8-23 LG

Willever wins player of the year award

By RIch FISher

Ryan Willever capped his career with Lawrence Post 414 by winning the Mercer County American Legion League Joe Logue Player of the Year, meaning the entire league knew who he was and respected what he did.

It’s a far cry from his first legion game six years ago, when his own pitcher didn’t even know who he was.

Flash back to 2018.

Entering his ninth-grade year at Lawrence High, Willever had made Post 414 as a third-string catcher. He did not join the squad until midway through the season, however, and had little time to get acquainted with his new teammates.

“I knew a lot of the Lawrence guys on the team already from playing baseball and being around that environment,” Willever recalled. “But because I came in the middle of the season I hadn’t really talked to some of those guys.”

That would change quickly. During a game with Notre Dame’s Rob Buecker on the mound for Lawrence, the firststring catcher was playing first base and his backup got hurt with two outs in the sixth

inning. Willever was sitting in the dugout next to the main catcher when the call came.

“They looked over and said to put the gear on,” Willever said. “I kind of looked around like ‘Are you talking to me?’ So I went out there and the first thing (manager Jason Zegarski) told me was ‘Go out and introduce yourself to the pitcher.’ So I ran out to the pitcher’s mound, introduced myself and went behind the plate.”

He was making acquaintances with one of Mercer County’s top players, as Buecker was soon to embark on an outstanding career at West Point (which concluded this year). Fortunately, Buecker is one of the nicest people one could ever meet.

“He definitely made me feel comfortable when I ran out to the mound,” Willever said.

“Everybody got a little laugh out of that. You don’t see someone do that every day. But as an eighth grader I was just doing what I had been told to do.”

Willever caught one strike to end the inning and caught an uneventful seventh. If that wasn’t enough, his first atbat came against a college

By Dan Aubrey

New Trenton Farmers Market manager Bill Kearney is out to get the word out that the historic market is still doing what it did from the start — moving produce.

Kearney took the position as the seventh TFM manager in February, 2023.

He is also the fourth in the past five years. Longtime manager Jack Ball retired in 2019. He was followed by former West Windsor Farmers Market man-

ager Chris Cirkus (2019-22) and then former Capital City Farm organizer Ludovic Andre, who left earlier this year.

Now working the produce stands and glad-handing patrons, Kearney recently

RWJUH Hamilton August Healthy Living / Community Education Programs

RAISED BED, FLAT BREAD

Fri., August 4; 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

THE AARP DRIVING COURSE

Tue., August 8; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Be a safer, better driver. Bring your NJ or PA driver’s license. Fee: $20 for AARP members presenting a valid AARP card; $25 for nonmembers. Cash or check only to AARP.

OVER THE COUNTER HEARING AIDS-FAQ-WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Tues., August 8; 10-11 a.m.

Get the facts on the latest in over-thecounter hearing aids. Learn the facts and get your questions answered by Dr. Lorraine Sgarlato, Au.D. A.B.A. a clinical audiologist with over 40 years of experience in the field of hearing science.

DANCE IT OUT!

Tues., August 8; 6 to 7 p.m. When in doubt, dance it out! Have fun and de-stress with this interactive program. No experience required, all ages welcome.

CREATE YOUR OWN VISION BOARD WORKSHOP

Wed., August 9, 6 to 8 p.m.

What is your deepest desire for what you would like to be, do or have? Come create your own vision board to help bring your dreams to life. Please bring scissors, all other materials provided.

OSTEOPOROSIS SCREENING

Thurs., August 10; 10 a.m.-noon

Ultrasound of heel and personalized information. Appointment required.

ASK THE DIETITIAN

Mon., August 14; 3 – 6 p.m.

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

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION FOR BEGINNERS

Wed., August 16; 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.

TAKE HOME COLORECTAL SCREEN KIT AND LECTURE

COLOR ME HOOPY! FUN AND FITNESS WITH HOOLA HOOPS!

Tues, August 22; 1 to 2:00 p.m. Yes, you can hoola-hoop. It’s much easier to find your rhythm and flow using a “grown up” size hoop. Learn skills and techniques and have a lot of fun. Hoops provided. Fee $15. Angela Ritter, certified Hoop Love Coach and Hoola-Fit instructor.

SUPPORT GROUPS

To learn more about these groups visit www.rwjbh.org/HamiltonPrograms

CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP

Wed., August 2; 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS

OF MEDITATION?

Mon, August 14; 6-7:30 p.m.

The practice of focused concentration, known as meditation, brings yourself back to the moment over and over again. Explore the benefits of meditation in this informational session with optional demonstration. Matt Masiello, CCH, founder of Esteem Hypnocounseling, will guide the group through this practice.

PREDIABETES 101

Tue. August 15; 11 to 12 p.m.

What you need to know and do if you have been diagnosed with prediabetes.

WHAT’S IN THE BOX? **VIRTUAL**

Tue., August 15th 2023; 12 - 1 p.m.

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

Taryn Krietzman, RDN

Wed., August 16; 5 to 6 p.m. Learn how to use a simple take-home test to screen for colorectal cancer and take part in a lecture about how to reduce your risk. Registration required.

DESTROY THE CLOTS: INTERVENTIONS FOR DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS AND PULMONARY EMBOLISM

Wed., August 16; 6 to7:30 p.m. Lasanta Horana, MD, Emergency Department Chair and a Medical Staff Officer at RWJUH Hamilton will discuss the importance of timely interventions when faced with “blood clots”

HEALTHRYTHMS® DRUMMING CIRCLE

Wed, August 16; 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

MEET LOCAL WRITER JESSICA WILSON, AUTHOR OF HEALING JOURNEY’S.

Tues., August 22; 6 to7 p.m. Join Jessica Wilson, author of “Healing Journeys” for a book talk on toxic relationships, where we’ll delve into the different types of abuse and explore what constitutes a toxic relationship. I’ll share strategies to guide you through these challenging situations and empower you on your healing journey.

FEELING BURNED OUT AT WORK?

Tue., August 22; 6 to 7 p.m. Job burnout can affect your physical and mental health. Learn about signs of burnout and what you can do about it.

PICTURE THIS: CRAFTY CREATIONS

Thurs., August 31; 6 to 7:30 p.m. Bring your favorite summertime memories and a creative spark. Craft the night away with family and friends as the summer dwindles down. Fee: $5 per person

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

GRIEF & LOSS SUPPORT GROUP

Thu., August 3, August 17; 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

CARING FOR LOVED ONES WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS

Mon., August 7, August 21 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

ADULT CHILDREN CARING FOR PARENTS

Mon., August 7, August 21st 5:30 to 7 p.m.

LETTING GO OF CLUTTER

Tue., August 8; 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP

Wed., August 16; 6 to 7 p.m.

MANAGING STRESS AND DIABETES

Wed., August 23; 3 to 4 p.m.

WISE WOMEN DISCUSSION GROUP

Thu., August 24; 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Better Health Programs/Complimentary Membership at 65+ Years Old

LET’S TALK, A SENIOR SOCIAL GROUP

Wed., August 2, 9, 16, 23, & 30; 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.

OVER THE COUNTER HEARING AIDSFAQ-WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Tues., August 8; 10-11 a.m.

Get the facts on the latest in over-the-counter hearing aids. Learn the facts and get your questions answered by Dr. Lorraine Sgarlato, Au.D. A.B.A. a clinical audiologist with over 40 years of experience in the field of hearing science.

SOCRATES CAFÉ,

Wed., August 9; 2 to 3 p.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., August 10 & 24; 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.

GAME TIME

Thurs., August 10; 2 to 3:30 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

YOGA CLASSES

Tue., August 15 & 29; 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.

MEDITATION CLASSES,

Tue., August 15 and 29; 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.

TECHNOLOGY CLASS

Wed., August 16; Noon to 1 p.m.

Frustrated navigating online registration for Better Health Programs? Can’t figure out how to text your grandkids. Back to help us with our technology challenges are our friends from “Camp Fire NJ, Teens on Fire.” Whether you have questions about your

mobile device, a laptop, or iPad, bring your device and learn how to complete simple tasks.

PREDIABETES 101

Tue. August 15; 11 to 12 p.m.

What you need to know and do if you have been diagnosed with prediabetes.

ANTIQUES ON THE ROAD

Thu., August 17; 2 to 3:30 p.m

We ask all attendees to arrive promptly at 2 p.m. and be ready for a fun and informative program. Each attendee can bring only ONE item to have appraised. Together we will learn some history about our treasures and find out what’s hot and what’s not in the antique and collectables market. Thomas Petrino will lead this program. He has been a full-time Personal Property Appraiser and is Certified by the Appraisers Guild of America. He also serves as acting appraiser for the NJ Treasury, consults with banks, attorneys and insurance companies to authenticate and appraise estates.

talked turkey about the marketing the market.

“The Trenton Farmers Market operates pretty much like a nonprofit,” he says, getting straight to business. But “it’s a co-op. It’s run by a board of farmers ... It has a president and four members. We keep it operating so local farmers can bring their produce to the market.”

Those farms include Cedarville, East Windsor; Corner Copia, Jacksonville; Cranberry Hall, Cookstown; Pinelands, Hammonton; Russo’s Fruit and Vegetables, Tabernacle; Terhune Orchards; and Zell’s in Hillsborough.

Calling the market “one of the oldest and largest in New Jersey,” Kearney quickly sketches its history.

It started in the early 1900s on an area near the Lower Trenton Bridge — aka Trenton Makes Bridge — to service both Trenton residents and bridge users.

When discussions about creating a highway along the river started, the Trenton Market Growers Cooperative Association was formed. It then purchased its Spruce Street property on the TrentonLawrence Township line in 1939.

The new market opened in 1948 and operated in a combination of buildings and outdoor stands.

After one of the three main structures

burned down, the remaining two were reconfigured into the cross-like structure that generations have come to know.

Kearney says his current “responsibility is vendor relations and to give them everything they need to operate.”

That includes including addressing roof leaks, garbage, and legalities related to insurance and proper registration with federal and state agencies, including the NJ Department of Heath.

“It all provides confidence and a higher level of vendor, people who are serious about their business,” he says.

Complimenting the managers who went before him and “did great things” to keep the market going for nearly a century, he notes that his role is to update to a new era.

