COMMUNITYNEWS.ORG
FEBRUARY 2021 FREE
A link to the past African Link Initiative sets out to help teens connect with their heritage and culture BY JOE EMANSKI
Tammy Leigh, assistant director, Emergency Department and Critical Care (right) administers a second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to Victoria Bradeis, respiratory therapist at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton on Jan. 11.
Where’s the vaccine? BY BILL SANSERVINO
While the COVID-19 pandemic continued to rage throughout the United States during the month of January, the government struggled to provide enough doses to those looking to be protected from the deadly virus. Across the country, states have struggled to meet demand, and the doses shipped have been significantly outweighed by the number of people looking to be vaccinated.
When appointments do open up at vaccination sites, available slots are often booked up within hours or less. People have been left confused and frustrated—wondering how, when and where they will get inoculated. In New Jersey, the vaccine was first made available to healthcare workers, first responders and staff and residents of long-term care facilities starting in mid-December. Then at the beginning of January, the Trump Adminis-
tration announced that it was releasing the stockpile of vaccines it was holding to ensure people would be able to get the required second dose. A few days later, on Jan. 14, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy opened up vaccinations to people ages 65 and older, and those with high-risk medical conditions. It was subsequently revealed there was no stockpile of vaccines, and that the second doses had already been released at the end of See VACCINE, Page 6
A number of area organizations, including the Boys and Girls Clubs of Mercer County, have been working together to bring to life the African Link Initiative, or ALI — a program designed to help AfricanAmerican teens transform the way they see themselves and the world. Seven teenagers, hailing from Plainsboor, Hamilton, East Windsor, Lawrence, and Trenton embarked on ALI’s inaugural program in January. Over the first five months of the year, the participants will learn about African and African-American history and African-American identity, and take DNA tests to provide crucial information about their family history, both before and after their ancestors first reached this continent. The program is set to culminate in a two-week trip to Ghana, in West Africa. Shazel Muhammad-Neain is the founder of the African Link Initiative. The South Jersey resident is also the founder of Eunoia Global, a leadership training and business coaching firm, and has been involved with the Boys and Girls Club of Mercer County since 2018. Muhammad-Neain is also a board member of Global Connections Foundation NJ Corp, the Pennington-based nonprofit founded by educa-
1179 NEWARK, NJ
SEE OUR AD ON PG 2
tor David Angwenyi, which for a number of years has been sponsoring educational trips linking American students to counterparts in Kenya. Global Connections is now also a partner in ALI. Muhammad-Neain says the first ALI participants have been nominated by school principals and assistant principals “who see their innate potential yet recognize the lack of opportunities and sense of belonging these youth experience—solely due to the color of their skin.” Jermaine Blount, Jr. is one student who is taking part in the program. Blount, a junior at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North, learned about ALI from his father, Jermaine, Sr., an assistant principal in the East Windsor Regional School District. Mom Jenine, a school counselor in Robbinsville, says Jermaine Jr. was very excited when she and Jermaine Sr. told him about ALI. “This is something we have thought about before, but this is the first opportunity that’s been presented that he would be able to partake in,” she says. “He’s never been to Africa, we’ve never been to Africa, so we definitely wanted to offer him this type of opportunity, to go through this journey with other students with similar backgrounds, experiences and culture.” The Blounts’ daughter, Jania, is a freshman at Rutgers University, studying animal science. Jenine says Jania “absolutely wishes she could be a part of [ALI]. We wish something like this would have See ALI, Page 5
It’s no fun being the ‘enemy’ BILL SANSERVINO FROM THE EDITOR
NOW OPEN!TODAY! CALL TODAY! TODAY! NOW OPEN! CALL PEN! CALL
WE ACCEPT ACCEPT MOST MOST INSURANCES INSURANCES WE NO INSURANCE? INSURANCE? NO
INHOUSE HOUSEDISCOUNT DISCOUNTOPTIONS OPTIONSAVAILABLE AVAILABLE IN
STATE OF OF THE THE ART ART FACILITY FACILITY STATE
BRACES $49
$4495 Exam, Exam,
LIMITED TIME OFFER
X-ray &&Offer AllX-ray Inclusive Cannot be combined with Cleaning Cleaning other offer or insurance
$49 Exam,
“The fake news media is the enemy of the people!” It’s a phrase that was frequently uttered by former President Donald Trump. I believe that over the past four years, Trump and his administration did significant damage to the perception of journalism in this country—seriously undermining a key cornerstone of a free and democratic society. It trickled down to the local level too. People who didn’t like a story called it “fake news,” regardless of the accuracy of our reporting. For more than 30 years, I have done my best to be as fair and professional as possible, and it was frustrating to be vilified by hypocrites who were pursuing their own personal or political agendas. Last August, I was furloughed by our company as a result of economic conditions stemming from the pandemic. Over the last four months I realized how much I missed being able to inform community members about important news and the special people, groups and organizations within our towns. Often I would get a email alert or hear an interesting tidbit and think, “that would make a great story,” only to be met with the cold realization that it Contact BILL SANSERVINO: bsanserwasn’t my job to report it any more. vino@communitynews.org, (609) 396-1511, During my months on furlough, I ext. 104, facebook.com/BillSanservino.
we are a newsroom of your neighbors. The News is for local people, by local people. As such, our staff sets out to make our towns a closer place by giving readers a reliable source to turn to when they want to know what’s going on in their neighborhood. As part of the community, the West Windsor and Plainsboro News does more than just report the news—it connects businesses with their customers, organizations with their members and neighbors with one another. SENIOR COMMUNITY EDITOR Bill Sanservino (Ext. 104) CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST Paul Ligeti AD LAYOUT AND PRODUCTION Stephanie Jeronis
TRUSTED DENTISTS ORTHODONTISTS OST INSURANCES TRUSTED DENTISTS ORTHODONTISTS We are here in a&& safe and clean
ROBBINSVILLE &&Safe ROBBINSVILLE Stay and Healthy T OPTIONS AVAILABLE Rte130 130 Rte 130 Rte 130 Rte
319 ROUTE ROUTE 130 130 319 319 ROUTE 130 EAST WINDSOR EAST EAST WINDSOR ENTISTS & WINDSOR ORTHODONTISTS www.applegarthdental.com www.applegarthdental.com www.applegarthdental.com
/W WINDSOR, MONROE 2The News | February 2021 & ROBBINSVILLE
Community News Service 15 Princess Road, Suite K Lawrence, NJ 08648 Phone: (609) 396-1511 News: news@communitynews.org Events: events@communitynews.org Sports: sports@communitynews.org Letters: bsanservino@communitynews.org Website: communityews.org Facebook: facebook.com/WestWindsorPlainsboroNews Twitter: twitter.com/mercerspace
SERVING E/W E/Wfor WINDSOR, MONROE SERVING WINDSOR, environment all your MONROE Dental Needs! URANCE?
X-ray & 609-250-0376 609-250-0376 E ART FACILITY (609) 246-0011 (609) 246-0011 Cleaning
had a lot of time to reflect on the importance of journalism, especially at the local level and the toll that COVID-19 is having on small newspaper companies like Community News Service. Without small town papers, how will people learn about what’s going on in their communities? Who will hold local officials accountable and help give a voice to community members? In late December, I got a call from our publishers informing me that Managing Editor Rob Anthes was leaving the company, and they asked me to return to my position as a community editor. It was a call I had been waiting months for. A few weeks later, on Jan. 20, I watched as new White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki held her first press conference only a hours after President Joe Biden was sworn in. Within the first few minutes, she told the members of the media in the room that she has “a deep respect for the role of a free and independent press in our Democracy, and for the role all of you play.” I heard her message after a long day of working to get my papers ready to go to press for the first time in months and smiled. Hopefully the tide is turning. Maybe I won’t be seen as the “enemy” any more.
An award-winning publication of Community News Service, LLC © Copyright 2021 All rights reserved. CO-PUBLISHER Jamie Griswold
CO-PUBLISHER Tom Valeri
MANAGING EDITOR, METRO DIVISION Sara Hastings
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Thomas Fritts PRODUCTION MANAGER Stacey Micallef DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL INITIATIVES Joe Emanski
17,000 copies of The News are mailed or bulkdistributed to the residences and businesses in Plainsboro and West Windsor 12 times a year.
