TheTrenton Parking Authority is hosting a Redevelopment Stakeholder Meeting to continue gathering public input regarding the defunct Front Street Parking Garage in downtown Trenton.
The session, the second of two, is set Monday, September 25, at 6:30 p.m. at Mercer County Community College’s James Kerney Campus on North Broad Street.
The five-story, 22,000-square-foot parking garage, also known as the South Broad and Front Street Garage, was constructed in 1976 and closed in 2012.
The facility has become physically and operationally compromised by flooding and vandalism.
According to TPA materials, “the Front Street Garage in Trenton is one of the single most important redevelopment sites in the downtown area. How this transformational site is redeveloped will
set the tone and pave the way for future redevelopment within a several block area.”
TPA board chair and prominent Trenton realtor and community activist Anne Labate says in a statement that she and other board members “recognize that the continued vacant status of this centrally location property has a significant detrimental effect on its environs. It also has the potential to be a catalyst for activation of a key downtown location.
“A civic engagement will effort will allow Trenton residents and stakeholders to participate in both proposing and consideration of viable development options. This process is envisioned as an opportunity to elicit ideas and preferred design concepts for this key site. Further, it will engender dialogue with residents and stakeholders, build understanding related to market forces, and integration with municipal planning efforts, particularly the City’s Trenton 250 Plan. This plan calls for capitalizing on key physical assets. We believe that this property is indeed the best development site in downtown Trenton.”
The first meeting was held in August
and drew more than 60 people.
The meetings have been designed in collaboration with New Jersey Future, a Trenton based nonprofit engaged in research, policy development, advocacy, and strategic local assistance to foster redevelopment.
According to TPA materials, the parking authority had already identified predevelopment tasks necessary to move forward on the redevelopment of the garage site and completed a residential market study in 2018.
However, the “onset of the Covid 19 pandemic resulted in a significant loss in
parking income. This necessitated that reserve funds expected to be available for both hard and soft cost predevelopment activities were instead used for ongoing obligations including bond payments and general operations.”
Currently, the TPA is in discussion and planning with state and public-private grups to move the project forward.
TPA was created by the City of Trenton in 1948 for the purpose “of acquiring, constructing, maintaining, and operating parking facilities to promote commerce
See KIOSK, page 4
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3,000 copies of the Trenton Downtowner are bulk distributed in Trenton 12 times a year.
HOW AND WHEN TO BE YOUR OWN HEALTH ADVOCATE
Mon., September 11, 11:00am to 12:00pm
Join Lisa Cruser, LPN, Nurse Advocate and owner of Empowering Patients Advocacy Group while she discusses how to navigate the healthcare system, how to ask for and get a second opinion, and how to advocate for yourself and others. FREE
Tue., September, 12; 10:00 to 11:00am
25 million Americans suffer from Tinnitus and sound sensitivity. Join Dr. Lorraine Sgarlato, Au.D., A.B.A. as she discusses the phenomenon of Tinnitus and Sound Sensitivity Syndrome and various treatment options for relief.
NO MORE FOOD FIGHTS
Tue., September 12; 10:00 to 11:00am
We are talking about picky eating! Mealtime doesn’t have to be a battle. Let’s explore the most current and effective tactics for healthy & peaceful meals.
Wed., September 13; 6:00 to 7:30pm David Surrey, MD from Rothman Orthopedics will discuss sciatic pain. Find out symptoms and treatment for this common condition. Dinner will be provided.
Thu., September 14; 6:00 to 8:00pm
Chakras are energy centers in our bodies, each corresponding to different traits, illness and times of development. Come explore how we can harness the power of these chakras for good health and vitality!
Michelle Gerdes, Princeton Doula Center, YT200. $15
Mon., Sept. 18th 2023; 3:00 to 6:00pm
Do you have a question about diet and nutrition? Join a community education dietitian for a one-on-one Q&A. Registration is required. Taryn Krietzman, RDN
Wednesdays, September 20 & 27, October 04; 2:00 to 3:00pm
Learn about different classifications of medications in this 5 week series with our Pharmacists and Congestive Heart Failure Coordinator.
Week 1, September 20: Safe Medication
administration: Penny Wasylyk, Pharm D. BCPS
Week 2, September 27: Anticoagulants: Safe administration and precautions: Patricia Hafitz, RPh. CACP
Week 3, October 4: Cardiac Meds: Safe administration and precautions: Ann Mancuso, MSN RN CHFN
Week 4, October 11: Diabetes Medications:
Safe administration and precautions: Shesha Desai Pharm D. BC-ADM
Week 5, October 18: Pain Medications: Safe administration and precautions: Dave Appel, Pharm D
Wed., September 20; 1:00 to 2:00pm
Learn how to rest your body and quiet your mind with the simple (although not always easy) practice of meditation. No experience necessary.
Wed, September 20; 7:00 to 8:00pm
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 DANCE IT
Wed., September 25; 1:00 to 2:00pm When in doubt, dance it out! Find your rhythm and ease the everyday stresses of life with movement. All ages welcome, no experience required.
Wed., September 26, October 3; 12:00 to 1:00pm
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 MANAGING STRESS AND DIABETES
Wed., September 27– 3:00 to 4:00pm
This support group is for people living with diabetes. Learn how to cope with stress and diabetes in a healthy way.
Wed., September 27; 6:00 to 7:30pm
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.
Thu., September 28; 1:30 to 2:30pm
Join a community of women as we discuss relevant topics and find purpose, meaning and community. “Patti McDougall, BSN, RN
COLOR ME HOOPY: HOOLA HOOP FOR FUN AND FITNESS
Thu., September 28; 6:00 to 7:00pm
This is a very popular class, and with good reason; it’s so much fun. Hoola Hooping is so much easier with an “adult sized” hoop and the right instruction. Learn skills and techniques, hoops provided. Angela Reitter, certified Hoop Love Coach and Hoola-Fit Instructor. Fee- $15
THE AARP DRIVING COURSE
Tue., October 2; 9:00am to 3:00pm
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.
Tuesdays, September 12, 19, 26, October 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31; 6-7 p.m.
*Must attend all 8 session to receive certificate of completion *
Week 1; September 12: Gregory Cox, MD, goes through the intricate anatomy of the human eye.
Week 2 September 19: Adam Thompson, DO, will discuss how to guide the body back to health after an injury, through non-surgical alternatives.
Week 3; September 26: Maureen Stevens, DPT, and Ashley Sarrol, MS, CCC-SLP, will be discussing how Physical Therapy and Speech Therapy works in unison with other medical modalities.
Week 4; October 3: Michael Duch, MD, will have you learning visually with various MRI images and how to interpret each.
Week 5; October 10: Marc Levine, MD, goes through the spine and how surgery can enhance your mobility and improve quality of life.
Week 6; October 17: John Dibiase, MD, speaks on Sports Medicine and common injuries that can affect anyone, not just athletes.
Week 7; October 24: Javier Villota, MD, will enlighten you on what travel medicine entails and exactly what is needed when visiting abroad.
Week 8; October 31: Review and diplomas.
YOGA CLASSES (BEGINNER’S WELCOME)
Tue., September 5 & 19; 10:00 to 11:00am
MEDITATION CLASSES, Tue., September 19; 11:15 to 11:45am
LET’S TALK, A SENIOR SOCIAL GROUP
Wed., September 6, 13, 20, & 27; 10:00 to 11:00am
SOCRATES CAFÉ,
Wed., September 6; 2:00 to 3:00pm
GAME TIME
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
Thu., September 7; 2:00 to 3:30pm
THE TREE OF LIFE ART WORKSHOP
Tue., September 12, 1 to 2:30
Here we are ready to start the season of autumn. In this workshop, we will create the tree of life that speaks to you – its colors, branches, production of sprouts and/
or leaves. Bring pictures from magazines, your own photos, the colors you associate with your tree – paints, crayons and colored pencils. We will explore it all in this workshop and gain connection as we embrace this season together with Artist and Healing Art Instructor, Jane Zamost.
MAPS, APPS & YOU
Thu., September 14, 10:00 to 11:00 am
Oh, the places you’ll go when the Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association teaches you how to navigate your transportation options. Learn to use technology to get around how and when you want!
TAI CHI CLASS (BEGINNER’S WELCOME)
Thu., September 14 and 28; 1:00 to 2:00pm
SARA ALI, MD, HOSTS A “JEOPARDY PARTY” LUNCH AND LEARN
Fri., September 22; Noon to 1:30pm Tables will compete as teams as we test your
knowledge on things important to our aging community. Don’t panic, this will be fun and interactive and there will even be prizes along with lunch. This program is sponsored by our valued partners, Brookdale Hamilton, Hamilton Grove, Platinum Homecare, and Serenity Hospice.
LEAN ON ME!
