7-23 LG

On track

Nerwinski talks about the state of development in town

INTerVieW By BiLL SANserViNO

Lawrence Municipal Manager Kevin Nerwinski recently sat down with the Lawrence Gazette to talk about issues impacting the township.

The first part of the Q&A resulting from that interview ran in the April issue of the Gazette and addressed the township’s plans for the future of fire safety.

In the second part of the interview, which ran in the May issue, Nerwinski discussed the police

department and difficulties facing law enforcement in 2023.

This month, Nerwinski talks with Gazette editor Bill Sanservino about the state of commercial and residential development in the township.

A lightly edited Q&A resulting from the interview appears below.

Lawrence Gazette: Let’s talk about the corporate office market and corporate development in general. Since the pandemic,

a lot of companies have downsized and a lot of their workers are now working from home. So the office market is depressed. Has that been your experience? Has there been an increase in vacancies, and has that affected tax revenues?

Kevin Nerwinski: Yes and yes. So what is Class A office versus Class C office? So now, if the Class Cs don’t keep up with the times, they won’t be not competitive.

Cardinals show resilience in championship game loss

how

far would you go if they were sick?

Welcome to Capital Health.

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 Rich Fisher

In a season filled with memorable wins, it may have been a season-ending loss that best defined Lawrence High School’s 2023 baseball campaign. The Cardinals fell behind Middletown North, 8-0, in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 3 championship game, and it appeared the only remaining goal was to avoid losing by the

10-run mercy rule. But the new breed of Cardinals went beyond that, battling back to within 8-5 (and could have had more were it not for a spectacular defensive play), falling behind 10-5, and eventually losing 10-7 after scoring two in the seventh.

“Last year if it was 8-0 we would have packed it up and left,” said senior center fielder Gio Brogle, who homered in his final high school at-bat.

“We got down early, we didn’t have our best stuff at the beginning of the game, but this is a group of guys that never gives up,” junior Kellen Moore said. “We really showed that heart at the end of the game. We scored seven runs in the last three innings. We could have counted ourselves out, we could have packed it all up, gotten ready for the bus ride home. But we knew

See BASEBALL, Page 10

With a collaborative structure so our doctors can craft a treatment that’s uniquely right for you. With primary care physicians who never schedule an appointment that’s less than 20 minutes. With world-renowned surgeons that are changing cancer treatment.

Because you’d go to the ends of the earth for the people you care about. And we do too.

Lawrence High School track coach Nate Jones (left) with track and field team member Leticia Kitio. For more on the team, turn to page 12. (Photo by Rich Fisher.)

RWJUH Hamilton July Healthy Living / Community Education Programs

SALT, FAT, ACID, HEAT: WATCH PARTY & DISCUSSION

Fri. July 7, July 14, July 21, July 28; 11 a.m. to noon

Join this 4-week program to watch the popular series “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat”. Each week we explore one of these 4 central principals of flavor. Watch and discuss how to incorporate the elements into delicious dishes!

Taryn Krietzman, RDN

AVOID MEDICATION ERRORS AT HOME

Fri., July 7; 2 to 3 p.m.

Shesha Desai, PharmD, RPh, BC-ADM will help to ensure you are taking medications properly, as ordered by your doctor. Bring in a list of your all over-the-counter and prescription medications (or the bottles themselves) if you have any questions about possible interactions.

COOKING WITH CARDIOLOGY

Mon., July 10; 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Join us at this “hands on” lecture and learn about heart healthy cooking. Shakil Shaikh, DO, from Hamilton Cardiology Associates, will be cooking up food for thought in this fun filled demonstration.

LETTING GO OF CLUTTER

Tue., July 11; 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

This support group explores how our emotional ties to our “stuff” can create clutter and affect our mood. An Oaks Integrated Care caregiver specialist will conduct these interactive groups on crucial topics and facilitate a supportive group experience.

MANAGING STRESS AND DIABETES

Tue., July 11; 3 to 4 p.m.

This support group is for people living with diabetes. Learn how to cope with stress and diabetes in a healthy way.

SO BLOATED, I COULD FLY LIKE A BALLOON

Tue., July 11; 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Shivaprasad Marulendra, MD, boardcertified in Gastroenterology will discuss the common issue of abdominal bloating.

MEMORY SCREENING

Wed., July 12; 11 a.m. to noon

Are you concerned about “senior moments?”

The Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) is an effective screening tool and quick assessment to discern normal aging versus potential problems. We will also giving a lecture related to improving your memory. Registration required.

OSTEOPOROSIS SCREENING

Wed., July 12; 1 to 3 p.m.

Come in to receive an ultrasound of your heel and get your score. Our staff will explain the meaning behind your score and share some other important information with you. Appointment and registration required.

ORTHOPEDIC OPEN HOUSE

Wed., July 12; 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Discover the latest advances in knee and hip replacement surgery and rehabilitation.

Presented by James Scott, DO, boardcertified orthopaedic surgeon; Maureen Stevens, PT, DPT, GCS, Cert MDT; and Courtney Fluehr, PT DPT. Dinner is included.

HEALTHRYTHMS® DRUMMING CIRCLE

Wed, July 12; 7 to 8 p.m.

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

CRYSTAL BOWL SOUND BATH

Thu., July 13; 6:30 to 8 pm

Sound healing uses special instruments like singing bowls, gongs, drums and chimes to create a therapeutic atmosphere promoting deep rest, nervous system rebalancing, and emotional release. Participants sit or lay in a comfortable position while the practitioner takes you on a sound journey for mind, body and spirit. Andriana Hansen, RYT200, SHA1 of the Learning Cooperative. $15

ASK THE DIETITIAN

Mon., July 17; 9 a.m. to noon

Do you have a question about diet and nutrition? Join a community education dietitian for a one-on-one Q&A. Be prepared to talk about your current diet/eating habits to make the most out of your session. Registration is required. Taryn Krietzman, RDN DANCE IT

OUT!

Tue., July 18; 1 to 2 p.m. July 18: Oldies But Goodies

Never miss a chance to dance! Dance the day away while enjoying some of your favorite songs from your past. All ages welcome, no experience required.

DETOX YOUR LIFE AND GET ENERGIZED

Tue., July 18; 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. It’s time to unlock the door to a healthier, happier lifestyle so that a better version of you can shine through. Get the keys of how to detox through nutrition, beauty, home environment and the mind. Gail Leslie, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach. MINDFULNESS

MEDITATION FOR BEGINNERS

Tue., July 18; 6:30 to 7:30 pm. Learn how to rest your body and quiet your mind with the simple (although not always easy) practice of meditation. No experience necessary.

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION FOR BEGINNERS

Wed., July 19; 1 to 2 p.m. Learn how to rest your body and quiet your mind with the simple (although not always easy) practice of meditation. No experience necessary.

IT’S SUMMER! WHY AM I STRESSED OUT?

Wed., July 19; 4 to 5 pm

Discussion group about dealing with the stress of summer. Vacations, body image, kids at home, etc. Easy tips and different strategies one can employ for coping.

WHAT’S IN THE BOX?

*VIRTUAL*

Thu., July 20; noon to 1:00 p.m. All things seasonal, all the time! Join us online via ZOOM and learn what wonderful fruits and vegetable are up to this time of year and how to make them shine! Taryn

Krietzman, RDN KNOWLEDGE CAFÉ: PERIPHERAL ARTERY DISEASE

(PAD) AND WOUND CARE

Thu., July 20; 6 to 7:30 p.m. Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) affects more than 12 million people and can be problematic for those with chronic wounds. Join Reza Shah, DO, Co-Medical Director RWJUH Hamilton Center for Wound Healing to learn about the world of PAD and wound care. Free dinner will be provided.

THE LINK BETWEEN HEARING LOSS AND DEMENTIA-CAN HEARING AIDS SAVE YOUR BRAIN?

Tue., July 25; 10 to 11 a.m. According to several major studies, older adults with hearing loss are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, compared to those with normal hearing. Audiologist, Lorraine Sgarlato, Au.D., will provide insight and discuss.

INTRODUCTION TO ANIMAL COMMUNICATION

Tue., July 25; 6:30 to 8 p.m. Do you love animals and want to deepen your bond? Do you wish you knew what your animals are thinking and feeling? Do you want to connect intuitively but not sure you have the ability (hint…you do!) Interested in learning how? Animal Communication is not just for “gifted” people…in fact we are all able to use our intuition to communicate this way. Come join us for this fun and interactive introduction into animal communication. No experience required, just your trusting open mind.

Marcia Minunni, Fee:$15

REIKI SHARE

Wed., July 26; 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. For folks who have been Reiki certified (at any level) to come share the gift with fellow practitioners. Give a session, get a session. Please bring a sheet and small pillow. Fee: $5

WISE WOMEN DISCUSSION GROUP

Thu., July 27; 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Join a community of women as we discuss relevant topics and find purpose, meaning and community.

Better Health Programs/Complimentary Membership at 65+ Years Old

LET’S TALK, A SENIOR SOCIAL GROUP

Wed., July 5, 12, 19 & 26; 10 to 11 a.m.

Please join us for our ongoing program “Let’s Talk, 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 group is a partnership between RWJUH Hamilton and PyschHealth Associates here in Hamilton. This is a weekly program. Please feel free to attend one or all.

Scan the QR code to register and become a member or call 609-584-5900 or email bhprogram@rwjbh.org to learn more

Each week we explore one of these 4 central principals of flavor. Watch and discuss how to incorporate the elements into delicious dishes! Taryn Krietzman, RDN THE

LINK BETWEEN HEARING LOSS & DEMENTIA-CAN HEARING AIDS SAVE YOUR BRAIN?

Tue., July 11; 10 to 11 a.m. According to several major studies, older adults with hearing loss are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, compared to those with normal hearing. Audiologist, Lorraine Sgarlato, Au.D., will provide insight and discuss.

SALT, FAT, ACID, HEAT: WATCH PARTY & DISCUSSION

Fri., July 7, July 14, July 21, July 28; 11 a.m.

to noon

Join this 4-week program to watch the popular series “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat”.

YOGA CLASSES

Tue., July 11 & 18; 10 to 11 a.m.

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

GAME TIME

Wed., July 12; 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Join us for game time, snacks and some wholesome fun. A variety of board games will be available or you are welcome to bring your own.

MEDITATION CLASSES,

Tue., July 11 & 18; 11:15 to 11:45 a.m.

Krystal Loughlin 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. Beginner’s welcome

SOCRATES CAFÉ,

Thu., July 13; 10 to 11 a.m.

“Socrates Café” is about discussing a topic, sharing our thoughts, our beliefs, our ideas, and experiences. An unofficial mantra describes that we (people) learn more when we question, and question with others. This is a “safe zone” to share where all views are accepted. Come with an open mind, respect for one another, and a willingness to see where it takes us.

TAI CHI CLASS

Thu., July 13 & 27; 1 to 2 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. Beginner’s welcome.

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

*All programs require registration and will be held at the RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center 3100 Quakerbridge Rd. unless otherwise noted.

TWW begins water storage and distribution improvements

Trenton Water Works will begin the demolition of two buildings at 942 Prospect Street in Trenton near the 124-year-old Pennington Avenue Reservoir to prepare the site for constructing two 8-million-gallon concrete storage tanks in the spring of 2024.

“We’ve given the contractor the green light to remove any hazardous material and demolish the buildings on the site,” said Mayor W. Reed Gusciora. “We anticipate that it will take three months for the site to be completely cleared and readied for the next phase of the water utility’s storage and distribution system improvements project.”

IBN Construction Corporation is undertaking the $520,000 hazardous material cleanup and demolition of the two 25,000 and 13,000 square-foot buildings on the 2-acre site, with technical guidance and project oversight from engineering firm Barton & Loguidice. The work, awarded through public bidding, will take approximately three months to complete.

Demolition and preparation of the site at 942 Prospect Street is Phase 1 of TWW’s $44-million Storage and Distribution System Improvements Project launched in

2020. The project aims to decentralize and protect treated drinking water produced by the water-filtration plant on Route 29 South in Trenton, ultimately retire the open-air Pennington Avenue Reservoir, and improve system resiliency.

Recently, Trenton City Council approved a resolution for TWW to engage a consultant to assist in developing a comprehensive plan to strengthen the management of the 124-year-old reservoir. Scientists from Princeton Hydro, a Trenton-based engineering firm, work with TWW to achieve this goal.