TO ADVERTISE call (609) 396-1511, ext. 110 or e-mail advertise@communitynews.org A proud member of:
Around town
Harmony online at WW Arts Council through Feb. 26 Communities often look to artists to provide the bridge between what has happened in the past and what is needed going forward. When the Exhibition Committee of the West Windsor Arts Council sat down last September, this was exactly their intention in creating the Harmony exhibition. The exhibition will be viewable online through Feb. 6, 2021 at westwindsorart. org and by appointment at the Arts Center. “When the Exhibition Committee created the theme of Harmony, they did so with the understanding that a great chasm has developed in our communities and that at this time, post election, we would need to work on coming together in order to move forward and heal,” said a WWAC news release. WWAC invited artists to explore the idea of balance disrupted and harmony restored as it relates to personal experience, beliefs, or observations. Jurors Maureen Bennett, Eleni Zatz Litt, and SiriOm Singh selected 34 works of art and music for the show, each piece exploring the theme through a variety of media. Bennett is a visual artist inspired by nature and human nature, working in graphite, pastels, watercolors, acrylics, oils, mixed media and photography. Her recent work is at the intersection of drawing/painting combined with photography/computer technology.
She has been awarded numerous grants for art as a transformative force for social change and leads creativity workshops on art education, wellness, earth awareness, nonviolence and peace. She is the recipient of the NYC Circle of Mercy Award. Litt is a teaching artist, anthropologist and lifelong learner. A graduate of the London School of Economics (Ph.D., social anthropology) and Reed College (BA, art history), she has spent the majority of her professional life in higher education (currently serving as associate provost at The New School in New York City) even as she cultivated a lifelong creative arts practice. Along the way, she has obtained certificates in fine arts (Parsons School of Design) and creative arts therapies (The New School). Litt is currently serving as the inaugural artist-in-residence at Robin Heller International, where she facilitates professional development workshops based on art making and conversation that support and honor commitments to equity and social justice. Singh is a self-taught abstract impressionist, working primarily with acrylic and mixed media, applying special layering techniques, and using a pallet knife. He served on the board of trustees of Ellarslie, the Trenton City Museum, and is the co-owner of Cross Pollination Gallery in Lambertville. His work was exhibited in various
galleries and museums and is part of numerous private collections including New Jersey State Museum, Ellarsley Museum; Phillips Mill, Da Vinci Art Alliance, The Gallery at Mercer County Community College and The Gallery at the Bank of Princeton. He is part of numerous private collections, local and international. Highlights of the many extraordinary works in the exhibition include works by Erika Hibbert. Hibbert, originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, has practiced and taught art in Soweto and in many innercity art-projects. Teaching linked her to the community, grounding her artmaking. In 2004, tragically, her husband was murdered,
and she moved to Botswana with her mixed-race daughters, eventually immigrating to Georgia. She has exhibited at the Rosa Parks Museum and at several universities. In 2020 she moved to New York, starting a new phase in her life as an artist. “I painted to make sense of the physical and emotional ramifications of COVID,” Hibbert said. “Patterns first built but then broken. Tensions between nature and humans parallel the tensions between spontaneous, immediate marks and deliberate, meticulous marks. These combinations make the artworks resonant, as the harmony of humans in nature does.” Also on exhibition is Carole Jury. She See AROUND TOWN, Page 4
I T I INN T TAAKKEE I T TA K E I T I N Providing Relief from ENT & Allergy Conditions – Close to Home Providing Relief from ENT & Allergy Conditions – Close to Home
Personalized care for your ear, nose, throat and allergy conditions can now be found
close to care homefor at your Penn ear, Medicine ENT allergy & Allergy. Our specialists provide expert Personalized nose, Becker throat and conditions can now be found Providing Relief from ENT & Allergy Conditions – Close to Home evaluation, diagnosis and treatment for symptoms related to allergy, nose and sinus, close to home at Penn Medicine Becker ENT & Allergy. Our specialists provide expert voice and swallowing, ears andfor hearing, sleeprelated and snoring, andnose neckand andsinus, thyroid evaluation, diagnosis and treatment symptoms to allergy, Personalized care for your ear, nose, throat and allergy conditions can now be found – all in aears safe and and secure environment. voice conditions and swallowing, hearing, sleep and snoring, and neck and thyroid close to home at Penn Medicine Becker ENT & Allergy. Our specialists provide expert conditions – all in a safe and secure environment. evaluation, diagnosis and treatment for symptoms related to allergy, nose and sinus,
voice Same and day swallowing, earsavailable! and hearing, sleep and snoring, and neck and thyroid appointments Schedule your appointment by calling 609.436.5740 conditions – all in a safe and secure environment.
“High Fever,” an ink on canvas by Erika Hibbert, is one of the works that are part of the Harmony exhibition being held by the WWAC through Feb. 26.
Becker ENT & Allergy
visiting PennMedicine.org/Becker Same or day appointments available! Schedule your appointment by calling 609.436.5740 or visiting PennMedicine.org/Becker
Becker ENT & Allergy
Same day appointments available! Schedule your appointment by calling 609.436.5740 or visiting PennMedicine.org/Becker
Becker ENT & Allergy
February 2021 | The News3
AROUND TOWN cont. from Page 3 is both a photographer and an abstract painter and she combines the two mediums of expression in her process, starting from photography and then transposing it to painting to create her series. “Her signature resides in her broad textured strokes, her ability to capture shadows and lights and her eye for color with canvases,” said the WWAC release. “Working mainly in oils but also in acrylics, Jury likes to play with materials to express herself.” Said Jury: “It’s a kind of secret space where everyone can find one’s own personal refuge. Through painting, I feel anything is possible.” Her work is exhibited in major art fairs. One of her paintings from her Lagoon Series has been selected by MuseumWeek 2020 as the official visual. Jury is an artist sponsored by Daler-Rowney. Other exhibiting artists include Zakia Ahmed, Jodi Oster, Clara Beym, Nikita Choksi, Vinny Conte, Connie Cruser, Emily Buchalski, Alice Eltvedt, Jayme Fahrer, Janet Felton, Michelle Floyd, Erika Hibbert, Jeanette Gaston Hooban, Carole Jury, Margaret Kalvar Bushnell, Lori Langsner, Dave Magyar, Lucretia Ellen McGuff-Silverman ,Renata Piccione, William Plank, Karen Schoenitz, Margaret Simpson, Tanzanight and Barbara Weinfield. For information on the West Windsor Arts Council and West Windsor Arts Center, go to westwindsorarts.org, call (609) 716-1931 or email info@westwindsorarts.org.
The arts center is located at 952 Alex- awarded and 14 scouts received their ander Road, West Windsor, and is a five Cyber chip and 11 scouts received their minute walk from the Princeton Junc- Totin chip. tion Train Station. Office and gallery hours: Mon.-Fri., Alarm renewals due in 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. West Windsor Due to COVID-19, the center is not currently open for gallery hours. The West Windsor Township ordinance regulating alarm systems, Plainsboro Scouts hold requires that annual alarm registration renewals is due no later than March 31. virtual Court of Honor Send a complete updated renewal Scouts BSA Troop 300G in Plainsboro application and payment of the $25 fee began 2021 with its inaugural virtual together. Include your permit number and email address on the application. Court of Honor. Failure to respond by the due date On Jan. 10, the troop gathered via Zoom to honor the achievements of the can result in an unregistered alarm first troop of girls associated with Scouts summons and/or late fees to be issued. A printable/fillable alarm renewal appliBSA Troop 759 of Plainsboro. Debi Vivona, scout leader, and Lau- cation can be located on the West Windrie de Jon, co-leader, celebrated along sor Police website at westwindsorpolice. with dignitaries including: Plainsboro com. To obtain the renewal application on Deputy Mayor Neil Lewis; Washington Crossing Council member Matthew the website: Click on “registrations” Freeman; and Rev. Gerry Paderon, then “burglar alarms” and then “alarm Pastor of Queenship of Mary Church, renewal.” After clicking on “alarm which is the chartered organization for renewal,” the printable version of the application is available (do not reduce the troop. Also attending were the parents and size). The renewal alarm application can grandparents of the scouts. The following earned their Scout rank: Prisha be submitted by mail to: West Windsor Bagchi, Sophia Vivona, Elizabeth Wang, Police Dept., P.O. Box 38, Attn: Records Aishani Mukherjee, Aria Divan, Cara- Dept., West Windsor, N.J. 08550. Checks or money orders should lyn Perez, Sloka Vendra, Risha Rao, Lily Simmins, Laasya Guntamkkala, be be made payable to West Windsor Heshmitha Elavarasan and Amritha Township. A drop off box for the alarm payments is located inside police headKomarraju. Christine de Jong and Sarah de Jong quarters lobby area. The department is located at 271 earned their Second Class rank. In addition 17 merit badges were Clarksville Road. The lobby is open 24
hours a day. There is option available for online or electronic payment. The records window is closed to the public due to Covid-19. For more information, email alarms@ westwindsorpolice.com or call the records department at (609) 799-9282.
