It is a hot day and Trenton-based artist Leon Rainbow is feeling the heat — especially the internal heat connected to preparing for the upcoming August 19 Jersey Fresh Jam.
That’s the annual urban celebration of art, music, and dance he and members of the Vicious Crew art group first put together 18 years ago.
Traditionally held in August, the event hosted by the Trenton-based TerraCycle is touted as New Jersey’s premier hip hop event.
It is also the freshest and hippest art event in the region.
And while not for everyone, it offers a big welcome for the community to connect with street “writers” — aka graffiti artists — and see them in action.
It also offers Rainbow a big task, especially on this hot day at the Terracycle headquarters on New York Avenue where the pressure is on.
“There’s construction,” says the 40-something artist of Native American ancestry standing in one of the several shipping areas of what was once a newspaper distribution site.
He says the temporarily removed doors served as “canvases” for the scores
of artists who show up for the one-day of nonstop painting.
“We’re hoping in the first week of August to prime the walls and straighten up the yard,” he says.
He then adds that if that doesn’t happen, they’ll just figure something out.
Rainbow’s “we” translates into the volunteers and regular supporters from the arts community and TerraCycle, the internationally known company the creates commercial products through recycling trash and waste materials.
“DJ Just Ahmad and MC Alberto Rodriquez curate the music and make sure equipment is set up,” says Rainbow about the two known Trenton music masters.
“We have Ricky Camilo Ricardo. He takes
TheCity of Trenton’s Summer Concert Series continues with the following free schedule:
Saturday, August 5, Tempo Alegre, Agabati Square, Roebling and Whittaker avenues, 5 to 7 p.m.
Friday, August 11, The Connection, Trent House, Market Street and William Trent Place, 6 to 8 p.m.
Friday, August 18, Showtyme & DA Traffic, Cycle Kings, 415 Calhoun
care of the break dancing aspect
“Me and MEK (Dave MEK Klama) curate the walls. Other stuff I work on is getting permits, sponsors, and vendors. (TerraCycle’s) Riley Smith is helping to organize. We all work together and have different artists coming in — from California, D.C., New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia.”
Rainbow says the $5,000 budget comes from a variety of supporters. In addition to the annual commitment from TerraCycle, funds come from I Am Trenton, Capital Health, Princeton Hydro, Adobe express, and Content Trenton.
“Couldn’t do it without the local support,” says Rainbow, who says the most stressful part of the operations is getting
Street, 6 to 8 p.m.
Saturday, August 19, Meg Hanson Group, Trent Center (Senior Building), 411-547 Greenwood Ave, 5 to 7 p.m.
Saturday, August 26, Robert Ruffis Experience, Cadwalader park at Parkside and West State Street, 6 to 8 p.m. Presented by the City of Trenton in partnership with Mercer County Park Commission. For more information visit www.trentonnj.org/rec or call 609-989-3369.
the permits and sponsorship.
“The easiest part is finding artists who want to paint. But that is difficult because we only have so much space — so we have to say no, even though they’re good. We can only have so many people paint.”
Regarding the artist recruiting process, Rainbow says he and MEK keep an eye out while they’re active in their network.
“I like to have people who are active. There are a lot of people who are painting on a regular basis and are pushing the boundaries of what the art is.”
He also likes a sense of new traditions, especially since “graffiti” as it is known
See JAM, page 6
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3,000 copies of the Trenton Downtowner are bulk distributed in Trenton 12 times a year.
Peripheral Neuropathy is a condition that affects millions of Americans, commonly resulting in pain, tingling, numbness, and other painful symptoms in the hands, legs and feet. This pain changes your life and affects how you work, how you play and how you live.
AllCure Spine and Sports Medicine is pleased to announce their new program for treating Peripheral Neuropathy, which includes a combination of advanced FDA-cleared treatments with breakthrough technology that aids in healing the damaged nerves. The effects of this program can be felt on the first few visits. This treatment restores, stabilizes, and rebuilds the nerves in your extremities. Treatment has also been effective in addressing painful symptoms of arthritis, MS, and other forms of chronic pain. Patients generally feel relief physically throughout the treatment period and even feel better emotionally after experiencing a reduction in pain.
Peripheral neuropathy is the consequence of damage to your peripheral nerves. There are over 100 different kinds of peripheral nerve disorders or neuropathies – some are the result of a disease like diabetes, while others can be triggered by a viral infection. Still others are the result of an injury or compression on the nerves. No matter where the problems begin, it is imperative nerve disorders are resolved as soon as possible to prevent permanent damage. Many people suffer with pain for years, not realizing that their symptoms may be due to Peripheral Neuropathy. Symptoms start gradually, then get worse, including numbness, burning or tingling sensations and sharp, electrical-like pain. Treatment options have been limited to a small assortment of pain medications, which can lead to further issues. Ignoring the problem or masking the symptoms has never been a viable solution. If you suffer from any of the aforementioned symptoms, we can help.
Healthy Nerve Cell
Damaged Nerve Cell
Fri., August 4; 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Spend your ‘Pizza Friday’ celebrating fresh produce that grows right here in New Jersey! Get hands-on by personalizing your own nutritious flat-tastic masterpiece for take-out! All ages welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Fee: $5 per person. Taryn Krietzman, RDN
THE AARP DRIVING COURSE
Tue., August 8; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Be a safer, better driver. Bring your NJ or PA driver’s license. Fee: $20 for AARP members presenting a valid AARP card; $25 for nonmembers. Cash or check only to AARP.
Tues., August 8; 10-11 a.m.
Get the facts on the latest in over-thecounter hearing aids. Learn the facts and get your questions answered by Dr. Lorraine Sgarlato, Au.D. A.B.A. a clinical audiologist with over 40 years of experience in the field of hearing science.
Tues., August 8; 6 to 7 p.m. When in doubt, dance it out! Have fun and de-stress with this interactive program. No experience required, all ages welcome.
Wed., August 9, 6 to 8 p.m.
What is your deepest desire for what you would like to be, do or have? Come create your own vision board to help bring your dreams to life. Please bring scissors, all other materials provided.
Thurs., August 10; 10 a.m.-noon
Ultrasound of heel and personalized information. Appointment required.
Mon., August 14; 3 – 6 p.m.
Do you have a question about diet and nutrition? Join a community education dietitian for a one-on-one Q&A. Registration is required. Taryn
Krietzman, RDNMon, August 14; 6-7:30 p.m.
The practice of focused concentration, known as meditation, brings yourself back to the moment over and over again. Explore the benefits of meditation in this informational session with optional demonstration. Matt Masiello, CCH, founder of Esteem Hypnocounseling, will guide the group through this practice.
Tue. August 15; 11 to 12 p.m. What you need to know and do if you have been diagnosed with prediabetes.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX? **VIRTUAL**
Tue., August 15th 2023; 12 - 1 p.m.
All things seasonal, all the time! Learn what wonderful fruits and vegetable are up to this time of year and how to make them shine!