The storage-and-distribution-system improvements are part of Trenton Water Works’ six-year, $405 million capital plan to modernize the TWW system. This work includes the removal of lead infrastructure through TWW’s Lead Service Line Replacement Program (LSLRP), which recently received a $5.3 million grant to replace lead services with safer copper lines in parts of South Trenton. Since the LSLRP’s inception in 2019, TWW has removed nearly 10,000 lead services from its water distribution system and private homes in Trenton, and Hamilton, Ewing and Lawrence townships.

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

CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST

Kevin Nerwinski

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

Events: events@communitynews.org

Sports: sports@communitynews.org

Letters: bsanservino@communitynews.org

Website: lawrencegazette.com

Facebook: facebook.com/lawrencegazette

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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

The Lawrence Gazette incorrectly identified the name of the book in a story in the June issue about author Marty Devlin, who is pictured above at an event promoting his book at the Princeton Public Library. The book is called “Ol’ Buddy Marty: A Memoir Sprinkled with Wit, Wisdom, and Inspiration.” People can sign up at martydevlin.com to receive his occasional newsletter. His book can be purchased through Amazon and copies can be bought locally at Marsilio’s Kitchen.

Now companies can get better facilities for less money. Those older corporate centers are struggling right now. The property owners have to reimagine what they’re going to be doing in those locations, because I don’t think it’s going to come back. I don’t think so. Not in the near future. Maybe there is some type of change that happens where we want everybody to come back to work.

Lawrence Gazette: Have there been any tax appeals filed or any corporate centers looking to pay less in taxes?

Nerwinski: Yeah. I mean, we have no pending tax appeals at this time. So anything that was out there has been resolved. I mean, if you’re a diligent owner of a corporate center that’s 40% occupied, you’re going to file a tax appeal because you’re not producing the income that’s based upon those taxes. So that’s happened. But I don’t think we have anything pending at this point in time. As I sit here today, it’s not a concern to our municipal finances.

Lawrence Gazette: On the other side of the coin is warehousing, which has increased in both demand and price. How concerned are you that that demand is not going to decrease. Do you have any pending warehouse applications? I know there was the big Amazon one that was built on Princess Road. What’s your philosophy on

Fluid Physio!

warehouses, and how concerned are you that might be a warehouse glut, because so many towns are looking to put in warehouses? For example, they have approved a 5.5-million-square-foot warehouse complex (Bridge Point 8) right on your border

in West Windsor.

Nerwinski: So we have 40 Enterprise Ave., which was an area that we were able to deem in need of redevelopment. It was an awful site.

Lawrence Gazette: Where’s that?

Nerwinski: It’s right on the border of Hamilton and Trenton (between the Delaware and Raritan Canal and the Assunpink Creek).

Nerwinski: It was a first responder nightmare. There was a series of very, very old unkept buildings, and the owner recommitted to the site. We worked with the owner in order to get it designated as a redevelopment zone. They’re in the process of knocking everything down and putting up, I think, what looks like to be a beautiful industrial complex that will be 275,000 square feet of warehousing.

Other than that and the Amazon, there’s nothing else on the horizon. I want to make note at this point in time that the fear and the concern and the litigation that was prompted by the existence of the last mile Amazon facility, I think is now shown to have been misplaced.

It’s running effectively and efficiently. It doesn’t disrupt. In fact, I’ve gotten emails and calls from residents who initiated the lawsuit to try and stop it, and they thanked me because we blocked the cut through right there (The connection on Princess Road between the residential housing and the warehouse). You can go there right now and you don’t hear anything, you don’t see anything.

Baker’s Basin.

Nerwinski: Right, because you’re on the other side of the barricades.

Lawrence Gazette: I’m just kidding.

Nerwinski: But you know what? Listen, that road was before my time, and I always thought it was odd like that. I mean, to have a road to a commercial zone go right through a residential development.

Lawrence Gazette: I’ve always thought it was really strange to have a connection from a major road going through the development...

Nerwinski: Into an industrial zone. Installing a warehouse there, my goodness. It’s exactly what it’s been zoned for for decades. You can’t be concerned about that. But the residents were concerned about trucks coming through. We’ve had some trucks actually push through those barricades and continue on. But I think that’s stopped.

As for the 5.5-million-square-foot warehouse situation happening in West Windsor, I am yet to be convinced that it will happen, because there are some serious New Jersey DOT concerns, and it requires the county to to have to do things on its roadways. I don’t know if it’s going to happen.

Lawrence Gazette: I’m not sure if the demand is there for it eventually.

Nerwinski: What it’s going to do is allow the surrounding communities to not have to deal with warehousing, because how do you justify putting in a warehouse here if there’s one right down the road?

We have actively participated as a governing body to fight this (Bridge Point 8). It just seems over the top, like way over the top. Our community is going to get affected by it, because Route 1 is going to be impacted.

You know a lot of people said, “Oh, my God, you’re building a Chick-fil-A. That’s it. Route 1’s a parking lot.” In my mind I go, “We’ve been there, done that before. These roads have a remarkable ability to absorb new cars entering onto the roadway.”.

But the trucks that are going to be going there (Bridge Point 8), I just I can’t even picture it. I hope it doesn’t happen. I hope that land is reimagined in another way. I don’t know if you remember, but at one point it was going to be a housing complex.

Lawrence Gazette: Right, with about 2,000 houses plus retail.

Nerwinski: It would be great if there was like a multi-billionaire guy that said, “Let’s preserve this, and let’s make this into some type of sanctuary of some kind.”

Lawrence Gazette: I ran an interview I did with the mayor of West Windsor about that site in our sister paper, the West Windsor and Plainsboro News. I heard from a lot of residents who weren’t happy about FluidPhysio.com

Lawrence Gazette: Yeah. I want to thank you very much for that, because now it takes me longer to get to my office on Princess Road when I’m coming from

The Bridge Point 8 project calls for the construction of seven warehouses totaling 5.5 million square feet in West Windsor on the Lawrence Township border at the corner of Route 1 and Quakerbridge Road.

the article because the mayor was talking about the township’s justification for the project.

They said the town should have considered preserving it. Do they realize that the site was purchased for $40 million? The town doesn’t have $40 million to pay to preserve a property like that. If you’re talking about a small residential piece that could have had five homes, then that might have worked.

Nerwinski: Or something like the Colonial Lake here in Lawrence.

Lawrence Gazette: Right. This is no Duke Estate (in Hillsborough), you know? There’s no Doris Duke here who wants to set aside the her property as a park for the public. It’s a former commercial site that was zoned for commercial offices that the market couldn’t support. It was never developed with commercial offices, even back when the commercial office was hot. Now it is depressed, and you have a developer who wants to put something there. The township’s hands are tied as to what you’re going to put there.

Nerwinski: Yeah, listen that’s a very Americana fight. Property rights are are highly regarded in our country. And you can’t tell an owner, “No, you can’t do anything with your property that you purchased, even though it’s zoned for exactly what you’re saying it’s for.”

This was a planning board application, so it’s zoned for that. But whether it should happen or not is a whole different story. I meet with potential developers. A part of my job is being the director of community development. Developers like to have this courtesy meeting, and it’s for the sole purpose of saying, “Hey, we’re thinking about doing this. What’s your temperature on this?”

Lawrence Gazette: Exploratory.

Nerwinski: Yeah, exploratory. Nine times out of 10, it won’t go any further, because it’s not a great idea, you know?

I don’t even know what that would look

like in that area in West Windsor. Their hands are kind of tied, but...

Lawrence Gazette: Well, there’s litigation involved on top of everything else, so it’s a it’s an extremely complicated piece of property.

Nerwinski: And I don’t know if it’s been environmentally investigated yet. I think that’s still part of it, having formerly been American Cyanamid (a chemical company) there.

Lawrence Gazette: Moving on, it seems to me there’s not a heck of a lot of developable land in Lawrence Township. One type of development that can be costly in terms of impact on the town and especially the school district is certain types of housing. Is there much in terms of residential development coming online?

Nerwinski: So this is who we are as a community. We’re built out. We’re not Jackson, New Jersey. We’re not some of these southern towns that have a lot of former farmland. I think 26% of Lawrence is preserved as open space or is open space. What is happening is the redevelopment of locations. On top of that is our continuing obligation to provide affordable housing.

Our obligation is to provide 1,110 units by July 1st of 2025. So when people say, “Stop building in town,” it’s easy to say. But when you have the Supreme Court of New Jersey saying that we must produce this housing at this amount, or run afoul of state assistance or whatever the consequences are, Lawrence Township has always been compliant and in front of our affordable housing obligations, which I think is a good thing.

It goes to our inclusiveness as a community and our diversity as a community. We do have some things coming online, the Brandywine development, which is on Lenox Drive, in the corporate area. That took a lot of reimagining to situate housing there—I think 189 housing units.

Lawrence Gazette: What type of housing is that?

Nerwinski: It’s going to be market

rate, and there’s going to be affordable housing—I think it’s 42 affordable rental units, and the other ones are townhouses. It’s been in the works for a while. It was in litigation. It was a part of our affordable housing struggles. It came in to us as a 300 unit development and we got it down to 189. That’s always the battle. Developers come in big and then you have to fight them back.

Spruce Street is another development.

Lawrence Gazette: Where is that one?

Nerwinski: If you go down Spruce Street a little, there’s the Boys and Girls Club of America. Behind that is a lot. It’s an 8- or 9-acre-lot that’s going to be developed into market rate apartments with 20% set aside for affordable housing.

One of the things that I have consistently heard, and I’ve heard in my position here, is that you could be you could be born here and raised here, but when you’re a young adult, there’s no housing for you to be living out on your own. These apartments, I think, address that issue, and I think I don’t think we’re alone in that dynamic, because I’m seeing more apartments coming online.

I think Spruce Street is really a great place to put it in terms of walkability, which is what we’re always trying to promote, with the farmers market there and across the street. The county is going have to do some work to make that a little bit safer on the roadway.

There’s also the development on Texas Avenue—a 100% affordable housing unit development, which is getting past its final financing stages. I think that’s going to be starting to happen soon.

Lawrence Gazette: That’s the project next to the Lawrence Shopping Center, right?

Nerwinski: Yeah, that’s the Lawrence Shopping Center. You know who would have thought, even me back in the day, that that area where everybody practiced driving and parking would be the area that could hold an affordable housing complex of some kind.

The development is going to be about 54 units. I know it was very controversial and there’s always a NIMBY element to every new complex. People don’t like change and they especially don’t like change near them.

You look at that property and you think, “there’s no way can that work.” But the conceptual designs and the 3D presentation of how it can work and how it will work, I think at the end, when it settles in, people are going to go, “Oh okay, I get it now.”

Lawrence Gazette: I’m used to hearing a lot of negative comments about housing in general and especially affordable housing. People think it has a stigma associated with to it. When I wrote a story

reporting that approval, I received a number of phone calls from people who were asking for more information about how they could apply or get more information about moving in there. One woman was talking about how it would be a great place for her daughter, who’s just starting out. It showed me something I already knew—that there’s a huge demand for that kind of housing that New Jersey just does not provide.

Nerwinski: There’s a deep misconception about it. I wrote a couple of articles on that on my blog. I mean, you go on Facebook and there are some negative people that were making really awful comments. It comes from ignorance and not understanding what affordable housing is, who it assists and how it’s critical and obviously legally required.

Although, to me, the legal requirement is less the motivation than than providing a really diverse community. I think it’s an obligation to do that, and I think in the end that it’s going to going to be a fabric of our community like everywhere else. It just takes time to accept it.

Lawrence Gazette: It’s not going to go away. There are going to be future rounds where towns are going to be required to provide more affordable housing.

Nerwinski: I mean, I have this conversation with people all the time. We’re in New Jersey. Our population is not decreasing. It’s increasing.

Lawrence Gazette: Courts are going to continue to say, “Okay, we evaluated your town. This is how many more units of affordable housing you’re going to need to build.”

Nerwinski: People are moving around. It’s much more diverse than it ever has been in terms of economic statuses of individuals. This housing element that we’re required to do—and that we are meeting our obligations under— is just important to the vitality of the community.

And the other thing is—and I consistently hear this—”You always put everything in South Lawrence.”.

Number one, developers come to the town. We don’t have an economic development department that goes out and tries to seek developers to develop land that’s owned by other people. It just doesn’t work that way. So the developer has to be ready, willing and able, and want to develop a particular property.

There’s not as much control as people think that we have in terms of that. Through zoning laws we can reduce and try to work with developers, and we do really successfully try to make it consistent with our community, but not have these buildings that stand out and have people go, “What? Where the hell did that come from?”

