Hopewell
AUGUST 2020
Henry Lewis It’s More Than Just a Game
Cover photo by Benoit Cortet
A community magazine serving the residents of Hopewell Township, Pennington Borough and Hopewell Borough
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Serving Hopewell Township, Hopewell Borough, Lawrenceville, Ewing, Peinnington, Titusville, Blawenburg, and Princeton.
August 2020
Letter from the Publisher We are all unique. Now, more than ever, it is so important for each and every one of us to be respectful and tolerant of people with beliefs, traits, and practices that are different from our own. In fact, it is beneficial. Could you imagine a world where everyone looks, thinks, and acts alike? How boring that would be, how little we would grow as human beings.
Publisher: Rachel Donington rdonington@bestversionmedia.com
The word tolerance means the willingness to accept opinions or behaviors you may not agree with, or to behave sensibly with those who are not like you. It means showing respect for the gender, race, opinions, religion and ideologies of other people or groups, and to admire the good qualities and good work of others. Diversity is what makes our lives interesting and challenging, what helps us evolve and improve ourselves year after year. Being tolerant and respectful people exposes us to new opportunities, experiences and ideas. In fact, diversity is the very patchwork of our community. It is through diversity that the many gifts and talents we possess enrich and touch our lives.
Content Coordinator: Catherine Bialkowski cbialkowski@bestversionmedia.com Designer: Dale Ver Voort Contributing Photographer: Benoit Cortet www.benoitcortet.com Phone: 917-597-6297 benoit@benoitcortet.com
As we look around Hopewell Valley and within our own families, it is not difficult to discover diversity, perhaps unexpectedly. Accepting and respecting this diversity helps build a more comprehensive understanding of the human experience and a better society. The world is full of different kinds of people; look to your neighbors, your coworkers, your friends, your own family, and try to listen. Try to learn. We are all diverse, and that is the beauty of our community.
Contributing Writers: Mary Galioto, Kenneth Marples, Lisa Wolff Advertising Contact: Rachel Donington Phone: 609-462-6786 rdonington@bestversionmedia.com
Publisher: Rachel Donington, 609-462-6786
This issue brings with it messages of neighborhood, helping others, and the humanity that unites us all. Our featured resident, Henry Lewis, shares the ways his favorite sport, football, has shaped his moral character, showing him that we humans we are not so different from each other. We also hear from Will Titus, a college student who founded Hopewell Helpers, a wonderful program that allows young people to provide services for their neighbors. Our issue is filled, this month, with young people who have already decided to make a change. I am proud to present these stories to you, and I hope you learn from and enjoy them.
Feedback/Ideas/Submissions Have feedback, ideas or submissions? We are always happy to hear from you! Deadlines for submissions are 25th of each month. Go to www. bestversionmedia.com and click “Submit Content.” You may also email your thoughts, ideas and photos to rdonington@bestversionmedia.com. Content Submission Deadlines: Content Due: Edition Date: November 25.................................... January December 25.................................. February January 25............................................March February 25............................................ April March 25.................................................. May April 25...................................................June May 25......................................................July June 25............................................... August July 25.......................................... September August 25.........................................October September 25 ������������������������������ November October 25................................... December Any content, resident submissions, guest columns, advertisements and advertorials are not necessarily endorsed by or represent the views of Best Version Media (BVM) or any municipality, homeowners associations, businesses or organizations that this publication serves. BVM is not responsible for the reliability, suitability or timeliness of any content submitted. All content submitted is done so at the sole discretion of the submitting party. ©2020 Best Version Media. All rights reserved.
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August 2020
Spotlight on Community
Hopewell Helpers
Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way By Catherine Bialkowski. | Photo by Benoit Cortet Will Titus is a 2019 graduate of Hopewell Valley Central High School, and a rising sophomore at Williams College in Massachusetts. Although the coronavirus pandemic cut his first year at college short, he found a way to keep himself and other students busy while at the same time helping his neighbors. A few months ago, at the beginning of the pandemic, as stay-at-home orders were instituted across the country, Will signed up for a program that shopped for groceries for the vulnerable population. As he continued to volunteer his time, he thought to himself, “Here are local people just helping their neighbors, doing what they’re able to. What if we could take this idea and expand it?” He knew that his own neighbors often needed tasks completed, such as yard work or cleaning. Will created a website and began to engage with other college students in the community, building a team of Hopewell Helpers. The original team, launched in June, was made up of three people. By early July, the team had 12 members. By the time of publication, it is likely Hopewell Helpers will have expanded even more.
Will has found the experience of starting Hopewell Helpers highly rewarding. He loves to see the outcome of a completed job, especially when the client is someone who could not have otherwise done it without the Helpers. “To make that dream a reality has been incredible.” The Hopewell Helpers team as of early July includes Will Titus, Ellie Nir, Sam Fowler, Gavin Fowler, Mike Vanover, Jack Muoio, Kevin Murray, Westley Lennon, Carsen Lennon, Harry Meredith, Nick Pietrinferno, and Sammy Pietrinferno. They are always looking for more students to help. Currently, Hopewell Helpers is open to college students and high school seniors over the age of 18. Will feels grateful to be able to serve his community of Hopewell Valley. “You have this great culture of helping and of friendliness,” he says. “That’s what we try to embody in Hopewell Helpers.”
