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Dumont sets the pace for HoVal cross country Sophomore, never beaten in dual meets this season, was a key member of a strong squad By RiCH FisHer

Paige Dumont is only a sophomore, but was able to sum up the 2020 New Jersey cross country landscape in a wise and maturely succinct manner. “This season was definitely weird,” the Hopewell Valley Central High School runner said. Indeed it was, with COVID19 leaving its ugly imprint in so many ways. But Dumont didn’t let weird get in her way as she enjoyed an outstanding campaign by going undefeated in the Bulldogs dual meets and finishing second in the NJSIAA Group III Central sectional meet. That was as far as runners could go this year, as state meets and the Meet of Champions were not run. “I was disappointed about that, not just for myself, but for my whole team,” Dumont said. “Although last year I ran at states (as an individual), as a team we narrowly missed qualifying. This year we could have run together, which would have been such an exciting experience.” The Bulldogs would have advanced as a team this year as they took second in sectionals thanks to Dumont, Dorothy Wong (10th), Mia

Vaughn (11th), Katie Rowe (13th), Elizabeth Chandler (20th) and Sophia Venezia (21st). Asked if Dumont could have advanced to the TOC as an individual, Bulldogs assistant coach Aaron Oldfield said, “That’s a good question. We didn’t get to race outside the CVC this year. No invitationals, no county meet. With her only being a sophomore and lacking some experience, who knows? Anything is possible. I would think she would have had a shot. I don’t think it would be a slam dunk but she’d have a shot.” Dumont finished with a time of 20:01 at sectionals, which was over a minute behind Lilly Shapiro, and 18 seconds ahead of Kavita Shah (both of Colts Neck). Despite the high finish, both Oldfield and Dumont felt Paige’s inexperience showed in the race. “She pretty much goes right from the gun and tries to control the race,” said Oldfield, who assists head coach Karen Walker. “She probably went out a little too hard at sectionals. As you run against more elite, experienced girls you gotta save something for the end. “ The coach will get no argument from Dumont. “I completely agree,” she said. “Coach Oldfield and coach Walker often talk to me about the importance of strategy and this is definitely something I need to work on. I have good intentions of following through on a strategy and then I get out See PETERSON, Page 10

Ian Knauer and Shelley Wiseman of The Farm Cooking School had reasons to hope for a great 2020 when the pandemic changed everything. (Photo by Guy Ambrosino.)

After tough year, businesses hoping for more luck in ’21 By Joe Emanski

Business was booming at the Farm Cooking School as 2019 turned to 2020. Ian Knauer and Shelley Wiseman, the business partners and chefs behind the small Titusville business, were selling out most of the available slots in their cooking classes, six or seven times a week. They were the hosting several multicourse farm-totable dinners a week, and selling those out as well. After years spent working in kitchens and in food media, Knauer and Wiseman have spent the past six

years developing a following for their business. “We had had enough time to get established,” Knauer says. “It was a thing people were really into and enjoying, which was a super satisfying thing to see.” Hopewell Valley Vineyards is another small business success story. Owners Sergio and Violetta Neri have built up their small winery into a multifaceted enterprise where people go to taste locally made wines, eat wood-fired pizzas, celebrate milestones and even get married. But when the coronavirus pandemic erupted in March, these businesses and hun-

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dreds more throughout the area were forced to close. The impact on the bottom line was immediate — and startling. Sergio Neri says in March and April, the vineyard did 10% of the business it would normally do. The vineyard started offered curbside pickup for their wines, and packaged the food they usually served with wine to go as well. “It didn’t compare to before in terms of sales, but between that and some help from the government, we at least were able to keep the core people of our business employed,” Neri See BUSINESS, Page 6

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Mercer County Curbside Recycling Information All recyclables must be in official buckets and at the curb by 7:00 a.m. • NO ITEMS IN PLASTIC BAGS WILL BE COLLECTED

