Hamilton Hamilton PPost ost
FEBRUARY 2021
COMMUNITYNEWS.ORG
Whiskey club gives Irish bar a welcome boost
Finding the missing link African Link Initiative sets out to help teens connect with their heritage and culture
By Joe EmansKi
It may not be feasible to take that dream trip to Ireland these days, but it still possible to go on a tour of the Emerald Isle — right here in Hamilton. A tour of Irish whiskeys, that is. In November, Tír na nÓg, the nationally recognized Irish bar on Hamilton Avenue, started up a new club: the Irish Whiskey Ambassadors Club. To gain membership in the club, patrons must drink 32 different Irish whiskeys — one for each county in Ireland. Not all at once, of course. For owners Todd and Maureen Faulkner, the club is a way to engage customers as the coronavirus pandemic drags on. Irish Billy Briggs founded Tír na nÓg in 1991, and the bar has been accumulating the accolades since then. It’s been called the best Irish bar in New Jersey and one of the best places to get a pint of Guiness in the United States. Briggs died in 2008, and the Faulkners have owned the bar since 2012. And the Springfield residents want Tír na nÓg to be known for whiskey as much as it is known for Irish stout. Todd Faulkner says he had the idea for the Irish Whiskey See WHISKEy, Page 8
FREE
By Joe EmansKi
Tammy Leigh, assistant director of Emergency Department and Critical Care (right) administers a second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to Victoria Bradeis, respiratory therapist at Robert Wood John University Hospital — Hamilton on Jan. 11, 2021.
Their courage and compassion inspire us all.
Where’s the vaccine? and the doses shipped January, the Trump AdminisShort supply leads to demand, trationappeared announced that it was beena message significantly out-in chalk Onehave morning, written frustration for thosein front weighed by the number of peo- releasing the stockpile of vacof an RWJBarnabas Health facility. The words cines it was holding to ensure ple looking to be vaccinated. awaiting Covid-19 couldn’t haveappointments been simpler, or more soul would stirring, people be able to get the When do open or more accurate. inoculation up at vaccination sites, avail- required second dose.
A few days later, on Jan. 14, able slots are often booked up New Jersey Gov. Phil Murwithin hours or less. People have been left con- phy opened up vaccinations to “Heroes people ages 65 and older, and While the COVID-19 pan- fused and frustrated—wonderwork here.” demic continued to rage ing how, when and where they those with high-risk medical conditions. throughout the United States will get inoculated. It was subsequently revealed In New Jersey, the vacduring the month of January, Three words of gratitude and encouragement that the government struggled to cine was first made available there was no stockpile of vaccapture the courage and compassion of health to healthcare workers, first cines, and that the second doses provide enough doses to those workers here and America. To share your already been released at responders andacross staff and resi- had looking to be protected from thanks or to our care Emergency the end ofFund, December. dents ofsupport long-term facili- Response the deadly virus. This exacerbated the probstarting in mid-December. Across the country, states visit ties rwjbh.org/heroes Then at the beginning of have struggled to meet See VACCINE, Page 10
By BiLL SanserVino
A number of area organizations, including the Boys and Girls Clubs of Mercer County, have been working together to bring to life the African Link Initiative, or ALI — a program designed to help African-American teens transform the way they see themselves and the world. Seven teenagers, hailing from Hamilton, East Windsor, Lawrence, Trenton, and Plainsboro embarked on ALI’s inaugural program in January. Over the first five months of the year, the participants will learn about African and African-American history and African-American identity, and take DNA tests to provide crucial information about their family history, both before and after their ancestors first reached this continent. The program is set to culminate in a two-week trip to Ghana, in West Africa. Shazel Muhammad-Neain is the founder of the African Link Initiative. The South Jersey resident is also the founder of Eunoia Global, See ALI, Page 12
And please, for them, stay home and safe.
See our ads in SIX09 section pgs 9 and 10
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2Hamilton Post | February 2021
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Antonietta Soltesz The Lee Group 609-577-6935 2 Bed, Multi-Family, 1,429 sq. ft.
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John Manion The Lee Group 609-635-0303 3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1,234 sq. ft.
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Robbinsville Sales Office 17 Main Street, Suite 402 · Robbinsville, NJ 08691 · 609-890-3300 © BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently operated subsidiary of HomeServices of America, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, and a franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc.® Equal Housing Opportunity. Information not verified or guaranteed. If your home is currently listed with a Broker, this is not intended as a solicitation
February 2021 | Hamilton Post3
The discomforting‘bias’ of facts
DO YOU SUFFER FROM
PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY?
JOE EMANSKI FROM THE EdITOR
FREE 15 Minute consultation for the first 30 callers!
DO YOU SUFFER FROM
PERIPHERAL DO YOU HAVE ANYNEUROPATHY? OF THESE SYMPTOMS? Numbness Pain when you walk Sharp, electrical-like pain Burning or tingling Difficulty sleeping from leg or foot discomfort Muscle weakness Sensitivity to touch?
PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE NERVE DAMAGE? PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY is a condition that affects millions of Americans, commonly resulting in pain, tingling, numbness, and other painful symptoms in the hands, legs and feet. This pain changes your life and affects how you work, how you play and how you live.
Peripheral neuropathy is the consequence of damage to your peripheral nerves. There are over 100 different kinds of peripheral nerve disorders or
AllCure Spine and Sports Medicine is pleased to announce their new program for treating Peripheral Neuropathy, which includes a combination of advanced FDA-cleared treatments with breakthrough technology that aids in healing the damaged nerves. The effects of this program can be felt on the first few visits. This treatment restores, stabilizes, and rebuilds the nerves in your extremities. Treatment has also been effective in addressing painful symptoms of arthritis, MS, and other forms of chronic pain. Patients generally feel relief physically throughout the treatment period and even feel better emotionally after experiencing a reduction in pain.
their symptoms may be due to Peripheral Neuropathy. Symptoms start
is a condition that affects millions of Americans,commonly resulting inofpain, neuropathies – some are the result a diseasetingling, like diabetes, while others can be triggered by a viral infection. Still others are the result of an injury or numbness, and other painful symptoms in the hands, legsonand feet.NoThis compression the nerves. matterpain where changes the problems begin, it is imperative nerve disorders are resolved as soon as possible to prevent NEW TREATMENTS HOPEyou play and yourFDA-CLEARED life and affects how youPROVIDE work, how how youMany live. permanent damage. people suffer with pain for years, not realizing that gradually, then get worse, including numbness, burning or tingling sensations NEW FDA-CLEARED TREATMENTS HOPE and sharp,PROVIDE electrical-like pain. Treatment options have been limited to a small assortment of pain medications, which can lead to further issues. Ignoring the
problem or masking the symptoms has never been a viable solution. If you AllCure Spine and Sports Medicine is pleased to announce their new program for suffer from any of the aforementioned symptoms, we can help. treating Peripheral Neuropathy, which includes a combination of advanced FDA-cleared treatments with breakthrough technology that aids in healing the damaged nerves. The effects of this program can be felt on the first few visits. This treatment restores, NEW CBD OILand TREATMENTS AVAILABLE! stabilizes, rebuilds NOW the nerves in your extremities. Treatment has also been effective CBD oils Have had successful results with treating patients with Inflammation, Numbness Pain when walk Sharp, electrical-like pain in addressing painful symptoms of you arthritis, muscle, joint, and nerve related pains. CBD is a especially promising due to its MS, and other forms of chronic pain, Patients lack of any intoxicating effects and lower potential for side effects compared to generally feel relief physically throughout the treatment period better many other pain medications. At AllCure, we want to maximize patients efforts Burning or tingling Difficulty sleeping from legandoreven footfeel discomfort Healthy Damaged in getting them back to the quality of life that they want and deserve, and CBD Nerve Cell emotionally after experiencing a reduction in pain. Nerve Cell treatment is the newest tool to help us do so. Please call us today and we will
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divides people. Those are two words that separate what we know and what we believe. Facts versus faith. Talk show hosts and tweetstormers can argue all day about facts and faith. Not everyone can afford to be so abstract. Take chefs, for instance. Good chefs depend on facts to guide them. They know when they have done a great job. It’s when all the dishes come back to the kitchen clean. Some chefs see all their eggplant dishes coming back half eaten and ask, “How did I screw up the eggplant? I’ve got to do better.” Others ask, “Why didn’t anyone like my delicious eggplant? Something must be wrong with them.” The truth for those other chefs is too discomforting to accept. They maintain faith in their beliefs, even when their restaurants are failing. Facts often tell stories that we don’t want to hear. Equal opportunity offenders, but also equal opportunity allies. Chefs who accept the feedback of their customers want to please people and feed them. Good information helps them do it. Chefs who reject feedback and criticism rely instead upon their self belief to guide them. I suppose each of us must decide where we would rather go to get a good meal.
I read I’m guessing around 15 trillion tweets last month as our world descended deeper into madness, but one trope stuck with me after the rest had faded away. A phrase that some people on Twitter repeat from time to time: “Facts have a liberal bias.” The first time I came across it, I couldn’t tell whether the person meant it ironically, sarcastically or earnestly. Perhaps it was all three. It’s an edit of a joke that Stephen Colbert made in 2006 at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner: “Reality is well known to have a liberal bias.” Most often, it is used to deride someone who has disputed some information that has been presented based on evidence. Something we call a fact. And people who go around disputing facts these days often identify as conservative. Hence — “liberal bias.” Facts don’t have a liberal bias, but facts often discomfort us. Facts don’t care about our feelings. When it is reported that, say, more than 4,000 people in the United States died from Covid-19-related causes the day before, some people think, “this is not good,” while other people think, “this is not good and I don’t like what it Contact editor JOE EMANSKI: jemanmeans,” then add, “so it must be false.” ski@communitynews.org, facebook.com/ It’s that phrase, must be, that really hamiltonpostnj.
Hamilton Post
we are a newsroom of your neighbors. The Hamilton Post is for local people, by local people.
As part of the community, the Post does more than just report the news—it connects businesses is a condition that affects millions of Americans, commonly resulting in pain, Peripheral neuropathy is the consequence of damage to your nerves. forperipheral the first tingling, numbness, and other painful symptoms in the hands, legs and feet. This There are over 100 different kinds of peripheral nerve disorders or with their customers, organizations with their members and neighbors with one another. As such, 30 callers! 350 Forsgate Dr, Monroe Township, NJ 08831 pain changes your life and affects how you work, how you play and how you live. neuropathies – some are the result of a disease like diabetes,*Expires while8/1/19. others can our staff sets out to make our town a closer place by giving readers a reliable source to turn to be triggered by a viral infection. Still others are the result of an injury or compression on the nerves. No matter where the problems begin, it is when they want to know what’s going on in their neighborhood. allcurespineandsports.com We accept mostare major insurances and medicare! imperative nerve disorders resolved as soon as possible to prevent NEW FDA-CLEARED TREATMENTS PROVIDE HOPE permanent damage. Many people suffer with pain for years, not realizing that AllCure Spine and Sports Medicine is pleased to announce their new program for Community News Service EdITOR their symptoms be due to Peripheral Symptoms start INTERVENTIONAL PAIN MANAGEMENT • SPORTS MEDICINE • ACUPUNCTURE • PHYSICAL THERAPYmay • CHIROPRACTIC SERVICESNeuropathy. • POST-SURGICAL REHABILITATION treating Peripheral Neuropathy, which includes a combination of advanced gradually, then get worse, including numbness, burning or tingling sensations 15 Princess Road, Suite K Joe Emanski (Ext. 120) FDA-cleared treatments with breakthrough technology that aids in healing the and sharp, electrical-like pain. Treatment options have been limited to a small damaged nerves. The effects of this program can be felt on the first few visits. Lawrence, NJ 08648 assortment of pain medications, which can lead to further issues. Ignoring the CONTRIbUTING WRITERS This treatment restores, stabilizes, and rebuilds the nerves in your extremities. problem or masking the symptoms has never been a viable solution. If you Phone: (609) 396-1511 Treatment has also been effective in addressing painful symptoms of arthritis, Rich Fisher, Bill Sanservino, Sam Sciarrotta suffer from any of the aforementioned symptoms, we can help. MS, and other forms of chronic pain. Patients generally feel relief physically CONTRIbUTING COLUMNISTS throughout the treatment period and even feel better emotionally after News: news@communitynews.org experiencing a reduction in pain.
