TRENTON KIOSK
To the editor: A transition at Capital Harmony Works
Asmany of you know, Paul Chapin, President and CEO of Capital Harmony Works will be leaving us at the end of this week. We are appreciative of his efforts and leadership during these last 11 months. As a lifelong educator, choral conductor and music director we will miss Paul’s mission focused mindset. As Paul moves on to new adventures, we would like to express our gratitude and wish him very well.
As we all know, the show must go on, so with that in mind, we are delighted to introduce Carolyn Biondi, who will be Capital Harmony Works’ Interim Executive Director.
Carolyn joins us with a full complement of nonprofit skills and leadership experience. Building on a career in fundraising and program management, she served as Executive Director of local nonprofit Arm In Arm for 8 years. In 2020 Carolyn formed Well Beyond, LLC, a consultancy providing organizational development and leadership coaching to local and national nonprofits. She is passionate about supporting organizations that help our community to thrive. Carolyn holds a master’s degree in applied
positive psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in social service administration from the University of Chicago.
We understand that transitions can be difficult and believe that Carolyn’s unique experience and approach will be a strong and positive influence on the organization. Carolyn’s strength-based and inclusive leadership style will provide a stable and positive environment for the staff to continue to fulfill our important mission and for the board to engage in a thoughtful executive search process.
Our success as an organization is not dependent on any single individual but rather on the collective efforts of our entire team. The strength and dedication of our whole team of Artistic Directors, Program Leaders, and Session Teachers and Staff will ensure that we will continue to move forward with excellence and confidence. The Board of Trustees is fully supportive and aligned with the mission, strategic plan, and supporting operational guidelines, established over the last 7+ years.
Capital Harmony Works has been an extraordinarily vibrant part of the New Jersey arts education community, and an example to youth choirs and orchestras throughout the United States, since the
See HARMONY, page 4
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RWJUH Hamilton July Healthy Living / Community Education Programs
SWEET SUCCESS SOCIETY: A DIABETES GROUP
Monday, July 8; 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 5; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
A group for anyone with diabetes or caring for one of the 37 million Americans living with diabetes. Learn and discuss healthy ways to manage diabetes alongside peers and Taryn Krietzman, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. Empower yourself and others towards a healthy lifestyle and success in diabetes self-management.
ESTATE PLANNING FOR ALL AGES
Tuesday, July 9; 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
There are all kinds of unfortunate things that can happen, and estate planning not only preserves your assets, but it also protects your family. Presentation will cover topics such as children’s guardianship, planning for children with disabilities, making financial or health care decisions if you should become incapacitated, wills and beneficiaries, unmarried couple rights when one dies and more.
BARIATRIC WEIGHT LOSS SUPPORT GROUP
Tuesday, July 9; 6:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m.
If you are considering surgery or are in the process of preparing or have undergone surgery, you are welcome to attend our free monthly support group meetings. Family, friends and support persons are also invited to attend. Our meetings focus on achieving optimal wellness through weight loss surgery. Meetings subject to cancellation during inclement weather.
BROWN BAG MEDICATION REVIEW
Wednesday, July 10; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Come review your medications with our pharmacist, Shesha Desai, PharmD, Rph.BC-ADM. Put all your medications and supplements in a bag and bring them with you for our clinicians to review. Discuss how you are taking your medications and whether you are taking them correctly.
OSTEOPOROSIS SCREENING
Thursday, July 11; 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Ultrasound of the heel and personalized information related to your results. Appointment required.
DANCE IT OUT!
Friday, July 12; 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Monday, July 22; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
When in doubt, dance it out! Find your rhythm and ease the everyday stresses of life with movement. All ages welcome; no experience required.
A great way to get your kids out and active during these summer days off from school.
PREDIABETES CONNECT GROUP
Tuesday, July 16; 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
This group is for you to connect with others affected. Share and explore ways to improve lifestyle changes.
THE HEAT IS ON: SUMMER SAFETY FACT OR FICTION
Tuesday, July 16; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Don’t learn safety by accident! Summer is time for fun in the sun, but make sure it is also safe and healthy. Test your knowledge with this fun-filled trivia hour and learn how to protect
yourself and others from the heat.
CRYSTAL BOWL SOUND BATH
Tuesday, July 16; 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Sound healing uses special instruments to create a therapeutic atmosphere promoting deep rest, nervous system rebalancing, and emotional release. Participants sit or lay in a comfortable position while the practitioner takes you on a sound journey for mind, body and spirit. Please bring a yoga mat, blanket, pillow or anything that makes you comfortable. Adriana Hansen, RYT200, SHA1 of The Learning Cooperative. Fee: $15
MINDFULNESS MEDITATION
Wednesday, July 17; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Quieting your mind, even just for a short while, can have profound effects on both your body and your mind. Learn to lower the volume of your mind’s chatter. No experience necessary.
M3 KIDS MONEY CLUB
Thursday, July 18; 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Credit Union of New Jersey Kids Money Club is a fun and interactive children’s workshop. Kids will learn about the fundamentals of saving, which will include games and quick facts. This is an opportunity for children, ages 8-12, to learn about the importance of savings.
WOMEN AND MONEY
Thursday, July 18; 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Familiarize and empower yourself with financial fundamentals that can assist with personal aspects of various life stages: merging finances,
children, caring for parents, divorce, widowhood.
MEMORY SCREENING
Tuesday, July 23; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Are you concerned about “senior moments”? The Mini-Mental State exam is a quick assessment to discern normal aging versus potential problems. In addition, you will learn ways to improve your memory. Must arrive 20-30 minutes early to receive the exam.
EXPRESSIVE ART: NATURE BECOMES US
Tuesday, July 23; 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Let’s take some time to relax and find our way back to nature. We will use short guided meditation with writing prompts and then move on to making a nature window box. Please gather some pebbles, sticks, pine needles, and/or dried leaves. You may also bring in a piece of nature that that speaks to you, such as flowers, gems, and crystals. All other materials supplied. Facilitated by Rochelle Stern, expressive arts facilitator. Fee: $15
REIKI SHARE
Wednesday, July 24; 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Share the gift of Reiki with other practitioners. Give a session; get a session. Please bring a small sheet and pillow. Restricted to those certified in Reiki.
DINNER WITH A DOCTOR: HEALTHY BONES MATTER
Monday, July 29; 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Musculoskeletal diseases affect more than one out of two people in the U.S. aged 18 and over. Join Michael Duch,
MD, from The Orthopedic and Spine Institute at RWJUH Hamilton for a discussion on common bone and joint disorders. Hear from this bone-a-fied orthopedic surgeon about how to keep your body healthy. Dinner provided.
HEALTHRHYTHMS® DRUM CIRCLE
Wednesday, July 31; 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Drum your cares away with our monthly Drum Circle. It’s lots of fun and a great stress reliever. Beginners welcome; drums will be provided. Mauri Tyler, CTRS, CMP. Fee: $15 CLEAN LIVING IN A TOXIC WORLD
Wednesday, Aug. 7; 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Toxins are all around us: in the air we breathe, the products we use and the food we eat. Learn what these toxins can do to our bodies and ways to avoid them and live a cleaner life with Patti McDougall, BSN, Integrative Therapies Nurse.