2021 MERCER COUNTY Curbside Recycling Schedule MONDAY Lawrence

TUESDAY Ewing

Princeton

July 12, 26 Aug. 9, 23 Sep. 11, 20 Oct. 4, 18 Nov. 1, 15, 29 Dec. 13, 27

Jan. 11, 25 Feb. 8, 22 Mar. 8, 22 Apr. 5, 19 May 3, 17 June 5,14, 28

Jan. 4, 18 Feb. 1, 15 Mar. 1, 15, 29 Apr. 12, 26 May 10, 24 June 7, 21

WEDNESDAY

July 5, 19 Aug. 2, 16, 30 Sep. 13, 27 Oct. 11, 25 Nov. 8, 22 Dec. 6, 20

Entire City of Trenton July 7, 21 Jan. 6, 20 Aug. 4, 18 Feb. 3, 17 Mar. 3, 17, 31 Sep. 1, 15, 29 Apr. 14, 28 Oct. 13, 27 May 12, 26 Nov. 10, 24 Dec. 8, 22 June 9, 23

Hamilton Zones 1 and 4 Jan. 13, 27 July 14, 28 Feb. 10, 24 Aug. 11, 25 Mar. 10, 24 Sep. 8, 22 Apr. 7, 21 Oct. 6, 20 May 5, 19 Nov. 3, 17 June 2, 16, 30 Dec. 1, 15, 29

FRIDAY

HOLIDAY COLLECTIONS

Hamilton Zone 3

Jan. 2,15, 29 Feb. 12, 26 Mar. 12, 26 Apr. 9, 23 May 7, 21 June 4, 18

If collection day falls on a holiday (Christmas, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day and Thanksgiving) collection will be the following SATURDAY.

July 2, 16, 30 Aug. 13, 27 Sep. 10, 24 Oct. 8, 22 Nov.5, 19 Dec. 3, 17, 31

Hopewell Township Hopewell Boro and Pennington

Jan. 12, 26 Feb. 9, 23 Mar. 9, 23 Apr. 6, 20 May 4, 18 June 1, 15, 29

July 13, 27 Aug. 10, 24 Sep. 7, 21 Oct. 5, 19 Nov. 2, 16, 30 Dec. 14, 28

THURSDAY

Hamilton Zone 2

Jan. 14, 28 Feb. 11, 25 Mar. 11, 25 Apr. 8, 22 May 6, 20 June 3, 17

July 1, 15, 29 Aug. 12, 26 Sep. 9, 23 Oct. 7, 21 Nov.4, 18 Dec. 2, 16, 30

July 6, 20 Aug. 3, 17, 31 Sep. 14, 28 Oct. 12, 26 Nov. 9, 23 Dec. 7, 21

Jan. 5, 19 Feb. 2, 16 Mar. 2, 16, 30 Apr. 13, 27 May 11, 25 June 8, 22 West Windsor

Jan. 7, 21 Feb. 4, 18 Mar. 4, 18 Apr. 1, 15, 29 May 13, 27 June 10, 24

SPECIAL RECYCLING EVENTS Household Hazardous Waste Collection and Electronics Recycling Events Dempster Fire School (350 Lawrence Station Road) March 27, June 05 and September 11 / 8AM - 2PM

July 8, 22 Aug. 5, 19 Sep. 2, 16, 30 Oct. 14, 28 Nov. 11, 27 Dec. 9, 23 OPEN TO ALL MERCER COUNTY RESIDENTS!

Document Shredding Events Lot 4/651 South Broad Street (across from Mercer County Administration Bldg.), April 10 and October 9 / 9AM - 12PM

Get the FREE ‘Recycle Coach’ APP!

NEVER MISS ANOTHER COLLECTION DAY! Scan the code for instant access to all your recycling needs! MUNICIPAL RECYCLING AND PUBLIC WORKS: Ewing / 882-3382 Hamilton / 890-3560 Hopewell Boro / 466-0168 Hopewell Twp / 537-0250 Lawrence Twp / 587-1894

Pennington Boro / 737-9440 Princeton / 688-2566 Trenton / 989-3151 West Windsor / 799-8370

East Windsor, Hightstown, Robbinsville: Call your Recycling / Public Works Office for your recycling schedule

Mercer County Participates in MERCER COUNTY

RECYCLES

SINGLE STREAM RECYCLING; ALL Recyclables EITHER Bucket! No more separation anxiety!

