Ward’s World
artist Clifford Ward explores afriCan diaspora mythology and Cultures in exhibits at artWorks trenton and grounds for sCulpture. page 10.
tda shares big goals for 2025, page 4; amy Flynn takes the helm at tasK, 6.
Bernard
Kimberly
UP fRoNt
Trenton Punk Rock Flea Market goes state-wide
TheTrenton Punk Rock Flea Market has announced that as of January 6, it would be known as the New Jersey Punk Rock Flea Market, a change intended to reflect its growth and expanded reach across the Garden State and beyond.
What began as a grassroots movement in Trenton in 2013 has blossomed into a nationwide phenomenon that has inspired dozens of other punk rock flea markets to develop throughout the country. While the event’s heart and soul remain deeply rooted in Trenton, the updated name better represents its evolution into a convention that now hosts expos in cities throughout New Jersey including Edison (at the New Jersey Convention and Expo Center) as well as another venue to be announced later this year.
The NJPRFM looks to bring a signature mix of alternative and DIY culture, the arts, unique vendors, food trucks, live tattooing and piercing, and more to a broader audience.
Its origins trace back to the vision of Joseph Kuzemka, a driving force in Trenton’s cultural renaissance who was a founding member and served as the executive producer of Art All Night Trenton for 15 years.
Throughout the years, Kuzemka has
created or managed many other events, including the Capital City Food Truck Battle, Activate Trenton! Live Music Series, Levitt AMP Trenton Music Series, and PorkChop Express Booking, which focused on bringing national and local talent to Trenton’s DIY music venues. Darkside New Jersey Art & Oddities Market, founded in November 2024, is also a product of Kuzemka and team.
“The decision to rebrand was a long but natural progression for us,” said Kuzemka. “I grew up in Trenton and I live in Trenton. I am a wildly proud Trentonian, and while we’ll always be proud of our Trenton roots, where we got our start, our journey over the past 12 years has taken us far beyond the city limits, now with events all over the State of New Jersey as well as the occasional event in Pennsylvania. This new name reflects our commitment to DIY culture, arts, food, and music across the entire state of New Jersey. We’re thrilled to see what the future holds.”
The NJPRFM is planning a series of events throughout New Jersey in 2025, starting with its annual Spring Fling expo, set to feature hundreds of makers from across the country, dozens of food trucks, celebrity guests, and more at the Cure Insurance Arena on April 12 and 13. That will be followed by several events in Edison and a new venue to be announced soon.
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the state of the CI t Y
New year’s greetings from the Trenton Downtown Association
Let’s make history in 2025
We welcome 2025 with a vision for the future that celebrates our past while pushing forward in the present with hard work, determination and collaboration.
With the semiquincentennial (yes, that’s a word!) celebration now less than a year away, all eyes are on Trenton as a historic city that played a pivotal role in the American Revolution. We look forward to welcoming visitors from around the world in the months to come.
As chairman of the board of the Trenton Downtown Association (TDA), I am
committed to working tirelessly alongside our local businesses and community partners to create an environment where visitors are eager to explore our city and support our businesses. We will continue to prioritize initiatives that support our small businesses, the backbone of our downtown economy, and provide additional resources that promote entrepreneurship.
On behalf of the Board of TDA, I would like to thank our downtown business owners, committed staff members, and Clean and Safe Team for maintaining, beautifying, and activating our district as well as the City of Trenton and our many
partners who collaborate to boost Trenton’s local economy.
A snapshot of 2024
In2024, we saw a number of businesses open or reopen: Health Is Wealth, Jean’s Kitchen, Moja Life, Slammin Brew, and Soap Stash.
We worked with our partners to promote businesses, establish new initiatives and enhance existing programs, including:
Clean Team Program: TDA provides daily sweeping of sidewalks; trash collection; weed, graffiti, sticker and litter removal; seasonal power washing; and snow removal.
2024 Highlights:
• Power washer purchased
• New radio devices purchased with translation
• Ambassador business cards printed
• Weekly disinfecting, landscaping and hot spot cleaning
• Headquarters renovations Supplemental Police Program: We secured additional police presence between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
2024 Highlights:
• Addressed loitering, public intoxication, double parking and other issues affecting district business and property owners
• Ensured a direct phone line for the off-duty officers was available
• Increased presence in the downtown area, including hotspots
Beautification & Placemaking.
• Installed bi-annual seasonal plantings
• Installed holiday decor and banners for the season
Facade Grant Program: Funds were issued to improve the overall appearance of the following businesses:
• Po-Po
• Lucy’s Wigs
• Jean’s Kitchen
• Sophea’s Nail Salon
• Kevin’s Nail Salon
• City Deli
GYB Grant: TDA’s Grow Your Business (GYB) Grants, which provide up to $5,000 per applicant for eligible costs
in the opening and operation of a business, were awarded to these businesses in 2024:
• Moja Life
• Much Better Studios
• The Kit & Denim
• Soap Stash
• Downtown Deli
Looking ahead
Aswe move forward, we will address the objectives outlined at strategic Board planning sessions in 2024, engage with businesses and property owners in a variety of ways, and communicate our initiatives on a consistent, regular basis.