Taryn Krietzman,RDN
Wed., August 16; 1 to 2 p.m. Learn how to rest your body and quiet your mind with the simple (although not always easy) practice of meditation. No experience necessary.
TAKE HOME COLORECTAL SCREEN KIT AND LECTURE
Wed., August 16; 5 to 6 p.m. Learn how to use a simple take-home test to screen for colorectal cancer and take part in a lecture about how to reduce your risk. Registration required.
DESTROY THE CLOTS: INTERVENTIONS FOR DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS AND PULMONARY EMBOLISM
Wed., August 16; 6 to7:30 p.m. Lasanta Horana, MD, Emergency Department Chair and a Medical Staff Officer at RWJUH Hamilton will discuss the importance of timely interventions when faced with “blood clots”
HEALTHRYTHMS® DRUMMING CIRCLE
Wed, August 16; 7 to 8 p.m. Join our drumming circle and help drum your cares away. This evidence-based program is shown to reduce blood pressure, calm stress and increase the fun in your life. Drums provided. Fee: $15. Mauri Tyler, CTRS, CMP
Tues, August 22; 1 to 2:00 p.m. Yes, you can hoola-hoop. It’s much easier to find your rhythm and flow using a “grown up” size hoop. Learn skills and techniques and have a lot of fun. Hoops provided. Fee $15. Angela Ritter, certified Hoop Love Coach and Hoola-Fit instructor.
MEET LOCAL WRITER JESSICA WILSON, AUTHOR OF HEALING JOURNEY’S.
Tues., August 22; 6 to7 p.m. Join Jessica Wilson, author of “Healing Journeys” for a book talk on toxic relationships, where we’ll delve into the different types of abuse and explore what constitutes a toxic relationship. I’ll share strategies to guide you through these challenging situations and empower you on your healing journey.
FEELING BURNED OUT AT WORK?
Tue., August 22; 6 to 7 p.m. Job burnout can affect your physical and mental health. Learn about signs of burnout and what you can do about it.
PICTURE THIS: CRAFTY CREATIONS
Thurs., August 31; 6 to 7:30 p.m. Bring your favorite summertime memories and a creative spark. Craft the night away with family and friends as the summer dwindles down. Fee: $5 per person
*All programs require registration and are held at the RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center, 3100 Quakerbridge Rd., Hamilton, NJ, unless otherwise noted.
To learn more about these groups visit www.rwjbh.org/HamiltonPrograms
CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP
Wed., August 2; 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
GRIEF & LOSS SUPPORT GROUP
Thu., August 3, August 17; 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
CARING FOR LOVED ONES WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS
Mon., August 7, August 21 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
ADULT CHILDREN CARING FOR PARENTS
Mon., August 7, August 21st 5:30 to 7 p.m.
LETTING GO OF CLUTTER
Tue., August 8; 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP
Wed., August 16; 6 to 7 p.m.
MANAGING STRESS AND DIABETES
Wed., August 23; 3 to 4 p.m.
WISE WOMEN DISCUSSION GROUP
Thu., August 24; 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Wed., August 2, 9, 16, 23, & 30; 10 to 11 a.m.
Please join us for our ongoing program “Let’s Talk, a Senior Social Group,” gathering in a collaborative setting to exchange thoughts, feelings and experiences amongst peers.
This is a safe-zone designed to be welcoming and understanding of all attendees while exploring this season of our lives – the ups and the challenges. This group is a partnership between RWJUH Hamilton and PyschHealth Associates here in Hamilton.
This is a weekly program. Please feel free to attend one or all.
Scan the QR code to register and become a member or call 609-584-5900 or email bhprogram@rwjbh.org
to learn more
Tues., August 8; 10-11 a.m.
Get the facts on the latest in over-the-counter hearing aids. Learn the facts and get your questions answered by Dr. Lorraine Sgarlato, Au.D. A.B.A. a clinical audiologist with over 40 years of experience in the field of hearing science.
Wed., August 9; 2 to 3 p.m.
“Socrates Café” is about discussing a topic, sharing our thoughts, our beliefs, our ideas, and experiences. An unofficial mantra describes that we (people) learn more when we question, and question with others. This is a “safe zone” to share where all views are accepted. Come with an open mind, respect for one another, and a willingness to see where it takes us.
Thu., August 10 & 24; 1 to 2 p.m. Tai Chi is recommended for seniors because it improves balance, strengthens muscles in the legs and increases flexibility and stability in the ankles. It can help reduce falls and back pain. Beginner’s welcome.
Thurs., August 10; 2 to 3:30 p.m. Join us for game time, snacks and some wholesome fun. A variety of board games will be available or you are welcome to bring your own
Tue., August 15 & 29; 10 to 11 a.m.
Krystal Loughlin, certified RYT, will be leading this gentle yoga class using traditional postures and breathing techniques offering modification of the poses for your body so that you can confidently participate. Beginner’s welcome.
Tue., August 15 and 29; 11:15 to 11:45 a.m.
Krystal Loughlin will lead this meditation class focusing on reducing stress and bringing inner peace. See how you can easily learn to practice meditation whenever you need it most. Beginner’s welcome.
Wed., August 16; Noon to 1 p.m.
Frustrated navigating online registration for Better Health Programs? Can’t figure out how to text your grandkids. Back to help us with our technology challenges are our friends from “Camp Fire NJ, Teens on Fire.” Whether you have questions about your
mobile device, a laptop, or iPad, bring your device and learn how to complete simple tasks.
Tue. August 15; 11 to 12 p.m.
What you need to know and do if you have been diagnosed with prediabetes.
Thu., August 17; 2 to 3:30 p.m
We ask all attendees to arrive promptly at 2 p.m. and be ready for a fun and informative program. Each attendee can bring only ONE item to have appraised. Together we will learn some history about our treasures and find out what’s hot and what’s not in the antique and collectables market. Thomas Petrino will lead this program. He has been a full-time Personal Property Appraiser and is Certified by the Appraisers Guild of America. He also serves as acting appraiser for the NJ Treasury, consults with banks, attorneys and insurance companies to authenticate and appraise estates.
He was the lone artist on the streets of Trenton in the 1970s.
That was when the city was feeling the pains of the changes that had begun decades earlier with the post-World War II ideals of suburban living and urban renewal — or more re-engineering.
The latter included decimating neighborhoods to create highways and sleek new office buildings.
But those heady dreams were no match for the winds of shifting economic interests, inconsistent political will, and social and racial inequality that gave Trenton the proverbial one-two punch.
By 1968 — the year of the Trenton riots — the city was seeing a continuing exodus of people who had the means — and more than often than not, the skin color — that would enable them to socially move “up” by moving out of the city.
And while during that time the New Jersey State Museum and Trenton War Memorial were both still operating, the artistic landscape had dramatically changed.
That was especially true after Mercer
County Community College moved its art program to West Windsor and effectively broke a long-term tie with art making that began in 1901 with the School of Industrial Arts.
But it was also then that the lone man of African ancestry became a familiar figure who could be seen sketching and painting Trenton buildings and streets.
