11-21 TD

downtowner Trenton’s City Paper

November 2021 |

communitynews.org

Digging It

History runs deep at the Trent House. Page 8.

Looking back on Trenton’s Sports Nite, page 4; Thrills and chills at Riverview Cemetery, 6.

UP FRONT

Thomas Kelly’s painting ‘The Domino Players,’ part of his ‘Homecoming’ exhibit at the Trenton Social.

Area artist comes home to Trenton Social

also installed at the same intersection.

The NJ Transit and New Jersey State Council on the Arts-supported project includes 10 exterior banners, five pieces installed within the bus shelters, and bike racks created by regional artists The artists are Liz Amaral, Laura Beard, Leon Rainbow, Chee Bravo, Raphael Ogoe, and Wills Kinsley.

‘H

omecoming” is the name of area artist Thomas Kelly’s solo Trenton Social restaurant exhibition opening on Friday, November 5, and remaining on view through November 29.

Kelly notes the following about the exhibition’s name and personal significance: In 1999 when the Trenton Social space opened as an arts café, bistrostyle restaurant, performance venue, and art gallery, the owners asked me to show my work in an exhibition during the grand opening month. I was just beginning to exhibit with a body of work and this would be my second solo show. It was a little daunting, as it was and is a large space. They liked my work and took a chance on me when they opened their doors.

My work and the café were well received and were works in progress.

When Brass Rabbit asked me to do a solo show, she did not know of my history with the building. I am now represented by four art galleries and have been happy to have more than 300 original paintings collected. When asked to do a show at the Trenton Social this November, it felt warm and Art on the move at embracing. It felt like coming home.

Artworks Trenton A homecoming. rtworks Trenton is celebrating “Homecoming,” Trenton Social, 449 the completion of two public art South Broad Street. Opening Friday, November 5, 5 to 10 p.m. www.trenton- projects at the Trenton Transit Center with an exhibition of the sketches, social.net.

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DOWNTOWNER Phone: (609) 396-1511 Fax: (609) 844-0180 Website: communitynews.org SENIOR EDITOR Dan Aubrey MANAGING EDITOR Sara Hastings SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Jennifer Steffen (Ext. 113) ADMINISTRATIVE ADVERTISING ASSISTANT Gina Carillo

An award-winning publication of Community News Service, LLC © Copyright 2021 All rights reserved.

Trademark and U.S. Copyright Laws protect Community News Service LLC Publications. Nothing herein may be reproduced in whole or part without written permission of the Publisher.

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Community News Service 15 Princess Road, Suite K Lawrence, NJ 08648 Phone: (609) 396-1511

Artworks Trenton, 19 Everett Alley.

609-394-9436 or www.artworkstrenton.org.

Glitch Art comes to MCCC downtown gallery

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initial layouts, mock ups, and some finished projects, and a meet-the-artist talk and reception set for Saturday, November 13, from 6 to 8 p.m.

The “Stepping Into Tomorrow” project represents one of the 16 municipalities funded by a 2020 Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art Grant.

George Bates, a New Jersey-based artists who has worked with on New York City public art projects, was selected after a juried process and led a team of artists, community members, students, and volunteers, on installing an on-the-street design at the Trenton Transit Center (at the intersection of South Clinton Avenue and Barlow Street/Raoul Wallenberg Avenue).

The TRANSTional Art Project was

he James Kerney Campus Gallery presents “Analog Surrealism,” a solo exhibition featuring the work of Trenton-based digital artist Phillip McConnell. The exhibition curated by photographer and gallery curator Michael Chovan-Dalton is on view from November 8 through December 4.

“Analog Surrealism” features 16 new works that mix photography and digital art and are reflective of McConnell’s use of Glitch Art. According to promotional materials, “Glitch Art is the aesthetic of digital errors, created by corrupting the data of pictures” and that “Phillip sees his work as alchemical in nature as he creates a new image by breaking down two different mediums to their base elements and merging them to create a single amalgamation of a picture.”

An opening reception and artist talk are set for Monday, November 8, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

JKC Gallery, James Kerney Campus, Mercer County Community College, Trenton Hall Annex, 137 North Broad Street. 609-586-4800 or www.mccc. edu/community_gallery_jkc.shtml.

For more on Phillip McConnell, go to www.phillipmcconnellart.com.

News & Letters: dan@princetoninfo.com Events: events@communitynews.org Website: communitynews.org Facebook: facebook.com/trentondowntowner Twitter: twitter.com/mercerspace 3,000 copies of the Trenton Downtowner are bulk distributed in Trenton 12 times a year.

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2Trenton Downtowner November 2021

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November 2021 | Trenton Downtowner3

In their own words: Karl Flesch on ‘Trenton High’s Sports Nite’

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renton High’s Sport Nite: The tumbling, pyramids, and stunts would Mighty Reds vs. The Battin’ later be replaced by races. Another Blacks” is the subject of a new event included in the first presentation Trenton City Museum exhibit open- that was dropped was the singing of a ing on November 19 and remaining on victory song by the losing team to the victors. view through April 30.

One of the greatest changes made While the TCM display uses Sports Nite memorabilia and photos, a web- for the second Sport Nite was the start site component features Bobashela of increasing the number of nights, yearbook photos of Sport Nite, Sports increasing it to two nights. In its heyNite articles from the school’s Spec- day, the event would cover five nights, tator newspaper, and Trenton Times taking in enough money to cover the school’s athletic program for the year. articles.

Exhibition coordinator and Tren- The grand march corresponding to a ton Museum Society president Karl finale was added in year two. During Flesch provides the following over- the fourth year the idea of a central theme was introview: duced, so all the “At last the resultgirls’ have been In its heyday, the Sports pageantry ed from a coopergiven a chance atively conceived Nite event would cover to strut their topic. stuff!” This was five nights, taking in Traditions a remark heard be estabin 1935 when enough money to cover would lished and carry Sport Nite made the school’s athletic from year to its debut; the year, and slowly brainchild of Dr. program for the year. change with the Paul R. Spencer, times. In the the school’s prin1940s when skatcipal. Originally ing was popular, there would be huge the purpose was to give the parents and friends of the students a chance to skating numbers. That would later be see what kind of work the girls were replaced with tap and ballet.

Eventually a Red band and a Black doing in their gym classes. That year, the whole affair lasted only one night. band would be added, and boys would Points were awarded then for the partake in the band and help with execution of five events: dancing, rac- building scenery, moving the scenery, ing, tumbling, entrance, and cheering. and operating the multiple spotlights.

From modest beginnings the anTwo teams, Red and Black, performed to the music of a piano and wore only nual affair would grow in popularity to gym suits as costumes with some being a community event. The year’s added accessories in keeping with the Sport Nite event would culminate dance or activity. The attractions of with the victor’s red or black raised in

4Trenton Downtowner November 2021

Above left, a ‘skunks’ act from Sports Nite 1955 featuring Bonnie Rocknack, front. Above, a logo commemorating years of Sports Nite. And at right, Judy Gibson showing school spirit at Sports Nite 1965. front of the school as the student body watched. The school’s alumni would forever be identified in terms of Red team or Black team.

Sport Nite lasted continuously every year from 1935 until 1967. Because of unrest at the school, the affair was canceled in 1968 and 1969. It would be continued in 1970 and 1972, but interest waned, and the program would not be seen again until its revival in 1993.

At that time, boys were allowed to join the girls in competition. The revival of Sport Nite would run for seven years, with the school’s last Sport Nite held in 1999.

Sports Nite continues today in the nearby Pennsbury School District, an offshoot of the Trenton original that began there in the 1950s.

“Trenton High’s Sport Nite: The Mighty Reds vs. The Battin’ Blacks,” Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie Mansion, Cadwalader Park.

November 19 through April 30. Open Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m., and Sundays, 1 to 4 p.m. Free. 609-9893632 or www.ellarslie.org.

County’s Newcomer Academy looks to become a national model

By Rebekah Schroeder

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he first of its kind in New Jersey and a countywide initiative, the Newcomer Academy is Mercer County Technical School’s (MCTS) hopes to showcase a nation built on success.

Launched in September, the facility at the Arthur R. Sypek Center in Pennington offers workforceready training and career technical education for high school students new to the United States. They cater directly to English language learners (ELL) and students with limited or interrupted formal education (SLIFE), aiming to help them adopt English as a second language (ESL).

Dr. James Fazzone is the interim superintendent for the Newcomer Academy. He was principal of MCTS for two years before taking on his current position. He said that there had been a discussion about a newcomer’s academy even before then, the idea spearheaded by Executive County Superintendent Yasmin E. Hernández and superintendents across the county — the school’s full name is the Hernández Newcomer SLIFE Academy. “[Students from other countries] want to have the educational offerings that everyone has. But some hurdles they go through could be either through language, or culture, or that they were never really involved in formal education before,” Fazzone said, the academy designed for those with a background of incomplete, or minimal, schooling.

Through faculty coordination, the Sypek Center became the host for the program, MCTS involving attendees with their pre-existing technical experiences like culinary arts or science.

Originally, there were plans for a new, sprawling facility, but both funding and getting it ready in time did not seem like the perfect fit, Fazzone said. They came up with the idea to host it through the MCTS district under the academy approach, a decision made over a series of monthly meetings.

