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JANUARY 2022 FREE COMMUNITYNEWS.ORG

A store of their own

Students at Mercer High School learn life skills at Chuck’s Place

By ReBeKAh SchrOeDer

Serving up hot coffee and vocational skills, Chuck’s Place, a Wawa-like store in Mercer High School, is an opportunity for students who work there to gain valuable occupational experience.

“It’s our very own Wawa,” Elijah Cruhigger, a student from Trenton, said. With a storefront that mirrors the East Coast convenience chain known across New Jersey, students like Cruhigger are able to acquire real-world expertise outside of the classroom.

“I learned to be a bit more fl exible, a bit more independent, and defi nitely learn the skills I need to advance on my own when that time comes,” he said. “I like to work with others, and just help people out and make them happy.”

Chuck’s Place is one of several work environments offered through Mercer County Special Services School District.

The MCSSSD serves children with special needs living in Mercer County and the surrounding area. It provides instructional, vocational and therapeutic programs designed for each student’s unique needs, interests and character-

See CHUCK’S PLACE, Page 3

The staff at Que Rico includes (front row) Rosa Guerra, Alida Guerra, Jose Guerra, and (back row) Daniela Guerra, Melisa Guerra and Alicia Vanegas. The Hamilton-based restaurant is owned by the Guerra family, which lives in Lawrence.

Towns defi ne cannabis rules

By BiLL SANserViNO AND ReBeKAh SchrOeDer

Good food, family vibes at Que Rico restaurant

By JOe EMANsKi

Mercer County’s Central and South American dining scene grows a little every month — and one of the newest additions is a locally owned, family-run restaurant specializing in Guatemalan as well as other cuisines: Que Rico on George Dye Road in Hamilton. Favorites on the Que Rico menu originate from all over the Latin American map and include ceviche, pollo guisado, chuleta y tostones, mojarra frita, bistec encebollado and garnachas. And of course, Campero today. there are tacos, burritos, pupu- Chef Alida Guerra and sas, quesadillas and more. her husband, Hugo, owned

The Guerra family opened and operated the restaurant Que Rico last September and it together for 10 years, while was an instant hit, selling out a at the same time raising their week’s worth of food in just the young children. But as their fi rst few days. The restaurant family grew, Alida felt like it has been cultivating a loyal fol- was necessary to devote all lowing ever since. of her time to the kids — and

For some customers, Que running the restaurant single Rico has been a treat worth handed was more than Hugo waiting for. They remember could comfortably do. So, they back in the early 2000’s, when made the diffi cult decision to the Guerras ran the successful close. Carisma Restaurant in Trenton Alida never gave up the in the spot occupied by Pollo See QUE rICO, Page 4 See CANNABIS, Page 6

New Jersey residents voted overwhelmingly to legalize marijuana more than a year ago, but they won’t be able to walk into a store and buy cannabis until later this year at the earliest.

The N.J. Cannabis Regulatory Commission continues to refi ne the state’s rules governing the various aspects of the cannabis industry in the state. As that process continues, town offi cials continue to evaluate whether to allow cannabis businesses in their communities, while at the same time fi elding proposals from various businesses who want to operate within their borders.

About 67% of New Jersey voters approved the legalization of adult-use recreational cannabis in a referendum in the Nov. 2020 election. Last February, the state legislature and Gov. Phil Murphy passed a law legalizing recreational cannabis, establishing the Cannabis Regulatory Commission and creating six different licenses for cannabis businesses. The law also set a deadline of Aug. 21 for communities to pass ordinances regulating those cannabis businesses.

Under the state law, if a town did not specifi cally prohibit each class of license by the deadline, those businesses

See ArOUNd TOWN, Page 1

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Cirkus moves on from Trenton Farmers Market

West Windsor resident Chris Cirkus, who took over leadership of the historic Trenton Farmers Market in early 2019, will continue to surround herself with fruits and vegetables but through food distribution in her new role as Regional Foods Specialist for Zone 7, a farm fresh distribution service, based in Ringoes.

Cirkus will focus efforts on Central Jersey and Philadelphia customers. “My work around farmers markets for the past 12 years has led me to switch gears to connecting restaurants, schools and small businesses to high quality farm products and local foods.”

“I have greatly enjoyed revitalizing the Trenton Farmers Market”, Cirkus said. “I’m extremely proud of the challenge and seeing the results. My vision for the Market absolutely worked.

“Every square inch of the market is vibrant and full; the market’s revenue is up signifi cantly over former management without any ; the market has its own branding and consistent advertising; the building and grounds are being maintained, and the entire community feels welcome.”

New tenants under Cirkus’s management include: Kafe Kreyol, Kafe Ojala, Out of Step Offbeat Boutique & General Store, Mr. G’s Country Store, Rose Boutique LLC, Tea-For-All Tea Shoppe, and Terra Momo Bread Co. along with mushroom/poultry farm Zell’s Farm based in Hillsborough. Cirkus has also built relationships with countless artists, jewelers, crafters, and local businesses who have populated the weekend rental tables and stalls.

She said: “The most gratifying part of this work has been to meet and hear from customers who had stopped shopping at the Market many years ago, who have now returned over and over again because of the positive environment.”

According to a press release, “Many market visitors wouldn’t even know who Cirkus is since she keeps pretty much behind the scenes; it isn’t about the recognition, it’s simply about connecting the farmers, merchants and vendors with their customers in a grand old year-round space.”

A replacement hasn’t been named, and Cirkus said she hopes the new manager will possess specifi c skills to take her vision and run with it.

“It’s a huge job to be a property manager, offi ce manager, market mom, bookkeeper, marketer, and cheerleader, with the ability to quickly pivot, but I’m confi dent that there’s someone out there who is up to job, just like I was,” she said.

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