And it was in that solitary process that the late Thomas Malloy — aka Tom Malloy — created hundreds of watercolors that captured the rhythms, tones, and spirt of the city during a specific time — and helped start an arts movement that continues today.
And, as a new exhibition at the Trenton Free Public Library suggests, he did it with love and art.
As various articles and a book, “Blending Colors From Life: Trenton’s Own Watercolorist, Tom Malloy,” report, Malloy was born into a family of South Carolina sharecroppers on August 23, 1912. His ancestry included black slaves, whites, and Native Americans.
His family moved to Trenton in 1923 when his father found work in a rubber factory. There, the future artist attend-
today was cultivated in Philadelphia, New York, and the places between.
“We have a few artists who are somewhat historic, and we like to have some of those original artists,” he says, adding another historic reference. “It’s the 50th anniversary of hip hop this year. We always had all the elements the hip hop.”
Taking stock of the current crop of art appearing on streets and walls, Rainbow says, “People are getting better and better. A lot more than a name (the writing of letters), it is a mural. More fine art elements are being added into the mix. Not that it is new, but people are pushing that more.”
However, he adds, “It is like Instagram, the best and worst kind of thing. You have a lot of people doing it, but you have lost some of the regionality of graffiti.
“When I was starting up, you had to seek it out. You had to go down alleys and railways tracks. But now you can see it online in Japan and France. That’s inspiring, but there were a lot of regional styles that were unique to different cities — Philadelphia and Los Angeles. A lot of the styles unique to certain regions have spread out around the world.
“A lot of people don’t know the history of the style. Certain people did things for certain reasons, but now that is lost — lost in translation.”
About the Trenton style, he says, “We have gotten some styles that have come from New York and some from Philadelphia, and we have generated our own style — a hybrid. We have done a lot in our own right.”
Moving to the dollars and cents of the project, Rainbow says, “Since it is a free event, no one gets paid. In the past we had a few headliners but were able to raise enough money to do that. We have a break dancing
ed and graduated from Trenton public schools and found work at several Trenton-area companies, including John A. Roebling and the Trenton Box Company, from which he retired.
He also became involved with Cadwalader-Asbury Methodist Church in Trenton where he was a lay minister and demonstrated a spirituality that included a reverence for the natural and human world.
Although he had shown an early inclination to draw on anything he could, including a stick scratching the dirt, he only began to pursue art in the 1950s — through a correspondence course.
It was also during that time that he married a nurse named Dorothy, who encouraged him to follow to follow his interest in city history and architecture through painting.
In addition to creating works for himself, he also created works for various home and business owners.
Eventually he amassed a body of work and realized his first exhibition at the Trenton Free Public Library in 1967.
Although he would exhibit in the tristate region and sometimes paint differ-
ent environments, he generally stayed rooted in Trenton, where he found both inspiration and connection.
With works featuring Trenton becoming part of public collections, including the Trenton City Museum and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Malloy’s art and the City of Trenton became so connected that in 2001, he was named Trenton’s artist laureate. A gallery at the Trenton City Museum was also named in his honor.
A recipient of an honorary doctorate from Rider University, Dr. Malloy died on August 16, 2008.
See MALLOY, page 11
lot of (Trenton events) may have come off from starting this event. Not that we had anything to do with it, but people saw this type of event and saw that we could do it and others said we could try that. In some ways we laid the groundwork for some of the events.”
And, he adds, it has helped the city become known for quality art and attracts strong artists from different states and countries.
“When I traveled in California and Texas, a lot of people know about it. In a lot of ways this event has put jersey and Trenton on the map. That is something I pride myself on — to have a sense of quality and work with the community.”
competition, but we have to raise funds.
“In the past years we were able to raise money for paint and stuff like that, but it hasn’t worked out. A lot of funding has been cut recently.”
He says one big difference between producing in Trenton and other cities is that “we are not in a major market. It isn’t like Philadelphia or New York City where national brands — Adidas or Pepsi — are willing to jump on it and possibly sponsor.”
He shrugs off the difficulties and in a year that has seen several regular city events cancelled — including Art All Night and the First Friday Events — he’s moving ahead, but not without some reflection.
“There are times every year, I question (coordinating the festival), but I feel it is important to the arts and culture and the city. There isn’t a lot of hip hop stuff. And a lot people look for it.
Putting the Jam’s effort in context, Rainbow says, “A
Additionally, he says he’s learned some life lessons in the process. One is that consistency and persistence brings results. Another is the reminder to “treat everyone as you want to be treated and create a positive environment. If you create a positive environment, people will treat you positively.”
“And for my art — I’ve definitely grown a lot from what I first started. I met people from all over and learned different styles and grew from the festival.”
Now sitting at a partially umbrella-shaded picnic table in the TerraCycle courtyard jumbled with equipment, materials, and cannisters, an unperturbed Rainbow says, “I would like to expand on (the jam), but I haven’t figured out the right way to do it. We don’t want to charge for the event, so it is very welcoming and everyone can come.”
He looks down at the table and says, “It is tough. But I’ve been doing it for 18 years. Until I find a good reason to stop, I don’t know why I should.”
Jersey Fresh Jam, TerraCycle, New York Avenue. Saturday, August 19, noon to 7 p.m. Free. www.jerseyfreshjam.com.
If you concentrate on a story, staying mindful of its nature as a living, breathing vessel for keeping traditions alive or unpacking trauma, then you might be able to hear when the speaker, once given the chance to share without judgment and forge interpersonal connections, exhales in relief. The words used still have meaning but no longer bear their heavy weight alone, newly empowered by a mutual sense of community and revitalized by human interaction.
Everyone has the right to express themselves in their own syntax, but only a few people have the opportunity to amplify that point of view with complete control over the language used.
Reaching that loud volume, like any tale worth telling, is always better with company.
The Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton presents this platform to members of New Jersey’s Indian diasporic community for “Local Voices: Memories, Stories, and Portraits,” a living exhibit that opened on the ground floor of the Domestic Arts Building on April 23, 2023, and runs
through January 7, 2024.
This project, along with “Spiral Q: The Parade” on the upper level, are the first to debut in GFS’ new “Perspectives” series, which draws from the creative practices of the artists at its helm as well as the accounts of the people who bring it to life.
Madhusmita “Madhu” Bora, a folk and traditional artist, journalist, educator, writer, and dancer, organized the exhibit in partnership with co-curators Kathleen Ogilvie Greene, the chief audience officer at GFS, and Quentin Williams, the founder and CEO of Dragon Tree Media Group, to ensure personal autonomy and authenticity.
The 15 subjects actively participated in and led the process of chronicling their lived experiences, doing so through video interviews, photography, and by choosing objects that held significance to them.
This range of deep, emotive stories maintains the vulnerabilities that make them unique without being exploited, and the exhibit leaders hope to bridge the conversational gap between individuals of different backgrounds and demonstrate the importance of dialogue.