WOMEN’S SUMMER BOOK CLUB: WHEN WOMEN WERE DRAGONS BY KELLY BARNHILL
Thursday, Aug 22; 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
A Goodreads Best Book of the Year. A fiery feminist fantasy tale set in 1950’s America, where thousands of women have spontaneously transformed into dragons, exploding notions of a woman’s place in the world and expanding minds about accepting others for who they really are
*All programs require registration and are held at the RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center, 3100 Quakerbridge Rd., Hamilton, NJ, unless otherwise noted.
Better Health Programs/Complimentary Membership at 65+ Years Old
Scan the QR code to register and become a member, or call 609-584-5900 or email bhprogram@rwjbh.org to learn more.
*Registration and free membership required to attend the Better Health Programs
A SENIOR SOCIAL GROUP
Wednesday, July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Please join us for our ongoing program, “A Senior Social Group,” gathering in a collaborative setting to exchange thoughts, feelings and experiences amongst peers. This is a safe zone designed to be welcoming and understanding of all attendees while exploring this season of our lives – the ups and the challenges. This is a weekly program. Please feel free to attend one or all.
YOGA CLASSES
Tuesday, July 9 + 23; 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Krystal Loughlin, certified RYT, will be leading this gentle yoga class using traditional postures and breathing techniques, offering modifications of the poses for your body so that you can confidently participate. Beginners welcome. Must register.
MEDITATION CLASSES
Tuesday, July 9 + 23; 11:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Krystal Loughlin, certified RYT, will lead this meditation class focusing on reducing stress and bringing inner peace. See how you can easily learn to practice meditation whenever you need it most. Beginners welcome.
CHAIR YOGA
Tuesday, July 9 + 23; 12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Krystal Loughlin, certified RYT, will be teaching Chair Yoga. Using a chair for seated poses and also for balancing poses, this class is perfect for those who haven’t moved their bodies for a while, are recovering from an injury or have mobility/balancing difficulties. A great place to start practicing yoga to help boost your flexibility, find inner peace, unwind and stretch. Many options are given to customize the practice for YOU!
THE HEAT IS ON: SUMMER SAFETY FACT OR FICTION
Tuesday, July 16; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Don’t learn safety by accident! Summer is time for fun in the sun but make sure it is also safe and healthy. Test your knowledge with this fun filled trivia hour and learn how to protect yourself and others from the heat.
GAME TIME
Thursday, July 11 + 25; 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Join us for game time, snacks and some wholesome fun. A variety of board games will be available or you are welcome to bring your own.
SKINCARE MADE EASY
Wednesday, July 17; 11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Luba Dziubas, the owner of Radiance Spa located in our Center, will teach us simple techniques and ingredients to improve our skin. Join us to get your glow back. Q & A.
Thursday, July 18; 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Tai Chi is recommended for seniors because it improves balance, strengthens muscles in the legs, and increases flexibility and stability in the ankles. It can help reduce falls and back pain. Beginners welcome.
Scan QR code to view, learn more & register on-line for the programs listed above. Or visit rwjbh.org/HamiltonPrograms Email CommunityEdHam@rwjbh.org or call 609-584-5900 to learn more
TAI CHI CLASSES
The Trenton Green Team invites you to walk the walk
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. The walks, open to all, are set to take place four or five times per month through October.
The goal is to invite the people of Trenton and beyond to enjoy getting together on trails in Trenton via a series of volunteer-led walks from one to three miles long in the new program called “Trenton Walks!”
“This effort is being undertaken in the belief that walking — especially in a group — is a fun and healthy way to enjoy the outdoors, to be among friends, neighbors and new acquaintances, and get to know Trenton up close and personal,” said Larry Paul, the Trenton Green Team chair and executive sponsor of the Trenton Walks! Program.
The volunteer-led walks will be scheduled on both weekdays and weekends and at different times of day. The routes will also vary: Some walks will go through downtown Trenton, others through Cadwalader Park, along the D&R Canal State Park, from Roberto Clemente Park to Mulberry Street, and along the Assunpink Greenway.
“Trenton features some great parks, streets, bridges and greenways that people can enjoy — together — on these guided walks,” said Corey Hannigan, leader of the Circuit Trails Mercer County Action Team (MCAT), which works to advance segments of an 800-mile regional network of shared-use walking and biking paths connecting people to jobs, communities, parks, and waterways. “We invite people to join us and explore our capital city through a trail system that is getting more robust every month.”
The MCAT Trenton Trails Subcommittee, which manages the walking campaign on a day-to-day basis, is committed to working with the public sector as well as nonprofits and private citizens to continue enhancing trails in Trenton, according to Tim Brill, Central Jersey project manager for the New Jersey Conservation Foundation and a leader of the subcommittee.
For those who might be intimidated by the prospect of walking rather than driving, the Trenton Trails subcommittee offers a new approach to reassure people about safety while walking.
“We are asking all walkers in the program to embrace our new pledge, called Walk the Talk,” said Becky Taylor, another Trenton Trails subcommittee leader and former co-president of the Lawrence Hopewell Trail. This credo, similar to Scout pledges, commits each walker to
1. Clemente Park to Mulberry St (3.0 mi)
2. Cadwalader Park Loop (1.0 mi)
4. NJDEP to Stacy Park / Assunpink Greenway (2.4 mi)
5. Justice Complex to Morrisville / Two Bridges Loop (2.7 mi)
6. HUB-13 to Mill Hill (1.0 mi)
7. Sherman & Courtland Avenues to the D&R Canal (2.0 mi)
have every other walker’s back. If there’s an issue on the trail, whether it’s health, social, or safety-related, walkers promise to help fellow walkers in distress. Issues can be resolved together, perhaps by simply talking through an issue respectfully, or sharing a water bottle, or if necessary, calling local police for help.
People who have volunteered to lead walks come from different walks of life.
• Gulu Brewer, vice chair for the Trenton Green Team and Community and Resident Engagement Coordinator for Isles, leads a monthly walk starting at Roberto Clemente Park.
• MacKenzie Piggott, State Trails coordinator for the Green Acres Program at N.J. Department of Environmental Protection, invites people to join her at the DEP entryway at 401 East State Street for walks along the Assunpink.
• Jacque Howard, media guru with Trenton365, will take people through downtown Trenton, stopping briefly at local eateries, and documenting the experiences as they go.
• Shereyl Snider, community organizer for East Trenton Collaborative, will take people through her neck of the woods as well as through other parts of the city.
• Zeke Weston, policy coordinator for New Jersey Future, will lead people across some famous bridges via the New Jersey Statehouse to Morrisville, Pennsylvania and back.
The Trenton Walks group hopes that by participating in these walks and talks, local Trenton residents and workers alike will see first-hand the benefits of the wonderful trails and green spaces Trenton has to offer and will support efforts to build more, as Trenton emerges as a hub for trails in the region.