No Mercer AARP Tax-Aide program this year The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program will not be offered this tax season at any site in Mercer County due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The program is usually offered in libraries throughout the Mercer County Public Library system AARP is offering an alternative this year called the AARP Alternative Tax Preparation program (ATP). The ATP program provides direct taxpayer access to free online tax software for this year’s taxes as well as video and/or phone assistance with a certified AARP tax assister. Rather than doing the tax return for taxpayers, certified AARP tax assisters help taxpayers prepare their own online returns. Taxpayers can get more information about the Alternative Tax Preparation program at aarpfoundation.org/taxaide.
WHAT DID WE MISS? What are you noticing in your community? What stories do you think we should tell? Do you have news to share? We want to hear from you. Send your news or tips to news@communitynews.org.
Ready to get started on your kitchen or bath renovation project?
Cranbury Design Center listens to your ideas and then uses color drawings of your space to help make your vision a reality. We assist with design decisions, cabinet, countertop and hardware selections, and finishing touches like backsplash tile and paint colors. Give us a call or connect with us online to get started.
We can work with you virtually! cranburydesigncenter.com/VirtualDesign
4The News | February 2021 CDC-WWP-01-22-2021.indd 1
(609) 448-5600 145 W. Ward Street, Hightstown NJ www.cranburydesigncenter.com 1/22/21 12:00 PM
ALI continued from Page 1 been available when we were in school. We haven’t crossed that bridge yet.” Zoubir Yazid, the chief learning officer for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Mercer County, says ALI is a natural continuation of the programs of the Boys and Girls Clubs. “Our mission is helping the youth of our community achieve their dreams. Well, a dream is reaching the impossible,” he says. “Why not have them go to Ghana? The reason I’ve been very passionate about this is, I really want to send a message out: nothing is impossible. We’re here to help. It’s not a shift in the mission statement but it’s a shift in the sense of pushing the target even further on the horizon. I think we’re going to be the first Boys and Girls Club to ever send somebody overseas.” The program is designed to accommodate as many as 20 students, but Yazid is content to start with a smaller group. “Seven kids is very good to start with, and we’re going to try to find the right number for us,” Yazid says. “We want to make it a program that kids aspire to. Our dream one day is for it to become a program where kids say, ‘Oh my God, I really have to work hard to get into that program.’” Brandon Russell is one of the seven who are participating in the program this year. The Trenton Catholic Academy student lives in Hamilton with his father David, an IT manager, mother SanRose, a director with United Health Care, and sister Asia, a student at East Carolina University. When David Russell first heard about ALI, he thought it sounded like a wonderful opportunity for Brandon to learn about his identity in a way that would not be taught in history books. “African-American kids, so many times if they are more academically inclined, sometimes they are ostracized by both races,” he says. “This gives Brandon a chance to learn and be with kids of the same interests and race.” Muhammad-Neain describes ALI as an evidence-based, three-part program. In part 1, participants will take DNA tests that will be processed by African Ancestry (africanancestry. com), an organization that says it has the only DNA database that can go back 500 years to help a person track ancestry back to a present day African country and ethnic group of origin. After that, students will learn about Africa, the African diaspora and African-American identity. “If you don’t know where you come from, it’s hard to understand where you are, and it’s even more difficult to see where you’re going,” Muhammad-Neain says. “What we know, from data behind our research on programs like ALI, is that teaching Black students about instilling Black cultural pride really does yield promising outcomes, including higher GPAs and higher graduation rates.” In part 2, participants will participate in a workshop designed to boost their critical thinking, decision-making and relationship skills. Muhammad-Neain
WW-P High School North junior Jermaine Blount, Jr. is participating in the ALI program. He is pictured with his father, Jermaine Sr. (left), sister Jania, and his mother, Jenine, seated. says she the teens will take part in a version of the Vital Smarts Crucial Conversations program that is usually used for staff training at Fortune 500 companies. Muhammad-Neain is calling part 3 of the program a “teen summit,” an open forum of facilitated conversations. “It’s about giving kids the space to examine current events and their perspective on things, and also to get feedback from their peers and to be able to unpack community constructs like race and identity,” she says. The students will then make the 14-day birthright trip to Ghana. On the trip, the students will tour historical sites of trans-Atlantic slave trade, participate in a tribal naming ceremony, and learn firsthand about African traditions and culture. The trip was originally planned for late summer 2021, but because of the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic and its impact on safe travel, the trip is now tentatively scheduled for summer 2022. Muhammad-Neain spent a month and a half in Africa in 2019 and 2020. She visited both Kenya and Ghana and says the trip was an amazing experience. “I am still being transformed from my time there,” she says. “I feel like I became African-American for the first time at age 47. I finally felt like I knew, for the first time, what it felt like to be both African and American at the same time. I had finally reconciled my ethnicity and identity.” Muhammad-Neain has high hopes for the future of the program. She envisions it becoming a seven-year program that students enter in 6th grade and continue until they graduate. She can picture an evolving curriculum in which participants go to different countries in each year of the program. Eventually, she says, she wants to look into folding college students and
be a revenue center.” For now, fundraising is definitely a focus for the initiative. Right now, the program has the funds to provide two of its seven participants with stipends that would cover the cost of the Ghana trip. ALI is actively seeking more donors to enable it to cover the cost for all seven students. “This is something that really will make a difference in the sense that it’s a paradigm shift, taking everything that Shazel and the Boys and Girls Clubs can be and combining them into a program that’s creative and data driven, but most importantly, is really life changing,” Yazir says. He says he cannot wait until the day the teens return from Ghana. He says he plans to be at the airport to meet them. “I can’t wait to see their faces when they come back. And what’s beautiful about it is imagining the impact [that ALI] can have on their community. This is not just going to affect that kid, it’s going to affect his family, her family,” he says. “The return on investment is that this is something that can change the life of these kids and put them on a path forward that would really be incredible.” For more information about supporting the African Link Initiative, go to the ALI website: africanlink.org/donate.
even adults into the program. She sees long-term sustainability for the program coming through a workforce development program. “We want to be able to build a pipeline of success that leads to gainful employment for gradu- Contact JOE EMANSKI: jemanski@comates of our program,” she says. “We munitynews.org, (609) 396-1511, ext. 120. intend for workforce development to facebook.com/HopewellExpress
KE DA A L Y T LIBER CAMP Y A D KE T Y LA LIBER
LO
REEN FREE!
SC OUTDOORS +
In-Person Tours by Appointment or Virtual Tours Online
Successfully Opened During Summer 2020 • Awesome Counselors • Daily Spirit Events • 60+ Activities • Bus Transportation LibertyLakeDayCamp.com • 609.499.7820 February 2021 | The News5
VACCINE continued from Page 1 December. This exacerbated the problem—an even larger pool of people were left seeking vaccinations, but the anticipated increase in supply never occurred. This resulted in a severe shortage in appointments available for qualified individuals. (For information on who currently qualifies to get the vaccine, see the graphic on Page 7.) Currently, there are three ways for qualified individuals to make an appointment. To start, all people should register with the N.J. Vaccine Scheduling System (covidvaccine.nj.gov). They will be emailed an invitation to schedule an appointment when they are eligible and slots open up. The state has also set up an NJVSS call center to assist individuals, including those with no computers, in pre-registering and scheduling a COVID-19 vaccine appointment. For assistance call (855) 568-0545. The second is to make an appointment directly with one of the many designated vaccination sites across the state. In Mercer, these include: Capital Health System in Hopewell; the Henry J. Austin Health Centers in Trenton; Hunterdon Family and Sports Medicine in Pennington; the Princeton Health Dept.; Riverside Urgent Care in Ewing; Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton; the ShopRite at Hamilton Marketplace Boulevard; and the ShopRite in Pennington.
Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes speaks with Matthew Grogan, assistant nurse manager for float pool and Desiree Gbarbea, critical care float pool nurse at Capital Health, who were administering vaccinations at the CURE Insurance Arena regional site on Jan. 21. Other nearby sites include: Princeton Medical Center in Plainsboro; the Middlesex County megasite in Edison; the Burlington County megasite at Moorestown Mall; Boyd’s Pharmacy in Columbus; and the Burlington County Health Dept. in Westampton. For a full list of vaccination sites in New Jersey and contact information, go to covid19.nj.gov/pages/vaccine. Due to the high demand, there is a high likelihood that the sites on this
If it’s important to you and your child, it’s important to us.
list will be fully booked. Finally, select healthcare facilities, including many hospitals, are offering vaccines directly to their workers. Anyone who works at one of these facilities should contact their employer to learn if the vaccine is available there. *** As of Jan. 24, the state had administered more than 550,000 doses of vaccine. This is about half the overall doses that have been received by the state. The rest were delivered to commercial entities for distribution, such as pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens, Gov. Murphy told CNBC on Jan. 20 that that part of the vaccine rollout has been problematic. “They basically amassed these doses, they schedule visits to longterm care nursing homes, extended living, and they’re punching under their weight, particularly Walgreens, and that’s where most of the yet to be
used doses are,” Murphy told CNBC. He added that the companies should “put more bodies on the case” to increase vaccinations. Meanwhile, for several reasons, Mercer County sat near the bottom of the state in the number of people vaccinated by the end of January. New Jersey began vaccinating residents starting on Dec. 15, but Mercer didn’t hold its first vaccination clinic until Dec. 28. The state of New Jersey reported on its COVID-19 Information Hub that as of mid-day Jan. 24, Mercer County had vaccinated 13,587 people. During the week of Jan. 17-23, a total of 4,854 people received shots— an average of about 700 people a day. By comparison, neighboring Burlington and Middlesex counties had vaccinated roughly twice as many people overall. As of Jan. 25, a total of 27,287 people had received vaccines in Burlington County, and an average of about 1,200 per day between Jan. 17-23. In Middlesex County, a total of 40,540 had been vaccinated by Jan. 24, with an average of more than 1,800 per day between Jan. 17-23. Bergen was the county with highest number in the state, with 61,261 vaccinations as of Jan. 24. Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes said that part of the problem with rolling out vaccinations was that fact that there is no county department of health in Mercer. Health departments in the county are run by each of the municipalities, some of which contract with other towns. Hughes said vaccine deployment in Mercer County has been a collaborative effort between the Mercer County Division of Public Health, the County Health Officers Association, Capital Health System and a number of other entities (such as the nursing school at Mercer County Community College). “While it might seem like Mercer was lagging, many Mercer towns conducted their own vaccine clinics based
UV Air Sanitization in HVAC Systems and Anti-Microbial Surface Protectants • NAEYC Accredited
• Webcam Access Via Secure Website
• Flexible Schedules: Full-Time, Part-Time
• Parent Communication Portal
• Accredited Curriculum: Language Arts, Handwriting, Math, Spanish, Technology, Music, Science and More
• Breakfast, Lunch & Snack Included • Open ALL But 7 Days Per Year
Infants • Toddlers • Preschool • Kindergar ten 3848 Quakerbridge Road • Hamilton, NJ 08619 (near Hughes Drive) 609-588-8808 • www.kiddieacademy.com/hamilton
6The News | February 2021
The entrance to Walgreens in Robbinsville Township informs residents that the COVID-19 vaccinations aren’t available at the store. Gov. Phil Murphy has said the company was “punching under its weight” in terms of ramping up vaccine distribution. (Staff photo by Bill Sanservino).
on the capacity they could manage, and only for people who met the 1A category, including their local police, fire and EMTs,” Hughes said in an email. In a video posted to YouTube on Jan. 21, Hamilton Mayor Jeff Martin spoke about the vaccine situation. He said that starting at the end of December, Hamilton teamed up with the other towns in Mercer County to create “points of distribution, or PODs.” The PODs were closed to the general public, and the initial priority was to vaccinate healthcare workers and first responders (firefighters, EMS and police). He said that the PODs rotated between the municipalities throughout the county during the first weeks of January. He said that the PODs “allow people from across the county to get vaccinated. It allows those people who qualify to get vaccinated to make a more convenient appointment.” “Unfortunately the amount of vaccine available to us as a county and as a township is severely diminished,” Martin said. “It’s not nearly enough to accommodate the demand that we’ve seen from you all.” He said that in the days after the state increased the pool of eligible recipients on Jan. 14, Hamilton Township received more than 2,500 calls from people wanting the vaccine. Supply is a major problem, and will continue to be going forward, said
nated,” said Marygrace Billek, Mercer County director of human services She said that the county has had a distribution plan in place for more than 15 years, but that plan is prediAs of January 14, 2021 the following groups are eligible for the COVID-19 cated on the availability of the Stratevaccine and can begin to make their appointments. gic National Stockpile from the Federal government. • Frontline First Responders “For COVID-19, we have all had to rethink our plans and processes and • Long Term Care Facility Residents do things differently, and to that end Mercer will stand up and support two • Paid/unpaid persons working/volunteering regional vaccination sites, something that has not been part of our past in a healthcare setting plan,” Billek said. Officials were hopeful that the situ• Persons ages 65 and older ation would improve with the opening of a regional vaccination site on Jan. 25 • Persons ages 16-64 years old who have at at CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton. least one chronic medical condition that The regional site, a joint effort poses high-risk for severe COVID-19. between the county and Capital Health, opened planning to vaccinate These include cancer, chronic kidney disease, 200 people a day using a separate COPD, Down syndrome, heart conditions, doses allocated to Capital Health by obesity, Sickle cell disease, smoking and the state. Type 2 diabetes mellitus. “We will be continuing 5 to 7 days a week, expanding the number of doses At this time, the best place to register for the vaccine is through the N.J. per day as supply increases,” Hughes Vaccine Scheduling System at covidvaccine.nj.gov. For more information on said. the vaccine and vaccination locations, go to covid19.nj.gov/pages/vaccine. The plan is to also use Mercer County College as a regional site along with the municipal sites as the number of vaccines increases. Hughes said he anticipates this will happen in Hughes. “As of today (Jan. 22), the receipt from the state. “The state and counties are all behind mid-February. state is giving Mercer County only 800 because the federal government has doses per week,” he said. Those doses must be shared with released so little vaccine to New Jer- Contact BILL SANSERVINO: bsansertowns based on population. Vaccines sey, and this has impacted our ability to vino@communitynews.org, (609) 396-1511, must be used within seven days of ramp up and get more individuals vacci- ext. 104, facebook.com/BillSanservino.
WHO QUALIFIES FOR THE VACCINE NOW?
Wednesday, February 24th • 1 PM Opening this summer on the Penn Medicine-Princeton Health campus, Maplewood offers resort-style amenities with premier assisted living care and services. Maplewood specializes in lifestyle with large wide-open outdoor spaces, luxury hospitality, farm-to-table dining, spectacular décor and access to the best in educational and cultural activities Princeton has to offer. Licensed nurses are available 24/7 to address wellness issues, while concierge-minded staff can fulfill nearly any requests. Be the first to reserve a prime location, view and floorplan.