Upstairs, “Spiral Q” conveys the creativSee Local Voices, Page 4
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From Local Voices, Page 2
ity behind activism via puppets and protests, with the Philadelphia-based group organizing processions on social issues from transgender rights to affordable housing.
Virtual walkthroughs of both exhibits are available online, with the “Local Voices”
“Local Voices: Memories, Stories, and Portraits,” on display in the Domestic Arts Building at the Grouds for Sculpture, left, is co-curated by artist Madhusmita “Madhu” Bora, a journalist and dancer, right, and runs through January 7, 2024. Installation view courtesy of Bruce M. White. Bora, pictured at the storytelling retreat, courtesy of Monica Herndon.
page on the GFS website, groundsforsculpture.org/exhibitions/local-voices-memories-stoaries-and-portraits, linking to the YouTube videos and audio-only interview segments for each storyteller.
According to the exhibit materials, Grounds for Sculpture developed this project in response to the museum’s 2021 audience demographic census, which revealed a correlation between its attendees and the
United States Census for those who selfidentified as Asian.
To interact and engage with a specific community from that group, GFS collaborated on an exhibit in which people could
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share their stories as a look at the Indian community in New Jersey, described as “the largest ethnic group among the Asian diaspora” in the state.
According to the Indian American Impact Project, an organization that was founded to promote the voices of Indian Americans and South Asian Americans in politics, “nearly 5% of New Jersey’s population is South Asian, more than any other state in the nation.”
The website continues that “over 1 million Asians live in New Jersey, with Indian Americans making up the largest ethnic group,” particularly concentrated in Middlesex County—Edison and Iselin’s Oak Tree Road, known as “Little India,” is a bustling shopping district at the cultural center of the community.
According to a May 2022 Washington Post analysis of Census Bureau data from 2020 in “An American life: How Asian migrants built unique communities,” Mercer County itself recorded a 48.2% growth of Asian American and Pacific Islander, or AAPI, populations since 2010.
The four storytellers from the Mercer County area are Shazard Mohammed, Hamilton/Ewing; Shivani Patel, Princeton Junction/West Windsor; Yogesh Sharma, Lawrenceville; and Shoba Panoli, Pennington.
“My whole intention was to uplift and celebrate the diverse tapestry of India,” Bora said in an interview, noting that she worked alongside the GFS team, especially Greene, to identify demographic “lenses” such as age, language, religion, economic status, immigration, ability, region, caste, and sexual orientation to incorporate a wide spectrum of storytellers.
Each subject was then liberated from these labels, symbolically unchecking the boxes, as the exhibit materials explain, and prompted to recount a story that affected their life.
“Local Voices” expanded as Bora began to see the emerging pattern of personal agency in each narrative, creating a colorful mosaic of people with roots across India and the globe who collectively followed at least seven religions and spoke more than 10 languages.
After seven months of planning, the group gathered at the Grounds for Sculpture for an all-day retreat in February that included storytelling workshops and training, as well as individual photography sessions in which the subjects “were asked to arrive in clothing [that] made them feel powerful and celebrated,” according to the GFS exhibit page.
The speakers then collaborated with female BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Color) photographers to envision portraits capturing their most authentic selves, selecting which image would be on display.
At the end of the retreat, many of the storytellers left behind objects of significance and scheduled their respective video sessions.
Although the subjects spoke for hours at a time with Bora and photojournalist Danese Kenon, the managing editor of visuals for the Philadelphia Inquirer, the exhibit could only feature a single three- to five-minute story from each person.
Bora disclosed that the full versions would be preserved in a personal copy for the participants as well as in the archives of the exhibit partner, the South Asian American Digital Archive, or SAADA, to document the comprehensive oral histories.
“Local Voices” is a “living exhibit” focused on cultivating relationships over the program itself, but the theme of art with a pulse is familiar to Bora and a natural extension of her own craft.
Inquirer to the Tampa Bay Times
She lived in places like Washington, D.C., Iowa, and Indiana, even settling in Cape May for a three-year period where she wrote for the Press of Atlantic City.
But in 2008, Bora relocated from Florida to Philadelphia, where she has resided ever since.
While she would continue to freelance, Bora decided to experiment with her artistic inclinations and co-founded the Sattriya Dance Company with her sister-inlaw, Prerona Bhuyan, in 2009.
Sattriya is a living dance tradition that originated in the Hindu monasteries of Assam over 500 years ago.
Although the art form had been traditionally practiced by celibate monks, the Indian government recognized Sattriya as a major Indian classical dance in 2000, which led to more women “embracing” the art form, Bora said.
Now, Bora is currently an adjunct instructor at Lincoln University and has since returned to the newsroom as the managing editor of suburban coverage for WHYY, a Philadelphia public radio station.
in this world. As a trained journalist, I’m always curious about the world around me. I was raised in a household of storytellers and disruptors,” she added.
“I grew up with my grandparents in a very rural Indian town, surrounded by art and culture and discussions of politics. Both my grandfathers were freedom fighters, and so I was raised in this atmosphere where culture and stories were always part of my education in this world.”
“Then, as an immigrant living in diaspora, I’m always thinking about what it is like to be an immigrant, how important our stories are, how important identity is, [and] how important stories are in terms of also passing our experiences and wisdom to the next generation and connecting us to our habitat. Stories connect us in very, very deep ways as humans.”
“When somebody’s sharing a story with you, it has a very spiritual overtone, because it’s something very sacred that somebody’s trusting you with their vulnerabilities and their experiences,” Bora said.
“Especially when people who do not have a chance to tell their story are invited to share their story. They are transformed, and we are transformed from listening to their experiences.”
The response has been “overwhelming” from both local and Indian media, according to Bora, with the exhibit having attracted about 500 or so attendees on opening night alone.
Bora said that because of her initial focus on the practical, behind-the-scenes aspects of the project, she rarely had the time to consider the tremendous “impact and outcome” the stories might carry.
But seeing the subjects take “collective ownership” over their stories and embrace the empowerment that comes with that, she added, deeply impacted her as well.
Now, Bora noted that she takes comfort in knowing there is this extended family of people to support each other, and the resilience she has personally learned from them has been invaluable.
Originally from the Northeastern Indian state of Assam, Bora finished her undergraduate and a master’s degree at two institutions in New Delhi before continuing her studies at the Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism in Illinois, where she graduated with another master’s degree.
Bora has worked in newsrooms around the country, tackling business and technology at papers from the Philadelphia
“As a practitioner of this art form, I am drawn to stories. I’m also deeply aware of what it means to not be represented in mainstream art tapestries; it is so specific and nuanced. I guess it makes me a lot more sensitive to folks who are in the margins, because I feel like I operate from the margins, too, with my art form. My journalism is a sense of inquiry and curiosity, and that training of being objective, listening to people, and asking questions is what informed and drove this project,” she explained.
“Everything I do informs how I move
“To be on this journey with them, in sharing their joy and their sorrow and their trauma and then how they overcame so many of life’s hurdles, I was on all those journeys with them, and so it’s been really, really beautiful,” she said.
