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Staying in Contact Nonprofit Contact of Mercer to host virtual ‘Unsung Heroes’ gala on November 17 BY JOE EMANSKI

Gabe Abel averaging more than 10 yards per carry in the first three games of the Ewing High School football season. (Photo by Rich Fisher.)

Off-season workouts pay off for Abel, rest of Ewing High football Colleges showing interest in Blue Devils’ powerful running back BY RICH FISHER

Gabe Abel has to be credited for his honesty. The Ewing High senior doesn’t try to paint a well-sculptured, physical picture of himself as a youngster. “When I played for the Lawrence Cardinals (in the West Jersey Youth Football

League), they had me playing both ways on the line,” Abel said. “I was like fat, and like two feet tall. I didn’t start growing ’til my freshman year.” That spurt was fortuitous for the Blue Devils, as Abel has grown into a standout running back this season. Through a 2-1 start, Gabe was among the Colonial Valley Conference’s leading rushers with 434 yards and 5 touchdowns on just 43 attempts — which comes out to just over 10 yards per carry. His efforts helped Ewing double its win total from last year, when the Devils went

just 1-9. In his first year as varsity full-timer, Abel was the team’s leading rusher with 483 yards in a season cut short by a concussion he suffered early in a game against Cinnaminson, which forced him to miss the final two contests. “That was so frustrating,” Abel said. “I was so angry. That’s what drove me in the off season. It was tough (due to Covid-19). I had to get out on my own every day. I lifted on my own, lifted with my teammates, went to personal gyms, went out and ran, stayed in the crib and did body See ABEL, Page 14

Anyone who is having thoughts of suicide can call the Contact of Mercer County Crisis Hotline, (609) 8962120 or (609) 585-2244, or the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, (800) 273-8255 (TALK). On New Year’s Eve 1975, Rev. George Morris of Trinity United Methodist Church Ewing and Rev. William R. McElwee of St. Mark United Methodist Church in Hamilton incorporated a new organization committed to helping people in crisis. Contact of Mercer County was one of a number of Contact centers that opened across the United States in the 1970’s. By May 1976, the pastors and a core group of volunteers had set up and staffed its confidential phone room with peopel who were trained to listen to callers and to help them get help when necessary. The hotline went live that month, and has been in operation ever since. Eleanor Letcher was among those who volunteered to help with the hotline after its launch. The Ewing resident took to the work immediately — and so much so that she became the organization’s executive director in 1980. Forty years later, that is still her title, and Contact of Mer-

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cer County is still providing those same services, as well as a number of others, to the people of Central New Jersey. For the past 10 years, the organization has been based at Pennington United Methodist Church. Like many nonprofit organizations in 2020, Contact of Mercer has had to change up the plans for its annual fundraising gala. On Friday, Nov. 13, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., Contact will hold a virtual “Unsung Heroes Gala” online, honoring local people who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to assist others during the Covid-19 pandemic. Actor Jill Whelan (Love Boat) will be mistress of ceremonies. “For more than 44 years, Contact of Mercer has been there for those who are in emotional turmoil, thinking about suicide, experiencing loneliness, or facing the challenges of mental illness,” said Pasquale Colavita, Jr., president of Contact’s board of directors, in a media release. “Our organization is vital to those in need of support and reassurance, and the gala is vitally important to us because the money we raise enables us the opportunity to assist even more individuals who are in crisis.” For more information about the gala, visit contactofmercer.org. *** Eleanor Letcher has lived in Ewing since 1968. She married her husband, David, about a week after she earned her bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University’s DougSee CONTACT, Page 12

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We are a newsroom of your neighbors. The Observer is for local people, by local people. As such, our staff sets out to make our town a closer place by giving readers a reliable source to turn to when they want to know what’s going on in their neighborhood. As part of the community, the Ewing Observer does more than just report the news—it connects businesses with their customers, organizations with their members and neighbors with one another. EDITOR Joe Emanski (Ext. 120) CONTRIBUTING WRITER Rich Fisher CONTRIBUTING COLUMNISTS Ilene Black, Helen Kull ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Mark Nebbia (Ext. 115) AD LAYOUT AND PRODUCTION Stephanie Jeronis

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2Ewing Observer | November 2020

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AROUND TOWN Ewing natives collaborate on ‘Coping Rhymes for COVID Times’ Educators Amy Stellman Regan and Karen Stroman Pardonner and illustrator Wade Forbes have recently released a picture book, Coping Rhymes for COVID Times, The trio, longtime friends who grew up together in Ewing, say the book is designed to support parents, teachers, and caregivers as they help children understand and navigate the changes affecting their daily lives due to the pandemic and quarantine. “We recognize that these times are more difficult for some than others,” the new publishers said in a joint statement. “We also hope that everyone can discover something positive in the changes taking place, such as cooking and taking walks together, an activity or tradition they want to keep in their lives after we all can return to work and school.” Published with the graphic design assistance of Pardonner’s daughterKelsey, Coping Rhymes for COVID Times can be purchased on Amazon for $9.99. The creators say that a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Feeding America. For more information or to plan a book event, email caringkidsbooks@ gmail.com.

Villa Victoria math team wins national title Villa Victoria Academy is a small all-girls Catholic school that sits near the banks of the Delaware River. The school prides itself on developing smart, strong young women. This year, that pride got a little stronger as its math team, theCLEAN VIL²A DRY BE²S, won a national championship in the Catholic Math League Advanced

Since 2009, the team has placed consistently among the top five schools in the Advanced Math Division of the Catholic Math League. When asked how it feels to be the National Champions, Conway-Konzelman said, “The success of the VIL²A BE²S during the 2019-2020 competition year was most exciting. It has been my privilege to coach such a dedicated group of young ladies. Congratulations!”

Paul Mitchell, veteran of WWII Pacific Theater

“Coping Rhymes for COVID Times” was written and illustrated by three longtime friends and Ewing natives.

Division. One member of this year’s team hails from Ewing: Senior Elise Stankus, who in the 2019-2020 school year, placed 3rd on the Villa team and 4th nationally in Division 3. The team has been coached by Ann Conway-Konzelman since 1991. During those years, the VIL²A BE²S have won 41 awards and placed in the top four nationally 12 times. This year, the team was ranked number one in the country in the CML Advanced Math Division. The CML is a national math competition that serves hundreds of Catholic schools. In the VIL²A BE²S’s 11 years in the Advanced Math Division, team members have achieved 29 perfect scores.

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Trenton Club. Surviving are his wife of 59 years, Evella R. Mitchell, a son, Paul, Jr.; a son, John R. Mitchell and his wife Monica; and three grandchildren: Cody Lee Mitchell and Samantha and Evan Sciarrotta. He is also survived by his sister, Naomi Cooper and his brother, Farley J. Mitchell, both in Florida, as well as many nieces, nephews and friends. See NEWS, Page 4

Paul V. Mitchell, 94, of Ewing, a veteran of WWII, died Sept. 30 at Greenwood House. Mitchell served with the 4th Division of the U.S. Marine Corps, seeing action at Iwo Jima. After his discharge from the military, he graduated from Drexel University. Early in his career as a CPA he was employed by the international accounting firm of Wolf and Co., where he became managing partner of their Trenton office. Later, he had his own practice in Ewing Township. After retirement, Mitchell and wife Eve enjoyed winter months as snow birds, first in Cottonwood, Arizona, and later in The Villages, Florida. For years he was involved with volunteer organizations in the area, including Ewing Kiwanis, Boy Scout Troop No. 33 of the West Trenton Presbyterian Church, and Crescent Temple. He was a past president of the New Jersey Society of CPAs, and a member of the Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs. He also served on the board of directors of The Broad Street Bank and the Trenton Country Club. Mitchell was also a long-time member of the

Lt. Col Edward Harris Correction: in our October issue, our headline about ‘Ewing’s Own Tuskegee Airman,’ Edward Harris, gave Lt. Col. Harris’ age at his death as 85. Born in 1925, the decorated pilot was 95 years old at the time of his passing. The Ewing Observer regrets the error.