MCTS worked with all of the Mercer County districts in search of prospective students, starting with 13, a “comprehensive yet humble” approach, Fazzone said. For the freshman year currently in progress, they are looking to accept 15 pupils in total, coming from areas like Trenton, Hamilton, and Hopewell.

“We’re extremely successful so far, so we have to make sure we have enough seats for everybody, too,” Fazzone said, saying that he thinks that the Newcomer Academy will only get better as time passes.

For the process, guidance counselors and bilingual supervisors from sending school districts recommend students for the program via an online application.

According to Fazzone, they then receive a sampling of the career technical programs, with a high concentration on culinary and horticulture. The former will focus on microbiology in the kitchen, while the latter is about environmental science through gardening and turf management programs.

Additionally, MCTS is including STEM courses, such as a computer-assisted drawing class, in their roster. Once they explore their options, students can choose a concentration in one of the programs for a future career pathway.

On September 28, a ribbon cutting ceremony was the start of welcoming the students into their new academic environment. Back in 2019, Hernández was approached to be involved because of her previous experience in starting a similar program at Newark public schools.

In her speech from that day, Hernández talked

Executive County Superintendent Yasmin E. Hernández and James Fazzone, interim superintendent. about the historical occasion, expanding on her 31 years of being an educator with a career-long mission to advocate for bilingual students. The matter was personal, especially given her personal background as the child of Cuban immigrants.

“Our work as educators never ends. We are constantly striving to raise the bar to provide excellence and equity for all students,” she maintained.

During an October interview, Hernández continued to build on that sentiment.

“This is groundbreaking for bilingual and vocational school education, [and] the first time that they’re merging to create such an academy. These students with SLIFE, who otherwise wouldn’t be able to be fully educated and address their needs, would end up probably dropping out of school, so it is also a dropout prevention academy.”

“We have less than 1 percent of ELL represented across the state of New Jersey in our vocational schools,” Hernández said. “That’s why this is also very important.”

A

nother option available for those entering the school is a five year program to let students spread their wings. While formative assessments and customized learning arrangements help monitor the achievement levels of each individual, the key is to give them time for adjustment.

“We’re differentiating instruction based on their needs,” Fazzone explained of the ongoing process.

“We want to help them in every way that we can, whether that’s language, instruction ... making sure they have a skill, and any cultural things as well.”

This current group will be sophomores next year while the incoming freshmen start from the beginning, with the eventual seniors able to stay past the typical high school terms if deemed necessary for their development.

Scott Engle is the chef instructor at MCTS and has been working there for 23 years. There are currently seven classes actively running, covering cooking and preparation basics like knife skills.

For the students from the Newcomer Academy and other freshmen, they will be getting their ServSafe

food handling certifications, which helps train them in maintaining standards and safety in the kitchen.

“We wanted to integrate them into the school, and get them an opportunity to look around and see what types of opportunities were here,” Engle said, his class a means of conveying to them “how that pathogenic growth works” when it applies to the culinary world.

He explained the importance of learning biology, as well as sanitizing and cleaning procedures. “We show them some things, then make a few products, maybe give them an idea of how fast something that isn’t good for you can spread through your food if you’re not cautious, but the result is something good.”

And often, tasty — the class made yogurt and Engle intended to show them how to make yeast-raised donuts the following day. His desire is for those who choose that track to attend college or triumphantly embark on their careers, as MCTS has connections to restaurants, industries, and business partners.

Engle stated that at the completion of their schooling, students are fully prepared for acclimating to the workplace, although if they do choose to continue with higher education, their success rates excel past county averages for even just the regular culinary program. This is expected to be replicated in the Newcomer Academy, showing the importance of what makes an employee, as well as chef, worth hiring.

“I would hope that along with the biology skills, [and] a little bit of culinary education that they’re exposed to, that they would develop those skills that make them valuable in the workplace,” Engle said. “You come in our course, you have value as a person, but as an employee, you’re kind of starting from scratch, so the idea is to build value in them so that when they go work, that the people that are in charge, the owners, or the chefs or whatever can see, that these students are gonna generate income, they’re gonna generate money coming in, and they’re gonna be consistent, they’re gonna be there, they’re gonna be professional, and they’re looking to be taught, and that’s really what we hope for.”

In senior year, students can go to Mercer County College, with some able to get half or more of their associates degree completed by the time they graduate from high school. They earn credit through an extensive curriculum that starts with fundamental MCTS courses.

The horticulture and turf management program provides hands-on experience riding equipment, pruning trees, and making floral arrangements in participation with FFA, the Future Farmers of America organization.

“While this is a new program and we’re using all the modern technologies, career offerings, teaching and learning tactics, newcomer’s academies, I think, have been around since our founding fathers,” Fazzone said. He explained that when his parents came through Ellis Island from their Irish and Sicilian backgrounds, the same principles applied.

“There are language barriers that we all have and have had, at least if not us, our ancestors have,” he continued. “We’re just making a version of that for students who are coming to this country now, and we want to offer them everything we possibly can so that they can achieve their highest levels of learning and achievement.”

Of the takeaways for the students, Fazzone kept it simple.

“We want them to have a job, have a skill, earn money and be good citizens.”

November 2021 | Trenton Downtowner5

History and chills come alive in regional cemetery

By Dan Aubrey

R

ichard Sauers is as close to a being a guide to the underworld as you can get. And during this season — with Halloween and All Souls Day — the chemist-turnedcemetery tour guide has been mixing history and chills during his popular tours at the Riverview Cemetery in Trenton.

That includes his November “Photography Night in the Cemetery,” when tombstones, shadows, and light provide the proper atmosphere to create haunting photos.

During a recent rainy day private tour and through some notes, Sauers was happily sharing details of the 41acre resting place situated on a bluff overlooking the Delaware River. It’s where some of Trenton’s most prominent past citizens now rest and history stirs.

The Levittown resident says the current urban cemetery style with ornate memorials and park-like settings was incorporated in 1858. But it started more modestly in 1685 when the area’s Society of Friends used the grounds to bury congregants.

Stopping along a winding road and facing north with the John A. Roebling sarcophagus behind him, Sauers points to a small field of modest, weather-rubbed tombstones, and says that was the original land donated

by John Lambert — hence the cemetery’s early name of Lambert’s Burying Ground.

Sauers then points to a few stones with the names Smith and Stevens and says they were some of the Quakers who saw advantages offered by the urban cemetery movement and formed the more religion and race-inclusive Riverview Cemetery Corporation.

Sauers provides tours for the nonprofit Riverview Conservancy Foundation.

As he talks, Sauers sugars history with observation — such as how people try to read a worn grave stone by sprinkling powder on the letters when using a mirror works better — but he makes it clear that the main course is history.

That is especially true when he stops at the 1869 granite memorial for the innovative designer and Brooklyn Bridge builder John A. Roebling, whose stone follows his request to be remembered only as a civil engineer.

Sauers then notes that the stone was fashioned by the company Batterson, Canfield and Company, Hartford, Connecticut, and that the bronze basrelief of Roebling was rendered and designed by Brooklyn sculptor Henry Baerer.

The recipe is continued at several other memorials among the scores of prominent Trentonians, regional citizens, or soldiers.

Depending on the theme of the tour,

Richard Sauers, pictured here with a memorial to a Trenton-born man killed in combat during World War I, leads tours of Trenton’s Riverview Cemetery. stops may include any of the following: Charles Gustavus Roebling (1849– 1918), an engineer and son of John A., who along with his brothers continued the engineering company after their father’s death. His granite sarcophagus includes a cenotaph (or empty grave) to the memory of his son, Washington A. Roebling 2nd, who perished during the sinking of the Titanic.

Edmund C. Hill (1855–1936) was the businessman and city councilman who devoted his time and resources for various public improvement jobs, including the establishment of the city’s first public park, Cadwalader, and commissioning famed American landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted to design it.

Walter Scott Lenox (1859–1920) and his Lenox Company produced world renowned bone china products, including the traditional Whitehouse tableware, begun when former New Jersey Governor Woodrow Wilson became U.S. president.

Charles Conrad Abbott (1843– 1919), whose grave is marked by a large unfinished stone, was the Trenton born and educated doctor, archae-

6Trenton Downtowner November 2021

ologist, and naturalist whose collection and research turned the area near the cemetery into the nation’s first significant archaeological excavation.

Then there’s Civil War general and New Jersey Governor George McClellan (1885) whose memorial is the most prominent and imposing on the grounds, it also comes with a story.

As Sauers says, McClellan was originally buried in another plot near the grave of his father-in-law and supporter, Major General Randolph B. Marcy, who seems to have forgotten that one can’t order someone into love.

“Marcy insisted his daughter, Mary, marry McClellan despite her dislike of him,” says Sauer. “When he died, he was buried with a modest marker near Marcy. Twenty years later a public subscription was started and a monument was built first. Then he was moved, then his wife was moved to be buried with him,” despite the reality that she wanted to be buried near him in the first place.

In addition to the monuments, there are also several mausoleums that greet visitors when they arrive through the Centre Street entrance.

The Bowman Egyptian-revival styled Mausoleum is named for Oliver O. Bowman (1838–1926), a prominent manufacturer and banker. It contains a stained glass window, designed by Alfred Godwin and Company, Philadelphia, and consists of a cluster of lilies on a blue field that is suggestive of a risen Christ.