“It’s important to tell your story. It’s very crucial for each one of us to record the stories of our families, of our elderly people, [and] of our own stories. Stories are magical; stories are transformative; stories help form community and allow us to really be better people,” she said, adding that everyone should tell and claim their stories, as well as place that same value on actively listening to what others share.
See Local Voices, Page 6
At its core, Bora emphasized, “Local Voices” is a “connective project.”The 15 subjects first met at the museum retreat in February, where they took part in a series of workshops and individual photography sessions. Photo by Monica Herndon, above, from left to right: Kiran Rajagopalan, Farzana Rahman, Asha Lata Devi, and Shoba Panoli.
At its core, Bora emphasized, “Local Voices” is a “connective project.”
“It is owned by the community; it is driven by the community; and again, it’s an offering that speaks to love, loss, and resilience that connects us all as humanity,” she said. ***
Born in the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago, Shazard Mohammed, better known by his nicknames “Todd” or “Toddy,” immigrated with his family from the town of San Juan to the Mercer County area in
Mohammed lives in Ewing but owns Roti Plus Caribbean Restaurant at 1147 South Olden Avenue in Hamilton, which he opened in 2021 after helping his uncle, Ramesh Hayban—the then-owner of Trenton’s Hot on D Spot, now under new ownership and the name of Annie’s Hot on D-Spot Roti Shop—run the Trinidadian restaurant.
In his “Local Voices” interview, Mohammed explained that he had never previously traveled outside his country before deciding to take “a page out of history” and follow in the footsteps of his “forefathers who left India to come to Trinidad to become something better and make a better life for their family. They had a 90-day journey, and I was only getting on a plane for five hours.”
As a high school dropout, Mohammed shared that he was unsure about his future in America, but after landing on a Wednes-
day, by that Monday, he “started working at a factory for eight bucks an hour.”
“By the time I left in 2009, I was making almost triple digits,” he said, but the “pressure” of the workplace began to weigh on him, with the “insults” negatively affecting his state of mind.
“Being called ‘highly paid morons’ and having to do dirty work that no one else wanted to do, I felt like I was in slavery. It was taking away from my mental health, so I decided this [was] no longer going to work for me, so I left that and had no idea what I was going to do to support my family.”
After learning through reading his trusty Home Depot books and watching videos, Mohammed took up a job as a handyman, eventually becoming a self-taught licensed contractor in the construction business.
Mohammed then expanded on the troubles of his economic situation, which included veering into the restaurant industry after making an ultimately ill-fated agreement with a family member and having to pick up the pieces himself when it fell apart.
Without this person in the picture, Mohammed “was a housing inspector for hotels and multiple dwellings,” forced to “juggle both jobs, working full-time, and coming to the restaurant afterwards,” he said, starting to get visibly upset from speaking about the toll it took on him.
“There [were] days I drove home and didn’t even know how I got home. It was just all muscle memory,” he continued, breaking again with emotion. “I told my
wife, ‘I have to choose. Either we sell the business or I give up the state job.’”
In the end, Mohammed had to forfeit his retirement plan with the state and continue investing in the business, but as Bora said in her interview for Six09, he was able to create “a place that’s home away from home for so many people,” not just the local Trinbagonian population.
“At times I want to quit. I want to give up, but then I see people come in sometimes— and I’m a humanist, and I also struggle with depression—and some days I see sadness walking in the door, and I just say a few kind words, I serve them with a smile, I ask them how their day [is] going, how’s their family, is everything okay, and by the time they leave, most of them [have] a smile on their face,” Mohammed said.
“That brings joy to me to know that I’m not just running a business; I’m running a business where someone can feel safe when they come in here.”
Some speakers in “Local Voices” were asked additional questions, such as the meaning of their names and why they chose their objects.
Shazard, for example, means “prince” in Arabic, a suggestion from his mother’s best friend, who assumed a grandmotherly role for Mohammed and remarked that he “looked like a prince” at birth.
Meanwhile, his nickname, “Toddy,” came from his older brother, who gave him the title after a young Shazard would ask for a milkshake of the same name.
“Coming to America, people just started calling me Todd. Because I was intimidated
or shy to let people know my true name, which is Shazard Mohammed, after 9/11, I just carried the name Todd, so most people thought I was American when they [spoke] to me over the phone, not knowing that I was of an immigrant culture,” he said.
Mohammed’s object is a hoodie with the coat of arms of Trinidad and Tobago, which bears the motto “Together we aspire, together we achieve.”
When people ask what it means to him, Mohammed says that he encourages them, again, to be humanists and to tackle greater challenges as a community.
“I take that to heart, because my interpretation of it is, ‘If we unite, we can conquer; if we come together as people, we can overcome any obstacles in our way,’ so I do wear that hoodie with pride,” he said.
Princeton Junction/West Windsor
Shivani Patel, also known as “Shivu,” was born in New Jersey and spoke about her experiences as a young person with autism and epilepsy, as well as the difficulty of managing both conditions while grieving the death of her beloved “late dada” or “dadaji,” which means paternal grandfather.
“When he died, it was so tragic, and it was so sad,” Patel said, adding that it also felt “humiliating” for her because her grandmother “knew nothing” about her autism.
Without his comforting presence, Patel found it “really hard to understand everything after losing dadaji and being with only her” during visits to her grandparents’ house in London.
“But after losing him, I have learned— thank God—how to control myself, etc., how to even control my own medical issues when having a super moment, like [an] unspeakable, un-breathable type of episode
See Local Voices, Page 8
Mohammed chose to display a sweatshirt with the coat of arms of his home country, Trinidad and Tobago, because he follows the “humanist” motto of the nation he immigrated from in 2000: “Together we aspire, together we achieve.”
The red khartal, a wooden clapper consisting of blocks and jingles, above, is an ancient musical instrument that resonates with Patel.
of high blood pressure issue when something doesn’t make me feel like, ‘Okay, I’m not comfortable in this position. I need to run away,’ or ‘I need to scream my head off, and I’m about to feel like I’m going to faint.’”
“Thanks to God and Grandpa, remembering all that and praying all that, I know how to handle those issues, because Dada used to tell me when I was younger that, ‘If you don’t calm down, you’re going to have a heart attack or a seizure, try to calm down,’ and I would manage it, I would calm down,” Patel explained, adding that in the time since his passing, she has worked on remembering the techniques he taught her to cope with stressful situations.
To Six09, Bora described Patel as “a beautiful spirit” who arrived at the retreat in “her full, glorious self,” eager to embody that strength for others.
Patel’s object is the khartal, a two-piece percussion instrument from Rajasthan, India, where a pair of “wooden blocks with small dimples are held in each hand,” then “clapped together when devotional and folk songs are performed,” she said.
The sound comes from the meeting of the cymbals, typically brass plates, adorning the two parts.
Yogesh Sharma founded Lawrenceville’s Radha Krishna Temple, “one of the oldest Hindu religious and cultural centers in Central New Jersey,” in 2002, according to its website.