Tue., September 26, 11:00am to 12:00pm
As you are aging, are you wondering who to lean on to facilitate discussions about your wishes, providing comfort measures, assisting with legacy projects, writing that last letter to loved ones. An end-of-life doula is a trained and compassionate individual who provides emotional, practical, and spiritual support to individuals and their families helping create an end-of-life plan.
I’m excited for you to meet Sandra Roy, who has dedicated her life to serving the community. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, End-of Life Certification, Life Coach Certification, Clinical Pastoral
Education Certification from RWJBarnabas Health, and is working on her Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work. This is a program that you do not want to miss.
Thu., September 28; 10:00 to 11:30am
Please join our highly credentialed experts Dr. John DiBiase, Dr. Lorraine Sgarlato, Au.D., Maureen Stevens PT, DPT, GCS, Cert. MDT, Senior Physical Therapist, and Anthony Notaroberto, RWJ Fitness Personal Training Manager, when they share with you how to prevent a fall, common injuries, how to strengthen your body, and how to best treat your injuries so that you can successfully continue to enjoy your life. Refreshments will be served.
Email CommunityEdHam@rwjbh.org or call 609-584-5900 to learn more
*All programs require registration and are held at the RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center, 3100 Quakerbridge Rd., Hamilton, NJ, unless otherwise noted.
and economic renewal.”
It is governed by a board of seven appointed commissioners and owns and operates five parking facilities: the Merchant Street surface lot, Warren Street Garage, South Broad and Front Street Garage, Lafayette Yard Parking Garage, and Liberty Commons Parking Facility.
TPA organizers note, “It’s important for us to gather the community’s input” and “strengthen the Trenton downtown area and foster an inclusive positive environment for all.”
The Trenton Front Street Parking Garage Redevelopment Stakeholder Meeting will be held at Mercer County Community College James Kerney Campus’s Community Room, 102 North Broad Street, on Monday, September 25, from 6 to 8 p.m.
To learn more or to register to attend the session, go to forms.gle/v4A1CyXdQQWzujfHA. For more information on the TPA, visit tpanj.com/index. htm#About.
Arecent release from New Jersey Future celebrated the allocation of $3 million in the state budget to create an urban park adjacent to the New Jersey State House in Trenton: A part of New Jersey’s Fiscal Year 2024 State Budget, $3 million has been allocated to realize an urban park in the shadow of the State House Building. Capital Park, which will one day serve to augment the public amenities of New Jersey’s historic State House, provides a crucially needed green space in the heart of our state’s civic core. This $3 million for the design
and initiation of the park was left out of the $300 million the state budgeted and has already spent making needed improvements to the State House Building since 2018.
A focused campaign led by three notable state nonprofits — New Jersey Future, New Jersey Conservation Foundation, and the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters — articulated the need at budgetary hearings and through meetings with legislators for park funding to be allocated in this budgetary cycle to ensure renovations made to the physical State House building are matched by an investment into the adjacent public space. These groups were joined by hundreds of citizens and dozens of other local and regional groups committed to seeing the Capital Park move forward. Bound by a deep commitment to making New Jersey a more sustainable and accessible place for everyone, advocates continually voiced the benefits of a green space adjacent to our capital building to serve school groups, state workers, the general public, and Trentonians. As part of the campaign, advocates published and circulated an online petition seeking
allocation of state funds to this endeavor, garnering over 800 signatures from individuals and organizations who share this sentiment and amplify the demand. These supporters, along with local community members, will be essential participants in shaping the future of this site and delivering an urban park to Trenton.
Allocation of funding in the FY2024 Budget for Capital Park was made possible by the sponsorship of the budget resolution by park champion Senator Shirley Turner. Partners in the State Legislature who joined Sen. Turner’s call for investment include Senators Troy Singleton, Bob Smith, Vin Gopal, Gordon Johnson, Brian Stack, Teresa Ruiz, Andrew Zwicker and their partners in the lower house, Assemblymembers Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, Anthony Verrelli, and Joe Danielsen.
Peter Kasabach, executive director, New Jersey Future, states:
“We applaud Governor Murphy and the legislature for their commitment to the Capital Park and for appropriating the necessary funds to get it designed and started. We all envision a new urban park that will provide a healthy, active, and vibrant green space behind the Capitol building for the public to access and enjoy. This is a big step forward for Trenton’s downtown, and will be remembered in the future as a crucial early step in the continued revitalization of Trenton.”
Jay Watson, co-executive director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation, states:
“It’s very exciting to see our legislature make this incredible investment in our capital city. We are now a step closer to bringing the long-awaited plans for Capital Park to fruition. Besides the environmental benefits and great value it will bring to downtown Trenton, the park will provide high-quality green space that countless New Jerseyans and visitors will enjoy. What a great way for this legislature to cap off the State House restoration and leave this wonderful legacy for the people.”
Allison McLeod, public policy director, New Jersey League of Conservation Voters, states:
“We’re thrilled the state is investing in the Capital Park right here in Trenton to provide outdoor recreation and relief from heat island effects for the thousands of New Jerseyans who live in and visit our capital city. For far too long, urban communities in the state have largely been left out of preservation efforts. In addition to providing equitable access to green space, the Capital Park will help provide the associated physical and mental health benefits, stormwater management, economic gains, and other benefits in communities with parks.”
Sean Jackson, executive director, Isles, Inc., states:
“It was gratifying to see the overwhelming support for the Capital Park from all sectors and all across the state of New Jersey. The Capital Park beautifies and enhances the safety of our State Capital complex; the park’s open space, natural systems, and trees help to counter the climate impacts that are already more intense in our cities. This effort starts the process of reconnecting Trenton to its riverfront, which will create both natural spaces and economic development opportunities.”
For more on New Jersey Future, visit www.njfuture.org
Editor’s Note: Downtowner editor Dan Aubrey was part of the team that managed the New Jersey Urban Park
In honor of longtime Trenton Central High School (TCHS) Orchestra director Joseph Pucciatti, who recently announced his retirement, the Princeton University Department of Music has established a new prize: the Joseph Pucciatti Prize for Community Engagement in the Arts. The prize will be awarded annually to a graduating Princeton University senior whose love of community, artistic imagination, and passion for mentorship — all qualities embodied by Pucciatti — have expanded access to the arts.
On June 14, Trenton Arts at Princeton program manager Lou Chen surprised Pucciatti with the news in front of an audience that included Pucciatti’s orchestra students, fellow teachers, and wife. “I know you don’t like a hullabaloo, but I had to create at least a little hullabaloo,” joked Chen.
For the past 45 years, Pucciatti has taught music in the Trenton Public Schools. After serving for the first 13 years as a rotating elementary school music teacher, he moved to TCHS, where he founded the orchestra. The original group had only a dozen students; today, it numbers over 40. This month, the orchestra received Distinguished/ Advanced ratings across the board at the New Jersey State Teen Arts Festival.
In recent years, Pucciatti has made a name for himself at Princeton University by ushering in a series of artistic collaborations between the university and the Trenton Public Schools. Seven years ago, he and Chen founded the Trenton Youth Orchestra (TYO) when Chen was a Princeton sophomore. Through TYO, Pucciatti’s orchestra students receive free weekly private lessons from Princeton student teachers. This collaboration has since paved the way for the larger Saturday Morning Arts program, which now includes not only the Trenton Youth Orchestra but also Dancers, Singers, and Theater.
Pucciatti also helped launch the Sideby-Side Concert Series, a collaboration with the Department of Music that invites Princeton University students, faculty, and staff musicians to perform alongside the TCHS Orchestra at semesterly Rockefeller College performances, and the Neighborhood Music Project, a collaboration with Princeton University Concerts that brings world-renowned musicians like conductor Gustavo Dudamel, cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, and saxophonist Jess Gillam to TCHS. In 2021, the Pace Center for Civic Engagement recognized Pucciatti with the Community Engagement Award.
Reflecting on his partnership and friendship with Pucciatti, Chen says, “Without Mr. Pucciatti, TAP would not exist. Even when a new collaboration creates more work for him, he’ll always say yes. That’s because he is incredibly dedicated to his students, because he’ll always go above and beyond for them, and because, born and raised in Trenton, this is his community. He’ll call me whenever one of our students is struggling so we can think through how to best support them. He’ll schedule so many performances for his orchestra that it feels like they are just as busy as the New York Philharmonic. And he’ll arrange almost all the music for his orchestra himself so they can play the tunes they love: Bruno Mars, Lizzo, Camila Cabello, and more. He is a center of gravity in his community, and I have been so lucky to be a part of his orbit.”
Department of Music Chair Dan Trueman adds, “On behalf of the department, I want to thank Joseph Pucciatti for his transformative impact on TAP, our department, and the wider artistic community at Princeton. For the past seven years, he’s created opportunities for our students to apply their artistic knowledge beyond Princeton, as educators, mentors, and community leaders. We can think of no better way to honor his contributions than by recognizing students who share his commitment to artistic access.”