That includes overseeing a conversion of the light to LED to enhance look of products and bring utility costs down, improving signage (including the large red electric roof sign), and addressing traffic needs.

“The state and county are going to put in a rotary, and we’re working with the DOT,” he says.

Kearney says a good deal of his job is community relations and awareness.

The Trenton “Island” resident originally from Yardley — where his dad

See TFM, Page 4

LAWRENCE GAZETTE

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

EDITOR

Bill Sanservino (Ext. 104)

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Dan Aubrey, Rich Fisher, Rebekah Schroeder

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

Twitter: twitter.com/mercerspace

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

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

A proud member of:

Tom Valeri

Sara Hastings

Thomas Fritts

Emanski

worked for Fairless Steel and his mom taught music — also plans to use his past 25 years of various experience in the effort.

“I am an experienced marketing, advertising, and consultative sales executive with exceptional strategic, creative and sales presentation skills,” he states on his Linkedin page. “I have extensive knowledge of, and experience in media, public relations and business development garnered from varied positions in sales, marketing, and advertising.

That translates into ad sales for Calkins Media, former owner of the Bucks County and Burlington County Times, director of strategic planning and development for Oxford Communications; a marketing director for TV Guide/TVSM Inc; and others.

In addition to work with TV Guide, the 1986 College of New Jersey graduate says he was also involved with ads and sales for Rita’s Water Ice and Toll Brothers. He is also an administrator for Trenton Orbit, a local Facebook community news site.

Now focusing on the TFM, Kearney says, “I used to handle Bucks Country tourism, and I was aware of destination marketing. We’re not just selling produce but a social experience. We’re trying to leverage that.”

One of the ways is to remind the community that it is a “local legacy destination.”

To make the point, he says, “I hope to do what some call hokey, old-fashioned attraction, like guess how many blueberries are in the container and pumpkin painting.”

Yet to do so, he says he is using some new-fashioned approaches to attract patrons who stopped shopping there during COVID or started going to other fresh produce venues.

“We started or upped our social media,” Kearney says, adding that every Saturday they add something so “people get a taste

of the market.”

Pressing his marketing skills, Kearney says, “It’s great opportunity for engagement. People want to be part of the brand. People say, ‘I used to come here 20 years ago. I am here again because my children saw it on social media.’” He says he has also introduced radio ads.

While there is no current hard statistical data, Kearney understands that the market needs to attract a variety of ages and populations to sustain its future.

He then provides a quick overview of offerings, including Polish and Amish stands with various meats and deli offerings, two vegetarian restaurants, a punkrock venue, and Haitian and Spanish merchants. “There is a lot diversity in our market,” he says.

But that is just the current starting point. And while Kearney says he has also started to provide more seating to accommodate those who need to rest, there are other challenges.

One is adding additional bathrooms. At this time, there is only one station.

But another more important one is maintaining and attracting a variety of quality vendors and developing relationships with those looking to incubate a business while keeping as low as $58 a day for a table.

“I’m trying to develop a culture of ‘we’re-all-in-this together.’ And what are you doing for your business?”

He also would like to provide a place to attract more women who “control 80 percent of U.S. decision spending,” he says.

Yet the market’s potential secret sauce for success isn’t that much of a secret. “We know we’re a farmers market first and foremost. It isn’t a corporation or an office. It is a place where people go to forget the rest of life.”

Trenton Farmers Market, 960 Spruce Street, Lawrence. Hours: Wednesday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. thetrentonfarmersmarket. com.

Capital Health Regional Medical Center Earns National Awards for Excellence

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

The American Heart Association also awarded Capital Health Regional Medical Center its Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll Elite award. To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet quality measures developed to reduce the time between a patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with the clot-buster tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat ischemic stroke.

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

“For many years now, our community has come to rely on Capital Health to provide the most advanced stroke care possible,” said Dr. Dustin Rochestie, director of the Stroke Program and director of Neurology and Neuro Critical Care at Capital Institute for Neurosciences. “By meeting and exceeding the standards established by the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines initiative at RMC—which is home to Capital Institute for Neurosciences and our Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center—we demonstrate our ongoing commitment to ensuring more stroke patients in Central New Jersey and Lower Bucks County can experience longer, healthier lives.”

in Stroke Care

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

Stroke is a time-sensitive emergency. If you suspect you or a loved one is experiencing a stroke, B-E F-A-S-T to know the signs of a stroke and call 911 immediately.

— Balance

Is the person experiencing a sudden loss of balance? B

—

Eyes

Has the person lost vision in one or both eyes? E

—

Face Drooping

Does one side of the face droop, or is it numb? F

A— Arm Weakness

Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S— Speech Difficulty

Is speech slurred? Is the person is unable to speak or hard to understand? As the person to repeat a simple sentence, like “The sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly?

T

— Time to call 911

If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 911 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so you’ll know when the first symptom appeared.

UNDERSTANDING CLINICAL TRIALS

In the medical field, researchers are constantly looking for new information to prevent and cure diseases, treat symptoms, and provide a better quality of life to those who are suffering. One way of gathering this information is through conducting clinical trials.

Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell is now an NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) affiliate site. As a participating site, Capital Health Cancer Center now offers residents in the greater Mercer and Bucks County region access to new and innovative NCI-sponsored clinical trials in the cancer prevention and control, screening, care delivery, and treatment areas. DR. CATALDO DORIA, medical director of Capital Health Cancer Center, leads a team that is dedicated to working with patient volunteers in order to achieve the best outcomes of the studies.

“I think the best way that we achieve the goal is to be one hundred percent honest with the patient and to describe the important details,” said Dr. Doria. “One session might not be enough. One single conversation might not be enough. Sometimes you have to give the patient the time to digest the information. You have to be in the position of giving the patient some materials that he or she can read. And then sometimes you have to follow up with another phone call or with another visit.”

People participate in clinical trials for different reasons. Patients with cancer may want to have access to the latest drugs or treatments. By doing so, they receive added care and attention by the physician and care team. Others may want to help researchers and help patients with the same disease in the future.

After a promising drug has been tested in the lab, it needs to be tested in a clinical trial. As an NCORP participating site, Capital

Health Cancer Center’s team of providers and researchers help patients gain access to clinical trials across a broad range of cancer care benchmarks, including symptom management, prevention, screening, surveillance, care delivery and quality of life.

When participants volunteer for a study, they are informed about the risks and benefits of the study. To best understand the potential risks, it’s important for participants to have a conversation with the researchers or points of contact in the study. These professionals are always open to communicating and begin by sharing what is known as clinical trial protocol, which includes:

… The goal of the study

… Who qualifies to take part in the trial

Details about tests, procedures, and treatments

… The expected length of the trial

… What information will be gathered

In addition to the clinical trial protocol, it’s crucial for volunteers to always ask questions so they have a full understanding of the study and can determine if it is a good fit for them.

To learn more about open clinical trials at Capital Health Cancer Center, visit capitalhealthcancer.org/ncorp to sign-up for email updates or call 609.537.6363 to schedule a consultation with a Cancer Center physician.

Gynecologic (GYN) Cancer Support Group

Second Tuesday

of Every Month

| 10 − 11 a.m. | Location:

Zoom Meeting

Our newest support group is designed specifically for women diagnosed with gynecologic cancers (ovarian, uterine, cervical, vulvar, vaginal). Our support group offers a safe space to share experiences, learn from one another and obtain the social support needed to develop a healthy sense of well-being. This group is open to all from diagnosis to survivorship regardless of where you are receiving your treatment. Meetings will be held virtually via Zoom.

There is no cost to participate, but pre-registration is required. To register, scan the QR code or visit capitalhealth.org/events.

@capitalhealthnj capitalhealthcancer.org

CAPITAL HEALTH MEDICAL CENTER – HOPEWELL REDESIGNATED AS A BABY-FRIENDLY HOSPITAL

ONE OF 13 BABY-FRIENDLY HOSPITALS IN NEW JERSEY

Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell in Pennington, New Jersey has again achieved the international Baby-Friendly designation after a rigorous review process conducted by Baby-Friendly USA, the organization responsible for bestowing this certification in the United States.

Being Baby-Friendly means Capital Health meets the highest standards of care for breastfeeding parents and their babies. These standards are built on the “Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding,” a set of evidence-based practices recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for optimal infant feeding support in the precious first days of a newborn’s life.

“I would like to congratulate our entire team for their extraordinary commitment to our patient community. This third Baby-Friendly® designation ranks us among a select group of facilities that demonstrate an abiding commitment to ensuring every parent feels confident and comfortable feeding their new baby,” said Alexandra Nelson, divisional director of Maternal Child Health Services, Capital Health.

“From the prenatal setting, to inpatient care, and into our pediatric clinic, our teams are wholly committed to providing excellent clinical care grounded in compassion and responsiveness to each family’s unique goals,” said Melanie Miller, manager of Lactation Services at Capital Health. “We are proud to have maintained this designation throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and to have grown our services to include expanded in-house lactation support and increased access to human donor milk.”

The positive health effects of breastfeeding are well documented and widely recognized by health authorities throughout the world. According to the Surgeon General’s 2011 Call to Action to Support

Breastfeeding, “breast milk is uniquely suited to the human infant’s nutritional needs and is a live substance with unparalleled immunological and anti-inflammatory properties that protect against a host of illnesses and diseases for both mothers and children.”

Maternity Services at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell is the most comprehensive maternity program in the area. From routine deliveries to high-risk needs, services at the Josephine Plumeri Birthing Center provide a full range of prenatal, obstetrical, postpartum, and neonatal care options so newborns have the greatest chance for a healthy start. In addition, the Regional Perinatal Center at Capital Health Medical Center - Hopewell provides neonatal care, including Mercer County’s only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for at-risk births. To learn more, visit capitalhealth.org/maternity.

FREE UPCOMING CHILDBIRTH AND PARENT EDUCATION CLASSES

For more information, or to register, visit capitalhealth.org/childbirth.

NEW PARENT SUPPORT GROUP

Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell

One Capital Way

Pennington, NJ 08534

August 7, 2023 | 1:15 p.m.

August 14, 2023 | 1:15 p.m.