MEET MAPLEWOOD AT PRINCETON: DESIGN & LIFESTYLE WEBINAR
See floor plans for this brand-new community, now under construction. Learn how Maplewood is changing the landscape of senior living with unmatched amenities and services. Hear from our Senior VP of Operations, Development Project Manager and Executive Director of Maplewood at Princeton. RSVP or learn more by calling (609) 496-9166 or visiting MaplewoodPrinceton.com. Haven’t attended a Zoom webinar before? No worries! Call us in advance, and we’ll talk you through getting set up.
833.269.1016 | MaplewoodAtPrinceton.com One Hospital Drive | Plainsboro, New Jersey
February 2021 | The News7
A WWP News Advertising Feature
Travel Talk with Caryn and Aron Celebrating a decade of travel
Now open! The area’s newest assisted living and memory care community is open! At The Landing of Hamilton, we are livin’ it up with a whole lotta heart.
TRY US FOR FREE! Pack your bags and call 609.241.9538 today for more details!
1750 Yardville-Hamilton Square Road • Hamilton 609.241.9538 • TheLandingOfHamilton.com
Early Diagnosis & Treatment can keep you focused on what’s important
See an optometrist for a comprehensive eye exam now. For you and the ones you love.
• Eye Exams • Quality Eyewear • Contact Lenses
Paul E. Neiheiser, O.D. Lic. 27OA005123 Stefanie Hwang, O.D. Lic. 27OA006682 Plainsboro Plaza, 10 Schalks Crossing Road
609.275.8989 8The News | February 2021
February is a big month for our company – it will mark the 10th anniversary of our ownership of Cruise Planners and selling memory making vacations. Over the years, our business has grown larger and we have enjoyed helping families, individuals, honeymooners, groups, and more, experience the world. And we have had the fortunate opportunity to explore destinations across the globe using different forms of travel including large cruise ships, river cruises, safaris, high-speed rail transportation, and more. We have also grown our business with the addition of two associates, Kelly and Stacey. This past year has been challenging and while the start of 2021 hasn’t seen much change in the travel and cruising industry, the future is looking bright. Vaccines are being given out and hopefully we will reach herd immunity by the summer. Protocols are being explored, and the experts are predicting a surge in demand. With that expectation in mind, it is important to book early and take advantage of pricing now (as long as we can re-schedule some of your existing trips, if necessary!) To celebrate our 10-year anniversary we have scheduled several trips in the next couple of years. One of my team will be traveling with you on these trips. And in celebration of this milestone, each traveler who joins us on one of these vacations or books a vacation in 2021 will receive a bonus travel gift from us. 1. Bermuda 5-night Cruise on Royal Caribbean 9/29/2021. 2. Cancun, 5 nights all-inclusive resort – January 2022 (date to be determined). 3. Greece, 7-night Cruise on Norwegian 5/29/2022. 4. France, 7-night river cruise on Amawaterways, sailing on the Rhone River 9/8/2022. 5. Mexico, escorted tour for Day of the Dead in Oaxaca celebration 10/28/2022–
my associate Kelly will be on this trip. 6. Danube or Rhine, 7-night river cruise for the Christmas markets December 2022, Stacey will be on this cruise. 7. Ireland, 5 to 7-day small group tour including Scotch tasting and Golf or Spa – date to be determined, Spring 2023. And more trips may be added once travel protocols have been determined. We remain open for business and will be continuing our Where2Travel Next video monthly series. For more information visit our website at www.familycruising.net/events We would love to have you join us on one of our upcoming adventures. Just contact us for more details on any of the above trips or for us to help you plan your own vacation experience. At Cruise Planners we specialize in all types of travel (not just cruises). We do not charge any additional fees for our vacation planning, and whether you are looking for a Cruise, an All-Inclusive Resort Vacation, or a European Land Tour, we will provide you with the exceptional service you should expect from a travel agent. Follow us at www.facebook. com/familycruising. Unlike big online travel sites, Cruise Planners with Caryn and Aron, delivers the personal touch.
HEALTH
FEBRUARY 2021
@capitalhealthnj
HEADLINES
B I - M O N T H LY N E W S F R O M C A P I TA L H E A LT H
COVID-19 VACCINE DISTRIBUTION
Staying Safe During The Pandemic
EXPANDING IN NEW JERSEY
IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY
Who is currently eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine? The COVID-19 vaccine continues to be distributed in phases throughout New Jersey according to prioritization guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the New Jersey Department of Health. To find the most up-to-date groups who are eligible for the vaccine in New Jersey, visit covid19.nj.gov. Previously, the vaccine was available only to health care workers (including Capital Health employees and active and associate medical staff), residents of long-term care facilities and police and fire personnel in New Jersey. AS OF JANUARY 14, 2021, new state guidelines for vaccine eligibility expanded to include paid or unpaid persons working or volunteering in health care settings, residents of long-term care facilities and other congregate settings, front-line first responders, persons age 65 and older, and persons age 16 to 64 years old who have at least one chronic medical condition that poses a high-risk for severe COVID-19. FOR CURRENT, UPDATED INFORMATION, VISIT COVID19.NJ.GOV/VACCINE. This includes individuals who have cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Down syndrome, heart conditions, sickle cell disease, and type 2 diabetes mellitus as well as those who are immunocompromised, pregnant, obese, or smokers. Anyone in New Jersey falling into these eligible groups can register for a COVID-19 vaccine by visiting covidvaccine.nj.gov. How does the COVID-19 vaccine work? The COVID-19 vaccine gives the immune system a preview of the coronavirus, so it learns how to stop it if you are exposed. It triggers antibodies in your blood to attack the virus’ unique spike protein. Your immune system learns from the vaccine how to quickly recognize the actual virus and stop it from multiplying. The idea is to stop SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, from getting into cells, replicating itself and making you sick. Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe? Like most new medicines and vaccines, the COVID-19 vaccines are tested for safety in large clinical trials. During the clinical trials, volunteers receive the vaccine and then regularly check in with scientists to report any side effects or illnesses. If the vaccine has data to support its safety and effectiveness, the scientists apply for Emergency Use Authorization from the Food and Drug Administration. Scientists continue to follow the volunteers for at least two years to report any long-term or rare side effects and safety concerns. Where Can I Get the Vaccine? Information about open vaccination sites in New Jersey, vaccine registration, and eligibility updates is available at covid19.nj.gov/vaccine. For information about public vaccination at Capital Health, please visit capitalhealth.org/coronavirus or call 609.537.7468 (SHOT).
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, it’s important to remember that some of the most effective steps we can take to prevent its spread begin right at home. Wear a mask that fits properly and covers your mouth AND nose (no scarves or gaiters). Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place. When soap and water aren’t available, use a hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol. Limit or avoid indoor gatherings with people outside of your household and host outdoors when possible. This is important for adults more than 65 years of age or people with underlying medical conditions, who are at higher risk of getting very sick. Practice social distancing and stay at least six feet from others when possible. Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or cough or sneeze into your elbow if tissues are not available. With either method, thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water afterward. Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces daily. This includes tables, light switches, sinks, countertops, and bathroom surfaces. Most common household disinfectants work, but be sure to follow instructions on the product label.
IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO COVID-19, CALL YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER. You can find the most up-to-date information on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov. Helpful information is also available from the New Jersey Department of Health online at covid19.nj.gov or by phone at 1.800.222.1222.
Health Headlines by Capital Health | THE NEWS9
SUPPORT COUNSELING
FOR ALL FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE WORKERS To address the emotional needs of all health care workers and emergency medical services personnel on the front lines of our region during the COVID-19 pandemic, Capital Health is offering a Support Counseling Program (SCP). The program is a joint effort of Capital Health, NJ Hope and Healing, and the New Jersey Department of Human Services. The SCP is funded by a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). “The pandemic presents significant medical challenges, but it is also taking an enormous mental toll, and not just on patients and their loved ones.” said DR. CHRISTI WESTON, medical director of Capital Health – Behavioral Health Specialists. “For health care and emergency services workers who are treating COVID-19 patients every day, the experiences can be physically and emotionally exhausting. The SCP is designed to help them cope with the challenges of the pandemic through individual and group counseling, education, and support services.” The SCP provides health care workers individual assessment and counseling, virtual support groups, mindfulness-based stress relief techniques, and referrals to mental health and substance abuse disorder treatment, if needed. If you or someone you know is a health care worker who needs emotional support and guidance during the pandemic, call Capital Health’s Support Counseling Helpline at 609.303.4129, Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
This program is brought to you through the New Jersey Hope and Healing Crisis Counseling Program (CCP). The CCP is provided by Capital Health in collaboration with the New Jersey Department of Human Services’ Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services and is funded through a FEMA/SAMHSA grant.