The Lee Mausoleum, for the Lee family, is the Art Deco structure constructed by New York City-based Presbrey-Leland Company in 1937. Its bronze door shows sculptor Maxfield H. Keck’s depiction of an angel holding a flower.

And the Risdon Mausoleum contains the remains of Levi B. Risdon (1844–1920), president of Trenton Mills and Elevator Company, a flour, feed, and grain establishment. It was designed by the Presbrey-Coykendall Company in 1920.

Another named structure set away from the entrance is the vault of John Taylor (1836–1909), the Trenton businessman who established Taylor Provisions, later Taylor Pork Roll. He also established the city’s first theater, the Taylor Opera House, and Inter-State Fair Association, which became the New Jersey State Fairgrounds. The gray granite vault with red granite plaster features an iron gate and fence created by Brown and Owen of Philadelphia.

About 50 paces from Taylor vault is the receiving vault, another highlight of Sauers’ walks and a perfect stop on the Poe Walk, held annually in October to celebrate an odd Trenton connection to the famed 19th century American poet and mystery writer.

Buried into earth the now moldering and dank structure — a fitting set piece to a supernatural film — was designed to temporarily hold bodies during the winter months when the ground was too frozen to dig graves or to arrange for transport to another burial ground or place of rest.

As cemetery documents report, the brownstone and brick structure has four arched-ceiling vaults, two on either side of the entranceway, each of which originally had wooden shelves capable of storing three caskets, or a total of 12 caskets. On the lintel above the iron door is “Receiving Vault 1859” in raised lettering.

Sauers says one of the vault’s most notable occupants was the Irish poet and nationalist Fanny Parnell (1848– 1882), brother of Irish Home Rule nationalist Charles Stewart Parnell.

His sister died suddenly while visiting her mother in Bordentown, New Jersey. Her body remained in the vault while Irish officials and American family members argued about where she would be buried. But her brother felt she should be buried where she died and her body was sent to a site in Boston selected by family members.

SIX09 ARTS > FOOD > CULTURE

fall family fun SECTiOn STaRTS On PG 10 thesix09.com | NOVEMBER 2021

T HE C ALL OF F ALL

Explore a cornucopia of family-friendly fall activities.

Page 2.

TPRFM opens its Offbeat Boutique, page 6; Brooklyn-style pizza comes to Hamilton, 8

Top Ranked for Quality and Safety.

from the cover

A fall cornucopia

By CaTHeRine BiaLkoWski The month of November is one of the most hectic times of the year: preparing for Thanksgiving, finalizing holiday plans and trips, and getting ready for the new year. It keeps most of us busier than ever, and time seems to fly. Here is a cornucopia of ideas for things to mark your November calendar, all local.

Attend a harvest dinner This time of year has its own unique menu filled with colorful foods from the harvest. Sit back and enjoy a delicious, autumnal meal prepared by professional chefs at a local harvest dinner.

On Sunday, Nov. 7, from 1 to 4 p.m., We Make: Autism at Work will host its second annual Harvest Fun-Raiser, a family-style meal and wine tasting fundraising event at the We Make facility at 109 Route 31 North in Pennington.

We Make is a workspace for individuals with autism that provides a safe environment for learning valuable skills. At We Make, employees “assemble and package small parts that will be used in vinyl fencing and railing products sold at leading home improvement stores,” according to the website, wemake. works.

“All funds go back to We Make programs,” says executive director Muhammad Siddiqu. In addition to the workspace, We Make offers a variety

of programs including yoga, art therapy and music therapy. Siddiqu calls the Harvest Fun-Raiser “a great day to learn about our mission and hear from our parents and supporters on how we serve the community in a unique, neverseen-before model.”

Last year the event was held virtually and sold out; it featured celebrity chef Kwame Onuwachi. This year’s goal is $70,000, and funds raised will go to facility expansion, expanding program offerings, staff infrastructure and hopefully, Siddiqu says, more We Make workspaces. Individual tickets are $75 and can be purchased at www.eventbrite. com/e/we-makes-2nd-annual-har vestfun-raiser-tickets-176714145767. * * * On Friday, Nov. 12, the Greater Philadelphia Y will host its 11th annual NJ Wine and Food Classic from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Westin Mount Laurel, 555 Fellowship Road, Mount Laurel Township. Proceeds for the event benefit the Greater Philadelphia Y Annual Campaign.

According to philaymca.org, “As a nonprofit, the Y uses these funds to support a wide breadth of community programs, and this year we are focused on Building Stronger Kids.” General tickets are $100 and can be purchased at www. philaymca.org/nj-food-wine#reserve. * * *

See FALL, Page 4

SIX09

EDITOR Jamie Griswold ARTS EDITOR Dan Aubrey FOOD & DINING COLUMNIST Joe Emanski AD LAYOUT & PRODUCTION Stacey Micallef SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Jennifer Steffen (Ext. 113)

An award-winning publication of Community News Service, LLC © Copyright 2021 All rights reserved.

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“Many of these treatments may come as a surprise to patients suffering from chronic pain, especially those who think that their pain — and poor quality of life — is something they have to endure,” Dr. Patel notes. A double board-certified anesthesiologist and pain management specialist, Dr. Patel focuses on treating pain in the back, neck, face, and joints as well as pain related to cancer and chemotherapy.

With so many different pain-causing illnesses, injuries, and conditions, treatments must be carefully customized to fit the needs of each individual patient. Dr. Patel partners with orthopedists, physical and occupational therapists, and chiropractors to provide a variety of approaches and treatments. With

Regenerative Medicine/ Stem Cell Therapy. Regenerative medicine is a fastgrowing, highly developed treatment that helps the body heal or rebuild itself. Dr. Patel uses stem cell therapy to treat ailments, particularly low back or neck pain, caused by degenerative vertebral discs or joint pain in the shoulders, hips, or knees caused by osteoarthritis. The patient’s stem cells are removed, purified, concentrated, and injected into the injured or weakened tissue. Stem cell therapy can also speed recovery and help avoid surgery.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP). A favorite treatment for sports injuries, PRP uses the patient’s blood to produce a platelet-rich plasma that targets a host of chronic and acute pain conditions, including muscle strain, arthritis, tendinosis, cartilage injuries, joint inflammation, and wound care. The treatment is also used in orthopedic and plastic surgery. By synthesizing platelets and releasing proteins, PRP can aid in generating new tissue. And it has helped chemotherapy patients grow back hair faster and thicker.

Cannabis Therapy. The legalization of medical marijuana has brought new treatment options. “We are very excited by the potential of cannabis-based treatments and we comply fully with New Jersey’s evolving regulations,” says Dr. Patel. He uses a local dispensary to provide treatments, which include edibles such as gummy bears and cannabis-based rubbing and vaping oils.

Minimally Invasive Therapy. Dr. Patel offers a wide variety of minimally invasive therapies. These include epidural steroid injections, facet joint injections, radiofrequency ablation, and spinal cord stimulation for patients suffering from chronic neck and back pain stemming from herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, or spinal stenosis. His goal is to help his patients avoid surgery and at the same time regain functionality.

Thanks to these and other game-changing treatments, pain levels can be greatly reduced or eliminated and quality of life enhanced. Says Dr. Patel, “Stop your pain.

Start your life.”

Regenerative Spine and Pain Institute 666 Plainsboro Road, Suite 100D Plainsboro. 609-269-4451 www.njpaindoc.com

(609) 269-4451 | info@njpaindoc.com | 666 Plainsboro Road Suite #100D Plainsboro, NJ 08536

ASK THE DOCTOR

November 2021 | SIX093 MARCH/APRIL 2020

FALL, continued from Page 2 The Farm Cooking School in Titusville, 67 Pleasant Valley Road, will host a Paired Wine Dinner on Saturday, Nov. 13, from 6 to 9 p.m. Chef Shelley Wiseman and sommelier Carol A. Berman will present “a multi-course menu paired with all organic or sustainably produced wines,” according to thefarmcookingschool.com, and the menu will include goat cheese quiche, seared salmon with French lentils and beurre blanc sauce, and more. Tickets are $115 and can be found at www.thefarmcookingschool.com/coming-up/2021/11/13/ paired-wine-dinner-holiday-pairings.

Whitesbog Preservation Trust, a historic farm and village in Brown Mills, will also host its Harvest Dinner on Nov. 13 from 5 to 8 p.m. Proceeds for the event, located at 120 West Whites Bog Road, will benefit the preservation and farm programs. The Italian harvest dinner, accompanied by live music, will

Clients at Pennington-based WeWork prepare t-shirts. feature mild Italian sausage with peppers and onions, hot roast beef in homemade gravy, rigatoni in vodka sauce and more. Tickets for non-members are $55 and can be purchased at www.eventbrite.com/e/har vest-dinner-to-benefit-

PR I N CE TON S YMP H ONY O R C H ES T R A R O S S E N M I L A N O V , M U S I C D I R EC TO R

❊

Y ARL RE E D OR or the ! f ats t Se Bes

❊

whitesbog-tickets-167355674327?aff=e bdssbdestsearch&fbclid=IwAR0iYCNh sRHoUyzxE_UV93y5MUqPSsPfCngXt8YyliXIvZn2Zz3gIScm9Tg. * * * Rat’s Restaurant in Hamilton, located at 16 Fairgrounds Road on the campus of Grounds For Sculpture, is offering a Thanksgiving buffet on the holiday, Thursday, Nov. 25, for $68 per adult and $35 per child, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The prix fixe menu features choices for soup or salad, vegetable, main course and dessert. They will also feature, on Nov. 4 through 7 and 11 through 14, a reservations-only lunch and dinner event for restaurant week. For more information, visit ratsrestaurant.com.