The schedule of walks for July is as follows:
• Wednesday, July 3, noon. Led by Zeke Weston, N.J. Future policy coordinator, and Tim Brill, Central Jersey proj-
Trenton marks 248 years of independence
Most have heard of Washington’s famous victory over the Hessians in Trenton in December 1776. But did you realize that Trenton first took the world stage in the fight for independence five months earlier?
The Trenton Walks program features seven routes of varying lengths through different urban environments, each led by a volunteer from the community.
ect manager for the N.J. Conservation Foundation and MCAT Trenton Trails subcommittee leader. Leave from N.J. Justice Complex to Morrisville via Trenton Makes and Calhoun Street Bridges via State House and back. 2.7 miles round trip.
• Thursday, July 11, 5:15 p.m. Led by Gulu Brewer, vice chair of the Trenton Green Team and community and resident engage coordinator for Isles. Leave from Roberto Clemente Park, D&R to Mulberry Street and back. 3 miles round trip.
• Monday, July 15, 4:30 p.m. Led by Mackenzie Piggott, State Trails coordinator for the Green Acres Program at N.J. Department of Environmental Protection. Meet at the NJDEP entryway at 401 East State Street and walk along the Assunpink Greenway to Stacey Park and back. 2.4 miles round trip.
• Saturday, July 20, 9:30 a.m. Led by Shereyl Snider, East Trenton Collaborative community organizer, Becky Taylor, Trenton Trails subcommittee leader and former co-president of the Lawrence Hopewell Trail. Meet at the intersection of Sherman and Courtland Avenues and walk toward Princeton on the D&R Canal State Park for about 2 miles round trip.
• Wednesday, July 24, 11 a.m. Led by Jacque Howard, media guru at Trenton365. Leave from Hub 13 co-working space at 13 South Front Street, through downtown Trenton to Mill Hill and back. 1.2 miles round trip.
Visit gmtma.org/trail-happenings to see the complete calendar and maps for each walk.
For more information, contact: Larry Paul at 609-647-3563 or trentongreenteam609@gmail.com
On July 8, 1776 Trenton hosted the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence outside of Philadelphia in front of what was then the Hunterdon County Courthouse on Warren Street (Mercer County did not yet exist). In typical “Trenton Makes the World Takes” fashion, the now-immortal words of the Declaration of Independence were proclaimed aloud, and ultimately heard around the world.
That pivotal moment in history will be recreated by the Trenton Kiwanis Club on Monday, July 8, at noon — exactly 248 years after the first reading —- when Trentonians gather to once again read aloud the Declaration of Independence at 23 South Warren Street — the same site as the first reading in 1776. A cross-section of civic leaders and citizens young and old lead by Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora will each read a portion of the document as well as the names of the signers from each of the original 13 colonies.
The program, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Trenton and the City of Trenton Department of Recreation, Natural Resources and Culture is free and open to the public. For more information, please call 609-208-9991.
HARMONY, continued from page 2
founding of Trenton Children’s Chorus in 1989, the founding of Trenton Community Music School/Trenton Music Makers in 1998, and finally their merger in 2022. We have so much to be proud of, so many reasons to thank you, and so many exciting things to anticipate.
We are very grateful for your partnership. As we navigate this transition, we invite you to share your thoughts and ideas with us to create a bright vision for the future. We hope you will remain open and engaged with the staff and board and continue to support our valuable programs. Please address any inquires to: board@capitalharmony.works or executive@capitalharmony.works
We look forward to seeing you soon and hope you enjoy a beautiful summer!
Sincerely,
The Board of Trustees
Trenton Walks!
On the Cover
Plenty of ways to celebrate this Independence Day
By Joe Emanski
With fireworks increasingly accessible in the Garden State these days, some people see celebratory holidays like Independence Day as an opportunity to fire off a few or a few hundred red and glaring rockets at home, right there in the driveway.
But for those who have dogs or who remain concerned about potential serious bodily harm related to exploding things in their yards, Community News is happy to report that the tradition of the community fireworks show is still very much alive and well. Below is your guide to this year’s celebrations.
We start out by mentioning that Lawrence Township plans to hold its annual Independence Day Fireworks on Friday, June 28 at Rider University, with a rain date of Saturday, June 29. Both dates are before our publishing date for July, but we mention
them here so that readers don’t wonder why we did not include them.
Also kicking off before press time is the Hopewell Valley Veterans Association’s
June 29 An Evening Under the Stars fireworks display and classic car exhibition in Hopewell Township’s Woolsey Park.
Now for the events that readers can actually attend!
Hamilton Township has had Fourth of July fireworks in Veterans Park pretty
much since the park opened to the public, and this year it will host more of the same.
The Hamilton Independence Day Concert and Fireworks show is set to take place on Monday, July 1, with a rain date of Tuesday, July 2. Visitors are encouraged to park at the Kuser Road entrance,
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fireworks from the Hopewell Valley Veterans Association’s september 2023 show. (facebook photos.)
Pure Petty, a tom Petty and the Heartbreakers tribute band, is scheduled to take the stage at l.e.A.d. fest on thursday, July 4 at the Mercer county Park fairgrounds. (Photo by Phillip lebowski.)
2206 Kuser Road.
Festivities are set to begin at 6 p.m. with food available from a variety of vendors. Musical entertainment will be provided by The Heartbeats. The South Jersey-based group bills itself as “America’s Party Band.” Fireworks are set to start at 9:30 p.m.
Ewing Township will join in the fun on Wednesday, July 3 with the Ewing Independence Day Fireworks Celebration.
Ewing’s event is set to feature rides, face painting, sand art, a balloon man, a dunk tank, food vendors and giveaways. DJ Dan Murphy will provide musical entertainment, and the First NJ Volunteers Colonial Reenactors will also be on hand.
Gates are set to open at 6 p.m at The College of New Jersey’s Green Lane soccer fields. Fireworks are scheduled to begin around 9 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to park in the TCNJ parking garage on Metzger Drive.
Also set for July 3 is the Bordentown Fireworks at the Park, a joint production between the township and the nonprofit Foundation for Bordentown Traditions, which helped reinstate an annual Bordentown show after budget cuts brought that tradition to an end.
This year’s edition is set to begin at 4:30 p.m. in Joseph Lawrence Park on Ward Avenue. Festivities are set to include games, music and food trucks, with fireworks set to start around 9 p.m.
Anyone who completely forgot to go to any fireworks shows on the Fourth of July or in the week leading up to it will be
relieved to learn that East Windsor Township will host its fireworks show on Saturday, July 6 at dusk.
East Windsor’s celebration is scheduled to take place at Etra Lake Park on Disbrow Hill Road in the Twin Rivers section of the township.
* * *
Also taking place the week of Independence Day is the L.E.A.D. Fest in the Mercer County Park fairgrounds, with a fireworks show just one part of the scheduled entertainment.
L.E.A.D., or Law Enforcement Against Drugs, is a nonprofit organization with the mission to protecting youth and communities from the proliferation of drugs, drugrelated crimes and peer-to-peer cyberbullying and violence.
The annual L.E.A.D. Fest started on June 28 and is scheduled to run through Sunday, July 7. The festival features carnival rides, food vendors, racing pigs, a circus show, a craft fair and nightly live musical entertainment.