Pickleball — The Social Sport with a Ball in Your Court

BY REBEKAH SCHROEDER

As pickleball triumphantly emerged from the ashes of other forgotten pandemic pastimes like a phoenix, the activity experienced a rebirth despite being less than six decades old.

This year marks only the 58th anniversary of when Washington State Congressman Joel Pritchard and businessman Bill Bell, during an afternoon of improvisational racket sports, cobbled together the beginnings of a boredom-busting game while on summer vacation with their children on Bainbridge Island, near Seattle, in 1965.

The two men took ping-pong paddles to Pritchard’s old badminton court and played with a lightweight, perforated ball, the combination of which is an auditory clue for pickleball’s signature, satisfying smack.

According to USA Pickleball, the “national governing body for the sport of pickleball,” they opted for a lower net height than in tennis and kept the game going into the next weekend, joined by another friend, Barney McCallum

But although pickleball was invented as a family activity, it has since become well-

known as a staple for older populations, with retirement communities and senior centers some of the first to serve up a sense of friendly competition.

Pickleball is ideal for players looking to chat and exercise without the toll on the body often felt in higher-impact sports, allowing those with a history of injuries or surgeries to remain active thanks to a shorter court and lower force of contact with the ball.

Because players must rely on mental coordination and concentration rather than physical ability, a sharp mind can anticipate a powerful swing.

This inherent inclusivity appeals to people of all ages, as it allows them to mingle and move together on a regular basis with people they might not have met otherwise.

Pickleball is traditionally played in both singles and doubles on a 20-foot by 44-foot court with a net that is 36 inches on each end and 34 inches in the middle.

The ball is served underhand, as in volleyball, with a similar scoring system in which each side goes until “faulting,” and only the serving team can gain a point. Whichever side reaches 11 points first, and leads by at least two, wins the game.

The patchwork nature is intentional yet mirrors its origins, as the name of the game has been attributed to two possibilities:

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Six09 is inserted into each of Community News Service’s nine hyperlocal monthly publications. Over 125,000 copies are distributed each month in the Greater Mercer County, N.J. area.

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one, as a reference to a “pickle boat,” a term in rowing where the leftover players get grouped together in a makeshift crew boat team for the last race and coined by Joel’s wife, Joan Pritchard; or two, the McCallums’ version, where the sport allegedly took its inspiration from the Pritchard family dog, a Cockapoo called “Pickles.”

In reality, as Joan confirmed to the West Virginian newspaper the Parkersburg News and Sentinel, the pet came into the picture about two years after the trio first pioneered pickleball.

No matter the nomenclature, pickleball is set to continue its positive trend as “the fastest-growing sport in America for the third year in a row,” according to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association’s “2023 Topline Participation Report,” with “8.9 million players in the United States over the age of six years old, an increase from 4.8 million in 2022.”

Brandon Mackie co-founded the website Pickleheads, a user-generated index of local sites and communicative tools to help players initiate games, with fellow Atlanta entrepreneur Max Ade in March 2022.

Since anyone with an account can update the content of a page for free, similar to the format of a wiki, the list of venues—sorted by city, state, or facility—strives to solve the issue of where to play and what to expect.

in Mercer County, Mackie estimated that Pickleheads attracts “close to 400,000 players that visit the site every month,” as well as “over 13,000 courts profiled across the US and Canada—what we think is the largest database of pickleball courts out there.”

Each page will let you follow or check what time to play at the venue, the features and amenities included, and browse nearby courts. Users can relay what material the courts are made of or whether the nets or lines are permanent, as all require different responsibilities on behalf of the player.

Pickleheads plans to expand on the interpersonal and organizational aspects of the sport by giving users the ability to create groups for easier joining, recruiting, and posting of games, automatically invite others through SMS or email, and update playing times.

In early July, the company will launch a mobile app encouraging players to meet new partners and share their knowledge on a broader scale.

“Everyone’s scratching their heads, saying, ‘How could something like this have grown so fast and gotten so big?’ When I really think about it—and I talk to players all day, every day—it’s very clear that there are really two things [that] go into pickleball: one, it’s just how easy the sport is to learn. You don’t need to be athletic or have racquet sports experience. You can pick up the game in about 10 or 15 minutes out

Brandon Mackie, top right, is the co-founder of Pickleheads, an online database of pickleball courts with information on sites like the Lawrence Township Central Park, top left, and the Robbinsville Municipal Building, lower left. on the court the first time, and at the end of your first time out there, you’re probably even winning games, depending on who your partner is or who you’re playing against.”

This “low barrier to entry,” Mackie added, motivates people to try pickleball without the traditional caveats of lessonheavy sports like golf.

The action itself might be directly at the net, but people are eager to keep the conversation flowing, much like the back-andforth of the ball, regardless of whether they are on the court or waiting for a turn.

“I think for a lot of people, they don’t even look at it like a sport. It’s a social outlet and a big part of their weekly life, and I think that just keeps people coming back more, so you have all these people that try it and stick with it, and it just snowballs in the way that we’ve seen it—both in Mercer County

In an interview on the pickleball scene See Pickleball, Page 4

The other key part, Mackie explained, is the “social aspect” of the sport. Pickleball is most often played in doubles, meaning that matches can rotate through a large number of partners.

and across the United States,” he noted.

Mackie mentioned the Mercer Bucks Pickleball Club in Ewing as “one of the destinations that [Pickleheads] track in the top places to play,” noting that “any time you have that type of investment in the area, and we see that happen in a lot of different counties all across the U.S., that really just takes the growth and participation of pickleball on a whole new trajectory.”

Entities across Mercer County are still considering how to successfully incorporate pickleball into their towns in a way that pleases both players and the general public.

Princeton’s Community Park South, for example, is the focus of an ongoing Princeton public engagement program to redesign its layout and is expected to include six pickleball courts.

Though the sport began courting many

of its current players during the pandemic, this steady swell of local interest is an indicator of a promising future, according to Mackie, who expects pickleball to “become the largest sport in the country” one day in terms of participants—a direct echo of the prediction from the latest SFIA report in February, where that rate “almost doubled in 2022, increasing by 85.7 percent yearover-year and by an astonishing 158.6 percent over three years.”

The relatively simple rules and minimal running keep the spirit of pickleball alive at the perfect pace, too, the unlikely pastime having taken flight during the most unprecedented of times.

But if you still want to try your hand at the fastest-growing sport in America, take your pick from these places to play along and see just why this popular pastime is on the rise.

Mercer Bucks Pickleball Club

370 Sullivan Way, Ewing Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (609) 883-6272 or playmbpc.com.

• Courts: 9 (Indoors)

• Amenities: Restrooms, water filler, lighted courts, snacks

• Features: rentals, clinics, leagues, private instruction, tournaments, automatic ball machine, players’ lounge, practice dink court, cornhole, demo paddles, private events

The long-awaited Mercer Bucks Pickleball Club opened in February 2022 as the “largest indoor pickleball facility in the northeast,” clocking in at 26,000 square feet with nine fenced-in courts, climate control, and a state-of-the-art sound system. The dedicated courts have permanent lines and nets. Paddles and balls are provided.

Membership is not required to play, but it does provide benefits such as the ability to make reservations online, in advance, and at reduced rates.

As of press time, the facility only has limited memberships available. To join the waitlist, contact the club’s front desk either by phone or email at info@playmbpc.com. For more information, see playmbpc.com/ prices-benefits

Activity rates apply either per hour (for court rentals) or per person (for instruction, social plays, etc.) with an additional $5 guest fee for each hour of each activity over member rates.

Guests can either accompany members or call, email, or walk-in to speak with the front desk up to 48 hours in advance of events from June to August to register for any open spots for social plays and clinics; no restrictions apply to booking private lessons.

To reserve a court at MBPC, access the company’s page on CourtReserve, described online as an “all-in-one court reservation and club management platform.”

Princeton Racquet Club

150 Raymond Road, Princeton Hours: Monday to Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday, 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. (732) 329-6200 or princetonracquetclub.com

• Courts: 2 (Indoors, dedicated) and 16 (Total, indoor-outdoors)

• Amenities: Restrooms, water, pro shop, snacks

• Features: rentals, lessons, supervised and open play, camps, game drills, match plays

The Princeton Racquet Club has 16 total courts in its indoor-outdoor complex, but the robust tennis program also offers pickleball rentals inside “The Barn,” the nickname for the indoor facility known as Court 1, which contains two pickleball DecoTurf hardcourts with cushioned surfacing.

In June, PRC announced new pickleball clinics on Mondays from 8 to 9:30 a.m. and Wednesdays from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Classes may be moved outside depending on the weather, while paddles and balls are provided.

Membership is not required to play, but all players must sign a waiver form before participating. Premier members can reserve courts up to one week in advance; standard members have five days. The average court time is 90 minutes. To register or reserve, contact the PRC front desk or visit CourtReserve. For other rates, see the PRC pickleball page online at princetonracquetclub.com/pickleball

Mercer County Park Tennis Center

1638 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. Hours: Monday to Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday to Sunday, 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. 609-448-8007 or mercercountyparks.org

• Courts: 4 (Outdoors)

• Amenities: Restrooms, water filler, lighted courts

Under the operation of the Mercer County Park Commission, the Mercer County Park Tennis Center debuted the first “pickleball only” playing area in the county, four outdoor asphalt courts with permanent lines and nets, in 2017.

While a membership is not required to play, a 2023 Mercer County Tennis/Pickle-

ball ID is required to reserve courts, with all non-ID card holders required to pay an $8 fee per individual.

According to the Tennis Center website, valid ID card holders play for free and can reserve courts up to three days in advance with CourtReserve.

An adult Mercer County resident can purchase an ID for the year for $80, with a discounted junior and senior rate priced at $40 and a non-resident rate of $120. Court time is limited to 90 minutes.

The MCPC also runs the Hopewell Valley Golf Club & Country Club, located at 114 Pennington-Hopewell Road in Hopewell, where three Har-Tru tennis courts and two Platform tennis courts with blended lines for pickleball opened in 2021.

Robbinsville Municipal Complex

1117 US-130, Robbinsville Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

In August of last year, the Robbinsville Municipal Complex, a short distance away from the township’s police station, library, and senior center, added four lit outdoor courts with permanent lines and nets at the site of its former skate park.

No membership or reservations are necessary—courts are available on a firstcome, first-served basis. If another party is waiting to play, those currently using the court are encouraged to limit their playtime to one hour for singles and 1.5 hours for doubles to share the facilities.

Veterans Park Tennis & Pickleball Complex

2206 Kuser Road, Hamilton. Open daily. Tennis Center Office Hours: 8 a.m. to noon, then 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. through the April to October season. 609-581-412.

• Courts: 18 (Outdoors, dedicated) and 22 (Total, Outdoors)

• Amenities: Restrooms, water, lighted courts

The Veterans Park Tennis & Pickleball Complex is an all-outdoor fixture of the Central New Jersey pickleball community, with 18 designated pickleball courts,

Get your game on at the Princeton Senior Resource Center in Princeton, left, and the Mercer Bucks Pickleball Club, opposite page, all year round.

six of which are lit. The Hamilton Recreation Department manages the park’s 22 total mixed-surface tennis and pickleball courts, which are accessible via the park’s north entrance.

A seasonal membership is required through October 31 to play, but no reservations are necessary—courts are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Prices are $25 for Hamilton residents, $50 for nonHamilton residents, and $10 (cash only) for a daily guest pass. For more information on upcoming tournaments or events, please call the Recreation Department at 609-8904028 or email recreation@hamiltonnj.com

Life Time - Princeton

7 Forrestal Road South, Plainsboro. Hours: Monday through Friday, 4 a.m. to 12 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. (609) 608-7100 or lifetime.life/life-timelocations/nj-princeton.html

Described as “an athletic country club” off of Route 1, Life Time’s Princeton facility in Plainsboro features three indoor hardsurface courts with permanent lines and nets. Membership is required to play, and courts can be reserved.

A one-day pass membership ($50) includes amenities like restrooms, water, lighted courts, and à la carte food options, as well as an indoor pool and fitness classes. The monthly rate gives customers access to a wider range of services, but all membership tiers are allowed to participate in open play, mixers, weekly drop-in clinics, lessons, leagues, and pickleball tournaments.