Our plans include:
• Hiring a new executive director in the first quarter of 2025
• Addressing parking concerns
• More time at TD Bank
• Parking passes for owners, employees, and customers
• Conversations about food delivery services
• Boosting business development efforts
• Draft and distribute business and customer surveys
• Seek additional grants and other new funding sources
• Participate in conversations that push ahead with the establishment of a “Restaurant Row” in downtown Trenton
In closing, we extend our gratitude for the service of the following individuals who resigned from the Board this past year: Bryan Evans, William “Butch” Osterman, Jo-Ann Povia, Rob Wilborn Jr. and Quayshaun Williams.
We are pleased to announce that we welcomed three new Board members — Julia Taylor, Julie Krause, and Victor Pizzolato — in 2024.
I am honored to serve as TDA’s Board Chair and applaud the efforts of our entire Board, who provide great counsel, resources, and leadership to help move our downtown forward.
Come to Downtown Trenton!
Austin J. Edwards, Esq. Chairman, Trenton Downtown Association
For more on the Trenton Downtown Association, visit www.trenton-downtown. com.
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A drive to give back brings Amy Flynn to the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen
By Michele Alperin
Amy Flynn, the new chief executive officer of the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, grew up poor on a dairy farm in rural Ohio, with early memories of an absence of heat during the cold winters. She remembers “going to bed at night and my mom stacking blanket after blanket on top of me and waking up in the morning and seeing my breath.”
But an ethic of communal sharing trumped poverty in her farming community. “Even though our family didn’t have a lot, we never had so little that we didn’t have something to give back,” Flynn recalls. “We canned all summer to have food for the winter and shared some of that food with others who had less.”
This commitment to communal sharing was exemplified for Flynn by her grandmother, “a person of service, who was always giving back to the community.”
Flynn says that the big meals her grandmother cooked for everyone at harvest time are reminiscent of TASK’s mission and the critical involvement of volunteers in realizing it. Not only does TASK provide food for the hungry six days a week at its Escher Street home, no
portunities to carry forth the tradition of communal support to improve the lives of families.
For both staff and volunteers, she says, “you have the opportunity to make that kind of impact every day, to go to the fringe where people are in need, meet them there, support them there, and, at best, provide opportunities for them to move forward.”
But Flynn’s career actually started in education, not development. It took a while until “the planets aligned, and I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up.”
Only in her late 30s, while living in Cochocton, Ohio, and working as an art and religious education teacher at Sacred Heart Catholic School did Flynn have two experiences that moved her from education to fund development.
questions asked, it also gives more than 4,000 volunteers a year a chance to give back to their community.
“TASK has a doctrine of radical hospitality. It takes me back to growing up — neighbors helping neighbors,” Flynn says.
Flynn, a resident of Ewing Township, started as the new CEO of TASK on
January 21 after being named to the position by the nonprofit’s board of trustees earlier in the month. She replaces Joyce Campbell, who announced her plans to retire last summer after more than eight years at the helm.
Flynn’s career in fund development and leadership at mission-driven organizations has given her many varied op-
The first grew out of her efforts to move her school art program from “a stark basement” to “a bright space where the kids could be creative.” To make this happen, she reached out to parents and to community members to raise money or get donated services.
“I didn’t know there was a word for that — development — and I didn’t understand that as a career path,” Flynn says.
Amy Flynn, left, is the new chief executive officer of Trenton Area Soup Kitchen. She replaces Joyce Campbell, right, who retired after eight years in the role.
Soon a critical set of events involving the Pomerene Center for the Arts in Coshocton, where she gave art lessons to students after school and summers, changed her career goals entirely.
When the head of a local family foundation died and his more progressive and forward-thinking son took over, he brought in the Indiana School of Philanthropy for a two-week intensive training and required all the organizations his foundation funded to come with two employees as a prerequisite for funding renewal.
The art center’s executive director, its only employee, invited Flynn to be the second attendee.
“That’s where I met professional fundraisers, for whom philanthropy was their career,” Flynn says. “It clicked for me; I really wanted to do this. When you work in a nonprofit, you get to see the fruits of your labor every day and how it impacts lives.”
Flynn’s first big developmental role was at a continuing care retirement community, the Ohio Eastern Star Home, in Mount Vernon, Ohio. She then moved to a similar community in Yakima, Washington, but did not stay long because they decided to refurbish their facility instead of moving forward with the promised funding development effort.
