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Inside this issue:
SIX09
DECEMBER 2021
COMMUNITYNEWS.ORG
Turning citizens into leaders
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Daphne’s expands restaurant family into native Hamilton
County college program would help residents become more engaged in civic affairs
By Thomas Kelly
By ReBekah Schroeder
The United States is divided by numerous issues. People are increasingly at odds with each other, and the process of making important change is difficult, if not impossible. It is in this political climate that Mercer County Community College recently unveiled a multi-pronged program to combat the situation by educating citizens and empowering them to become leaders within their communities. The college has teamed up with The Citizens Campaign, a Metuchen-based nonprofit organization that works to ensure that discourse can be helpful, not harmful, and urges that people do not have to be elected officials or stop their advocacy at the ballot box. The group’s message is that anyone can fight to make a difference. One piece of the program is the establishment of a Citizen Leadership Center in partnership with The Citizens Campaign. The purpose of the center, which will be located See CIVICS, Page 19
Senior Living!
Richard Freeman, president and CEO of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, speaks at the Nov. 18, 2021 event held at the hospital to commemorate 50 years in the township. To Freeman’s right are Sen. Linda Greenstein, Jeff Sagnip of Rep. Chris Smith’s office, Hamilton councilman Rick Tighe, Hamilton Mayor Jeff Martin, councilman Anthony Carabelli and Diane Grillo, RWJUHH vice president of health promotion.
Their courage and compassion RWJ University Hospital ceremony inspire us all. marks 50 years in Hamilton
One morning, a message written in chalk appeared now known as Robert Wood staff, as well as local, county in front of an RWJBarnabas Health facility. The words Johnson University Hospital and state officials were in couldn’t have been simpler, or more soul stirring, Hamilton, invited township attendance for the ceremony Fifty years ago, in response or more fire accurate. and rescue squads to re- celebrating the occasion. to Hamilton Township’s grow-
By Joe Emanski
ing population, Trenton Gen- create that journey in a cer- Those who spoke included eral Hospital relocated from emony held at the hospital’s hospital president and chief executive officer Richard the capital city to its suburban main entrance. “Heroes Emergency vehicles and Freeman, hospital vice presineighbor, becoming Hamilton work here.” fire trucks rolled onto the now dent of health promotion Hospital in the process. On Nov. 15, 1971, ambu- 67-acre campus one after the Diane Grillo, and Mayor Jeff other and parked in the circle Martin. Nina Melker, a Merlances transported patients Three words of gratitude and encouragement that from Trenton General across outside the hospital’s main cer County Commissioner, capture the courage and compassion of health building — the only building chair of the RWJUH Hamilton the border to its new, 43-acre workers here and across America. To share your that stood on the site 50 years Foundation and vice chair of home at the corner of Klockthanks to support Emergency Fund, agoorwhen thoseour first patients Response the RWJUH Hamilton Board ner and Whitehorse Hamilton transported in. of Trustees, also spoke. Square Roads. visit were rwjbh.org/heroes Hospital executives and On Nov. 19, the hospital, See HoSPITAL, Page 14
Daphne Kent-Wilczynski is a busy lady. She has two phones in her hand and three restaurants going, and she is hands on in running all three of them. Kent-Wilczynski was raised in Hamilton, brought up her children in Robbinsville, and has fed many people from both towns through the years. She has been in the restaurant business since 1983, and her energy is almost as wellknown as her cooking. Now, 25 years after she established a diner in Robbinsville at 1124 Route 130, Kent-Wilczynski has opened a second restaurant, Daphne’s of Hamilton, which she started in the middle of the pandemic, in the heart Hamilton Square. The new finedining restaurant is located at 3681 Nottingham Way and opened in July of 2021. Her third venue is Daphne’s Catering, which provides services for both private and corporate customers. Kent-Wilczynski grew up in Hamilton and is a product of Greenwood Elementary, Nottingham Junior High and Steinert High School. She was a standout athlete in basketball, softball and soccer. See DAPHNE, Page 12
And please, for them, stay home and safe.
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