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ACUPUNCTURE • PHYSICAL THERAPY • CHIROPRACTIC SERVICES 4Hamilton Post | February 2021
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smires & associates would like to welcome our new agent
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February 2021 | Hamilton Post5
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Trenton Catholic Academy to close for good in June Diocese to offer resources for students to continue Catholic education
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Citing a number of economic factors, the Diocese of Trenton announced on Jan. 8 that Trenton Catholic Academy would close the doors of both its Upper and Lower Schools in June. The diocese reported that the growing cost of providing a quality has “consistently outpaced tuition and fundraising income,” leaving the school with a $2 million deficit each year and a cumulative need for $24 million in financial support over the past 12 years. Additionally, a special fund once established for the school has been nearly depleted. The diocese in its statement also said that the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic has dealt a serious blow to families’ abilities to afford tuition and to strategic plans that had aimed to increase revenue. As a result, the Diocese of Trenton accepted the recommendation of TCA president Michael Knowles that the Upper and Lower Schools — which together educate some 550 students — should close this June. The diocese said that In the last 15 years, Trenton Catholic Academy’s Upper and Lower Schools in Hamilton Township have built a strong legacy in the areas of academics, athletics, faith formation and service to the community. The diocese also said TCA’s pre-K through 12th grade school has successfully served tens of thousands of students from diverse ethnic, racial and socioeconomic backgrounds, aided significantly through diocesan subsidy and a specially-established fund, as well as a strong network of benefactors, community partners and supporters of its mission. The diocese reports that the Upper School has graduated nearly 1,000 students since opening its doorsand had met the hopes of the school’s late founding president, St. Joseph Sister Dorothy Payne, who wanted students to be “Good kids that live good lives that make the world a better place.” “We have truly been blessed by so many generous people who believed in this mission and backed it up with their ‘sweat equity,’” Knowles said in the statement, Knowles has served as president since the death of Sister Dorothy in 2019. Diocesan superintendent of Catholic Schools Vincent de Paul Schmidt pointed to steps that the diocese will take to assist TCA students transitioning to a new Catholic school next year.
“TCA students will be welcomed at Notre Dame High School in nearby Lawrenceville and at a number of Catholic elementary schools in close proximity to TCA so that Catholic education might continue to be available in Mercer County,” Schmidt said. Schmidt also announced that the Diocese of Trenton intends to make some transitional scholarships available for the 2021-22 school year to students seeking to continue their education in one of the Catholic schools affiliated with the diocese or its parishes. Knowles said that with the funds made available by the diocese, a transition plan will be worked out with TCA families. A team of diocesan representatives will meet with the 57 TCA employees to review severance and benefits packages, and to offer assistance in finding employment.
Free Hamilton virtual job fair set for March 16
Hamilton Township will offer a free virtual Job fair for residents seeking employment in the greater Hamilton Township area. The township says the virtual job fair will showcase job openings from a range of employers in various fields and skillsets, including representatives from Amazon, UPS, FedEx, local labor unions, and area small businesses. The Virtual Job Fair will be held on Tuesday, March 16, from 3 to 5 p.m. “In these challenging economic times, we are thankful to the Commission for finding an innovative way to help residents learn about local employment opportunities as well as provide an outlet for our businesses and vendors to fill their vacancies,” said Mayor Jeff Martin in a media release. “Hamilton is a vibrant community with businesses large and small and an eager workforce. I look forward to welcoming all to this job fair.” The virtual job fair will be held using Hop-in, a virtual meeting platform accessible in your internet browser without additional software. Job Seekers will log-in to full-group sessions, then select from Company Showcase sessions with career opportunities in Healthcare, Construction, Professional Services, Information Technologies, Project Management, Courier, and Customer Services. “Mayor Martin, the HTEDAC (Hamilton Township Economic Development Advisory Commission), and our partners are working diligently to build a thriving workforce for Hamilton Township. Offering a virtual job
fair allows Hamilton Township resi- ees, it was mutually decided that the dents access to numerous job oppor- parade could not be held safely during tunities in a safe and easy way,” said the COVID-19 pandemic we continue to face. Lori Danko, HTEDAC chair. “While we are saddened that we Represented companies will be could not celebrate and available to discuss honor the 2021 grand their open positions and marshal, Jerr y Sherianswer questions in a dan and Miss St. Patface-to-face video envirick Nicole Brown, ronment, as well as colwe remain thankful for lect resumes from prothe outpouring of supspective employees. port the Parade ComHTEDAC is currently mittee has continued seeking additional comto receive, particupanies interested in parlarly from our partners ticipating and has availincluding the Ancient able event sponsorship Order of the Hibernians, opportunities. Questions IBEW Electrical Workand sponsorship inquiers Local Union No. 269, ries can be directed to First Bank, and PlumbHTEDAC vice-chair Wolfsgruber ers and Pipefitters Local Gretchen DiMarco at Union 9. htedac@gmail.com. “Perhaps most of all, we thank the Further information registration for the Virtual Job Fair can be loyal parade attendees, who we hope found online at: hopin.com/events/ stay safe and well during these troubling times.” hamilton-township-job-fair. The virtual job fair is part of the HTEDAC’s work to support economic Hamilton resident named development across the community. HTEDAC is an official municipal gov- new parole board director ernment commission composed of volThe New Jersey State Parole Board unteers, serving as an advisory body announced in January the promotion to the mayor and township council of David Wolfsgruber, who will lead through interaction with the Depart- the agency’s day-to-day operations as ment of Economic Development. executive director. In that role, the Hamilton resident will oversee and manage a state 2021-22 kindergarten agency with more than 600 sworn law registration opens enforcement and civilian staff who are The Hamilton Township School charged with processing and superDistrict last month opened registra- vising more than 16,000 offenders curtion for kindergarten students for the rently under state parole supervision. “I am very fortunate to have spent 2021-2022 school year. Township families are invited to my entire professional career at the visit the htsdnj.org website to virtually State Parole Board and am eager to register their children to begin kinder- help lead this agency during a time where New Jersey’s criminal justice garten in September 2021. HTSD offers a full-day kindergar- system is undergoing transformaten program. The district says its kin- tive changes,” Wolfsgruber said in a dergarten curriculum is designed to media release. “The determined comdevelop children’s knowledge and mitment of dedicated agency employskills in all developmental areas: phys- ees who consistently work to advance ical, social, emotional, and intellectual. public safety measures and successCurriculum and instruction strat- ful community reintegration is both egies focus on the development of inspiring and impressive.” Wolfsgruber had held the position childrens’ thinking skills, self-esteem, sense of competence, and positive atti- of assistant director of the Commutude toward learning. The district says nity Programs Division. In that role he curriculum and instruction is also oversaw the development and admindesigned to provide for diversity and istration of statewide community programming for parolees at 18 individual individual differences. contracted residential and community resource center program locations. 2021 St. Patrick’s Day Wolfsgruber has also held sevParade canceled eral positions within the State Parole Mayor Jeff Martin and St. Patrick’s Board, including coordinator of speDay Parade Committee chair Vince cialized programs and chief of the McKelvey issued a joint statement Parole Revocation Hearing Unit. A on Jan. 25 announcing that due to the graduate of Trenton State College coronavirus pandemic, the annual St. (now The College of New Jersey), Patrick’s Day Parade would not be Wolfsgruber is a lifelong New Jersey resident. He resides in Hamilton held for the second straight year. “It is with great disappointment and Square with his wife and two children. regret that, after careful consideration of the Hamilton Township St. Patrick’s WHAT DID WE MISS? What are you Day Parade Board of Trustees, we noticing in your community? What announce the cancellation of the 2021 stories do you think we should tell? Do Hamilton St. Patrick’s Day Parade,” you have news to share? We want to reads the statement. “In the best inter- hear from you. Send your news or tips to est of all involved, including attend- news@communitynews.org.
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WHISKEy continued from Page 1 Ambassadors Club a few years ago, but wasn’t sure exactly how he wanted to do it. The pandemic and the business slowdown that came with it gave him plenty of time to think about it. Over the summer, as patrons were making the best of things sitting in folding chairs at folding tables out in the Tír na nÓg’s tiny parking lot, Faulkner was at work installing a new back bar inside. When it was finished, it looked like the perfect place to set up a row of Irish whiskey bottles. “I wanted to do 32 whiskies, the reason being that there are 32 counties in Ireland (including Northern Ireland),” Faulkner says. “We don’t have a whiskey from every county, because there aren’t that many distilleries in some counties. But the number 32 is significant.” The club started up on Nov. 9, and as of late January, 83 “recruits” had signed up. When recruits have tasted all 32 whiskeys, they become an ambassador. Sixteen people have already gained membership in the club, which entitles them to Carhartt zip hoodies with the Irish Whiskey Ambassador logo on them. “It’s actually a lot of fun being a bartender and having the people come in competing with each other, seeing who’s ahead of who,” Faulkner says. Ambassadors get other perks besides the jackets. They also gain access to some members-only whiskeys, Irish and American, that are available at the bar. Once they complete those, they’ll reach a new level of membership: they’ll become “chief whiskey officers.”
A shelf full of Irish whiskeys behind the bar at Tir na Nog. Patrons who try each of 32 different whiskeys are inducted into the Irish Whiskey Ambassadors club.
Faulkner says he had two customers, Toby and John, who were determined to become the first full member of the club. The day came where both were at the bar drinking their 32nd different whiskey. “They were sitting there enjoying a really nice Midleton’s, a high-end Irish whiskey, and they were down to their last sip. Toby looked at John and said, ‘Better look at your phone, John.’ John looked at his phone and Toby swigged his down and said, ‘I’m first.’” Faulkner says the club has generated
a number of friendly rivalries among patrons. “What I’m noticing is that somebody starts up, they bring in a friend and another friend, they have a whiskey and a beer. There’s no schedule to this. You can take a year or two years to finish.” He mentions one group of 10 who are all competing with one another to be the first of their group to finish. Often, several of them will come in together to taste their whiskeys. And sometimes they will come in alone, to try to get a little ahead of the pack.
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“Once the restrictions are lifted and Recruits are restricted to five whiskeys a session, for obvious reasons. we’re all comfortable, maybe we do There is no set order for trying the St. Patrick’s Day on the 17th of every month,” he says. whiskeys. Tír na nÓg, 1324 Hamilton Ave., “It’s fun,” Faulkner says. “Some people go alphabetically, A through Z. Hamilton NJ 08629. Phone: (609) 392Occasionally we have someone taste 2554.Web: trentontirnanog.com. a high end one and then do a not so high end one so they can taste the difTodd Faulkner’s 3 Irish ference. A lot of guys are saving the high-end whiskeys to the very end, whiskeys to try which is actually smart because you get to enjoy those on an even palate.” As the co-owner of Tír na nÓg and Faulkner says the club has given founder of the Irish Whiskey Ambasthe bar a big boost in terms of busi- sadors Club, Todd Faulkner has had ness, right when it was needed. Tír na the opportunity to sample all of the nÓg was closed for last St. Patrick’s whiskeys on offer at the bar. Day because of the pandemic — Irish Here are three that Faulkner recbars across the country depend on ommends to people looking to put that one day for a huge something in the cabinet chunk of their annual alongisde their bottles of revenue — and things Bushmills and Jameson. don’t look great for this Power’s 12-Year March 17 either. ($60-75/750ml bot“You don’t know what’s tle). “My favorite. It is going to happen next the best bang-for-theweek or the week after,” buck Irish whiskey that he says. “It’s definitely I have tasted.” not going to be like any Kilbeggin Single St. Patrick’s Day we had Grain Whisky ($42). before. I think it won’t be “A cheaper whiskey, but normal, but I’m hoping in there’s so much flavor in 2022 we’ll be back.” it. A fantastic entry-level In the meantime, the Irish whiskey. There’s Irish Whiskey Ambassasweetness in it and hints Faulkner dors Club helps bridge of caramel. Very nice.” the gap until bars can Midleton Barry open fully again. Faulkner has hopes Crockett ($240). “A little stronger, for something like a “new roaring a little darker, but a very nice celebra20’s” once that day comes. tory whiskey.”