Her next position came by happenstance when Flynn and her husband were touring the Yakima YWCA, the largest domestic violence service provider in south-central Washington. It had a shelter, transitional housing, legal aid, and advocacy for victims of domestic violence and their children.
The tour leader mentioned that their grant writer was retiring, and they wanted to build a funding development effort. Sure enough, Flynn, who had done some grant writing for the Ohio art center, became their director of fund development and, later, executive director.
Flynn learned many lessons during her tenure at the YWCA. An early one was the importance of getting everyone involved — volunteers, donors, and even service recipients — by finding ways to share their stories.
“It’s one thing to read a pamphlet or to hear from a staff member,” Flynn says. But hearing from someone who is passionate about an organization or who has experienced life changes because of it pulls people in. “People are drawn to the experience of other people; people give to people.”
One day at the YWCA a woman from Oregon delivered of a van full of backpacks and school supplies that she had collected on her own for the shelter’s children.
“I wanted to find out why,” Flynn says. The woman, who made these deliveries yearly, had grown up in Yakima,
where her mom was in and out of abusive relationships, and her family was in and out of the YWCA shelter.
“The shelter had a profound impact on my life,” the woman explained to Flynn. Not only did it provide safety, but it taught her what a healthy relationship looks like and what red flag behaviors look like.
The woman said, “I am married, in a healthy relationship, and I’m the first woman in my family in four generations who is not in an abusive relationship. I owe that all to my time as a child when I was in the YWCA shelter.”
Bowled over by the story, Flynn invited her to write the YWCA’s annual appeal and share her story.
Also important for Flynn’s professional growth was the opportunity while at the YWCA to be part of a regional group of other YWCA leaders throughout the northwestern region.
“Those women were profoundly influential as I was learning and growing into the role of executive director,” she says.
Faced for the first time with an entire organization’s budget, she asked another executive director whether she should take finance classes.
“She gave me the best advice ever: ‘You do what you do best and surround
yourself with people who have expertise in the areas you do not.’”
At the YWCA Flynn also learned about creativity and innovation, “being able to think outside the box.”
When she saw that women faced significant resistance from landlords when it was time for them to leave the shelter, she came up with a workaround. Because the landlords were unwilling to risk a tenant without a history of renting, the YWCA worked with many landlords in the area to create a master lease program whereby the YWCA held leases for a year and then transferred them to the individual women in their own names.
Flynn also had an opportunity to start a social enterprise, a thrift store named Persimmon, managed by domestic violence advocates (woman who in most
cases were survivors who had come out the other side and helped others to “get their feet under them”). The shop carried a working woman’s wardrobe, and any woman referred and returning to work could get five full outfits.
Just as important, the shop provided a soft launch into the work force for women in the shelter who may not have been ready for a regular job, dealing as they were with worries of abusers showing up, depression, or not having childcare. Working in the shop taught them the soft skills they would need, like how to handle conflict, work as a team, and write a resume.
For Flynn, the shop held yet another lesson — the importance of diversified funding streams.
The staff of Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, which serves thousands of meals every week from its Escher Street headquarters in Trenton, right. In 2024 the nonprofit served 596,000 meals. See TASK, page 8
“No nonprofit should be heavily reliant on government funding or grants,” she says, explaining that they need to investigate other revenue opportunities that can give the nonprofit long-term stability.
Flynn’s next career move was to California, in support of her husband’s career as a nonprofit consultant — he had an opportunity to work for Father Craig Boyle at Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles.
Flynn got a job as the director of major gifts for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles, where she headed the individual giving team. What was different from her previous work was the size of the development group — 22 people — and the opportunity to work together with other teams.
“It was amazing because you had so much support; you had more bandwidth and a farther reach; you could cover all the bases because you had help. I loved that,” Flynn recalls.
Also, because many team members were early in their careers, Flynn had a number of opportunities for doing more mentoring, as she had done at the YWCA.
In February, 2020, after four-and-a-half years at Habitat and a couple at Olive Crest of Los Angeles, where she ran her own development program, Flynn and her husband moved back to Ohio, where their son, one of eight children in their blended family, had two small children and was working on his doctorate.
Flynn worked as executive director of Modcon Living, a nonprofit focused on keeping people in their homes longer, with dignity and independence. They had a tool lending library, where people who wanted to make repairs or do landscaping or put in a garden could check out the tools they needed, using a library card. They also provided home repairs, from installing grab bars to putting on new roofs.
Modcon worked closely with the local Meals on Wheels program, whose volunteers would make referrals so that their clients could stay in their homes safely.
Four years later, Flynn and her husband decided to move closer to their two daughters in New Jersey. Having worked closely with Meals on Wheels in Ohio, Flynn became chief executive officer of Meals on Wheels of Mercer County.
“Meals on Wheels is an amazing organization; we are serving people who don’t have the opportunity to go and get meals at places like TASK or to get to a food pantry or even to make meals on their own,” Flynn says.