Mercer County Improvement Authority / 609-278-8086 / www.mcianj.org 2  Hopewell Express | January 2021

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Remembering Mark Nebbia ings. I hit the ball short and straight, and Mark hit it long and crooked. Not a great combo, to be honest, but we FROM THE EDITOR always had fun. Scrambles will not be the same without him. Mark was born in Hamilton, New Like most of my colleagues, I have been working from home most of the Jersey on May 31, 1961 to the late Leo time this year. On those rare days and Helen Nebbia. He has been a lifewhen I have gone into the office, I long resident of the area. He is a graduate of Steinert High have always been able to count on School and the College seeing Mark Nebbia, of New Jersey. A veteran our account executive in ad sales, he was a wellfor Ewing, Lawrence and loved member of the Trenton. Community News SerIn normal times Mark vice community. spent much of the workMark’s favorite thing day outside the office to do was being with his on sales calls, like any daughters. He enjoyed good account exec. The playing golf, watching pandemic has changed Yankee baseball, going everything, of course, to the movies, listening but Mark soldiered on, to comedy shows and doing whatever he could reading about military from his desk to help our history. He was a memadvertisers reach their Mark Nebbia ber of the Church of St. customers. The office is always quiet nowadays, Ann in Lawrence. He is survived by his wife Margueand mostly empty. But that emptiness is more profound than ever now that ritte Korenz Nebbia, his daughters we have lost Mark, who died on Nov. Leah-Michelle and Eva Nebbia, his brother Leo, sister-in-law Margarita, 28 at the age of 59. From the day he started at Commu- brother and sister-in-law Tom and nity News, Mark felt like an old friend. Ria Korenz, his nephew Matthew and That was a quality that served him nieces Lauren, Amanda and Rachel. well in a career spent in sales. As the office’s only two avid golf- Contact JOE EMANSKI: jemanski@comers, Mark and I were always drafted munitynews.org, (609) 396-1511, ext. 120. into foursomes for corporate golf out- facebook.com/HopewellExpress

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we are a newsroom of your neighbors. The Express is for local people, by local people. As part of the community, the Hopewell Express does more than just report the news—it connects businesses with their customers, organizations with their members and neighbors with one another. As such, our staﬀ sets out to make our region a closer place by giving readers a reliable source to turn to when they want to know what’s going on in their neighborhood. EDITOR Joe Emanski (Ext. 120) CONTRIBUTING WRITER Rich Fisher AD LAYOUT AND PRODUCTION Stacey Micallef

CO-PUBLISHER Tom Valeri

MANAGING EDITOR, COMMUNITY DIVISION Rob Anthes MANAGING EDITOR, METRO DIVISION Sara Hastings

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Thomas Fritts PRODUCTION MANAGER Stacey Micallef DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL INITIATIVES Joe Emanski

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News: news@communitynews.org Events: events@communitynews.org Sports: sports@communitynews.org Letters: jemanski@communitynews.org

11,000 copies of the Hopewell Express are mailed or bulk-distributed to the residences and businesses of Pennington, Hopewell Township and Hopewell Borough 12 times a year.