For more on TAP, visit trentonarts. princeton.edu.
September is here and with it the welcome of a new arts season capital city. And, as usual, the eyes and ears will be filled with some cool sights and sounds.
Artworks Trenton get things moving with one of its signature art events: Art All Day on Saturday, September 16.
The popular annual event features live mural painting, opportunities to visit art studios and galleries throughout the city, cycling activities, and a partnership with River Days, a festival held along the Delaware River in South Trenton
An Art All Day exhibition, featuring work by artists participating in the event, opens the nonprofit art center’s new exhibition season and will be on view September 12 to October 7.
It will be followed by exhibitions featuring the works of Trenton artists Raven George and Erin McMillon. George calls herself a conceptual and multimedia artist” who explores “light, movement, and emotional intimacy.” McMillon creates visual art and is an urban suspense author whose works include “Ten Tales of Urban Lore,” “They Eat: An Episodic Zombie Thriller,” and “The Abducted,” October 24 through November 18. Free entry to all events. Artworks Trenton, 19 Everett Alley and South Stockton Street. www.artworkstrenton.
org.
The Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie Mansion in Cadwalader Park is currently showing “Ellarslie Open 40,” the milestone anniversary of the popular and large juried show featuring works by artists living in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York. This year’s juror, Philadelphia based art collector and arts professional Reg Brown, will discuss his process for selecting the 150 works during a public event set for 4 p.m., Sunday, September 10. Tickets range from $20 to $25. The exhibition is on view through September 30.
“TAWA at 45” is a celebration of the art and artists who created and participated in the influential and city-changing Trenton Artists Workshop Association, October 6 through December 3.
Cadwalader Park, Trenton. Friday and Saturday, noon to 4 p.m., Sunday 1 to 4 p.m. Free. 609-989-3632 or www.ellarslie.org
The New Jersey State Museum, meanwhile, has exhibitions that fill the eyes and mind with local and state history and artistry.
“History Beneath Our Feet: Archaeology of a Capital City” explores how 10 Trenton excavations have provided
details about the space that has become New Jersey’s capital. It’s on view through December 31. Also on view are “Written in the Rocks: Fossil Tales of New Jersey,” a showcase of fossils and New Jersey dinosaurs, and “American Perspectives: The Fine Art Collection,” featuring the work of important American and New Jersey artists.
205 West State Street, Trenton. Tuesdays through Sundays, 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Free; donations requested. 609-2925420 or www.statemuseumnj.gov
The Cadwalader Heights Historic House and Garden Tour marks its post-COVID return on Saturday, September 23, noon to 5 p.m.
This year’s theme is “Welcome Back to the Neighborhood” and will once again highlight the houses and grounds in the Trenton neighborhood designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the eminent 19th century American landscape designer whose work includes New York City’s Central Park and Trenton’s Cadwalader Park.
Situated next to Cadwalader Park, the Cadwalader Heights neighborhood is bounded by Parkside, Stuyvesant and Bellevue avenues, and Belmont Circle. Advance tickets can be purchased online for $20. Day of tour tickets can be purchased at the Trenton City Museum in Cadwalader Park for $25. For more tour details, visit www.cadwaladerheights.com.
Music lovers will want to listen up with a strong choice of jazz and classical performances.
The Candlelight Lounge continues to show its musical chops with a hot schedule of some of the most noted New York, Philadelphia, and New Jersey jazz circuit
performers.
September: Philadelphia percussionist Rob Henderson and his Hfactor, September 9; Rockaway, New Jersey, keyboardist Leonieke, September 16; Trenton saxophonist James Stewart, September 23; and North Jersey jazz vocalist Carrie Jackson, September 30.
October: Veteran New York saxophonist Jerry Weldon, October 7; pianist Glenn Williams, October 14; Phillip Weborndoerfer, October 21; and New York City organist Akiko, October 28.
And November: Philadelphia guitarist Brian Betz, November 4; keyboardist Bill Schilling, November 11; New York veteran baritone saxophonist Dave Schumacher, November 18; and Philadelphia percussionist Rob Henderson’s HFactor, November 25.
Candlelight Lounge, 24 Passaic Street. $20 cover and $10 minimum drink order, free buffet, 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. www.candlelighteventsjazz.com
The New Jersey Capital Philharmonic is stepping up its musical game with a series of small concerts in various city venues and its full orchestra sound at the Trenton War Memorial.
First up, the Musician’s Choice Chamber Music Concert: “From Handel to Habanera,” Music for Woodwind Quintet from the classics to Latin and jazz, at Passage Theater, Mill Hill Playhouse, 3 p.m., Sunday, September 24.
“Pictures At An Exhibition” is an Artworks Trenton collaboration that uses 19th century Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky’s visual art referencing piece to showcase new artwork by 10 regional artists. Also on the program is 20th century romantic Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3, performed by Serbian pianist Maja Rajkovic. War Memorial Building, Me-
Marge Miccio’s ‘Ghosts of Factories Past,’ left, and Regina Ottman’s ‘Grackle Steps Out of a Frame’ are on view as part of the Trenton City Museum’s Ellarslie Open.
morial Drive, Saturday, October 21, 7:30 p.m.
Musician’s Choice Chamber Music Concert presents the Harp, Fortepiano and Strings Ensemble Le Meslange des Plaisirs performing chamber music from 1750 to 1820. St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, Warren Street, Sunday, November 5, 3 p.m..
And L’histoire Du Soldat by Stravinsky: CPNJ partners with the Passage Theater to present Stravinsky’s theatrical composition at Trenton’s Historic Mill Hill Playhouse, 205 East Front Street, Saturday, December 12, 7:30 p.m.
For more information and ticket prices, visit www.capitalphilharmonic.org
And the LOTUS Project of Trenton, a relatively new Trenton organization, continues to demonstrate its artistry and vitality by presenting a Veterans Day Concert, featuring contemporary British composer Howard Goodall’s choral work “Eternal Light: A Requiem,” at the Trenton War Memorial, November 11, 7 p.m.
The group currently uses a free or pay-what-you-will approach, yet encourages donations of a normal ticket price. For more information, visit thelotusprojectnj.org.
Please note that while the Passage Theater stage will be dark this fall, the city’s professional theater will be back in the spring with a world premiere. And stay tuned for additional events that were unavailable as the Downtowner went to press.
Mercer County Community College will open its new Center for Adult Transition, or CAT, this fall to serve intellectually and developmentally disabled individuals in a dual campus, person-centered program that prepares these students for adulthood while empowering them to achieve their own goals.
Achievement is a highly personal process that fulfills everyone in different ways, as people cultivate that sense of success through learning, working, giving back, and anything else that aligns with their aspirations.
Mercer County Community College’s Center for Adult Transition, or CAT, is a new state-mandated, county collegebased postsecondary program that takes a “person-centered approach” to serving individuals aged 18 to 24 with intellectual or developmental disabilities who want to continue their education in the shift from high school to adulthood.
Students will grow across areas like socialization, safety, and self-sufficiency in a “dual campus experience” fostered in the classroom and community.
According to MCCC materials, the initiative combines coursework and presentations from community service providers on topics like transportation, budgeting, health and wellness, independent living, and more.
The CAT program originated with the
approval of New Jersey Legislature Bill S4211 on January 18, 2022, which established a grant opportunity through the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, or OSHE, to fund 18 County College-Based Centers for Adult Transition at institutions that had applied from across the state, according to an OSHE press release.
As a result of the state investment, OSHE stated that the colleges must run these specialized programs to offer “mentoring, job coaching, skill training, and other appropriate wrap-around services to help secure employment and maintain independent living” for people with IDDs—a range of conditions including autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and more.
OSHE is now a project partner with MCCC, and the Center for Adult Transition will serve the college on both campuses— the James Kerney Campus at 102 North Broad Street in downtown Trenton and the West Windsor Campus at 1200 Old Trenton Road in West Windsor—to bring programming to a wider audience across the school’s two Mercer County locations.
Dr. Gonzalo Perez is the college’s assistant vice president of academic affairs, focusing on workforce education and inno-
See MCCC, Page 4
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From MCCC, Page 2
vation. While he was appointed to oversee the JKC campus in February, he also continues to lead the Division of Lifelong Learning and MercerOnline
Perez stated that MCCC was “very excited” about the grant competition, noting that the college services students with disabilities through the Center for Accessibility Resources, or CAR, and specifically its DREAM Program, which MCCC “used as a launching pad” for the CAT.
without
“CAT expands that opportunity to a larger group of young adults who may not be seeking an immersive classroom experience but are interested in exploring college. Some young adults will benefit from services provided collaboratively. Because of this state funding, a wider range of options is available,” she added.
“We recruit students, give them noncredit or types of workshops and seminars, help with life skills, and really get them prepared for any type of career,” Perez explained, noting that students can focus on a certification, life skills, or take a credit course, depending on their interests.