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VACCINES continued from Page 1 lem—an even larger pool of people were left seeking vaccinations, but the anticipated increase in supply never occurred. This resulted in a severe shortage in appointments available for qualified individuals. (For information on who currently qualifies to get the vaccine, see the graphic above.) Currently, there are three ways for qualified individuals to make an appointment. To start, all people should register with the N.J. Vaccine Scheduling System (covidvaccine.nj.gov). They will be emailed an invitation to schedule an appointment when they are eligible and slots open up. The state has also set up an NJVSS call center to assist individuals, including those with no computers, in pre-registering and scheduling a COVID-19 vaccine appointment. For assistance call (855) 568-0545. The second is to make an appointment directly with one of the many designated vaccination sites across the state. For a full list of vaccination sites in New Jersey and contact information, go to covid19.nj.gov/pages/vaccine. Finally, select healthcare facilities, including many hospitals, are offering vaccines directly to their workers. Anyone who works at one of these facilities should contact their employer to learn if the vaccine is available there. *** As of Jan. 24, the state had administered more than 550,000 doses of vaccine. This is about half the overall doses that have been received by the state. The rest were delivered to commercial entities for distribution, such as pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens, Gov. Murphy told CNBC on Jan. 20 that that part of the vaccine rollout has been problematic. “They basically
amassed these doses, they schedule visits to long-term care nursing homes, extended living, and they’re punching under their weight, particularly Walgreens, and that’s where most of the yet to be used doses are.” He added that the companies should “put more bodies on the case” to increase vaccinations. Meanwhile, Mercer County sat near the bottom of the state in the number of people vaccinated by the end of January. New Jersey began vaccinating residents starting on Dec. 15, but Mercer didn’t hold its first vaccination clinic until Dec. 28. The state of New Jersey reported on its COVID-19 Information Hub that as of mid-day Jan. 24, Mercer County had vaccinated 13,587 people. During the week of Jan. 17-23, a total of 4,854 people received shots—an average of about 700 people a day. By comparison, neighboring Burlington and Middlesex counties had vaccinated roughly twice as many people overall. As of Jan. 25, a total of 27,287 people had received vaccines in Burlington County, and an average of about 1,200 per day between Jan. 17-23. In Middlesex County, a total of 40,540 had been vaccinated by Jan. 24, with an average of more than 1,800 per day between Jan. 17-23. Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes said that part of the problem with rolling out vaccinations was that fact that there is no county department of health in Mercer. Health departments in the county are run by each of the municipalities, some of which contract with other towns. Hughes said vaccine deployment in Mercer County has been a collaborative effort between the Mercer County Division of Public Health, the County
Health Officers Association, Capital Health System and a number of other entities (such as the nursing school at Mercer County Community College). “While it might seem like Mercer was lagging, many Mercer towns conducted their own vaccine clinics based on the capacity they could manage, and only for people who met the 1A category, including their local police, fire and EMTs,” Hughes said in an email. In a video posted to YouTube on Jan. 21, Hamilton Mayor Jeff Martin spoke about the vaccine situation. He said that starting at the end of December, Hamilton teamed up with the other towns in Mercer County to create “points of distribution, or PODs.” The PODs were closed to the general public, and the initial priority was to vaccinate healthcare workers and first responders (firefighters, EMS and police). He said that the PODs rotated between the municipalities throughout the county during the first weeks of January. “Unfortunately the amount of vaccine available to us as a county and as a township is severely diminished,” Martin said. Supply is a major problem, and will continue to be going forward, said Hughes. “As of today (Jan. 22), the state is giving Mercer County only 800 doses per week.” Those doses must be shared with towns based on population. Vaccines must be used within seven days of receipt from the state. “The state and counties are all behind
because the federal government has released so little vaccine to New Jersey, and this has impacted our ability to ramp up and get more individuals vaccinated,” said Marygrace Billek, Mercer County director of human services She said that the county has had a distribution plan in place for more than 15 years, but that plan is predicated on the availability of the Strategic National Stockpile from the Federal government. “For COVID-19, we have all had to rethink our plans and processes and do things differently, and to that end Mercer will stand up and support two regional vaccination sites, something that has not been part of our past plan. Officials were hopeful that the situation would improve with the opening of a regional vaccination site on Jan. 25 at CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton. The regional site, a joint effort between the county and Capital Health, opened planning to vaccinate 200 people a day using a separate doses allocated to Capital Health by the state. “We will be continuing 5 to 7 days a week, expanding the number of doses per day as supply increases,” Hughes said. The plan is to also use Mercer County College as a regional site along with the municipal sites as the number of vaccines increases. Hughes said he anticipates this will happen in mid-February.
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Featured member oF the month
Brandon Russell, second from left, with mother SanRose, sister Asia and father David Russell. The Hamilton resident and Trenton Catholic Academy student is one of the first area teenagers who will take part in the African Link Initiative.
Word Center Printing, established in 1983, began as a copy shop and quickly grew into a full-service commercial printing company located in Hamilton Township, New Jersey. Investing in the future has been fundamental in Word Center Printing’s continued success and is a cornerstone of its business strategy. We provide full printing, graphic design, and copying services. Our team is committed to providing the highest quality product and the most value possible to all its customers. “In printing, you have to adapt and pivot constantly” explained Marilyn Silverman, Co-Owner. Word Center Printing was not immune to the disruptions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our largest envelope customer closed for 2 months once stay-at-home orders were enacted. The market for social and corporate invitations vanished. This had a monumental impact on the manufacturer’s bottom line. “I thought to myself, we’re going to have to get more business doing other things or we’re going to die here.” By sheer coincidence, we had purchased a wide format printer to create banners, posters and yard signs in-house. Although we had provided these items to our customers for years, we were outsourcing them. Between shipping delays and crushed items, we decided to bring production into the shop. It was a learning curve –but by March, we were ready to go – just in time for the pandemic! Little did we know that there would be a HUGE demand for COVID signage, banners and posters. Then the demand for yard signs – for all occasions, but especially graduations – took off. We created literally hundreds of yard signs, banners, and signs. Learned how to mount posters and hang repositionable graphic on walls…and created a completely new line of business! We decided to try and get through month by month, looking for new opportunities, meeting with family, friends, clients and organizations via Zoom. Speaking of Zoom, had to buy a camera for the big computer in the shop, which did not come with one. Had to buy a new laptop for home, because so many meetings were before and after regular business hours and my ancient home laptop was not up to the task. Having made it through the worst of the “storm”, we are looking forward to getting vaccinated and seeing a return to some form of “normal” by the Fall of 2021.
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1905 NJ-33, Hamilton Square, NJ 08690 (609) 586-5825 12Hamilton Post | February 2021
“absolutely wishes she could be a part ALI continued from Page 1 a leadership training and business of [ALI]. We wish something like this coaching firm, and has been involved would have been available when we with the Boys and Girls Club of Mer- were in school. We haven’t crossed that bridge yet.” cer County since 2018. Zoubir Yazid, the chief learning offiMuhammad-Neain is also a board member of Global Connections Foun- cer for the Boys and Girls Clubs of dation NJ Corp, the Pennington-based Mercer County, says ALI is a natural nonprofit founded by educator David continuation of the programs of the Angwenyi, which for a number of Boys and Girls Clubs. “Our mission is helping the youth of years has been sponsoring educational trips linking American students our community achieve their dreams. to counterparts in Kenya. Global Con- Well, a dream is reaching the impossible,” he says. “Why not have them nections is now also a partner in ALI. Muhammad-Neain says the first ALI go to Ghana? The reason I’ve been participants have been nominated by very passionate about this is, I really school principals and assistant prin- want to send a message out: nothing cipals “who see their innate potential is impossible. We’re here to help. It’s not a shift in the mission yet recognize the lack of statement but it’s a shift opportunities and sense in the sense of pushing of belonging these youth the target even further experience — solely due on the horizon. I think to the color of their skin.” we’re going to be the Jermaine Blount, Jr. is first Boys and Girls Club one student who is takto ever send somebody ing part in the program. overseas.” Blount, a junior at West The program is Windsor-Plainsboro designed to accomHigh School North, modate as many as 20 learned about ALI from students, but Yazid is his father, Jermaine, content to start with a Sr., an assistant princismaller group. pal in the East Windsor Yazid “Seven kids is very Regional School District. good to start with, and Mom Jenine, a school counselor in Robbinsville, says Jer- we’re going to try to find the right maine Jr. was very excited when she number for us,” Yazid says. “We want and Jermaine Sr. told him about ALI. to make it a program that kids aspire “This is something we have thought to. Our dream one day is for it to about before, but this is the first become a program where kids say, opportunity that’s been presented that ‘Oh my God, I really have to work he would be able to partake in,” she hard to get into that program.’” Brandon Russell is one of the seven says. “He’s never been to Africa, we’ve never been to Africa, so we definitely who are participating in the program wanted to offer him this type of oppor- this year. The Trenton Catholic Acadtunity, to go through this journey emy student lives in Hamilton with his with other students with similar back- father David, an IT manager, mother SanRose, a director with United grounds, experiences and culture.” The Blounts’ daughter, Jania, is a Health Care, and sister Asia, a student freshman at Rutgers University, study- at East Carolina University. When David Russell first heard ing animal science. Jenine says Jania
about ALI, he thought it sounded like a wonderful opportunity for Brandon to learn about his identity in a way that would not be taught in history books. “African-American kids, so many times if they are more academically inclined, sometimes they are ostracized by both races,” he says. “This gives Brandon a chance to learn and be with kids of the same interests and race.” Muhammad-Neain describes ALI as an evidence-based, three-part program. In part 1, participants will take DNA tests that will be processed by African Ancestry (africanancestry. com), an organization that says it has the only DNA database that can go back 500 years to help a person track ancestry back to a present day African country and ethnic group of origin. After that, students will learn about Africa, the African diaspora and African-American identity. “If you don’t know where you come from, it’s hard to understand where you are, and it’s even more difficult to see where you’re going,” Muhammad-Neain says. “What we know, from data behind our research on programs like ALI, is that teaching Black students about instilling Black cultural pride really does yield promising outcomes, including higher GPAs and higher graduation rates.” In part 2, participants will participate in a workshop designed to boost their critical thinking, decision-making and relationship skills. Muhammad-Neain says she the teens will take part in a version of the Vital Smarts Crucial Conversations program that is usually used for staff training at Fortune 500 companies. Muhammad-Neain is calling part 3 of the program a “teen summit,” an open forum of facilitated conversations. “It’s about giving kids the space to examine current events and their perspective on things, and also to get feedback from their peers and to be able to unpack community constructs like race and identity,” she says. The students will then make the 14-day birthright trip to Ghana. On the trip, the students will tour historical sites of trans-Atlantic slave trade, participate in a tribal naming ceremony, and learn firsthand about African traditions and culture. The trip was originally planned for late summer 2021, but because of the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic and its impact on safe travel, the trip is now tentatively scheduled for summer 2022. Muhammad-Neain spent a month and a half in Africa in 2019 and 2020. She visited both Kenya and Ghana and says the trip was an amazing experience. “I am still being transformed from my time there,” she says. “I feel like I became African-American for the first time at age 47. I finally felt like I knew, for the first time, what it felt like to be both African and American at the same time. I had finally reconciled my ethnicity and identity.” Muhammad-Neain has high hopes for the future of the program. She envi-
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Shazel Muhammad-Neain, founder of the African Link Initiative.
sions it becoming a seven-year program that students enter in 6th grade and continue until they graduate. She can picture an evolving curriculum in which participants go to different countries in each year of the program. Eventually, she says, she wants to look into folding college students and even adults into the program. She sees long-term sustainability for the program coming through a workforce development program. “We want to be able to build a pipeline of success that leads to gainful employment for graduates of our program,” she says. “We intend for workforce development to be a revenue center.” For now, fundraising is definitely a focus for the initiative. Right now, the program has the funds to provide two of its seven participants with stipends that would cover the cost of the Ghana trip. ALI is actively seeking more donors to enable it to cover the cost for all seven students. “This is something that really will make a difference in the sense that it’s a paradigm shift, taking everything that Shazel and the Boys and Girls Clubs can be and combining them into a program that’s creative and data driven, but most importantly, is really life changing,” Yazir says. He says he cannot wait until the day the teens return from Ghana. He says he plans to be at the airport to meet them. “I can’t wait to see their faces when they come back. And what’s beautiful about it is imagining the impact [that ALI] can have on their community. This is not just going to affect that kid, it’s going to affect his family, her family,” he says. “The return on investment is that this is something that can change the life of these kids and put them on a path forward that would really be incredible.” For more information about supporting the African Link Initiative, go to the ALI website: africanlink.org/donate.
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Have you Have heard? Haveyou you heard? heard?
The Hamilton Township FREE Rabies Clinic is coming… The The Hamilton Hamilton Township Township FREE FREE Rabies Rabies Clinic Clinic is is coming… coming…
DATE: Saturday, February 6, 2021 TIME: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.6, DATE: Saturday, February DATE: Saturday, February 6, 2021 2021 PLACE: McManimon Building TIME: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 320 Scully Avenue
TIME: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. PLACE: McManimon Building at 320 McManimon Building 320 Scully Scully Avenue Avenue ALLPLACE: RESIDENTS MUST MAKE AN at APPOINTMENT FOR A VACCINE!!! (off Olden Ave. between Liberty St. & Cedar Lane, opposite Olden Pharmacy) (off Olden Ave. between Liberty St. & Cedar Lane, opposite Olden Pharmacy) Call the Animal shelter at 609-890-3550 to schedule your appointment. (Off Olden Ave. between Liberty St. & Cedar Lane, opposite Olden Pharmacy)
ALL ALL RESIDENTS RESIDENTS MUST MUST MAKE MAKE AN AN APPOINTMET APPOINTMET FOR FOR A A VACCINE!!! VACCINE!!! Call the Animal shelter at 609-890-3550 to schedule your appointment. Call the Animal shelter at 609-890-3550 to schedule your appointment.