On Thursday, July 4, L.E.A.D. Fest will also host a fireworks show to start at dusk. Paid admission is technically required to attend, although we all know that the fireworks will be visible from outside the fairgrounds area.
Prior to the fireworks show, Philly-based band Pure Petty will take the stage at 7 p.m. performing the songs of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
The Trenton Thunder are also planning to host a fireworks show on July 4 at Arm and Hammer Park after their 7 p.m. game with the Frederick Keys. But that is hardly unusual, as the Thunder have already hosted four postgame fireworks nights this season, and plan to do 10 more after July 4.
The Trenton Thunder, home to team in the Double-A Eastern League from 1994 to 2019, have belonged to the six-team MLB Draft League since 2021, after Major League Baseball took over and scrambled the minor league baseball landscape. The Thunder play a two-part, 80-game schedule half of which is contested by collegiate amateurs, and half contested by undrafted professionals after the annual Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft is held.
Other scheduled fireworks dates for the Thunder are July 18, July 20, July 25, Aug. 1, Aug. 8, Aug. 15, Aug. 17, Aug. 29 and Aug. 31. All dates are Thursdays or Saturdays. A ticket purchase is required to attend.
* * *
Those looking for a more Princeton take on Independence Day may want to plan a trip to Morven Museum and Garden on Thursday, July 4 for its annual Fourth of July Jubilee.
Morven, of course, has been selected as a local host for 2026’s Semiquincentennial, marking 250 years since the signing of
the Declaration of Independence. But that is down the road. This year’s Jubilee is set to feature family-friendly activies and crafts “inspired by themes of history, civics and service” as well as tours of Morven’s gardens and live music from the Vintage Vibe Tribe and face painting with Maya B. the Facepaint Fairy. Food will be for sale from Oink and Moo BBQ, The Empanada Guy and Kona Ice. No noisy or polluting fireworks are planned.
One could say that Morven has been hosting Independence Day celebrations since 1783, when it hosted several congressional delegates to mark the occasion. For many years, it served as the New Jersey governor’s mansion.
The Jubilee is part of Civic Season, a national program of activities designed to connect Juneteenth and July 4. Web:morven.org.
Morven Museum and Garden will host its annual Jubilee on thursday, July 4. (facebook photo.)
Sourland Mountain Festival to return July 13
The Sourland Mountain Festival is set for Saturday, July 13, rain or shine, from 3 to 8:30 p.m. at New Jersey’s premier Unionville Vineyard in Hunterdon County.
Unionville’s home vineyard on Rocktown Road in Ringoes, with its iconic red barn, serves as the backdrop for a summer afternoon filled with music, food, family-friendly activities, shopping, presentations and more.
Live musical entertainment will be provided by headliners the Matt O’Ree Band along with the Christine Havrilla & Gypsy Fuzz, Tony and the Trees and the Adventures of Matt Black.
After an opening blessing of the mountain by the Lenape Nation, guests may then partake in family-friendly activities, from guided hikes with educators from the Raritan Headwaters Association to a lesson on foraging from Wildspawn Mushrooms, henna and face painting, a walk-through balloon and photo experience with the ReMax balloon.
Tabby’s Place, the Ringoes-based cat rescue sanctuary, will be on hand with information and taking donations for their rescues in need. Titusville native plant center My Backyard at Nectars will be available with an assortment of native plants for pur-
chase. Merchants from around the region such as Freitag Arts, Ed Field Stained Glass and Rooted Remedies and more will be on hand with unique gifts for purchase.
The Ryland Inn and Chef Chris Albrecht will provide catering under the tented patio in the shadow of the red barn. Draft beer will be provided by Lone Eagle Brewing. Also offering food and refreshments will be AMA Pizza, Thai Cha Chak, and Cas Pierogi.
Proceeds from the Sourland Mountain Festival benefit the Sourland Conservancy, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the history and ecology of Central Jersey’s Sourland Mountain region and is made possible by the generous support of business partners and sponsors who share in the vision of Supporting the Sourlands.
The Sourland Mountain Festival is planned and run by a dedicated group of volunteers. East Amwell’s local volunteer rescue squad will be on hand for guest safety and will be selling lemonade and baked goods to benefit their squad.
Tickets are on sale now at sourlandmountainfest.org/tickets and guests may also purchase a limited edition 20-ounce tumbler. Visit sourlandmountainfest.org for more details.
the Matt o’ree Band is among the musical performers expected to take the stage at the sourland Mountain festival on July 13.
Mercer Eats
South Olden’s Encanto spotlights Colombian cuisine
By Joe Emanski
Encanto is a great name for a restaurant. Especially a restaurant that specializes in Colombian cuisine.
Since 2021, the Spanish word meaning “charm” has been inextricably linked with the 2021 Disney animated film of that name — a film that, of course, tells the magical story of the Madrigals, a multigenerational family living in Colombia.
Colombian food has taken a back seat to other Latin American cuisines in the area, especially Mexican and Guatemalan cuisine. Even Tomatello’s Latin Cuisine in Hopewell, which is owned by a Colombian family, started out focused largely on burritos before gradually adding Colombian specialties to its menu.
empanadas at encanto colombiano restaurant.
Encanto Colombiano Restaurant, which opened on South Olden Avenue in Hamilton in April, has been zeroed in on Colombian cuisine from the get go. Among the restaurant’s best sellers is Bandeja Paisa ($27.50), a Colombian specialty of rice, beans, beef, chicharrón, chorizo, sweet potato, plantain, fried egg, blood sausage and avocado.
This heaping dish is accompanied, as per tradition, with an arepa, a type of ground
corn flatbread that is popular throughout South America, but especially in Colombia. Also popular at Encanto since its opening has been its Colombian-style mini-empanadas, or empanaditas ($10.50). Where many empanadas are made with flour, these are made with corn, and come stuffed with beef and potatoes.
Specialties of the house include Salmon con Camarones al Ajillo, or salmon and shrimp with garlic, $26.25; Chuleta de cerdo con agridulce de pimenton, or roasted pork chop spiced with sweet and sour paprika, $23.10; and carne de res al vino tinto, or beef cooked in red wine demiglace with mushrooms, $23.10).
Encanto has a full bar serving everything from martinis to mojitos as well as special house cocktails, all of which feature Colombian aguardiente, typically an aniseflavored liqueur made from sugarcane. The La Bandera cocktail, made with aguardiente, vodka, gin, passion fruit liqueur, blue curacao and Grenadine syrup, is $15. Colombian beers such as Poker Lager and Águila are also available.
Anthony J. Destribats
Bernard A. Campbell, Jr.
Raymond C. Staub
David P. Schroth
Kimberly A. Greenberg Adam Lipps
Bernard A. Campbell, Jr.
Jay G. Destribats (1969-2015)
Raymond C. Staub
David P. Schroth
Kimberly A. Greenberg John Ferner
Seafood specialties include ceviche de pulpo (octopus) and mango, $21, and encocado de camarones , or shrimp cooked in a creamy coconut sauce, $23.10.