Although MCCC has many of the necessary facilities, resources, and faculty in place for the program, it is still in active development, according to Perez.
The MCCC CAT program’s new case manager, Kimberly Fisher, is a recent
addition to the team at the Center for Accessibility Resources.
The Burlington County resident has an extensive background in supporting special populations impacted by and experiencing mental illness, substance use, domestic violence, homelessness, food insecurity, and other issues by connecting them with agencies in the area.
While this is her first time applying that experience to an educational setting, she has previously coordinated vocational services and programming for IDD individuals.
In an interview with Community News Service, Fisher said that the CAT program is a partnership between educational institutions like MCCC and nonprofits that offer programming in areas like self-advocacy, incommunity service providers, and the private sector.
“With all those resources coming together [and] collaborating, we’ll really be
able to offer this special population a variety of services and needs based on their individual preferences, choices, [and] goals,” Fisher said. “It’s important for this population to really know what’s out there for them to help them be successful.”
To qualify for the grant, applicants must be between 18 and 24 years old; have graduated high school, regardless of what age they did so; have been identified with an intellectual and/or developmental disability, either while attending a K–12 school system or by a private provider; and live in Mercer County.
While MCCC is still confirming the structure of the program, the “general consensus,” according to Fisher, is to have four-hour classes twice per week, with each session split into coursework and the campus experience.
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ognizes that the more a person’s path is tailored to their unique situation and strengths, the greater the likelihood they have of making a healthy transition to the next stage of life.
Several students are already committed to the program, which is set to launch in time for the fall 2023 term start date of Tuesday, September 5; this way, students can enroll at the same time as the rest of the college for a shared sense of community.
“If we have an individual that says, ‘Well, I go to college,’ there’s meaning in that. There’s value in that,” Fisher said. “We
want it to be seamless. We want it to be the same experience as others in college, and so as close to that as we can is what we’re aiming for.”
However, Fisher is adamant that although the program is “college-based,” the biggest difference between CAT and traditional MCCC courses is that CAT has no admission deadlines, meaning students can join any time of the year, thus eliminating waitlists that often act as a barrier for support services.
“We get them where they are,” she said, “[In] my experience with community sup-
ports, what I often saw [was that] if there was a wait list for service, that individual typically waited a very long time, and things change in those periods. They either go find something else or they stay at home and isolate by themselves, and so we want to make it very clear that this is open at any given time; whenever people want to join us or need to join us, that door will always be open, regardless of a college semester.”
The semesters are broken into modules that begin with career development and adult employment, an introduction to the opportunities and resources available to students on their respective journeys.
MCCC’s CAT will also give students increased access to community service providers, Fisher continued, with the CAT program “serving as an on-campus resource hub” for coordination with entities such as the New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities, or DDD, and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, or DVRS.
DVRS manages vocational supports for the Mercer County area, so representatives from the agency will discuss eligibility for employment-based services that may include supported employment, trial work, or job coaching.
Fisher observed that while working as a community provider, she noticed that there was a “gap” in information where students
lost connections to resources during the summer period.
“We find that some of these individuals say, ‘Well, I’ve graduated high school. I’m going to take the summer off. I’ll figure out what I’m going to do later,’ and they often don’t,” Fisher said.
“They don’t remember that connection to the Division of Voc. Rehab., whereas in May [or] June, they might have been interested in those services or those supports for skill training or job coaching, and so we’re hoping maybe to catch some of those individuals and reconnect them back to that specialized service for those vocational supports.”
“Again, we all know, a couple of months into summer break, and people start going to school, or they go to jobs, and you’re home alone, you don’t have your support group, you don’t have your peer group, so what do you do? Really, it just provides for a lot of isolation,” she said. “We don’t want that to happen.”
Instead, Fisher added that CAT can try to reintroduce these young adults to their in-community providers, noting that MCCC has been in contact with just under 100 agencies serving Mercer County to increase their scope of impact, such as the Progressive Center for Independent
Living, the Arc Family Institute, Caregivers NJ, and Mercer County’s Aging & Disability Resource Connection.
Those enrolled in the program will also have a designated lunch time where they can go to the cafeteria to eat and interact with other students, staff, and faculty. These real-life scenarios will serve as practical exercises to reaffirm what Fisher will be teaching in the classroom.
Fisher wants CAT students to better understand the appropriate boundaries and behaviors for a college or workplace envi-
ronment, which she will convey through role play and modeling exercises. These lessons, besides having interpersonal benefits, are also to educate them on how to identify dangerous or unsafe circumstances, especially because IDD populations are at a higher risk of financial and sexual exploitation, Fisher added.
Semester two concentrates on academic enrichment, providing a course overview of class registration, financial aid, joining clubs, and the differences between credit and non-credit courses, as well as certificate programs.
Fisher explained that if a person learned
609.849.5999
that their local dog shelter needed assistance with marketing materials, they would want to volunteer and practice their computer skills by enrolling in a certification program based around applications like Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Semester three focuses on campus and community engagement, encouraging students to find peer groups on campus based on shared interests and get involved with programs including MCCC’s food pantry, the classical and jazz radio station WWFM, and the Allies Inc. Garden at the West Windsor campus, a partnership with the Hamilton-based nonprofit’s Project Grow farming and horticulture program.
Students will also gain exposure by using the college shuttle to travel between the Trenton and West Windsor campuses, learning how to greet and respond to the driver, introduce themselves, and utilize public transportation while taking advantage of both locations.
Transportation is another “big barrier” for this population, according to Fisher, and MCCC is looking to possibly work with Rutgers University’s New Jersey Travel Independence Program, or NJTIP, to inform this group of students about using public systems.
While West Windsor and Trenton “offer the same services,” she explained, the latter is the larger, “more rural” of the two,
offering soccer fields and other features not present at JKC, giving students chances to meet more people and have “that true college campus experience.”
The CAT Program will also overview Mercer County providers that are largely volunteer-based, such as the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, or TASK, HomeFront, local food banks, and more to connect this population to their community, as Fisher explained.
The fourth semester delves into independent living arrangements and everything it suggests, such as how to pay rent, contact emergency services, and buy groceries.
“We’ll be partnering up with some of
the community providers that offer some of these in-depth independent living structures. They offer recreation, activities, and they can discuss the pros and cons of what is available in Mercer County for living,” Fisher said.
MCCC is continuing to partner with more agencies that cover topics related to independent living and may include providers of residential services, such as group homes and supervised apartments—the latter of which Fisher describes as “a little less restrictive for those individuals that are more independent, that are safety aware, financially aware, and the risk is relatively low for exploitation for them.”
The last semester is self-determination, which Fisher describes as a wraparound exploration of what they covered in the course to enable students to choose whether to pursue employment, volunteer work, a certificate, or other ways to engage and enrich their lives.
“They’ll have all those materials to reflect back on to be able to make a decision that’s based on their wants, their needs, and what they want to do. It’s completely independent,” Fisher said, noting that the individuals will be “empowered to make their own decisions as they continue that transition into adulthood.”
Fisher said that MCCC is currently building this program in a way that prioritizes accessibility with the few-
Eligible students ages 18 to 24 will be able to use the college shuttle system to travel between the James Kerney Campus at 102 North Broad Street in downtown Trenton, opposite page, and the West Windsor Campus at 1200 Old Trenton Road in West Windsor, above.
est obstacles to care—and the greatest autonomy—possible.
She added that what sets the CAT program apart from others is its unique position on a college campus, which offers a built-in system of support to this population as they look to integrate into professional spaces.
“We want to make sure, again, that accommodations are built in and there are zero barriers from day one,” she said, noting that the classrooms are still being fur-
nished with inclusive options.
“If we have an individual [who] perhaps has cerebral palsy and has arm braces, they’re going to need a different seating arrangement than what we have right now,” she said. “If we need those accessibility items, it’s imperative that we have them to meet the needs of everyone.”
Fisher described the request for service form as “barrier-free,” noting that the applications are straightforward, electronic, and go directly to the CAT team, who will then
respond to families as soon as they are able to do so.
“I have been a community provider for years and years. Never did I have exposure to an individual in this population [who] was going to college or had the opportunity to do so,” Fisher said, noting that times are changing to “move away from those congregate settings.”
“They’re truly going individualized and self-directed in that the individual and their family receiving service really have more of a voice now than they ever did—and they should use that voice to have services that are appropriate for them,” she explained. ***
To learn more about the Center for Adult Transition (CAT) or ask questions, email cat@mccc.edu or visit the page on the MCCC website, mccc.edu/student_services_ needs_cat.shtml.