Lawrence Central Park

100 Dave Nevius Way, Lawrence. Open daily. (609) 844-7067 or lawrencetwp.com/ departments/recreation.

In May, the Lawrence Township Recreation Department announced that they had converted one tennis court to two lit pickleball courts for use at Central Park No membership or reservations are necessary—courts are available on a first-come, first-served basis. If another party is waiting to play, those currently using the court are encouraged to limit their playtime to 30 minutes to share the facilities.

Team85 Fitness & Wellness

8500 K. Johnson Blvd, Fieldsboro (Bordentown). Field House Hours: Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (609) 298-8585

or team85fitnessandwellness.com

Team85 Fitness & Wellness, a 45,000-square-foot sporting complex boasting professional fitness programs and resources, is home to the Fitness Center and the Field House, the latter of which has six indoor pickleball courts. Membership is required to play for free, with price tiers available in options such as one month, month-to-month, and 12-month. TEAM85 offers discounts for seniors and law enforcement. According to its Facebook page, guests can play pickleball for a $7 fee. Amenities include food.

Princeton Senior Resource Center

Suzanne Patterson Building, 45 Stockton Street, Princeton. (609) 751-9699 or princetonsenior.org/pickleball

The Princeton Senior Resource Center has one indoor, climate-controlled court on a wood gym floor in the Suzanne Patterson Building. According to a quote from COO Donna Cosgrove, the PSRC court “has attracted over 500 registrations in the ten months it’s been open.”

The schedule is updated each month with instruction by Carolyn DardaniHorensky, while fees vary per activity and depend on whether players are Princeton residents or not. Options include pickleball “3 and Me” for advanced beginners, twoday beginner and next level bootcamps, and instructed open court.

Pickleball group court memberships are $30 for Princeton residents and $35 for nonresidents per hour per group, with reservations on a first-come, first-served basis. For the full list of dates and times for group rentals, see the July form online at princetonsenior.link/PickleballJulyGroupRental

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Medical Acucare

A Personalized Approach to Medicine

Medical Acucare A Personalized Approach to Medicine

• Feel tired all the time?

• Feel tired all the time?

• Have trouble sleeping?

• Have trouble sleeping?

• Concern about brain-fogginess?

• Concern about brain-fogginess?

• Frustrated about weight gain?

• Frustrated about weight gain?

• Want to reverse your diabetes?

• Want to reverse your diabetes?

Your condition is unique, so should be your treatment. Call Dr. Geng's office today to see if we can help!

Caruso Physical Therapy and Nutrition

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!

CONDITIONS WE TREAT:

CONDITIONS WE TREAT:

Medical Acucare

Your condition is unique, so should be your treatment. Call Dr. Geng’s office today to see if we can help!

Your condition is unique, so should be your treatment. Call Dr. Geng's office today to see if we can help!

• Allergies

These services aren’t offered in the area separately, nor are they offered together in a single practice.

education, exercise and hands-on techniques.

• Allergies

• Autoimmune Disease

A Personalized Approach to Medicine

• Autoimmune Disease

CONDITIONS WE TREAT:

• Back or Joint Pain

• Back or Joint Pain

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

• Metabolic Syndrome (pre-diabetes, sistance)

• Metabolic Syndrome (pre-diabetes, sistance)

• Migraine

• Migraine

• Allergies/Skin Disorders

• Depression/Anxiety

• Depression/Anxiety

• Diabetes

• Diabetes

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!

Women’s Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy can assist with problems such as:

• Urinary Incontinence and Urgency

• Overactive Bladder

• Constipation

• Autoimmune Disease

• Skin

• Skin

• Feel tired all the time?

• Thyroid, Other

• Digestive and Gut Health

• Digestive and Gut Health

• Female Hormone Disorders (PMS, Menopause, PCOS)

• Back or Joint Pain

• Female Hormone Disorders (PMS, Menopause, PCOS)

• Thyroid, Other

• Have trouble sleeping?

• Concern about brain-fogginess?

• Weight concerns

Our services are provided by board-certified physical therapists, physical therapy assistants, and board-certified registered dietitians.

• Weight concerns

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

• Frustrated about weight gain?

** We accept Medicare for low back pain treatment

** We accept Medicare for low back pain treatment

• Depression/Anxiety

• Want to reverse your diabetes?

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.

• Pelvic Pain

• Low Back Pain

• Hip Pain

• Dyspareunia

• Vaginismus

• Vulvodynia

• Scar Tissue and Pelvic Organ Prolapse.

• Digestive Dysfunction

Qingdi Geng, MD

Qingdi Geng, MD

Medical Acucare | Phone: 609-216-6938

Medical Acucare | Phone: 609-216-6938

It’s our goal to provide our patients with the best physical therapy and nutrition services in our community.

At Caruso’s our mission is to empower each individual to realize their boundless potential.

• Female Hormone Disorders (PMS, Menopause, PCOS)

2097 Klockner Road, Suite 5, Hamilton, NJ 08690

2097 Klockner Road, Suite 5, Hamilton, NJ 08690

CONDITIONS WE TREAT:

• Allergies

10-15 Minute FREE Consultation for New Patients

10-15 Minute FREE Consultation for New Patients

• Long-Haul Covid Syndrome

• Autoimmune Disease

• Back or Joint Pain

www.medicalacucare.com

• Metabolic Syndrome (pre-diabetes, ins ulin resistance)

• Metabolic Syndrome/Weight Concerns

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

• Depression/Anxiety

• Diabetes

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• Migraine

• Migraines/Other Headaches

• Skin Disorders

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 be successfully treated with

• Digestive and Gut Health

• Female Hormone Disorders (PMS, Menopause, PCOS)

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.

• Thyroid, Adrenal and Other related disorders

• Thyroid, Adrenal and Other related disorders

• Weight or Metabolism concerns

** We accept Medicare for low back pain treatment

Qingdi Geng, MD

Your condition is unique, so should be your treatment. Call Dr. Geng's office today to see if we can help! Qingdi

Medical Acucare | Phone: 609-216-6938

339 Princeton-Hightstown Road, Building C, East Windsor, NJ 08512

15-Minute Complimentary Consultation for New Patients

Aquatic Performance Training

The Safest and Most Effective Exercise Program

Aquatic Performance Training was born out of necessity for any person who is looking to improve their overall health but may be limited at a traditional gym due to an injury or physical limitation.

The owner of Aquatic Performance, John Dohanic, was inspired to create the business after having four shoulder surgeries by the time he was 19 years old, including a shoulder replacement. Being active in sports and traditional workouts such as weight lifting and powerlifting all of his life contributed to the extensive injuries that John was experiencing that left him out of shape, gaining weight, and full of pain.

Doctors told John to get in the water and he joined a local aqua aerobics program that included noodles, foam dumbbells, and kickboards. Although the water felt good on his injury, the program and the equipment were not effective enough to deliver the results John

was looking for. He started doing extensive research and education on more specialized equipment for the pool and began investing in underwater bikes, aquatic treadmills, and strength training equipment for the pool that would deliver the results he was looking for.

Aquatic Performance Training has been growing since 2010 and has helped more than 5,000 local clients accomplish their health goals. This aquatic exercise company specializes in helping people who want to lose weight without the stresses of gravity and recover from surgeries such as joint replacements and spinal fusions. There is a wide variety of programs that can benefit athletes with sports injuries, special needs, as well as MS and Parkinson’s patients.

The different programs offered at the new Quakerbridge Road facility are a wide range of high-energy group sessions that are led by amazing instructors. Aquatic and land-based personal training are geared towards individuals who need more one on one attention and accountability. You will find the world’s first all

aquatic gym that includes aqua bikes, underwater treadmills, aquatic ellipticals, and swimming. Anti-gravity treadmills increase your cardio health and leg strength without the wear and tear of normal land treadmills.

The mission of Aquatic Performance Training is to provide the safest, most effective exercise and soon to be aqua therapy company in the country. We look forward to the

opportunity to help you with your goals very soon!

P.S. If you are looking for swim lessons for kids or adults we have a great partnership with Eggert Aquatics who has been voted #1 swim lesson company in Mercer County for three years in a row.

More information: www. aquaticperformancetraining.com

See ad, page 8

Health

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton World-Class Care Close to Home

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJUH Hamilton) and New Jersey’s largest academic healthcare system, RWJBarnabas Health, are the right choice for you, your families and loved ones’ health and wellness.

RWJUH Hamilton provides closeto-home, premier healthcare for the local communities, as well as a wound care center; a balance and hearing center; outpatient specialty care clinics; primary care providers; surgery centers; rehabilitation and physical therapy and diagnostic and screening centers. Even more extensive resources, medical care and cutting-edge treatments are all available to RWJUH Hamilton patients through the RWJBarnabas Health system.

Here’s a bigger picture of how this

Pictured are members of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton Board of Trustees, senior leadership, physicians, medical staff and medical professionals at this year’s celebration and recognition for National Doctors Day and 2023’s physician honoree, Edward A. Wingfield, MD, president, medical staff; chairman, Department of Cardiology; and director, Cardiac Cath Lab.

nationally awarded and recognized RWJBarnabas Health facility can help you live a healthier life and provide you and your family with the necessary resources if you are faced

with health situations like these:

Cancer Care

An expert multidisciplinary team, at the RWJUH Hamilton Cancer Center* offers comprehensive

treatment options with individualized care. You also benefit from advanced treatment options through RWJBH’s partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, the state’s

Where Do Orthodontic Issues

Hamilton Dental Associates

The Importance of Orthodontic Care for Your Children

Growing up makes for a constantly evolving experience for children. Every year they change and grow into the person they are destined to become, and that extends to their oral health. From the first baby tooth to their adult teeth coming in later in their lives, managing your child’s dental health presents unique challenges for parents. With those challenges come a few myths involving childhood tooth development that can impact how you treat your child’s dental health.

or off-center, they won’t naturally straighten themselves with time.

Childhood Oral Health Myths

Combating

. When you start looking for a pediatric dentist in Hamilton, you want to find one that knows how intensive taking care of your child’s teeth should be. Taking a proactive approach to their dental health can help them avoid more involved procedures down the road — one of the most common myths that lead to your child’s teeth suffering in the long run.

Common Myth #1: Childhood Teeth Will Straighten Out Over Time

One such myth that leads to more complex orthodontic care down the line is that your child’s teeth will straighten out over time. Unfortunately, that is not the case. If their teeth start coming in crooked

only National Cancer Institute (NCI)Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Patients are provided access to clinical trials, complex surgical procedures, precision medicine, immunotherapy and sophisticated radiation oncology techniques.

Heart, Vascular and Stroke Care

RWJUH Hamilton is part of one of the largest and broadest cardiac care programs in New Jersey. Through a partnership with Hamilton Cardiology Associates, you can access sophisticated care at both RWJUH Hamilton and RWJUH New Brunswick, where medical experts can provide even more highly specialized cardiac care.

RWJUH Hamilton has provided essential heart, vascular and stroke care such as cardiac catheterizations and angioplasty to clear blocked arteries for more than 16 years. The hospital received licensing to

The space for their teeth to come in doesn’t grow as they mature. If you leave these issues unattended, it could lead to more significant problems.

Common Myth #2: Orthodontic Treatments Are Purely Cosmetic

While most people associate orthodontic treatments with getting braces as a teenager, that procedure does much more than merely straighten teeth to help you look better. Getting your jaw and teeth back into proper alignment has a cascading effect on your oral health. It helps improve your biting, chewing, and even speaking ability.

Common Myth #3: There Is a Right Age for Orthodontic Care

Many parents believes there is a

perform elective, or non-emergent, angioplasty procedures in early 2022. The recently opened state-of-the-art Cardiac Interventional Suite, provides private patient and family rooms for both pre- and post-operative care.

RWJUH Hamilton’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Program offers an individualized, medically supervised health and fitness program. This will help patients to take an active role in improving their heart health and reducing risks of future heart disease through exercise, evaluations, education and counseling.

Orthopedic and Spine Care Specialists at RWJUH Hamilton’s Orthopedic Spine Institute provide a multidisciplinary approach to world-class care backed by leadingedge imaging and diagnostic and surgical technology. This includes minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery. The institute is the only

specific age at which it’s appropriate to bring their children in for orthodontic care. The perceived minimum age for a child to receive orthodontic care is around 12-13 or right when they reach high school. However, getting your child such care earlier can help avoid getting braces and fixing issues before they worsen.

In reality, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that your children should get an orthodontic checkup no later than age seven. Once they hit that age, their mouth will have a nice balance between their baby and permanent teeth. This window of time allows for an accurate orthodontic evaluation to determine where preventative care is enough or if additional action is required.

orthopedic program in the capital region nationally certified in knee, hip and spine surgery by The Joint Commission.