FOR PETS OF HAMILTON TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS ONLY IMPORTANT FORNOTES PETS OF HAMILTON TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS ONLY
FORattendees PETS OF are HAMILTON RESIDENTS ONLY 1) All (human) required TOWNSHIP to WEAR A MASK. IMPORTANT NOTES IMPORTANT NOTES 2) One human per animal. 1) Alland (human) attendees are required WEAR A MASK. 3) Cats dogs must be at leastto months of age to be vaccinated. 1) All (human) attendees are required to3WEAR A MASK. 2) One human per animal. 2) One human peron animal. 4) Dogs must be longer than 6’). 3) Cats and dogs mustabeleash at least(no 3 months of age to be vaccinated. 3) Cats and dogs must be at least 3 months of age to be vaccinated. 4) Dogs mustbe be on aaleash (no longer than 6’). 5) Cats must carrier. 4) Dogs must be in on a leash (no longer than 6’). 5) Cats must be in a carrier. 5) Cats must be proof in a carrier. 6) Please of any rabies shotato receive a 3-year 6) Pleasebring bring proof of any prior prior rabies shot to receive 3-year certificate; withoutcertifi proof acate; 1-year with6) Please bring proof of any prior rabies shot to receive a 3-year certificate; without proof a 1-year certificate will be certifi issued. out proof a 1-year certificate will be issued. cate will be issued. 7) NJ State Department of Health’s Policy states no dog license can be issued if their rabies 7) State NJ StateDepartment Department of Health’s Policy states no dog license be issued if their rabies 7) NJ of November Health’s Policy states nocandog license can be issued if immunization expires before 20201 immunization expires before November 20201 their rabies immunization expires before November 2021
For questions, call Hamilton Township Animal Shelter at (609) 890-3550 For questions, call Hamilton Township Animal Shelter at (609) 890-3550
For questions, call Hamilton Township Animal Shelter at (609) 890-3550
14Hamilton Post | February 2021
Chris Smith: the invisible man fering opinions,” he said. “The enactment of wise public policy to benefit all Congressman Chris Smith has a Americans requires robust dialogue larger-than-life presence in his dis- and debate—and genuine respect for trict, especially in the Mercer County one another especially when there region. His blue and white campaign is fundamental disagreement. We signs and banners have cropped up in must be committed to zero-tolerance front yards and intersections through- towards violence in any form.” Smith eventually voted against the out his district every other year for Republican-led objection against cerdecades. He’s made appearances at local tifying electoral votes from Pennsylschools and Hamilton’s former Sep- vania and Arizona. GOP senators and temberfest. He’s one of just two congresspeople planned to formally Republicans serving New Jersey in object to the certification of votes from the federal government. He hasn’t lost swing states—Arizona, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nevada, Wisconsin and an election in 40 years. But during a period of turmoil start- Georgia—won by Biden, clinging to ing with President Donald Trump’s false allegations of voter fraud. Earlier that same evening, though, refusal to accept that he lost the November election to Joe Biden, and Smith spoke to Patch about the rallyculminating in a violent attack on the turned-riot. He continued to condemn United States Capitol building, Smith the violence that broke out, but he also was largely silent—he responded with aligned with some of his colleagues, blanket statements and by deleting insinuating that leftist infiltrators, not Trump supporters, were social media accounts. the ones who attacked Supporters of Presithe Capitol. He referred dent Donald Trump to the group as “sostormed the building called protestors” and Jan. 6 in an attempt to speculated about the overturn the results identities of the rioters, of the Nov. 3 election, who had been chantwhich named Joe Biden ing “We love Trump!” the next president.Durduring the president’s ing a “Stop the Steal” speech just minutes rally held the day Conprior to the attack. gress was set to cer“I’ll leave that to law tify the election, rioters enforcement to decipher broke into the building their identities,” Smith — in search of legislatold Patch reporter tors, according to some Smith Carly Baldwin. “I saw reports — and entered very strange things, congressional offices some strange designs on tattoos, for and chambers along the way. They broke windows, assaulted example a hammer and sickle. Some Capitol police officers and walked out very strange things. It may have been with items like a computer belong- Antifa. We just don’t know. I’ll leave ing to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. that to the police to ascertain. We have Some were armed. Some were pho- seen that in other protests. We’ve seen tographed holding bundles of zip tie that in Black Lives Matter and some cuffs. One man hung from the Sen- other protests and others.” The Antifa rumors quickly spread ate balcony in full tactical gear. And they were encouraged by Trump, who across far-right social media platform spoke to the crowd before its descent Parler and were echoed by extremists on the Capitol—he continued his like Trump-aligned attorney and conmonths-long allegations of voter fraud spiracy theorist Lin Wood. Fox News and a stolen election without evidence hosts and members of Congress, like and vowed to “never concede” to Dem- Smith, piled on. Those claims, though, were quickly dismissed by federal offiocrats and Biden. “We’re going to walk down to the cials. FBI assistant director Steven Capitol, and we’re going to cheer on D’Antuono said during a press briefour brave senators and congressmen ing after the attack that there was “no and women,” Trump said. “We’re indication” of Antifa involvement, and probably not going to be cheering so acting Attorney General Jeffrey A. much for some of them because you’ll Rosen did not mention the group at all never take back our country with in his statement. The suggestion that Antifa was weakness. You have to show strength, behind the attack is “dangerous and and you have to be strong.” Smith did release a statement on irresponsible,” said Robbinsville resiJan. 6, the night of the attack, con- dent Gregory DeLuca in the weeks demning violence and vandalism and following the riot. DeLuca is a longthanking Capitol police. It was his time critic of Smith’s. “His attempt to codify it as ‘pure first official comment on anything related to Trump’s stolen election speculation’ is as ridiculous as when Trump conjures up his own realaccusations. “Despite its many flaws, the U.S. ity with ‘a lot of people are saying,’” Congress continues to be an extraor- DeLuca said. “It was always obvious dinary marketplace of ideas and difSee SMITH, Page 19 By Sam Sciarrotta
HEALTH
FEBRUARY 2021
@capitalhealthnj
HEADLINES
B I - M O N T H LY N E W S F R O M C A P I TA L H E A LT H
COVID-19 VACCINE DISTRIBUTION
Staying Safe During The Pandemic
EXPANDING IN NEW JERSEY
IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY
Who is currently eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine? The COVID-19 vaccine continues to be distributed in phases throughout New Jersey according to prioritization guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the New Jersey Department of Health. To find the most up-to-date groups who are eligible for the vaccine in New Jersey, visit covid19.nj.gov. Previously, the vaccine was available only to health care workers (including Capital Health employees and active and associate medical staff), residents of long-term care facilities and police and fire personnel in New Jersey. AS OF JANUARY 14, 2021, new state guidelines for vaccine eligibility expanded to include paid or unpaid persons working or volunteering in health care settings, residents of long-term care facilities and other congregate settings, front-line first responders, persons age 65 and older, and persons age 16 to 64 years old who have at least one chronic medical condition that poses a high-risk for severe COVID-19. FOR CURRENT, UPDATED INFORMATION, VISIT COVID19.NJ.GOV/VACCINE. This includes individuals who have cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Down syndrome, heart conditions, sickle cell disease, and type 2 diabetes mellitus as well as those who are immunocompromised, pregnant, obese, or smokers. Anyone in New Jersey falling into these eligible groups can register for a COVID-19 vaccine by visiting covidvaccine.nj.gov. How does the COVID-19 vaccine work? The COVID-19 vaccine gives the immune system a preview of the coronavirus, so it learns how to stop it if you are exposed. It triggers antibodies in your blood to attack the virus’ unique spike protein. Your immune system learns from the vaccine how to quickly recognize the actual virus and stop it from multiplying. The idea is to stop SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, from getting into cells, replicating itself and making you sick. Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe? Like most new medicines and vaccines, the COVID-19 vaccines are tested for safety in large clinical trials. During the clinical trials, volunteers receive the vaccine and then regularly check in with scientists to report any side effects or illnesses. If the vaccine has data to support its safety and effectiveness, the scientists apply for Emergency Use Authorization from the Food and Drug Administration. Scientists continue to follow the volunteers for at least two years to report any long-term or rare side effects and safety concerns. Where Can I Get the Vaccine? Information about open vaccination sites in New Jersey, vaccine registration, and eligibility updates is available at covid19.nj.gov/vaccine. For information about public vaccination at Capital Health, please visit capitalhealth.org/coronavirus or call 609.537.7468 (SHOT).
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, it’s important to remember that some of the most effective steps we can take to prevent its spread begin right at home. Wear a mask that fits properly and covers your mouth AND nose (no scarves or gaiters). Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place. When soap and water aren’t available, use a hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol. Limit or avoid indoor gatherings with people outside of your household and host outdoors when possible. This is important for adults more than 65 years of age or people with underlying medical conditions, who are at higher risk of getting very sick. Practice social distancing and stay at least six feet from others when possible. Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or cough or sneeze into your elbow if tissues are not available. With either method, thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water afterward. Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces daily. This includes tables, light switches, sinks, countertops, and bathroom surfaces. Most common household disinfectants work, but be sure to follow instructions on the product label.
IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO COVID-19, CALL YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER. You can find the most up-to-date information on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov. Helpful information is also available from the New Jersey Department of Health online at covid19.nj.gov or by phone at 1.800.222.1222.
Health Headlines by Capital Health | Hamilton Post15
SUPPORT COUNSELING
FOR ALL FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE WORKERS To address the emotional needs of all health care workers and emergency medical services personnel on the front lines of our region during the COVID-19 pandemic, Capital Health is offering a Support Counseling Program (SCP). The program is a joint effort of Capital Health, NJ Hope and Healing, and the New Jersey Department of Human Services. The SCP is funded by a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). “The pandemic presents significant medical challenges, but it is also taking an enormous mental toll, and not just on patients and their loved ones.” said DR. CHRISTI WESTON, medical director of Capital Health – Behavioral Health Specialists. “For health care and emergency services workers who are treating COVID-19 patients every day, the experiences can be physically and emotionally exhausting. The SCP is designed to help them cope with the challenges of the pandemic through individual and group counseling, education, and support services.” The SCP provides health care workers individual assessment and counseling, virtual support groups, mindfulness-based stress relief techniques, and referrals to mental health and substance abuse disorder treatment, if needed. If you or someone you know is a health care worker who needs emotional support and guidance during the pandemic, call Capital Health’s Support Counseling Helpline at 609.303.4129, Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
This program is brought to you through the New Jersey Hope and Healing Crisis Counseling Program (CCP). The CCP is provided by Capital Health in collaboration with the New Jersey Department of Human Services’ Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services and is funded through a FEMA/SAMHSA grant.
LIFE AFTER LOSS
A 10-Week Therapy Group for Grieving Thursdays starting February 4, 2021 | 3 p.m. LOCATION: Zoom Meetings Coming to terms with the loss of a loved one is one of the most difficult challenges we face in life. Although everyone copes with grief differently, many find comfort in sharing their experiences with others who are going through the process. CHELSEA HOAGLAND, a licensed clinical social worker from Capital Health – Behavioral Health Specialists, leads this 10-week support and therapy group. You’ll connect with group members who are dealing with loss and learn healthy strategies for moving forward. This event will be taking place virtually using Zoom. To sign up, call Capital Health – Behavioral Health Specialists at 609.689.5725. This group therapy program will be billed to your health insurance. Zoom meeting details will be provided via email 2-3 days before the program date.
