van Hise came out smoking, going 6-for-8 with six RBI in her first two games. She had two four-hit games through the first 19 contests, and had a six-game hitting streak from May 2-11.

“She finds a way to get on base,” Wil-

liams said. “We call her a pseudo slapper. She doesn’t really slap but she’s a lefty and her goal is always to make contact and find a way. She seems to find gaps really well. Her contact is just really good on the ball.

“Being a lefty and speedy, she looks like a slapper. She has a great bunt, sometimes she’ll bunt for a hit, sometimes a sacrifice. She’s the type of kid who will do whatever we need at the time.”

Van Hise is also a smart type of kid, as indicated by her 4.4 weighted grade-point average. But she’s not quite intelligent enough to know how to describe her hitting style.

“I just go with it,” she said. “I used to get hitting lessons and I stopped a while ago. My swing is kind of weird and I just do whatever works.”

It worked quite a bit, which was no surprise to Williams.

“I thought she had it in her to have a season like this,” the coach said. “She’s one of those kids who plays because she truly loves the sport.”

That becomes apparent when she is on the field.

“Maybe she is stressed under the surface but she wears it very well,” Williams said. “She plays with a calmness about her that I absolutely love. I go out to coach third and say to her ‘Have fun up there.’ She plays with this cool confidence. She truly loves the game and being with her friends and teammates.”

happy to be going to the Valley.

“I’ve been a fan all my life, it’s always been my dream school,” said Van Hise, who hopes to have a career in social media for a sports franchise. “They have a good (marketing) program, I really loved the campus and atmosphere. The football games are so much fun. And having my brother out there gives me a sense of comfort.”

When Van Hise leaves for State College, she not only leaves behind Lawrence High softball, but a group of township youngsters who enjoyed her tutelage.

“I’ve been working with kids since my freshman year,” she said. “It’s really fun and it’s a little rewarding to see them get better. When I played little league it was so much easier to listen to a high school girl. It was cool listening to them for a change from a parent-coach. I love taking it back to them and helping them as much as I was helped. I help with all different ages. I’ll go to their practices and games and I’m flexible with my schedule which is good.”

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It’s a busy schedule that includes being a member of the DECA, the Peer Leadership Group and Operation Smile, which raises money for children with cleft palates. But she manages to fit in her coaching because it can help her as much as her students.

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RWJ celebrates June as Men’s Health Month

Ask The Doctor

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June is Men’s Health Month which aims to raise awareness of the importance of healthcare for men to implement healthy lifestyle choices.

From preventative measures to early detection of diseases, Salman Hassan Ahmed, MD, Family Medicine, an RWBarnabas Health Medical Group provider, affiliated Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, shares some steps men can take for better health.

The most important step in men’s health is regular check-ups with a primary care provider. Dr. Ahmed recommends an annual physical exam to assess overall health, screen for potential health issues, and discuss any concerns or symptoms.

These check-ups provide an opportunity for early detection of conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer,

enabling timely intervention and treatment. Understanding key health indicators such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and body mass index (BMI) is essential for men to assess their risk of developing various health conditions. Dr. Ahmed emphasizes the importance of knowing and monitoring these numbers regularly, as they can serve as early warning signs of underlying health problems.

He also stresses the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle to prevent chronic diseases and promote overall well-being.

This includes maintaining a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains, as well as engaging in regular physical activity and avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption.

healthcare provider. Seeking professional help when needed and practicing stressmanagement techniques can significantly improve mental health outcomes.

Regular screenings for conditions such as prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and sexually transmitted infections are essential for men’s health. Dr. Ahmed’s recommends discussing screening options and schedules with your PCP based on individual risk factors and age, ensuring early detection and timely intervention when necessary.

Heart disease remains a leading cause of death among men worldwide.

Coming up this month at RWJU Hospital Hamilton

Coming up this month at RWJUH Hamilton’s Center for Health & Wellness, located at RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center, 3100 Quakerbridge Rd., Hamilton, NJ 08619. For more information, call (609) 584-5900. To register for a program or for schedule changes go to rwjbh.org/ events.

MONday,

JuNE 3

Brain Health - Learn Proven Ways to Keep your Brain young. 10–11 a.m. With so much information out today on brain health, you can learn what methods really work. Join Dr. Lorraine Sgarlato, AuD, to learn more about how to keep your brain young and turn back the clock on your aging brain.

Men are often less likely to seek help for mental health issues compared to women. It’s important for men to prioritize their mental well-being by openly discussing any feelings of stress, anxiety, or depression with their

Dr. Ahmed emphasizes importance of managing risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity through lifestyle modifications and medication when appropriate. Regular heart and vascular screenings and adopting heart-healthy habits are crucial for preventing heart disease and its complications.

THuRSday, JuNE 13

Cooking with Cardiology: Stay Healthy with Summer Grilling. 6 -7:30 p.m. When done right, grilling can be one of the more healthful ways to prepare food. Very little fat needs to be added to foods cooked on the grill. Join Shakil Shaikh, DO, Cardiology, RWJUH Hamilton, and member of Hamilton Cardiology Associates, for a delicious insight on summer cooking.

THuRSday, JuNE 20

Establishing a trusting and open relationship with a primary care provider is essential for men’s health. It’s important to speak to their provider openly about their health concerns, lifestyle habits, and goals, allowing for personalized care to support their individual needs.

Prioritizing men’s health requires a proactive approach that encompasses regular check-ups, healthy lifestyle choices, mental health awareness, screening, and open communication with primary care providers. By following these essential tips, men can take control of their health, reduce their risk of chronic diseases, and lead healthier and more fulfilling lives.