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Ewing grad promoted to major in the U.S. Marines

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On Oct. 1, Brian Raike of Ewing was promoted to the rank of major in the United States Marine Corps in a ceremony that took place on the Port Hueneme Pier in Port Hueneme, California. Raike is a 2004 graduate of Ewing High School and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where he received his undergraduate degree. Raike went on to receive a master of science degree in strategic intelligence. He is currently serving as an active duty Marine infantry officer at Port Hueneme, where he lives with his wife Susan and son Pierson. Raike has served as a platoon commander, company executive officer, company commander, and staff planner. In his military career, Raike has also worked at Officer Candidate School as an instructor and has deployed to Afghanistan and the IndoPACOM theater. Raike’s family resides in Ewing. His father, Richard Raike, his stepmother and step-brother were in attendance to see Brian advance to the rank of major.

HomeFront plans Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week events

The changing face of homelessness during the pandemic will be in focus when HomeFront holds a week of events it has planned for the upcoming National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. HomeFront will co-host a virtual panel discussion on homelessness and hunger in our community with the Princeton Public Library on Thursday, Nov. 19 at 6 p.m. Virtual tours of HomeFront’s “hope-quarters” (headquarters) will be held on Friday Nov. 20 at 3 p.m. and Nov. 21 at 11 a.m.. In addition, HomeFront staff members will run an information and drop-off donation center at 63 Palmer Square in Princeton throughout the week. Community members can stop in to learn more, get involved, and drop off nonperishable food, coats, diapers, wipes, and formula. Information for all of these events is at homefrontnj.org. HomeFront is a local nonprofit whose mission for the last 30 years has been to break the cycle of poverty in our community. The agency provides temporary shelter for 38 families at a time at their Family Campus in Ewing. HomeFront also manages 115 affordable apartments in the local area, provides homelessness prevention funds, and helps families find homes they can afford. “There are hundreds of local families who, because of a job loss, are for the first time needing help feeding their families, paying rent, or buying critical life essentials like diapers,” says Connie Mercer, HomeFront CEO. “Since the pandemic began, we have seen an unprecedented increase in need. We

Ewing High grad Brian Raike, left, was promoted to the rank of major in the U.S. marines on Oct. 1 in Port Hueneme, California.

have distributed 342,315 meals, given out 384,600 diapers and wipes, opened up a third food pantry, and began delivering meals to families who are homeless and living in motels.”

ArtJam for the Holidays reimagined for 2020

Homefront’s ArtJam for the Holidays will be an art event reimagined in response to the current times, and it will be held Nov. 14 through Dec. 12 both online and at a gallery that will be open by appointment only. HomeFront’s ArtJam for the Holidays will feature the paintings, pottery, glasswork and hand-sewn items of more than 50 local and regional artists. Art will be available for purchase online and in person at at the HomeFront Family Campus, at 101 Celia Way in Ewing. Gallery hours will be Thursdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays noon to 4 p.m. To make an appointment, go to signupgenius. com/go/10c0d48acaf2aabf8c16-2020. HomeFront says that proceeds will help support the artists and ArtSpace programs. ArtSpace is HomeFront’s therapeutic art program, designed to empower Family Campus residents with a means to create, market, showcase and sell their work.

Beer that gives back

River Horse Brewing Co. chose TDI Connect — formerly the Trenton Digital Initiative — as the beneficiary of funds raised from their take on the ‘Black is Beautiful’ beer. Sprout U School of the Arts in Trenton was selected as the recipient of the donation. River Horse took part in an industry-wide initiative when brewing their rendition of the ‘Black is Beautiful’ See NEWS, Page 10

GOODNEWS June November

Adopt-a-Survivor Program Begins at Ewing High School

The Ewing Public Schools Schools

2020 2005

Teacher of the Year Recipients are Honored

Nearly sixty years since Allied forces liberated the Nazi concentration camps, the now elderly survivors of the Holocaust are turning to a new generation to preserve their testimony about their wartime experiences for future generations. Holocaust survivors are steadily dwindling in number. Many have made it their mission to educate the world that anti-Semitism and racism easily lead to murder, and to speak about the horrors they and their families suffered. With the passing of time, it has become urgent to find a new generation to continue the survivors’ mission and tell their stories after the survivors can no longer do so. The first Monday in October of each school year is designated On April 12, the Adopt-a-Survivor (AAS) program was introduced to the Trenton area at Ewing as the Week of Respect in New Jersey! School districts observe High School. Six Holocaust survivors were adopted this week by providing age-appropriate instruction focusing on by twelve Ewing High sophomores. The adopted promoting a positive and harmonious learning environment. survivors—Moshe Gimlan, Vera Goodkin, Marion Lewin, Ruth Lubitz, Charles Rojer and Jack Zaifman— Let’s take a look around the Ewing Schools as we celebrated were originally from Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland and Belgium. the Week Respect! Theof recipients of the 2005 Teacher of the Year Awards were honored at a luncheon on April 29th. Jan Fay, 2004 Mercer County The AAS program pairs a survivor with one or Teacher of the Year, was a guest speaker. 1st row (L to R): Joan Zuckerman, Principal Antheil; Sharon Solomon, Lore; Jan Fay, 2004 Mercer County Teacher of the Year; Inetta Emery, Principal Parkway; Danielle Miller, EHS; Superintendent Ray Broach. 2nd row: Darrell more students. The students embark on a joint journey Parkway School Jackson, Principal FMS; Donna Andreas, Antheil; Don Barnett, FMS; Betsy Turgeon, Parkway; Rodney Logan, Principal EHS. with the survivor through discussions about life “Always remember that every single person is special before, during and after the Holocaust. Participating and unique, and has the ability to make many wonderful students will be able to represent the survivor and Whitney Lewis, EHS Freshman contributions to our world!” tell the survivor’s story with accuracy and feeling in On April 18, 2005 Ms. Chiavuzzo, Mrs. Walker of Perestroika. His policies reopened churches, the years to come. In addition, each student makes Lore School and 30 Ewing High School freshmen joined several released political prisoners, and lifted bans on a commitment to tell the survivor’s story in a public Mercer County high school and college students, previously censored books. “Showing respect came easily to Lore students. After all, venue in the year 2045, a hundred years after the and politicians to hear a presentation given by The 20th anniversary of each Perestroika we are Lore. Hear our ROAR! At Lore, we show other was liberation of Auschwitz. Mikhail Gorbachev at the Sovereign Bank Arena. one of the essential themes of Gorbachev’s The twelve student adopters are Dave Angebranndt, Respect, we take Ownership, we celebrate Achievement, Gorbachev was the last communist leader of the presentation. The policy’s main goal was to Tyler Barnes, Annie Cook, Liz Dunham, Emily Everett, and we take Responsibility!” Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991. During his make the Soviet economic system more efficient. Curtis Fornarotto, Vildana Hajric, Devon Jones, term he instituted various policies including his Perestroika involved the transfer of control from Antheil School Jen Meade, Billy O’Callaghan, Nikyta Sharma and political policy of Glasnost and economic policy the government to the business owners. This policy Melysa Wilson. continued on page A2 “At Antheil School, we take a stand against bullying! We

Week of Respect in the Ewing Schools!

Ewing High Students Attend Gorbachev Presentation

continued on page A2

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talk about being an UPstander and encouraging students Due to budget restraints to stand up to those who are disrespectful to others.”

Have a Happy Summer!!

NO Summer School Programs

GoodNews will resume Fisher Middle School will be offered by the with the September “Emotions are contagious and FisherPublic MiddleSchools School is Ewing issue of the Observer dedicated to spreading more kindness, respect and love!”

during the Summer of 2005.

Ewing High School “At Ewing High School, we understand that respect means treating others like you want to be treated and working to develop a bond between all students!”

The Ewing Public Schools

Ewing High School Virtual Open House Thursday, November 19 th 6:30–8:00pm Welcome to the Class of 2025! Join us for a virtual presentation on the opportunities available at Ewing High School. Learn about our academic program, athletic programs, clubs and activities. Principal presentation starts at 6:30pm, followed by breakout sessions. Please visit our website www.ewing.k12.nj.us on the day of the event for links to the presentation.