16Hamilton Post | Health Headlines by Capital Health
Capital Health Expands Behavioral Health to Include CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY Capital Health has recently expanded its Behavioral Health Specialists practice in Hamilton and Bordentown, New Jersey to include more providers who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of children, adolescents, and young adults. DR. IRENE GABRIAL, a board certifed, fellowship trained psychiatrist recently joined Capital Health – Behavioral Health Specialists to lead the practice’s Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Program. Dr. Gabrial leads a team of trusted providers with expertise in child and adolescent behavioral health that includes DR. RACHEL BADEN SHERRILL, a licensed clinical psychologist, and TATYANA GRAY, a licensed clinical social worker. “Children and teenagers today face many challenges, some of which simply didn’t exist for previous generations,” said Dr. Christi Weston, medical director of Capital Health – Behavioral Health Specialists and director of Outpatient Psychiatry at Capital Health. “Through our patient-centered approach to care, our team provides support and guidance to individuals and families as they cope with challenges to their emotional wellbeing.” Dr. Irene Gabrial is board certified in child and adolescent and general psychiatry. She completed her psychiatry residency training at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was fellowship trained in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Piscataway, New Jersey. Dr. Gabrial received her medical degree at Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine in Cairo, Egypt. Before joining Capital Health, Dr. Gabrial was a staff psychiatrist and interim director of the Counseling, Alcohol and Other Drug Assistance Program & Psychiatric Services (CAPS) at Rutgers University, where she evaluated and treated undergraduate
and graduate students. Dr. Gabrial was also a clinical assistant professor for the University’s Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship program. Dr. Sherrill is a licensed clinical psychologist who works with individuals across the lifespan, with a strong specialty in child and adolescent assessment and treatment. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology (with honors) from Duke University. She earned her master’s degree and PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Alabama. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship in pediatric neurodevelopmental disabilities and related disorders through the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Program at the Civitan-Sparks Clinics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Sherrill provides therapy to children, adolescents, and adults with a range of presenting concerns and psychological testing to children and adults presenting with symptoms of ADHD. Tatyana Gray’s areas of professional interest include intergenerational trauma, anxiety/depression, neurodevelopmental disorders, relationships, and marginalized populations with a focus on collaborative and integrated care. After completing her undergraduate studies at State University of New York at Potsdam in Potsdam, New York she received her Master of Social Work degree at Florida International University (FIU) in Miami, Florida. Before joining Capital Health, Tatyana was a staff therapist at Syracuse University’s Barnes Center at the Arch Counseling in Syracuse, New York, where she provided mental health and wellness services in person and via telemedicine for a diverse student population. Call 609.689.5725 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Gabrial at Capital Health – Behavioral Health Specialists, or visit capitalhealth.org/behavioralhealth for more information.
Health Headlines by Capital Health | Hamilton Post17
Capital Health Cancer Center Earns
NATIONAL ACCREDITATION FOR RADIATION ONCOLOGY
FEBRUARY IS
AMERICAN HEART MONTH
Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell has been awarded a three-year term of reaccreditation in radiation oncology services by the American College of Radiology (ACR). Radiation oncology is the careful use of high-energy radiation to treat cancer or relieve a patient’s cancer pain.
KNOW THE SIGNS OF A HEART ATTACK AND WHAT TO DO IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS HAVING ONE
“We are extremely pleased to be awarded this accreditation. It is a testament to the commitment and efforts of our entire staff of radiation oncology specialists — oncologists, physicists, dosimetrists, therapists, nurses, navigators, and office support staff — all focused on providing every patient safe, evidenced-based care,” said DR. SHIRNETT WILLIAMSON, medical director of Radiation Oncology.
This puts you in contact with a trained dispatcher who will tell you what to do and sends an ambulance to your location. When the ambulance arrives, treatment begins in your home and the emergency department is prepared for your arrival at the hospital. Because your symptoms may get worse, driving yourself is a bad idea.
The ACR accreditation team recognized the Radiation Oncology Department’s outstanding organization of the treatments, medical records, policies, procedures and quality improvement processes — specifically Capital Health’s detailed, modalityspecific treatment directives and robust peer quality review process. In addition, ACR acknowledged the department’s outstanding teamwork, camaraderie, and patient-focus. “Patients want to know their medical team is knowledgeable about their health care issues and they want to be sure they are receiving the most advanced treatments and technologies available,” said DR. TIMOTHY CHEN, medical director of Stereotactic Radiosurgery at Capital Health. “This accreditation lets patients know we passed a rigorous review process meeting nationally-accepted standards of care.” Capital Health offers many options for radiotherapy, brachytherapy and stereotactic radiosurgery that provide patients greater convenience and efficiency while minimizing side effects. Physicians and multidisciplinary teams are able to manage complex cancers with unparalleled ease and precision anywhere in the body for all cancer types, including the abdomen, breast, central nervous system, head and neck, liver, lung, pelvis, and prostate. Patients have access to a full complement of leading-edge treatment modalities, such as traditional 3-D radiation, intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), CyberKnife® radiosurgery and high dose rate brachytherapy radiation (HDR). Stereotactic radiosurgery and high dose rate brachytherapy radiation (HDR) are delivered through advanced technologies that include Varian TrueBeamTM Linear Accelerator, CyberKnife® and Varian GammaMed technology (HDR brachytherapy), with surface-guided radiation therapy (SGRT) coming soon. To learn more about the Capital Health Cancer Center and the radiation oncology services that are available at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell, please visit capitalhealth.org/cancer or call 609.537.4244.
18Hamilton Post | Health Headlines by Capital Health
If you or a loved one is experiencing the signs of a heart attack, call 911.
The Chest Pain Center at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell is accredited by the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care and the American College of Cardiology. This means the Center meets high standards for diagnosing and treating cardiac emergencies, such as heart attacks. When someone is having a heart attack, time to treatment is critical. Capital Health’s pre-hospital alert system allows ambulance patients to be tested in their homes and mobilizes an interventional team at the hospital if there is evidence of a heart attack, saving time for an initial EKG test or faster bedside blood tests for troponin, a protein that enters the blood stream during a heart attack. If you or a loved one is having a severe heart attack caused by prolonged restricted blood flow due to a clot or ruptured plaque, Capital Health’s Cardiac Catheterization Lab is ready to provide an emergency stent placement. After you or your loved one has recovered, your last step is preventing another heart attack or heart-related illness. The Cardiac Rehabilitation Center, located at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell, offers a team of physicians, nurses, exercise physiologists and registered dietitians who provide individually prescribed education and exercise. All program candidates are interviewed prior to entering the Cardiac Rehabilitation program, which allows a team to develop and implement a personalized care plan. Participants include those who have experienced:
… Acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) within the past 12 months
… Coronary artery bypass surgery … Current, stable chest pain (angina pectoris) … Heart valve repair or replacement … Angioplasty or stenting to open blocked coronary arteries
… Heart or heart-lung transplant surgery … Stable, chronic heart failure Talk to your doctor about participating in cardiac rehabilitation. Visit capitalhealth.org/cardiacrehab for more information.
SMITH continued from Page 14 the people who stormed the Capitol were Trump’s supporters. Trump invited them to the rally and told them to march down the street. Even Sen. Mitch McConnell has acknowledged Trump’s responsibility. But when asked two weeks after the riot if he would correct his false statements about Antifa, Smith stood by his original statement. Smith was either foolish enough to believe Trump’s lies or—despite 40 years in Congress— lacked the courage and integrity to counter them.” Trump’s second impeachment came a week later—he was charged with “incitement of insurrection” following the events of Jan 6. Ten House Republicans voted in favor of impeachment, but Smith was not one of them. His floor remarks also sowed doubt about who was behind the attack, calling the impeachment hasty and “highly partisan.” Smith voted to impeach President Bill Clinton in 1998. “Today’s snap impeachment vote alleging President Trump’s ‘incitement of insurrection’ lacks an objective and thorough investigation of the facts,” he said. “... Our nation is in desperate need of unity and civility as it prepares for the inauguration of President-elect Biden. Impeachment of President Trump—without a thorough analysis of the facts which takes time, effort and serious scrutiny to establish—will not in any way help to heal a divided America.” This statement, though, doesn’t do that, DeLuca said. “Smith justified his vote against impeachment by claiming we needed more time to gather all of the facts and that it would do nothing to heal a divided America,” he said. “We will never heal if people like Smith refuse to condemn the lies that fomented the mob and therefore necessitated said impeachment, nor if he is still promoting conspiracy theories.” *** For some of Smith’s constituents, though, his reaction to the Jan. 6 insurrection attempt was no different than the last decade of his tenure— silence and blanket statements have become part of Smith’s playbook. Smith has held two “town halls”— a conversation with the Asbury Park Press editorial board in 2018 and a virtual meeting with the Alzheimer’s Association in 2020—since 1993. Constituents have launched petitions and campaigns like the #WhereIsChrisSmith hashtag over the last several years in an attempt to communicate with Smith, but those efforts have been ignored, residents say. Smith, who lives in Virginia fulltime, also quietly deactivated his Twitter account and disabled the comment feature on his Instagram account in the weeks following the attack on the Capitol. The decision was made over “security concerns and to help the district and national move toward unity,” Smith’s camp said in a statement. “While threats are never acceptable, it’s hard to imagine that other members
of Congress with higher profiles don’t deal with similar issues yet manage to hold town halls and remain on Twitter,” DeLuca said. “Smith also disabled commenting on his Instagram feed and regularly scrubs negative comments from his Facebook posts. He only does this with his campaign account, he can’t do it for his official page. He is hiding from his constituents and afraid of losing control of his image.” In the meantime, constituents have been instructed to call and email his office with concerns and to visit his government website with updates. That’s not enough, said Stephanie Schmid, who ran against Smith in 2020. To Schmid and others, fading into the background in times of crisis is the congressman’s hallmark. “He did this because he refuses to accept any criticism from or engage in a dialogue with those constituents who disagree with him,” she wrote on Twitter. “As justified criticism from NJ-04 folks poured in and the media started to key in on Smith’s trafficking in Antifa conspiracy theories, Smith shut as much of it down as he could in the hopes that the media would let this go and he could continue to pretend to be a ‘bipartisan leader.’ Make no mistake, he is nothing of the sort and hasn’t been for many years. He is a profile in complicity, cowardice and cowering.” “Nothing says 41 years of ‘leadership’ like the permanent out of office message Smith is implementing as the signature of his 21st term in Congress,” she wrote in another tweet. “NJ-04 deserves much more. What a disgrace.” Assisted Memory Clinical It hasn’t always been this way, Living Care Capabilities though, said DeLuca. He said there are times when Smith works for all of Harmony Villas & Commons, program provides a CareOne at Hamilton hisThis constituents, but spending “politiour two specially designed blend of service provides clinical services in calperfect capital” and “his extremist views secure neighborhoods offer attention for or those who rights” get a home-like environment. onand reproductive LGBT different levels of care and assistance but wish We offer 24-hour licensed inneed the way. programming based on to remainare as independent nursing coverage, a key “There plenty of causes Smith as possible.that Residents component in the level champions I find worthy, and the he individual needs of our residents with Alzheimer’s, aid with daily living of care we provide our is receive universally praised for his individual dementia and other memory tasks whilehe residing in residents. casework,” said. “That these efforts impairments. Special a beautifully are generallyappointed noncontroversial makes emphasis is placed on community withnoble. spacious them no less But why can’t creating a safe, comforting suitesbe and fine amenities. Smith more? Why won’t he fight for CareOne respite provides: and engaging environment. his constituents when the stakes are • 24-hour nursing support highest? Why won’t he speak with the authority of his 40 years in Congress • Daily meals and nutri�onal CareOne Hamilton offersfrom the highest of excellence in assisted living services and lead at his party away their standards monitoring designed to exceed the expectations of our residents and family members. worst inclinations?” Basic leadership is what we DeLuca Some of the clinical services provide are: • Recrea�on and ac�vi�es • Medica�on management and other Smith critics are left hoping for. • Assistance with personal care “That is what we needed during • Physical, occupa� onal Gym and Primary administration,” Social andhe said.Specialized Diagnostic Rehab Pharmacy theTrump speech therapies** Care Clinician Testing On-site Services “Every lie Trump Psychology told, whether it Medical Services Services denying Services* Phase 1a of CDC vaccina�on plan was cheating in an election, foreign intelligence or sowing doubt ** Therapies available under Medicare Part B about election security, was greeted 1660 Square Rd. withWhitehorse-Hamilton Smith’s affirmative consent or Hamilton Township, NJSmith 08690 wins his dissilent acceptance. trict by a comfortable margin and out609.586.4600 performed Trump in 2016 and 2020. www.care-one.com There was little political risk to Smith 1296497 1660 Whitehorse-Hamilton Square Rd. speaking out in defense of our democracy. It would have cost him nothing. Hamilton Township, NJ 08690 But he never did.” Smith did not respond to a request www.care-one.com for comment on this story.