BABY CARE BASICS CLASS

Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell

One Capital Way

Pennington, NJ 08534

August 8, 2023 | 6 p.m.

August 22, 2023 | 6 p.m.

September 12, 2023 | 6 p.m.

UNDERSTANDING BIRTH ONE-DAY CONDENSED PREPARED CHILDBIRTH CLASS

Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell

One Capital Way

Pennington, NJ 08534

August 12, 2023 | 9:30 a.m.

August 26, 2023 | 9:30 a.m.

September 9, 2023 | 9:30 a.m.

UNDERSTANDING BREASTFEEDING CLASS

Zoom

August 7, 2023 | 6 p.m.

August 16, 2023 | 6 p.m.

August 21, 2023 | 6 p.m.

FIND A CAPITAL HEALTH MEDICAL GROUP PRIMARY CARE OFFICE NEAR YOU

1. Capital Health Primary Care – Bordentown 100 K Johnson Boulevard N., Suite 101, Bordentown, NJ 08505 609.298.2005 | capitalhealth.org/bordentown

2. Capital Health Primary Care – Browns Mills 6 Earlin Avenue, Suite 290, Browns Mills, NJ 08015 609.303.4560 | capitalhealth.org/brownsmills

3. Capital Health Primary Care – Brunswick Avenue 832 Brunswick Avenue, Trenton, NJ 08638 609.815.7400 | capitalhealth.org/brunswickavenue

4. Capital Health Primary Care – Columbus 23203 Columbus Road, Suite I, Columbus, NJ 08022 609.303.4450 | capitalhealth.org/columbus

5. Capital Health Primary Care – East Windsor 557 US Highway 130 North, East Windsor, NJ 08520 609.303.4480 | capitalhealth.org/eastwindsor

6. Capital Health Primary Care – Ewing 51 Scotch Road, Ewing, NJ 08628 609.883.5454 | capitalhealth.org/ewing

7. Capital Health Primary Care – Hamilton 1445 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road, Suite 103, Hamilton, NJ 08619 609.587.6661 | capitalhealth.org/hamilton 1401 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road, Suite 218, Hamilton, NJ 08619 609.689.5760

8. Capital Health Primary Care – Hopewell Two Capital Way, Suite 359, Pennington, NJ 08534 609.303.4440 | capitalhealth.org/primarycarehopewell

9. Capital Health Primary Care – Lawrenceville 133 Franklin Corner Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 609.815.7270 | capitalhealth.org/lawrenceville

10. Capital Health Primary Care – Levittown 4533 New Falls Road, Levittown, PA 19056 267.540.8220 | capitalhealth.org/levittown

11. Capital Health Primary Care – Mountain View 850 Bear Tavern Road, Suite 309, Ewing, NJ 08628 609.656.8844 | capitalhealth.org/mountainview

12. Capital Health Primary Care – Newtown 3 Penns Trail Road, Newtown, PA 18940 215.504.1761 | capitalhealth.org/primarycarenewtown

13. Capital Health Primary Care – Nottingham 1700 Nottingham Way, Suite 18, Hamilton, NJ 08619 609.303.4870 | capitalhealth.org/nottingham

14. Capital Health Primary Care – Princeton 300 Witherspoon Street, Princeton, NJ 08540 609.303.4600 | capitalhealth.org/princeton

15. Capital Health Primary Care – Quakerbridge 4056 Quakerbridge Road, Suite 101, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 609.528.9150 | capitalhealth.org/quakerbridge

16. Capital Health Primary Care – Robbinsville 2330 Route 33, Suite 107, Robbinsville, NJ 08691 609.303.4400 | capitalhealth.org/robbinsville

17. Capital Health Primary Care – Washington Crossing 1240 General Washington Memorial Boulevard, Suite 3 Washington Crossing, PA 18977 267.573.0670 | capitalhealth.org/washingtoncrossing

18. Capital Health Primary Care – West Windsor 352 Princeton-Hightstown Road, Suite A6 West Windsor, NJ 08550 609.537.7400 | capitalhealth.org/westwindsor

19. Capital Health Primary Care – Yardley 1690 Big Oak Road, Yardley, PA 19067 215.736.9362 | capitalhealth.org/yardley

Storytelling and Voice Sound Loud at Grounds for Sculpture

BY REBEKAH SCHROEDER

If you concentrate on a story, staying mindful of its nature as a living, breathing vessel for keeping traditions alive or unpacking trauma, then you might be able to hear when the speaker, once given the chance to share without judgment and forge interpersonal connections, exhales in relief. The words used still have meaning but no longer bear their heavy weight alone, newly empowered by a mutual sense of community and revitalized by human interaction.

Everyone has the right to express themselves in their own syntax, but only a few people have the opportunity to amplify that point of view with complete control over the language used.

Reaching that loud volume, like any tale worth telling, is always better with company.

The Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton presents this platform to members of New Jersey’s Indian diasporic community for “Local Voices: Memories, Stories, and Portraits,” a living exhibit that opened on the ground floor of the Domestic Arts Building on April 23, 2023, and runs

through January 7, 2024.

This project, along with “Spiral Q: The Parade” on the upper level, are the first to debut in GFS’ new “Perspectives” series, which draws from the creative practices of the artists at its helm as well as the accounts of the people who bring it to life.

Madhusmita “Madhu” Bora, a folk and traditional artist, journalist, educator, writer, and dancer, organized the exhibit in partnership with co-curators Kathleen Ogilvie Greene, the chief audience officer at GFS, and Quentin Williams, the founder and CEO of Dragon Tree Media Group, to ensure personal autonomy and authenticity.

The 15 subjects actively participated in and led the process of chronicling their lived experiences, doing so through video interviews, photography, and by choosing objects that held significance to them.

This range of deep, emotive stories maintains the vulnerabilities that make them unique without being exploited, and the exhibit leaders hope to bridge the conversational gap between individuals of different backgrounds and demonstrate the importance of dialogue.

Upstairs, “Spiral Q” conveys the creativSee Local Voices, Page 4

Community News Service 9 Princess Road, Suite M Lawrenceville, NJ 08648

Phone: (609) 396-1511

News: news@communitynews.org

Events: events@communitynews.org

Letters: rschroeder@communitynews.org

Website: communitynews.org

Facebook: facebook.com/mercereats

Twitter: twitter.com/mercerspace

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.

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

• Back Pain and Neck Pain

• PRP & Stem Cell Therapy

• Knee Osteoarthritis Injections

• Non-Surgical Orthopedics

• Double Board Certified Pain Management Physician

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

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

• What is PRP? PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma. PRP is created from a sample of your own blood, which is drawn from the patient and then put into a machine to separate the platelet-rich plasma from the rest of your blood.

• Am I a candidate for PRP or stem cell therapy? If you have pain due to injury, arthritis, bursitis, tendinitis, or any other condition, you are a candidate for cell-based therapy. Whether you are looking to heal from a traumatic injury, or regenerate older or diseased tissues, PRP or cell-based therapy could be something to help you heal and restore lost function and mobility.

Dr. Ronak Patel

From Local Voices, Page 2

ity behind activism via puppets and protests, with the Philadelphia-based group organizing processions on social issues from transgender rights to affordable housing.

Virtual walkthroughs of both exhibits are available online, with the “Local Voices”

“Local Voices: Memories, Stories, and Portraits,” on display in the Domestic Arts Building at the Grouds for Sculpture, left, is co-curated by artist Madhusmita “Madhu” Bora, a journalist and dancer, right, and runs through January 7, 2024. Installation view courtesy of Bruce M. White. Bora, pictured at the storytelling retreat, courtesy of Monica Herndon.

page on the GFS website, groundsforsculpture.org/exhibitions/local-voices-memories-stoaries-and-portraits, linking to the YouTube videos and audio-only interview segments for each storyteller.

According to the exhibit materials, Grounds for Sculpture developed this project in response to the museum’s 2021 audience demographic census, which revealed a correlation between its attendees and the

JimManfredoniaSingsSinatra

United States Census for those who selfidentified as Asian.

To interact and engage with a specific community from that group, GFS collaborated on an exhibit in which people could

Expanding Territory

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED HELP WANTED

Expanding

Expanding Territory

Community News Service, LLC, publishers of US1, Hamilton Post, Ewing Observer, Lawrence Gazette, Bordentown Current, Hopewell Express, WWP News, Princeton Echo, Trenton Downtowner & Robbinsville Advance, has a NEW position to fill:

Community News Service, LLC, publishers of US1, Hamilton Post, Ewing Observer, Lawrence Gazette, Bordentown Current, Hopewell Express, WWP News, Princeton Echo, Trenton Downtowner & Robbinsville Advance, has a NEW position to fill:

Community News Service, LLC, publishers of US1, Hamilton Post, Ewing Observer, Lawrence Gazette, Bordentown Current, Hopewell Express, WWP News, Princeton Echo,Trenton Downtowner & Robbinsville Advance, has a NEW position to fill:

Advertising Sales Representative

Full/Part-time display advertising sales rep needed. Established account list provided plus cold calls required. Sales experience a must. Candidate must be self-motivated, energetic, outgoing and customer-service oriented.

Full/Part-time display advertising sales rep needed. Established account list provided plus cold calls required. Sales experience a must. Candidate must be self-motivated, energetic, outgoing and customer-service oriented.

Advertising Sales

Full/Part-time display advertising sales rep needed. Established account list provided plus cold calls required. Sales experience a must. Candidate must be self-motivated, energetic, outgoing and customer-service oriented.

e-mail resume as well as references and salary expectations to:

e-mail resume as well as references and salary expectations to:

Thomas Fritts, Community News Service

Thomas Fritts, Community News Service

E-mail: tfritts@communitynews.org

E-mail: tfritts@communitynews.org

EOE

EOE

share their stories as a look at the Indian community in New Jersey, described as “the largest ethnic group among the Asian diaspora” in the state.

According to the Indian American Impact Project, an organization that was founded to promote the voices of Indian Americans and South Asian Americans in politics, “nearly 5% of New Jersey’s population is South Asian, more than any other state in the nation.”

The website continues that “over 1 million Asians live in New Jersey, with Indian Americans making up the largest ethnic group,” particularly concentrated in Middlesex County—Edison and Iselin’s Oak Tree Road, known as “Little India,” is a bustling shopping district at the cultural center of the community.