Always attuned to the human component, she emphasizes the importance of social connection with the volunteer food deliverers. “Sometimes that is the only human contact our participants have all day long.”
A year after joining Meals on Wheels, Flynn learned that TASK was looking for an executive director. “I decided at the last minute to throw my name in the hat. It’s such an amazing local organization,” she says.
In fact, Flynn already had a connection with Joyce Campbell, who retired as TASK’s executive director on December 31. When Flynn came to town, Campbell, she says, “got me connected to the right people and helped me learn about the nonprofit landscape here.”
some challenges that the nonprofit will face under Flynn’s leadership.
TASK’s cornerstone program, meal service, involves preparing and serving over 11,000 meals weekly from its Escher Street kitchen. About a third of these meals are served in the Escher Street dining room, with lunch provided six days a week and dinner five days a week.
The need is significant: over the last fiscal year TASK has served 596,000 meals. Driving people to soup kitchens are skyrocketing food prices and rent increases that have outpaced rises in wages.
Michelle Wexler, TASK’s chief development officer, said that Campbell’s eight years as executive director was a period that included accelerated growth brought on by COVID. She also shared
rocketing food prices and rent increases that have outpaced rises in wages (in January average monthly rent in Trenton for a studio is $1,000 and $1,400 for a one bedroom).
Anecdotally, Wexler says, “we hear that food ends up being a flexible expense. People will forego meals to pay rent, keep a car, or pay a bill.”
But, Wexler says, “the inability to access food can be really detrimental and stressful; it has a negative impact physically and mentally — not knowing where your next meal is coming from.”
“Our goal is to provide additional access,” Wexler says, but there are a number of potential barriers to service: lack of transport, stigma (the discomfort of coming to a soup kitchen, which they try to counter with their “no questions asked” policy), and even hours of operation.
TASK also has programs and services meant to address some of the underlying causes of food insecurity: case management; advocacy; education; creative arts; job search assistance; and patron services (providing, e.g., warm winter gear, a place for mail delivery, eyeglasses, and hygiene products).
“Going forward, our biggest opportunity but also our biggest challenge is space,” Wexler says. “Often, we can’t comfortably serve all the people who come at once. We had to go to one in, one out, to make sure flow is there and everyone can relax a bit. We are using every available inch.”
TASK is also looking for ways to bring in additional revenue through social entrepreneurship, for example, using food trucks for private events or catering — in order to maintain sustainability as expenses continue to increase. Today TASK is almost exclusively funded through individuals and businesses via fundraising and philanthropy.
Looking toward her new job, Flynn says she wants to take such challenges head on, and to preserve and build on Campbell’s “incredible legacy of impact.”
“I know I am going to be standing on her shoulders; I know she has a great team; and I’m just looking forward to continuing with that tradition of service,” she says.
The remainder of meals are distributed to more than 40 community meal sites, both public (e.g., churches or community centers) and private (e.g., after school programs). Several of the sites are served by food trucks.
The need is significant: over the last fiscal year TASK has served 596,000 meals. Driving people to soup kitchens are sky-
As the interview closes, Flynn had two more things to say. First, she urges readers to volunteer at TASK or Meals on Wheels. Helping to feed the hungry, she says, “is incredibly rewarding.”
And, finally, she reemphasizes that her grandmother was the person who influenced her the most. “She has a lot of responsibility for the trajectory of my life. I think about her every day.”
Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, 72 1/2 Escher Street. www.trentonsoupkitchen.org
Volunteers prepare and serve a holiday meal at the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen.
RWJUH Hamilton February Healthy Living / Community Education Programs
YOUR HEART MATTERS
Tuesday, Feb. 4; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Join Connie Moceri, MSN, RN, A-GNP-C, Administrative Director, Patient CareCardiovascular Services & Healthy Lives Program, and Ann Mancuso, CNS, RN, CHFN, Heart Failure Program Coordinator, Healthy Lives Program, RWJUH Hamilton, for an engaging lecture on maintaining a strong healthy heart.
BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP
Tuesday, Feb. 4; 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Presented by The Cancer Center at RWJUH Hamilton, this support group welcomes those who have received a breast cancer diagnosis in all phases of their journey. An oncology nurse navigator and certified oncology social worker will offer participants an opportunity to share personal experiences and helpful resources. Please call 609.584.2836 to confirm attendance.
THINGS EVERY CONSUMER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HEARING LOSS
Wednesday, Feb. 5; 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
After age 60, roughly two-thirds of people experience age-related hearing loss. Join Lorraine Sgarlato, Au.D., audiologist at RWJUH Hamilton’s Balance & Hearing Center, to learn all you need to know about living with hearing loss and helping friends and family members with hearing loss.