Many spine surgeries are also performed by specialists at RWJUH Hamilton’s Center for Neurosciences using state-of-the-art technologies to provide advanced neurologic care close to home. Comprehensive neurosciences services also include general and cranial surgery along with subspecialized care for conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, cognitive problems and neuromuscular disorders.

Primary Care Providers

Primary care providers and physicians from RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group are a key component of RWJBarnabas Health’s comprehensive healthcare services. The group comprises world-class providers across many

Come From?

In most cases, a child’s orthodontic problems stem from their genetics — these issues are inherited from their parents. Additionally, some problems can develop over time based on poor oral hygiene habits they learned from a young age.

Some of these acquired oral health issues include:

• Sucking Their Thumbs

• Mouth Breathing

• Abnormal Swallowing Patterns

• Poor Dental Hygiene

• Irregular Loss of Baby Teeth

• Poor Nutritional Habits

However, parents have reason to hope for viable remedies and solutions to most of these issues. You can remedy these acquired problems with the help of successful orthodontic care provided by an experienced pediatric dentist.

Finding a Child Orthodontic You Can Trust. Trusting your child’s teeth and their beautiful smile to a pediatric dentistry practice is something that every parent must come to grips with. Figuring out which childhood orthodontic makes the most sense for your child and their future dental visits becomes critically important. For parents and their children in Hamilton, Hamilton Dental Associates provides them with the experienced pediatric dentists they need to prioritize their oral health as they mature.

Learn more about our pediatric dentistry services and schedule your first appointment today! See ad, page 12.

specialties, including primary care, heart and vascular care, orthopedics, general surgery, gynecologic surgery, oncology, neurology and gastroenterology. Together, Medical Group doctors deliver coordinated, patient-centered care in local communities along with convenient access to RWJBarnabas Health’s vast resources and technologies.

Let’s be health together. Visit rwjbh.org/Hamilton or call 609586-7900.

*RWJBarnabas Health and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, together with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey— the state’s only NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center— provide close-to-home access to the latest treatment options. For more information, call 844.CANCERNJ or visit www.rwjbh.org/beatcancer.

See ad, page 11

Health & Wellness

JANS Caregiver Services

Top of the Line Care That You Can Count On

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

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

JANS Caregiver Services can provide the following therapeutic

services in home care, both short and long term.

Short Term:

• Post Surgery

• Post Injury

• Short term disability

Long Term:

• Elder Care

• Memory Issues

• Mobility Issues

We are trained and certified to

assist with the following chronic health conditions:

• Alzheimer’s

• Dementia

• Diabetes

• Parkinson’s

• Fibromialgia

Our services Include:

• Personalized In Home Care

• Basic Grooming

• Bathing

• Feeding and Specialized Diet needs

• Light housekeeping including (laundry, dishes, vacuum)

• Meal Preparation (Including special diet needs and restrictions)

• Medication Reminders

• Mobility Assistance

• Personal Hygiene

• Physical Therapy Assistance/ Continuation of care plan

• Toileting and Incontinent Care

• Transferring and Positioning

• Companion and Security Care

• Spending time in conversation

• Card and Board Games

• Puzzles and other activities that stimulate active thinking

• Providing the security of loved one not home alone

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

For more information call 609-7569089 or email info@janscaregiverservices.com. janscaregiverservices.com. See ad, page 16

Classes are designed for all ages to build confidence, artistry, discipline, and foster students’ love of dance. Our world class faculty is dedicated to helping each student reach their full potential, with spacious studios, new state-of-the-art dance floors, and live music. The perfect environment to learn and grow!

We are nationally ranked in pediatric orthopedics at The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and in pediatric urology at The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, McMullen Children’s Center at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, and Unterberg Children’s Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center. And we’re also New Jersey’s largest provider of children’s healthcare.

From primary care to specialized treatments and therapies and in partnership with Rutgers Health, our Children’s Health network provides advanced research, teaching, social impact and outstanding care to improve the health and well-being of every child in every community. Learn more at rwjbh.org/ChildrensHealth.

You’d go to great lengths for your child’s health. Good thing you don’t have to go far.

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton

New Community Garden

Open in Hamilton

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, grew its Farm to Family program with the opening of a new community garden at Bromley Field & Sports Complex in Hamilton Township.

Twelve local families agreed to adopt individual plots of land in the garden for one year and learn how to grow healthy produce using sustainable gardening practices, with the guidance of a Master Gardener and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton’s own Registered Dietician Nutritionist, Taryn Krietzman. At the end of the year, the families can choose to renew or pass their plot to another family.

“Our collective hope is that these families will take what they have learned, share their knowledge with family and friends, and plant a garden plot or potted plants at home or throughout the community,” says Diane Grillo, Vice President of

Health & Wellness

These initiatives are part of the RWJBarnabas Health Social Impact and Community Investment (SICI) practice and 100% free-to-participate. The new community garden was built alongside the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton Community Field, a turf soccer field opened in the summer of 2021 in collaboration with RWJBarnabas Health, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, The PDA Urban initiative, and Hamilton Township. The field is also part of the RWJBarnabas Health Social Impact and Community Investment (SICI) practice and provides a safe space for children in the community to stay active, promotes their physical and mental health, and keeps them away from other potential distractions and negative influences.

Health Promotion at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton.

“Families can feel empowered to take ownership, proudly engage in land stewardship, and pass along knowledge in their own community and cultural context.”

The Farm to Family Community

Garden expands Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton’s already successful Farm to Family nutrition education, health screening, and food security programs hosted at Hamilton Township’s Bromley Community Center and John O. Wilson Center.

“Our hospital’s efforts to continue connecting with every individual and family in the surrounding area with healthy spaces, such as the community garden, helps to better serve as a point of early intervention for medical care, specialty care services, and as a resource for referrals in every aspect of life and well-being,” says Richard Freeman, President & CEO of Robert Wood

No

Physical Therapy

Caruso PTRD offers a unique, patient-centered physical therapy approach that offers patients the chance to work closely with a Doctor of Physical Therapy. We want you to get back to being you; whether it’s getting you back on the field, back at the office, or back to running around with your children or grandkids! Treating pain is only the first step!

Nutritional Services

Caruso PTRD offers a unique, patient-centered physical therapy approach that offers patients the chance to work closely with a Doctor 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 on the field, back at the office, or back to running around with your children or grandkids! Treating pain is only the first step!

ALL AGES: Achieve your body composition, sport’s performance, or weight loss goals through an approach that is anything but “cookie cutter”. Our Nutrition Experts, RDN’s,are the ONLY medical professionals qualified to give you nutrition advice. We don’t believe in quick fixes or the latest craze. We believe in life long change without having to sacrifice ANYTHING that makes your life unique!

Pilates Reformer

ATTENTION ALL AGES: Achieve your body composition, sport's performance, nutrition or weight loss goals through an approach that is anything but "cookie cutter". We take the time to learn about you, any medical conditions you may have and tailor to your individual needs. Our Nutrition Experts, RDN's,are the ONLY medical professionals qualified to give you nutrition advice. We don't believe in quick fixes or the latest craze. We believe in life long change without having to sacrifice ANYTHING that makes your life unique!

The most recognized and effective form of safe and successful exercise. Pilates can be tailored to the specific needs of the client to provide injury prevention, rehabilitation and muscle stability work. We offer Private and Semi Private Sessions.

Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

The most recognized and effective form of safe and successful exercise. Pilates can be tailored to the specific needs of the client to provide injury prevention, rehabilitation and muscle stability work. We offer private and semi private sessions.

Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy 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 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.

Relax and unplug in our new Salt Room! Offering numerous health benefits such as; providing relief for respiratory and skin conditions, and promoting overall mental wellness and stress relief. Breathe, relax and unwind!

Pictured: Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, RWJBarnabas Health, Hamilton Township Mayor Jeff Martin, community partners, and local residents participate in the Farm to Family Community Garden opening ceremonies at Bromley Field & Sports Complex in Hamilton.

Johnson University Hospital Hamilton. “Programs like this, in addition to access to quality care, play a critical role in our society’s healthcare ecosystem.”

The garden was made possible by the commitment of many local leaders, organizations and businesses, including Hamilton Township, Mayor Jeff Martin of Hamilton, and Fred Dumont, Director of Community & Economic Development for Hamilton Township; Sharbell Development Corp.; Catholic Youth Organization of (CYO) of Mercer County; Truist Bank; the Rotary Club of Hamilton Township, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton’s Community Impact Alliance; Isles Inc.; Snipes Farm and Education Center; Costello’s Ace Hardware of Mercerville; and the original Farm to Family funders, Wawa and the Holman Foundation.

Local community members interested in learning more and participating in any of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton’s Farm to Family programs, Community Education or Better Health Programs are encouraged to contact the Health Connection team by email to CommunityEdHAM@rwjbh.org or by phone at (609) 584-5900.

Visit rwjbh.org/HamiltonPrograms to view Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton’s monthly program calendar online and register for programs.

Hamilton Township

Meet the Hamilton Township Division of Health!

The mission of the Division of Health is to serve as a trusted resource for Hamilton Township to improve the health and well-being of our residents through health education and promotion, enforcement of public health safety, and adapting to everchanging community health needs. Some of our services include public immunization clinics, child health clinics, STI testing, vital statistics (marriage certificates and licenses, birth certificates and death certificates), retail food establishment inspections, and other environmental health services! Our Animal Shelter is also part of the Division of Health and provides animal control services, pet adoptions and dog licensing. Hamilton residents please call 609890-3828 or visit our website www.hamiltonnj.com/ health for more information. Many of our services are by appointment.

Here are some quick safety tips to help you have a safe and healthy summer:

• Check for ticks! Ticks are the most active in the warmer months (April-September). Infected ticks can transmit diseases including Lyme disease. Prevent tick bites by wearing insect repellent, check yourself, kids and pets for ticks, remove ticks quickly and seek medical help if you develop symptoms of Lyme disease (including fever, headache, fatigue and rash).

• Beat the heat this summer! Extreme heat can lead to heat related illness. People ages 65+, children under two and people with chronic diseases and mental illness are at highest risk. Remember to keep your cool! Stay in air conditioning as much as possible, stay hydrated, check on neighbors or family who are high risk, wear loose and lightweight clothing and NEVER leave children or pets in cars.

• Sun Safety! Most skin cancers are caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. Protect yourself and others from the sun when outdoors by seeking shade, wearing sunglasses, hats and clothing to protect you from the sun. Don’t forget your sunscreen! Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF of 15 or higher, reapply often and check those expiration dates!

• Eat your fruits and veggies! Healthy eating can help adults and children live a healthy life and reduce the risks of chronic disease. Summer is a great time for fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables including strawberries, watermelon, zucchini and fresh Jersey tomatoes!

• Water safety! Swimming is a fun summer activity to help cool off, but should be done safely. If you go swimming this summer remember to learn to swim and know your limits, never leave children unattended, wear life jackets when doing water activities, don’t swim alone even if you are a strong swimmer and never dive into shallow water – if you don’t know how deep it is, don’t dive!

For more information on these topics and other summer safety tips visit www.cdc.gov. See ad, below

Princeton Ballet School

Beyond technique: Empowering dancers

Princeton Ballet School is the official school of the American Repertory Ballet, celebrating over 65 years of excellence in dance education.

Classes are designed for all ages to build confidence, artistry, discipline, and foster students’ love of dance. Its world class faculty is dedicated to helping each student reach their full potential, with spacious studios, new state-of-the-art dance floors, and live music. The perfect environment to learn and grow.

What Sets the School Apart

Founded in 1954 by Audrée Estey, Princeton Ballet School is one of the nation’s finest non-profit dance schools. Many things set Princeton Ballet School apart from the usual dance school, the most important being: its philosophy, its faculty, its affiliation with a professional ballet company, its dedication to live music

The Dental Difference

Mini Dental Implants: A True Innovation in Dentistry

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

Health & Wellness

in the classroom and its facilities. The School’s Philosophy

Princeton Ballet School is known for nurturing developing dancers in a safe and progressive way. The school teaches age and developmentally appropriate ballet technique classes from a syllabus that allows younger students more time for movement exploration while providing advanced students with the tools to become professional dancers, if they so choose. As a result, all students develop self-esteem, self-discipline, and a strong fitness level that will provide a powerful edge in any future endeavor.