LIFE AFTER LOSS
A 10-Week Therapy Group for Grieving Thursdays starting February 4, 2021 | 3 p.m. LOCATION: Zoom Meetings Coming to terms with the loss of a loved one is one of the most difficult challenges we face in life. Although everyone copes with grief differently, many find comfort in sharing their experiences with others who are going through the process. CHELSEA HOAGLAND, a licensed clinical social worker from Capital Health – Behavioral Health Specialists, leads this 10-week support and therapy group. You’ll connect with group members who are dealing with loss and learn healthy strategies for moving forward. This event will be taking place virtually using Zoom. To sign up, call Capital Health – Behavioral Health Specialists at 609.689.5725. This group therapy program will be billed to your health insurance. Zoom meeting details will be provided via email 2-3 days before the program date.
10 Health Headlines by Capital Health | The News
Capital Health Expands Behavioral Health to Include CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY Capital Health has recently expanded its Behavioral Health Specialists practice in Hamilton and Bordentown, New Jersey to include more providers who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of children, adolescents, and young adults. DR. IRENE GABRIAL, a board certifed, fellowship trained psychiatrist recently joined Capital Health – Behavioral Health Specialists to lead the practice’s Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Program. Dr. Gabrial leads a team of trusted providers with expertise in child and adolescent behavioral health that includes DR. RACHEL BADEN SHERRILL, a licensed clinical psychologist, and TATYANA GRAY, a licensed clinical social worker. “Children and teenagers today face many challenges, some of which simply didn’t exist for previous generations,” said Dr. Christi Weston, medical director of Capital Health – Behavioral Health Specialists and director of Outpatient Psychiatry at Capital Health. “Through our patient-centered approach to care, our team provides support and guidance to individuals and families as they cope with challenges to their emotional wellbeing.” Dr. Irene Gabrial is board certified in child and adolescent and general psychiatry. She completed her psychiatry residency training at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was fellowship trained in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Piscataway, New Jersey. Dr. Gabrial received her medical degree at Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine in Cairo, Egypt. Before joining Capital Health, Dr. Gabrial was a staff psychiatrist and interim director of the Counseling, Alcohol and Other Drug Assistance Program & Psychiatric Services (CAPS) at Rutgers University, where she evaluated and treated undergraduate
and graduate students. Dr. Gabrial was also a clinical assistant professor for the University’s Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship program. Dr. Sherrill is a licensed clinical psychologist who works with individuals across the lifespan, with a strong specialty in child and adolescent assessment and treatment. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology (with honors) from Duke University. She earned her master’s degree and PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Alabama. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship in pediatric neurodevelopmental disabilities and related disorders through the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Program at the Civitan-Sparks Clinics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Sherrill provides therapy to children, adolescents, and adults with a range of presenting concerns and psychological testing to children and adults presenting with symptoms of ADHD. Tatyana Gray’s areas of professional interest include intergenerational trauma, anxiety/depression, neurodevelopmental disorders, relationships, and marginalized populations with a focus on collaborative and integrated care. After completing her undergraduate studies at State University of New York at Potsdam in Potsdam, New York she received her Master of Social Work degree at Florida International University (FIU) in Miami, Florida. Before joining Capital Health, Tatyana was a staff therapist at Syracuse University’s Barnes Center at the Arch Counseling in Syracuse, New York, where she provided mental health and wellness services in person and via telemedicine for a diverse student population. Call 609.689.5725 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Gabrial at Capital Health – Behavioral Health Specialists, or visit capitalhealth.org/behavioralhealth for more information.
Health Headlines by Capital Health | THE NEWS11
Capital Health Cancer Center Earns
NATIONAL ACCREDITATION FOR RADIATION ONCOLOGY
FEBRUARY IS
AMERICAN HEART MONTH
Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell has been awarded a three-year term of reaccreditation in radiation oncology services by the American College of Radiology (ACR). Radiation oncology is the careful use of high-energy radiation to treat cancer or relieve a patient’s cancer pain.
KNOW THE SIGNS OF A HEART ATTACK AND WHAT TO DO IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS HAVING ONE
“We are extremely pleased to be awarded this accreditation. It is a testament to the commitment and efforts of our entire staff of radiation oncology specialists — oncologists, physicists, dosimetrists, therapists, nurses, navigators, and office support staff — all focused on providing every patient safe, evidenced-based care,” said DR. SHIRNETT WILLIAMSON, medical director of Radiation Oncology.
This puts you in contact with a trained dispatcher who will tell you what to do and sends an ambulance to your location. When the ambulance arrives, treatment begins in your home and the emergency department is prepared for your arrival at the hospital. Because your symptoms may get worse, driving yourself is a bad idea.
The ACR accreditation team recognized the Radiation Oncology Department’s outstanding organization of the treatments, medical records, policies, procedures and quality improvement processes — specifically Capital Health’s detailed, modalityspecific treatment directives and robust peer quality review process. In addition, ACR acknowledged the department’s outstanding teamwork, camaraderie, and patient-focus. “Patients want to know their medical team is knowledgeable about their health care issues and they want to be sure they are receiving the most advanced treatments and technologies available,” said DR. TIMOTHY CHEN, medical director of Stereotactic Radiosurgery at Capital Health. “This accreditation lets patients know we passed a rigorous review process meeting nationally-accepted standards of care.” Capital Health offers many options for radiotherapy, brachytherapy and stereotactic radiosurgery that provide patients greater convenience and efficiency while minimizing side effects. Physicians and multidisciplinary teams are able to manage complex cancers with unparalleled ease and precision anywhere in the body for all cancer types, including the abdomen, breast, central nervous system, head and neck, liver, lung, pelvis, and prostate. Patients have access to a full complement of leading-edge treatment modalities, such as traditional 3-D radiation, intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), CyberKnife® radiosurgery and high dose rate brachytherapy radiation (HDR). Stereotactic radiosurgery and high dose rate brachytherapy radiation (HDR) are delivered through advanced technologies that include Varian TrueBeamTM Linear Accelerator, CyberKnife® and Varian GammaMed technology (HDR brachytherapy), with surface-guided radiation therapy (SGRT) coming soon. To learn more about the Capital Health Cancer Center and the radiation oncology services that are available at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell, please visit capitalhealth.org/cancer or call 609.537.4244.
12 Health Headlines by Capital Health | The News
If you or a loved one is experiencing the signs of a heart attack, call 911.
The Chest Pain Center at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell is accredited by the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care and the American College of Cardiology. This means the Center meets high standards for diagnosing and treating cardiac emergencies, such as heart attacks. When someone is having a heart attack, time to treatment is critical. Capital Health’s pre-hospital alert system allows ambulance patients to be tested in their homes and mobilizes an interventional team at the hospital if there is evidence of a heart attack, saving time for an initial EKG test or faster bedside blood tests for troponin, a protein that enters the blood stream during a heart attack. If you or a loved one is having a severe heart attack caused by prolonged restricted blood flow due to a clot or ruptured plaque, Capital Health’s Cardiac Catheterization Lab is ready to provide an emergency stent placement. After you or your loved one has recovered, your last step is preventing another heart attack or heart-related illness. The Cardiac Rehabilitation Center, located at Capital Health Medical Center – Hopewell, offers a team of physicians, nurses, exercise physiologists and registered dietitians who provide individually prescribed education and exercise. All program candidates are interviewed prior to entering the Cardiac Rehabilitation program, which allows a team to develop and implement a personalized care plan. Participants include those who have experienced:
… Acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) within the past 12 months
… Coronary artery bypass surgery … Current, stable chest pain (angina pectoris) … Heart valve repair or replacement … Angioplasty or stenting to open blocked coronary arteries
… Heart or heart-lung transplant surgery … Stable, chronic heart failure Talk to your doctor about participating in cardiac rehabilitation. Visit capitalhealth.org/cardiacrehab for more information.