Located at 357 Lawrence Station Road, the temple provides “Hindu and Vedic services, poojas, and ceremonies,” having expanded from one room to four buildings as the years progressed.
Sharma details that while she started the sacred space to assist priests and others in need, the temple only came to be because another living being close to her needed help—after neighborhood complaints about her dog’s barking reached the courtroom, a judge ordered its euthanization.
“I started going to another temple to pray for his life,” she recalled. “There, I met a priest who was in trouble in that temple. He asked me to help him out, and after a few days, he asked me to start a new temple where he [could] get his green card or visa, but I said, ‘Well, we don’t know anything about the temple, and so therefore we cannot do it,’” she explained.
“But he tried to convince me that, no, he will ‘take care of everything’ and ‘it will be a great thing for [the community].’”
Sharma shared that she and her husband did not have the background to run a temple, but the priest insisted, beginning a pattern of broken promises from people she assumed to be “very honest and honorable people” due to their religious backgrounds.
Although they were initially shocked to encounter the opposite, the Sharmas built the place of worship together and recruited those of the faith who kept their word.
In addition to having grown the Radha Krishna Temple from these uncertain beginnings, Bora commented that Sharma “is just a force of nature and has also overcome so many challenges in her life.”
“My dog was saved with my prayers, and [the] community is very happy with that
little temple,” Sharma reflected, noting that now, “We are like one big, huge family. We all love each other in that temple and try to do the best for the community.”
Sharma stated that in the future, she hopes to bring in even more priests, particularly Indian women—a new addition for most temples—as part of her mission to keep growing the community at Radha Krishna.
Sharma’s objects are “a silk sari and figurines of Rama and Sita,” the latter being two figures from the Sanskrit epic poem “Ramayana” who are incarnations of the Hindu gods Vishnu and Lakshmi
As the most common adaptation of the story goes, Rama rescued his wife, Sita,
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Sharma loaned GFS a pair of figurines depicting Rama and Sita, the avatars of Hindu deities Vishnu and Lakshmi, above, while Panoli chose her prayer book and photo card of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, a “central figure” in her Baha’i faith and the son of its founder, Bahá’u’lláh, pictured on the following page.
The tale is a classic testament to the triumph of light over darkness, or good over evil, as conveyed through holiday legend.
In her interview, Shoba Panoli introduces herself as “a Malaysian American of Sri Lankan and Indian heritage” who dreamed of settling down in Australia like her aunts but would end up in the United States as the result of an unexpected romance.
“But life sometimes has surprising twists, and you end up in a different place,” she said, sharing how their paths first crossed. “One day I was bored, and I was surfing the web, trying to look up the place that my dad was visiting in India. As I was reading up on Kerala, I stumbled upon a chat room, and there were only a handful of individuals in that room.”
“A guy said hello to me, and we started a small conversation, and he was attracted to my Sri Lankan Malayali background, and he found that a bit unique since he hasn’t met anyone with that background; little did I know that this would be the guy that I would one day get married to.”
Even when Panoli moved to Switzerland, she “continued chatting every day” with him, exchanging “hundreds of emails” that the two never deleted and still treasure
See Local Voices, Page 10
today.
“After finally chatting for about two years, we decided to meet face-to-face, so I flew to New York to meet him, and as the plane was touching down, I was feeling very nervous, and I was thinking to myself, ‘What if everything that he’s told me was a big lie?’ ‘What if he was a fake?’” Panoli said. This worry escalated as she spent over an hour searching for his face among the airport crowd, unable to find the man she was supposed to meet until Panoli spotted him—dressed in the exact outfit he had described to her—and immediately recognized her future husband.
“I was in the United States for only a week, and he took me places; we saw a lot of things, and he took me to the top of the Empire State Building and asked me to
marry him,” she remembered fondly.
“I believe this was fate. If my dad wasn’t visiting India, I wouldn’t have gone online that day trying to look up the place that he was visiting, and we’ve been married for 23 years and have two wonderful boys.”
Panoli, characterized by Bora as a mother with “a very tender, sweet family,” received her name, meaning “light,” from her great-grandfather.
Panoli’s object is a prayer book and photo card of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, an important figure to her as a lifelong member of the Baha’i Faith.
“‘Abdu’l-Bahá is the master of the Baha’i faith, and he showed us how a Baha’i should live his life. I always carry that picture with me to remind myself of how a Baha’i should act,” Panoli explained in the audio interview.
Panoli added that prayer has always been an “important component” of her life, connecting her with God and guidance, and she has had this book for at least 15 to 20 years, which contains prayers for a variety of purposes and applications.
On the exhibit page for “Local Voices,” Panoli said that the following quote from the founder of the Baha’i Faith, Bahá’u’lláh, is always an inspiration for her:
“Do not be content with showing friendship in words alone; let your heart burn with loving kindness for all who may cross your path.”
***
“Local Voices: Memories, Stories, and Portraits” runs through January 7, 2024, in the Domestic Arts Building at the Grounds for Sculpture, 80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton.
For more information, call 609-586-0616 or visit www.groundsforsculpture.org
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Cambridge is committed to providing that education in a warm, nurturing and individualized learning environment for children who learn differently. Our mission is to prepare each student with the necessary academic, personal and social skills to succeed.
Students diagnosed with languagebased learning differences such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD, auditory processing disorder, or executive function challenges, typically struggle in traditional academic settings. Cambridge teachers are highly trained language specialists who utilize a student-centered approach to provide a personalized, yet comprehensive educational experience. When taught using research based methods that target their unique learning difference, these
bright children achieve measurable academic success. The Cambridge language curriculum is supported by the use of evidence based programs. Utilizing explicit, direct and systematic instruction, our teachers are able to scaffold and support the unique needs of each child. As educators, we believe that multisensory teaching strategies create more engaging, concrete and meaningful learning experiences. Enhanced by small classes, our approach allows each student to progress at his or her own pace. The result? Students increase their learning skills, gain confidence and self-esteem; and learn that they can thrive.
Cambridge School also has an impressive staff of highly qualified Speech and Language Pathologists and Occupational Therapists. For students who require these additional services our therapists design an individualized and comprehensive therapeutic program. They work with the student individually in therapy as well as collaboratively with his or her teacher to ensure that the therapy goals generalize into the academic classroom.
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More information: arballet.org/ princeton-ballet-school/. See ad, page 12.
Angela Gering Director“Building a foundation for a lifetime love of learning”
At St. George Preschool, we believe that each child has an innate drive for exploring, discovering, communicating, and learning. Our purpose is to provide a safe, warm, and nurturing environment for children to develop this innate drive to the fullest, and become life-long learners. Our goal is to help each child develop his/her individual interests, creativity and potential at their own pace by providing a wide variety of fun and ageappropriate activities and materials. In addition to the developmental goals in the areas of math, language, science, cognitive skills, motor skills, etc., stipulated by the state, the school aims to promote learning skills for life.