According to a May 2022 Washington Post analysis of Census Bureau data from 2020 in “An American life: How Asian migrants built unique communities,” Mercer County itself recorded a 48.2% growth of Asian American and Pacific Islander, or AAPI, populations since 2010.

The four storytellers from the Mercer County area are Shazard Mohammed, Hamilton/Ewing; Shivani Patel, Princeton Junction/West Windsor; Yogesh Sharma, Lawrenceville; and Shoba Panoli, Pennington.

“My whole intention was to uplift and celebrate the diverse tapestry of India,” Bora said in an interview, noting that she worked alongside the GFS team, especially Greene, to identify demographic “lenses” such as age, language, religion, economic status, immigration, ability, region, caste, and sexual orientation to incorporate a wide spectrum of storytellers.

Each subject was then liberated from these labels, symbolically unchecking the boxes, as the exhibit materials explain, and prompted to recount a story that affected their life.

“Local Voices” expanded as Bora began to see the emerging pattern of personal agency in each narrative, creating a colorful mosaic of people with roots across India and the globe who collectively followed at least seven religions and spoke more than 10 languages.

After seven months of planning, the group gathered at the Grounds for Sculpture for an all-day retreat in February that included storytelling workshops and training, as well as individual photography sessions in which the subjects “were asked to arrive in clothing [that] made them feel powerful and celebrated,” according to the GFS exhibit page.

The speakers then collaborated with female BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Color) photographers to envision portraits capturing their most authentic selves, selecting which image would be on display.

At the end of the retreat, many of the storytellers left behind objects of significance and scheduled their respective video sessions.

Although the subjects spoke for hours at a time with Bora and photojournalist Danese Kenon, the managing editor of visuals for the Philadelphia Inquirer, the exhibit could only feature a single three- to five-minute story from each person.

Bora disclosed that the full versions would be preserved in a personal copy for the participants as well as in the archives of the exhibit partner, the South Asian American Digital Archive, or SAADA, to document the comprehensive oral histories.

“Local Voices” is a “living exhibit” focused on cultivating relationships over the program itself, but the theme of art with a pulse is familiar to Bora and a natural extension of her own craft.

Inquirer to the Tampa Bay Times

She lived in places like Washington, D.C., Iowa, and Indiana, even settling in Cape May for a three-year period where she wrote for the Press of Atlantic City.

But in 2008, Bora relocated from Florida to Philadelphia, where she has resided ever since.

While she would continue to freelance, Bora decided to experiment with her artistic inclinations and co-founded the Sattriya Dance Company with her sister-inlaw, Prerona Bhuyan, in 2009.

Sattriya is a living dance tradition that originated in the Hindu monasteries of Assam over 500 years ago.

Although the art form had been traditionally practiced by celibate monks, the Indian government recognized Sattriya as a major Indian classical dance in 2000, which led to more women “embracing” the art form, Bora said.

Now, Bora is currently an adjunct instructor at Lincoln University and has since returned to the newsroom as the managing editor of suburban coverage for WHYY, a Philadelphia public radio station.

in this world. As a trained journalist, I’m always curious about the world around me. I was raised in a household of storytellers and disruptors,” she added.

“I grew up with my grandparents in a very rural Indian town, surrounded by art and culture and discussions of politics. Both my grandfathers were freedom fighters, and so I was raised in this atmosphere where culture and stories were always part of my education in this world.”

“Then, as an immigrant living in diaspora, I’m always thinking about what it is like to be an immigrant, how important our stories are, how important identity is, [and] how important stories are in terms of also passing our experiences and wisdom to the next generation and connecting us to our habitat. Stories connect us in very, very deep ways as humans.”

“When somebody’s sharing a story with you, it has a very spiritual overtone, because it’s something very sacred that somebody’s trusting you with their vulnerabilities and their experiences,” Bora said.

“Especially when people who do not have a chance to tell their story are invited to share their story. They are transformed, and we are transformed from listening to their experiences.”

The response has been “overwhelming” from both local and Indian media, according to Bora, with the exhibit having attracted about 500 or so attendees on opening night alone.

Bora said that because of her initial focus on the practical, behind-the-scenes aspects of the project, she rarely had the time to consider the tremendous “impact and outcome” the stories might carry.

But seeing the subjects take “collective ownership” over their stories and embrace the empowerment that comes with that, she added, deeply impacted her as well.

Now, Bora noted that she takes comfort in knowing there is this extended family of people to support each other, and the resilience she has personally learned from them has been invaluable.

Originally from the Northeastern Indian state of Assam, Bora finished her undergraduate and a master’s degree at two institutions in New Delhi before continuing her studies at the Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism in Illinois, where she graduated with another master’s degree.

Bora has worked in newsrooms around the country, tackling business and technology at papers from the Philadelphia

“As a practitioner of this art form, I am drawn to stories. I’m also deeply aware of what it means to not be represented in mainstream art tapestries; it is so specific and nuanced. I guess it makes me a lot more sensitive to folks who are in the margins, because I feel like I operate from the margins, too, with my art form. My journalism is a sense of inquiry and curiosity, and that training of being objective, listening to people, and asking questions is what informed and drove this project,” she explained.

“Everything I do informs how I move

“To be on this journey with them, in sharing their joy and their sorrow and their trauma and then how they overcame so many of life’s hurdles, I was on all those journeys with them, and so it’s been really, really beautiful,” she said.

“It’s important to tell your story. It’s very crucial for each one of us to record the stories of our families, of our elderly people, [and] of our own stories. Stories are magical; stories are transformative; stories help form community and allow us to really be better people,” she said, adding that everyone should tell and claim their stories, as well as place that same value on actively listening to what others share.

See Local Voices, Page 6

At its core, Bora emphasized, “Local Voices” is a “connective project.”

The 15 subjects first met at the museum retreat in February, where they took part in a series of workshops and individual photography sessions. Photo by Monica Herndon, above, from left to right: Kiran Rajagopalan, Farzana Rahman, Asha Lata Devi, and Shoba Panoli.

At its core, Bora emphasized, “Local Voices” is a “connective project.”

“It is owned by the community; it is driven by the community; and again, it’s an offering that speaks to love, loss, and resilience that connects us all as humanity,” she said. ***

Shazard Mohammed Ewing/Hamilton

Born in the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago, Shazard Mohammed, better known by his nicknames “Todd” or “Toddy,” immigrated with his family from the town of San Juan to the Mercer County area in

Mohammed lives in Ewing but owns Roti Plus Caribbean Restaurant at 1147 South Olden Avenue in Hamilton, which he opened in 2021 after helping his uncle, Ramesh Hayban—the then-owner of Trenton’s Hot on D Spot, now under new ownership and the name of Annie’s Hot on D-Spot Roti Shop—run the Trinidadian restaurant.

In his “Local Voices” interview, Mohammed explained that he had never previously traveled outside his country before deciding to take “a page out of history” and follow in the footsteps of his “forefathers who left India to come to Trinidad to become something better and make a better life for their family. They had a 90-day journey, and I was only getting on a plane for five hours.”

As a high school dropout, Mohammed shared that he was unsure about his future in America, but after landing on a Wednes-

day, by that Monday, he “started working at a factory for eight bucks an hour.”

“By the time I left in 2009, I was making almost triple digits,” he said, but the “pressure” of the workplace began to weigh on him, with the “insults” negatively affecting his state of mind.

“Being called ‘highly paid morons’ and having to do dirty work that no one else wanted to do, I felt like I was in slavery. It was taking away from my mental health, so I decided this [was] no longer going to work for me, so I left that and had no idea what I was going to do to support my family.”

After learning through reading his trusty Home Depot books and watching videos, Mohammed took up a job as a handyman, eventually becoming a self-taught licensed contractor in the construction business.

Mohammed then expanded on the troubles of his economic situation, which included veering into the restaurant industry after making an ultimately ill-fated agreement with a family member and having to pick up the pieces himself when it fell apart.

Without this person in the picture, Mohammed “was a housing inspector for hotels and multiple dwellings,” forced to “juggle both jobs, working full-time, and coming to the restaurant afterwards,” he said, starting to get visibly upset from speaking about the toll it took on him.

“There [were] days I drove home and didn’t even know how I got home. It was just all muscle memory,” he continued, breaking again with emotion. “I told my

wife, ‘I have to choose. Either we sell the business or I give up the state job.’”

In the end, Mohammed had to forfeit his retirement plan with the state and continue investing in the business, but as Bora said in her interview for Six09, he was able to create “a place that’s home away from home for so many people,” not just the local Trinbagonian population.

“At times I want to quit. I want to give up, but then I see people come in sometimes— and I’m a humanist, and I also struggle with depression—and some days I see sadness walking in the door, and I just say a few kind words, I serve them with a smile, I ask them how their day [is] going, how’s their family, is everything okay, and by the time they leave, most of them [have] a smile on their face,” Mohammed said.

“That brings joy to me to know that I’m not just running a business; I’m running a business where someone can feel safe when they come in here.”

Some speakers in “Local Voices” were asked additional questions, such as the meaning of their names and why they chose their objects.

Shazard, for example, means “prince” in Arabic, a suggestion from his mother’s best friend, who assumed a grandmotherly role for Mohammed and remarked that he “looked like a prince” at birth.

Meanwhile, his nickname, “Toddy,” came from his older brother, who gave him the title after a young Shazard would ask for a milkshake of the same name.

“Coming to America, people just started calling me Todd. Because I was intimidated

Shazard “Todd” Mohammed, left, the owner of Roti Plus Caribbean Restaurant in Hamilton, and Shivani Patel, right, from West Windsor’s Princeton Junction district, shared what resilience means to them. Photos by Sahar Coston-Hardy and Erica Lee.

or shy to let people know my true name, which is Shazard Mohammed, after 9/11, I just carried the name Todd, so most people thought I was American when they [spoke] to me over the phone, not knowing that I was of an immigrant culture,” he said.

Mohammed’s object is a hoodie with the coat of arms of Trinidad and Tobago, which bears the motto “Together we aspire, together we achieve.”

When people ask what it means to him, Mohammed says that he encourages them, again, to be humanists and to tackle greater challenges as a community.