To apply for the CAT program, visit the Request for Service form at forms.office.com/ pages/responsepage.aspx?id=jSYNCfenoEi XZEU1ZUk8nG6HoZ_WrRdMloWC0GM64wNUNVJPVDVXVzdDNkQzR0tKUFVXN1RYVDdOVC4u
For more on the Center for Accessibility Resources (CAR), visit mccc. edu/student_services_needs.shtml or call 609-570-3422
Inclusion Sports Performance Training is a welcoming, inclusive place where children and adults strive to reach their highest potential. Through offerings including swimming, gymnastics and a learn to ride bike program, students work with trained and dedicated staff to meet any challenge and make progress. Here kids have the opportunity for social play, recreational movement and early intervention. Coming soon, ISPT will offer after school enrichment programs which will include bussing from Hopewell school district.
Instruction is offered in both group settings and 1:1 private lessons and parent/child classes give parents and kids a chance to learn, bond and interact together in a safe and collaborative setting. ISPT also offers an inclusive summer day camp that puts the focus on healthy movement and development of social skills through theme weeks that encompass fun, play, inclusion and creativity.
At our Ewing location, both verbal and non-verbal students are included through accessible programs including swimming, gymnastics and learn to bike. Swim lessons are private and one-to-one, so kids can focus on learning to swim and respecting the water. Small group gymnastics allow students to gain independence and work on life skills, while parent assisted gymnastics classes are a great introduction for learners who require additional support. Monthly Parents Night Out events give caregivers a muchneeded respite while kids have fun in a safe, supervised and social environment.
The Learn to Ride program offers students a chance to take flight on two wheels through private or small group classes. The fundamental life skill of riding a bike benefits students both mentally and physically and can increase confidence and give families a fun activity they can do together. ISPT has collaborated with Strider
Bikes and their donated balance bikes have helped pave the path to success for so many of our students.
At our new Hopewell location, preschool-aged students run, jump, tumble and play in a safe and inclusive space under the supervision of highly trained staff. Current offerings include Preschool Social Play, Parent/Child in Motion, Tumbling Tykes, Sensory Play and Learn and Open Gym Family Play as well as private lessons. Future offerings will include yoga for kids and families, after school enrichment programs, OT, PT and speech.
ISPT founder and owner Shannon Schafer has over 25 years experience working with the special needs community and is passionate about not only creating an inclusive environment but also about fostering an inclusive community. She has worked with both public and private schools in Mercer county as well as Special Olympics, NJ as a coach for over 20 years and POAC Autism Services.
“I vowed many years ago to make sure parents would have a welcoming and inclusive place to bring their children, a place where possibilities are limitless and that’s what we do at Inclusion Sports Performance Training,” she says.
Visit inclusionsportspt.com for more information or contact us directly at 609 812-2566. Join for an open house at our Hopewell location on Sunday, September 17, 10 a.m. to noon, or at our Ewing location, Sunday, October 8, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. And be sure to come see us at Hopewell Harvest Fair on Saturday, September 23. See ad, page 15
The start of the new school year is right around the corner. Parents can ease the big change and alleviate stress by using this back-to-school readiness checklist from the RWJBarnabas Health Children’s Health network and the RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group:
Fill out any forms your school has sent home, such as emergency contact and health information forms before school starts.
Inform the school nurse and teachers about medical conditions your child may have, particularly food allergies, asthma, diabetes, and any other conditions that may need to be managed during the school day. Coordinate with the school nurse to administer medications your child might need.
Pack a healthy, balanced lunch with a mix of protein, grains, fruit and vegetables, if possible.
Establish a bedtime routine at least one week before school starts.
Be sure your child has a sturdy backpack with padded shoulder straps and avoid overloading it.
Schedule an appointment
Stay up to date with flu and recommended childhood vaccines. Children 12 and over may also be vaccinated for COVID-19; ask your primary care provider for more information.
To schedule an appointment with an RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group provider, please visit rwjbh.org/medicalgroup or call 1-888-724-7123
Let teachers know about conditions that may affect your child’s ability to learn. For example, children with ADHD should be seated in the front of the classroom and children with vision problems should sit near the board.
Your insurance accepted RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group providers accept most major insurances. Medical insurance varies by provider, please call your insurance carrier to verify coverage.
Pain.
It gnaws at you. It drains you. It becomes the focus of your life.
Experiencing a few pain-free moments can be euphoric; it makes you realize how long you’ve been living with aches and pain. You might wonder how you can find a solution to relieve the pain and regain your freedom from discomfort.
Dr. Ronak Patel at Regenerative Spine and Pain Institute wants you to know there are two new revolutionary answers to pain relief.
Both platelet-rich therapyotherwise known as PRP - and stem cell therapy give patients new hope by using the body’s powerful healing power to accelerate the battle against pain. Dr. Patel has seen incredible success implementing these cuttingedge treatments on hundreds of patients suffering from pain-related issues.
So if you are suffering from any of the ailments below, there’s a lifeline.
• Osteoarthritis
• Rotator cuff tear
• Back pain
• Meniscus tears
• Tennis elbow
• Disc herniations
• Tendonitis
• Neck pain
Here’s the best news: Neither PRP or stem cell therapy involves drug use with side effects or any surgical procedures.
Both PRP and stem cell treatments use the body’s own healing resources to repair diseased or damaged tissue — and the results are quite remarkable.
PRP therapy involves injecting concentrated platelets and growth factors into damaged tissue to stimulate the faster growth of new healthy cells. Platelets are cells that prevent and stop bleeding. If a blood vessel is damaged, the body sends signals to our platelets to get on the job and start the healing. Some call platelets the body’s natural bandage.
So how does PRP therapy work? It’s basically drawing a one small vial of blood from the patient and then using a centrifuge to turn it into a potent and concentrated form of platelets. It is then injected
back into the patient. Think of it as a boost of your own blood — only superpowered.
Recovery time for PRP therapy is far shorter than for surgery. Patients usually experience soreness for a week or so, but the gradual improvement soon begins. Unlike a steroid shot, which gives you immediate relief and quickly wears off, a PRP patient will see pain symptoms improve over a period of months, and up to 80 percent of patients will see relief for up to two years.
Stem cell therapy can be an even more powerful way to harness the body’s healing power. Stem cells are the building blocks for every cell in our body. These powerful cells can be harvested to produce powerful new cells to fight inflammation and disease.
For those suffering from osteoarthritis, stem cell therapy has proven very effective. That’s because the stem cells may help develop new cartilage cells and suppress inflammation. Stem cells can be harvested through a sample of body fat or bone marrow or be harvested from donated umbilical cord tissue.
And yes, you can even augment PRP therapy with stem cell therapy for an even bigger boost!
Stop wondering if you’ll have to live with your pain forever. Contact Regenerative Spine and Pain Institute today at 609-269-4451 or go to www.njpaindoc.com to book an appointment and learn more.
See ad, page 3.
Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, an independent school located in Princeton, is dedicated to the education of girls from kindergarten to Grade 12, alongside a co-ed preschool. Following the Goals and Criteria of the Schools of the Sacred Heart, Stuart's mission is to educate young women to lead lives of leadership and service. This September marks the 60th anniversary of all-girls, Sacred Heart education at Stuart in Princeton, NJ. In 1963, the Society of the Sacred Heart answered the call for a girls’ school that taught their students to thrive with and through God’s love. Today, in our ever-evolving society, Stuart’s mission, and that of girls’ schools, remains as pertinent as ever. Head of School Julia Wall dispels misconceptions about girls’
schools, emphasizing the integral role of a spiritual foundation in shaping leadership development.
Stuart was founded to support the empowerment of women and their spiritual heart center as it applies to God’s love for them. As a Sacred Heart school, guided by five Goals and Criteria, we believe that every child is born with a unique sense of spirituality, and it’s important for kids to know that God loves them however they define their spirituality. Though we’re a Catholic school, we’ve always widely embraced other religions and believe that God is a helpful force in life; reminding kids that they matter and that someone other than their parents believes that they’re a perfect being, just as they are, worthy of love.
Girls’ schools also often battle misconceptions about their ability to successfully ready girls for college and careers, especially in co-ed spaces. The fact is, you don’t need to have gone to school next to a boy to be fully actualized. Alums tell us that while they were at Stuart, every door was open to them and they had the freedom to establish their own sense of self; they were confident in who
they were as people and were then able to bring their authentic self to everyone regardless of their gender. The affinity space of an all-girls school like Stuart prepares students for every social and academic scenario. Our girls not only get placed at top colleges nationwide, most of which are co-ed settings, but they thrive there and go on to do amazing things across a broad
range of industries and organizational settings. By the time they leave us — after 12 years at Stuart or four — our graduates speak with a selfassuredness about their future that is uniquely Stuart.
Stuart Country Day School, 1200 Stuart Road, Princeton. 609-9212330. www.stuartschool.org. See ad, page 14
What is the Russian School of Mathematics?