Salman Hassan Ahmed, MD, sees patients at 3100 Quakerbridge Road, #28, Hamilton, NJ 08619. For more information about Dr. Ahmed, please call (609) 245-7430.

To find a RWJBarnabas Health primary care physician in the Hamilton area, visit rwjbh.org/medgroupprimarycare

LGBTQ+ Breast/Chest Health. 1–2 p.m. Join Cecilia Gomez, BS, Community Cancer Control Specialist, RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute, for this presentation that covers the basics of breast cancer as it relates to the LGBTQ+ community. We will discuss screening guidelines, health disparities, diet and lifestyle, and genetic counseling.

Better Health Programs

For more information or to register, as registration is required, call (609) 5845900, email CommunityEdHAM@rwjhb. org or visit rwjbh.org/hamiltonprograms online. All events at RWJ Hamilton Fitness & Wellness; 3100 Quakerbridge Rd.

TuESday, JuNE 11

Mind Over Matter - Breakfast and Learn. 1011:30 a.m. Learn if there is a correlation between our thinking and our eating habits. Ekta Makani, FNP-C, MSN, Advanced Practice Nurse (APN), RWJUH Hamilton, will discuss this topic and the science behind the behaviors. This will be an engaging and fascinating conversation, providing answers to this age-old question.

Dr. Ahmed

Investing in continued excellence: Expansion of Lawrence Middle School

Dr. Klim’s Corner

Robyn a. Klim, Ed.d., MCSW

I am thrilled to share some exciting updates regarding our district and our long-range reconfiguration and expansion plans. Last month, our very own Lawrence Middle School was named the number one middle school in Mercer County according to an analysis of new school data released by the state Department of Education.

The ratings, which were published in nj.com, are calculated using standardized test scores, student academic growth, graduation rates and other factors, including chronic absenteeism. LMS was awarded the highest summative rating and summative score in the county, a testament to the dedication and commitment of its principal, Dr. Mindy Milavsky, and her staff, students, and community. We are all so incredibly proud of this recognition.

Ensuring that Lawrence Middle School remains at the forefront of achievement and innovation is central to the vision of the district’s reconfiguration plan, which will see the eventual integration of sixth graders into LMS. Welcoming the sixth grade into our exceptional middle school is something I am very excited about. The Lawrence Township Board of Education, along with our extraordinary district leadership team has been collaborating with top-notch architects to develop a plan to grow LMS not only to build a specialized sixth-grade wing, but to breathe new life into the existing learning areas with state-of-the-

enriching student learning, our plans involve revitalizing the auditorium, cafeteria, science labs, and art and music facilities, ensuring that students have access to a diverse array of learning environments. The introduction of a new full size gymnasium, an outdoor courtyard and enhancements to sports fields emphasize our commitment to community building and fostering a sense of belonging for our students.

Another key objective of this expansion is to meet the needs of our special education students in-district, with a comprehensive continuum of care that enables all students to thrive in our school community and receive the tailored supports to which they are entitled throughout their educational journey.

art renovations and enhancements to benefit all students. We believe that our students deserve facilities that support the academic, social, emotional, wellness and creative opportunities available to them.

In addition, the new expansion frees up space in our elementary schools to provide preschool at no cost to families in their own neighborhoods, giving our youngest learners the head start needed to thrive and succeed in their years to come in the district and in our community.

While the essence of the LMS

expansion project is to renovate and grow the school to accommodate an additional grade level, our vision extends beyond mere infrastructure expansion. As Lawrence Middle School nears its 75th anniversary, we’re not just renovating; we’re laying the groundwork for the next 75 years. Essentially, we are future proofing this footprint, and we believe space equals opportunity.

Our curriculum teams have been diligently reenvisioning our learning spaces to optimize our future educational needs. Recognizing the significance of modern, cutting-edge facilities in

By enhancing and expanding Lawrence Middle School, we are not only ensuring that our top-rated middle school stays at the top, but also investing in future generations of Lawrence students and the future of our Township as a whole. When our schools are better, the entire community benefits. With the full support and involvement of the district, the board, and you–our valued community members– we can shape the future of our schools and ensure Lawrence remains a beacon of excellence for years to come.

The next Lawrence Township Board of Education meeting is scheduled for June 12, 2024 at 7 pm in the Lawrence High School Media Center (2525 Princeton Pike, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648).

dr. Robyn Klim is superintendent of the Lawrence Township Public Schools.

Lawrence Middle School Principal Dr. Mindy Milavsky (left) and Dr. Robyn A. Klim, LTPS superintendent.

FREE UPCOMING HEALTH EDUCATION EVENTS

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

Men’s Health: Take the Lead on the Path to Wellness

Wednesday, June 5, 2024 | 6 p.m.

Location: Zoom Meeting

Being proactive with your health helps you understand and manage common conditions. Join DR. CHARLES POLOTTI, a board certified and fellowship trained urologist, and learn about the latest treatments for erectile dysfunction and prostate enlargement as well as guidelines for prostate cancer screening.

Understanding and Treating Epilepsy

Monday, June 10, 2024 | 6 p.m.

Location: Zoom Meeting

Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disease in the United States, but recognizing seizures and diagnosing a specific epilepsy syndrome can be difficult. Join DR. SIDRAH MAHMUD, a fellowship trained epileptologist, to learn what causes epilepsy, how it is diagnosed, and why not all seizures are symptoms of epilepsy. Dr. Mahmud will also discuss treatment options and when it might be time to add an epileptologist to your health care team.