“I take that to heart, because my interpretation of it is, ‘If we unite, we can conquer; if we come together as people, we can overcome any obstacles in our way,’ so I do wear that hoodie with pride,” he said.

Shivani Patel

Princeton Junction/West Windsor

Shivani Patel, also known as “Shivu,” was born in New Jersey and spoke about her experiences as a young person with autism and epilepsy, as well as the difficulty of managing both conditions while grieving the death of her beloved “late dada” or “dadaji,” which means paternal grandfather.

“When he died, it was so tragic, and it was so sad,” Patel said, adding that it also felt “humiliating” for her because her grandmother “knew nothing” about her autism.

Without his comforting presence, Patel found it “really hard to understand everything after losing dadaji and being with only her” during visits to her grandparents’ house in London.

“But after losing him, I have learned— thank God—how to control myself, etc., how to even control my own medical issues when having a super moment, like [an] unspeakable, un-breathable type of episode

See Local Voices, Page 8

Mohammed chose to display a sweatshirt with the coat of arms of his home country, Trinidad and Tobago, because he follows the “humanist” motto of the nation he immigrated from in 2000: “Together we aspire, together we achieve.”

The red khartal, a wooden clapper consisting of blocks and jingles, above, is an ancient musical instrument that resonates with Patel.

of high blood pressure issue when something doesn’t make me feel like, ‘Okay, I’m not comfortable in this position. I need to run away,’ or ‘I need to scream my head off, and I’m about to feel like I’m going to faint.’”

“Thanks to God and Grandpa, remembering all that and praying all that, I know how to handle those issues, because Dada used to tell me when I was younger that, ‘If you don’t calm down, you’re going to have a heart attack or a seizure, try to calm down,’ and I would manage it, I would calm down,” Patel explained, adding that in the time since his passing, she has worked on remembering the techniques he taught her to cope with stressful situations.

To Six09, Bora described Patel as “a beautiful spirit” who arrived at the retreat in “her full, glorious self,” eager to embody that strength for others.

Patel’s object is the khartal, a two-piece percussion instrument from Rajasthan, India, where a pair of “wooden blocks with small dimples are held in each hand,” then “clapped together when devotional and folk songs are performed,” she said.

The sound comes from the meeting of the cymbals, typically brass plates, adorning the two parts.

Yogesh Sharma

Lawrenceville

Yogesh Sharma founded Lawrenceville’s Radha Krishna Temple, “one of the oldest Hindu religious and cultural centers in Central New Jersey,” in 2002, according to its website.

Located at 357 Lawrence Station Road, the temple provides “Hindu and Vedic services, poojas, and ceremonies,” having expanded from one room to four buildings as the years progressed.

Sharma details that while she started the sacred space to assist priests and others in need, the temple only came to be because another living being close to her needed help—after neighborhood complaints about her dog’s barking reached the courtroom, a judge ordered its euthanization.

“I started going to another temple to pray for his life,” she recalled. “There, I met a priest who was in trouble in that temple. He asked me to help him out, and after a few days, he asked me to start a new temple where he [could] get his green card or visa, but I said, ‘Well, we don’t know anything about the temple, and so therefore we cannot do it,’” she explained.

“But he tried to convince me that, no, he will ‘take care of everything’ and ‘it will be a great thing for [the community].’”

Sharma shared that she and her husband did not have the background to run a temple, but the priest insisted, beginning a pattern of broken promises from people she assumed to be “very honest and honorable people” due to their religious backgrounds.

Although they were initially shocked to encounter the opposite, the Sharmas built the place of worship together and recruited those of the faith who kept their word.

In addition to having grown the Radha Krishna Temple from these uncertain beginnings, Bora commented that Sharma “is just a force of nature and has also overcome so many challenges in her life.”

“My dog was saved with my prayers, and [the] community is very happy with that

little temple,” Sharma reflected, noting that now, “We are like one big, huge family. We all love each other in that temple and try to do the best for the community.”

Sharma stated that in the future, she hopes to bring in even more priests, particularly Indian women—a new addition for most temples—as part of her mission to keep growing the community at Radha Krishna.

Sharma’s objects are “a silk sari and figurines of Rama and Sita,” the latter being two figures from the Sanskrit epic poem “Ramayana” who are incarnations of the Hindu gods Vishnu and Lakshmi

As the most common adaptation of the story goes, Rama rescued his wife, Sita,

Sat. 11/04/23

In-person: Rosedale Park Pennington, NJ Virtual option available.

Participation Options:

-5k in-person -1 mile in-person

-10k in-person -Virtual

Inspire youth to BE GREAT & strive for great futures!

Both Yogesh Sharma of Lawrenceville, above, the founder of the Radha Krishna Temple, and Shoba Panoli of Pennington, opposite page right, reflected on the transformative power of religion and love. Speaker photos by Roshni Khatari and Erica Lee.

Sharma loaned GFS a pair of figurines depicting Rama and Sita, the avatars of Hindu deities Vishnu and Lakshmi, above, while Panoli chose her prayer book and photo card of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, a “central figure” in her Baha’i faith and the son of its founder, Bahá’u’lláh, pictured on the following page.

The tale is a classic testament to the triumph of light over darkness, or good over evil, as conveyed through holiday legend.

Shoba Panoli Pennington

In her interview, Shoba Panoli introduces herself as “a Malaysian American of Sri Lankan and Indian heritage” who dreamed of settling down in Australia like her aunts but would end up in the United States as the result of an unexpected romance.

“But life sometimes has surprising twists, and you end up in a different place,” she said, sharing how their paths first crossed. “One day I was bored, and I was surfing the web, trying to look up the place that my dad was visiting in India. As I was reading up on Kerala, I stumbled upon a chat room, and there were only a handful of individuals in that room.”

“A guy said hello to me, and we started a small conversation, and he was attracted to my Sri Lankan Malayali background, and he found that a bit unique since he hasn’t met anyone with that background; little did I know that this would be the guy that I would one day get married to.”

Even when Panoli moved to Switzerland, she “continued chatting every day” with him, exchanging “hundreds of emails” that the two never deleted and still treasure

See Local Voices, Page 10

today.

“After finally chatting for about two years, we decided to meet face-to-face, so I flew to New York to meet him, and as the plane was touching down, I was feeling very nervous, and I was thinking to myself, ‘What if everything that he’s told me was a big lie?’ ‘What if he was a fake?’” Panoli said. This worry escalated as she spent over an hour searching for his face among the airport crowd, unable to find the man she was supposed to meet until Panoli spotted him—dressed in the exact outfit he had described to her—and immediately recognized her future husband.

“I was in the United States for only a week, and he took me places; we saw a lot of things, and he took me to the top of the Empire State Building and asked me to

marry him,” she remembered fondly.

“I believe this was fate. If my dad wasn’t visiting India, I wouldn’t have gone online that day trying to look up the place that he was visiting, and we’ve been married for 23 years and have two wonderful boys.”

Panoli, characterized by Bora as a mother with “a very tender, sweet family,” received her name, meaning “light,” from her great-grandfather.

Panoli’s object is a prayer book and photo card of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, an important figure to her as a lifelong member of the Baha’i Faith.

“‘Abdu’l-Bahá is the master of the Baha’i faith, and he showed us how a Baha’i should live his life. I always carry that picture with me to remind myself of how a Baha’i should act,” Panoli explained in the audio interview.

Panoli added that prayer has always been an “important component” of her life, connecting her with God and guidance, and she has had this book for at least 15 to 20 years, which contains prayers for a variety of purposes and applications.

On the exhibit page for “Local Voices,” Panoli said that the following quote from the founder of the Baha’i Faith, Bahá’u’lláh, is always an inspiration for her:

“Do not be content with showing friendship in words alone; let your heart burn with loving kindness for all who may cross your path.”

***

“Local Voices: Memories, Stories, and Portraits” runs through January 7, 2024, in the Domestic Arts Building at the Grounds for Sculpture, 80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton.

For more information, call 609-586-0616 or visit www.groundsforsculpture.org

Back to School

The Cambridge School

Where children who learn differently can thrive

Children who learn differently deserve to be educated in a school where they can thrive. For over 20 years, Cambridge School, in Pennington, NJ, has been that place, an extraordinary K-12 school that specializes in educating students with language-based learning differences. The guiding principle of the Cambridge School, since its founding, has been that every child deserves the opportunity for an excellent education.

Cambridge is committed to providing that education in a warm, nurturing and individualized learning environment for children who learn differently. Our mission is to prepare each student with the necessary academic, personal and social skills to succeed.

Students diagnosed with languagebased learning differences such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD, auditory processing disorder, or executive function challenges, typically struggle in traditional academic settings. Cambridge teachers are highly trained language specialists who utilize a student-centered approach to provide a personalized, yet comprehensive educational experience. When taught using research based methods that target their unique learning difference, these

bright children achieve measurable academic success. The Cambridge language curriculum is supported by the use of evidence based programs. Utilizing explicit, direct and systematic instruction, our teachers are able to scaffold and support the unique needs of each child. As educators, we believe that multisensory teaching strategies create more engaging, concrete and meaningful learning experiences. Enhanced by small classes, our approach allows each student to progress at his or her own pace. The result? Students increase their learning skills, gain confidence and self-esteem; and learn that they can thrive.

Cambridge School also has an impressive staff of highly qualified Speech and Language Pathologists and Occupational Therapists. For students who require these additional services our therapists design an individualized and comprehensive therapeutic program. They work with the student individually in therapy as well as collaboratively with his or her teacher to ensure that the therapy goals generalize into the academic classroom.

If you feel your child might benefit from a Cambridge School education, we invite you to come for a personal tour. Our campus is located in the Princeton, NJ area, though our students come from all over New Jersey and parts of Pennsylvania, particularly Bucks County. Discover how your child can thrive at thecambridgeschool.org

Back to School

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 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

St. George Preschool

Enroll now for the 2023-2024 school year

Classes for 3 year olds and 4 year olds

Potty trained

Full- 1/2 day, early morning drop off, late pick up schedules available Competitive tuition rates - secure environment indoor gym - outdoor playground - qualified educators

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 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 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 12.