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visiting PennMedicine.org/Becker Same or day appointments available! Schedule your appointment by calling 609.436.5740 or visiting PennMedicine.org/Becker

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PEAC Health & Fitness permanently closed its doors at on Nov. 29, 2020 after 24 years in business. The facility on Lower Ferry Road in Ewing featured a wide variety of fitness equipment for members’ use as well as extensive facilities for fitness classes and organized sports. Owner Michael Briehler sent a letter to members on Nov. 11 explaining the decision to close. “Unfortunately, like many other fitness centers and businesses, PEAC has been greatly affected by the extended New Jersey mandatory closure and further impacted by the imposed regulations for our reopening. These state regulations have restricted us from offering a majority

of our services, programs, events and amenities making it impossible for us to operate adequately and successfully,” reads the letter. While Gov. Phil Murphy’s executive orders have allowed gyms and fitness centers to remain open during the pandemic, the orders have restricted occupancy to 25% and instituted other mandatory policies, including mask wearing and social distancing. Starting Dec. 5, organized indoor sports were prohibited due to the ongoing surge of Covid-19 cases in the state. Interestingly, the letter also acknowledges that at least some PEAC members have expressed that they may not feel comfortable even once gyms are able to be open with fewer restrictions. “Due to the current circumstances we understand and appreciate members’ apprehension in returning to PEAC,” the letter reads. “As a result we had to make this difficult and very emotional decision.” PEAC pledged that members would have no further account deductions made or payments collected after Nov. 29. Members who were entitled to refunds for prepaid training, massage therapy, court time, field rentals, programs, or paid membership fees extending past Dec. 1 can apply online for refunds at peachealthfitness.com. The fitness center held a liquidation auction in mid-December to unload its fitness equipment. PEAC has continued to maintain its Facebook page (facebook.com/ PEACHealthFitness) with updates including alternative facilities members can patrnoize in the area, including Schafer Sports Center in Ewing.

County buys Hopewell Valley Country Club

The County of Mercer and the Mercer County Park Commission have completed the acquisition of the Hopewell Valley Golf Club. This 186acre, 18-hole course includes a clubhouse, ballroom and pro shop along with additional offerings and amenities that will be a first for the park commission. Hopewell Valley Golf Club, located on 114 Hopewell-Pennington Road in Hopewell, will become the fifth golf course to be operated by the Mercer County Park Commission. The others are Mountain View Golf Club in Ewing, Princeton Country Club in West Windsor, and Mercer Oaks East and West courses, located together in Mercer County Park. The formerly private golf club opened in 1927 with a course designed by Thomas Winton. The clubhouse features a patio overlooking the 18th green, indoor dining and a full-service bar, which will be open to the public once the facility is operational.

4  Hopewell Express | January 2021

An exercise class at PEAC Health and Fitness, which closed permanently in November, citing difficulties arising because of the Covid-19 pandemic. (Facebook photo).

“This latest acquisition furthers our commitment to protect Mercer County open space, and successes on this scale are the result of years of behind-the-scenes collaborative efforts of our planning department, led by director Leslie Floyd, and the Mercer County Park Commission, led by executive director Aaron T. Watson,” said Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes in a media release. Visitors will also have the option to play tennis at the facility with the addition of three Har-Tru outdoor tennis courts and three platform tennis courts. In a first for the park commission, the club also has a pool, which the county says will be open in the summer months. “The addition of a pool gives us the opportunity to provide something new and exciting in the county, and opens the door to new programs and events at this location,” Watson said in the release. Hopewell Valley Golf Club, located on Pennington-Hopewell Road, is currently closed to the public. Over the winter months the property will remain closed as employees and contractors begin work on the buildings, greens and courts. The park commission anticipates opening the facility in spring 2021 for golf, food and beverage. Tennis courts and the pool will be open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Currently, most, but not all, county parks and facilities are open in accordance with Gov. Phil Murphy’s executive order. The county says that given the restrictions of Covid-19, some of the offerings listed at the Hopewell Valley Golf Club may be altered with state requirements, social distancing guidelines and capacity limitations.

SUPPORT COUNSELING

FOR COVID-19 FRONT-LINE WORKERS Through a statewide partnership, Capital Health is addressing the immediate emotional needs of all health care workers and emergency medical services personnel who have been on the front-line of the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes: … Individual supportive counseling and assessment … Virtual support groups … Mindfulness-based stress relief techniques … Referrals to mental health and substance abuse disorder treatment, if needed. If you or anyone you know needs to speak with someone, please call our helpline (Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.):

609.303.4129 This program is a Crisis Counseling Program (CCP) brought to you by NJ Hope and Healing and Capital Health, in collaboration with the New Jersey Department of Human Services’ Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Disaster and Terrorism Branch, through a FEMA grant.