Buy your turkey (and the rest of the meal) locally

Holiday Pops!

Tuesday December 14 7:30pm Matthews Theatre, McCarter Theatre Center Rossen Milanov, conductor

Enjoy festive orchestral favorites and holiday melodies!

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princetonsymphony.org

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Dates, times, artists, and programs subject to change.

4SIX09 | November 2021

Supporting local farmers is essential to their vitality and offers delicious local flavor as well as benefits to the environment. Why not purchase your turkey (and its trimmings) from a farm within the community this year?

At Double Brook Farm in Hopewell, says owner Robin McConaughy, they’ve been raising heritage turkeys since 2008.

“We started with a small flock of 50 birds and have grown our operation to almost 2,500 birds a year for both Thanksgiving and Christmas, plus year-round birds for the cafe at Brick Farm Market,” she says. “We sell exclusively at Brick Farm Market and a couple of wholesale vendors.” Brick Farm Market, also owned by the McConaughys, is located at 65 East Broad Street in Hopewell.

McConaughy and her husband, Jon, started Double Brook Farm in 2004.

In addition to the farm and the market, they also own and operate Red Barn Milk Co. “We raise turkeys, chickens, sheep, cattle, pigs and goats on pasture in approximately 800 acres in the Hopewell Valley.”

Double Brook Farm also sells “everything needed for a full Thanksgiving feast: sides, appetizers, breads, pies, cakes, cookies, cheese, charcuterie, gravy, cranberry sauce and grocery items such as sausage, bacon, butter, breadcrumbs and more,” says McConaughy.

Turkey orders will be available for pickup the Sunday through Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Be sure to order your turkey early, as demand has doubled over the last two years “and we will

likely sell out a little earlier than usual.”

Turkeys, sold fresh, can be purchased through the online order form at holiday.brickfarmmarket.com. * * * DiPaola Turkey Farm in Hamilton, which has been in business for 70 years, offers whole turkeys, ground turkey, ground breast, turkey London broil, turkey boneless thighs, and a variety of other meat options. Online orders for whole turkeys can be placed on their website, dipaolaturkeyfarm.com. * * * At Lee Turkey Farm in East Windsor, they’ve been raising turkeys for 80 years, 3,000 per year. According to their website, their turkeys are fed “a natural feed mix with a corn and soybean base that we make ourselves.” They also sell farmfresh fruits and vegetables. Visit leeturkeyfarm.com for more information. * * * At Griggstown Farm in Franklin Township, established in 1975, you can purchase a full Thanksgiving meal, including turkey, soups and gravies, pies and bread. Visit their website, griggstownfarm.com, for more information, or the store at 484 Bunker Hill Road.

Give back to the community

As Thanksgiving approaches, so does a reminder to be grateful for our blessings and perhaps a desire to give back and help those in need. Here are two opportunities to donate and/or volunteer locally.

This year, National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is from Nov. 13 through 21. Homefront, at 1880 Princeton Avenue in Lawrenceville, is offering a variety of ways to get involved and make a difference within the community. Events for the week include a tour of Sewing Space, a virtual “welcome to Homefront” orientation, a diaper resource center service opportunity, an expert panel discussion, a virtual lunch and learn with Homefront CEO Connie Mercer and COO Sarah Steward, and a Thanksgiving drive, which is collecting laundry baskets or boxes with lids filled with items such as canned vegetables and fruits, stuffing mix, mashed potatoes, dessert items and more. For those who want to donate monetarily, it costs $62 to sponsor a Thanksgiving basket and $136 to provide food for the week of Thanksgiving.

Suki Wasserman, Homefront’s community engagement coordinator, says, “This past year, because of wonderful support from the community, HomeFront has been able to meet the greatly increased level of need in our area. Over 560 individuals, a majority of them children, stayed in our emergency shelters or lived in the affordable and transitional housing we manage. Over 770,000 meals were provided to families through our food pantries, Family Campus, motel meal delivery or other programming.

HomeFront also continues to provide case management, education, job assistance, and children’s programs needed to help families break the cycle of poverty.”

Homefront accepts year-round donations of food, diapers, clothing, furniture and more, and offers other ways to volunteer. Visit homefrontnj.org for more information. * * * Mount Carmel Guild in Trenton, a food pantry that offers community support to the underserved in Mercer County, is also running a Thanksgiving food drive and requests items such as cranberry sauce, canned vegetables, evaporated milk, yams and grocery store gift cards, and turkeys are accepted as well. The dropoff location is at 73 North Clinton Avenue in Trenton, and drop-off hours vary.

“Thanksgiving is always a time when most people count their blessings and reflect on what they have to give,” says Rosemary Kimball, director of external affairs. “It is in the spirit of giving that our donors collect and package items for Thanksgiving.” The greatest need this year is turkeys. “In the past we have purchased an average of 400 turkeys to distribute to needy families, and this year there is a shortage of 10 to15 pound turkeys due to the pandemic,” says Kimball.

“We are hoping to be able to provide 650 families with Thanksgiving meals this year.”

For more information, please visit mtcarmelguild. org or call 609-392-5159, extension 100. Like Homefront, Mount Carmel Guild also offers year-round ways to volunteer and donate.

Hopewell Valley will host a 5k turkey trot on Thanksgiving morning at 424 Federal City Road in Pennington. Top overall male, female, turkey costume, and in each age group will receive a prize. Prices vary depending when tickets are purchased; more information can be found at raceroster.com/events/2021/51816/ hopewell-valley-turkey-trot-2021. * * * The 9th annual Mercer County Turkey Trot is a virtual event that will be held from Saturday through Sunday, Nov. 20 to 28. Participants may complete a 5k race or a one-mile fun walk; tickets are $30. For more information, visit mercercountyturkeytrot.com.

Participate in a Turkey Trot

Go on a staycation

After enjoying a hearty harvest dinner (or before the Thanksgiving meal), you can run off the calories at a local turkey trot.

Trinity Turkey Trot will take place on Thanksgiving Day at Trinity Church, 33 Mercer Street in Princeton.

It is a 5k, and all ages are welcome; there is also a virtual option. Tickets are $30; register at trinityturkeytrot.org. * * *

Rest up for the holidays at a bed and breakfast or hotel with local flair to experience the community in a different way.

The Inn at Glencairn, located in Lawrenceville, is a renovated 1736 Georgian manor that features a luxurious farm-to-table breakfast: innatglencairn.com. * * * The Peacock Inn, in Princeton, is a colonial-style mansion transformed into a boutique hotel that boasts

Double Brook Farm sells fresh turkeys, while Mount Carmel Guild distributes Thanksgiving food to those in need. an elegant afternoon tea in the garden: peacockinn. com. * * * The Ocean Park Inn in Ocean Grove is a quaint and cozy bed-and-breakfast right next to the ocean: theoceanparkinn.com.

Enjoy the fall colors Finally, intentionally enjoy the autumnal foliage with a scenic fall walk.

Although taking a stroll through your own neighborhood suffices, consider the Delaware River Scenic Byway for walking, biking, fishing, horseback riding and more. Spanning 11 towns from Frenchtown to Trenton, the byway is lined with nature, restaurants, shopping, and historic sites. Visit delawareriverscenicbyway.org for a map and more information.

November 2021 | SIX095

retail scene TPRFM gets rocking with bricks and mortar spot

By Susan Van Dongen If owning and running the Trenton Punk Rock Flea Market has been Joseph Kuzemka’s full-time job for a while, owning and running the new Out of Step Offbeat Boutique and General Store will now be his other full-time job.

Teaming up with his long-time life partner, Meaghan Callahan Singletary of the Trenton Downtown Association (TDA), Out of Step is a natural evolution from the TPRFM. The couple plans to take advantage of the relationships they’ve forged throughout the years with small businesses, artists, craftspeople, and makers from around the city of Trenton, the state of New Jersey, and even around the country, to offer all kinds of unusual wares, from handmade housewares, to repurposed art and custom clothes, to specialty foods.

While the pandemic did not close down the TPRFM, the quieter times gave Kuzemka space to re-evaluate his business model. But long before 2020, he and Singletary had sensed that TPRFM fans would relish a brick-andmortar store.

“We knew for a while that this (store) was probably something that was going to happen,” he says.

As of this interview, construction was ongoing at Out of Step, which will be housed in part of the old Amish Country Store within the Trenton Farmers Market in Lawrence. And while Kuzemka had originally hoped the “godate” would be October 29, material and inventory hold ups have pushed the opening to November 12.

“We’ve been in flux because construction took much longer than we anticipated, because of various material shortages,” he says. “(Meaghan and I) started working on the store in June and we did not wrap until late September. There wasn’t that much to do, but things were harder to get because of the pandemic.”

“We’re working with Chris Cirkus (market manager of the Trenton Farmers Market), and we’ve (divided the former Amish store) into two spaces of equal size,” he says. “We’ll take the back, and the other store will be just on the other side of us. Our hours will be standard Trenton Farmers Market hours, but we’re looking to expand on that for the holidays.”