Another traditional Colombian dish featured on the menu is Ajiaco ($21), a hearty soup of chicken, three kinds of potatoes, corn, and guasca, a Colombian herb. Mondongo ($21), a soup of pork, potato, plantain, cassava, carrot, cilantro, onion, garlic and bell pepper, is also on the menu.
Appropriately for a restaurant that opens at 9 a.m., Encanto also serves breakfast. including Calentado Paisa, or rice and beans with chorizo, scrambled eggs and arepa; Calentado Encanto, or rice with beans with sweet potatoes, bacon, scrambled eggs, beef or chicken; and assorted omelettes, including omelette ranchero, served with baby corn, sausage, onion, tomato and mozzarella.
As one might expect, Colombian coffee is on the menu. Encanto also serves a variety of fruit juices.
Encanto Colombiano Restaurant, Bar and Panedería. 2217 S. Olden Ave., Hamilton. Phone: (609) 940-9924. Web: encantocolombianonj.com. Open Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Closed Mondays.
encanto has a full bar serving colombian specialty drinks made with aguardiente. (Photo courtesy of encanto/Instagram.)
left: ceviche de pulpo (octopus) con mango. center: encocado de camarones (shrimp). right: colombian-style
(Photos courtesy of encanto/Instagram.)
From state-of-the-art technology to the most specialized team in New Jersey, our network offers the most complete heart and vascular care. Whether you have hypertension, heart disease or a child with a heart issue, our team of nurses, cardiologists and heart surgeons deliver comprehensive, compassionate care. Our highly coordinated approach to patient care ensures that you can focus on improved health and wellness – and get your heart off your mind. Make a plan at rwjbh.org/heart
Hamilton Dental Associates
The Importance of Orthodontic Care for Your Children
Growing up makes for a constantly evolving experience for children. Every year they change and grow into the person they are destined to become, and that extends to their oral health. From the first baby tooth to their adult teeth coming in later in their lives, managing your child’s dental health presents unique challenges for parents. With those challenges come a few myths involving childhood tooth development that can impact how you treat your child’s dental health.
Combating Childhood Oral Health Myths
. When you start looking for a pediatric dentist in Hamilton, you want to find one that knows how intensive taking care of your child’s teeth should be. Taking a proactive approach to their dental health can help them avoid more involved procedures down the road — one of
Health & Wellness
the most common myths that lead to your child’s teeth suffering in the long run.
Common Myth #1: Childhood Teeth Will Straighten Out Over Time
One such myth that leads to more complex orthodontic care down the line is that your child’s teeth will straighten out over time. Unfortunately, that is not the case.
If their teeth start coming in crooked or off-center, they won’t naturally straighten themselves with time. The space for their teeth to come in doesn’t grow as they mature. If you leave these issues unattended, it could lead to more significant problems.
Common Myth #2: Orthodontic Treatments Are Purely Cosmetic
While most people associate orthodontic treatments with getting braces as a teenager, that procedure does much more than merely straighten teeth to help you look better. Getting your jaw and teeth back into proper alignment has a cascading effect on your oral health. It helps improve your biting, chewing, and even speaking ability.
Common Myth #3: There Is a Right Age for Orthodontic Care
Many parents believes there is a specific age at which it’s appropriate to bring their children in for orthodontic care. The perceived minimum age for a child to receive orthodontic care is around 12-13 or right when they reach high school. However, getting your child such care earlier can help avoid getting braces and fixing issues before they worsen.
In reality, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that your children should get an orthodontic checkup no later than age seven. Once they hit that age, their mouth will have a nice balance between their baby and permanent teeth. This window of time allows for an accurate orthodontic evaluation to
AllCure Spine and Sports Medicine
Personalized Solutions to Your Pain Concerns
At AllCure, we understand that the summer can come with a lot of fun and activity. Often, we experience that patients will put off their pain concerns until the summer is over and plan to address them in the fall.
At AllCure, we will do assessments to see where each person can benefit from our level of care. We offer chiropractic, physical therapy, and acupuncture services to provide high-level of conservative care to the community.
Our office also provides stateof-the-art modalities to assist each provider in getting patients back to a higher quality of life. We also have X-ray on site to help diagnose the patients pain and discomfort. We
offer 10 minute free consultations for anyone interested to make sure they feel comfortable and to ensure that we can help.
We take pride in what we do and we make sure that each patient gets a high level of attention and care on each one of their visits. We make our plans specifically to fit each individual person‘s needs and do not offer blanket treatments for similar patient complaints.
We have offices conveniently located in Monroe, Hamilton, and Somerset, NJ. Please visit our website or give us a call today to come in for a free consult, and get back to the quality of life you deserve.
AllCure Spine & Sports Medicine, 140 Cabot Drive, Suite A, Hamilton. 609-528-4417. 350 Forsgate Drive, Monroe Township. 732-521-9222. 1101 Randolph Road, Somerset. 732-823-9392. www. allcurespineandsports.com.
determine where preventative care is enough or if additional action is required.
Where Do Orthodontic Issues
Come From? In most cases, a child’s orthodontic problems stem from their genetics — these issues are inherited from their parents. Additionally, some problems can develop over time based on poor oral hygiene habits they learned from a young age.
Some of these acquired oral health issues include:
• Sucking Their Thumbs
• Mouth Breathing
• Abnormal Swallowing Patterns
• Poor Dental Hygiene
• Irregular Loss of Baby Teeth
• Poor Nutritional Habits
However, parents have reason to hope for viable remedies and solutions to most of these issues. You
can remedy these acquired problems with the help of successful orthodontic care provided by an experienced pediatric dentist.
Finding a
Child Orthodontic
You Can Trust. Trusting your child’s teeth and their beautiful smile to a pediatric dentistry practice is something that every parent must come to grips with. Figuring out which childhood orthodontic makes the most sense for your child and their future dental visits becomes critically important. For parents and their children in Hamilton, Hamilton Dental Associates provides them with the experienced pediatric dentists they need to prioritize their oral health as they mature.
Learn more about our pediatric dentistry services and schedule your first appointment today!
Visit www.hamiltondental.com.
RWJUH Hamilton
A Guide to Help Maintain Your Health and Wellnes
The summer season is a good time to reflect on health and wellness. “Summer is a great time to focus on preventive measures, embracing lifestyle changes that can have lasting benefits,” says Aditi Shrivastava, MD, Internal Medicine, an RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group provider affiliated with Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJUH Hamilton).
With the heat comes the importance of maintaining adequate hydration. The increased temperatures and outdoor activities lead to higher rates of perspiration, making it vital to replenish lost fluids. Aim to drink at least eight glasses of water daily, and consider incorporating hydrating and vitamin-rich foods like watermelon, fruit and cucumbers into your diet.
Nutrition also plays a role in overall health, especially in the summer when fresh produce is abundant. Take advantage of seasonal fruits and vegetables. Berries, tomatoes, zucchini, and leafy greens are at their peak in
Women’s
Pelvic Floor
July and offer a wealth of nutrients that support immune function, skin health and energy levels. A balanced diet rich in these foods can help mitigate the risks associated with summer heat and exertion.