The Ewing Schools is ‘LIVE’ with the Sounds of Music! The Ewing Public Schools Instrumental staff started the year with ‘live’, weekly small group instruction via Google Meet. Fisher Middle School teachers Mr. Peter Silipino and Ms. Colleen Ferry led their students in band and orchestra lessons, while Mr. Blair Olson over at Ewing High School leads the band and orchestra students. Ms. Ferry also works with an EHS Cello group. In addition, Mr. Alex Minter, EHS Vocal Music instructor, has started small group vocal instruction. “We’re excited to be back playing and singing, and are looking forward to more opportunities for music engagement throughout the year!” shared Mr. Brock Mislan, Supervisor of Humanities for the district.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, Together at Home and School

Craig and Lynn Johnson are both physical education teachers in the Ewing Public Schools. The Johnson’s met while attending college at The University of Delaware where they both majored in Health and Exercise Science. While completing their student teaching in college, the Johnsons, who at the time were not married, had the opportunity to work together. Due to the pandemic, they recently had the chance to combine their teaching efforts and ideas again much to their delight. Mr. Johnson previously taught at Antheil School and is currently teaching at Parkway School while Mrs. Johnson taught at Ewing High School and is currently a teacher at Fisher Middle School. While Fisher Middle School was totally virtual until October 12th as part of the district’s phased-in approach plan to bring back students, selected FMS staff members were shared with the elementary schools. Mrs. Johnson was assigned to Parkway School and this gave the Johnson’s an opportunity to co-teach together, just like in their college days.

Parkway Student Profile: Brianna Francis, ENTREPRENEUR at Age 8! “Hi, my name is Brianna. I am YOUNG and ADVENTUROUS. I wish to inspire my Bowwearing friends to "Be KIND, Be BRAVE & Be YOU". My company website will show you classy and trendy hair bows and accessories for purchase. If you purchase a bow that represents a cause, a percentage of the sales will go to a reputable organization that supports children and families affected by that illness/disorder.” Brianna's Bowtique was co-founded by Brianna Francis (CEO) and her mother. On their website their customers can see unique hair bows, headbands and other accessories for babies all the way to adult. Brianna’s Bowtique showcases many handmade selections with intricate details and customers will not be disappointed as there is something special for everyone. It is important to Brianna and her family to give back to the community no matter how small. Brianna's family has been giving back not only in the United States but in her parents’ home country of Jamaica. Annually, when visiting Jamaica, Brianna and her family donate school supplies to children and host community ‘give back’ events. Brianna also donates all of her gently worn dresses to little girls in the church community of her grandparents. Recently, Brianna donated masks to the pre-school dancers at her dance studio. In October, Brianna's Bowtique started a campaign of “Buy one, Give one”. It allows customers to purchase an item for themselves and donate another to an organization of choice. The website also has the option to purchase an item for donation only. As a proud Parkway Elementary student Brianna wishes to represent her school by always displaying the core values that she has been taught since kindergarten: Ready, Respectful, Responsible, Resourceful and Cooperative! She wants to ensure her "bow friends" treat each other with kindness as they strive to be brave and embrace themselves in their own unique way.

The Ewing Public Schools Senior Spotlight: Meet Marian Ordonez The Coronavirus pandemic put a ‘twist’ in the academic high school learning experience the end of last year, and the start of this school year, your senior year. Now that the school year is underway, do you have any ‘words of wisdom’ to share with your classmates as we start the month of November? During these difficult times I would encourage people to find a way to communicate with your loved ones whether that is through FaceTime calls or through small, social distanced gatherings. It’s important to remember that the whole world is going through this, and it’s important to not only check on your friends but also have selfcheck-ins. Your mental health is what should be most important during challenging times. Ewing High School decided to participate in Fall Athletics, how was this Girls Soccer season different than prior years? I think coming into the season many of the upperclassmen felt nervous about the season. Last year we lost around 10 seniors and we were nervous we would not have enough girls to field a team. However, I think this season has turned out better than most; we have a huge range of girls joining the team. There are girls who have played since they could walk and we have girls who have never played soccer before! I think there’s a new positive attitude on the field, a new attitude that I haven’t really experienced with any other team before. I am really excited to see how it goes and I’m excited to see my teammates grow as soccer players! What do you want people to know about Ewing High School that they might not know? If there’s one thing about Ewing High School that I think everyone should know about is that, nobody here wants to see you fail. I think the teachers all really want to see you succeed whether that’s in the classroom, on the field or in a club. Teachers will make time for you, if you ask for it. Teachers also do reach out if students may be falling behind. All of the teachers I’ve had have always been super understanding about the amount of homework and take the students’ feelings into consideration. I think Ewing High is a community that wants to contribute to your success not your failure. In which activities do you participate in school? I am part of the Girls Varsity Soccer team as well as the Girls Varsity Bowling team. I am a Peer Leader and last year I was inducted into the National Honor Society.

What activities do you participate in outside of school? Outside of school I am really involved with my church. I am an altar server at St. Joseph’s Church as well as in the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption. I am also an assistant CCD teacher at St. Joseph’s church. Outside of church, I am part of the Princeton University Preparatory Program (PUPP). It’s a program that helps underrepresented students attend the most selective universities and colleges in the United States.

Now the important question, during this time of social distancing, what have you been doing in your free time? Before soccer started up, I spent most of my time just trying to keep myself busy. I spent most of my summer with the Princeton Preparatory Program (PUPP) through a virtual six-week summer program. I started journaling, I think it’s important to check-in with myself during these difficult times and journaling has helped me feel like I have some type of control.

What is your favorite memory of high school to date? I think my favorite memory of high school would be running to Little Caesars during my distance runs for winter track. Ha! That sounds so bad written out but it’s true. If there’s a thought that never fails to make me laugh it is that. I joined the winter track team because I wanted to try something new but track was not for me. Who is your favorite teacher and/or coach why? I think my favorite coaches would be Coach Pedersen, Coach Clark and Coach Angebranndt. Coach Pedersen has been my coach since my Freshman year and since the beginning I always found support from her. I think she has really helped me understand the game of soccer better and improved my attitude on the field. Off of the field, Coach Pedersen always makes herself available to talk and made her office a ‘safe place’ for me to go when I needed help. She truly has made me feel as though I belong to something bigger than just a soccer team. I met Coach Clark last year and since the beginning I ‘clicked’ with her. I built a bond with her that I haven’t been able to build with any other coach. Last but not least, Coach Angebranndt, he encouraged me to join the Bowling Team because he didn’t have enough girls. I figured I might as well try it out. Obviously, there was A LOT of room for improvement. I give Coach props for never getting frustrated with me and being patient with all the ‘gutters balls’ I threw. I truly felt welcomed by his energy and learned to try new things. What are your plans after you graduate from Ewing High School? After I graduate from Ewing High, I plan to attend a four year college. I am planning on applying to schools outside of New Jersey; there’s a huge world out there and I plan on exploring most of it! I want to branch out as far as possible but never forget where I started.

EHS Boys Soccer Team donates flowers and pumpkins to Greenwood House.

Ms. Lambert Brings Fun Factor Math Program to Lore Lore School EIS Math teacher, Ms. Traci Lambert participated in Quest through Princeton University this summer and worked with Laura Oberdeck, the founder of Bedtime Math. As such, all participants were able to receive free materials to use with their students, through Bedtime Math, Fun Factor math program. Lore students in kindergarten through fifth grade completed a geometry study using glow-sticks to create shapes and to learn about various geometrical terms. Additionally, students in fifth grade extended their study of volume by creating 3D shapes and calculating the volume of those shapes.

What is your favorite quote or book? “An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind” - Mahatma Gandhi

The Ewing Public Schools

EHS GIRLS TENNIS

EHS Athletics Celebrate Fall Senior Student-Athletes

October 10th

EHS FALL CHEERLEADING

October 8th October 10th

EHS GIRLS SOCCER EHS FOOTBALL

Students and Community Voices Heard – ASYSST to Continue at EHS! The Available School Youth Services Support Team (ASYSST) Program, along with nearly 90 similar State funded School Based Youth Services Programs across the state of New Jersey will remain funded, allowing ASYSST to remain at Ewing High School after all! On September 3rd, a student driven rally held at the New Jersey State Capital Building was initiated by Trenton High’s School Based Youth Service Program along with Ewing High School’s own Uzziah Daniel and Morris Glover to advocate for the continuation of the valuable services that the ASYSST program provides at their schools. School Base Youth Services Program participants, families and allies across the state participated in virtual rallies, wrote letters, made telephone calls and reached out to Legislators to appeal for the full restoration of the program. The ASYSST Staff, its managing agency (Mercer Council), along with Ewing students, administration, and members from the Ewing Municipal Council also collectively sought to advocate for the program. On Tuesday, September 22nd, Governor Murphy, the Senate and Assembly Budget Committees released the fiscal year 2021 appropriations bill, which funds the government operations from October 2020 through June of 2021. After careful review, the Legislature restored full funding to the Department of Children and Families’ Office of School Linked Services, which administers the School Based Youth Services Program (SBYSP), to a total of fifteen million dollars boosting the funds previously allocated. ASYSST has been providing services such as mental health counseling, employment counseling, substance abuse prevention, suicide prevention, pregnancy prevention and sexual assault

October 14th October 15th

EHS FIELD HOCKEY

prevention to students at Ewing High School since the year 2008. New Jersey School Board Association (NJSBA) Executive Director Dr. Lawrence S. Feinsod thanked lawmakers for their continued support of the program. He quoted, “The School Based Youth Services Program has been one of the state’s most effective efforts to serve the mental health and social-emotional needs of students and their families. These services are critical during the current public health crisis, which has increased isolation and anxiety.” Mr. Smith, the ASYSST Program Director at Ewing High School was interviewed by WCBC News and spoke at the Ewing Municipal Council meeting on Wednesday, September 23rd where he received a resolution from the Ewing Township Municipal Council for his support of restoration of the ASYSST program.