Outstanding Faculty. Princeton Ballet School has more than 20 specialized faculty members. Many have attained graduate degrees in dance education and have won major teaching awards. All are committed to the school’s philosophy of dance education and to helping students achieve their best. Members of the outstanding faculty have performed professionally with companies including American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Cuban National Ballet, and American Repertory

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

Ballet.

Live Music. The school’s ballet classes have live musical accompaniment. This is particularly fun for the children’s classes, where frequent improvisational exercises provide an opportunity for students to interact and collaborate with the staff of professional musicians.

Facilities. Princeton Ballet School has studios in Cranbury, New Brunswick, and Princeton, New Jersey. All locations are wheelchair accessible and feature sprung dance

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

floors and marley from Harlequin Floors. The striking Princeton and Cranbury facilities were designed by the late Ralph Lerner, an internationally known architect and former Dean of the School of Architecture at Princeton University. The studios in New Brunswick are part of the state-of-the-art New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, which opened in 2019.

More information: arballet.org/ princeton-ballet-school/. See ad, page 10.

functionality to the teeth.

If you have any questions about ni 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 15.

Dr. Kevin Mosmen

Medical Acucare

A Personalized Approach to Your Optimal Health

Discover a personalized approach to achieving your optimal health with Medical Acucare. Our mission is to address every dimension of your wellbeing and alleviate, or even reverse, the symptoms and progression of chronic diseases.

Meet Dr. Qingdi Geng, the founder of Medical Acucare. Board-certified in Internal Medicine, Medical Acupuncture, and Obesity Medicine, she brings over 10 years of clinical experience in treating diverse medical conditions. Dr. Geng recognized that while conventional medical treatments effectively manage acute conditions like broken bones or strokes, they often fall short in improving chronic diseases. This led her to pursue advanced training in Functional Medicine, allowing her to combine the best of Internal Medicine, Functional Medicine, and Acupuncture to identify the root causes of her patients’ chronic issues and optimize their health and wellness.

Why choose Medical Acucare?

Focus On the Root Cause: Inspired by her childhood admiration for Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Geng approaches each patient’s case like a dedicated detective. She takes genuine satisfaction in unraveling the true origins of complex medical conditions, providing accurate diagnoses, and offering valuable insights into treatment options.

Dr. Qingdi Geng

Comprehensive Care for Challenging Health Conditions: At Medical Acucare, we acknowledge the distinct obstacles individuals face while navigating the healthcare system, particularly women during their postpartum, perimenopause, and other difficult transitional phases. Dr. Geng specializes in addressing hormone imbalances, digestive dysfunction, autoimmune disorders, and exposure to harmful toxins, which can give rise to a multitude of complaints across various organ systems, often resulting in diagnostic and therapeutic complexities. By thoroughly assessing each patient’s situation and employing advanced lab tests, Dr. Geng

formulates personalized treatment strategies that target the underlying factors contributing to health issues.

Healthy Lifestyle

Modifications: At Medical Acucare, we understand the significance of healthy lifestyle changes in maintaining optimal well-being. Dr. Geng emphasizes the importance of stress management, enhancing sleep quality, initiating appropriate physical activity regimens, and nurturing spiritual and mental wellness. Additionally, we collaborate with local and remote health coaches and nutritionists to offer valuable tools for cultivating healthy habits, restoring self-assurance, and achieving enduring health success.

Acupuncture for Holistic Healing: Acupuncture has gained widespread acclaim for its efficacy in treating conditions such as low back pain, neck pain, migraines, insomnia, and other conditions. Moreover, acupuncture stimulates the release of beneficial hormones, including endorphins, promoting overall health, and restoring balance within the body. Dr. Geng

has successfully utilized acupuncture to address a wide range of health concerns, including anxiety and depression, chronic pain, indigestion, insomnia, obesity, and urinary incontinence. Its gentle and non-invasive nature, combined with Dr. Geng’s expertise, makes acupuncture a safe and effective treatment option.

Cosmetic Acupuncture for Natural Beauty: Experience breakthrough solutions for natural beauty and antiaging at Medical Acucare. Alongside traditional acupuncture treatments, our specialized acupuncture procedures deliver strikingly aesthetic results. Unlock your radiant, age-defying potential with the transformative power of cosmetic acupuncture.

Choose Medical Acucare for a personalized and comprehensive approach to your health. Dr. Geng and our dedicated team are here to guide you on your journey to optimal health and well-being. Contact us today to schedule a complementary consultation and start your journey towards a healthier, more fulfilling life.

Medical Acucare, 339 PrincetonHightstown Rd, Building C, East Windsor NJ 08512 www.medicalacucare. com. See ad, page 6.

Hamilatte Community Focused Coffee and a Health Conscious Menu Coming This Summer to Route 33 in Hamilton

Coffee is the quintessential superfood for people all over the world. Whether you have a cup of joe to kick off the day, have a cup with dessert to cap off a big meal, or even have a drink before your work out, coffee is a healthy way to boost energy and comes loaded with several lesser-known nutritional benefits. In recent years, research has proven that the high antioxidant content of coffee can improve life expectancy and reduce the risk of certain diseases, including Parkinson’s, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Lastly, taking a break to share a great cup of coffee with family and friends can do wonders for our mental health in our busiest and most stressful days, which is what led one local couple, Karen and Adam Elias, to use coffee as a way to connect with their community.

Jamesbrew Cafe, located on West Railroad Avenue in Jamesburg, opened last November,and has quickly become a staple in the community. Jamesbrew serves great coffee, espresso, and tea beverages, along with a variety of pastries, cakes and gelato, all while celebrating the rich history and promising future of the historic borough. Their signature Railroad Roast and Buckelew Cold Brew,

along with every other drink on their menu, are aptly named after the iconic landmarks and families who built Jamesburg and left a lasting impression on generations to follow. Jamesbrew’s doors are always open for community sponsorships, and they continue to host fun events for the neighborhood like chess club tournaments, book signings, fundraisers, art shows and more. You can pop in on the weekend and enjoy Karaoke Night every Thursday and support local musicians that play live music every Friday and Saturday night with the option for patrons to BYOB.

Given the positive reception of Jamesbrew among residents of Jamesburg and neighboring towns, Karen and Adam are already on their way to opening café number two. Hamilatte, opening this summer on Route 33 in Hamilton, will have all Jamesbrew’s offerings but with a special nod to the living story of Hamilton. Hamilatte will go one step further with a health-conscious menu in collaboration with Hamilton native Sinclair Jones, creating the most inclusive environment for patrons of all dietary needs.

Be BIO café was established by Jones in 2019 and specializes in vegan, gluten free and sugar-free desserts. The name means “beautiful inside out;” that the beauty process comes from within. Be BIO is guided by the philosophy that quality taste should not be sacrificed in the pursuit of a healthier diet. All

BIO goods served at Hamilatte will be baked fresh with no unnecessary ingredients or preservatives. Hamilatte will also serve specialty and custom ordered baked goods that may not always be listed on its menu. Hamilatte’s coffee will be USDA organic certified, while desserts that are vegan and gluten free, using organic ingredients and garbanzo bean flour to make the Hamilatte experience exceptionally delightful and nutritious for all patrons.

Stay tuned for the grand opening in just a few weeks! More information: www.hamilatte.com.

See ad, page 7

To

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SERVICES

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

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

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Attention Single Men 64 – 71 Local matchmaker is seeking an educated, nice, tall gentleman for one of my client’s. No Fees! Contact Jill Elliott 215-539-2894.

WANTED TO BUY

Wanted: Baseball, football, basketball, hockey. Cards, autographs, photos, memorabilia. Highest cash prices paid! Licensed corporation, will travel. 4thelovofcards, 908-5960976. allstar115@verizon.net.

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

To book a classified ad in this section, please email your text and any other information to mdurelli@communitynews.org. Classifieds run at 75 cents per word with a $20 minimum per month. For more information, call 609-396-1511, ext. 105.

Cash paid for World War II military items. Helmets, swords, medals, etc. Call 609-581-8290 or email mymilitarytoys@ optonline.net

REAL ESTATE WANTED

WE BUY HOUSES We are a premier real estate solutions company. We buy houses in any condition and pay you cash. Call 732-965-6338

COMMERCIAL SPACE

OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT: ARE YOU LOOKING FOR OFFICE SPACE IN EWING BUT CAN’T AFFORD OR DON’T NEED AN ENTIRE SUITE? DO YOU NEED TO RENT BY THE DAY? SUITE CURRENTLY IN USE BY TWO MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. SUITABLE FOR ANYONE NEEDING A qUIET, CLEAN AND ACCESSIBLE WORKPLACE. RENT INCLUDES USE OF SMALL KITCHEN, WAITING ROOM, PARKING, CLEANING SERVICE AND WIFI. CALL 609635-3751 OR EMAIL suppsoln27@yahoo. COM FOR DETAILS.

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HAMILTON TWP.- 1st Floor Office/Professional/ Service Space<B/> with Plenty of car/truck parking in rear. Reception area, 3 large rooms, utility & powder room, full basement for storage. $1,350/mth. Call DiDonato Realty Co (609) 586-2344/ Marian Conte (609)9474222.

office space For Rent: Pennington ground floor office space 32 N Main Street. Share with clinical psychologist and real estate management company. Private entrance, off street parking. 305-968-7308

Princeton Commercial Retail Spaces for Lease: Various Locations in Town. Please Contact: Weinberg Management.

WMC@collegetown. Text 609-731-1630

VACATION RENTALS

Florida Beach Rental: Fort Myers Beach 1br vacation condo on the beach, flexible dates available. Call 609577-8244 for further information

CEMETERY PLOTS

For sale double depth cemetery plot. Location Princeton memorial park, Gordon Road, Robbinsville. Call 609-2597710.

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Friday, June 30 at 6:45 PM: tequila rose

Saturday, July 1 at 7:00 PM: Southern Steel

Sunday, July 2 at 7:00 PM: Jimmy Jorge & the latin Express

Monday, July 3 at 7:30 PM: B Street Band

tuesday, July 4 at 6:00 PM: Pure Petty

Wednesday, July 5 at 7:30 PM: Cosmic Jerry Band

thursday, July 6 at 7:00 PM: lovelight

Friday, July 7 at 7:30 PM: the British invasion Experience

Saturday, July 8 at 3:00 PM: andrew lobby

Saturday, July 8 at 7:00 PM: Kindred Spirit

Sunday, July 9 at 7:00 PM: Ernie White Band

PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY

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

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

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE NERVE DAMAGE?

Peripheral neuropathy is the consequence of damage to your peripheral nerves. There are over 100 different kinds of peripheral nerve disorders or neuropathies – some are the result of a disease like diabetes, while others can be triggered by a viral infection. Still others are the result of an injury or compression on the nerves. No matter where the problems begin, it is imperative nerve disorders are resolved as soon as possible to prevent permanent damage. Many people suffer with pain for years, not realizing that their symptoms may be due to Peripheral Neuropathy. Symptoms start gradually, then get worse, including numbness, burning or tingling sensations and sharp, electrical-like pain. Treatment options have been limited to a small assortment of pain medications, which can lead to further issues. Ignoring the problem or masking the symptoms has never been a viable solution. If you suffer from any of the aforementioned symptoms, we can help.

Healthy Nerve Cell

Damaged Nerve Cell

we had a chance to compete in this game and we just fought.”

And that’s how it was for the entire season. One of the most memorable in LHS baseball history because it transformed a program.

After years of mediocrity or worse, new coach Jim Maher breathed new life into the Cardinals. Lawrence finished 21-7, enjoyed its first winning season since 1997, reached the state tournament for the first time since 2013 and earned a sectional final berth for the first time since 1974; when Maher was playing rec basketball in Hamilton for a team called Barton & Cooney.

This team exceeded the accomplishments of B&C hoops, but it was far from what Maher predicted in a preseason chat with his superiors.

“I was talking to my athletic director (Anthony Ammirata) and principal (Dr. David Adam), hoping we’d be .500 and get in the state tournament, and have a good showing,” the coach said. “It’s been remarkable. It’s been pretty cool. The parents have been great, the administration has been great. It’s a good place to end my career.”

Fortunately for the Cards, Maher’s career is just starting at Lawrence. Arguably the top baseball coach in Mercer County, the former Steinert hurler has reached the sectional finals 10 times during stints at Florence, Hamilton West, Nottingham and LHS. He has 450 career wins, three sectional championships and one state title.