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Dine-In • Take-Out • Catering Available We are available for Off-premise Catering Events, Private Homes & Public Places. Hours: Mon-Thurs: 11:30am-3pm • 4:30pm-9:30pm Fri: 11:30am-3pm • 4:30pm-10:30pm Sat: 2pm-10:30pm • Sun: 3pm-9:30pm Hopewell Valley Vineyards after a recent snowfall. (Facebook photo.)

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BUSINESS continued from Page 1 says. “We are a small business, not a big corporation. We dont just lay off a million people and move on. We care for our people. We told them we’d do what we can to keep them to employed until better times.” Unable to welcome students to their rustic classroom at Gravity Hill Farm in Titusville, Knauer and Wiseman had to figure out new ways to bring in revenue. Knauer says they were among the first local businesses to offer meals-to-go. “Right out of the gate, that was super successful, because other restaurants were shut down,” he says. “But then other places started to open, that dwindled off to the point that it wasn’t worth doing anymore, and we had to pivot the business again.” As 2020 turns to 2021, Knauer and Neri still find themselves waiting for better times to arrive. “Like so many other businesses, especially in the food industry, we’ve had to do whatever we can just to keep the lights on,” Knauer says. “But small business owners are resilient, and it really helps to be resilient at times like these.” *** For Knauer and Wiseman, the second pivot was to start offering their

classes online. As with the food-to-go, the program was initially successful. “A lot of the people who had been signing up to do in-person courses were happy to do a class on Zoom,” Knauer says. “We had some success with that for another month and a half. Then people started to get Zoom fatigue, understandably, and that also started to be less popular.” In summer, when Covid-19 finally hit its little lull and businesses were able to welcome customers again, the Farm Cooking School got back to its core purpose. They reopened the school, observing social distancing guidelines of course, and once again there was an increase in business. “That was very successful for two months because everyone had cabin fever,” Knauer says. “Through August, September, October, it was warm enough to where we could still eat meals outside, and a lot of the cooking could be done outside as well. With everything, we were being as safe as we could,” Knauer says. Summer also offered a welcome respite for Hopewell Valley Vineyards. Neri says business was actually pretty good during the warm months. The vineyard offers wide open spaces with plenty of room for social distancing. The vineyard hosted live music out-

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Chef Shelley Wiseman teaching kids some baking techniques in a pre-pandemic photo. (Photo by Guy Ambrosino.) side all the way into November, and Neri says they served hundreds of customers on their best days. Then the weather got cold again. Neri says sales figures in December were back down to March-April type numbers. In a typical December, Hopewell Valley Vineyards hosts a number of private events in its spacious interior rooms. This December, there was not a single one. “Right now, people prefer to delay their events,” he says. “We have to hope that all the events that are not being done now, people will want to do in the summer, so we hope to recoup in the summer what we lose now.” The winery remains open to the public, and has even been hosting live music, but Neri says both guests and musicians have been cautious about eating indoors. “We’ve been making food to go and we have wine to go of course, so that’s how we’re trying to cope,” he says. “But these next couple of months are going to be very very rough until the spring comes and Covid is somehow under control.” At the Farm Cooking School, they are still hosting classes, both online and at the farm. Knauer and Wiseman teach many of the classes, but have also been incorporating other experts in various cuisines to present some classes, as a means of broadening their appeal. Recent classes have covered the cuisine of Malaysia, the cuisine of Sicily, and even the cuisine of Maine. And they are still hosting dinners, although capacity is limited now to eight guests. Knauer and Wiseman make all the dishes with the help of one assistant. Knauer says in a way, he enjoys these dinners more than ever. “Now that we’re cooking for eight people, we can really hit the gas pedal when it comes to creativity and details of each dish,” Knauer says. “And the people who are dining really appreciate that too. It’s not great for the business. But it’s great for the dinner.” He and Wiseman have continued to adapt and try out new things. One new initiative that they are offering is realtime, one-to-one cooking instruction.