At Parkway, Lunchtime is Sure to Make You Smile!

Thank you to the Ewing Township Fire Department who spent the afternoon teaching the kindergarten students at Lore School all about fire safety on October 9th, 2020!

The school lunches at Parkway School might be a cold meal that is bagged but when you look inside your school lunch bag you will find something that will make you smile! :-) The lunch ladies at Parkway School are leaving notes in the bagged lunches as a ‘pick me up’ for their students. It is a small gesture to help brighten the students’ day and uplift students for the afternoon.

The Ewing Public Schools November 2020 Schedule in Ewing Schools Nov 3

VOTE Remote Virtual Learning Day – All Students

Nov 5-6

SCHOOL CLOSED – NJEA Convention

Nov 7

SAT @ EHS

Nov 13

EHS - Semester 1, Term 1, Quarter 2 Parent Progress Reports

Nov 19

EHS VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE @ 6:30-8pm

You will find the link to this event on the district website: www.ewing.k12.nj.us

Nov 16-20 American Education Week Nov 23

K-8 Parent Conferences by Appointment BOE Meeting hosted by Lore @ 7pm (Public Session @ 8pm)

Nov 24

Parent Conferences by Appointment

Nov 25

FMS - 1st Marking Period Report Cards – Genesis Parent Access Elementary - 1st Marking Period Report Cards – Genesis Parent Access Early Dismissal – No Teacher Hours, NO PM EDP

Nov 26

SCHOOL CLOSED – Happy Thanksgiving

Nov 27

SCHOOL CLOSED – Thanksgiving Holiday Break

Peer Leadership Retreat On September 1st, 2020, the Ewing High School Peer Leaders met on the EHS campus to have a socially distanced “Retreat”. The Peer Leadership program at Ewing High is designed to assist the freshman class with the transition to the high school and guides the freshman class through a fun and engaging social-emotional curriculum. The Retreat, typically held each year in the Poconos in July, provides an opportunity for the Peer Leaders to bond, engage in team bonding exercises, and reflect on their own leadership qualities. Although the circumstances were unique, the Peer Leaders embraced this opportunity and had a great experience. They are looking forward to having a great semester! The Ewing Public Schools Early Dismissal During the School Year:

Schools Closed/Offices Closed Schools Closed/Staff Development

EHS 12:15PM No Lunches FMS 12:55PM Elementary 1:40PM OBA 11:55AM

Early Dismissal K-12 Early Dismissal K-8 Early Dismissal 9-12

(These times reflect normal regular school year hours for student attendance.)

Building Meetings/Transition Day

2020-21 EPEF Grant Awards

Without the help of our partners, especially ETS, EPEF would not be able to give out the grants we do every year. We thank all of our partners from the bottom of our hearts!

Antheil Elementary Antheil's Makerspace Fostering Creativity, Problem Solving, Innovation Joanna Papadopoulos: $1,500.00 Sensory Integration & Positive Reinforcement for Students with Special Needs Catherine Ziegler: $400.00 Getting Interactive with Nearpod Amanda Lippincott: $2,000.00 NJM Sponsored – Hands on Science with a Dash of Math Katie Schuh: $3,100.00 Lore Elementary ENGINEERING a Fairy Tale Ending Jennifer Hoh: $687.00 Rhythms and Rhymes - Drumming our way through Mathematics and Language Arts Tracy Radler: $2,959.59 Little Lore Lions' Creation Stations Diana Mocarski: $450.00 NJM Sponsored - Two Brain Challenge Game Show Assembly Elizabeth Kaczorowski: $1,500.00

Parkway Elementary Pawsitive Panthers Days of Service Leigh Cline: $516.00 STEM-tastic Second Grade Students Leigh Cline: $608.00 Parkway News Leigh Cline: $361.00 Ewing High School Building an Outdoor Classroom Kelly Masterson: $2,634.00 Fisher Middle School It Works better if you have POWER: Sustaining power with rechargeable batteries for EV3 Robots Adella Moore: $2,279.00 Totally Tubular Chimes! Peter Silipino: $3,399.00 Every Voice Matters! Jesse Zadworney: $219.00 Help Fisher Continue to Break into the Box Jodie Bauer: $750.00 CUNJ Sponsored – Smart Kids Rule in Ewing Erika Freeman: $3,499.00 NJM Sponsored – 3D Printing Like the Pros Danielle Davis: $373.00

September 2020 M

T 1 7 8 14 15 21* 22 28 29

W 2 9 16 23 30

T 3 10 17 24

(15) F 4 11 18 25

November 2020

(17)

M 2 9 16 23* 30

F 6 13 20 27

T 3 10 17 24

W 4 11 18 25

T 5 12 19 26

January 2021

(19)

4* 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

March 2021 M 1 8 15 22 29

T 2 9 16 23 30

(20)

W 3 10 17 24 31

T 4 11 18 25

W 5 12 19 26

T 6 13 20 27

May 2021 M 3 10 17 24 31

T 4 11 18 25

F 1 8 15 22 29

F 5 12 19 26

(19) F 7 14 21 28

Visit our website for quarters/semesters and report card distribution dates. www.ewing.k12.nj.us (District Information/District Calendar)

October 2020 M

5 6 12 13 19 20 26* 27

7 14 21 28

(22) T 1 8 15 22 29

December 2020 M 7 14 21* 28

T 1 8 15 22 29

W 2 9 16 23 30

(17)

T 3 10 17 24 31

F 4 11 18 25

February 2021 M 1 8 15 22

T 2 9 16 23

(19)

W 3 10 17 24

T 4 11 18 25

T 1 8 15 22 29

April 2021

F 5 12 19 26

(20)

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

June 2021 M 7 14 21 28

T 1 8 15 22 29

F 2 9 16 23 30

F 2 9 16 23 30 (16)

W 2 9 16 23 30

T 3 10 17 24

F 4 11 18 25

*Board of Education Meetings 2020-2021 School Year *September 21 (Virtual) *October 26 (Virtual) *November 23 @ Lore *December 21 @ FMS *January 4 @ FMS 7PM

(Board Organization Meeting) BOE meeting begin at 7:00PM Executive Session, Public Session begins at 8:00PM

2020-21 Calendar AMENDED Approved: October 26, 2020 September 2020 2-4 7 8 9 15 16 17 23 24 28

CLOSED Staff Development Days CLOSED Labor Day CLOSED Building Meetings/Preparation Day

First Day of School for Students Fisher Middle School Back to School Night Ewing High School Back to School Night Parkway Back to School Night Lore School Back to School Night Antheil School Back to School Night CLOSED Yom Kippur

October 2020 15 Early Dismissal K-8 only Parent Conferences 21 Early Dismissal K-8 only Parent Conferences November 2020 5-6 CLOSED NJEA Convention 23-24 Early Dismissal K-8 only Parent Conferences Evening Conferences: 24th Both FMS & Elementary 25 Early Dismissal K-12 NO PM EDP 26-27 CLOSED – Thanksgiving Break December 2020 23 Early Dismissal K-12 NO PM EDP 24-31 CLOSED Winter Break January 2021 1 4 18 28-29

CLOSED Winter Break School Reopens CLOSED Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Early Dismissal 9-12 only (Exams)

February 2021 1 Early Dismissal 9-12 only (Exams 2 CLOSED 6-12 & OBA (no students) Early Dismissal K-5 11 EHS Back to School Night 2nd Semester 15 CLOSED Presidents’ Day 24 Early Dismissal K-8 ONLY Parent Conferences March 2021 29-31

CLOSED Spring Break

April 2021 1-2 CLOSED - Spring Break May 2021 13

CLOSED Staff Development Day (Ed al-Fitr)

CLOSED Memorial Day

June 2021 18, 21, 22 Early Dismissal K-12 – NO LUNCHES SERVED EHS 12:00 FMS 12:35 Elementary 1:10 OBA 11:35 22

Last Day of School

Three (3) emergency days are built into the schedule. If more than 3 emergency days are required, the additional days will be made up by adjusting the calendar beginning with 2/15, 3/29, 3/30, 3/31, 4/1. Please keep this in mind when making irrevocable vacation plans. Unused emergency days will be removed from the calendar as appropriate.