For Out of Step, Kuzemka says he and Singletary are picking “the best of the best” from their numerous contacts at the TPRFM, from around the United States and into Canada.

“We also did a lot of research and found new artists and makers from all over the country,” he says, but notes, “there will be a very strong focus on locally made food, pre-packaged and

6SIX09 | November 2021

Partners Meaghan Callahan Singletary and Joseph Kuzemka are opening Out of Step Offbeat Boutique and General Store, a bricks-and-mortar shop for the Trenton Punk Rock Flea Market, in the Trenton Farmers Market. Opening day is set for Friday, November 12. shelf-stable foods such as locally made sauces, jams and jellies, pickles, vegan mayo, jerky, coffee and tea, peanut butter -- things that complement the fact that we’re in a farmers market.”

Out of Step will also offer refillable home items, such as hand sanitizer and hand soap, bath and body products, housewares and home décor, cooking/ kitchen-related items, repurposed/ recycled art, select custom t-shirts and hoodies created by local artists, original artwork and sculpture by local and regional artists, vintage curios, handmade jewelry, and what Kuzemka calls “oddities and curious goods.”

A small portion of the store will be dedicated to both local and nationally recognized music, with a carefully curated selection of new and used vinyl records and cassettes, VHS tapes, and more.

One of the more famous vendors at

Out of Step will be Misfits guitarist Acey Slade, a coffee aficionado and longtime presence at the TPRFM who will offer up his Newark-based Cat Fight Coffee.

Kuzemka borrowed the name Out of Step from a song by Minor Threat, “the founding fathers of hardcore (punk),” Kuzemka says.

And yes, the brick-and-mortar store will have a similar vibe to the TPRFM. But like the flea market, Out of Step will be more than the concept of a “punk store,” which brings to mind a market selling only recordings, art, and clothing related to punk rock.

“Out of Step has the same feel as the flea market, and that’s what I love about it,” Kuzemka says. “Yes, there will still be punk rock related stuff being sold, but the thing about the flea market is that it’s become a haven for makers and artists and craftspersons. All these misfits found a home with us.”

“TPRFM started out with punk rock, but became something more,” he says.

“It’s much more on a global scale, with all these non-corporate businesses, things that deserve support.”

Kuzemka reflects that the flea market served as an incubator of sorts for thousands of small business from dozens of states by providing many home-based businesses with a retail outlet that regularly attracted thousands of eager shoppers per day.

Out of Step will give Kuzemka and Singletary a chance to work with some of the same do-it-yourselfers. They hope this new brick-and-mortar location will serve as an inspiration for even more creative types to, in turn, make the leap into creating their own brands and businesses.

“It can be done,” Kuzemka says. “The TPRFM and Out of Step are both concrete proof of that.”

Singletary has more than a decade of experience in high-end retail management and merchandising in major retail markets. Out of Step supports her belief in watching out for and nurturing selfstarters and small businesses.

“After leaving the retail industry many years ago, it’s exciting to come back to a project that has so much potential,” she says. “It’s important to prioritize small businesses, watch them grow their brand, and all the while offer something different, fresh, and fun to the Trenton Farmers Market.”

It’s a bold move to open a physical store in the online age, but Kuzemka and Singletary are confident Out of Step will have plenty of foot traffic. This will be the kind of place, much like the TPRFM, where browsing and shopping is a multi-sensory experience, a place to touch, feel and smell, to listen to music, see friends, and do some great people watching.

“We hear all the time, ‘can you have a flea market every weekend or month?’ and that’s not possible,” Kuzemka says.

“Instead of waiting for the flea market, here’s a location where you can shop five days of the week.” * * * Kuzemka is a founding member of Art All Night and helped get annual the event off the ground in 2007. He’s been running AAN since 2011.

In addition, he was the event runner for the Levitt AMP Trenton Music Series for a couple of years, saying, “Much of that was due to the TDA and my partnership with Meaghan, who is an employee there.”

TPRFM is Kuzemka’s best-known endeavor, though, successful enough for the Huffington Post to name it as one of the best flea markets in the United States in 2014.

The Trenton native, whose parents are both retired from the New Jersey

Network, says he is still attending Mercer County Community College, majoring in advertising design.

The current Hamilton resident deflects too much focus on himself, however, and notes “my partner Meaghan has dedicated just as much work to opening (Out of Step) as I have.

She’s a native Trentonian, a successful Black woman, and very involved in her community.”

The much-illustrated man (Kuzemka is known for his ink), who is in his mid40s, says he’d been visiting flea markets in Columbus and Englishtown since his youth, but first imagined Trenton’s own punk rock flea market when exploring such an event in Philadelphia.

“As I got older, there was a punk rock flea market in Philadelphia, and that inspired me,” Kuzemka says. “It disappeared though, and we started up (in Trenton) and became a phenomenon.

Now the Philadelphia flea market is up and running again.”

He absorbed the vibe at the Philadelphia flea market and realized that the Trenton area was primed to launch something similar, especially with the capital city’s location between New York and Philadelphia, crisscrossed by major transportation routes. The city was rife with original art, music, and craftspersons/makers, which would fold in perfectly with a multi-faceted, somewhat rebellious flea market.

He’d had quite a bit of experience in marketing and graphic design, and said to himself, “let’s do this, and do it just a

bit differently.”

Incidentally, the TPRFM is and will still be running and thriving. Although numerous events were cancelled, it never went away completely during the pandemic and recently moved from the Historic Roebling Wire Works to the Cure Arena.

Kuzemka is planning to expand the TPRFM even more.

“Next year, we’ll be adding pop culture guests, people who will sign autographs, take selfies etc., along with the food trucks,” he says. “We’re also be having live music, a live barber (on the premises), live tattooing, and more.”

Kuzemka and Singletary invested between $60,000 and $70,000 of their own funds to launch Out of Step. They feel they’ve invested their hearts as well.

“It’s just us putting our money into this, because we believe in this, we want to get if off the ground and make it grow,” Kuzemka says. “Meg and I are really looking forward to bringing something different to the Farmers Market, which is in the process of growing. We hope to inject some new life into it, be part of its transformation.”

Out of Step Offbeat Boutique and General Store opens Friday, November 12, at 9 a.m. Hours will be similar to those of the Trenton Farmers Market: Wednesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Located at the North End of the Trenton Farmers Market, 960 Spruce Street, Lawrence. www.outofstepnj.com.

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10/15/21 1:51 P

what’s cooking?

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A Brooklyn-style pizzeria grows in Hamilton

By Joe Emanski

YEARS

YEARS

Vinny Minerva may be known as a long-time restaurateur in the Greater Trenton area, but he became a pizzaiola years ago in his native Brooklyn.

Minerva, who has owned and operated Marcello’s in Bordentown since 2004, has honored his hometown with his new restaurant, Slice of Brooklyn, which opened in Hamilton on Sept. 9 in the former location of Vito’s Pizza.

Slice of Brooklyn features woodfired pizza, house-made pasta and a variety of other familiar Italian-American specialties on the menu.

Minerva first learned how to make pizza in famed Brooklyn spots such as Pino’s Pizza, on Bath Avenue, and J&V Pizza on 18th Avenue.

As to what differentiates a Brooklyn pizza from a Trenton pizza, Minerva says the label has as much to do with him as it does with the pies.

“With Slice of Brooklyn, I’m saying that I’m from Brooklyn and I’m making a Brooklyn tomato pie,” Minerva says. “You could say I’m a big slice of Brooklyn.”

Marcello’s pizzas are made in a coalfired oven. Slice of Brooklyn’s custombuilt oven is wood burning.

ANNIVERSARY NNIVERSARY 609-584-5252 609-584-5252 www.priornami.com ww.priornami.com

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Pizzas can be ordered round or square. The “Old-Fashioned Brooklyn” pizza sticks with a simple formula of cheese, San Marzano tomato sauce, basil and olive oil.

But there are a number of other specialty pies on the menu for nontraditionalists, including a Cuban pie (porchetta, ham, dijon sauce, pickles), a Hot Honey pie (cheese, tomato, salami, garlic) a Ranch pie (cheese, chicken, bacon, tomatoes and ranch dressing) as well as a cheesesteak pizza, a BBQ chicken pizza and more.

Minerva says another highlight on the menu is the house-made pastas.

Shapes can vary on a daily basis and include pappardelle, spaghetti, gnocchi, fiorelli, paqueri and others.

Customization is encouraged on Slice of Brooklyn’s pasta bowls. Customers can choose their pasta shape, sauce (marinara, vodka, Alfredo, pesto, aioli , cheese, puttanesca, cacio e pepe), and protein (meatball, sausage, chicken, pancetta, eggplant, shrimp, porchetta). Other toppings include sundried tomatoes, mushrooms, roasted red peppers and broccoli rabe. Bowls start at $9.

1666 Hamilton Ave. 1666 Hamilton Ave. Hamilton,Hamilton, NJ 08629 NJ 08629

A pizza from A Slice of Brooklyn ready for takeout.

Minerva says that opening Slice of Brooklyn was possible because of a number of staff members at Marcello’s who shared his vision for the new restaurant. Jorge Saldana, Ivan Saldana, Alvaro Juarez, Ethan Cuevas, Janina Mae Crisostomo, Rosendo Gonzalez and “Chino” are all among the group who have joined him at the new venue.