Angela Gering Director

“Building a foundation for a lifetime love of learning”

St. George Preschool

A Safe Place for Growth

At St. George Preschool, we believe that each child has an innate drive for exploring, discovering, communicating, and learning. Our purpose is to provide a safe, warm, and nurturing environment for children to develop this innate drive to the fullest, and become life-long learners. Our goal is to help each child develop his/her individual interests, creativity and potential at their own pace by providing a wide variety of fun and ageappropriate activities and materials. In addition to the developmental goals in the areas of math, language, science, cognitive skills, motor skills, etc., stipulated by the state, the school aims to promote learning skills for life.

At the same time, we aim to enhance the child’s social, moral, cultural and spiritual growth through group interactions, uplifting stories, cultural events and gentle guidance. Since “a healthy mind is in a healthy body” as the Ancient Greeks said, we provide a huge indoors gym and a beautiful play ground with regular physical activities.

We offer high quality academic English programs for Preschool (3 years and potty trained) and Pre-K (must be 4 years old by October 1 of school year). Early morning care, after care, and enrichment programs are also available. We are part of the Saint George Greek Orthodox Church and state

licensed by the New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services. Our experienced staff has a passion building a foundation for a life-long love of learning. We are truly a family and we treat your children as such. For more information regarding

our program, please visit our website.

Saint George Preschool, 1200 Klockner Road, Hamilton. 609-586-2223. Contact director Angela Gering at director@stgeorgepreschool.org. See ad, page 11

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!

HELP WANTED

Part time advertising/ sponsorship customer service representative. Work with sales team to maintain customer base. Must be very proficient in Microsoft Office 365. 15 hours per week, $15.00/ hour. Position in Allentown, NJ. Angelo@FoxRunGroup. com

GET PAID DAILY! WORK FROM HOME WORK FROM ANYWHERE PART-TIME/ SPARE TIME FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CALL: 609380-3124

SERVICES

LEGAL SERVICES Wills, Power of Attorney, Real Estate, Federal and NJ Taxes, House calls available. Bruce Cooke, Esq. 609-7994674, 609-721-4358.

F,D,Mason Contractor, Over 30 years of experience. Brick, Block, Stone, Concrete. No job too large or small. Fully Insured and Licensed. Free Estimates 908-385-5701 Lic#13VH05475900.

Are you single? Try us first! We are an enjoyable alternative to online

dating. Sweet Beginnings Matchmaker, 215-539-2894, www.sweetbeginnings.info.

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 DrewJudy Bolton- Dana girls, WITH DUSTJACKETS in good shape), Dell Mapbacks - Good Girl Art PULPS - non-sports cards, good conditioned pre 1975 paperbacks old COLLIER’S. Call 609-619-3480 or email happyheroes@gmail.com

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

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.

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 609-635-3751 OR email suppsoln27@ YAHOO.COM FOR DETAILS.

3,500 SF OFFICE SPACE, Ewing/Mercer County, FREE RENT, 201-4884000 or 609-883-7900

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)947-4222.

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

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 609259-7710.

NATIONAL CLASSIFIED Health & Fitness

Dental insurancePhysicians Mutual Insurance Company. Covers 350 procedures. Real insurance - not a discount plan. Get your free dental info kit!

1-855-526-1060 www. dental50plus.com/ads

#6258

Attention oxygen therapy users! Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only

2.8 pounds. Free info kit. Call 877-929-9587

Miscellaneous

Prepare for power outages today with a GENERAC home standby generator $0 Down + Low Monthly Pmt Request a free Quote. Call before the next power outage: 1-855-948-6176

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule free LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-833-610-1936

HughesNet - Finally, super-fast internet no matter where you live.

25 Mbps just $59.99/mo!

Unlimited Data is Here. Stream Video. Bundle TV & Internet. Free Installation. Call 866499-0141

Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800245-0398

Become a published author. We want to read your book! Dorrance Publishing trusted since 1920. Consultation, production, promotion & distribution. Call for free author’s guide 1-877-729-4998 or visit dorranceinfo.com/ads

DISH TV $64.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95

High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Promo Expires 1/21/23. 1-866479-1516

Safe Step. North America’s #1 Walk-in tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-the-line installation and service. Now featuring our free shower package & $1600 off - limited time! Financing available. 1-855-417-1306

MobileHelp, America’s premier mobile medical alert system. Whether you’re home or away. For safety & peace of mind. No long term contracts! Free brochure! 1-888489-3936

Free high speed internet if qualified. Govt. pgm for recipients of select pgms incl. Medicaid, SNAP, Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Benefits, Lifeline, Tribal. 15 GB internet. Android tablet free w/one-time $20 copay. Free shipping. Call Maxsip Telecom! 1-833-758-3892

Inflation is at 40 year highs. Interest rates are way up. Credit Cards. Medical Bills. Car Loans. Do you have $10k or more in debt?

Call National Debt Relief to find out how to pay off your debt for significantly less than what you owe! Free quote: 1-877-592-3616

Wesley Financial Group, LLC Timeshare

Cancellation ExpertsOver $50,000,000 in timeshare debt & fees cancelled in 2019. Get free info package & learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. 833-308-1971

The best kind of back support is spine care close to home. Do it right. Here.

Find relief with our board-certified specialists just minutes away.

When you need treatment for spinal problems, even the thought of traveling out-of-state for care can be painful. At RWJBarnabas Health, our orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons work with you to create a personalized treatment plan, right in your own community. We offer non-surgical treatments in addition to the latest surgical techniques, such as reconstruction and minimally invasive robotic surgery. Learn more at rwjbh.org/spine

Ryan Willever shows off the MCALL Joe Logue Player of the Year Award, which was presented to him on July 20, 2023. freshman.

“I don’t think I even swung the bat,” he said. “I walked on four pitches.”

After getting that out of the way, Willever went on to a solid career in both high school and legion. He had a .298 career average with the Cardinals, highlighted by a senior season in which he hit .404. For Post 414 Ryan made strides each year and enjoyed his best season to date in 2022.

“I thought I had a chance at (Player of the Year) last year,” he said. “I played really well last year. Not getting it kind of upset me a little bit. But getting it this year felt really good.”

He went out and had an even better year this summer, as it would be hard to argue against Willever’s selection.

In the regular season he hit .469 with seven doubles, 13 RBI, a team-high nine stolen bases and 18 runs scored. He excelled equally on the mound, going 3-0 with a 1.00 ERA and just four walks while striking out 26.

“Two years ago we won our first-ever Final Eight game, that was super special,” Willever said. “And going back for the fourth time in my last year is great. It gives me a chance to keep playing with the guys.”

Willever is obviously a big reason why Lawrence keeps getting back to the states. Aside from his offense, he plays first base, third base, shortstop and catcher. As a pitcher, he can start, pitch long relief or close.

“He’s the ultimate utility guy, the ultimate jack of all trades,” Zegarski said. “He’s probably our number three or four pitcher, but he’s our main utility pitcher because he can pitch wherever we need him. And in the field, he goes anywhere we need him to play.

“He’s also one of the nicest kids we’ve ever had. Just a great kid to have on the team.”

At the plate, Willever is disciplined, and also fearless when it comes to balls smacking into his body. He did not play in college during the spring, but took swings constantly at CenterCourt Baseball in Lawrence to keep himself sharp.

“He’s not your typical power hitting lefty, he’ll use all fields,” Zegarski said. “I tell him all the time ‘Stay left center, right over the shortstop’s head.

“And for some reason I’ve never seen anybody get hit by more pitches than Ryan Willever. I don’t know if he’s got a magnet for the ball in his elbow guards but I’ve never seen anybody get hit more. It may hurt but whenever he gets hit he just kind of laughs it off.”

On the mound, Willever has an ample arsenal to choose from.

“He has nice velocity, a nice curveball, a little change-up,” Zegarski said. “He’s always ready. If we need him and we know we’re in a tight situation we’ll look to wherever he is on the field and we’ll say ‘You good?’ He’ll give us the thumbs up and we know we’re good.”

The hardest part of that process is remembering where to look on the field, since Willever plays so many positions. That is a talent Ryan learned by diversifying himself throughout his career.

“In little league my dad coached me and he wasn’t the guy to always put me at shortstop, he put me all over the place,” Willever said. “That really helped me just get comfortable. When I started playing travel I didn’t say I just played one position, I said I played a bunch of positions just to try to get on the field. My main focus was to try and get on the field any way possible. Playing all those different positions put me in a good spot to do that.”

In post-season play, the lefty was the winning pitcher in Lawrence’s 8-6 win over North Hamilton in a District 4 state elimination game. With Ryan collecting two hits and three RBI, Post 414 beat Washington Twp. two days later to reach the Final 8 of the state tournament for the fourth straight year. The states started on July 21. See WILLEVER, Page 10

After graduating from Lawrence in 2022, Willever went to Rowan College

WILLEVER continued from Page 1

of South Jersey (formerly Gloucester County College) but said “It just wasn’t for me.” He transferred to Mercer but is unsure if he will play for the Vikings, who only made an offer for him to pitch.

“I haven’t made a full decision if I’m gonna play,” he said. “Pitching is not my favorite spot to play, I’d rather play anywhere in the infield and hit.”

But he did enjoy pitching for Post 414, especially when his brother Connor served as his catcher. Connor was a freshman on the high school team, and this marked the first time the two brothers ever got to play together.

“It was definitely cool,” Ryan said.” There were some mixed emotions there. Sometimes it can get really annoying from my point of view. Pitching to him was super fun, I never thought I’d have been able to do that. Having him on the team is great. I love having him on the team, even if he’s my little brother and he gets annoying sometimes.”

Isn’t that what little brothers are for?

“Exactly,” Willever said with a laugh. “That’s their job.”

Connor made the most of his limited time this year, batting .304 (4-for-13) with two RBI and two stolen bases.

“I really liked him behind the dish,”

Zegarski said. “As a freshman he receives the ball well, he got a few hits for us when he played. He definitely has a bright future as long as he keeps working hard.”

Connor was part of Lawrence High’s most successful team in 50 years this past spring and, unfortunately for Ryan, he had to live vicariously through his brother to enjoy the massive accomplishments that he missed out on by a year.

“I got to see a lot of the games,” Willever said. “It was nice to see how much success they get but I was definitely bummed out that I missed out on it.”