For questions or information, please contact: Superintendent’s Office 609-538-9800 ext. 1102 Email: thullings@ewingboe.org Website: www.ewing.k12.nj.us

November 2020 | Good News9

NEWS continued from Page 4 beer. Weathered Souls Brewing of San Antonio, Texas created the Black is Beautiful campaign, a collaborative effort amongst brewers to enhance their local communities. All proceeds from River Horse’s Black is Beautiful Stout went to TDI Connect, who refurbishes donated computers and distributes them to students who need access to the internet. “We love TDI Connect’s mission because it is tangible, simple, and empowering,” said River Horse owner Chris Walsh. “Access to a computer and the power of the internet is easily taken for granted. Imagine not having it. Think of the feeling when your Wi-Fi goes out? Imagine that all the time. For roughly $160, our combined efforts can provide a computer and one year of internet access to a student.” Mark Iorio, committee Chair of TDI Connect, selected Sprout U School of the Arts in neighboring Trenton to receive River Horse’s donation. “There is nothing better than seeing the expression on the students’ faces when they received the laptops,” Iorio said. “TDI has worked with Sprout U and Danielle (Miller-Winrow, Sprout U principal) over the past several years and she and her staff do such a remarkable job, we couldn’t have chosen a better partner.” Twenty-one students from kindergarten through 11th grade were gifted laptops and one year of internet connection, in conjunction with the Comcast Internet Essentials program. Miller-Winrow coordinated the selection and distribution of materials to students in need. TDI is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that is part of United Way of Greater Mercer County (uwgmc.org). Through Aug. 6, TDI had already given away more than 720 PCs in 2020. River Horse Brewing Co. located in Ewing is one of New Jersey’s oldest and largest craft breweries. On the web: riverhorse.com.

Ewing girls’ soccer honors seniors

On Oct. 14, the Ewing High girls’ soccer team earned its first victory of the season of Trenton Central High School. At the game, Ewing High honored the program’s seven seniors: Selma Benkoukha, Abby Buker, Morgann Ellis, Kayla Ewell, Alexis Leggio, Nina Mapp and Marian Ordonez. Back row: Coach Shannon Pedersen, Kayla Ewell, Emani Ellis, Selma Benkhoukha, Abby Buker, Hazel Penner, Sydney Smith, Thalia Hearns, Coach Angelina Gummel. Middle row: Lanie Picerno, Sierra Mitchell, Morgann Ellis, Emma Trafford, Nina Mapp, Samaria Banks, Alexis Leggio, Helen Ogungbola, Marian Ordonez. Front row: Sarah Ashenfelter, Bella Latini, Paris Carroo, Shawnae Biggs, Cristina Carmichael Gist, Jacqueline Ordonez, Gabrielle Fletcher, Aniya Ford. (Photo by Todd Cloward/pixelsbytoddc.mypixieset.com)

McCarter unveils ‘A Christmas Carol @Home’

For 30 years, McCarter Theatre Center has celebrated the holidays and brought the community together around Charles Dickens’ classic, A Christmas Carol. This season, McCarter’s artistic team has created a new way to share the joy and themes of the timeless story with an original gift box containing “the magic of theater.” “A Christmas Carol @Home” has creatively curated items allowing people to create their own version of the classic tale. Each box contains individually wrapped envelopes with scenes that can be performed in person (or

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over Zoom), character sketch postcards to paint, color, send or frame, and “conversation cards” to spark discussion around the story’s themes and connect them with our current moment. “McCarter’s ‘A Christmas Carol’ is such a beloved tradition that we had to find a way to do it this year,” said McCarter’s artistic director, Sarah Rasmussen. “With ‘A Christmas Carol @Home,’ we hope to bring people together and celebrate the spirit of family, generosity, and community in Dickens’ classic.” Boxes cost $40 each, plus a $5 handling fee. Shipping is included. Boxes must be ordered by Dec. 7. to ensure delivery by Dec. 24. Orders will begin

to ship the week of Nov. 23. More details can be found at mccarter.org. In addition to the gift boxes, McCarter has created a special online portal on its website, mccarter.org, to enhance the gift experience. Patrons will be able to explore additional content, access a full script and stage adaptation, and submit photos and videos from their own scenes and staging, and find local promotions from the community.

WHAT DID WE MISS? What are you noticing in your community? What stories do you think we should tell? Do you have news to share? We want to hear from you. Send your news or tips to news@communitynews.org.

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CONTACT continued from Page 1 lass College. They lived in Nebraska for two years and Ithaca, New York for three more before settling in Ewing when David got a job as a professor at Trenton State College. He taught a number of things over the years, most recently statistics, before retiring a few years ago. Letcher, who has a masters in education from The College of New Jersey, was a mother of four when she became Contact’s executive director in 1980. “I thought, ‘Well, this will be good, I will get out of the house.’ And now my poor little girls are 40 years older,” she jokes. Today, their daughter Beverly MacDonald lives in Ewing with her husband and 3 children. Daughter Nancy Miller lives in Spotswood and has one child. Daughter Elaine Nelson lives in Virginia and has two children, and daughter Christine Letcher lives in Maine and has no children. Contact can trace its origins back to Australia in 1963. There Alan Walker, a Methodist minister and an influential theologian of the 20th century, founded an organization called Lifeline after a young man he had been counseling had died by suicide. “This was in the 60’s. Hotlines were springing up in different places around the world, for different reasons,” Letcher says. “Pastor Alan Walker decided there should be a place where people could call and talk to somebody in a nonjudgmental way, and it should be available 24 hours a day.”

Eleanor Letcher, center, with Contact of Mercer County board president and Mercer County Freeholder Pasquale Colavita, Jr. and Harish Rajogopal, president of Contact at The College of New Jersey. The idea was to start a hotline with volunteers who would be trained in the skill of active listening. These volunteers would also be trained to know when and how to refer callers to professional counselors who could provide further assistance. Lifeline was a success, and new programs soon spread to New Zealand and then South Africa. In 1965, a Methodist minister named John Brand began a similar program in Dallas. The name was changed from Lifeline to Contact in the U.S. because

Looking for more local news? Visit our website communitynews.org to get updates about your community all month long

a different organization was already using the name Lifeline. Contact Dallas started taking calls on its helpline in 1967. By the end of the decade, five more Contact centers were operating in communities across the U.S., and dozens more were in the planning stages. A national organization called Contact USA was formed to help coordinate the many new centers that had sprung up around the country. Contact of Mercer turned on the phones in its call center in 1976, with volunteers providing services 24

hours a day, 7 days a week. To this day, locally trained resident volunteers listen and chat with individuals who are in distress, suicidal crisis, or in need of emotional support. While services are no longer provided locally on a 24-hour basis, callers can still be sure to reach someone any time of the day or night. Services are anonymous and confidential. “We’re the listeners,” Letcher says. “We’re the quiet folks who listen to people who call with problems. We make a big impact, but quietly.” Earlier this year, Contact USA changed its name to the International Council for Helplines. ICH continues to provide support and accreditation for crisis centers. Eleanor Letcher is a member of the ICH board. An affiliation with the National Suicide Prevention Hotline also means that Contact of Mercer volunteers take calls to that hotline. To make it successfully through Contact training, a volunteer must commit to becoming a good listener. Julie Grossman is a Contact of Mercer board member who joined the organization six years ago. She had recently retired from a career in nursing, and wanted to find some volunteer work that would “feed her soul.” She found Contact by googling “volunteer opportunities near me.” “I got, I think, 484 responses or something, and I started to read through them and four stood out to me, one of them being Contact,” The Hopewell resident says. “I liked the idea of learn-