After serving as a Hamilton West assistant the past three years, Maher got the urge to be head man again. At Lawrence he saw potential despite a 13-28 record the past two years. He had watched the Cardinals current nucleus battle from the loser’s bracket to win the District 12 Little League Tournament in 2018, and knew there was talent that could be honed.

“I just tried to get them to learn how to compete,” he said. “Just compete every

pitch, never stop playing hard, which I thought we did a pretty good job of all year.”

But getting players to compete who have been in a losing environment isn’t all that easy. How did he do it?

“You just refuse to let them quit,” Maher continued. “Whether it’s in drills, whether it’s in the cage, whether it’s in a game. You just get them together and say

‘You gotta keep battling.’ It’s something you gotta harp. It’s my personality, it’s the way I would say a majority of my teams

have played. Gritty, hard-nosed teams. We pretty much did that this year.”

When Maher took over, no one’s job was safe despite previous playing time. He started three freshmen his first year at Nottingham and built a sectional champ, and started three freshmen this year in Deacon Moore, Aiden Crowley and Drew Dobkin. When Maher looks at a roster, he values talent over what grade they are in.

“When I saw those kids the first week or two, I knew they deserved to be out there,” said Maher, whose knowledgeable young staff included Kevin Smiegocki, Ron Voacolo and Mike Suosso. “It kind of reminds me of that Nottingham team. They all went on to play college ball and these guys all have the chance to do the same.”

Maher also had a reputation for toughness and not coddling players, but the returnees welcomed that.

“Just playing football it’s always been harder,” Brogle said. “It was definitely hard, but I thought it was gonna be more like last year when we only won five games. Maher came out, did what he said he was gonna do.”

Moore was downright excited about it.

“I knew his background, I knew he was a winner and that’s really what a bunch

of us wanted here,” he said. “We wanted to win, we wanted to showcase our talent and obviously coach Maher has come in and done a really great job with that.

“This has been a huge culture change. He really turned us around. At the beginning of the season I don’t think any of us could have really expected this. A 21-7 record and an appearance in the sectional final, it was an awesome season. We would have loved to have won it, but I know all my guys are extremely proud. I’m proud of them. We had a helluva season and I don’t think anything could discount that.”

Moore was one of the big reasons for the success. On the mound he was 7-1 with one save, a 1.10 ERA and 70 strikeouts. At the plate he hit .299 and was second on the team with 25 RBIs.

As an added bonus, his brother Deacon led the team with a .457 average and 32 hits. He had 19 RBIs and 10 stolen bases.

“Kellen had an unbelievable year; in my opinion he was the best pitcher in the county,” Maher said. “We’ve just gotta figure out where we’re gonna play Deacon in the field. He can play infield, outfield; he also can pitch. He’s a competitor. He comes at you, he’s a gamer. He’s my kind of guy.”

Lawrence High School baseball coach Jim Maher addresses the team after its 10-7 loss to Middletown North in the NJSIAA Group III sectional finals on June 2.

Brogle was the lone senior to play regularly and hit .295 with a team-leading 16 stolen bases batting leadoff.

“Gio was a competitor,” Maher said. “He was a catalyst at the leadoff spot. He had a great game (against Middletown). It’s probably the last game he’ll play and he had three hits, he led us.”

The coach had praise for his other seniors, TJ Niemann, Rohun Kaistha, Ryan Fobare and, in particular, Ben Pawlak.

“Ben Pawlak was great,” Maher said. “He didn’t really have the numbers he had as a younger kid. But his attitude has been tremendous. All the seniors have been good kids. They really didn’t play much but they were a pleasure to have around.”

Sophomore Teak Toto was another offensive standout with a .425 average and team-high 27 RBIs.

“Teak had a great year,” Maher said. “He struggled a little bit (in the title game) but he’s had so many big hits in the state tournament. He’s come up big game after game. Middletown North wasn’t his day, that’s baseball. But he carried us a lot to that point.”

He brings that every time. If you do something wrong he’s hard on you, but then he helps you prepare to fix that. So no matter what you’re getting the best out of it.”

With all but one starter returning next year, Kellen Moore called reaching the sectional final “a huge stepping stone” for the program. And he knew where credit was due.

“We have a great group of players,” Moore said. “But coach Maher, in the first couple weeks he really had us work hard, he pushed his system with us, kind of taking his experience and his winning from the past. He really instilled that philosophy in us, of how we’re gonna need to work hard, we’re gonna have to compete every game, we’re just gonna find ways to win games even if we didn’t have our best stuff that day.”

It was a group that went from a sleeping giant to Valley Division champion and the only Colonial Valley Conference team to reach a sectional final.

Juniors Robert Kelly (.303, 17 RBIs, team-high 29 runs) and Riley Rivera (.379, 14 RBIs) were other key offensive contributors, while Aiden Crowley, Dobkin – who showed strong defensive skills at catcher – and junior Dan Dryzga also chipped in throughout the year. Lawrence hit .302 as a team and averaged 6.7 runs per game.

The pitching, under the watchful eye of coach Paul Sparano, was equally impressive with a 2.73 team ERA and 196 strikeouts in 187 innings. Along with Kellen Moore, strong efforts came from sophomore Connor Crowley (5-1, 2 saves, 2.76, 53 Ks), Deacon Moore (4-1, 3.50), Kelly (2-0, 4 saves, 2.69), Kaistha (2.71 ERA in 10.3 innings) and freshman Aiden Poot, who came off an injury to pitch well in a state win over Robbinsville.

It was a group that went from a sleeping giant to Valley Division champion and the only Colonial Valley Conference team to reach a sectional final.

All it took was a little prodding and motivation.

“Maher would have his moments where he’d get mad at us for the stuff that needed to be done,” Brogle said. “But it’s getting around that and still coming together as a team at the end of the day.

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And Maher, who was just slightly familiar with several of his new players, wasted little time learning what kind of personalities he inherited.

“He got to know us in the first couple weeks,” Moore said. “He knew what he was dealing with from both talent and people-wise. He found a way to connect with us as ballplayers. He was really able to understand the team, understand what we have and just consistently put out the best lineup of players.”

With so much talent returning, Maher feels the most important thing in the off-season is for the players to get into the weight room and start building their bodies. In looking at this year, he has as much fun as the players.

“I told the guys I enjoyed this so much,” he said. “To come in with these guys who never really won; and they don’t know me from Adam. I’m really proud of them, about how much better they got.”

One of the key components is that they bought into Maher’s ideas rather than resist them.

“I think they were tired of losing,” he said. “They lost a lot of games. Their confidence was low. I still say the first week was huge. When we won those first two games against Robbinsville and Steinert back to back in one run games on the road, that was huge. There were big crowds and we were going against good teams. We won and we just kind of took off from there.”

Which is what usually happens when a proven winner takes the reins of a team loaded with talent that just needed a push in the right direction.

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Girls track and field team back on the road to success

By Rich Fisher

After COVID-19 shut down high school spring sports in 2020, some programs were able to recover more quickly than others.

The Lawrence girls track & field team was one of the “others” as it took time for Tim Collins to get things back to where they were in the mid 2010s. The Cardinals took a big step toward respectability this season thanks to a nice blend of seniors and underclassmen.

Lawrence won the Colonial Valley Conference Valley Division title. It finished second to the Lawrenceville School in the Mercer County Championships, and tied for third in the Central Jersey Group III meet. Eight individuals and two relays advanced to the Group III state meet, and junior Petra Doherty provided a Cardinal presence at the Meet of Champions.

“It was a great year, it was fun,” Collins said. “We had great kids, enthusiastic, they had a lot of fun. It was a great year

overall, not just success wise but with having really good kids.”

It took a while to get to this point, as the Covid shutdown wiped out what little Collins had as a nucleus.

“We had a lot of young people that weren’t tethered to the program yet,” the veteran coach said. “The year before we had a lot of girls come out for the winter track season. Then the spring season got canceled.

“All those freshmen and sophomores the next year, between Covid and people’s concerns about it, they didn’t come back. Or they got jobs or couldn’t get rides to school. If we had a more veteran team we’d have had more people come back and say ‘I’m into this.’

Throw in the fact Lawrence was one of the last Mercer County schools to return from remote learning, and Collins couldn’t really recruit much the following year.

There were seven athletes for the 2021 winter team and 16 in the spring. Last year, the number grew to a workable

amount in both winter and spring, and this year the Cardinals started with 50 in outdoor track and maintained a number at least in the high 30s.

“A lot more girls showed up for spring track this year and there’s a lot more young talent compared to last year,” Doherty said. “I’m very excited.”

Collins got a glimpse of some of his talent during indoor preseason workouts, and decided that this was a team that could do some nice things.

“I started talking to the girls, saying ‘We can’t just sit around and say Oh let’s just go and see what happens. We might be able to win some division titles or be in the fight for some team titles. So let’s be aware of that. Stay attentive to make sure we keep working hard.’

“When spring season started I said to them ‘We can do some special things. I have no idea who has what. But comparing ourselves and what we’ve got and comparing them to what other teams did last year, we’re in the mix for some stuff.’”

Doherty, a junior, was pleasantly surprised at how things turned out.

“I’m so proud of the team,” she said. “Coming into this year I didn’t think we would be as good as we turned out to be. Seeing them develop into this really good team from when I was younger, it’s made me really proud.”

Lawrence served notice of its capabilities at the county meet, at which Leticia Kitio amassed the most points (28) among field competitors by winning the javelin, taking second in the discus and fourth in the shot. Not bad for a girl who considers tennis her number one sport.

“She’s an interesting story,” Collins said. “Her freshman year she did it indoors a little bit and liked it, but her family and her figured tennis was her big direction. That’s where their focus was, she had a lot of Middle States tournaments.

“I suggested it would be great for the high school team if she came out. She

ON REPEAT.

didn’t do it at all her sophomore year, but came back junior year because she missed it. Said she had a lot of fun with the coaches and events. She and our other throwers were fantastic this year.”

Aside from Kitio, other strong MCT throws contributors were seniors Kailah Pyron (2nd, javelin, 5th, discus) and Salma Nasr (3rd, discus).

“Salma Nasr had ACL surgery and was out for a year. She came back, did a great job,” Collins said. “We also got a ton of points from Kailah Pyron. Those girls have been around for years in the program, you look at the counties, we swept up a lot of points. They’re all seniors, we’re gonna miss those points.”

But there are young point-producers returning.

Sophomores Sophie Trzaskus and Zuzanna Trzasko finished 3-4 in the pole vault at counties, and Doherty made her presence felt by finishing second in high jump, fourth in the 200 and sixth in the 100.

Lawrence finished second in the 4x100 (Doherty, Trzaskus, senior Isabelle Nicolas, sophomore Alicia Riggins) and fourth in the 4x400 (Trzaskus, Trzasko, Doherty, freshman Julia Zaluska).

The result was 71 points, which was not only the top public school total; but it also provided Lawrence with the Valley Division crown after the points were computed among divisions.

“Honestly, we didn’t think we were gonna come in first, we thought we were gonna do OK, but not first,” Doherty said. “We finished second to a prep

school, that’s pretty good. And winning the Valley makes me really excited for the future of the team.”

Lawrence continued its success in the sectionals, where Kitio won the shot with a throw of 34-11.25 (and also took fourth in discus) and Doherty won the high jump with a PR of 5-2. Doherty also advanced to the Group III state meet with a fourth in the 200 meters.

Other Cardinals to get through to states featured Riggins (6th, 100 meters), Nicolas (6th, 100 hurdles), the 4x100 (second), the 4x400 (sixth), Trzaskus (3rd, pole vault), Trzasko (5th pole vault), Nasr (5th, discus) and Pyron (6th,discus).

At the Group III meet, equaled her PR, which put her in a tie for sixth. The top three finishers advance automatically, along with the 18 next best marks. When Petra got the word she made it, it’s safe to say she was excited.

“I was sitting in the library and I heard the announcement and I didn’t even believe it,” she said. Knowing that silence is the rule in a library, she added “That’s why I asked to go to the bathroom and I ran to my coach’s class.”

“She was running down the hall screaming ‘I made it!’” Collins said with a laugh. “We were excited for her, excited for the program. It’s nice. She represents the school well. It’s always nice to say we have someone to represent the school there. She’s appreciative of it, she put the work in for us. She’s done everything we’ve asked her to do.

Doherty could not get a PR at the

MOC, finishing with a 5-0, but just the experience of being there will undoubtedly be a good lesson for next year.