community forum
Reflecting on winter’s wicked glory When I heard there was a chance of snow the night of Dec. 16, the news passed over my head without much of a second thought. Judging from the past two to three winters in Jersey, I assumed the predictions of up to two feet would magically drop to roughly two inches overnight, and I’d awake the next morning with much of the grass still visible. But the morning after, when I looked out my window, the ground was covered in white. And it wasn’t any of that slushy, powdery snow, either. It was perfect packing snow—the kind you wish for as a kid to make snowballs and snowmen. The type of snow you have to shovel fast before it freezes to your driveway the next morning. Snow that serves as a buffer to the busy noise of the world, prompting New Jerseyans to sleep in later than normal. While staring out the window that morning, I was blissfully unaware of what a snowfall like this meant during a pandemic. In the past, snow like this might have kept you inside for a day or two, but then plows would come and roads would be cleared, salt would stick to sidewalks and everything would resume once again. You could go see a movie, or make plans at a friends house, or call in a dinner reservation. But in our current reality, where many families have relied on walks, parks and fire pits to stay connected to those outside of their homes, the snow will serve as an icy barrier to the alternatives some of us just (finally) grew used to. And it’s not just the snow—it’s all of winter, in all her wicked glory. It’s the way the sun sets at 4:30 p.m., before most arrive home from their 9 to 5. It’s the temperature drop that you endure just to see loved ones, but keeps your time limited in comparison to a warm day in July. I know for me spring has never seemed more alluring, simply because I could meet a friend at the park to pass a soccer ball with (and I don’t
even play soccer). Maybe winter is what we need to keep us distanced, to stop the spread. Or maybe it’ll be what breaks us, and we’ll begin to make “just one exception” and convene inside once again. Either way, it’s yet another variable we must adjust to and learn to live with. It’s a painfully isolating one at that, as it threatens the “outdoors and distanced” assurance that has served as our principal coping mechanism. According to Gov. Murphy, you can still meet a friend for a socially distanced walk, but according to winter, you “would, if only it wasn’t so cold. But definitely the next warm day.” Now more than ever, it’s important to prioritize your health—both physical and mental—in any ways that you can. I know how hard it can be to pull yourself out of bed when the cold and the dark feel like such heavy blankets, but it’s important that we do, and that we help each other do the same. Early sunsets, precipitation and low temperatures are most certainly obstacles, but they are not obstructions. Spend time with family, take drives, and play in the snow. Be resourceful! A garage can be turned into a socially distanced hangout space, and shoveling can be a great way to get a work out in (and actually follow through on your New Year’s resolution). And for the elderly and the high risk population, this winter is even harder. Putting in extra effort to make connections, however often that you can, makes all the difference. Setting up Zoom calls, dropping off food and even a simple text—that is, if your grandparents know how to work an iPhone—will help them get through this isolating period. Stop by Paper Source (Princeton), and pick your grandma up some new stationary. Drop your grandpa off a pizza pie from Aljon’s (West Windsor). And remember that your words mean more than anything else—yes, phone calls with relatives can at times feel tedious, but even talking about the weather can
serve to comfort and connect. At the end of the day, this is just another block we must chop at, and it’s important to remember that winter is a block. If you start to feel more isolated, less productive, and lack motivation, that’s okay. Allow yourself to feel justification in these feelings, instead of feeling frustrated by where they came from. This year, each change is nuanced, even one as fundamental as the change of seasons. Anna Rubenstein Rubenstein is a 17-year-old resident of West Windsor.
Your food donation can make a difference
You have an opportunity to help Yes We Can! Food Drives, and by extension, your neighbors, by supporting the winter market of the West Windsor Community Farmers’ Market. Every first and third Saturday through April, the market is held outdoors, rain, snow or shine, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at MarketFair on Route 1 in West Windsor. Unfortunately, not enough people know about the market. What you are missing is an amazing experience— vibrant, fun and busy. Come meet your neighbors and enjoy a Saturday morning outing while buying directly from local farmers. Available to you is fresh produce, coastal seafood, farm fresh eggs, artisan cheese, fresh pasta and sauces, soups and chili, pastured meats and poultry, gluten-free baked goods, alpaca fiber wear and much more. Yes We Can! volunteers are set up at the outdoor market, where we use cash donations from visitors to buy fresh produce from the farmers. A win-win for both the farmers and those in need of food. So, please mark the farmers’ market dates on your calendar, Feb. 6 and 20, March 6 and 20, and April 3 and 17. You can reach the market from the Meadow Road side parking lot in front of the AMC Theater. For more information about the market, go online to westwindsorfarmersmarket.org. For information or to volunteer for Yes We Can! Food Drives, go to arminarm.org/ yeswecanfooddrives.
I am writing this letter for two reasons. One, because Yes We Can! Food Drives is so deeply appreciative of the community support we have received this past year in collecting food to help our neighbors overcome food security. Through our food drives at supermarkets and farmers markets (including the West Windsor Farmer’s MArket), our volunteers have collected an astonishing 14,000 pounds of donations or seven tons. All that fresh and canned food goes to Arm in Arm food pantries in Trenton and Princeton for free distribution to their clients, a list that includes families, seniors and veterans. Due to the health crisis, many more people find themselves unemployed. Is it any wonder that Arm in Arm has experienced a dramatic increase in the number of individuals and families Fran Engler Engler, a longtime West Windsor resineeding food support? This brings me to the second rea- dent, is publicity chair of Yes We Can! Food Drives. son for writing. Tony Tyan, DMD
Call today for an appointment!
(609)750-9500
A Confident Smile. A Better You
• Most PPO insurance accepted • Available Saturday and evening appointments • Invisalign and braces for children and adults
We are open and accepting new patients. Proudly serving Mercer County for over 10 years
CALL US FOR A FREE CONSULTATION
609-750-9500
tyandmd@sweetsmileortho.com 666 Plainsboro Rd, Building 1100, Suite 1181 Plainsboro, NJ 08536
February 2021 | The News13
Happy Birthday, West Windsor! PAUL LIGETI
WEST WINDSOR CHRONICLES
Each month, the Historical Society of West Windsor—a nonprofit dedicated to documenting, preserving, and publicizing the history of our community—publishes a monthly column covering our town’s surprisingly rich heritage. This month’s article explores the history of West Windsor’s predecessors. Please note—much of the content in this article comes from extensive research conducted by Robert Craig at the Hightstown East Windsor Historical Society. Thanks are given to him for contributing a large portion of what we know about Windsor Township today. If you are reading this on Feb. 9, get your party hats and balloons out, because it’s time to celebrate our town’s birthday! On Feb. 9, 1797, West Windsor was formed by an act of State Legislature. At 224 years old, the municipality contains a rich, well-documented history. But how, and why, was it formed in the first place?
This above map shows the rough boundaries of Windsor Township by the time of its split in 1797, as compared to the current local townships it once We must start by taking a step back encompassed. and examining the history of New Jersey as a whole. The county and townan “orphan,” without a government. ship layout of 1700s-era New Jersey New Windsor Thus, West Windsor’s predecessor might be mostly unrecognizable to the layperson, but it largely featured familPiscataway continued to encompass was informally created in this politiiar names. what is now West Windsor for the next cal vacuum. First referred to as “New The land that would become West several years. However, upon New Windsor” in the April 20 1731 MiddleWindsor was originally in Middlesex Brunswick Township’s 1724 forma- sex County court minutes, and reputCounty, which, in 1683, was one of tion, and the December 1730 charter edly named after Windsor, England, the first four (alongside Bergen, Mon- for a “city” of New Brunswick, this this township consisted of presentmouth and Essex) to be formed in the reality changed. Now, Piscataway was day Princeton (southeast of Nassau Province of East Jersey. stripped of all of its land south of the Street), West Windsor, Robbinsville, East Windsor, and the southern corIn 1714, the Assembly set Routes 27 Raritan River. and 206 (most notably Nassau Street, However, New Brunswick Township ner of Monroe Township. Even though it encompassed a sigPrinceton-Kingtston Road, Stockton would not retain ownership for long. Street and Lawrenceville Road as the The same 1730 charter that created the nificant area, New Windsor was hardly portions near West Windsor) as the city of New Brunswick failed to describe populated at the time of its incorporadivision line between Somerset and what lay south of the Millstone River— tion. Although early maps and deeds Middlesex Counties. At the time, the present northern boundary of West suggest that what would become West our locality existed in Piscataway Windsor—leaving the portion of Mid- Windsor was settled by only a handful Township. dlesex County south of this waterway of families by the 1730s, the most substantial inhabitations around Windsor were Stony Brook in Princeton and Allentown near the southern corner of A Special present-day Robbinsville.