Slice of Brooklyn, 1295A Route 33, Hamilton NJ 08690. Phone: (609) 5279663. Web: thesliceofbrooklyn.com.

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November 2021 | SIX099

fall family fun

Sidekicks Support Services Now Open in Hamilton Every Superhero needs a Sidekick. Sidekicks Support Services announces the opening of the Sidekicks Support Center, providing support services to individuals with disabilities and families in Hamilton NJ. A provider of in-home support services for individuals with disabilities since 2013, Sidekicks will now be providing center-based support services for the community at the Sidekicks Support Center located in the Briarwood shopping village at 2452 Kuser Road in Hamilton.

Sidekicks support services enable individuals with disabilities to achieve goals, overcome daily obstacles, enhance social skills, and obtain greater independence.

The program also provides support and resources for parents.

Their in home services include: ABA Therapy (ages 2+), Speech Therapy (2+), Individual Support Services (ages 3-21) and Direct Support Services (ages 21+)

At the Sidekicks Support Center, Sidekicks will be providing 1-1 individualized ABA programming, social skills groups to promote play and socialization, Speech Therapy, Individual parent coaching and Parent training series. Services are provided to individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Founder and CEO, Nicholas (Niko) Antonellos has been a lifelong resident of Mercer County, where he currently resides with his wife and two children. “We look forward to the opportunity to make a difference in our community through personalized, consistent and comprehensive support services. The Sidekicks team’s

purpose is to enrich lives. This new center gives us the opportunity to provide the quality supports that our community needs and can depend upon.”

Sidekicks Support Services currently has a preliminary accreditation from the Behavioral Health Center of Excellence.

BHCOE Preliminary Accreditation recognizes behavioral health providers that excel in the areas of clinical quality, staff qualifications and promote systems that enhance these areas. The Accreditation recognizes that Sidekicks continues to meet an assortment of clinical and administrative standards as determined by an independent third-party evaluator.

Services are funded through private insurance or paid privately for ages 2 and up. Sidekicks Support Center will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Weekend hours available.

Referrals are now being accepted. Contact Sidekicks Support 609-500-6686 to learn more or visit www.

SidekicksSupport.com. See ad, page 12.

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The Laurel School of Princeton is an independent, co-educational day school for students in grades 1-12. Our evidence-based helps students discover their uniquefor educational and The Laurel School of Princeton approach is an independent, co-educational day school students in social/emotional by acknowledging thehelps strengths, talents, and their brilliance of educational people whoand learn grades 1-12. Ourpath evidence-based approach students discover unique The LaurelThis School of Princeton is an and independent, co-educational day school for students in differently. our students helps them enjoyand school and thrive developmentally. social/emotionalempowers path by acknowledging the strengths, talents, brilliance of people who learn

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AllCure Spine & Sports Medicine

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Tackling Pain with the Newest Technology, Treatments, and a Mission to Educate Patients “From your toes to your nose, we can help.”

“What you don’t know can hurt you,” affirms Dr. Anthony Alfieri of AllCure Spine and Sports Medicine, an expanding pain management practice with offices in Monroe and Hamilton.

“Too many people are in pain and unhappy with their quality of life. Yet they are unaware of new possibilities of treatment that can significantly reduce or eliminate severe, chronic pain.”

Dr. Alfieri and his colleagues at AllCure’s offices are on a mission to raise public awareness of the causes of pain and the growing range of non-surgical therapies available to treat them. His multidisciplinary approach spans pain management, laser therapy, physical therapy, chiropractic, and acupuncture.

Within these categories are numerous noninvasive solutions that address every part of the body and are administered by a professional team of medical doctors, chiropractors, acupuncturists, and physical therapists. This expert team collaborates to find the most effective treatments to provide long-lasting relief from pain.

“By listening carefully to our patients describe their symptoms and medical history, we can

Brothers Anthony Alfieri, DC, left, and Victor Alfieri, DPT. create a treatment program that combines various therapies to optimum effect,” says Dr. Alfieri. “Many patients have endured pain for years, thinking that heavy medication and possible surgery were the only avenues open to them.”

But new treatments are emerging. The practice has invested in a new FDA-approved laser machine that has proved effective in treating back and neck pain and plantar fasciitis, conditions that are becoming more common with an aging population, intensive computer use, and rising obesity.

With two highly trained acupuncturists on staff, this ancient therapy is now used to treat a vast range of conditions. Acupuncture can alleviate joint and back pain and migraines but has uses for conditions that may not be

actually painful but cause discomfort, impact function and quality of life, and can lead to other problems. These include allergies, anxiety, depression, and difficulties in quitting smoking.

Pregnant women can get relief from side effects such as morning sickness, swollen ankles, and back pain. Acupuncture also helps treat infertility, menopause, and menstrual cramps.

Unfortunately, Medicare and some other insurance plans do not cover acupuncture.

“We make every effort to provide affordable acupuncture treatments,” says Dr. Alfieri.

A large percentage of the practice includes patients suffering from peripheral neuropathy, usually manifested by stabbing pain and/or numbness in the hands and feet. This has many causes, from diabetes to infection or a traumatic injury. “There is no cure for this, but there are treatments that can significantly reduce pain, including laser treatments,” says Dr. Alfieri.

Cannabidiol (CBD) oil has shown promise as a pain reliever without the dangers of addiction posed by opioids. AllCure uses a pure form of Cannabidiol (CBD) oil that has proved effective.

“We want our patients to know that today, they have options,” Dr. Alfieri asserts. “A total cessation of pain may not be possible, but we can often bring pain levels down to a point where the patient’s mobility and quality of life is vastly improved.”

AllCure Spine & Sports Medicine, 140 Cabot Drive, Suite A, Hamilton. 609-528-4417. www.allcurespineandsports.com. See ad, page 13.

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Visit hamiltonymca.org for class descriptions and schedules.

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•Ad must be presented at time of in-person registration.

November 2021 | SIX0911

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Hamilton Area YMCA Serving the Community The Hamilton Area YMCA was born of a need to serve children and families in the community and 70 years on, they’re still doing that, and so much more. Led by their history-making Female CEO, Diana Zita, the inclusive organization accomplishes its mission through programs that nurture the potential of young people, improve individual health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back to the community and support our neighbors.

Over the last 70 years, the Y has transformed from a small organization providing programming, summer camp and child care at sites including schools and churches to an organization of nearly 12,000 members (prepandemic). The organization has two facilities — the JKR Branch in the center of Hamilton and the Sawmill Branch in the more rural Yardville area of town – and, has expanded and adjusted its program offerings over the last seven decades to ensure that

A fitness class featuring the Insanity program at the Hamilton Area YMCA. they consistently serve the everchanging needs of the community.

Some of the programs the Hamilton Area YMCA offers are timeless, the things that our community will always need, such as:

• Child Care • Swim Lessons • Summer Camp • Group Exercise Classes • Wellness Center • Youth Sports In recent years, the Hamilton

Area YMCA has expanded to ensure that they reach every member of the community. This led to the creation of programs that address friends and neighbors with specific health or developmental needs: • Diverse Abilities programming for children and adults • Healthy Living programs for those living with chronic illness These programs demonstrate The Ys commitment to ensuring the impact of their mission of youth development, healthy living and social responsibility is felt throughout all parts of Central New Jersey.

As a non-profit organization, the Hamilton Area YMCA relies on the support of the community to do its mission work. The Y enjoys partnerships with a variety of local businesses, corporations and foundations and raises funds through their annual giving campaign and special events held throughout the year.

If you would like to learn more about the Hamilton Area YMCA, these programs and so much more, visit the organizations website at hamiltonymca.org See ad, page 11.

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DO YOU HAVE ANY 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

YOU MAY HAVE PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY CBD OIL TREATMENTS NOW AVAILABLE! CBD oils have shown successful results treating patients with inflammation, muscle, joint, and nerve related pains. CBD is especially promising due to its lack of intoxicating side effects like other pain medications. The AllCure team will incorporate CBD treatments into your rehabilitation program, maximizing patient results. Please call us today and we will be happy to answer any questions!

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.

NEW FDA-CLEARED TREATMENTS PROVIDE HOPE 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.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE NERVE DAMAGE?

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Peripheral neuropathy is the consequence of damage to your peripheral nerves. There are over 100 different kinds of peripheral nerve disorders or neuropathies – some are the result of a disease like diabetes, while others can 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 imperative nerve disorders are resolved as soon as possible to prevent permanent damage.

Many people suffer with pain for years, not realizing that their symptoms may be due to Peripheral Neuropathy. Symptoms start gradually, then get worse, including numbness, burning or tingling sensations and sharp, 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 suffer from any of the aforementioned symptoms, we can help.

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Looking for a parttime/full time job that provides meaningful work and competitive compensation?

Consider a position in a State Farm Agent’s office. Successful State Farm Agent Shilpa Rathi, Bordentown is seeking a qualified professional to join their winning team for the role of Office Assistant - State Farm Agent Team Member.

We seek an energetic professional interested in helping our business grow through valuebased conversations and remarkable customer experience.

If you are a motivated self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced environment, then this is your opportunity for a rewarding career with excellent income and growth potential. Call 609-400-5958 or email shilpa@shilparathi.org for more information.