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ing to listen better, because I feel that’s really important. I kind of wish I had listened better when I was a nurse.” She says picking up these new listening skills was difficult — at first. “As a nurse, I want to fix people who come in with a problem, I want to tell them what they need to do. I had to unlearn that natural response inside of me,” she says. “I had to really listen to what the person was saying.” Grossman says that active listening encourages listeners to let go of their judgmental tendencies. “What the training really did was make me let go of all my feelings and my judgments and my way of thinking, and I found that honestly it was the most rewarding work that I’ve ever done in my life,” she says. *** Around 10 years ago, Letcher says, Contact centers across the U.S. started noticing a decline in the number of calls that they received from young people. In response, many started up crisis chat programs (crisischat.org), by which people could communicate with someone by phone or computer. Today, Contact of Mercer volunteers participate in crisis chats as well as telephone hotline calls. “Our chat visitors can be very young, like 11,” Letcher says. “Probably 70% of our chat visitors are teens or in their early 20’s, although they are getting older because now more people are comfortable chatting or using technology. But at the beginning, almost all the people in the chat pro-

gram were young.” In 1978, the organization also began offering another program, a telephone reassurance program. It’s a free daily outreach service for senior citizens who live alone. Anyone 60 and older who lives in Mercer County can sign up for the free service. The program is staffed by a separate group of volunteers from the hotline and crisis chat staff. Letcher says Contact volunteers currently call about 35 people every day, although they have the resources to call even more. The calls are typically general well-being checks, although sometimes volunteers are able to determine that a client in the reassurance program is in distress. Over the years, volunteers have identified clients who have fallen or who have had a medical emergency, and have been able to get those people the help that they need. “Our volunteers have one or two clients, and they call them every day at the same time,” Letcher says. “It’s a few minutes of conversation, but it’s also a safety check.” Letcher estimates that Contact of Mercer has around 200 volunteers — 100 who are active in the hotline and crisis chat programs, 40 or so who

volunteers with the reassurance program, and around 50 more who are not as active. Grossman is one the people training new Contact volunteers. “I train because I believe in it and I find that the people who want to do that, there’s something inside of them that wants to improve the emotional climate in the world,” she says. “Really, we don’t have to agree at all with the person that’s on the other end of the line. All we have to do is hear them. What could be easier? It’s a gift we all have.” She admits that she was not at all familiar with Contact before she started volunteering with the organization. “When I found out that it had been going on all that time, I was amazed, like, ‘How come I don’t know about this?’” she says. *** One way that Contact has gotten the word out about its services is by getting more involved on college campuses, training students to learn how to help other students. In 2015, Contact became a campus club at Princeton University. Last year, the organization established another club at The College Of New Jersey. Letcher hopes many more colleges get on board in the coming years.

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“If we could spread this type of training to other campuses, that would be such a benefit, because the students are so interested, and many of them are going on to medical school or social work or other types of services,” she says. “But in any walk of life, you benefit from active listening and you benefit from learning about mental health. It gives people an opportunity to talk about acceptance and honesty and confidentiality and concern and compassion and connectedness.” Contact had around 80 people in training on the campuses in the spring, when the coronavirus pandemic led both schools to send students home for the rest of the semester. Eventually they re-established the training program through Zoom, and around half of the students went on to complete their training online. When it became apparent that campuses were not going to reopen for the fall semester, Contact set things up so that training for college club members would be conducted online from the start. If Letcher was worried that this would negatively affect participation, she need not have been. About 140 people signed up for fall Zoom training at the two schools. Contact of Mercer has moved its noncampus training online as well. Training is open to anyone 18 years old or older who is out of high school. The next training sessions will begin in January, and prospective volunteers will be able to register online at contactofmercer.org.

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ABEL continued from Page 1 weight exercises. Anything I could.” It has paid off this season as Abel came out on fire. He rushed for 221 yards and 2 touchdowns in an opening-day win over Hopewell; and followed with 130 yards and a TD in a loss to Nottingham. “He was right there last year,” coach Matt Dalessio said. “He had some nagging injuries all year and then the concussion. Obviously he feels a little more pressure because it’s his senior year and he has a little more on his back; and he’s shown more leadership. But it’s the same kid, same skill, just elevated a little bit.” After his early explosions, it stood to reason teams would begin to key on Abel. He was “held” to 79 yards in a Week 3 win over Steinert, but did manage two more touchdowns. And with the Spartans watching out for the running back, quarterback Tariq McKinney had a career day, throwing for 165 yards and two touchdowns and running for another TD. “He really opens up our passing game,” McKinney said. “They always expect him to get the ball on play action. He’s a big part of our offense, both passing and rushing. They gotta adjust to him, and we just go over the top.” While Abel has sprouted from his diminutive frame of childhood, he still stands below 6-feet. But he has chiseled out a powerfully strong body that combines speed with strength. “He’s a state-caliber track kid, so we know he’s fast,” Dalessio said. “He’s also tough and he’s the strongest kid on the team. He’ll out-bench anybody, he’ll out-squat anybody. When he can’t get in that weight room he’s upset about it. He lives in there. It was tough for him when he was in quarantine but he has his way of getting his workouts in there. He’s just strong, a real ball of athleticism and fury.” Abel enjoys putting that power to use as a runner, wishing to dole out as much punishment as he receives. “I feel like I’m very physical,” he said. “I think people see my size and think I’m not gonna hit them, and then, bam! And they’re like “Oh!”’ After his career as a lineman, Abel wanted to see what he was capable of

elsewhere on the field thanks to his expanded size. In ninth grade, he took an interest in running back and found his position. “Freshman year I dominated (on the freshman team),” Abel said. “The second year, it was the same thing with JV. They started moving me up to varsity toward the end of the year.” Abel got into four games and ran for a respectable 183 yards. Last year he was the featured back on a young team and continued to gain an understanding of the position’s nuances. “I had to learn vision and patience,” he said. “Patience was probably the biggest thing I had to learn. That’s really been the thing this year, letting the blocks develop.” When the blocks aren’t there, he still keeps plugging. “If there’s nothing there, I tried to do my best to turn nothing into something,” he said. “You gotta do anything possible.” In assessing Abel’s talent, Dalessio feels he possesses the full package, which has helped him gain attention from Central Michigan and Ithaca. “He has good vision and he’s not afraid,” the coach said. “He’s gonna look for a lane anywhere and put his foot down and go. He’s not afraid to put his shoulder down to get through anybody or to get around anybody. He puts it all together. He has everything you need to be a good runner.” He also puts in the time looking at film, saying “All I do is watch highlights, break it down, see what I can improve on.” There is one thing he knows he wants to improve on. “I want to be more of a receiving threat and be vertical down the field,” said Abel, who was actually tied with Tyreek Rollins for the team lead with five receptions through three games. And if there is one thing he would like to re-live from his past, it would be getting back in the trenches. But only on one side of the ball. “I could play a little bit of line,” he said. “It was fun up there. I want to play some d-line. Do some dee-ing again.” And why not. It’s always more fun tackling people when you’re bigger than two feet and fat.

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14Ewing Observer | November 2020

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Senior Healthcare Personalized high quality care, safety, security, expert staffing, kindness and love are all the things our clients, residents, and families love about Greenwood House the most! But don’t take our word for it. Hear it straight from them. Visit our website and read the many letters of thanks and appreciation @ GreenwoodHouse.org/testimonials.