PAPER CRAFT CLASS
Wednesday, Feb 5; 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Join us to make a creative project using paper and other materials. No craft experience needed; please bring a pair of scissors.
YOGA CLASSES
Tuesday, Feb. 4 & 18; 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
MEDITATION CLASSES
Tuesday, Feb. 4 & 18; 11:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
CHAIR YOGA
Tuesday, Feb. 4 & 18; 12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.
HOW SOUND HEALS: THE SCIENCE OF SOUND HEALING
Tuesday, Feb. 11; 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
In this workshop we will discuss the science behind sound and vibration and show you how and why certain sounds can help you sleep better, improve your mood, improve body function, and even reduce pain! The program requires a fee of $15, payable upon registration.
THE BASICS OF MEDICARE
Wednesday, Feb. 12; 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Join a licensed insurance agent specializing in Medicare and ACA for a discussion on Medicare. Learn the different parts of Medicare, how to avoid penalties, and when to apply for Medicare benefits. Light refreshments provided.
COLORECTAL LECTURE AND TAKE-HOME KIT
Thursday, Feb. 13; 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
The incidence of colon cancer is on the rise. Learn ways to help mitigate your risk and receive a test kit to take at home and mail back.
DANCE
IT OUT!
Monday, Feb. 17; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
When in doubt, dance it out! Boost your well-being through the joy of dance. Whether you are a beginner or experienced dancer, this activity will lift your spirits and reduce stress. No experience required; all ages welcome.
PREDIABETES CONNECT GROUP
Tuesday, Feb. 18; 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Diagnosed with prediabetes? This group is for you to connect with others
A SOCIAL HOUR ESPECIALLY FOR SENIORS
Wednesday, Feb. 5, 12, 19, & 26; 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Don’t miss an opportunity to participate in lifechanging conversations, listening, learning, and exploring for this time in our lives. Topics created for you by you. Every week is new and something different. Join us on all three dates, two, or even one. It’s your choice. New folks are always welcome.
HEALING ART WORKSHOP-DEFINING HOPE
Thursday, Feb 6; 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Create your own piece of art using a variety of materials to express your own personal journey with hope.
affected. Share and explore ways to improve lifestyle changes.
GYNECOLOGIC CANCER SUPPORT GROUP
Tuesday, Feb. 18; 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
This group brings individuals with gynecologic cancer the support, education, and empowerment they need to move along the path to recovery. Topics discussed include coping with the emotional impact of cancer, adjusting to changes during and after treatment, and managing concerns about recurrence. For more information or to register call 609-584-6680. This program is located at the Cancer Center at RWJUH Hamilton, 2575 Klockner Rd.
AN EVENING OF YOGA NIDRA MEDITATION
Tuesday, Feb 18; 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
This practice guides brain waves into optimal states for relaxation, rejuvenation, and better sleep. Join us and learn why 45 minutes of Yoga Nidra and feel like 3 hours of sleep! Bring a yoga mat, blankets, and anything else that makes you comfortable. Chairs also available. The program requires a fee of $15, payable upon registration.
“WII” ARE POWERED GAME TIME
Tuesday, Feb. 19; 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Join RWJ Rehabilitation, RWJUH Hamilton, for this fun hour of Wii games and learn about safe mechanics. Mastering body movement is leveling up your real-life stats. Play smart, move like a pro, and stay in the game longer!
DIABETES CARE & SELF-MANAGEMENT
BREAKFAST: FROM INPATIENT TO OUTPATIENT
Friday, Feb. 7; 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Please join our expert, Shesha Desai. Pharm D. Rph.BC-ADM, Diabetes Program Coordinator and Medication Safety Pharmacist, to learn how best to manage your diabetes and the resources available to all diabetics.
LUNCH & LEARN WITH JUSTIN FOX, MD: CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION AND CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY
Monday, Feb. 10; 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Join Justin Fox, MD, a board-certified cardiologist and interventional cardiologist, Chair of the Department of Cardiology at RWJUH Hamilton, and member of Hamilton Cardiology Associates, for an in-depth conversation on the advancements and minimally invasive techniques available to diagnose and manage cardiovascular pathology to improve heart health.
MINDFULNESS MEDITATION FOR BEGINNERS
Wednesday, Feb 19; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Learn how to help heal your body and relax your busy mind. No experience necessary.
HEART & SOUL: SLIDE INTO BETTER
HEALTH
Thursday, Feb. 20; 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Join us and pump up your heart and soul for group line dancing, Zumba, refreshments, health screenings, Ask-A-Cardiologist, heart health resources, and more. Don’t miss this fun, heart-healthy evening of dance. $10 per person collected at the door.
ORTHO 101: THE SPINE
Tuesday, Feb. 25; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Join Orthopedic Program Coordinator, Denise Berdecia, MSN, RN, ONC, and Lead Physical and Occupational Therapists, Maureen Stevens, PT, DPT, and Sarah Masco, OTD, for an in-depth discussion on common spine disorders. These experts will explain preventative treatment, how to determine if surgery is right for you, and what to expect during your surgery and recovery.