RSM is an award-winning after school math enrichment program trusted by parents for over 25 years across 75+ locations in North America. Our unique approach consists of a continuous kindergarten to highschool curriculum, taught by expert teachers, in a classroom environment of peers who study together year over year. K-12 students can choose from various classes to prepare them for the school year, math competition courses for additional challenge, or test prep courses.
Fall math classes now enrolling at RSM Princeton!
There is no better time to join RSM than in Fall! Get started by scheduling a free math evaluation for your child or visit our website to see the Fall schedule of classes: www.mathschool.com/locations/princeton. For any questions you might have, please feel free to call us at 732-708-4905 or email us at princeton@mathschool.
com.
An award-winning math program.
Featured in NPR and the Atlantic magazine as one of the key players in the “Math Revolution,” and ranked “among the top schools in the world” by the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, RSM helps children of all levels build a solid math foundation and develop their critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. As Masha Gershman, the VP of Marketing at RSM, states in her Ted talk “Uncertain Times Call for Certain Math”, advanced mathematics is not only within the grasp of every child but is also a
crucial skill for achieving success in any field.
Our program is built around how a child's mind works
Designed as a continuous program from K-12, our curriculum was developed by our team of academics specializing in mathematics, education, and child development. Our curriculum has continually been perfected by our curriculum department over the last two decades. Three levels for every grade allow us to meet children where they are and place them in an environment suited to them. This ensures that students can begin our program at any time
and be challenged appropriately in an environment of peers.
Talented faculty.
All of our teachers have a background in mathematics or related field and a deep passion for the subject. Our extensive training program prepares our teachers to teach according to our specific methodology. Our teachers guide students to think about mathematics logically and conceptually, building deep connections between concepts, all in a classroom environment that keeps children consistently challenged.
How do I enroll my child?
For every interested student, we offer a free 30-minute math evaluation which is the best way to learn more about our program. An evaluation is an informal conversation with the potential student and his/ her family in order to understand what grade-appropriate math skills the student has before entering RSM. Our principal will walk you through our curriculum, and methodology, and answer any questions you may have.
RSM Princeton, 231 Clarksville Road, West Windsor. 732-708-4905. princeton@mathschool.com. www. mathschool.com/locations/princeton. See ad, page 9.
Classes are designed for all ages to build confidence, artistry, discipline, and foster students’ love of dance. Our world class faculty is dedicated to helping each student reach their full potential, with spacious studios, new state-of-the-art dance floors, and live music. The perfect environment to learn and grow!
RWJBarnabas Health has a passion for heart health. We have the largest adult and pediatric cardiac surgery programs in the state, a heart transplant program that’s in the top 15 nationally, the latest technology and medical advancements and hundreds of wellness and prevention programs to strengthen and protect healthy hearts. Whoever your heart beats for, our hearts beat for you. Learn more at rwjbh.org/heart
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 age-appropriate activities and materials. In addition to the developmental goals in the areas of math, language, science, cognitive skills, motor skills, etc., stipulated by the state, the school aims to promote learning skills for life.
At the same time, we aim to enhance the child’s social, moral, cultural and spiritual growth through group interactions, uplifting stories, cultural events and gentle guidance. Since “a healthy mind is in a healthy body” as the Ancient Greeks said, we provide a huge indoors gym and
a beautiful play ground with regular physical activities.
We offer high quality academic English programs for Preschool (3 years and potty trained) and Pre-K (must be 4 years old by October 1 of school year). Early morning care, after care, and enrichment programs are also available. We are part of the Saint George Greek Orthodox Church and state licensed by the New Jersey Division of Youth and Family
The Laurel School of Princeton provides an enriched educational experience for students who have dyslexia and related learning differences such as ADHD, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and executive function deficits. Laurel School students bring incredible talents, skills and creativity to our program, while being taught by expertly trained, passionate teachers who understand how they learn best, helping them to build on their strengths and achieve academic success.
Services. Our experienced staff has a passion building a foundation for a life-long love of learning. We are truly a family and we treat your children as such. For more information regarding our program, please visit our website.
Saint George Preschool, 1200 Klockner Road, Hamilton. 609-5862223. Contact director Angela Gering at director@stgeorgepreschool.org.
See ad, page 16
Instruction is delivered with a multisensory and inquiry-based approach by teachers who have years of experience teaching children with learning differences and are certified to instruct using Orton Gillingham and Wilson Language programs. Our faculty understands that it is critical to intervene as early as possible when children have reading, writing, and math challenges. It is essential to identify the individual needs of each student and provide diagnostic and prescriptive
lessons that ensure success. The Laurel School of Princeton offers an integrative, engaging curriculum that enables our students to develop the confidence to learn and excel.
Laurel understands that some children need more than what conventional teaching systems and traditional public schools can offer. No parent wants to see their child become disconnected; “Kids often come to us with their confidence broken by the school districts, and they feel as though they can’t learn. But their spark quickly returns as
they discover that they can grow and thrive at Laurel,” says the Director of Admissions Amy Deutsch. By placing your child in a holistic educational atmosphere, individualized instruction and guidance will empower him/her to take control of their education and rediscover success.
Please contact Amy Deutsch with questions or to schedule a tour: 609-566-6000, extension 0282 or at adeutsch@thenewgrange.org
The Laurel School, 800 North Road, Hopewell. www.laurelschoolprinceton.org. See ad, page 11
Twenty years is a long time. So much happens in 20 years. You live, you learn, you grow. As The Rech Center celebrates their 20th anniversary, the lessons go way beyond the dance studio! Just ask Kelly Rech, the Founder and Director of The Rech Center for Performing Arts. Kelly shared, “When I first opened the doors to The Rech Center, I envisioned teaching dance and supporting TRC students in becoming the best dancers they could be! What I never expected was the family of dance students over the years who not only have developed a love for dance, but students who have learned so much about who they are and who they want to be in life”!
Of course, The Rech Center offers dance classes in all style of dance for children of all ages, but that isn’t what makes The Rech Center special. Just ask the dancers at TRC or the parents of those students, why they love the The Rech Center!
“I can’t put into words the joy I feel when I see my daughter coming out of the studio after class. I don’t
see that smile after any other activity she is involved with. Thank you for providing such a positive encouraging environment for all of your students”.
“My friends that I dance with at The Rech Center always support me and are truly excited for me when I try and accomplish something new. That makes me feel good”.
According to Kelly, students at The Rech Center not only learn lessons in the studio that will help them become better dancers, but lessons that have molded them into the people they aretoday. As we head into our 20th season, it’s truly been a pleasure to teach so many students who have gone on to dance professionally, who have made dance a part of their college experiences and those who have gone into various careers where they have applied lessons and skills learned at TRC into their professions. As a studio owner, teacher, choreographer and most importantly a parent, Kelly says that is The Rech Centers biggest and most important accomplishment. Having a positive and encouraging influence on her students regardless of their endeavors is priceless.
www.rechcenterdance.com. See ad, page 10
Classes for 3 year olds and 4 year olds
Potty trained
Full- 1/2 day, early morning drop off, late pick up schedules available
Competitive tuition rates - secure environment indoor gym - outdoor playground - qualified educators
Beyond technique: Empowering dancers
Princeton Ballet School is the official school of the American Repertory Ballet, celebrating over 65 years of excellence in dance education.
Classes are designed for all ages to build confidence, artistry, discipline, and foster students’ love of dance. Its world class faculty is dedicated to helping each student reach their full potential, with spacious studios, new state-of-the-art dance floors, and live music. The perfect environment to learn and grow.
Founded in 1954 by Audrée Estey, Princeton Ballet School is one of the nation’s finest non-profit dance schools. Many things set Princeton Ballet School apart from the usual dance school, the most important being: its philosophy, its faculty, its affiliation with a professional ballet company, its dedication to live music in the classroom and its facilities.
DirectorThe School’s Philosophy. Princeton Ballet School is known for nurtur-
ing developing dancers in a safe and progressive way. The school teaches age and developmentally appropriate ballet technique classes from a syllabus that allows younger students more time for movement exploration while providing advanced students with the tools to become professional dancers, if they so choose. As a result, all students develop self-esteem, self-discipline, and a strong fitness level that will provide a powerful edge in any future endeavor.
Outstanding Faculty. Princeton Ballet School has more than 20 specialized faculty members. Many have attained graduate degrees in dance education and have won major teaching awards. All are committed to the school’s philosophy of dance education and to helping students achieve their best. Members of the outstanding faculty have performed professionally with companies including American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Cuban National Ballet, and American Repertory Ballet.
Live Music. The school’s ballet classes have live musical accompaniment. This is particularly fun for the children’s classes, where frequent improvisational exercises provide an opportunity for students to interact and
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.
When you start looking for a pediatric dentist in Hamilton, you want to find one that knows how intensive taking care of your child’s teeth should be. Taking a proactive approach to their dental health can help them avoid more involved procedures down the road — one of the most common myths that lead to your child’s teeth suffering in the long run.
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
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
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.
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.