Entering the Final 8, Willever was hoping to go out on a high note in legion, an organization he has remained loyal to while also playing travel ball with CenterCourt.

“It was just a fun environment to play in,” he said. “I knew how many schools we pulled from my first two years and this year we added Hopewell too. Knowing how good our team can be and knowing this coach is going to watch out for me; it was more just a place where I could go have fun and not have to worry.”

Especially since he has stopped introducing himself to teammates in the middle of a game.

Celebrate the past at history museums in Mercer County

By Dan Aubrey and Rebekah Schroeder

The state of New Jersey is steeped in historic attractions that provide a yearround reminder of the state’s role in America’s independence and in other important events in military history.

For those history buffs looking for a refresher course or an educational and family-friendly summer excursion, below is a guide to the military museums in the Lawrence Township area.

National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey

The original National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey is based in Sea Girt, but the secondary site at the Lawrenceville Field Artillery Annex, located on the New Jersey Army National Guard complex, uses its own military weapons, uniforms, photographs, documents, and interpretative texts to chronicle the state’s history of service from the early settlements through the present day.

It also claims to possess one of the largest collections of New Jersey-related Civil War research material in the country, including copies of diaries, letters, newspaper clippings, memoirs, regimental histories, and articles — all while paying attention to the diverse experiences of the New Jersey citizen soldier.

The NJ Militia Museum’s website recommends that visitors come prepared with a valid form of identification, such as a driver’s license, and enter the National Guard complex through Gate #3. After checking in with the security guard at the booth, follow directions to the parking lot and take note of the outdoor exhibits of

historic tanks and large-caliber guns on display.

In a Facebook post, NGMM of NJ referred to the Nike Ajax missiles (see cover), co-designed by Bell Laboratories, as “the world’s first guided, surface-to-air missile system.”

The museum offers docent-led tours and educational programming in its mission to conserve and convey the nuances of the armed forces in New Jersey, an extensive legacy enriched by displays in galleries that span “over 350 years” of state history on the subject, according to its website.

The NGMM of NJ launched its Mercer County sister location at the Lawrencev-

ille Armory in 1998. Thanks to about $1.2 million in federal and state funding, the museum expanded with new buildings and reopened in October 2021.

The approximately 6,000-square-foot facility now has “display space to better complement the impressive collection of armored vehicles and artillery surrounding the complex,” according to the online history page for the museum.

William Kale, the volunteer co-curator of the museum, has said that the second site was chosen as part of a larger desire to highlight the important New Jersey Revolutionary War battle sites in Trenton and Princeton.

Kale, a retired lieutenant colonel who

was born and raised in Trenton, worked for the state upon his return from being stationed in countries like Germany and Vietnam before stepping into similar curatorial shoes as his brother, the late Army Colonel Donald W. Kale, who helped found the Lawrenceville museum.

One of the featured exhibits is a mannequin in a “Jersey Blue” uniform worn by soldiers from the first militia regiment, which was established by provincial legislators in 1673. The blue coat and red facings remained unchanged until the early stages of the American Revolution.

In 1779, General George Washington established uniform regulations that required the facings to be buff-colored.

While the Third New Jersey Regiment refused to give up the red, other state regiments did and created an alleged connection to today’s New Jersey: “The color of the flag adopted by the newly independent state of New Jersey was supposedly patterned after the buff facing of New Jersey’s soldiers in Washington’s army,” the museum noted.

Quickly, visitors learn that there were two uniforms used by New Jersey Revolutionary War soldiers. One was the Frenchmade uniform consisting of a blue coat with “white trim on the hat [that] depicts infantry and the white brocade [that] symbolizes the alliance with France.”

The other was the Colonial Rifleman’s uniform of flax, cotton, wool, and a rifleman’s hat. They also adopted the practice of wearing moccasins for comfort and, since riflemen often served as skirmishers and had to move quickly, mobility.

After exhibit is the Whiskey Rebellion, when the New Jersey Militia organized 4,000 men to form three infantry and two

THE BUXTON -MONSPORT TEAM SELLS

THE BUXTON -MONSPORT TEAM SELLS

LAWRENCE!

LAWRENCE!

THE BUXTON -MONSPORT TEAM SELLS

LAWRENCE!

Dawn: 609.462.8333

Dawn: 609.462.8333

Dawn: 609.462.8333

Mark: 609.658.1127

Mark: 609.658.1127

Mark: 609.658.1127

Office: 609.987.8889

Office: 609.987.8889

Office: 609.987.8889

dawnmonsport@verizon.net mcutaneo5@gmail.com

dawnmonsport@verizon.net mcutaneo5@gmail.com

dawnmonsport@verizon.net mcutaneo5@gmail.com

YOUR LAWRENCEVILLE TEAM

YOUR LAWRENCEVILLE TEAM

YOUR LAWRENCEVILLE TEAM

Mercer CountyTop Producer Broker & Sales Associates

Mercer CountyTop Producer Broker & Sales Associates

Mercer CountyTop Producer Broker & Sales Associates

Licensed in NJ & PA

Licensed in NJ & PA

Licensed in NJ & PA

The National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey is located on Eggerts Crossing Road in Lawrence Township. The site also features a collection of armored vehicles and artillery on display at the Lawrenceville Field Artillery Annex.

cavalry regiments as part of a four-state militia force to address a Western Pennsylvania insurrection against the federal tax on whiskey in 1794, the next section transitions into materials on the Civil War.

Another stop focuses on the 1898 Spanish-American War, where “the declaration of war with Spain found the New Jersey National Guard ready and eager to meet the call for troops.”

Then 20th and 21st-century conflicts take over a major section of the exhibition area with objects from World Wars I and II and the Vietnam War, which yielded the last U.S. military weapons on display at the museum.

The National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey, at Lawrenceville, Lawrenceville Armory, 151 Eggert Crossing Road, Lawrenceville. Free admission and parking. Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed on state holidays. 609-213-3296 or njmilitiamuseum.org/lawrenceville.

Benjamin Temple House

The Benjamin Temple House at Drake Farm Park in Ewing was built circa 1750, taking its name from an early area settler and prosperous farmer. Temple was the friend, as well as the brother-in-law, of Declaration of Independence signer and Hopewell resident John Hart.

While the Temple family maintained and modified the Georgian-style house at the border of Ewing and Hopewell for 150 years, records show that the house was eventually sold in 1903 to Patrick Ryan, whose family operated a dairy there for the next half century at its spot along Pennington Road.

The Ewing Township Historical Preservation Society now operates out of the structure, which was moved and saved from demolition alongside its now-owner, Ewing Township, during the construction of Interstate 95 in the early 1970s.

From its relocated spot at Federal City Road on 26 acres of parklands, the landmark, sometimes referred to as the Old

Ryan Farm or the Temple-Ryan Farmhouse, is active as a museum and a central hub for Ewing history.

Benjamin Temple House, 27 Federal City Road, Ewing Township. Free. Hours: Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; open house tours held on the first Sunday of every month from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.; all other times are by appointment only with the site manager. 609-883-2455 or info@ ethps.org.

Washington Crossing State Park

But before the troops could successfully defeat British forces in Princeton, General George Washington’s troops famously crossed the Delaware River on Christmas Night, 1776.

As he led his men to confront the Hessians, the future president paved the way for Washington Crossing State Park in Titusville to become another reservoir of Revolutionary War historical knowledge.

Starting May 28, the Historic Education Committee of the Washington Crossing Park Association, or WCPA, will host free guided history tours on Sundays from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Washington Crossing Visitor Center Museum.

According to the NJDEP website, these begin with the museum’s two galleries: one where guests can watch and discuss the NJN-produced film “Ten Crucial Days: The Road to Liberty” in the auditorium, which documents the time between Washington’s Crossing and the Battles of Trenton and Princeton, and another that houses the “over 500 authentic Revolutionary War artifacts” on loan from the Swan Historical Foundation Collection.

Other stops include Sullivan Drive and Continental Lane, the Stone Barn, and the landing overlook by the Johnson Ferry House. Tickets must be reserved in advance via the WCPA’s page on EventBrite.

The Johnson Ferry House is a circa 1740 farmhouse that overlooks the Dela-

ware River. Historians believe that Washington’s men might have stayed here prior to utilizing the transport services and making the journey across the freezing cold waters. The building is furnished with Colonial-era period pieces and reproductions, including an 18th-century kitchen garden.

Washington Crossing State Park charges a $5 cash fee will be implemented every weekend until Labor Day on September 4.

Washington Crossing State Park, 355 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road, Titusville, Hopewell Township. Free. Hours (Visitor Center Museum): Every day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 609-7370623. Hours (Johnson Ferry House): Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to noon, then 1 to 3:45 p.m. 609-7372515. WashingtonCrossing@dep.nj.gov.

More Sites to visit

The Old Barracks, which were originally constructed during the French and Indian War in 1758 to house British soldiers, notably sheltered the Hessian forces during the Battle of Trenton. The site now actively hosts historical tours and events.

The Old Barracks Museum, 101 Barrack Street, Trenton. Open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission prices: adults, $10; students and seniors, $8; active military and children under five years of age, free. 609396-1776 or barracks.org.

Hamilton’s “Pepper House,” described online as “the first Civil War Museum in New Jersey,” has yet to reopen to the public since it closed “temporarily” because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the circa 1730 John Abbott II House down the road at 2200 Kuser Road remains in use by the Historical Society of Hamilton Township, with weekend hours from noon to 4:30 p.m.

The Civil War and Native American Museum, 2202 Kuser Road, Hamilton. Those looking for a one-of-a-kind trip into art, history, and New Jersey culture only need to drive less than an hour outside of the area code to join members of the Navy Lakehurst Historical Society for free tours of the Navy Lakehurst Heritage Center, which is located at the active U.S. military base that is part of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

As a final note, the New Jersey State Museum in Trenton also has a formidable collection of Civil War flags recovered from military units raised in New Jersey, encompassing nearly 200 cavalry, volunteer regiment, and captured Confederate battle flags that rotate through the exhibit.

Did you get enough sleep last night?

Ask The Doctor

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in three American adults do not get enough sleep on a regular basis.