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November 2020 | Ewing Observer15

Democrats: we are focused on quality of life for residents Three Democratic council members—council president Jennifer KeyesMaloney, council vice president David J. Schroth, and Kevin Baxter — are running for re-election this year, unopposed by any Republican candidates. In lieu of the Observer’s usual election coverage, we have asked the Democrats to make a statement on their record and their future promises to voters. Over the last four years, we have worked diligently to ensure Ewing is on sound fiscal ground, pursued smart economic growth, focused on ensuring public safety and continually sought to invest in Ewing’s future. Sound ﬁscal management. Along with Mayor Steinmann and our fellow Council Members, we have pursued fiscal policies that seek to ensure Ewing is on sound financial footing, and the results are apparent! Ewing can now boast a AA+ bond rating, which allows us to bond efficiently and cheaply; and the state recognizes our fiscal integrity, allowing us to self-assess our budgets—a benefit only conferred on towns that have their ‘fiscal house’ in order. While Covid-19 has put a strain on township finances, and the coming year will be economically trying, our focus over the last several years on maintaining an appropriate surplus will help us withstand some of the harshest financial effects Covid-19 could have on our ability to provide

Keyes-Maloney

Baxter

continued services to our residents. Our focus is not just on fiscal management. It is essential to focus on quality of life of our residents. It is why we have continually invest in our parks, community centers and our neighborhoods. If given an opportunity to continue to serve, we will strive to ensure our residents have ready access to the services they deserve — whether that be leaf and brush pickup, street cleaning and plowing, road improvements or community programming. Smart economic growth. Ewing’s approach as it relates to economic development must consider current community needs, long-term trends, and an examination of what makes Ewing an amazing community. Because of our access to highway, air

Schroth

and rail, and the availability of skilled labor, Ewing is a great place to grow your family and build your business. Over the last four years, we’ve carefully used our land use authority to advance projects, whether that be a small business seeking to put out a shingle, a large scale employer who has decided to make Ewing their home, or developers who seek to create new living spaces for our friends and neighbors. By planning for growth, we can support development as it occurs. This includes working with the school board, The College of New Jersey, and the county to ensure we work collaboratively to move Ewing forward. We are proud of the projects that are complete, those that are underway and those on the drawing board.

A commitment to public safety. We are committed to ensuring our residents can count on a response they deserve in an emergency. We have focused on ensuring we have sufficient police, fire and EMS personnel on staff, who receive appropriate training, and who possess the resources they need to do their jobs. We’ve also looked to support our fire volunteers, who provide invaluable support. In recent years, we’ve also helped foster community policing initiatives to further breakdown the barriers between the community and our first responders, and ensure that critical dialogue occurs. Investment in Ewing’s future. Finally, whether focused on our seniors, our youth, or everyone inbetween, we believe that we must invest in our citizens through services and programs. From rabies and flu shots, to senior events and rec programs, Ewing has a lot to offer and we are proud of what we have done to ensure that we have something for you, whether you are 7, 17 or 77. But our primary focus is always on the core mission of municipal government: ensuring our citizens receive value for their taxes. We will continue to work with the same passion and diligence tomorrow as we have for these past 8 years. Thank you for your support, and we ask for vote on Nov. 3.

Llionel W. Henderson, a 13 Year resident of Ewing and a 22 year resident of the Greater Trenton area, is the Superintendent of the New Jersey Training School, operated within the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission overseen by the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office Department of Law and Public Safety. He has perfected well over 30 years of management and leadership, honed in the art of correctional operations. He believes that education is now and shall always be “THE GREAT EQUALIZER!” He and his family; Wife Elyse, and their sons; Shiloh, Elon and Miles live in the Mountain View community of Ewing, surrounded by “true neighbors. “ “The Twins” are Lore Lions and their big brother is 2016 Graduate of North Carolina A&T State University “AGGIE PRIDE!” Born and raised in Wilmington Delaware, Llionel was recruited to run the Mercer County Youth Detention Center, where he was the Superintendent under the administrations of County Executives Robert Prunetti and Brian M. Hughes respectively. Henderson has proudly served the community as an assistant coach in the Ewing Little League, Trenton First Tee Program and the Ewing Recreational Basketball League. He is a Proud, 37 year Member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated and an active member of Lambda Lambda Sigma Chapter serving the Greater Trenton Area. He is a member of Shiloh Baptist Church in Trenton. As a first time candidate, he has been inspired to run by his observation of the teachers that impact and touch the lives of his children. As a corrections administrator he has seen the results of school systems that were not able to educate the toughest of our community. A life learner he has turned to the many facets possessed as an Administrator to attain better outcomes. “The Growth Mindset,” makes him a firm believer that it is not always about the outcome, but always about the effort! Llionel believes that if elected, you will have a community minded, champion for children and families. A balance individual that believes that believes in the importance of diversity. He acknowledges the evidence that supports the importance of diversity when seeking the best outcomes. He is a leader steeped by day to day operational experience, both at home and in the office. He makes clear operational decisions involving coordinating and mobilizing during a pandemic. He believes that if the community is going to be successful during these challenging times, there must be stronger relationships and coalitions. FAMILY. COMMUNITY. ADMINISTRATION.

Ewing School Board 16Ewing Observer | November 2020

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November 2020 | Ewing Observerï&#x20AC;¼17

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Dr. Patel received his medical degree at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and completed his rheumatology fellowship at North Shore Long Island Jewish Medical Center, part of Northwell Health/Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra University in Great Neck, New York. He is fluent in English and Gujarati (and conversant in Hindi and Spanish). Dr. Khawaja received her medical degree at West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her fellowship training in rheumatology at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., during which time she also provided care for patients at the Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The team at Capital Health – Rheumatology Specialists diagnoses and treats complex autoimmune conditions, providing personalized care plans tailored to each patient.

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I am in no way making light of this terrible pandemic, trust me. You’d be hard pressed to find anyone who is as afraid of contracting Covid as I am, because I am considered high risk. I am extremely sad at the amount of people we’ve lost to this virus, and I rejoice for the people who have recovered. I’m not sure what things will be like in a year, but for now, I’m going to tell you how I spent my quarantine time. On March 13, the church where I work closed down for an indefinite amount of time due to the pandemic. So George and I (mostly George) set up a home office for me, which consists of a 6-foot long folding table, a trash can, a new printer/scanner, and papers everywhere. It’s located in our son Georgie’s old bedroom, which is supposed to be George’s man-cave. Yeah, not so much. I have to mention that I have now taken over two rooms in our house. One is my “home office.” The second is my craft room. Neither is neat. Neither is organized. Neither are rooms where anyone else would want to spend time in. The craft room—honestly, there’s no room for anyone else

besides me and our two dogs. So now I’ve been working in my “home office” for what? Seven months? In the beginning, I was doing my hair, putting on makeup, and wearing decent clothing for work at home. That lasted 5 minutes. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not slovenly. I still wash my hair, take showers, wear clean clothes, use deodorant. But my biggest decision is what top to wear that will match the day’s pajama bottoms. In the summer, it was more difficult. I wore either denim shorts, a pair of stretched-out, paint-splattered navy blue cotton shorts, or a truly hideous pair of tan cotton shorts that reached my knees. Dilemma: my summer tops are either appropriate for work (meaning they’re nice), or they are appropriate for painting the house. Nothing in between. We have weekly staff meetings. On Zoom. That in itself is a column for another day. But anyway, on staff meeting days, I try and make sure that I’m wearing a decent top and that my hair isn’t slicked back in what I call my “pandemic ponytail.” Not that my coworkers care. But I do. So, besides working from home, I’ve been doing a lot of crafting. Not during working hours, although the temptation is great at times. Luckily, pandemic impulse shopping is at an all-time high, so I’ve been kept busy

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filling orders from my Etsy shop. And let’s face it. Turning on network TV is always an adventure these days. With all the political nonsense and daily ridiculousness, it’s like watching ongoing episodes of The Three Stooges, although there are a lot more stooges lately. I have binge-watched too many series and movies to count. Currently I am watching The West Wing and marveling at the fact that it took me 14 years to get into it. One would think that I’d take this opportunity to experiment with different dinners, or maybe bake, or create new recipes. And one would be wrong. I would rather get takeout every day of the week than cook. I’m not sure why. (I just remembered why: I hate cooking). And as far as baking goes, that’s a firm no. Baked goods are obtained at a bakery, not my oven. My husband George is a much better cook than I am. Or at least that’s what I tell him, to ensure continued home-cooked meals. Some people have taken online classes for enrichment. Some have stepped up their workouts. (George has done this. Lifting weights, walking. It’s irritating, and my refusal to feel guilty is exhausting). Some have learned a foreign language. Some have renovated their homes, reorganized their closets and drawers, sewn a ton of masks, done jigsaw puzzles, taken up meditation. Me? None of the above. In short, my quarantine has been work, craft, eat, sleep, Netflix, eat, hang out with George and the dogs, eat, text family and friends. Did I mention eat? Ilene Black has been a resident of Ewing for most of her life and lives across the street from her childhood home. She and her husband, George, have two sons, Georgie and Donnie.