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 determine where preventative care is enough or if additional action is required.
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.
Trusting your child’s teeth and their beautiful smile to a pediatric dentistry practice is something that every parent must come to grips with. Figuring out which childhood orthodontic makes the most sense for your child and their future dental visits becomes critically important. For parents and their children in Hamilton, Hamilton Dental Associates provides them with the experienced pediatric dentists they need to prioritize their oral health as they mature.
Learn more about our pediatric dentistry services and schedule your first appointment today!
See ad, page 10
Sat. 11/04/23
In-person: Rosedale Park Pennington, NJ
Virtual option available.
Participation Options:
-5k in-person -1 mile in-person
-10k in-person -Virtual
collaborate with the staff of professional musicians.
Facilities. Princeton Ballet School has studios in Cranbury, New Brunswick, and Princeton, New Jersey. All locations are wheelchair accessible and feature sprung dance floors and marley from Harlequin Floors. The striking Princeton and Cranbury facilities were designed by the late Ralph
Lerner, an internationally known architect and former Dean of the School of Architecture at Princeton University. The studios in New Brunswick are part of the state-of-the-art New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, which opened in 2019.
More information: arballet.org/ princeton-ballet-school/. See ad, page 12
Inspire youth to BE GREAT & strive for great futures!
New Trenton Farmers Market manager Bill Kearney is out to get the word out that the historic market is still doing what it did from the start — moving produce.
Kearney took the position as the seventh TFM manager in February, 2023.
He is also the fourth in the past five years. Long time manager Jack Ball retired in 2019. He was followed by former West Windsor Farmers Market manager Chris Cirkus (2019-22) and then former Capital City Farm organizer Ludovic Andre, who left earlier this year.
Now working the produce stands and glad-handing patrons, Kearney recently talked turkey about the marketing the market.
“The Trenton Farmers Market operates pretty much like a nonprofit,” he says, getting straight to business. But “it’s a co-op. It’s run by a board of farmers ... It has a president and four members. We keep it operating so local farmers can bring their produce to the market.”
Those farms include Cedarville, East Windsor; Corner Copia, Jacksonville; Cranberry Hall, Cookstown; Pinelands, Hammonton; Russo’s Fruit and Vegetables, Tabernacle; Terhune Orchards; and Zell’s in Hillsborough.
Calling the market “one of the oldest and largest in New Jersey,” Kearney quickly sketches its history.
It started in the early 1900s on an area near the Lower Trenton Bridge — aka Trenton Makes Bridge — to service both Trenton residents and bridge users.
When discussions about creating a highway along the river started, the Trenton Market Growers Cooperative Association was formed. It then purchased its Spruce Street property on the Trenton-Lawrence Township line in 1939.
The new market opened in 1948 and operated in a combination of buildings and outdoor stands.
After one of the three main structures burned down, the remaining two were reconfigured into the cross-like structure that generations have come to know.
Kearney says his current “responsibility is vendor relations and to give them everything they need to operate.”
That includes including addressing roof leaks, garbage, and legalities related to insurance and proper registration with federal and state agencies, including the NJ Department of Heath.
“It all provides confidence and a higher level of vendor, people who are serious about their business,” he says.
Complimenting the managers who went before him and “did great things”
to keep the market going for nearly a century, he notes that his role is to update to a new era.
That includes overseeing a conversion of the light to LED to enhance look of products and bring utility costs down, improving signage (including the large red electric roof sign), and addressing traffic needs.
“The state and county are going to put in a rotary, and we’re working with the DOT,” he says.
Kearney says a good deal of his job is community relations and awareness.
The Trenton “Island” resident originally from Yardley — where his dad worked for Fairless Steel and his mom taught music — also plans to use his past 25 years of various experience in the effort.
“I am an experienced marketing, advertising, and consultative sales executive with exceptional strategic, creative and sales presentation skills,” he states
on his Linkedin page. “I have extensive knowledge of, and experience in media, public relations and business development garnered from varied positions in sales, marketing, and advertising.
That translates into ad sales for Calkins Media, former owner of the Bucks County and Burlington County Times, director of strategic planning and development for Oxford Communications; a marketing director for TV Guide/ TVSM Inc; and others.
In addition to work with TV Guide, the 1986 College of New Jersey graduate says he was also involved with ads and sales for Rita’s Water Ice and Toll Brothers. He is also an administrator for Trenton Orbit, a local Facebook community news site.
Now focusing on the TFM, Kearney says, “I used to handle Bucks Country tourism, and I was aware of destination
marketing. We’re not just selling produce but a social experience. We’re trying to leverage that.”
One of the ways is to remind the community that it is a “local legacy destination.”
To make the point, he says, “I hope to do what some call hokey, old-fashioned attraction, like guess how many blueberries are in the container and pumpkin painting.”
Yet to do so, he says he is using some new-fashioned approaches to attract patrons who stopped shopping there during COVID or started going to other fresh produce venues.
“We started or upped our social media,” Kearney says, adding that every Saturday they add something so “people get a taste of the market.”
Pressing his marketing skills, Kearney says, “It’s great opportunity for engagement. People want to be part of the brand. People say, ‘I used to come here 20 years ago. I am here again because my children saw it on social media.’” He says he has also introduced radio ads.
While there is no current hard statistical data, Kearney understands that the market needs to attract a variety of ages and populations to sustain its future.
He then provides a quick overview of offerings, including Polish and Amish stands with various meats and deli offerings, two vegetarian restaurants, a punkrock venue, and Haitian and Spanish merchants. “There is a lot diversity in our market,” he says.
But that is just the current starting point. And while Kearney says he has also started to provide more seating to accommodate those who need to rest, there are other challenges.
One is adding additional bathrooms At this time, there is only one station.
But another more important one is maintaining and attracting a variety of quality vendors and developing relationships with those looking to incubate a business while keeping as low as $58 a day for a table.
“I’m trying to develop a culture of ‘we’re-all-in-this together.’ And what are you doing for your business?”
He also would like to provide a place to attract more women who “control 80 percent of U.S. decision spending,” he says.
Yet the market’s potential secret sauce for success isn’t that much of a secret. “We know we’re a farmers market first and foremost. It isn’t a corporation or an office. It is a place where people go to forget the rest of life.”
Trenton Farmers Market, 960 Spruce Street, Lawrence. Hours: Wednesday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. www.thetrentonfarmersmarket.com
‘We’re not just selling produce but a social experience. We’re trying to leverage that,’ Kearney says. One of the ways is to remind the community that the Trenton Farmers Market is a ‘local legacy destination.’
Register by calling 609.394.4153 or register online at capitalhealth.org/events and be sure to include your email address. Class size is limited for in-person events. Please register early. Zoom meeting details will be provided via email 2 – 3 days before the program date. Registration ends 24 hours before the program date.
Thursday, September 28, 2023 | 6 p.m.
Location: Zoom Meeting
Learning about cancers of the female reproductive system may reduce your risk and help you identify ways to prevent them, so it’s important to be proactive about your health. DR. JOYCE VARUGHESE, a board certified, fellowship trained gynecologic oncologist, will lead a discussion of the programs available at Capital Health for women undergoing treatment for gynecologic cancers and related health challenges. Nancy McCormack, an internationally certified and registered yoga therapist from the Capital Health Wellness Center, will close the program with a demonstration of gentle yoga stretches.
Wednesday, October 11, 2023 | 10 a.m.
Location: Capital Health – Hamilton
1445 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road, Hamilton, NJ 08619
Join Stephanie Kulak, Injury Prevention Coordinator from the Bristol Myers Squibb Trauma Center at Capital Health Regional Medical Center, to learn about the potential dangers in your home that could possibly cause injury. This program for older adults increases awareness of home safety and fall prevention and highlights the newer technology available to help people in the event of a fall.
‘Ernie in Kovacsland” is one of the newest and more developed volumes focusing on the work of acknowledged master of innovative television comedy and imagery, Trenton’s Ernie Kovacs.
The book has been seriously and wittily put together by Josh Mills. His mother was Edie Adams, Kovacs’ television performing partner and wife from 1954 to his death in a car accident death in 1962. She remarried in 1964, and Josh Mills was born in 1968.
In this era with AI, a proliferation of images, and videos, it is difficult to convey just how innovative Kovacs’ experimentations with television were in those days when there were only a few channels and broadcasting stopped at midnight.
Since I grew up during those early days of television and in the Philadelphia area, where Kovacs got his TV start, let me share a few perceptions.
When television began, its shows and presentations followed approaches that viewers had already experienced by attending theater, film, and public meetings.
And while there were some innovations, like the three-camera taping method, the visual storytelling remained mainly linear and coherent.
But not with Kovacs.
While there was great attention to establishing some noted character types, including the archetypal modern schlub Eugene, Kovacs’ shows were more bent on bending the rules of familiarity — creating burst-out-loud moments of absurdity.