STROKE SUPPORT GROUP
Tuesday, Feb.25; 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Join us for the return of the Stroke Support Group at RWJUH Hamilton, a place for survivors and caregivers to build a community. The group will share personal experiences, feelings, recovery strategies, and firsthand information on managing life after stroke. Meetings will be facilitated by two outpatient rehabilitation therapists.
REIKI SHARE
Wednesday, Feb 26; 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
For folks who have been Reiki certified (at any level) to come share the gift with fellow practitioners. Give a session, get a session. Please bring a sheet and small pillow.
WISE WOMEN DISCUSSION GROUP: CHANGING PRIORITIES
Thursday, Feb 27; 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Join a community of women as we discuss relevant topics and find purpose, meaning and community.
DINNER WITH A DOCTOR: ATRIAL
FIBRILLATION
Thursday, Feb. 27; 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Join Zaw Win Tun, MD, RWJUH Hamilton, member of Hamilton Cardiology Associates, and an expert in cardiac electrophysiology, to explore the complexities of Atrial Fibrillation (A Fib), one of the most common heart rhythm disorders. Learn how minimally invasive alternatives offer stroke prevention. This discussion will cover the causes and symptoms of A Fib, current treatment options, and how devices are transforming patient outcomes. Dinner will be provided.
*All programs require registration and are held at the RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center, 3100 Quakerbridge Rd., Hamilton, NJ, unless otherwise noted.
GAME TIME!
Friday, Feb. 7 & 28; 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FRAUD & SCAMS TARGETING OLDER ADULTS
Thursday, Feb. 13; 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Join Sergeant Michael Rosati from the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of New Jersey as he discusses the alarming rise in fraud and scams targeting older adults and provides insights into how these deceptive tactics work. Learn strategies to help you safeguard your finances and personal information, empowering you with the knowledge needed to recognize and prevent falling victim to these fraudulent activities.
TAI CHI CLASSES
Thursday, Feb. 13 & 27; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Scan QR code to view, learn more & register on-line for
NOURISH YOUR BRAIN: COOKING FOR BRAIN HEALTH
Friday, Feb. 14; 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Have some fun while learning recipes that can help fuel your brain.
LUNCH & LEARN: COMBATING HEALTH EQUITY FOR BLACK WOMEN IN THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
Friday, Feb. 21; 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
This sensitive and insightful discussion will be facilitated by Andrew Thomas, Vice President of Health Equity at RWJBarnabas Health, and Meika Neblett, MD, MS, Chief Medical Officer, Chief Quality Officer and Chief Academic Officer at Community Medical Center in Toms River, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, and will explore health care challenges with a focus on how to best improve and advocate for better health care for Black women.
t R e N to N KI os K
Artworks Trenton & Grounds For Sculpture share the world of Clifford Ward
Artworks Trenton hosts the upcoming exhibition, “Clifford Ward: I’ll Make Me a World, Prologue,” from Saturday, February 1, through April 12.
The exhibit features selected works by artist Clifford Ward, known for his innovative explorations of African Diaspora mythology and cultures, and will open with a reception on February 1 from 6 to 9 p.m.
The exhibition, curated by Addison Vincent, artistic director of Artworks Trenton, highlights Ward’s artistic journey through the lens of Afrofuturism.
It will serve as a preview to a larger exhibition at Grounds For Sculpture (GFS) in Hamilton. The full exhibit at GFS, curated by Noah Smalls, will be displayed from May 18 through January 11, 2026, in the Museum Building, where Ward’s work will be presented in a broader context.
“We are excited to present Clifford Ward’s exhibition. His talent for engaging and inspiring audiences perfectly complements our mission to nurture creativity and artistic expression within the community,” Vincent said. “Furthermore, his work embodies the ideals of Black History Month, extending its significance beyond just February.”
Ward had a number of other careers before pursuing his art full-time. He was pre-med for three years, then switched majors and received a degree in speech communications from Rider University. His first job was in advertising. Then he worked for a textbook publisher, and later moved to a smaller start-up publishing company in Philadelphia.
When the company he worked for went out of business, Ward channeled his energy into creating art, which had always been an outlet for him. He began working at the Johnson Atelier Technical Institute of Sculpture after first serving as an apprentice in 1997-1998.
Ward was given a one-person exhibition at the Extension Gallery at the Johnson Atelier in 2000.
He has participated in group exhibitions with the Artists League of Mt. Airy and the Philadelphia Sculptors at various venues, and has shown regionally at Gloucester County College, Temple University, Trenton City Museum, and the Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Annuals, for example.