At the same time, we aim to enhance the child’s social, moral, cultural and spiritual growth through group interactions, uplifting stories, cultural events and gentle guidance. Since “a healthy mind is in a healthy body” as the Ancient Greeks said, we provide a huge indoors gym and a beautiful play ground with regular physical activities.
We offer high quality academic English programs for Preschool (3 years and potty trained) and Pre-K (must be 4 years old by October 1 of school year). Early morning care, after care, and enrichment programs are also available. We are part of the Saint George Greek Orthodox Church and state
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Capital Health Regional Medical Center (RMC) recently received the American Heart Association’s Gold Plus Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Quality Achievement Award. This award recognizes the hospital’s commitment and success in ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.
The American Heart Association also awarded Capital Health Regional Medical Center its Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll Elite award. To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet quality measures developed to reduce the time between a patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with the clot-buster tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat ischemic stroke.
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“For many years now, our community has come to rely on Capital Health to provide the most advanced stroke care possible,” said Dr. Dustin Rochestie, director of the Stroke Program and director of Neurology and Neuro Critical Care at Capital Institute for Neurosciences. “By meeting and exceeding the standards established by the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines initiative at RMC—which is home to Capital Institute for Neurosciences and our Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center—we demonstrate our ongoing commitment to ensuring more stroke patients in Central New Jersey and Lower Bucks County can experience longer, healthier lives.”
Additionally, Capital Health Regional Medical Center received the Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll award. Hospitals that qualify for this recognition ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.
Stroke is a time-sensitive emergency. If you suspect you or a loved one is experiencing a stroke, B-E F-A-S-T to know the signs of a stroke and call 911 immediately.
Is the person experiencing a sudden loss of balance?
EHas the person lost vision in one or both eyes?
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A
Does one side of the face droop, or is it numb?
Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
Is speech slurred? Is the person is unable to speak or hard to understand? As the person to repeat a simple sentence, like “The sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly?
If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 911 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so you’ll know when the first symptom appeared.
In the medical field, researchers are constantly looking for new information to prevent and cure diseases, treat symptoms, and provide a better quality of life to those who are suffering. One way of gathering this information is through conducting clinical trials.
Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell is now an NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) affiliate site. As a participating site, Capital Health Cancer Center now offers residents in the greater Mercer and Bucks County region access to new and innovative NCI-sponsored clinical trials in the cancer prevention and control, screening, care delivery, and treatment areas. DR. CATALDO DORIA, medical director of Capital Health Cancer Center, leads a team that is dedicated to working with patient volunteers in order to achieve the best outcomes of the studies.
“I think the best way that we achieve the goal is to be one hundred percent honest with the patient and to describe the important details,” said Dr. Doria. “One session might not be enough. One single conversation might not be enough. Sometimes you have to give the patient the time to digest the information. You have to be in the position of giving the patient some materials that he or she can read. And then sometimes you have to follow up with another phone call or with another visit.”
People participate in clinical trials for different reasons. Patients with cancer may want to have access to the latest drugs or treatments. By doing so, they receive added care and attention by the physician and care team. Others may want to help researchers and help patients with the same disease in the future.
After a promising drug has been tested in the lab, it needs to be tested in a clinical trial. As an NCORP participating site, Capital
Health Cancer Center’s team of providers and researchers help patients gain access to clinical trials across a broad range of cancer care benchmarks, including symptom management, prevention, screening, surveillance, care delivery and quality of life.
When participants volunteer for a study, they are informed about the risks and benefits of the study. To best understand the potential risks, it’s important for participants to have a conversation with the researchers or points of contact in the study. These professionals are always open to communicating and begin by sharing what is known as clinical trial protocol, which includes:
… The goal of the study
… Who qualifies to take part in the trial
Details about tests, procedures, and treatments
… The expected length of the trial
… What information will be gathered
In addition to the clinical trial protocol, it’s crucial for volunteers to always ask questions so they have a full understanding of the study and can determine if it is a good fit for them.
To learn more about open clinical trials at Capital Health Cancer Center, visit capitalhealthcancer.org/ncorp to sign-up for email updates or call 609.537.6363 to schedule a consultation with a Cancer Center physician.
Second Tuesday of
Month | 10 − 11 a.m. | Location:
Our newest support group is designed specifically for women diagnosed with gynecologic cancers (ovarian, uterine, cervical, vulvar, vaginal). Our support group offers a safe space to share experiences, learn from one another and obtain the social support needed to develop a healthy sense of well-being. This group is open to all from diagnosis to survivorship regardless of where you are receiving your treatment. Meetings will be held virtually via Zoom.
There is no cost to participate, but pre-registration is required. To register, scan the QR code or visit capitalhealth.org/events.
@capitalhealthnj
capitalhealthcancer.org
Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell in Pennington, New Jersey has again achieved the international Baby-Friendly designation after a rigorous review process conducted by Baby-Friendly USA, the organization responsible for bestowing this certification in the United States.
Being Baby-Friendly means Capital Health meets the highest standards of care for breastfeeding parents and their babies. These standards are built on the “Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding,” a set of evidence-based practices recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for optimal infant feeding support in the precious first days of a newborn’s life.
“I would like to congratulate our entire team for their extraordinary commitment to our patient community. This third Baby-Friendly® designation ranks us among a select group of facilities that demonstrate an abiding commitment to ensuring every parent feels confident and comfortable feeding their new baby,” said Alexandra Nelson, divisional director of Maternal Child Health Services, Capital Health.
“From the prenatal setting, to inpatient care, and into our pediatric clinic, our teams are wholly committed to providing excellent clinical care grounded in compassion and responsiveness to each family’s unique goals,” said Melanie Miller, manager of Lactation Services at Capital Health. “We are proud to have maintained this designation throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and to have grown our services to include expanded in-house lactation support and increased access to human donor milk.”
The positive health effects of breastfeeding are well documented and widely recognized by health authorities throughout the world. According to the Surgeon General’s 2011 Call to Action to Support
Breastfeeding, “breast milk is uniquely suited to the human infant’s nutritional needs and is a live substance with unparalleled immunological and anti-inflammatory properties that protect against a host of illnesses and diseases for both mothers and children.”
Maternity Services at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell is the most comprehensive maternity program in the area. From routine deliveries to high-risk needs, services at the Josephine Plumeri Birthing Center provide a full range of prenatal, obstetrical, postpartum, and neonatal care options so newborns have the greatest chance for a healthy start. In addition, the Regional Perinatal Center at Capital Health Medical Center - Hopewell provides neonatal care, including Mercer County’s only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for at-risk births. To learn more, visit capitalhealth.org/maternity.
For more information, or to register, visit capitalhealth.org/childbirth.
NEW PARENT SUPPORT GROUP
Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell
One Capital Way
Pennington, NJ 08534
August 7, 2023 | 1:15 p.m.
August 14, 2023 | 1:15 p.m.
BABY CARE BASICS CLASS
Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell
One Capital Way
Pennington, NJ 08534
August 8, 2023 | 6 p.m.
August 22, 2023 | 6 p.m.
September 12, 2023 | 6 p.m.