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The vault’s current occupants are shadows and scores of crickets that make portions of the wall seem to move. Sauers says that it often makes tour-goers scream, even though such things should be expected on the Poe Tour.

This popular event is anchored around a peculiar cemetery monument: an actual-sized limestone door bearing inscriptions from Poe’s most famous poem, “The Raven.”

It marks the resting place of 28-yearold Truman F. Betts, MD, who committed suicide on October 11, 1872.

It also represents several mysteries: What spurred him to his death? Why was he so enraptured with Poe’s melancholy poem? Who designed the piece that was carved by a George Weston? And what happened to the poem’s “pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door” replica that stood atop this stone door?

Sauers, who retired 20 years ago from IMS in Princeton, also leads visi- Above, a section of the cemetery is tors on an “Accidents and Disasters” devoted to the 1915 U.S. Colored walk-and-talk.

It includes stops to remember Tren- troops. At right, the granite ton passengers killed when the City of memorial to John A. Roebling.

Trenton steamboat exploded on the Delaware River in 1901, the body of a grounds and landscaping were such Trentonian killed during the 1915 subthat the cemetery qualified for federal marine attack on the RMS Lusitania, and state aid after Hurricane Sandy the victims of two sensational train ravished it and other portions of the wrecks — “The 1911 Teacher’s Exregion. The funds were used to recursion” in 1911 and the 1901 “Nellie move fallen trees and create a grounds Bly” collision — and the 1893 Trenton status report currently guiding arbor aeronaut who drowned in a pond near culling and planting. the cemetery after his winged paraWhile Sauers says he never thought chute malfunctioned when he jumped he would be involved with a graveyard from a hot air balloon. to this extent, he also suggests his in“People like to hear how people terest in history, science, and gatherdied and the more bizarre the beting information has paved the way. ter,” says Sauers, adding that there is One of his first steps was when he also a grave for a man named Butcher started a finance-related newsletter a who was shot in the head by a prison few years before retiring around 2000. inmate.

Out of interest, he wrote about a gold Other tours conducted by the son of mine disaster. a machinist father But he took a at Princeton Unilarger one when versity’s Plasma he attended a Sauers’ frequent visits Physics Lab and party where he former a Thomas to Riverview gave him met J. Joseph Edison State ColEdgette, profeslege secretary more expertise, and sor emeritus and commemorate folklorist emerihe eventually helped the memory of tus at Widener soldiers from establish the nonprofit University, and various wars, inchair of the cemthat now supports and cluding a section eteries and grave devoted to the creates more awareness makers section 1915 US Colored of the American troops, and the of the grounds.

Cultural Associagrave of Revolution. tionary War solSauers says dier and later pastor of the First Preswhen Edgette started talking about byterian Church in Trenton, James cemeteries he suggested he do a study Francis Armstrong. And “Beneath about the graves of coal mine disaster Stately Trees” focuses on the arborvictims and how they were buried in life and topography of the park-like rows. In turn, Edgette suggested Saugrounds and the involvement of one ers do it, and he started his first gravethe nation’s most noted landscape aryard study and then another. “You get chitects Calvert Vaux, who, along with infected with it,” says Sauers.

Frederick Law Olmstead, co-designed He also began presenting at the New York City’s Central Park.

ACA and developed a friendship with The significance of the cemetery’s

Edgette, who serves as the president of the Riverview Conservancy Foundation.

Sauers’ big step to the Riverview Cemetery began when he visited to do research for an ACA paper on John Roebling and met director Randy Niederer. He in turn became friendly with Sauers after attending a presentation the researcher did for the regional postcard collectors club on Trenton monuments, including those in the cemetery or involving those buried in it.

Sauers’ frequent visits to Riverview gave him more expertise, and he eventually helped establish the nonprofit that now supports and creates more awareness of the grounds — including the introduction of tours in 2017.

In addition to thinking about having a tour that commemorates Trenton firefighters buried at Riverview, Sauers says he’s also working on another called “Trenton Streets and Their Monumental Dead Ends.” It would deal with the people in the cemetery who gave Trenton some of its street

names.

However, he says, people do not have to wait for a tour or a burial to visit the cemetery. It is open daily from morning to dusk and affords a bucolic setting for a walk or a 2.5 mile jog on the outer trail around the grounds.

As we finish our stroll in the rain, I ask the obvious question: “Is the cemetery haunted?”

Sauers says that he’s asked that on every Poe Walk and while he doesn’t believe in spirits he says other members of his family have claimed sightings.

Then he closes the subject with a brief anecdote. “I took a series of three successive images (in the cemetery).

Photo one was fine. Photo two had a white orb in the middle. And photo three, nothing. So who knows?”

River view Cemeter y, 870 Centre Street. For more information on the November “Photography Night in the Cemetery,” visit riverviewcemetery. blogspot.com or email historian.riverviewcemetery@gmail.com.

November 2021 | Trenton Downtowner7

In his own words: Trent House trustee Samuel A. Stephens

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he Trent House Association Treasures Below Ground: has been working to resume its robust schedule of public Archaeology at the Trent events, but throughout the pandemic House those involved with the Trent House have made ongoing efforts to under- by Samuel A. Stephens stand the deep history of property reshe two acres of the William Trent idents, including New Jersey’s indigHouse Museum grounds contain enous people, the Lenni Lenapes, as treasures of incomparable worth. Not well as slaves from Africa and indenprecious jewels or valuable metals, but tured servants. fragments that That underhelp tell the stostanding was The two acres of the ries of the many enhanced durpeople who have ing 2021 when William Trent House lived there hunHunter Research dreds, even thouMuseum grounds continued its onsands, of years going archaeologcontain treasures of ago. With the ical work on the tools of archaeolhistoric property incomparable worth ... ogy, the museum whose colonial fragments that help tell is uncovering owner gave the city its name. those treasures the stories of the many In a desire to and telling those people who have lived share this imstories. Archaeportant work in ological investhere. our region, Trent tigations on House trustee the museum’s Samuel A. Stegrounds have been conducted since phens used his Ph.D. training in soci- the mid-1990s by Hunter Research, a ology to work with Hunter Research cultural resource management firm to create the following article that he based in Trenton. According to Richoffered to the Trenton Downtowner: ard Hunter, “This is a prime piece of archaeological real estate of inesti-

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A Marquis de Lafayette commemorative glass intaglio. mable historical value displaying an unparalleled record of Delaware Valley history stretching over at least 6,000 years.”

New Jersey was (and still is) home to the Lenape or Delaware people and their forebears for thousands of years before Europeans arrived, and the area around Trenton is rich in artifacts reflecting Native American occupation at the falls of the Delaware River. The site of the Trent House is in many respects an extension of the nearby Abbott Farm National Historic Landmark, just south of Trenton, where Native American activity focused on the rich natural habitat around the mouth of Crosswicks Creek. Excavations on the Trent House property

have yielded hundreds of Lenape and earlier artifacts, testimony to their hunting and gathering and seasonal camping. A quartz teardrop-shaped tool recovered during the 2021 season and likely 2,500 to 3,000 years old, may have served as a spearpoint but may also have been useful as a multitool for cutting, scraping, and drilling.

Many similar items from this part of the Delaware Valley may be viewed in the exhibits at the New Jersey State Museum, and the Tulpehaking Nature Center in the Abbott Marshlands is about to launch a series of children’s programs on Lenape lifeways and material culture.

With the arrival of the Dutch and Swedes in the mid-1600s, the Lenape

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Above, the foundation of the 1742 kitchen wing. At right, Richard Hunter of Hunter Research, back left; Jeff Richardson of NJM Insurance; and Trent House trustee Sam Stephens; and Shawn Carney, Trent House Association administrative consultant, front left; and president Princess Hoagland. began trading relationships with Europeans, exchanging furs, especiall y beaver pelts, for goods like copper pots, firearms, iron tools, wool blankets, and glass beads. Certain types of artifacts provide clear evidence of this contact between Native Americans and early Europeans. Two telltale types of material from this period are copper fragments and glass beads, both much valued by the Lenape and used for personal ornaments. Trimmed copper strips were found in levels of soil under the 18thcentury kitchen out-building. These could be used

by Native Americans to make several different items such as clothing decorations known as “tinklers” for their sound or even arrowheads.

Recent excavations have focused on uncovering what remains of a two-story brick building that had been connected to the main house. Built in 1742 for Lewis Morris, Royal Governor of New Jersey, it served as the kitchen, replacing the frequently flooded original kitchen in the cellar of the main house. At Governor Morris’s request the new building had rooms on the second floor to house his enslaved servants.

With an early gift from an anonymous donor, generous multi-year support from NJM Insurance Group, and a grant from the New Jersey Historic Trust, archaeological projects have revealed details of this building, including foundation walls enclosing the well, the footings of a fireplace and hearth, countless fragments of pottery and glass, kitchen implements, and bones from animals whose meat was cooked there. An almost complete, very large redware milk pan was recovered from the kitchen wing and probably dates from the later 18th or early 19th centuries. It could well have been used by enslaved people working in the kitchen. Princess Hoagland, president of the Trent House Association, noted that the mission of the museum is to include

the history of all those associated with the historic property. “We mean to correct omissions of inconvenient truths by uncovering evidence of the people whose lives were forgotten, such as the enslaved people who worked in the kitchen built for the convenience of Lewis Morris.”