For example, take the commercial where Kovacs, as a car salesman, gives an auto a slap of confidence and the car plummets through an actual floor. Or the segue between scenes that featured an oversized ballerina slowly moving to an eerie voice singing “Mack the Knife” in German. And how about the Nairobi Trio? That recurring bit featured three masked and long-coated music-making gorillas creating mischief while performing the sing-songy song “Solfeggio.”
(Incidentally, while Kovacs was always part of the trio, other unrecognizable trio members included wife Adams, Trenton pianist Edie Hatrack, and an occasional guest, including famed American singer and actor Frank Sinatra and comedic film and stage actor Jack Lemon.)
While I was too young to figure out what exactly was going on or even the schedule on my own, my mother, who saw Kovacs’ career start on Philadelphia radio, was an early follower and a Kovacs enabler.
And Kovacs — along with “the Mickey
Mouse Club” — was on my must-see list. Program after program I would see Kovacs buzz saw through popular and high culture — everything from singing Mounties and tipsy fay poet Percy Dovetonsils — and mesmerized by the surprising visuals — like in the bit where Kovacs, as Eugene, functions in a setting that all seems normal — until he attempts to pour milk into a cup and the liquid flows at out an angle and misses the cup.
In the 1950s, Kovacs had moved from the East Coast to California to continue to create television and appear in films (which did not yet use his visual genius). Then there was the car accident. While he no longer created, his work continue to attract attention, and books and recordings began to appear. Then when video recordings became a daily part of life, his work was seen by more and more — just do a search on YouTube to find out.
Nevertheless, as Mills explains in his book, a major part of his legacy was saved by Adams who “guarded his professional career and their personal life together so closely that almost everything you will see in these pages is due to her — from the scans made from the 60 (!) boxes of material she donated to the UCLA Special Collections Library to the ephemera in an uncounted number of boxes in her house. The other 10 percent is stuff I found on eBay to help fill in the blanks.”
For the record Kovacs was born in Trenton in 1919 to immigrant parents. His father was a police officer who entered the “beverage business” and led an up and down career running saloons and taverns.
As Edie Adams writes in an essay in the book, Kovacs’ personal “ retreat was to go into his room and read all the Tom Swift books, on which he later did takeoffs. It was the beginning of his self-education. From then on, wherever he lived, Ernie always had a desk, and his main occupation was reading and writing, even as a kid. For someone with only a high school education, he was one of the most well-read people I’d ever met. He’d read the classics just because he wanted to, not because he had to take a course.”
She adds that in high school Ernie acted in plays, in part to escape from his family situation. And while he was a failing student, his stage talent and baritone voice landed him a scholarship with a summer stock program on Long Island.
While an American Academy of Dramatic Arts scholarship followed, he was unable to finish it due to poor health, and after being in a welfare hospital in New York City ended up back in Trenton.
There he worked with the local Contemporary Players and landed a job as an announcer for WTTM radio in Trenton. It was there that he began to employ offbeat comic bits and became the host of the “Talk of the Town” interview show. Meanwhile, off-mic, he wrote a weekly news column for the Trentonian newspaper, announced at sports events, acted, got married, and learned to play poker — a lifelong passion that helped end his first marriage.
As George Glazer recounts in a circa 1957 interview with Kovacs in After Hours magazine, Philadelphia television station officials recognized Kovacs’ talent and had him “make his start in TV on a cooking show that ran from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
“Usually, the show consisted of a visiting cook, who was interviewed, and then made his or her favorite dish before the cameras. One day, the cook didn’t show.
“‘It was bad enough having an early morning show anyway,’ (Kovacs) recalls, ‘but to have to do a cooking show without a cook was worse yet.
“‘I remember thinking that maybe I could pull it off by myself, since all the cooks who would possibly be up at 7 a.m. would be cooking for a living, and couldn’t get off from work to do the show. So I did the next best thing — I sent some of the crew out to get some vegetables and things, grabbed an old cook book that was in somebody’s office, and tried to pick out the easiest thing.
“‘It was horrible — we didn’t have all the ingredients, I couldn’t cook in the first place, I had no idea what the utensils we had were for, and I kept getting the notes for the recipe I had made mixed up with the notes for the commercials. I finally gave up on the thing, and started making jokes, faces, imitations and anything else I could think of, and by the time 9 a.m. rolled around, I was a nervous wreck.’
“Nervous or not, Kovacs’ program underwent a change, and he emerged as a full-time funnyman for early-rising Philadelphians.
“The network heard about it, and pretty soon Ernie and Edie were on their way to New York. In 1951, he did the first Ernie Kovacs show for NBC, and between then and now has also had shows on ABC and CBS, and for a time worked all three at once.”
To get a sense of what Kovacs was doing with comedy, columnist Richard Gehman wrote the following in his late 1950s Real magazine article, “The Wacky World of Ernie Kovacs.”
“Ernie is a warm, unfunny guy — by that I mean he’s a regular human being when he isn’t performing. He doesn’t sit around trying to crack jokes like many comedians do. I would say his type of
Josh Mills’ new book, ‘Ernie in Kovacsland: Writings, Drawings, and Photographs from Television’s Original Genius,’ is based on his mother’s records and recollections of her time with Kovacs.
comedy is just a slight exaggeration of his life philosophy. He always finds something funny in commonplace situations. When he’s onstage he’s making a social commentary or an observation on human nature.”
Now combine it with the following assessment published in Salon Magazine: “Kovacs’ art was more original, personal, and bizarre than anything else being done in the early days of television. At a time when the medium was still figuring out what it was — and modeling itself alternately on radio, cinema, legit theater, and vaudeville — the Trenton native decided to wing it and see what happened. He treated the TV studio as a playground and the camera as his playmate. At the heart of everything he did was a simple realization: the television camera is not a recording device, but an expressive tool — a machine that transforms the real into the virtual, and makes even the weirdest flights of fancy seem natural.”
Then there’s Mills’ recollection of his mother and her desire to let a new audience know “how much of a genius Ernie Kovacs was. He couldn’t tell a joke to save his life, my mom told me. But he knew what made him laugh, and he translated that to the small screen in the 1950s before anyone had played with the medium of television like he did.”
Ernie in Kovacsland: Writings, Drawings, and Photographs from Television’s Original Genius, 284 pages, $34.99, Fantagraphics.
If you are a qualified and registered voter of Mercer County, New Jersey who wants to vote by mail in the General Election to be held on November 7, 2023, the following applies:
• You must complete the application form below and send it to the county clerk where you reside or write or apply in person to the county clerk where you reside to request a mail-in ballot.
• The name, address, and signature of any person who has assisted you to complete the mail-in ballot application must be provided on the application, and you must sign and date the application.
• No person may serve as an authorized messenger or bearer for more than three qualified voters in an election but a person may serve as such for up to
Dated:
five qualified voters in an election if those voters are immediate family members residing in the same household as the messenger or bearer.
• No person who is a candidate in the election for which the voter requests a mail-in ballot may provide any assistance in the completion of the ballot or serve as an authorized messenger or bearer.
• A person who applies for a mail-in ballot must submit his or her application so that it is received at least seven days before the election, but such person may request an application in person from the county clerk up to 3 p.m. of the day before the election.
• Voters who want to vote by mail in all future elections will, after their initial request and without
further action on their part, be provided with a mail-in ballot until the voter requests otherwise in writing.
• Application forms may be obtained by applying to the undersigned either in writing or by telephone. Or the application form provided below may be completed and forwarded to the undersigned.
• If you are currently signed up to receive mail-in ballots, but wish to now vote at the polls, either on Election Day or before, in accordance with NJ’s new “Early Voting” law, you must first opt out of vote by mail by notifying the county clerk in writing at the address below. You may find a form for removal from the permanent list on the Mercer County Clerk’s website at https://www.mercercounty.org/ government/county-clerk/elections.
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Valid on new and used auto loans. Each auto loan closed during this promotion period will make no payments for 90 days. Accepting the terms of “no payment for 90 days offer” will extend the maturity of your loan for at least 90 days but less than 110 days. If accepting the delayed first payment, you will not be eligible for any other skipping/delaying of your payment during this calendar year. Interest will accrue during this period. Payments made through payroll deduction or automatic payment will be deposited into your account for the time you are skipping/delaying your payment. Refinances from existing CU of NJ loans do not qualify. All loans are subject to credit approval. Certain restrictions may apply. This offer can be discontinued at any time.
Each lifestyle loan closed during this promotional period will make no payments for 90 days. Accepting the terms of “no payment for 90 days offer” will extend the maturity of your loan for at least 90 days but less than 110 days. If accepting the delayed first payment, you will not be eligible for any other skipping/delaying your payment during this calendar year. Interest will accrue during this period. Loan amounts of up to $25,000 are available. Processing fee of $35 will apply. All loans are subject to credit approval.
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