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Greetings from Nagaland HELEN KULL EWING THEN & NOW

Nagaland, nearly 8,000 miles from Ewing, is a state in the far northeast of India, bordering on Myanmar (the former Burma) to the east, and south of the sprawling country of China. Wikipedia, the source of most of this information, describes it as a mountainous area, largely rural, and much of it covered with tropical or subtropical forests of bamboo, palms, and mahogany, among others. The rhododendron is the state flower, but there are also many other flowers, including countless varieties of orchids growing wild. There are many unique and unusual species of birds and animals living in its biologically diverse environment. It’s thought that centuries ago, tribes of nomads arrived in the Naga region from Mongolia, southeast Asia, and/or southwest China. Dozens of separate tribes in Nagaland still exist, each with its own language or dialect, so that most of them are unintelligible to another. However, with British colonization of India in the 19th century, English became the official language, and remains the official language of Naga-

land to this day. The Naga people and their tribes are a fiercely independent sort, and have never been content with being a part of India or Britain. Thus there has been a history of political disagreement and conflict in the tiny region. Traditional tribal self-rule often remains “unofficially” in place. And yet, despite this independence and tribal separatism, there are things that strongly unite these people. One is the devotion to their art and culture. Each tribe has its own preferred color palette and designs for weaving and making colorful necklaces and jewelry. Folk songs, stories and dances are widely shared and enjoyed. The Naga people — who once had headhunters among their ranks — are known as the “festival people” in India, and joyously celebrate life, the harvest and friendship during the many festivals they hold each year. Evidently, they like to party. Another uniting factor is their religion. Incredibly, according to Wikipedia, Nagaland is known to be “the most Baptist state in the world.”(!) Eighty-eight percent of Nagaland’s nearly 2 million people are Christian, and of those, the majority are Baptist, making it “more Baptist” than anywhere else in the world. Christianity arrived in the area in

the early 19th century, and the Baptists were some of the most active missionaries. They seem to have been very successful! And thus the reason for this month’s seemingly unusual topic of Nagaland. *** Mark Falzini of West Trenton, in his fascinating book, One Square Mile: A History of Trenton Junction, NJ, tells the story of a missionary couple, the Rev. S.A. Parrine and his wife. Mrs. Parrine was the daughter of Rev. and Mrs. M.T. Lamb of Grand Avenue in West Trenton, then known as Trenton Junction. The Parrines were missionaries in Nagaland, and, presumably, were in part responsible for strongly establishing the Baptist faith there. In December 1904, the Parrines returned to Trenton Junction, and brought home with them Eramo Shanjamo Jungi, a roughly 16-year-old native of the Lotha tribe of Nagaland. Shanjamo stayed here in New Jersey, living with the Lambs for a year, and attending school at the Trenton Junction school (now the brick building across from the railroad station). In doing so, he became the first Naga to come to the United States and receive a foreign education. It must

have been quite an experience for him! Shanjamo went on to attend two other schools in New Jersey, and eventually returned to Nagaland in 1908. He was ordained as a minister in the Baptist Church, established several churches in Nagaland, and continued to preach. He died in 1956, at the age of about 70 years. He is revered in his native land. But there’s more! We’ll learn the incredible follow-up to this story in next month’s column, thanks to the graciousness of Mark Falzini to share his work and knowledge. In the meantime, let’s all join the Nagas in celebrating the harvest and friendship as best we can this Thanksgiving. *** I’m most grateful to Mark Falzini for sharing material for this column from his book, One Square Mile. The book is available on Amazon and elsewhere, and makes a terrific holiday gift for those Ewing residents on your list! Share your story of Ewing history with Helen by emailing her at ewingthenandnow@gmail.com. Helen Kull is an adviser to the Ewing Township Historic Preservation Society.

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DON’T LET THE STATE TAKE YOUR ESTATE Kathleen Scott Chasar, Esq. Family and Elder Law Asset Protection

- Wills - Living Wills - Trusts - Power of Attorney - Divorce - Child Support - Real Estate Closing

(609) 882-2200 • 903 Parkway Avenue • Ewing, NJ 08618

Klgscottb@verizon.net

Otherwise, ask your healthcare Estate Planning Seminar. (609) 584-5900. Learn why estate planning is important provider if you could benefit from this with Justin Scott, elder care attorney. test. Registration required. Both virtual and EKG. Starting at age 65, have an in-person attendance available. 10 a.m. EKG annually, advises Dr. Santhanam. Creating YOU! (609) 584-5900. Kathi Szabo, EKGs measure the heart’s electrical life coach, shows how to bring your activity and can detect irregularities, dreams and desires to life. In person. Limited attendance. RWJ Hamilton Fitwhich can signal heart disease. ness & Wellness Center. 6:30 p.m. Men with a personal or family history of heart disease, diabetes or high Thursday, November 12 blood pressure should consider havSleepless in Hamilton! Causes, symptoms, ing an EKG starting at age 40. and treatment for insomnia discussed by To schedule an appointment with a Dr. Marcella M. Frank, board certified in Robert Wood Johnson University Hosinternal medicine, pulmonary diseases pital Hamilton primary care physician, and sleep medicine. In person. Limited call (855) 571-2500. class size. RWJ Hamilton Fitness & Well-

Ewing Dental Associates 177 Scotch Road ness Center. 6:30 p.m. Coming up this month(609)771-4111 at Tuesday, November 17 Swing Music. (609) 584-5900. Sing, dance, RWJUH-Hamilton or just listen with great music from the www.EwingDental.com swing era. Registration required. Both virMonday, NOVEMBER 2

Diabetes Made Simple! (609) 584-5900. Marguerite Billie O’Donnell, BSN, RN, Certified Diabetes Educator, RWJ Hamilton. Virtual class format. Call to register. 2 p.m.

Dr. LisaThursday, Yosevitz NOVEMBER 5 Medicare Update 2021. (609) 584-5900.

Learn about changes to your Medicare benefits from Mary McGeary, Director of the State Health Insurance Assistance Program. Virtual format. Call to register. 1:30 p.m.

tual and in person attendance available. In-person attendance limited. 10:30 a.m.

Thursday, November 19

Meet Your Better Health Program for VIPs 65+. (609) 584-5900. Explore the benefits of the Better Health Program at RWJ University Hospital Hamilton. Meet Dr. Sara Ali, geriatric and internal medicine and learn the benefits of geriatric medicine including managing chronic illness. Registration required. Virtual class format. 3 p.m. Navigating Transitions in Care: Elder Law Planning in NJ vs PA. (609) 584-5900. Scott Bloom, Esq. will discuss transition planning in NJ and PA, including Medicaid, Inheritance Tax and Estate Tax. In person. Limited class size. RWJ Hamilton Fitness & Wellness Center. 6 p.m.

New to the area? Looking for a new Dentist?

monday, November 9

Diabetes and Gratitude: A Perspective Shifter! (609) 584-5900. Marguerite Billie O’Donnell, BSN, RN, Certified Diabetes Educator, RWJ Hamilton. Virtual class format. Call to register. 2 p.m.

Schedule a Get-Acquainted visit at our office!

Tuesday, November 10

rvice Dr. Paul Goodman

Crossword Solutionsolution Puzzle is on Page 19

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OPEN 24 HOURS

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EWING

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Monday, November 23

Jersey Fresh Supper Club: Three Course Take Home Colorectal Kit. (609) 584-5900. Meal for Two. (609) 584-5900. Touch on Learn about colorectal cancer, types of classic flavors of the season. Roasted garscreening tests, and how to use a simlic & rosemary bisque, cauliflower steaks Hamilton/Ewing/Hopewell Crossword 11/20 ple take-home test to detect early colon with mushroom gravy, and a silken pumpcancer. In person. Attendance limited at kin tart. Virtual class format. 6:30 p.m. RWJ Hamilton Fitness & Wellness Center. 9:30 a.m.

R E D S

WE FEATURE A WASH DRY AND FOLD SERVICE FOR THOSE TOO BUSY TO DO THEIR OWN WASH. RELAX, WE’VE GOT IT HANDLED. WE HAVE THE LARGEST FACILITIES IN THE BUCKS/ MERCER AREA. THEY’RE BIG, THEY’RE BEAUTIFUL AND YOU’LL LOVE THEM.

Looking for a new Dentist? Schedule a Get-Acquainted visit at our office!

PuzzleJunction.com

New to the area? Looking for a new Dentist? Schedule a Get-Acquainted visit at our office!

No Insurance? We can help! Ask us about our in house savings Ewing D 177 S plan! (60

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177 Scotch Road Dr. Paul Goodman (609)771-4111 www.EwingDental.com November 2020 | Ewing Observer23

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