In 2012, he also recently curated an exhibition of work in the Grounds For Sculpture education gallery from the
Center for Creative Arts in Merion, Pennsylvania, where Ward also teaches.
Ward’s works draw inspiration from the mythologies and cultures of the African Diaspora, as well as Australian Aborigines, Native American, and Maori people. His art spans multiple mediums, including bronze, iron, aluminum, and mixed media materials like steel, plaster bandages, and cowrie shells.
“My sculptures either remain in their mixed media form or they are cast in bronze, iron or aluminum,” Ward said.
“I like to explore my love of geometry, cubism, mythology, anthropomorphism, textures and Egyptian/Nubian art and symbols.”
The collaboration between Artworks Trenton and GFS reflects the organizations’ shared commitment to expanding audiences and fostering community engagement through art.
“We are delighted to collaborate with Artworks Trenton,” said Kathleen Greene, chief audience officer at GFS.
“It provides both of our organizations the opportunity to celebrate Ward’s extraordinary work while deepening our connectivity and growing our mutual audiences within the local community.”
The exhibition at Artworks Trenton will include a variety of Ward’s works from the past decade. Events such as an artist talk and community programs are planned throughout the exhibition period.
For more information, visit artworkstrenton.org or groundsforsculpture.org.
Trenton Walks! returns
TheTrenton Walks! program is hosting four more walks on the third Wednesday and the first Saturday of each month through March in its first winter season celebrating the capital city and its people.
The walks through March will acquaint participants in exciting new developments planned along the Delaware River and introduce people to the nexus between the Battle Monument in its urban setting and the peace, tranquility and beauty of Cadwalader Park. They will also celebrate the Chambersburg and Villa Park neighborhoods, Route 29 redevelopment efforts and Capital Park.
“Getting out of your car to walk with new and old friends around the city is a great way to learn more about Trenton’s unique place in the history of the United States and to understand the beauty and complexity of the capital city of the most densely populated state in the nation,” said Larry Paul, chair of the Trenton Green Team, the executive sponsor of Trenton Walks!
“Trenton’s layers of history and service are fascinating for their depth and variety of experiences,” said Tim Brill, co-chair of the Trenton Walks! program and lead for the N.J. Conservation Foundation in central New Jersey. “Each walk enables participants to learn more about the many experiences, offerings and challenges of Trenton.”
The Trenton Trails subcommittee of
the Mercer County Action Team, under the sponsorship of the Trenton Green Team, has launched a community engagement program featuring a variety of walks in the capital city.
“Walking is a fun and low-stress way to get people together to enjoy nature and each other, while also learning about the many features of Trenton. Our goals with the Trenton Walks! program are to nurture pride in the city, to break down social and physical barriers and to empower people to understand and embrace their community,” said Becky Taylor, cochair for Trenton Walks.
Here’s the schedule for the remainder of the winter Trenton Walks season:
Saturday, February 1: Walkers will get a taste of Chambersburg and Villa Park on this Saturday morning walk that starts at 9:30 a.m. at Unity Square (formerly Columbus) Park. Walkers will move on to Villa Park, then loop back to Unity Square Park, celebrating the Chambersburg and Villa Park neighborhoods. Leading the 1.9 mile walk with be Becky Taylor and Tim Brill, co-chairs of the Trenton Walks! and Shereyl Snider, community engagement lead for the East Trenton Collaborative.
Wednesday, February 19: This walk will focus on Capital City Park and the NJ 29 Redevelopment Project. Walk details to be determined.
Saturday, March 1: This walk will be a follow on to a walk hosted last year on East Trenton Redevelopment, in other words East Trenton Redevelopment Walk Part 2, from the East Trenton Collaborative to Enterprise Avenue (part of the Assunpink Greenway.) Walk details to be determined.
Wednesday, March 19: This 2.5-mile walk, co-hosted by the Mercer County Planning Department and Trenton Walks! features the Delaware River starting at noon at the Old Trenton Wharf next to Coopers Riverview at 50 Riverview Plaza.
The route takes walkers along the river behind the Trenton Thunder Arm & Hammer Baseball Park and along South Riverwalk Park to the Marine Terminal Park and back. Optional lunch at Cooper’s Riverview to follow. Leading the walk will be Cindy Taylor, land preservation coordinator for Mercer County Planning, and Tim Brill, co-chair of Trenton Walks!
Artist Clifford Ward at work in his studio. Photo by Young J. Kogh.
Borscht Belt Deli opens at Trenton Farmers Market
Celebrity chef Nick Liberato and entrepreneur Mike Dalewitz have brought their New York-style deli, The Borscht Belt Delicatessen, to the Trenton Farmers Market. A grand opening took place January 16.
Liberato, known for his appearances on Paramount Network’s “Bar Rescue” and Netflix’s “Restaurants on the Edge,” and Dalewitz, a serial entrepreneur and investor, previously opened The Borscht Belt at the Stockton Farmers Market in 2021.