Knauer says it was Wiseman’s idea to offer to coach students via Zoom as they try to make a recipe of their own choosing, or one that Wiseman or Knauer recommends. (For more information, go to thefarmcookingschool.com.) Despite all the challenges, these small business owners have not forgotten the communities they serve. Knauer is set to do a virtual cooking class fundraiser in January to benefit CASA, the nonprofit agency that works in the courts on behalf of children who have been removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect. (Date TBD: go to casamb.org for more details or to sign up.) And the Neris remain committed to PALS, or Pennington Adult Living Services — the nonprofit organization they started that provides services to people with learning disabilities — as well as PALS on Main, the shop that sells things made by PALS clients, which has also endured difficult times during the pandemic. (Web: palsnj.org) Even though business like these have survived, that survival has come at considerable cost. Neri says he’s reaching a point where he has to use personal funds to finance operations at the winery, and has had to lay off a lot of staff. Meanwhile the Farm Cooking School is down to just Knauer and Wiseman, until and unless things turn back around. “The long-term thing that scares me for places like us, or small restaurants, is that larger corporations and online retailers have all been doing great (during the pandemic), to the expense of the local businesses,” Neri says. “It’s sad that smaller businesses have been hit so much harder than the bigger ones.” Knauer speaks in similar terms. “The economic future of this is pretty scary,” he says. “And I think it will continue to be for a while. It’s really unfortunate. I love the people that I used to work with, and I miss them terribly. We’re still in touch, but we’re not making enough to pay anybody. And that’s the reality for many small businesses.”

January 2021 | Hopewell Express7

Hopewell native reaches quarterfinals of ‘Greatest Baker’ contest Interview by Joe Emanski

Last year from October through December, aspiring kitchen stars from across the nation competed in the Greatest Baker contest, an online challenge sponsored by Stuffed Puffs chocolate-filled marshmallows. Bakers take part in the annual contest by posting their latest culinary creations to social media and encouraging supporters to vote for them on the Greatest Baker website (greatestbaker.com). If competitors garnered enough votes, they progressed through the stages of the contest up to the finals. The grand prize was $10,000 plus a year’s supply of Stuffed Puffs. Hopewell native Rebecca Kahme, 29, was one baker who participated in this year’s contest. Though she did not win, Kahme did reach the quarterfinals. Kahme says she became interested in baking when she was in middle school. When she was a senior at Hopewell Valley Central High School, CHS, she also attended Mercer County Technical School twice a week, participating in their professional cooking program. After graduation, Kahme attended Johnson and Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, initially entering their baking and pastry program. A

Rebecca Kahme (right) competed online this year in the Greatest Baker contest sponsored by Stuffed Puffs. Treats that she made for the contest included desserts like mini mixed berry galettes (above). nut allergy made baking labs very difficult, though, and she switched to the restaurant, food and beverage management program. But she never lost her love for baking. Today, Kahme lives in New York, where she has been a catering and events supervisor for Allen & Overy LLP for almost 5 years. She answered some questions about the experience for the Hopewell Express via email.

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Her answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity. Hopewell Express: When did you first become interested in baking? Rebecca Kahme: I grew up watching Rachael Ray when I got home from middle and high school. I could watch for hours, and knew that I wanted to be her when I grew up. One of my favorite classes in grade school was home economics. I felt myself being one of the only students who actually took it seriously. My love of sugar and everything sweet drew me more to baking brownies, cookies and all my friends cupcakes for their birthdays. HE: What made you decide to enter the Greatest Baker competition this year? RK: It one of my mom (Heidi’s) friends that started following my baking Instagram who told me about the competition. At first I was very intimidated, and thought I wasn’t good enough to participate but that soon faded, realizing I had nothing to lose. I think it helped that I only had a week or so notice before the competition began, so I didn’t have time to back out. HE: What was it like to take part in the competition? RK: We were put in 50-60 person groups. Each week they cut down the group from 50-60 to the top 10, top 5, and then first place of each group went to the quarter finals. I calculated that it and it was around 16,000 people who entered. There were free daily votes and donations that people could give that benefited No Kid Hungry. People could donate any amount of money and each dollar counted as a vote. I posted on my Instagram, my Facebook, Hopewell pennington update page, Johnson & Wales alumni page and my sorority page. I reached out to everyone I knew for their support, because people were very talented