While sunshine has its benefits, such as boosting vitamin D levels and improving mood, overexposure can be harmful. Skin cancer remains a significant concern, and proper sun protection is essential. Use a broadspectrum tsunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, reapply every two hours, and wear protective clothing, including hats and sunglasses. Additionally, try to avoid outdoor activities during peak sun intensity hours, typically between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Exercise is integral to maintaining health and wellness. Try to engage in outdoor exercises like walking, jogging, cycling, or swimming to enhance heart and vascular health, improve mood through the release of endorphins, and help with weight management. Be mindful of the heat and try to exercise during the cooler parts of the day, stay hydrated, and take breaks as needed to prevent heat exhaustion. Summer is often a time of relaxation and socialization, both of which are important for mental health.
Engaging with family and friends can strengthen social bonds and reduce stress. These interactions can significantly boost your emotional well-being.
However, if you find yourself struggling with your mental health, it’s important to have an honest discussion with your primary care provider. Your primary care provider will be able to provide you with the best treatment options for your condition. RWJBarnabas Health is proud to be a leader in providing you with expert mental health services for all ages and seasons of life. Learn more at rwjbh.org/ behavioralhealth.
July is a good time for a mid-year health check. Schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider for a routine check-up. Regular screenings and examinations can detect potential health issues early, making treatment more effective. Discuss any new health concerns, review your current medications and consider getting vaccinations if needed, especially if you’re planning to travel.
Remember, take the time to prioritize yourself and your health and wellness! “It’s important to incorporate health and wellness practices not just during the summer but all year round,”
adds Dr. Shrivastava.
Dr. Shrivastava sees patients at 3100 Quakerbridge Road, Hamilton, NJ 08619. For more information about Dr. Shrivastava, please call 609-2457389. Or to find a RWJBarnabas Health primary care provider in your area, visit rwjbh.org/medgroupprimarycare.
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Caruso PTRD offers a unique, patient-centered physical therapy approach that offers patients the chance to work closely with a Doctor of Physical Therapy. We want you to get back to being you; whether it’s getting you back on the field, back at the office, or back to running around with your children or grandkids! Treating pain is only the first step!
Caruso PTRD offers a unique, patient-centered physical therapy approach that offers patients the chance to work closely with a Doctor of Physical Therapy. Our therapists' main goals are to listen to each of your needs and provide individualized care to treat your condition. We want you to get back to being you; whether it's getting you back on the field, back at the office, or back to running around with your children or grandkids! Treating pain is only the first step!
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ATTENTION ALL AGES: Achieve your body composition, sport's performance, nutrition or weight loss goals through an approach that is anything but "cookie cutter". We take the time to learn about you, any medical conditions you may have and tailor to your individual needs. Our Nutrition Experts, RDN's,are the ONLY medical professionals qualified to give you nutrition advice. We don't believe in quick fixes or the latest craze. We believe in life long change without having to sacrifice ANYTHING that makes your life unique!
The most recognized and effective form of safe and successful exercise. Pilates can be tailored to the specific needs of the client to provide injury prevention, rehabilitation and muscle stability work. We offer Private and Semi Private Sessions.
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The most recognized and effective form of safe and successful exercise. Pilates can be tailored to the specific needs of the client to provide injury prevention, rehabilitation and muscle stability work. We offer private and semi private sessions.
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy is a special subset of PT focusing on the muscles of the pelvic girdle. Pelvic dysfunction can cause pain and urinary leakage, among other personal issues that can be successfully treated with education, exercise and hands-on techniques. I want to empower females to take back their lives, one Pelvic PT session at a time.
Relax and unplug in our new Salt Room! Offering numerous health benefits such as; providing relief for respiratory and skin conditions, and promoting overall mental wellness and stress relief. Breathe, relax and unwind!
Aditi Shrivastava, MD, RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group
Drs. Alex & Dawn Rockwell DMD
Natasha Rockwell
Caruso Physical Therapy & Nutrition
Empowering Each Individual to Reach Their Boundless Potential
At Caruso Physical Therapy and Nutrition, they had a vision for a place where they could practice what they preached. This clinic is the result of that. Now, the clinic’s amazing team is committed to carrying out that vision by guiding others in establishing and achieving their own health goals so they can look and feel their best!
These services aren’t offered in the area separately, nor are they offered together in a single practice.
However, combined, these things make a huge difference. That’s why we offer both, giving you the advantage of physical therapy and registered dietitians in the same clinic!
Our services are provided by boardcertified physical therapists, physical therapy assistants, and board-certified registered dietitians.
We’re focused on providing education, prevention, treatment, and wellness services that enhance our patients’ overall health and deter the onset of more costly pathology.
Rockwell Dentistry
Where Dentistry Is a Family and Community Affair
It’s our goal to provide our patients with the best physical therapy and nutrition services in our community.
The newest form of Physical Therapy we offer is Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy, which is a special subset of PT focusing on the muscles of the pelvic girdle. Pelvic dysfunction can cause pain and urinary leakage, among other personal issues that can be successfully treated with education, exercise and hands-on techniques.
Women’s Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy can assist with problems such as: urinary incontinence and urgency; overactive bladder; constipation; pelvic pain; low back pain; hip pain; dyspareunia; vaginismus; vulvodynia; scar tissue and pelvic organ prolapse.
We also offer Sports PT for those recovering from injury or concussion to help them return safely to the field of play.
At Caruso’s our mission is to empower each individual to realize their boundless potential.
Contact us or visit our website to start your journey towards a healthier you!
Caruso Physical Therapy and Nutrition, 1278 Yardville Allentown Road, Allentown. 609-738-3143. caruso@carusoptrd.com. carusoptrd. com.
In the heart of our community lies a dental practice unlike any other. Rockwell Dentistry was established close to three decades ago. Drs. Dawn and Alex Rockwell opened their practice in 1996, shortly after their twins, Eric and Natasha, were born. They envisioned a dental office that was not only a place for topnotch dental care but a staple in the community.
From the beginning their practice thrived on the principles of compassion, quality care, and a personal touch.
Patients became more than clients; they became friends. This ethos set the foundation for a thriving practice that continues to grow year after year. Drs. Rockwell have trated many generations of the same families. It is commonplace for patients to run into their own family members and neighbors in the waiting room.
Drs. Dawn and Alex always “dreamed” that their twins Eric and Natasha would follow in their footsteps and continue the Rockwell Dentistry legacy in Mercer County.
As Eric and Natasha grew older, they both
pursued undergraduate degrees in biology and decided to apply to dental school. After eight years Natasha graduated from Temple Dental School in May 2023 and Eric in May 2024. This marks a new chapter for the family and the practice, bringing fresh perspective and the latest in dental technology and techniques.
Dr. Natasha Rockwell has developed a keen interest in Invisalign and cosmetic dentistry. Her innovative approach to smile makeovers, orthodontic treatments, and scanning technology has brought a new level of expertise to the practice. Her vibrant personality and gentle approach have already made an impact on her patients.
Dr. Eric Rockwell’s passion lies with integrating the latest technologies to address complicated restorative cases more efficiently and accurately.
Rockwell Dentistry’s core vision was one office for all your dental care needs. With the addition of Natasha and Eric, Rockwell Dentistry will be a blend of experience and innovation that ensures patients receive the best possible care in a warm, family-oriented environment for many years to come. More information: www.rockwelldentistry.com.