“It wasn’t even in my plans for this sea-

son, I just really wanted to improve my high jump,” she said. “Coming into sectionals my coach was telling me he could see Meet of Champs in my future and I didn’t believe him. And I won sectionals and realized ‘Oh man, I could really do it.’”

It’s pretty impressive for someone who participated in the sport just to stay fit.

“My cousin Melinda Jacoppo was running it, she was the only person I knew on the team,” Doherty said. “I had done it in middle school. I thought why not come back and try it. It was really to get in shape for field hockey because I play that in the fall, but I ended up falling in love with track instead.”

Collins feels Doherty “really blossomed this year” and thinks she also has a future as a sprinter if she keeps working at it.

Petra can’t say enough about what the sport has done for her.

“It was a good leadership experience teaching the younger girls and being a mentor to them,” she said. “And coming this far has given me so many opportunities I never thought I would have. I’m just excited.”

With good reason, as it appears after its post-Covid dry spell, Lawrence girls track & field has returned as a force in Mercer County and beyond.

Members of the LHS track and field team are pictured. At rear are Kayla Cribb (left), Jen Azcona, Marline Manzano , Petra Doherty, Sophie Trzaskus, Vanessa Morales, Zuzanna Trzasko and Julia Zaluska. In front are Salma Nasr (left), Kailah Pyron, Alicia Riggins, Isabelle Nicolas, Aniya Chavis, Melinda Jacoppo, Grace Orashen and Haleemah Ogunniyi.

Protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays

Ask The Doctor

As warmer weather invites you to spend more time outdoors, Malini, Patel, MD, Director of Medical Oncology at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton Cancer Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, shares her best advice and simple habits which can drastically reduce your skin cancer risk and helps you still enjoy your day outside with some simple sun safety strategies.

Slather on sunscreen. Use it even on slightly cloudy or cool days, regardless of skin color. It contains chemicals that scatter sunlight’s UV rays. Apply 30 minutes before you go outside. A Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 is sufficient as long as the sunscreen is reapplied every two hours.

Dress for success. That includes wearing a hat with a brim that shades your face, ears and the back of your neck, and loose-fitting, long-sleeved, tightly woven shirts and long pants. Wear a T-shirt on the beach whenever you aren’t in the water. Look for fabrics that have an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) to guard against UV rays.

Check yourself out. Regularly examine your skin for changes in moles during showers and in the mirror. Ask someone to check your back and neck, and if your hair is thinning, be sure to check your scalp as well.

Watch the kids. The vast majority of sun exposure occurs before age 18, so help your children take the necessary sun protection steps and let them see you doing the same.

Keep an eye on your eyes. Wraparound sunglasses are a great choice to protect eyes and skin around the eyes from UV rays.

Shun the brightest sun. When you’re outside between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., reduce

your risk of skin damage by seeking shade under an umbrella, cabana, tree or other shelter.

RWJBarnabas Health and RWJ University Hospital Hamilton, together with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey—the state’s only NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center— provide close-to-home access to the latest treatment options. For more information, call 844. CANCERNJ or visit www.rwjbh.org/ beatcancer.

To learn more about Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, visit rwjbh.org/Hamilton or call 609-586-7900.

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.

MONDAy, JULy 19

Cooking with Cardiology. 6 to 7:30 p.m. Join us at this “hands on” lecture and learn about heart healthy cooking. Shakil Shaikh, DO, from Hamilton Cardiology Associates, will be cooking up food for thought in this fun filled demonstration

TUESDAy, JULy 11

So Bloated, I Could Fly Like a Balloon. 6 to 7:30 p.m. Shivaprasad Marulendra, MD, board-certified in Internal Medicine, fellowship-trained in Gastroenterology will discuss the common issue of abdominal bloating.

WEDNESDAy, JULy 12

Orthopedic Open House. 6:30 to 8 p.m. Discover the latest advances in knee and hip replacement surgery and rehabilitation. Presented by James Scott, DO, board-certified orthopaedic surgeon; Maureen Stevens, PT, DPT, GCS, Cert MDT; and Courtney Fluehr, PT DPT. Dinner is included.

Advertising in your local community works! Reach every household directly in their mailbox. Have an event or special promotion you need to share? Let’s advertise!

Call me directly at 609-532-1737

CHRISTINE M. STORIE

“Not the same old Storie” Advertising Account Executive 609-396-1511 x115

cstorie@communitynews.org

TUESDAy, JULy 18

Detox your Life and Get Energized. 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. It’s time to unlock the door to a healthier, happier lifestyle so that a better version of you can shine through. Get the keys of how to detox through nutrition, beauty, home environment and the mind. Gail Leslie, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach.

WEDNESDAy, JULy 19

It’s Summer! Why Am I Stressed Out? 4 to 5 p.m. Discussion group about dealing with the stress of summer. Vacations, body image, kids at home, etc. Easy tips and different strategies one can employ for coping.

THUrSDAy, JULy 20

Knowledge Café: Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) and Wound Care. 6 to 7:30 p.m. Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) affects more than 12 million people and can be problematic for those with chronic wounds. Join Reza Shah, DO, FACOS, FACS, FAPWA, CMET to learn about the world of PAD and wound care. Dinner will be provided.

TUESDAy, JULy 25

The Link Between Hearing Loss and Dementia-Can Hearing Aids Save your Brain? 10 to 11 a.m. According to several major studies, older adults with hearing loss are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, compared to those with normal hearing. Audiologist, Lorraine Sgarlato, Au.D., will discuss options with you.

Introduction to Animal Communication. 6:30 to 8 p.m. Do you love animals and want to deepen your bond? Do you wish you knew what your animals are thinking and feeling? Do you want to connect intuitively but not sure you have the ability (hint…you do!) Interested in learning how? Animal Communication is not just for “gifted” people… in fact we are all able to use our intuition to communicate this way. Come join us for this fun and interactive introduction into animal communication. No experience required, just your trusting open mind. Marcia Minunni, Fee:$15

FrIDAy, AUGUST 4

raised Bed, Flat Bread. 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Spend your ‘Pizza Friday’ celebrating fresh produce that grows right here in New Jersey! Get hands-on by personalizing your own nutritious flat-tastic masterpiece for take-out! All ages welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Fee: $5 per person. Taryn Krietzman, RDN.

Better Health Programs

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

WEDNESDAy, JULy 5

Let’s Talk, A Senior Social Group. Also July 12, 19 & 26. 10 to 11 a.m. Please join us for our ongoing program “Let’s Talk, 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 group is a partnership between RWJ University Hospital Hamilton and the PsycHealth Associates here in Hamilton. This is a weekly program. Please feel free to attend one or all.

FrIDAy, JULy 7

Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Watch Party & Discussion. Also July 14, 21 & 28. 11 a.m. to noon. Join this 4-week program to watch the popular series “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat.” Each week we explore one of these 4 central principals of flavor. Watch and discuss how to incorporate the elements into delicious dishes!

Taryn Krietzman, RDN.

THUrSDAy, JULy 13

Socrates Café. 10 to 11 a.m. “Socrates Café” is about discussing a topic, sharing our thoughts, our beliefs, our ideas, and experiences. An unofficial mantra describes that we (people) learn more when we question, and question with others. This is a “safe zone” to share where all views are accepted. Come with an open mind, respect for one another, and a willingness to see where it takes us.

Dr. Patel

Trenton Water Works still has a long way to go

KEVIN NERWINSKI FrOM THE MANAGEr’S DESK

From time to time, I check on the various community Facebook pages to see what members are interested in. A topic that seems to come up often is Trenton Water Works and, more specifically, what the Township is doing on behalf of its residents to address the poorly performing water utility that serves a majority of our community.

Surprisingly, many comments demonstrate a lack of awareness of the actions taken by the municipal government over the past several years to address the issue. In response, I thought I would pull together information shared on the township website (lawrencetwp.com) and my blog (lawrencetownshipnjmanagerkpn. blogspot.com).

Both sources provide information on all things “Lawrence Township” and should be a part of your “search” for information on any given topic related to the community. The information is also frequently shared on our Facebook page (facebook.com/TownshipofLawrence). We can only make the information available to you, but you must take a step to receive it.

Many, but not all, of our residents, are customers of Trenton Water Works. Over the years, customers (including me) have received alarming notices from the utility about one issue or another relating to the quality of water we drink and use. As you may know, Trenton Water Works is a public utility owned and operated by the City of Trenton (one of the oldest in the country). With more than 225,000 customers, it serves the City of Trenton and portions of Hamilton, Ewing, Lawrence, and Hopewell. It has been operating, believe it or not, since 1804! In our recent history, over the past several decades, the aging infrastructure and poor management have been a consistent concern for all.

In 2010, there was a serious initiative to sell TWW water lines and other infrastructure that serves the “outside water users ” (Hamilton, Lawrence, Hopewell, and Ewing) to New Jersey American Water for $80 million. The sale met with opposition from customers from the townships concerned that the deal would result in higher water costs and resistance within the City that it would lose a significant asset that funded a portion of Trenton’s budget. Ultimately, the residents of Trenton voted against

the sale. I was the municipal attorney for Lawrence Township back then, and my personal opinion then, as it is now, was that the deal with NJ American Water was good for the customers in the Township. NJ American Water was a professionally managed water utility serving millions of customers in more than 20 states.

It had the means to replace the old water lines (with many being leadbased) and would be able to improve (pledging to commit millions of dollars to do so) and operate the facility with the highest standards. Instead, we were left with TWW being owned and maintained by the City of Trenton and beholden to a dysfunctional city council that voted against funding much-needed improvements to the facility.

In 2020, the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection filed a lawsuit against Trenton and TWW to compel the water utility to take certain corrective actions to improve the infrastructure and operations of the facility.

I provided a copy of a press release explaining the action taken by the State against the City and then wrote a blog article that fully discusses the lawsuit. After NJDEP’s lawsuit was filed and made public, township officials from the outside water users (Hamilton, Lawrence, Ewing, and Hopewell) met to discuss the civil action and agreed that the towns should join the lawsuit to advocate on behalf of their residents who were customers of TWW.

As a result, the towns joined together and filed a motion to intervene in the lawsuit. In an article I posted in my blog dated July 13, 2020, I explained the action taken by the town to join the lawsuit to ensure they had a “seat at the table” to advocate for its residents. In their filing, the townships demanded that “Trenton and TWW provide safe and clean drinking water for its residents. The right to clean water is a human and constitutional right. This is non-negotiable.

It is clear that Trenton and TWW have repeatedly and egregiously missed benchmarks in fulfilling their obligation to provide safe and clean water for the customers.” Another demand was asking the court force Trenton to sell the portion of TWW that serves their townships “because TWW has proven incapable of consistently producing safe drinking water.”

Since the time the townships joined the lawsuit (during the time of the pandemic, which slowed the progress of the case), there have been many court conferences among the parties, site inspections and reviews, and many positive actions by TWW to improve the

facility, infrastructure, and management. In addition, the new makeup of the Trenton City Council is a significant and positive development for the success of TWW. Mayor Reed Gusciora was never the problem. He understood the need for TWW to improve in all respects, and now, I believe the new governing body has demonstrated through their actions and vote that they know and understand that the facility needs to be properly funded to meet the demands and conditions set by NJDEP officials.

Since NJDEP is the administrative entity that has the authority over water utility companies operating in New Jersey, it is best positioned to enforce the regulations, identify the issues causing TWW to operate below standards, and compel specific and necessary action for it to improve. Remember, in addition to your township, the State of New Jersey and Mercer County are public entities that represent you and your interests as residents.

I have read many comments on Facebook by residents that believe nothing is being done by their municipal officials. It’s not true. Improving a failing water utility with infrastructure that is

aged and operated by underqualified professionals for decades will take time.

Have the actions taken by NJDEP and the townships to compel TWW to improve worked? Yes, but we ain’t done yet. TWW has made progress, but it still has a long way to go to get where it needs to be to regain the confidence of its customers. Confidence that the water we all drink and use and pay for is safe.

Not from time to time, but always. Getting all of us to that mindset will take sustained and effective efforts by the City of Trenton and TWW to work to do what needs to be done. Until that day happens, rest assured, the NJDEP and the townships will be relentless in their efforts to achieve the goal we all want— consistently safe water to drink and use —and one day not worrying whether it is or not.

For those wanting to take a deeper dive into this subject matter, I encourage you to visit my blog, where I go into more detail and provide links to pleadings by the parties.

Kevin Nerwinski serves as Lawrence Township’s municipal manager. He is a long-time resident of Lawrence.

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