and I knew I needed to reach as much people are possible so I could get the most votes. I made marketing cards with a QR code people could scan that would bring them to the page to vote. I passed some out in the city and my mom did the same around Pennington. The response I got was way more than I ever could have imagined. I ended up connecting with people that I haven’t spoken to in a while who said they were voting every day. I felt like I had an obligation to everyone that was voting for me to win that drove me to do whatever it takes. I was nervous, anxious but also really excited because I actually had a chance to win. All I could think about was this competition and how I could secure my spot to 1st to make it to the quarterfinals. After I made it to the quarterfinals, I was in a very competitive group that were all superstars. I tried my very best to keep the morale going, but I wasn’t able to finish at the top of that group. I thought I would have been more disappointed in myself for not making it to the semifinals. I think to make it as far as I did said a lot. This experience was unbelievable, and seeing the number of people who believed in me has done so much for my confidence not only in the competition, but now as well. I tried out for for the Fox television show MasterChef in 2018 and 2019. I made it through until the cuts in L.A. Through that experience I learned instead of kicking myself and being disappointed, I should appreciate my success. I look forward to doing more competitions like this in the future. HE: What’s your favorite thing to bake right now? RK: There are these 36-hour brown butter toffee chocolate chip cookies sprinkled with flaked sea salt, recipe from tasty. A regular chocolate chip cookie will never be the same. During the holidays I usually bake upwards of 500 holiday cookies, 6 different types. I am always searching in something I’ve never made before love to challenge myself. HE: Where do you go from here as a baker? RK: I created a baking Instagram page called Bake Like Becca back in March, highlighting all of the desserts I bake on a weekly basis. I want to create more of a following on my page so I can start working with brands and creating content for them. My long-term goal has always been to have my own show on Food Network and be the next Rachael Ray. But getting back to reality, I am working on packaging so I can start selling my desserts. I have been taking special orders for birthday cupcakes, cookie cakes and holiday cookies. I hope to be able to do this full time in a couple of years.

CROSSWORD

Community News Service - Hamilton/Ewing/Hopewell Crossword - 1/21

Across 1 5 9 12 13 14 15 16 17 19 21 23 24 25 27 29 31 33 34 35 36 37 40 42 43 47 48 49 50 52 54

Chess ending Plumb crazy “Tarzan” extra Mideast hot spot Unappetizing food Calif. airport Bye word ___-pointe (ballet position) Ancient Andean Right-leaning? Rotated Lance Checkers color Debate position Middle Eastern domain Coastal raptors Jewish calendar month Clarified butters Old World duck Be sick Out in front Firebugs Get clean “That’s ___!” Condo, e.g. Questionable Cantatrice’s offering Kind of lily Tackle Antenna holder Safari sight

12 15 19 25

37 40

9 14 17

21 26

22 27

48 52 57 62

51 56 61

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53 58

54 59

55 Mangy mutt 56 Continental currency 58 12th President of the United States 60 Dubai dignitary 62 In perfect condition 64 Equals 65 Tokyo, once 66 Insurable item 67 Tempo 68 After expenses 69 Kind of alert 70 ___ and sciences Down 1 Test type

2 Daughter of King Minos 3 Old Chinese money 4 Outfit 5 Hallucinogen letters 6 Corrida cries 7 Force 8 Poppy product 9 ___ Baba 10 Hypothetical continent 11 Energized 15 Buenos ___ 18 Forever and a day 20 Fold 22 Dusk to dawn 26 Hodgepodge 28 Kind of monkey 30 Wrap