UNDERSTANDING BIRTH ONE-DAY CONDENSED
PREPARED CHILDBIRTH CLASS Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell
One Capital Way
Pennington, NJ 08534
August 12, 2023 | 9:30 a.m.
August 26, 2023 | 9:30 a.m.
September 9, 2023 | 9:30 a.m.
UNDERSTANDING BREASTFEEDING CLASS
Zoom
August 7, 2023 | 6 p.m.
August 16, 2023 | 6 p.m.
August 21, 2023 | 6 p.m.
1. Capital Health Primary Care – Bordentown 100 K Johnson Boulevard N., Suite 101, Bordentown, NJ 08505 609.298.2005 | capitalhealth.org/bordentown
2. Capital Health Primary Care – Browns Mills 6 Earlin Avenue, Suite 290, Browns Mills, NJ 08015 609.303.4560 | capitalhealth.org/brownsmills
3. Capital Health Primary Care – Brunswick Avenue 832 Brunswick Avenue, Trenton, NJ 08638 609.815.7400 | capitalhealth.org/brunswickavenue
4. Capital Health Primary Care – Columbus 23203 Columbus Road, Suite I, Columbus, NJ 08022 609.303.4450 | capitalhealth.org/columbus
5. Capital Health Primary Care – East Windsor 557 US Highway 130 North, East Windsor, NJ 08520 609.303.4480 | capitalhealth.org/eastwindsor
6. Capital Health Primary Care – Ewing 51 Scotch Road, Ewing, NJ 08628 609.883.5454 | capitalhealth.org/ewing
7. Capital Health Primary Care – Hamilton 1445 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road, Suite 103, Hamilton, NJ 08619 609.587.6661 | capitalhealth.org/hamilton 1401 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road, Suite 218, Hamilton, NJ 08619 609.689.5760
8. Capital Health Primary Care – Hopewell Two Capital Way, Suite 359, Pennington, NJ 08534 609.303.4440 | capitalhealth.org/primarycarehopewell
9. Capital Health Primary Care – Lawrenceville 133 Franklin Corner Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 609.815.7270 | capitalhealth.org/lawrenceville
10. Capital Health Primary Care – Levittown 4533 New Falls Road, Levittown, PA 19056 267.540.8220 | capitalhealth.org/levittown
11. Capital Health Primary Care – Mountain View 850 Bear Tavern Road, Suite 309, Ewing, NJ 08628 609.656.8844 | capitalhealth.org/mountainview
12. Capital Health Primary Care – Newtown 3 Penns Trail Road, Newtown, PA 18940 215.504.1761 | capitalhealth.org/primarycarenewtown
13. Capital Health Primary Care – Nottingham 1700 Nottingham Way, Suite 18, Hamilton, NJ 08619 609.303.4870 | capitalhealth.org/nottingham
14. Capital Health Primary Care – Princeton 300 Witherspoon Street, Princeton, NJ 08540 609.303.4600 | capitalhealth.org/princeton
15. Capital Health Primary Care – Quakerbridge 4056 Quakerbridge Road, Suite 101, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 609.528.9150 | capitalhealth.org/quakerbridge
16. Capital Health Primary Care – Robbinsville 2330 Route 33, Suite 107, Robbinsville, NJ 08691 609.303.4400 | capitalhealth.org/robbinsville
17. Capital Health Primary Care – Washington Crossing 1240 General Washington Memorial Boulevard, Suite 3 Washington Crossing, PA 18977 267.573.0670 | capitalhealth.org/washingtoncrossing
18. Capital Health Primary Care – West Windsor 352 Princeton-Hightstown Road, Suite A6 West Windsor, NJ 08550 609.537.7400 | capitalhealth.org/westwindsor
19. Capital Health Primary Care – Yardley 1690 Big Oak Road, Yardley, PA 19067 215.736.9362 | capitalhealth.org/yardley
But It was 33 years earlier that I first connected with the artist.
When I moved to Trenton in the mid1970s, I spotted Malloy drawing on the street and began asking questions about him.
It was my landlady who told me that he was the painter of Trenton — and that he had done the painting of our house — and also a neighbor. His home and studio were around the corner.
As I started getting active in the Trenton art scene, Malloy and I began to communicate more.
And soon we became friends and were active in developing downtown projects, including the establishment of the Trenton Artists Workshop Association (TAWA) and the Original Trenton Coffeehouse series of events — which include exhibitions and talks by Malloy.
We also would visit each other or attend art shows together. He and Dorothy were also at my wedding.
Although I moved from the city for some time, Malloy and I maintained that friendship and easily resumed conversations after not seeing one another for some time — our interest in Trenton and art kept us in connection.
Then a few years before he died, the octogenarian widower moved to the Pellettieri Homes in Trenton, where he continued to create art.
When I began visiting him there, it was clear that his body and energy were diminishing. But his mind still hummed with art and history, and we would talk about the founding of TAWA and the creation of the Trenton City Museum. However, he told me that he was sad
that his mobility problems were preventing him from doing the thing he loved — making art on the street.
That changed during my next visit.
It was an early fall day with a cool blue sky and jeweled leaf trees when I bundled him up, put him in his wheelchair, and rolled him out to my car.
Within minutes, he was sitting in his chair on Jackson Street in the Mill Hill section of Trenton and back to being the person he was destined to be — the guy on the street who was drawing the city he loved.
Hours later, when I wheeled him back into his apartment, he smiled and said, “That was the best day I have had in years.”
It was also the last of such days.
A short time later he fell, broke bones, and after being sent to rehab was sent to a nursing home outside of the city.
I made several visits and noticed that although he wasn’t painting or drawing, he tapped into another love, singing whenever he could.
Then one day, someone called to tell me that Malloy was in the hospital.
When my son, who had developed his own friendship with Malloy, and I showed up to see him, he smiled, asked a few questions, and then said, “I’m tired. Do you mind if I go upstairs and go to bed?”
I took his hand and said, “Sure.” He nodded and fell asleep.
And while that was the last time I saw him (he died soon after), I feel like he’s still around.
As Charisa A. Smith notes in that above mentioned book on Malloy, “There is a little of Tom Malloy’s life story within us all. As Tom tried multiple paths on life’s course, so should the readers of his sto-
ry. Tom’s constant faith endured multiple struggles and invites us to keep chasing the belief that everything happens for a reason. Tom’s courage to pursue professional painting after the age of fifty can especially inspire everyone to keep their dreams alive, no matter how impossible it may seem.”
As for me, I still see him on the street, but now he’s joined by a new generation of artists who are loving the city by making paintings, murals, and photographs.
And then there is his work that will be
singing in the exhibition “Tom Malloy — Trenton’s Artist Laureate” at the Trenton Free Public Library, 120 Academy Street. On view August 2 through September 23, Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free. Birthday reception Wednesday, August 23, 5 to 7 p.m. 609-3927188 or www.trentonlib.org.
Although Malloy would exhibit in the tri-state region, he generally stayed rooted in Trenton, where he found both inspiration and connection.
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