The Rockwell Dentistry family: Alex, Natasha, Eric, and Dawn Rockwell.
Hamilton Township Division of Health
Safe & Healthy Summer Tips
The Hamilton Township Division of Health wants you and your family to have a safe and fun summer! Whether you choose to enjoy your time outside at one of Hamilton’s great parks, go for a dip in the pool or head to the beach it is important to keep in mind some safety tips to protect your health.
Here are some quick safety tips to help you have a safe and healthy summer:
• Check for ticks! Ticks are the most active in the warmer months (April-September). Infected ticks can transmit diseases including Lyme
disease. Prevent tick bites by wearing insect repellent, check yourself, kids and pets for ticks, remove ticks quickly and seek medical help if you develop symptoms of Lyme disease (including fever, headache, fatigue and rash).
• Beat the heat! Extreme heat can lead to heat related illness. People ages 65+, children under two and people with chronic diseases and mental illness are at highest risk. Remember to keep your cool! Stay in air conditioning as much as possible, stay hydrated, check on neighbors or family who are high risk, wear loose and lightweight clothing and NEVER leave children or pets in cars. Cooling centers for residents include the Hamilton Township Public Library and the Hamilton Senior Center.
• Sun Safety! Most skin cancers
are caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. Protect yourself and others from the sun when outdoors by seeking shade, wearing sunglasses, hats and clothing to protect you from the sun. Don’t forget your sunscreen! Choose a broadspectrum sunscreen with SPF of 15 or higher, reapply often and check those expiration dates!
• Eat your fruits and veggies! Healthy eating can help adults and children live a healthy life and reduce the risks of chronic disease. Summer is a great time for fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables including strawberries, watermelon, zucchini and fresh Jersey tomatoes!
• Water safety! Swimming is a fun summer activity to help cool off, but should be done safely. If you go
swimming this summer remember to learn to swim and know your limits, never leave children unattended, wear life jackets when doing water activities, don’t swim alone even if you are a strong swimmer, and never dive into shallow water — if you don’t know how deep it is, don’t dive!
For more information on these topics and other summer safety tips visit www.cdc.gov
The Hamilton Township Division of Health is located at 2100 Greenwood Ave and provides residents with various services including public health nursing, health education, environmental inspections, vital statistics and animal sheltering and control — contact us at 609-890-3828, HamHealth@HamiltonNJ.com or www.HamiltonNJ.com/Health.
Larry Feldman (609)658-5213 LarryFeldman51@gmail.com
sjeronis@communitynews.org.
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The NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) brings cancer trials and care delivery studies to people in their communities. Now as an NCORP affiliate site, Capital Health can give patients of our Cancer Center access to clinical trials and treatment delivery studies from top institutions around the world, bringing the latest state-of-the-art treatments to patients right here in our communities. It’s the advanced care you deserve close to home.
After 10 years, Medina Clinic moves into a home of its own in Trenton
By Michele Alperin
Comparing life expectancies of Princeton and Trenton residents, Kemi Alli, chief executive of the Medina Health Center expected to open this summer at 828 North Olden Avenue in Trenton, says, “If you’re wealthy and live in Princeton, you’re expected to live 10 years longer.”
The statistics are against Trenton; according to DataUSA’s 2022 socioeconomic data, its poverty rate is 26.2 percent; median household income, $44,444; median property value, $111,200; and percent uninsured, 31 percent.
Recognizing this huge gap between the haves and have nots and recognizing its effect on accessibility to physicians, and in particular to specialty medical care, Sajid Syed cofounded the Medina Community Clinic in 2014 to connect physician volunteers to the uninsured and underinsured in Trenton. The new on-the-ground center, which will provide primary care and behavioral health (mental health and substance abuse) services for adults and children, is the next step in Syed’s vision.
At the April 24 opening of the center, Syed shared the underlying motivation for the Medina Health Center. “We are privileged, and all that means is that we should have a sense of responsibility for those who don’t have privilege and are less fortunate than us.”
Zahid Baig, gastroenterologist and cofounder of Medina, shared his own motivations at the opening, “True happiness is helping others without expectation of reward. I look forward to seeing patients with no money; it brings me inner peace and happiness.”
Alli, a pediatrician who has spent her entire career in the community health clinic space, offers a more systemic perspective on Medina’s mission. “My belief is that certain rights are inalienable: good, housing, safety, education, jobs, and healthcare: It will take all of us to move the needle to reduce despair and inequity.”
Alli also envisions a particular approach to quality healthcare. “You look at the person holistically — emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually — understanding that we are a combination of all those things, and health is a combination of all those things.”
After 10 years of successfully providing voluntary specialty care for referrals from area clinics, Syed recognized that both changes in the healthcare landscape and the aging of many of the original Medina specialists were pushing them toward a bricks-and-mortar center in Trenton.
“Of the people I knew in the community who were good souls who wanted to
Medina has been doing for its clients. Furthermore, many health centers that started “from one person’s or one group’s vision and dream,” Alli says, are now large, thriving institutions.
“With passion and commitment and dedication, Medina hopefully will grow over time,” Alli says.
Initial staffing for the center will include Mira Sadegh, director of operations; Ilona Deprez, fractional chief advancement officer responsible for development, communications, and marketing; a primary care provider, to be hired, as well as clinical support for that person, either a medical assistant or a nurse; and volunteer Abdul Hakim, who will be in charge of community affairs, serving as liaison between the clinic and the Trenton community.
Medina is also looking to expand its cadre of primary and specialty volunteers. Physicians may apply online by going to www.medinahealthcare.org/ general-7 and clicking on the link under “Physician Volunteering Opportunities.” Volunteers at the clinic are covered by malpractice insurance.
give back,” Syed says, “40 to 50 percent have retired or sold their practices to hospital systems or large private equity groups and don’t have the independence to participate.” At the same time, younger doctors, many of whom are employees of these larger institutions, told him, “We can’t see patients in our own office, but if you have a clinic, we can get permission to come there and see patients.”
Medina’s earlier “uber-type model,” where patients were largely seen in the offices of the volunteering doctors, no longer works for younger physicians.
“We quickly realized that this is not a sustainable model going forward. If we want to continue to provide care for the underserved, we needed a clinic,” Syed says. Their ultimate goal is to become a federally qualified health clinic (FQHC) that is eligible for specific reimbursement systems under Medicare and Medicaid. But they will start as an ambulatory care licensed facility and have already applied for a license. The next step will be to become an FQHC look-alike, which does not get any federal grants, but does get support for charity care.
The other contributing factor to this change in Medina’s trajectory was the availability of both Syed and Alli to help lead the new venture. Syed retired at the
end of 2023 and in March 2024 ended his stint as chair of the Muslim Center of Greater Princeton, leaving him time to devote his efforts to seeing the new center “to fruition.” At the same time, Kemi Alli — who last year ended 25 years at the Henry J. Austin Health Center, as a pediatrician, pediatric section chief, chief medical officer, and finally CEO — became available to serve as Medina’s “fractional [part-time] CEO.”