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For the past two basketball seasons Brandon Raba has heard insults from surly spectators, who shouted that he was only playing because his father was the coach. Chants of “Daddy’s Boy” would surface when he’d miss a shot or turn the ball over. It was meant to disrupt him. It didn’t. “I don’t worry about that at all,” said Raba, now a Nottingham High senior. “My whole life I knew that would be coming if I played for my dad. I was expecting the chants and all that stuff. People don’t realize that didn’t faze me at all. No way.” “And,” he added, “I think I answered them last year.” Did he ever. In earning All-Area status and Player of the Year honors from one daily paper, Raba led the Northstars in scoring (16 points per game) and assists (121), was second in rebounds as a point guard with 168, finished third in steals (56), shot 50 percent from the field and hit 37 three-pointers. Surrounded by a cast of talented fellow-juniors, Raba helped Nottingham to a 22-7 record and berths in the Mercer County Tournament finals and the Central Jersey Group III quarterfinals. The dumbest thing coach Chris “The Baron” Raba could have done would have been not play his son. “During the season when I’m coaching him, it hasn’t been easy,” Raba said. “But when I reflect on how he played at the end of every season, I’m really proud of him. Every game he has the fans chanting at him, saying things about him because he plays for his father. And every game he’s probably one of the best players on the court. I’m proud of him but it hasn’t been easy.” The difficulties have not just been with the fans, but with the playercoach dynamic itself, which Chris Raba readily admits. “He’s held to a higher standard by me than others,” the Baron said. “Some people may make a mistake and I blame it on him instead of his teammate. (Wife Tina) tells me to shut up all the time. You can hear it on the camera when she films our games: ‘Shut up Chris, leave him alone!’” Brandon agreed that there have been some difficulties, but he would not them for anything. “He’s really tough on me at practice but I know it’s just to get me better and I just feed off of that,” Raba said. “It definitely takes a mental toll on you but you just gotta be mentally tough and know why he’s doing the stuff he does; and just think about the next
Nottingham High senior Brandon Raba with his dad, Northstars’ coach Chris Raba. (Photo by Rich Fisher.)
play and keep going.” It may have been rough, but it has also been worth it. There are few better guys to learn basketball from. Chris Raba has had his detractors over the years due to one thing or another, but no one will deny his coaching ability, which has produced state champions at two different schools. Since he was a wee lad, Brandon sat on his dad’s bench at both Hamilton West and Nottingham games, soaking in the Baron’s knowledge and learning to respect it. Although he doesn’t remember much about the Hornets’ 2006 state championship, Brandon was in the team photo afterward. He was on the bench every year thereafter. “Up through eighth grade, the day would go by so slow thinking about the game that night,” Raba recalled. “I just loved sitting on the bench, loved the environment of high school basketball games. All the fans; just how intense the games were. I just loved everything about it.” Brandon grew up with a basketball in his hand. He started in his backyard, trying to work on jump shot that couldn’t even reach the rim. In fourth grade he joined Hamilton PAL “just for fun, I had no experience,” and the following year he entered CYO with St. Raphael’s. Suddenly, things got serious. “I remember going into fifth grade, we had a long talk and my dad told me ‘If you really want to take basketball serious we can start working out and stuff,’” Raba said. “He would show me a couple drills and I would be in the backyard just doing it, whether it was dribbling, shooting drills, whatever.”
That would be the only coaching Chris would do of his son until he arrived at Nottingham. “I never coached him in organized sports,” he said. “I knew I’d eventually coach him in high school and I didn’t want to get involved in it before that. I just wanted to train him for when he got here.” Brandon excelled in CYO but because his team was always a runnerup and the MVP went to a championship player, he would get the Sportsmanship Award. “But I wasn’t really a good sport,” he said with a laugh. “I wasn’t much of a sportsman back then.” Raba began AAU in fifth grade with the Mid-Jersey Mavericks, and moved on to Gymwork Training, the YSU Elite, NJ Connection and DVA Elite. He credits Gymwork coach Deon Chew as having “a presence in my life coaching and training me. I learned a lot from him.” Raba played JV at Nottingham as a freshman, and also sat the bench on varsity as the Northstars won a state championship and reached the Tournament of Champions semifinals. With every starter graduating from that team, Raba’s sophomore season was a total rebuild for Nottingham. The Stars went 9-16 with a plethora of underclassmen, and Brandon led the team in scoring (11.4 ppg) and assists (97). He was second in rebounding (127) and steals (51). But it was a hard year due to the losing and the fact his dad was trying to toughen him up. “At the end of his sophomore year I reflected on the season and I kind of regretted how I treated him,” Chris said. “His junior year was hard but not as hard as his sophomore year. But I had to break him in, I had to get him ready because I knew eventually this team was gonna be really good and he would have to get used to people yelling in the stands and me coaching him.” Brandon showed a tremendous work ethic last season and proved he was way more than a daddy’s boy. As a team Nottingham showed its capabilities with stellar juniors Nazir Collins, Kishawn Douragh, Trey Kauffman, Jack Bisset, Josh Morrison and Chris Williams all contributing. It was a squad poised to make a run at state
and county championships this year until Covid restrictions wiped that all out. “It’s really depressing,” Brandon said. “It’s a heart crusher every day just thinking of what this year could have been. I’ve been waiting for this year all my life but all my goals I can’t really achieve – a state championship, a county championship.” Granted, he was on the team that won both of those titles, but not as a contributor. This was his year to be an impact player on a potential champion. Also in jeopardy is Raba’s shot at 1,000 points, as he has just 13 (possibly 15, if a CVC tournament is held) games to score 223 points. But scoring has never been Raba’s true value. He is a throwback point guard whose first instincts are to defend and take care of his teammates on offense. Although he has not yet decided on a college, it’s clear that wherever he goes it will be as a floor general. “He can control a game without scoring a basket,” Chris Raba said. “He handles the ball great; his assist to turnover ratio is 3-1, which is absurd. “We knew he was never gonna be fast or real athletic. For him to play at a higher level he has to make other people better. You have to be able to handle the ball and get the ball to people that are open. In college, that’s what he’s gonna have to do. He understands that. He can take three shots in a game or 15; he’s OK with that as long as we win.” Brandon feels that is an aspect of his game that just came naturally. “It’s not something I worked on, it’s just my IQ in basketball from being on his bench and around basketball my whole life,” he said. “After those games we’d go home, talk about the game, what his team did and didn’t do. I learned a lot.” And while Brandon hopes to go into law enforcement after college, his dad feels he can take another route as well. “I think he could have a future in coaching,” Chris said. “His basketball IQ is so high; he understands where other people should be on the court. His calling could be as a coach.” But for now, he loves being a player no matter how opposing fans try to taunt him.
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February 2021 | Hamilton Post21
sisters set for HAMILTON Acevedo special season with Hornets
IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS Shop Small, Shop Local, Shop Hamilton. As you start fresh in 2021 please remember to support our local small businesses and our neighbors and friends who own them. Visit our websites Hamilton-Strong.com and ShopHamiltonNJ.com
Jeannine Cimino Board Chairman
Rachel Holland Executive Director
The Hamilton Partnership is proud to announce Jeannine Cimino, as newly elected Chaiman of the Board and Rachel Holland as the newly appointed Executive Director. Since 1993, The Hamilton Partnership has worked with community business leaders, government officials, and private decision-makers to deliver services and employment opportunities that are essential to Hamilton Township’s continued success. Congratulations to Jeannine and Rachel, the first Source: Unkown females to serve in each of their roles!
By Rich Fisher
After rotating in and out, the Acevedo sisters will now be playing side by side. Junior Cierra Acevedo is beginning her third season with the Hamilton West girls’ basketball team, while her younger sister, Arianna, is back for her sophomore campaign after spending 9th grade on varsity. Whereas Arianna would spell her sister when Cierra needed a rest or was in foul trouble last season, the two will both be on the floor for the opening tip in 2021. “This year will be the first opportunity for them to be out there at the same time,” coach Joe Radice said. “When Arianna got her chances last year, it was filling the role of her sister. They may have gotten on together a few times, but not very often. This year we’ll see the little sibling rivalry out there to see how they blend together.” Actually, the sibling rivalry occurs when they are going against each other, as was the case when they played in Hamilton PAL or when they go against each other in practice. “Arianna brought it up at one practice, saying ‘Why do you keep matching me up with my sister?’” Radice said. “But it’s just a natural match-up. I told her ‘I want to see the competitiveness come out of the both of you,’ and for them to challenge each other.” Cierra can understand that logic. “I guess it makes it harder for each other,” she said. “But that’s also what makes us better.” Arianna eventually accepted that philosophy. “It was hard at first,” she said. “Obviously she was better than me because
Arianna and Cierra Acevedo will play side by side on the court for Hamilton High this winter. (Photo by Rich Fisher.)
she played longer than I played but it’s definitely made me a better basketball player. It’s helped me getting to the basket against a really good defense and working on my handle. She challenges me, pushes me to my limits.” The sisters are softball players by trade, but became interested in basketball by watching older family members. Cousins Donovan Yon, Brianna Williams and Edwin Williams all played for West. “We played against Donovan,” Arianna said. “It was definitely challenging. We still pushed through, played our best.” Cierra started in PAL at age 9 and Arianna joined her a year later. They first became teammates when they switched to a Bordentown league, and
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enjoyed the experience. “We were always good playing with each other,” Cierra said. “In PAL we went against each other because we played at the same speed and both played point guard.” Cierra, who also plays field hockey, was a pleasant surprise for Radice as a freshman. After watching her during the first practice, he figured on working the 5-foot-1 athletic specimen into the lineup throughout the season. “By the time we played two scrimmages and we were ready to get started for the season, there was no way I couldn’t put her in the starting lineup,” the coach said. “I couldn’t start her at point right away so I started her as the wing. Her breakout game was late in the season against Trenton High (15 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals). She wanted the ball in her hands. “That’s really when she took over being pretty much the leader of this team. Her competitive nature when she’s on the floor is second to none. That’s really what any coach would love about having her on the team.” Acevedo averaged 4.5 points per game with a team-high 60 steals and 95 rebounds. She was second in assists with 25. Things got even better as a sophomore as she paced West in scoring (7 ppg), rebounds (80), assists (40), blocked shots (45) and steals (55). Having an all-around game is something Cierra prides herself on even though she is hardly a year-round player. “I don’t really have a lot of time because my main sport is softball so I work on that,” she said. “But if I have a little time I’ll work on my dribbling outside my house and do a couple things to make me better. I’m the shortest girl on the team but I like getting rebounds.” Arianna joined the Hornets fray last year and had modest statistics but played in all 21 games and showed enough late-season potential that has her starting alongside big sister this year. Sophomore Brielle Maigue will be the third guard in the rotation. “It’s really exciting,” Cierra said. “Thank God we get to play because of Covid. I think it’s going to really be fun this year. I’m proud, watching
(Arianna) play from when we were smaller. She’s gotten way better.” The siblings have administered each other some lumps along the way. “We would always go hard against one another,” Cierra said. “She’ll get mad sometimes or I’ll get mad, but we both get along in the end.” Arianna, while hardly tall, does have an inch or two on Cierra. She also looks to provide a little bit of everything, and Radice feels she will do just that. “They both bring a little something different,” the coach said. “Cierra is a little shorter and a little quicker and stronger, and Arianna is a little taller and slender but is more elusive with the moves she has. They’re just real comfortable out there. I’m really excited to see what they do when they are out there together.” About the only difference in the two is aggressiveness, which is mainly due to the age difference. “Arianna will fight for rebounds,” Radice said. “Obviously being a year younger she may get pushed around a little more than Cierra does. Cierra will fight for every rebound and is always in attack mode, which is a great thing. Arianna doesn’t think attack as much, but she’s not afraid of anything. Putting her in the game last year there were no nerves slowing her down at all. “We didn’t want to rush Arianna. We wanted to let her get comfortable at the JV level at first. We were a little deeper where we didn’t have to force her into the game the way her sister was as a freshman. By the end of the year when Arianna was getting her opportunities she was doing phenomenal.” How good they will be while playing together remains to be seen, but Radice is happy for the girls. “I think any group of siblings would be super excited for this,” he said. “My brother and I were six years apart and we never got the opportunity until we were in men’s league games. But I remember having that smile on my face going on the floor with him in a men’s league game for the first time. So for them to have their names called in the starting lineup this year, it’s gonna be a real exciting moment for the two of them.”
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THOMAS KELLY FIGHT IN THE MUSEUM
Looking at the paintings of Barbara Courtney Jaenicke, you are transported to a specific spot, that you had to hike to get to. You see a specific vista, a river, a far-off mountain that you stopped to admire. You can tell it’s morning by the way that light filters through the trees and settles on the snow. You are transported because her compositions are so engaging, that you wish to see around the next bend even more. I have seen these works for years and they still make me stop and gaze. Now living in Bend, Oregon, Jaenicke grew up in Mercerville. Her work is represented here by The Artful Deposit Gallery in Bordentown. How did you get started painting, and at what age? My grandmother, Pauline Courtney, was an accomplished oil painter who lived in Mercerville, and my childhood was surrounded by her beautiful paintings. In high school and middle school, I took every art elective I could, but I credit the late Juanita Crosby of the Firehouse Gallery in Bordentown, NJ with teaching me a strong foundation of painting basics during my high school and college years. What are you communicating with your art? I strive to communicate the beauty of the world around us. My motivation for most of my landscape paintings is to capture the effects of light and overall mood of the scene in a painterly/ impressionist style, rather than merely
record the subject matter image. What media do you use and why? I work in oil and pastel. I worked for about a decade almost exclusively in pastel, but still loved the qualities of oil paint and gradually became equally skilled in both. I love working with varied edges in my paintings, and each medium has particular characteristics that allow me to manipulate those edges. Who were you influenced by? I am drawn to the lively, colorful, painterly work of the early impressionists. Modern day influences include such painters as Clyde Aspevig and Richard Schmid. Do you paint plein air, or in the studio? Both. I tend to paint slowly and methodically, and so most of my finished work is done in the studio. However, I’m also an avid plein air painter and keep a fairly frequent practice of painting outdoors. These small, quick field studies allow me to better understand light and shadow in the landscape, and accurately interpret the reference photos I gather when I’m out painting or hiking. How do you decide to paint in oil or pastel? I often try the same subject in both media so I can more thoroughly explore an idea. It also sometimes simply has to do with particular upcoming oil or pastel shows for which I need to produce work. But occasionally there are certain effects—usually pertaining to handling edges—that I can visualize working better in one medium vs. the other. Which is your favorite season to feature in your paintings?