Context
Settlement and expansion
from community news Service to our Advertisers Community News Service would like to thank our clients who continue to support us during these difficult times. Like you, we continue to face challenging times and understand the impact you are feeling. We recognize your commitment to our publications and digital media outlets and for that we are greatly appreciative. We believe if we work together, in support of each other, we will see better days ahead. Thank you from our family to yours. Sincerely, Tom, Jamie, Thomas, Joe, Jennifer, Gina, Samantha, Bill, Megan, Stephanie, Stacey, Sara & Dan
14The News | February 2021
(English goldsmith), and Andrew Hamilton (governor of New Jersey). However, in the 1730s/40s, these tracts were sold to families that relocated to the vicinity, inviting the first substantial “wave” of settlement that began to define the area that would become West Windsor. Perhaps as a result, in 1751, New Windsor was formally incorporated into the “Township of Windsor.” Censuses provide us an apt examination of population growth in Windsor. According to a 1772 estimation by Joseph Skelton, Windsor’s tax assessor, New Windsor contained fewer than 40 farms in 1733. However, the 1772 state census shows a significant change: 300 houses and 1,918 residents (877 white males, 946 white females, and, respectively, 49 and 46 Black males and females (uncertain how many were slaves). And by 1790, 2,838 residents (1,284 white males, 1,364 white females, 46 free nonwhite residents, and 190 slaves) called Windsor home. Although in 1776/7 Windsor township was swept up in the American Revolution via several skirmishes after the Battle of Trenton, including the Battle of Princeton, the township soon renewed its quiet existence. However, by the 1790s, a new conflict had formed—this time between the western and eastern halves of Windsor. A portion of this was over the maintenance of roads—then dusty, rutted lanes that needed frequent upkeep and depleted municipal coffers. Thus, a movement grew to split the township. After a few years of petitioning, Windsor was no more.
A town is born
By an act of state legislature finalized on February 9, 1797, Windsor was split into two halves. Thus, East Windsor and West Windsor were formed. Yet Middlesex County retained West Windsor until Mercer County’s formation in 1838. And it was not until further land transfers in 1843 and 1853 that West Windsor’s western boundary would relocate to the Delaware & Raritan Canal. The 1797 articles of formation contain some locally substantial items, including reference to a mandated meeting “at the house where Jacob Bergen now lives” for the purpose of electing town officials. This first meeting was hosted in Jacob’s tavern in Dutch Neck on April 8, 1797, establishing local governance that extends to the present day. To contact, donate to, or volunteer for the Historical Society and explore more West Windsor history, visit westwindsorhistory.com. We are also on social media. Search “Historical Society of West Windsor” on Facebook and “@ SchenckFarmstead” on Instagram.
But growth was on the horizon, for several reasons. The first is topographical: our locality features fertile soil and convenient waterways, which invited the establishment of farms and mills, and with them, communities. The second reason is economic. Initially, much of the land that lay within New Windsor was owned by absentee families, who had acquired substantial tracts in the late 1600s. West Windsor, specifically, was collectively owned by three individuals and their descendants for around half a century: William Penn Paul Ligeti is the head archivist of the (founder of Pennsylvania), David Lyell Historical Society of West Windsor.
Joan Eisenberg Office: 609-951-8600 Cell: 609-306-1999
Realtor Associate
Village Grande Values
These Wonderful Houses are Located in West Windsor in the Village Grande ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITY. The Exceptional Clubhouse Includes Indoor and Outdoor Pools, Tennis, Recreation Rooms, Exercise Rooms, and Social Rooms. The Community is Close to Major Roads, Shopping & Commuter Train.
WEST WINDSOR: Wonderful Light, Bright and Upgraded Expanded Falston Model (the Largest Model in Village Grande). Tucked in the rear of the community on an oversized, beautifully landscaped wide private lot backing trees on a cul-de-sac, this home has so much to offer...Vaulted Living Room, Large Dining Room, Upgraded Kitchen with 42" Cabinetry, Corian Counters, Decorative Tiled Backsplash and Large Island with Breakfast Bar, Fireplace, Recessed Lights Galore, Tray Ceiling in the Master Bedroom, Upgraded Tiling in the Master Bath complete with Whirlpool Tub, California Closeting, Upgraded 3 Zone Gas Baseboard Heating, Central A/C, Loft with Built-in Bookcases, Dramatic Oak Railings and Hardwood Stairs, Elegant Tiling on much of first level, Deck and so much more! $465,000
Jeremax@aol.com • www.JoanSells.com
"Always Professional, Always Personal"
With 2020 now in our rear view mirror, I can look back at some of the homes in our community I successfully marketed and sold. If you're considering a move, I would be delighted to help you, too! Call me at 609.802.3564 to discuss your real estate goals and how I can help you achieve them!
MOBILE 609.802.3564 OFFICE 609.921.2600 BusyTC@gmail.com BusyTC.com
February 2021 | The News15
2021 will be another GREAT YEAR in Real Estate. ARE YOU READY? Donna Lucarelli Call me for my EXPERTISE. Direct: 609-903-9098
UNDER CONTRACT
LIST PRICE 615K 17 Remington Cir. West Windsor
SOLD OVER
SOLD OVER
LIST PRICE 624K
LIST PRICE 710K SOLD 730K
SOLD 650K 53 Amherst Way West Windsor
9 Hamilton Dr. West Windsor
SOLD OVER
SOLD OVER
SOLD OVER
LIST PRICE 225K SOLD 240K
80 Norcross Cir. Hamilton
LIST PRICE 710K SOLD 725K 76 Saratoga Dr. West Windsor
LIST PRICE 675K SOLD 684K
85 Saratoga Dr. West Windsor
LIST PRICE 725K SOLD 730K 6 Blackhawk Ct. West Windsor
SOLD OVER
SOLD OVER
SOLD FULL
SOLD FULL
LIST PRICE 669K SOLD 680K 10 Columbia Pl. West Windsor
LIST PRICE 709K SOLD 715K 3 Orly Ct. West Windsor
LIST PRICE 585K SOLD 585K
12 Cartwright Dr. West Windsor
LIST PRICE 592K SOLD 592K 42 Orleans St. West Windsor
SOLD FULL
SOLD FULL
SOLD
SOLD
LIST PRICE 569K SOLD 569K
11 Springwood Dr. West Windsor
LIST PRICE 675K SOLD 675K 29 Highmont Dr. West Windsor
LIST PRICE 250K SOLD 245K
1312 Sierra Dr. Hamilton
LIST PRICE 595K SOLD 590K 757 Village Rd. West Windsor
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
LIST PRICE 810K SOLD 795K 25 Hawthorne Dr. West Windsor
LIST PRICE 687K SOLD 685K 556 Village Rd. West Windsor
LIST PRICE 710K SOLD 700K 86 Saratoga Dr. West Windsor
LIST PRICE 920K SOLD 905K 79 Danville Dr. West Windsor
LOOKING FORWARD TO BRINGING OVER ASKING PRICE TO YOU!
All Statistics taken from Bright MLS 1-1-2017- 2/10/2021.
SOLD OVER
DONNALUCARELLI25@GMAIL.COM • WWW.DONNALUCARELLI.COM CALL DONNA FOR DETAILS. OFFICE: 609-987-8889. DIRECT/CELL: 609-903-9098. 16The News | February 2021
Superior Marketing, Superior Negotiating, Superior Results
If you want to sell for OVER ASKING PRICE, CALL DONNA. I have been able to get my SELLERS an AVERAGE OF 106.7% LIST PRICE TO SALE PRICE RATIO 2017-2021 YTD