The Trent House property figured prominently in the American Revolution. It saw action at the time of the Battles of Trenton in the ten crucial days over Christmas and New Year of 1776-77, then served as a military supply hub and home of Assistant Quartermaster General John Cox, and finally hosted the French and American armies en route from Newport, Rhode Island, to their victory over the British at Yorktown in 1781 (and on the return trip a year later). A rare archaeological find from this period is a brass seal inscribed “L F K,” believed to have belonged to Lucy Flucker Knox, wife of Washington’s artillery commander Henry Knox. Another archaeological echo of the Revolution is a glass intaglio sleeve link commemorating the war’s hero Marquis de La Fayette’s tour of the United States in 1824.

While there are undoubtedly more historical treasures remaining underground, in the near term the Trent House Museum plans to focus on more fully interpreting the 1742 kitchen building. As Hunter notes, “We have much more analysis to do on this front to understand more fully the layout and functioning of the kitchen. Our hope is to delineate and interpret the footprint of the kitchen wing at ground level so that visitors can appreciate better how the Trent House’s inhabitants, including those who were enslaved, lived on the premises.”

The William Trent House, 15 Market Street.

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In the New Jersey State House, colorful history rendered in glass

By Dan Aubrey

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he New Jersey State house Tours have resumed after the state’s closing and offer visitors the opportunity to explore the functions of government and the historical building where it happens.

The tours — currently affected by major renovations on the capitol building — also highlight some of the building’s architecture and art. One stop on many of the tours is one of the state’s most engaging commissions, “New Jersey: A 360 Degree View.”

The work is a 1,500-square-foot stained glass State House Annex skylight that tells the story of New Jersey through a mixture of factual and fictional images.

The factual includes the images connected to the Trenton and Princeton region: George Washington and his boats on the Delaware River, Princeton University, Albert Einstein, and the New Jersey Statehouse.

On the fanciful side, the stained glass includes images of the radioinspired Martian invasion of New Jersey and a lurking Jersey Devil, a presence that provides an entry into the imagination of the New Jersey artist who created this stained glass tourde-force, New Jersey artist J. Kenneth Leap.

“My dad gave ‘lost towns tours’ of the New Jersey Pinelands, and the Jersey Devil was a favorite subject of his,” Leap says. “He had a book on the Jersey Devil in his study. The ‘eyewitness’ descriptions of the Jersey Devil are pretty out there — horse’s head, cat body, leathery wings. I opted for something a little more classical and depicted him as a tragic figure — a little misunderstood but not malicious.”

“My dad was interested in history, and I got interested,” continues Leap in his Runnemede, New Jersey, stained glass and mural studio. It is close to where he grew up and his father had a sign painting business and his grandfather ran a grocery store.

“I am a designer and work in a number of different media. What I’m known for is stained glass, but I started as a painter and an illustrator.”

Although he had been exposed to stained glass windows through attending the Episcopal Church, he says the shift from working on paper and canvas to glass was something unexpected.

The talented artist was a sophomore majoring in illustration at Rhode Island School of Design, when, he says, he says, “I had a crisis of confidence and was looking at a blank piece of paper and trying to fill it up. Then a voice said, ‘Change your major and go into glass.’

“I knew nothing about it and investigated the glass program. They were looking for undergrads and made me

Stained glass artist J. Kenneth Leap, who created the ‘New Jersey: A 360 Degree View’ installation for the state house in Trenton, in his Runnemeade, New Jersey, studio. an offer. My illustration teacher said I could go back (to the illustration major). So, I spoke to my dad who said, ‘We sent you to college to grow up’” and would support his decisions.

Leap says when he transferred to the glass department, he was struck by an immediate difference. “I was one of 400 students in illustration, but when I was in the glass program it was, ‘Here’s the key to the studio.’”

He says he also did not realize how challenging it would be to work with three dimensionally sculpture-like glass in the style of Dale Chihuly.

“Basically everything was about the material,” he says, adding that students would be given assignments involving natural materials, quick delivery, and fast critiques.

10Trenton Downtowner November 2021

“It was great preparation for doing public art commissions, where you’d be given a brief and have to come up with a solution in a specific amount of time,” says the artist who in addition to the commission for the New Jersey State House Annex has also executed projects for Kean University, New Jersey Transit’s Edison and Pennsauken train stations, and the historic Atlantic City Convention Hall.

He says he gravitated to creating stained glass panels during a visit to Europe during his junior year. “While I was in Germany, I saw painted stained glass. It was so exquisitely painted, and I became curious about how it was done.”

He decided that he would do a degree project and investigated glass

painting by learning how to make stained glass, cutting and fitting it with lead, and then taking glass painting classes using a medium composed of silica and metallic oxide) and painting it directly on the glass.

“I was accomplished in watercolor painting, but I found it infuriating to paint with this,” he says, adding, “After 30 years of working in stained glass, mural painting is easy. If something breaks you put a line over it.”

Leap says he then set off to a do a glass painting project and was guided by the 1980 book “The Art of Painting on Glass” by internationally respected Lithuanian glass artist and instructor Albinas Elskus.

Leap later found Elskus was teaching in the United States, attended his class, and stayed in touch with him.

Leap says he then “saved up money to buy a kiln, and my dad gave me space in his sign shop. And I made the best stuff I could.”

After graduating from RISD, Leap took additional classes at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Parsons School of Design, and the Philadelphia College of Art. He eventually opened his own studio in 1987 and has since received public and private commissions and has exhibited his work at Montclair State University, Noyes Museum of Art, Newark Museum of Art, New Jersey State Museum, and others.

He also has taught stained glass making at two important centers.

One is the noted Millville, New Jersey, Wheaton Village, where Leap has a second studio. The other is Bryn Athyn College whose campus is also the home to a recreated medievalguild styled glass studio that created the glass for the cathedral built in the first part of the 20th century.

“I had been teaching ‘medieval style’ glass painting workshops at my studio at Wheaton Arts in Millville, New Jersey, for several years, using photographs as references, so I offered to teach that workshop at (Bryn Athyn). When it came to fruition and I had the opportunity to teach in the medieval gallery surrounded by 12thcentury stained glass panels, it was a dream come true.”

“J. Kenneth Leap’s stained and painted glass ceiling mural in the New Jersey State House Annex is one of his first major commissions,” says Trenton based artist Tom Moran, the longtime former coordinator for the New Jersey State Council’s public art division which oversaw the artists selection process for the 1995 state house renovations. “He won the competition based on his extraordinary design, which illustrates key moments in New Jersey history. In terms of his execution of this extraordinary artwork, Leap, one of the leading glass artists in the state, combined his mas-

Images of George Washington during the American Revolution, above, and the Statue of Liberty are among the figures in New Jersey history illustrated in Leap’s installation in Trenton. tery of stained glass with his signature who played an important role durmethod of painting glass images. The ing the early 20th century’s Gothic painting of glass has its roots in early Revival movement, Leap says among German art, which Leap studied. This the things he noticed and echoed artwork was a major accomplishment when appropriate was the artist’s use for Leap. It helped pave the way for of “ornamental patterns within the many public and private commissions decorative borders — symbols of the for the artist over the succeeding de- zodiacs, constellations — part of small cades to the present day.” little decorative elements. And the Leaps says the idea for creating the glass was nice blown glass. It wasn’t “New Jersey — a 360 View” faux sky- opalescent glass (the thick glass used light was to match another skylight in by Tiffany). It was more connected to the annex. “I suggested the panorama the medieval glass that brought color with all the state imagery. The subject into the room. And the ‘clear’ glass matter was left up to me. All the imag- (around the medallions) wasn’t clear. ery created in the building was what There were touches of green and I proposed,” he rose, and it was says. thick and wavy.

In addition to It was very in‘In addition to design the skylight, Leap teresting from a was also commiscraft perspective. and composition, I tell sioned to create The glass itself a story that the viewer glass for the anwas good choice, nex meeting room Gothic Revival.” can enter. It’s a hook. areas that housed Leap may folthe original New low the impulse Humor comes down Jersey State Muof medieval and to a little bit of my seum.

Gothic Revival The existing aking, personality and the way gbutl a shiss minclusion stained glass winI look at things. I see the of the images of dows by nationally respected Bucks Marirony in some situations dinosaurs, County-based tians, mythic stained glass artmonsters, and and having a quick wit ist George Sotter even showing becomes part of the (1879-1953) had himself strugdeteriorated and gling in the sea story.’ needed to be adoff the New Jerdressed through sey Coast indirestoration and cates a unsinkreplacement. able wit and sense of humor.

“Some of the windows had figura“It is a thread through all my work,” tive medallions (a central image) and says Leap. “In addition to design and others did not. So they wanted new composition, I tell a story that the medallions to complete the series. viewer can enter. It’s a hook. Humor The images I did were state symbols. comes down to a little bit of my perI did 12 new stained glass panels that sonality and the way I look at things. were inserted into the historic win- I see the irony in some situations and dows when it was built.” having a quick wit becomes part of the Taking artistic cues from Sotter, story.”

Realizing the ceremonial and functional aspects of state buildings, Leap feels that art work for the structure can become too serious and dull.

Therefore, he says, he strives to create work that is “more interesting, more human. The Martians are a chance to put in something that is unexpected.

Some people think that history is dry,

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but I want humor to be part of it.”

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