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“Melting Away,” an oil painting by Barbara Jaenicke.
I’m pretty much a snow scene junkie. After growing up in New Jersey, I lived in Atlanta, Georgia for a little over 20 years and eventually missed the colder, snowier winters. In 2015 I convinced my husband and son to move to Bend, Oregon, where it snows often enough to find winter imagery to last me through the year. What fight/struggle do you have regarding your art? When we moved from Atlanta to Bend, we needed to downsize quite a bit. My much smaller studio size is definitely a struggle, but the tradeoff is the upgraded beautiful surrounding landscape in central Oregon. What one attribute should all artists have? Persistence. Even the most noteworthy artists whom I greatly admire will always admit that their success has resulted only from the multitude
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Prices subject to change without notice. See Sales Consultant for details Prices subject to change without notice. See Sales Consultant for details ©2020 Sharbell Development Corp. Equal Opportunity Company. Equal for Housing Prices subject to change without notice. See Sales Consultant detailsOpportunity. ©2020 Sharbell Development Corp. Equal Opportunity Equal Housing Opportunity. ©2020 Sharbell Development Corp. Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. PricesEqual subject to change without notice. See Company. Sales Consultant for details ©2020 Sharbell Development Corp. Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity.
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5/29/20 11:46 AM
February 2021 | Hamilton Post25
Christmas Day fire leaves Berg Avenue home uninhabitable BOB SHERMAN, JR. FIRELINE
Hamilton Township Duty Chiefs responded to 120 incidents during December. Included were four building fires, 10 cooking fires, one fuel burner malfunction, one passenger vehicle fire, one rubbish fire, two overpressure incidents with no fire, one rescue call, one COVID-19 call, one EMS call, seven motor vehicle accidents with injuries, one motor vehicle/pedestrian accident, three motor vehicle accidents with no injuries, one extrication of victim from motor vehicle accident, one extrication of victim from machinery, 13 gas leaks, 10 hazardous conditions with no fire, five service calls, 18 good intent calls, 37 false alarm or false calls and two other type incidents. As of the end of December, Hamilton duty chiefs have responded to 1,388 incidents. Hamilton Township Fire District No. 2 — Mercer ville Fire Company responded to 130 incidents during December. Included in the calls were five building fires, six cooking fires, five other type fires, two overpressure incidents with no fire, two assists to EMS crews, two COVID-19 calls, 15 Emergency Medical Service
incidents, seven motor vehicle accidents with injuries, one motor vehicle/pedestrian accident, one extrication of victim from motor vehicle accident, one extrication of victim from machinery, ten gas leaks with no fire, five hazardous conditions with no fire, four service calls, 35 good intent calls, 28 false alarms or false calls and one other type incident. As of the end of December, Station 12 has responded to 1,423 incidents. On Dec. 28 at 6:50 p.m., Squad 12, Engine 16, Engine 18, Truck 17 and Duty Chief John Retalis (C17) were dispatched to Vintage Court, where the 911 caller reported fire in the bathroom. Squad 12 under the direction of Capt. Jarred Pierson arrived to find fire in the bathroom ceiling. Crews were able to contain fire to ceiling, while checking for extension to the second floor and adjoining living units. Fire was contained to bathroom with no injuries reported. Fire was investigated by Fire Inspector Jason Ryan. Hamilton Fire Police responded. Hamilton Township Fire District No. 3 — Rusling Hose Company responded to 114 incidents in December. Included in the calls were two building fires, seven cooking fires, two overpressure incidents with no fire, six COVID-19 calls, 27 Emergency Medical Service incidents, five
motor vehicle accidents with injuries, one motor vehicle/pedestrian accident, one lock-in, one extrication of victim from motor vehicle accident, one extrication of victim from machinery, 10 gas leaks with no fire, eight hazardous conditions with no fire, one service call, 11 good intent calls, 27 false alarms or false calls and two other type calls. As of the end of December, Station 13 has res-ponded to 1,266 incidents. On Dec. 17 at 9:43 a.m, Truck 13, Engine 15, Engine 16, Deputy Chief (12) Patrick Sullivan and Chief 13 Steven Kraemer were dispatched to Lamberton Road for an overturned tractor trailer with the driver uninjured but cannot get out of the vehicle. Driver was removed by rescue personnel. No injuries were reported. Vehicle was righted and towed. No environmental impact related to this incident. Units were on location until 12:42 p.m. On Dec. 19 at 6:45p.m Truck 13, Engine 15, Engine 19 and Duty Chief (17) John Retalis were dispatched to State Highway 29N for a motor vehicle accident with rollover and emtrapment. Two ambulances were requested to the scene. Hamilton Township Fire District No. 4 — Hamilton and Enterprise Fire Companies responded to 81 incidents during December. Included were one dwelling fire, four cooking fires, three other type fires, one COVID-19 call, 26 Emergency Medical Service incidents, three motor vehicle accidents with injuries, two motor vehicle/pedestrian accidents, one motor vehicle accident with no injuries, one extrication of victim from motor vehicle accident. four gas leaks with no fire, four hazardous conditions with no fire, three service calls, 13 good intent calls and 15 false calls or false alarms. As of the end of December, Station 14 has responded to 928 incidents.
After 14 years Chiro Care Chiropractic and Rehabilitation Center has sadly closed its doors. Patients can request their records by writing to: Dr. Jennifer DePalma, DC, P.O. Box 683, Manalapan, NJ 07726 Dr. DePalma has joined Grossman Chiropractic & Physical Therapy and welcomes all patients at this new practice.
Expires: 2-28-21
Expires: 2-28-21
26Hamilton Post | February 2021
Expires: 2-28-21
Grossman Chiropractic can be reached at 397 Ridge Road, #2, Dayton NJ 08810. (732) 438-8700
On Dec. 12 at 10:07 p.m., Engine 14, Squad 12, Truck 17 and duty chief Deputy 12 Patrick Sullivan were dispatched to Lehigh Avenue, where the 911 caller reported fire in the fireplace. Occupants were advised to evacuate. Engine 14 arrived and reported nothing showing. Sullivan reported a small fire behind the wood stove. Fire was extinguished with no extension and crews ventilated the dwelling. Units were on location until 10:42 p.m. On Dec. 17 at 2:57 p.m., Engine 14, Squad 12, Engine 16, Truck 13 and duty chief Patrick Sullivan were dispatched to Buttonwood Street, where the 911 caller reported an electrical box smoking and popping. E14 under the direction of Capt. Shane Mull arrived first to a one-story, single-family dwelling with nothing showing. Upon investigating, Mull reported a moderate smoke condition in the garage and deployed a 1-3/4” handline. Sullivan arrived and assumed command and called the all hands assignment. Crews determined the fire was inside the main breaker panel and the areas around it. Area was opened and no extension was found. The residence did have solar panels on the roof and the power to supply them was shut off. DC12 requested Hamilton electrical inspector as well as PSE&G to disconnect the power. DC12 reduced the assignment down to E-14 and T13 while awaiting public service. The water was shut off at the meter at the request of the township electrical inspector as the building was to be left with no power. Fire marshal Scott McCormick conducted the investigation. No injuries were reported. Hamilton Township Fire District No. 5 — DeCou Hose Company responded to 61 incidents in December. Included were two building fires, five cooking fires, three other type fires, two overpressure incidents with no fire, one rescue call, four COVID19 calls, 14 Emergency Medical Service incidents, five motor vehicle accidents with injuries, one motor vehicle accident with no injuries, two service calls, two mutual aid cover assignments, four good intent calls and six false alarms or false calls. As of the end of December, Station 15 has responded to 582 incidents. Hamilton Township Fire District No.6 – White Horse Fire Company responded to 136 incidents in December. Included were three building fires, five cooking fires, five other type fires, two overpressure incidents with no fire, one rescue call, ten assists to EMS crews, eight COVID-19 calls, 33 Emergency Medical Service incidents, five motor vehicle accidents with injuries, three motor vehicle accident with no injuries, one extrication of victim from machinery, 10 gas leaks with no fire, 10 hazardous conditions with no fire, six service calls, one mutual aid cover assighnment, ten good intent calls, 21 false alarms
or false calls and two other type calls. As of the end of December, Station 16 has responded to 1,345 incidents. On Dec. 25 at 2:53 p.m., Engine 16, Engine 15, Engine 18, Truck 13 and Duty Chief (19) Aaron Heller were dispatched to Berg Avenue for a dwelling fire. Upon arrival, T13 officer Lt. Keith Greene reported a single-family, single-story wood-frame dwelling with smoke showing from side A. Chief 19 called for the all hands, arrived and established Berg Avenue Command. Rapid Intervention Team, Squad 12 was dispatched to the scene as was Ambulance A-1102. E-16’s firefighters attacked the fire in an offensive manner with a 1 3/4” handline finding active fire in the bedroom located at A/B corner of the dwelling. T-13 confirmed with the residents that everyone was out of the structure and coordinated ventilation and opening of the walls and ceiling with E16’s crew. E-15 backed up the interior crews with a 1 3/4”, E18 laid a Large Diameter Hose supply line from E16 to the hydrant at Berg and Cedar Lane. All fire was extinguished and the interior ceiling and wall of the room of origin were overhauled while T13 personnel checked for exterior wall and attic extension which were negative. PSE&G pulling the electric meter and closing the gas at the meter. Hamilton Township building officials responded and deemed the dwelling uninhabitable. Fire Marshal 15 Jarrett Gadsby investigated the cause and origin of the fire. With no further need for FD service, all units were released. Command terminated and units returned to quarters without incident. On Dec. 25 at 4:03 p.m., Engine 16, Engine 15 Engine 19, Truck 13 and Chief 19 Aaron Heller were dispatched to Woodland Court for a reported fire in the oven and alarms going off. Arriving units found smoke in the residence. Fire was contained to the oven. On Dec. 27 at 5:25 p.m., Engine 16, Engine 15, Truck 13 and Chief 13 Steve Kraemer were dispatched to South Broad Street and Pebble Creek Drive for an overturned vehicle. Engine 15 arrived and reported one vehicle on its roof with no entrapment. Command held the assignment to Engine 16. Hamilton Township Fire District No.7 — Nottingham Fire Company responded to 117 incidents in December. Included were two building fires, four cooking fires, two other type fires, one rescue incident, eleven assists to EMS crews, four COVID-19 calls, 28 Emergency Medical Services incidents, four motor vehicle accidents with injuries, four gas leaks with no fire, three hazardous conditions with no fire, 11 service calls, 25 good intent calls and 18 false alarm and false calls. As of the end of December, Station 17 has responded to 1,390 incidents. Hamilton Township Fire District No. 8 — Colonial Fire Company responded to 83 incidents in December. Included in the calls were three building fires, four cooking fires, one passenger vehicle fire, two other type fires, one overpressure with no fire,
three COVID-19 calls, 22 Emergency Medical incidents, one motor vehicle accident with injuries, three motor vehicle accidents with no injuries, five gas leaks, one hazardous condition with no fire, three service calls, one mutual aid cover assignment, 14 good intent calls, 18 false alarm or false calls and one other type incident. Through December, Station 18 has responded to 894 incidents. Hamilton Township Fire District No. 9 — Groveville Fire Company responded to 109 incidents in December. Included were two building fires, three cooking fires, two paasenger vehicle fires, one other type fire, one rescue assignment, 15 assists to EMS crews, two COVID-19 calls, 33 Emergency Medical Service incidents, ten motor vehicle accidents with injuries, two motor vehicle accidents with no injuries, one extrication of victim from machinery, one gas leak with no fire, four hazardous conditions with no fire, two service calls, 20 good intent calls, eight false alarm or false calls and two other type incidents. Through December, Station 19 has responded to 1,172 incidents. The Mercer County Fire Marshal’s Office had no requests for investigations in December.
Fire Marshals re-elected
At its meeting on Dec. 4, the Mercer County Firemen’s Association re-elected James M. Greschak to the office of Mercer County Fire Marshal, Kevin W. Brink to the office of 1st Assistant Fire Marshal and Scott McCormick to the office of 2nd Assistant Fire Marshal for the year 2021. The names of these individuals were submitted to Mercer County Executive Brian S. Hughes and the Board of Chosen Freeholders for re-appointment.