After the Stockton market closed, the deli relocated to Newtown, Pennsylvania, where it was named one of OpenTable and Eater’s Hottest Restaurants of 2023 and 2024.
The new location is near Pulaski Meats within the Trenton Farmers Market.
The Borscht Belt offers take-out, delivery, and catering services, with plans to eventually operate seven days a week.
The menu features New York-style deli favorites with a contemporary twist, including fresh lox, homemade meats, and traditional Jewish dishes like matzo ball soup, knishes, and latkes.
Bagels from Ess-a-Bagel, bialys from Shelsky’s of Brooklyn, and baked goods from Rockland and ONEG Bakery are also be available. Customers can enjoy UBet egg creams, Dr. Brown’s sodas, and coffee from Moonraker Roasters.
The deli’s name is a tribute to the Borscht Belt, the Catskills region once known for its Jewish summer resorts and entertainment in the mid-20th century.
“I am truly excited to come back to New Jersey where we started this concept,” said Liberato.
The Borscht Belt, Trenton Farmers Market, 960 Spruce Street, Lawrence. Open Thursdays through Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. theborschtbelt.com
Three artists, three exhibits at the Trenton City Museum
The Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie presents “3 Exhibitions by 3 Friends of the Ellarslie Open,” on view through March 30.
The show curated by Joan Perkes and Janis Purcell features works in multiple mediums by three artists whose works have previously been featured in the annual Ellarslie Open exhibit. They include sculptures by Carol Manger, digital art by Madeleine Shellaby, and paintings and drawings by Charles David Viera.
The museum, located in Cadwalader Park, is open Thursdays through Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m., and Sundays, 1 to 4 p.m. Admission is free. www.ellarslie. org or 609-989-1191.
Passage Theater launches 2025 season
Trenton’s
Passage Theater kicks off its 2025 season with Suzan-Lori Parks’ play “Topdog Underdog,” which will be performed in the Mill Hill Playhouse from February 20 through March 9.
Parks’ play, which chronicles the lives of two African-American brothers navigating poverty, racism, women, work, and past troubles, premiered off-Broadway in 2001. In 2002 it moved to Broadway and won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Outer Circle Critics Award, among other honors. A 2023 revival won the Tony Award in that category.
Tickets to Passage’s production are $33. A preview performance on Thursday, February 20, is pay-what-you-can. A VIP reception for an additional $17 follows the opening night performance on Friday, February 21. 205 East Front Street. www.passagetheatre.org.
CLASSIFIED
Booking a classified ad has never been easier! Simply scan the QR code or visit communitynews.org/place_an_ ad. Questions? Call us at 609-3961511 ext. 132.
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HELP WANTED
Aff iliates Needed Immediately! Work from Home or Anywhere! PT/ FT Without Disturbing your current work. Must be 18 or older. Students, Housewives, Professionals, Retired, Employed and Unemployed. Earn Extra Income work 2-4 hours per day. Training and Support Provided. No Experience and Qualifications Required.Call 609-510-0292.
VACATION RENTAL
Fort Myers Beach, Fl. Dates are still available 1 br condo on beach. Call for details @ 609-577-8244.
SERVICES
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.
LEGAL SERVICES Wills, Power of Attorney, Real Estate, Federal and NJ Taxes, Education Law. House calls available. Bruce Cooke, Esq. 609-799-4674, 609-721-4358.
Guitar, Ukulele and Drum lessons for all. Call Jane 609 510-1400. $25.00 per lesson.
REAL ESTATE
Property For Rent Trenton/Hamilton27,500 sq. ft. building for rent. Ideal for retail, light industrial, wholesale or warehouse. Includes one loading dock, fully heated and air conditioned and fully sprinklered. Ceiling heights 11 to 14 feet. Large parking lot and located in urban enterprise zone. Call Howard at 609-896-0505.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
I Buy Guitars All Musical Instruments in Any Condition: Call Rob at 609-577-3337.
WANTED TO BUY
Wanted: Baseball, football, basketball, hockey. Cards, autographs, photos, memorabilia. Highest cash prices paid! Licensed corporation, will travel. 4theloveofcards, 908-596-0976. allstar115@verizon.net.
Cash paid for World War II Military Items. Helmets, swords, medals, etc. Call: 609581-8290, E-mail: lenny1944x@gmail.com
HAPPY HEROES used books looking to buy old Mysteries, Science Fiction, kids series books ( old Hardy boys-Nancy Drew-etc WITH DUSTJACKETS in good shape), Dell Mapbacks - PULP magazines , old role playing stuff, good conditioned pre 1975 paperbacks old COLLIER’S magazine. Call 609-619-3480 or email happyheroes@gmail.com .
Nick Liberato is the celebrity chef behind The Borscht Belt Deli.
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