32 Of an arm bone 36 Not on the level 38 Limerick 39 Pelvic parts 40 Pitch or tar, e.g. 41 On a horse, e.g. 44 Dereliction 45 Brushes aside 46 Travel options 47 Confront 48 Courtyard open to the sky 51 Cougars 53 Paperlike cloth 57 “I’m ___ your tricks!” 59 Orbital period 61 Go bad 63 Dress, maybe

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DUMONT cont. from Page 1 there and the only thing I can think about is running my hardest. “I didn’t run the race I had wanted at sectionals and went out a little too hard in the beginning — maybe I need to work on that strategy thing! So, because of that, the second half of the race was a little harder on me.” The season in general was anything but hard as far as enjoyment went. Dumont entered the season wanting to break 20 minutes, and by the fourth meet she hit 19 flat. That made her anxious to crack 19 and “although that didn’t happen this year, I am ready to work hard and hopefully make that happen next year.” “I am very happy with the season I had, given all the uncertainties,” she added. “It was also fun and challenging to learn a new home course this year. Our team in general performed very well, and I am excited not only about my own performance but how well my teammates did.” Dumont showed indications of her capabilities as a freshman. She was the top Bulldog finisher in the Mercer County meet, running a 20:49 for 21st place. She took 11th in the CJ III sectionals in 20:32, and finished 73rd out of 144 with a 20:42 at difficult Holmdel Park. “She came in as a mature runner,” Oldfield said. “We knew of her since her brother ran for us, and we knew she’d be an asset right away. She’s no-nonsense, mature, responsible. She kind of fits that typical cross country/distance runner mode. They will do everything that’s asked of them. “

Dumont is already a veteran harrier, following in the footsteps of older brother Alex. She joined Timberlane’s cross country team in sixth grade at the urging of her parents, who felt the sport would keep their daughter active and allow her to meet new people “I played sports nonstop: basketball, lacrosse, soccer,” she said. “I watched my brother’s passion for running through middle school and high school, which led me to want to do the same.” In the spring, she plays lacrosse, which was the reason she first started running in high school. “I used to think of cross country as something that kept me in shape for lacrosse, but now it has developed into a sport I love,” Dumont said. “Freshman year I fell in love with my team and coaches and decided to continue running with winter track. Running is the activity I look forward to at the end of a long school day because it allows me to unwind and connect with my teammates.” It is something her whole family enjoys. During the summer they all participate in the Linda Creed Breast Cancer Run in the Poconos. “I love distance running because it’s about stamina — who can endure the pain the longest is also a big part of it,” Dumont said with a laugh. “I am super competitive and come from a competitive family, so I love going into a race with an eye on who I am going to try and stay with, or be in front of. In general, I love the outdoors and running and training allows me to spend more time right where I love to be.” Sophomore Paige Dumont and her teammates had a great season And the Bulldogs love having her there. for the Hopewell Valley Central High School cross-country team.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Lisa Wolff’s Nature in the Valley column will return in February. Starting next month, The Hopewell Express will also welcome a new regular column from Hopewell Township.

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Crossword Solution Solution Puzzle is on Page 9

A I R E S

M I D T E R M

A R I A D N E

T A E L

S W A B A T F I S H A T T E C U R E M I R E D O N E T

E L Q S U D I C P R O E L A I R S O H E Y A M P T E U R M I A U S M

O L E S

C O M P E U L L N I A L R I A O N T T O O G

O A P L I I U N M I R G H A H E S T S L U A S N T T A Y P E P A A R

P A N G A E A

E X C I T E D

N E G L E C T

I G N O R E S

A G E S

T O U R S

Songs Songs T That hat Will WillÂ Make Make Cas Cassettes ssettes and 8-Tracks 8-Tracks Popular Popular Again! Again! and

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January 2021 | Hopewell Expressď&#x20AC;ź11

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12 ď&#x20AC;ź Hopewell Express | January 2021