Alli says that a decade ago, when Syed first broached his plan for the Medina Community Clinic to Alli, she was skeptical of a group of providers “who understood their privilege and wanted to give back … out of the goodness of their hearts — which I thought was amazing.”
But since then, the Medina Community Clinic has successfully provided specialty care to 300 to 500 patients a year and 1,800 visits a year across 35 different specialties.
In Trenton, a city with so much poverty, Alli explains, the existing clinics for outpatient services do not have sufficient capacity to provide healthcare to all who need it. “They are doing excellent work, but it’s not enough to take care of the entire need of the city,” Alli observes.
Even a small clinic makes a difference in the lives of its patients, she says, as
Not only are physician volunteers essential to the Medina Health Clinic’s success, but also community volunteers like retired Trenton resident Hakim, who got involved with the Medina enterprise in 2021 when Syed invited him to be the “patient navigator” at the MGCP Free Clinic, a feeder clinic to the Medina Health Center.
“I grew up as a person that was in a low-income situation but aspired to become very successful,” the Atlantic City native says. “I went through all the trials and tribulations people go through from living in an urban area, but I was one of the ones who managed to escape the inner city.”
“I’ve been in the shoes of the people that I serve,” he adds, having spent his career working with programs for “people in need of services, whether food, clothing, shelter, money, or medical care. Medina Health Clinic is just another way that I have been given to help the community.”
As patient navigator at the MGCP Free Clinic, Hakim is responsible for setting up medical appointments to get clients the health support they need. Depending on what is most convenient for the clinic’s volunteer physicians, they will either see the patient in the clinic located in the Muslim Center of Greater Princeton or at their own medical offices.
Hakim schedules appointments for patients who call the office and ensures that patient information gets to doctors in a timely way.
Hakim also helps educate clients who have no insurance and are unfamiliar
Dr. Kemi Alli is the chief executive of the Medina Health Center set to open at 828 North Olden Avenue.
with the medical billing process and insurance available through Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare. “Many people feel like they don’t have the money to get services done at a particular hospital because they don’t understand the process of charity care,” Hakim says, adding that this is a particular issue for people from other countries.
Hakim shares a recent case of a woman with limited English who told him she was 26 weeks pregnant and had never seen a doctor. Hakim was able to serve as an interpreter, helping her to schedule an appointment at Capital Health System. The big surprise was that she was actually 36 weeks pregnant. “I thank Allah for bringing us together,” he says.
Hakim expresses great admiration for the volunteer doctors who “are so unique and so giving.” He recalls a woman who brought her mother to the clinic on a Sunday night. A physician who had come to pray at the mosque and had 10 guests waiting at his home agreed to see the woman at 9:30 that night, after prayers. “These doctors give back relentlessly to the patients for free,” Hakim says.
About himself, Hakim is modest. “I’m a person that sees themselves as someone who is a part to a puzzle — I fit into a place where I’m needed.”
Alli’s background has prepared her in interesting ways for the career she chose for herself and for the medical, systemic, and strategic demands of being chief executive officer of Medina Health Center.
Her father was a police officer and her mother an arts and language teacher in West Africa and an admissions staffer at Drexel University and Raritan Valley Community College.
Her childhood experiences living in Somerville, New Jersey, and in West Africa, she says, “both shaped me in different ways.” Somerville, she says, “was a very warm and inviting place to grow up.”
Having family close by, including her grandparents, was also important. “I was always feeling welcomed and loved,” she says.
She also learned from difficult familial experiences — her aunt died of breast cancer, her grandfather, lung cancer, and her grandmother, colon cancer; her uncle was homosexual and had AIDS; and she had a cousin who was arrested and released.
“I could very early on understand that people are not their diagnosis and not their circumstance. Just because I had a cousin who was arrested didn’t mean I loved him any less or that he did not love his family and want to do good for other people,” Alli says.
She also gained medical nuance from her grandfather’s unwillingness to stop smoking, even on his deathbed — what in doctor speak is often dubbed “noncompliance.” Alli has a different view. “To get him to stop smoking, you had to under-
that is to be in leadership.”
Her understanding that many health problems in the inner city can be caused by systemic inequities also pushed her into leadership. For example, at the Henry J. Austin Health Center, she would see many kids with asthma where medicine was not resolving the problem. “I had to ask myself: why do they keep coming back — they should be getting better. Then I would discover they were living in a home where there is a negligent landlord and there is an infestation — and rodents, cockroaches, excrement, and hair will trigger asthma. I could give the child all the medicines I want, but until we get rid of the rodents or roaches, nothing would change.”
She decided that if she could lobby for a regulation requiring landlords to regularly exterminate buildings “then I could help thousands.” Upon reaching out to Isles, with experience in this area, she learned that such laws were already on the books, but the issue was holding landlords accountable. That meant advocating, getting others involved, and writing lots of letters, she says.
stand the root cause of why he smoked in the first place. It was a form of selfmedication, in response to all the trauma he underwent as a young black man in the army.”
Labeling him as noncompliant made no sense to Alli. “There is more to people than that. When I went to medical school, that shaped how I treated others, and it was one of the things that led me into pediatrics.”
Alli’s years in Africa were also critical to who she is today, showing her “a world that is much bigger than we could ever have imagined. People of brown skin can do anything if allowed the opportunity; in Africa there are black presidents, vice presidents, teachers, lawyers, and doctors. That was a huge awakening.”
Initially interested in becoming a veterinarian, Alli switched to medicine after seeing too many dogs put to sleep during a summer vet job. She majored in biology and was premed at Rutgers University.
Alli’s choice to work in community health centers grew out of her resident rotation at Eric B. Chandler Health Center in New Brunswick, which, she says, “really resonated — because of my background. When I looked into their eyes, I saw someone from my family. An older man could be my grandfather; a woman with breast cancer could be my aunt.”
That got her thinking about the kind of care she would want for her own family, and she decided on a career in the underserved community in Trenton. “I wanted to be the kind of provider who gives patients the quality care they deserve but often don’t get,” she says.
Alli, who eventually made the jump from pediatrics to CEO, has noticed that many doctor CEOS are pediatricians.
“We tend to be more empathetic, because often our patients can’t talk,” she explains. “That’s a quality that lends itself to wanting to help even more individuals within our community, and a way to do
In January 2024, Alli found another way to widen her impact on the healthcare environment. Following her nine years as chief executive officer at the Henry J. Austin Health Center, she and Elona Deprez started a consulting firm, Allied Executive Solutions. They work with health clinics and other nonprofits, helping them “to do what they do even better” by providing them with executivelevel support and strategic planning, implementing new programs, and branding and thinking strategically about organizations.
The firm’s niche is in providing what Alli calls “fractional executive leadership — part-time, per diem, temporary. I give them a fraction of my time. It is a winwin.”
That works well for Medina, she says, “a small organization, just getting off the ground. If I give them five or ten hours a week, that is what they need now.”
More information: www.medinahealthcare.org.
Sajid Syed cofounded the Medina Community Clinic in 2014 to connect physician volunteers to the uninsured and underinsured in Trenton.