A lack of sleep or poor quality sleep has been linked to chronic diseases and conditions, such as Type 2 Diabetes, obesity, depression, and heart

From preventing minor mistakes at work to an increased risk of injury, good sleep is important to your health. Kevin Law, MD, RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group, who specializes in pulmonology, critical care and sleep medicine, answers some key questions regarding sleep disorders and the first steps in determining the cause of

sleep disturbance.

What are the most common types of sleep disorders? The most common sleep disorder is sleep apnea, which affects as many as 18 million Americans. Sleep apnea is a breathing disorder that disrupts a person’s sleep and usually is accompanied by snoring. Men and people who are obese are at greatest risk. Restless leg syndrome is often referred to as “the most common problem you have never heard of.” It is a neurological movement disorder characterized by an uncomfortable sensation in the legs. Because it occurs most frequently late in the day or at night, especially when lying down, restless leg syndrome is a leading cause of sleep problems.

Narcolepsy, another prevalent sleep disorder, is a chronic neurological disorder that is characterized by involuntary sleep attacks at inappropriate times, such as falling asleep at your desk or during a business meeting.

How can sleep disorders impact

your health?

If untreated, sleep disorders can increase a person’s risk for heart attacks, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, heartburn and depression. Lack of sleep also can lead to “drowsy driving,” which is a dangerous situation for everyone on the road. In addition, sleep disorders can impact your work productivity and personal relationships.

What should I do if I suspect that I have a sleep disorder?

Talk to your doctor. “Snoring, insomnia, sleep apnea and other sleep disorders are more common than you think. They can be a sign of a serious health condition and put you at risk for high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke and the inability to maintain a healthy weight,” says Dr. Law. An overnight sleep study may be needed to pinpoint the cause of your sleep disturbance. RWJUH Hamilton ‘s Sleep Center is an accredited Medical Center by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and offers a full range of services used in the evaluation, diagnosis and management of many sleep-related disorders in adults and children. The Center offers customized scheduling for your convenience and is located at 1 Union Street, West Lake Building, in Robbinsville.

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.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 8

Dance It Out! 6 to 7 p.m. When in doubt, dance it out! Have fun and destress with this interactive program. No experience required, all ages welcome.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9

Create Your Own Vision Board Workshop. 6 to 8 p.m. What is your deepest desire for what you would like to be, do or have? Come create your own vision board to help bring your dreams to life. Please bring scissors, all other materials provided.

MONDAY, AUGUST 14

Ask the Dietitian. 3 to 6 p.m. Do you have a question about diet and nutrition? Join a community education dietitian for a one-onone Q&A. Registration is required. Taryn Krietzman, RDN

What Are The Benefits Of Meditation? 6 to 7:30 p.m. The practice of focused concentration, known as meditation, brings yourself back to the moment over and over again. Explore

the benefits of meditation in this informational session with optional demonstration. Matt Masiello, CCH, founder of Esteem Hypnocounseling, will guide the group through this practice.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16

Prediabetes 101. 4 to 5 p.m. What you need to know and do if you have been diagnosed with prediabetes.

Destroy The Clots: Interventions For Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism. 6 to7:30 p.m. Lasanta Horana, MD, FACEP, Director of Emergency Medicine, will discuss the importance of timely interventions when faced with “blood clots”

TUESDAY, AUGUST 22

Healing Journeys: Discussion with Author Jessica Wilson. 6 to 7 p.m. Join Jessica Wilson, author of “Healing Journeys” for a book talk on toxic relationships, where we’ll delve into the different types of abuse and explore what constitutes a toxic relationship. I’ll share strategies to guide you through these challenging situations and empower you on your healing journey. Feel free to ask any questions in a safe and supportive environment. Let’s unravel the complexities of toxic relationships together. Free.

Feeling Burned Out at Work? 6 to 7 p.m. Job burnout can affect your physical and mental health. Learn about signs of burnout and what you can do about it.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 31

Picture This: Crafty Creations. 6 to 7:30 p.m. Bring your favorite summertime memories and a creative spark. Craft the night away with family and friends as the summer dwindles down. Fee: $5 per person.

Better Health Programs

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

TUESDAY, AUGUST 8

Over the Counter Hearing Aids-FAQ-What You Should Know. 10 to 11 a.m. Get the facts on the latest in over-the-counter hearing aids. Learn the facts and get your questions answered by Dr. Lorraine Sgarlato, Au.D. A.B.A. a clinical audiologist with over 40 years of experience in the field of hearing science.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16

Technology Class. Noon to 1 p.m. Frustrated navigating online registration for Better Health Programs? Can’t figure out how to text your grandkids. Back to help us with our technology challenges are our friends from “Camp Fire NJ, Teens on Fire.” Whether you have questions about your mobile device, a laptop, or iPad, bring your device and learn how to complete simple tasks.

Dr. Kevin Law

What’s a master plan and why is it important?

KEVIN NERWINSKI FROM THE MANAGER’S DESK

As I have done in past articles, I qualify what I am about to write on this particular matter (the master plan) by emphasizing that it’s the main subject of entire books containing hundreds of pages, usually targeted to people who navigate in the field of municipal law.

As a result, my realistic goal here is to provide the reader with a basic understanding and peak their curiosity enough to do their own research or, ideally, involve themselves in the process and have their opinions heard when they matter most. Yes, this is not only an informative article; it is an invitation to get involved!

Our community is about to undertake the comprehensive process of preparing and adopting a master plan. In the broadest terms, the master plan, a written and formal document, articulates the community’s vision of what it wants to be socially, economically, and physically.

In less broad terms, it is the document that creates the foundation for the local zoning and land ordinances that govern development within the community to protect its public health, safety, and general welfare and preserve our quality of life. It is a big deal. The master plan describes the town’s current and proposed patters of land use in text, maps and diagrams.

The N.J. Municipal Land Use Law (MLUL) requires towns to adopt a master plan or prepare a reexamination report every ten years. Our last re-examination report occurred in 2013[1] (tinyurl.com/3fjyxjp2). Our last comprehensive master plan was adopted in 1995 (tinyurl.com/mastpln).

Though we have remained compliant with the law, I think it is fair to say that things have changed significantly in all respects (i.e., socially, economically, physically, technologically and atmospherically, etc.) since 1995 and, as a result, now is the time to undertake this essential process to establish who we are, what we want to be, and how we can get there by revising our master plan.

The Lawrence Township Planning Board and the Lawrence Township Municipal Council members have agreed to and enthusiastically support this process.

Interestingly, the master plan process is controlled by the Planning Board,

not our governing body (i.e., council members).

What the Governing Body does in this process is appoint Planning Board members (already completed) to serve specific terms, and they adopt the municipal budget that funds the master plan process in the year the process is to be undertaken. It is also the job of the council to pass zoning ordinances, although they aren’t required by state law to be consistent with the master plan adopted by the planning board.

In addition, there are two council members who also serve as Planning Board members, and they will be directly involved in the preparation of the master plan.

But this gig is, by law, performed by the Planning Board, the appointed professionals, and, of course, with public participation as a priority component.

As a community, the next 12 or so months will involve a two-step process:

(1) Preparing and adopting a less onerous re-examination report (before the expiration of 2023); and

(2) Preparing and adopting a new master plan.

For this article, the following will focus on the master plan process.

Creating a new master plan starts with a process initiated and undertaken by the Planning Board guided by our municipal planner, Elizabeth McManus, PP, AICP, LEED AP of KMA Associates, Hopewell. In Ms. McManus’s proposal to the board, she states, “an updated [plan] will allow the township to adjust or create new policies to account for new development and development approvals, and market conditions that have arisen over the last several years, many of which have been exacerbated by the COVID- 19 Pandemic.

“Additionally, with the threats of climate change becoming more of a reality, comprehensive planning is crucial to the health and well-being of communities…”

Once the process is completed and deemed acceptable to the Planning Board members, it is adopted by resolution and provides the framework for the Planning Board and the governing body to develop the elements of good land use, including meeting local housing and economic development needs and protecting open space and important natural resources.

For me, the preparation of a comprehensive master plan is by far the most important responsibility the Planning Board undertakes, and it happens every 10 years.

Under N.J. law, a master plan must contain our community’s:

(1) Statement of objectives, principles, assumptions, policies and standards upon which development proposals are based; and

(2) A land use element that considers natural conditions, including topography, soil conditions, water supply, drainage, floodplain areas, marshes, and woodlands. It should show existing and proposed land use and describe population and development intensity.

In addition to what it must contain, a master plan has optional elements, which include assessing community facilities, conservation, circulation, economic development, historic preservation, housing, recreation, recycling and utilities. Something of interest to everyone!

Importantly, our elected officials and the Planning Board members are committed to a robust and transparent process that will include a comprehensive plan for public participation (multiple public sessions on specific subject matters) to help ensure the input received reflects representative sections of our community, committees and organizations.

The process will also ensure that documents created along the way are easily accessible via our website. Knowing our community as I do, I am sure many interested residents will be attending and participating in this critical process—which is a great thing.

As we navigate this process, I will update you on my blog LawrenceTownshipNJManagerKPN@ blogspot.com (an audio version of the blog is available at youtube.com/ watch?v=xvRtZy2MgkU).

Until then, if someone asks you what the master plan thingy is all about, now

you are in the know!

[1] A re-examination report must contain the following:

• The major problems and objectives relating to land development in the municipality at the time of the adoption of the last reexamination report.

• The extent to which such problems and objectives have been reduced or have increased subsequent to such date.

•The extent to which there have been significant changes in the assumptions, policies, and objectives forming the basis for the master plan or development regulations as last revised, with particular regard to the density and distribution of population and land uses, housing conditions, circulation, conservation of natural resources, energy conservation, collection, disposition, and recycling of designated recyclable materials, and changes in State, county and municipal policies and objectives.

• The specific changes recommended for the master plan or development regulations, if any, including underlying objectives, policies and standards, or whether a new plan or regulations should be prepared.

• The recommendations of the planning board concerning the incorporation of redevelopment plans adopted pursuant to the “Local Redevelopment and Housing Law,” P.L.1992, c.79 (C.40A:12A-1 et al.) into the land use plan element of the municipal master plan, and recommended changes, if any, in the local development regulations necessary to effectuate the redevelopment plans of the municipality.

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