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2020 Fire Fatalities
Three fire fatalities occurred in Mercer County in 2020. The first occurred in February in the City of Trenton. An adult female doused herself in an ignitable liquid inside her home and set herself on fire. The cause is listed as incendiary, self-immolation. The second was similar. In July, in Hamilton Township, an adult male saturated himself in gasoline in his rear yard and ignited himself. The cause is also listed as incendiary, self-immolation. The third, in September in the City of Trenton, involved an adult male who occupied a duplex dwelling that was fully involved upon fire department arrival. The victim was found deceased after the fire was extinguished. The fact that the overall number of fatalities is not higher, as it has often been in past years, is a testimonial to the ongoing fire safety efforts of the fire prevention professionals and the fire departments throughout the county.
Bob Sherman, Jr. is a life member of Mercerville Volunteer Fire Company and a Hamilton resident.
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Three words of gratitude and encouragement that capture the courage and compassion of health workers here and across America. To share your thanks or to support our Emergency Response Fund,
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vaccines to be safe and effective and recommended authorization. Pfizer’s vaccine was shown to be 95 percent effective in clinical trials that included close to 44,000 participants. Moderna’s vaccine was shown to be 94.5 percent effective in clinical trials that included SIX09 section approximately pgs 5 and 7 30,000 participants. Are there side effects to the By Dr. Seth Rosenbaum vaccine? According to the Centers for Disease Physicians at Robert Wood Johnson RWJ-104 Heroes Work Here_4.313x11.25_HAM.indd 1 4/17/20 1:21 PM who receive Control (CDC), individuals University Hospital (RWJUH) Hamilton recommend receiving the vaccine the COVID-19 vaccine may experience and assure the public that it is safe. some short-term side effects, which are Contact your doctor with questions normal signs that your body is buildabout the vaccine or visit the New Jer- ing protection. These side effects may sey Department of Health at nj.gov/ briefly affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go health to learn more. away in a few days. What is a vaccine? Some side effects are like Vaccines currently prethose experienced from vent millions of deaths every receiving the flu vaccine, year by preparing your such as body aches, pain or immune system to fight off swelling at the injection site, viruses and bacteria. If your tiredness, chills, or fever. In body is exposed to those rare cases, an allergic reacdisease-causing germs later, tion to the vaccine may occur. the body is ready to destroy How do I get the them, preventing illness. vaccine? Is a COVID-19 vaccine Dr. Rosenbaum Once they are widely necessar y? available, the plan is to have COVID-19 can be a mild illness in some or lead to severe disease COVID-19 vaccines offered in doctors’ or even death in previously healthy peo- offices, retail pharmacies, hospitals, ple. Survivors may struggle with long- and federally qualified health centers. term side effects from infection. Many Please reach out to your healthcare treatments and medications are being provider or stay up to date with the studied, but there is no cure currently. NJ DOH plan for vaccinations on their Prevention is key. Experts believe vacci- website or the website of the county nation may be an important step in help- that you live in. Do you recommend the COVIDing to stop this illness. Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe 19 vaccine for your patients? Yes. With very few exceptions, I recand effective? The FDA is responsible for mak- ommend everyone receive the vaccine ing sure that, just like any other as soon as it is available to them. The medications, any FDA-authorized or PfizerBioNTech vaccine is indicated approved COVID-19 vaccines are safe for people age 16 and older. The Moderna vaccine is indicated and that they work. Two vaccines were granted Emer- for people age 18 and older. The safety gency Use Authorization after a panel and effectiveness of this vaccine is wellof independent experts heard hours documented and it will provide signifiof testimony on each vaccine’s devel- cant immunity to contracting COVIDopment and clinical trials results. In 19. The risks of contracting the virus both cases, the panel determined the far outweigh the risks of receiving the
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us put our own twist on the song stylings vaccine. of Sheli Monacchio, songwriter, performer In addition to serious illness from and Director of Life Care Resources, Van COVID-19, we are also finding many Dyck Law. Virtual class. 10 a.m. COVID-19 survivors have lasting side effects that affect their ability to fully Thursday, February 11 recover and function normally. The vac- Parkinson’s: Updates, Cognition and Exercise. (609) 584-5900. Learn the latest cine is our best chance to ending this on living a full life with Parkinson’s dispandemic. I recommend that everyease and other movement disorders with one speak to their trusted healthcare neurologist Jill M. Giordano Farmer, DO, provider and get vaccinated as soon as MPH. Virtual class. 10 a.m. they can.
Coming up this month at RWJUH-Hamilton Thursday, February 4
22-Day Healthy Eating Challenge: The End of Heart Disease. (609) 584-5900. Sign up to learn why and how to get into a nutrient dense dietary pattern. We will be referencing “The End of Heart Disease: The Eat to Live Plan to Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease” by Joel Fuhrman. Virtual class. Also Feb. 11, 18 and 25. 6:30 p.m.
Friday, february 5
The Lunch Bunch: Virtual Cooking for the PreK Crowd. (609) 584-5900. Encourage adventurous eating by pairing up with your preschooler in your very own kitchen! Simple recipes and helpful tips on creating positive mealtimes. Virtual class. Also Feb. 12 and 19. Noon.
Monday, February 8
Sensational Sweet Solutions. (609) 5845900. Take a load off and catch up on some simple sweets that show love from the outside in. Virtual class. 11:15 a.m.
Tuesday, February 9
Preventive Cardiology in 2021: Five Key Questions Answered. (609) 584-5900. Cardiovascular disease remains the No. 1 cause of death and morbidity in the United States. Justin Fox, MD, fellowshiptrained interventional cardiologist. Virtual class. 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, February 10
Kids in the Kitchen. (609) 584-5900. Dietitian-directed and kid-created…from the comfort of your own kitchen! Virtual class. 6:30 p.m. For the Love of Music. (609) 584-5900. Help
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Radical Self Care. (609) 584-5900. Explore what self care really is and why you can’t truly care for other’s until you first take care of yourself. Kathi Szabo of Eclectic Well Being. Virtual class. 6:30 p.m. Culinary Nutrition in the Kitchen. (609) 584-5900. Prevention, reversal, and management of chronic lifestyle disease can start wherever you are, with what you have. Alyssa Luning, RD, CSOWM- Registered dietitian/board certified specialist in obesity and weight management. Virtual class. 11:15 a.m.
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February 2021 | Hamilton Post29
Pardoning the turkeys? Well, pardon me! PETER DABBENE COMPLEX SIMPLICITy
I’m writing this column in the second half of January, two weeks after an unprecedented assault on the Capitol building, American government, and reality by a bunch of people whose B.S. detectors may be permanently broken. But in their defense, figuring out what’s true and what’s not isn’t always easy. For example, if I told you a group that’s under F.B.I. investigation for attempting to start a second civil war takes its name from the 1984 film Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo, you might say
that’s crazy. And it is crazy, but it’s also true. The long line of irresponsible speech and conspiracy theories has led to this—people channeling their passionate, often incoherent feelings of discontent through bad 1980s movies. But enough about all that. Let’s talk about a lighter subject, like presidential pardons of turkeys. It’s a longstanding tradition, one that Donald Trump continued by pardoning turkeys named Drumstick, Peas, Butter, Corn, Rod Blagojevich, Bernard Kerik, Charles Kushner, and Steve Bannon. OK, so strictly speaking, the last four are foul, not fowl, but there’s no doubt they’re turkeys in the finest sense of 1950s and 60s slang—or
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30Hamilton Post | February 2021
Garfield, both of whom died early in their terms. Pardons have gone to Eugene Debs and Brigham Young, patriotic pirates and Confederate soldiers, Native Americans and George Steinbrenner, among thousands of others. Presidential clemency has been used to correct egregious injustices, like the overly harsh sentences delivered to many nonviolent drug offenders. Other times, pardons mark the final settlement of difficult periods for the country and an attempt to move on, as with George Washington’s pardons of men involved in the Whiskey Rebellion, or, more controversially, Jimmy Carter’s pardoning of those who
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more specifically, members of the subcategory “jive turkey,” introduced in the 1970s and described in the online Urban Dictionary as “an individual who is prone to exaggerating the truth greatly or an outright liar.” Thanksgiving turkey pardons have a relatively recent origin, but the presidential pardoning of humans goes back to George Washington, who pardoned 16 people. Woodrow Wilson and F.D.R. are the top all-time pardoners of individuals, with cumulative totals of 2480 and 3687, respectively, but nearly every commander-in-chief has issued pardons and commutations of one kind or another; the only two who didn’t were William Henry Harrison and James
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avoided the draft during the Vietnam War. It’s the presidential equivalent of changing the subject to the weather during our great national conversation. But, especially in the last hundred years of so, personal relationships and party loyalty have often, and notably, Trumped (pun sort of intended) such “righting injustice” and “good of the country” arguments. Harry Truman pardoned several corrupt Democratic politicians, George H.W. Bush pardoned six members of the Reagan administration, and Gerald Ford (in) famously pardoned Richard Nixon. Bill Clinton pardoned Marc Rich, a tax evader whose former wife made donations to the Democratic Party and Clinton Library. Clinton also pardoned his half-brother (codenamed “Headache” by the Secret Service), clearing him of drug charges. But Trump may have outdone them all. When discussing pardons, he’s been brazen, blusterous, and just short of berserk. His list of pardonees looks like Batman’s Rogues Gallery, with Roger Stone, Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort, and other Russia-probe related figures featuring prominently. Convicted liars and obstructers of justice used to at least have to wait for a new presidential term or two before receiving their reprieves—a recent example is “Scooter” Libby, Dick Cheney’s vice presidential aide, who was pardoned by Trump. But now, we’re witnessing the establishment of a dangerous precedent, in which a president can almost immedi-
ately hand over a “Get Out of Jail Free” card to anyone who stays loyal and protects the interests of the POTUS, an implicit tit-for-tat that doesn’t even need to be offered aloud. Trump brought a certain showmanship to the tradition of pardoning turkeys, befitting his experience as a reality TV show host. In the final weeks of his presidency, I imagined a Trump-hosted game show called “Beg Pardon,” in which guests would vie for his favor while prefacing every statement with, “Mr. Trump, I beg your pardon...” Though there would be some losers in my fictional production (“Rudy Giuliani, no pardon for you!”), the studio audience would find special Oprah-style gifts under their chairs: “You get a pardon! And you get a pardon! And you...” Thankfully, Trump didn’t pardon the rioters who claimed their entrance into the Capitol building was acceptable because the president “invited” them to enter, as if they were vampires and it was his home. (Following vampire logic, a similar invitation and entry to the White House might have stood up in court. Or at least, in vampire court.) Trump also decided against—or
was talked out of—broad, undefined, preemptive pardons for his family and himself. Self-pardoning may or may not have stood up in court, but either way it would have created an irrefutable impression of inmates running the (Arkham?) asylum, turkeys in the henhouse, or some other tortured metaphor for a chaotic, less than ideal situation. Many legal scholars say the logic behind preemptive pardons is solid, and that if someone has committed a federal offense, the president can grant clemency even if formal charges haven’t yet been brought. Pardons can’t protect against prosecution of future offenses, so at least we don’t have to worry about the Trump pardonees being given carte blanche to indulge their avaricious impulses. In concluding the Trump era, it’s interesting to note that his 2020 election experience was presaged by the 2018 Turkey Pardoning Ceremony, in which the now ex-president joked that one turkey, Carrots, “refused to concede and demanded a recount” of the “free and fair election” to determine which turkey would be the guest of honor. Rival turkey Peas
Pardons are the presidential equivalent of changing the subject to the weather during our national conversation.
Hamilton Twp
got the title, but both turkeys were pardoned. Still, there can only be one winner, for a turkey poll or a presidential election, and now I need to direct my attention away from Donald Trump. With profligate pardoning all around, it’s time to get mine. I’m not aware of any federal lawbreaking on my part, but as a guy who was raised Catholic, the idea of blanket absolution for past sins holds a certain appeal for me. After all, nothing was better than the feeling of weightless, angelic purity that accompanied those first few steps out of the confessional, even if it didn’t last long before the next list of sins began to accumulate. So I’d like to address the new leader of the free world directly: President Biden, I know you’re busy getting settled into the White House and all, so pardon me for asking—but do you think you could, well, pardon me? Peter Dabbene’s website is peterdabbene.com, and his previous Hamilton Post columns can be read at www.communitynews.org. His new book Complex Simplicity collects the first 101 editions of this column, along with essays and material published elsewhere. It is now available at Amazon.com or Lulu.com for $25 (print) or $4.99 (ebook), and is just the thing your significant other would love to receive for Valentine’s Day. Peter Dabbene is a Hamilton-based writer. His website is peterdabbene.com. His books can be purchased at amazon.com.
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February 2021 | Hamilton Post31
32Hamilton Post | February 2021