Hopewell Helpers completed 50 jobs in their first three weeks, engaging with nearly 100 different clients. Will does his best to attend as many of the jobs as possible; some of his own tasks have included weeding, filling in potholes, digging holes, planting, power washing, lifting and moving heavy items, building a treadmill and a trampoline, and helping older folks with technology. Hopewell Helpers uses a pay-what-you-want system, meaning clients choose the amount to pay the Helpers after they’ve completed the work. “It makes things simple and accessible,” says Will. “It allows folks who are able to pay more to pay more, and those who aren’t able to pay as much to feel comfortable doing that. For folks who aren’t able to pay anything, that’s OK.” Hopewell Helpers offer many different services, and are open to any and all suggestions, so it can be difficult to determine a fair price for each and every job. “We leave it up to the clients to determine.” Why hire Hopewell Helpers? “We’re cheaper, and we get the job done well and extremely efficiently. We’re very friendly, and we’re students who are here to work hard. We enjoy the work. You’re getting an extremely strong work ethic when you choose Hopewell Helpers.”
vvv Please visit the Hopewell Helpers website, hopewellhelpers.com, for more information or to book a service. Students interested in becoming a Hopewell Helper should reach out to Will Titus at hvhelpers@gmail.com.
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August 2020
Expert Contributor
Interpreting Business Interruption Insurance Policies for Small Businesses By J. Randy Sawyer, Esq. | Stark & Stark, Attorneys at Law
The economic situation for small businesses in America is dire. Following the widespread social distancing and stayat-home orders, approximately 7.5 million small businesses are now at risk of closing their doors permanently within the next several months if the coronavirus pandemic restrictions continue.
owners are being encouraged to thoroughly review their policy language in order to have a clear picture of what is and what is not covered. Keeping your business moving forward is a major stressor for all business owners these days. If you are a small business owner with questions about how your business interruption insurance policy should be interpreted, learn more about our business interruption practice. The experienced attorneys at Stark & Stark can help you understand your options.
You can reach J. Randy Sawyer by phone at 609-895-7349 or email him directly at rjsawyer@stark-stark.com for more information. Stark & Stark, Attorneys at Law, is located at 993 Lenox Drive, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648. Visit their website stark-stark.com. Many business owners have filed insurance claims under their business interruption coverage. Insurance carriers have responded by consistently denying those claims. Many are taking the position that the business interruption coverage in their policy is not triggered just because the government ordered the closure of businesses due to the coronavirus. A number of businesses across the country have been challenging the insurance carriers’ position by taking their fight to court. Business interruption (BI) insurance is typically held by business owners as part of their commercial property insurance. It is intended to protect against economic losses that occur when insureds cannot run their business due to a “physical loss or damage.” The insurance typically covers lost revenue, business carrying costs such as mortgage or lease payments, payroll, and taxes, as well as other expenses that would not be incurred had it not been for the shutdown of the insured’s business. So, is BI insurance “triggered” by the events surrounding the coronavirus pandemic? What constitutes “physical loss or damage”? Does the presence of the coronavirus, and its ability to be spread by surface contact, the kind of “physical loss or damage” that triggers BI insurance coverage, since it in turn caused the state government orders to close businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic? This fight over what constitutes “physical loss or damage” will be central to whether BI insurance will be available for losses resulting from this pandemic. Small business owners around the country are going to court after insurance carriers denied their claims, and business
Hopewell Valley Neighbors
Keeping your business moving forward is a worry for all business owners these days. If you are a small business owner with questions about how your business interruption insurance policy should be interpreted during the COVID-19 pandemic, the experienced attorneys at Stark & Stark can help you understand your options. J. Randy Sawyer, Esq. • 609.895.7349 • jsawyer@stark-stark.com
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Resident Feature
Henry Lewis It’s More Than Just a Game By Catherine Bialkowski I Photos by Benoit Cortet
H
enry Lewis is a rising senior at Hopewell Valley Central High School who has made his mark on the community and the people who have come to know him through his values of leadership, discipline, and brotherhood. For Henry, there is one particular aspect of his life that has set him on track to become the young man he is today, that has shaped him and brought him joy as well as taught him difficult life lessons—and that is football. Henry first started playing youth football in second grade, when he was seven years old. “At first I didn’t like it,” he says. “I didn’t like going to practices.” After a while though, having met the right coaches, Henry found himself loving the sport, eventually earning the affectionate nickname “Henry the Hammer” for his efforts as a lineman. “One of my favorite coaches was Coach Keith Vannozzi,” he says. “He really introduced the love of the game to me. He is a people person who really cared about the kids. He taught me brotherhood, teamwork, and responsibility, and he made it more than just a game.” In 8th grade, Henry was recognized as a running back, a totally new position to him. “It was new and exciting,” he says. Although this transition was not easy, Henry kept working hard, and succeeded as a starter with the help of Coach Ted Jameson. “He taught me how to be the best running back I could be.” By the time Henry reached high school, he had been dreaming of playing varsity football for years. He looked to older players as role models, considering these young men to be the “best of the best.” “They had towered over me when I was little,” Henry remembers. He looked forward to being that kind of role model when he became a varsity player. During his freshman year, he played as a running back, and, although he remained excited, the team lost a lot of games. “That taught me how to kick it up a notch and take responsibility, be a leader,” he says. He saw the opportunity to step up and help his team play better as athletes and friends. He points to his freshman year as the period of his life during which he learned what being a leader means. Although Henry didn’t get much playing time as a third string player, he expresses only gratitude for the playing time he did get. Even riding the bench, he felt blessed and enjoyed the time he had with his team. At the beginning of this past year, Henry’s junior year, he knew a big responsibility was on its way. He was voted captain, which he calls a “great honor,” and knew that his skills as a leader would soon be more relevant than ever before. “I took it a lot more seriously,” says Henry. “My goal is to be the hardest worker in the room.” Football brought Henry more than athleticism and leadership skills; it was also a catalyst for some of the most rewarding friendships and relationships Henry has experienced thus far in life. He and his teammates have become very close over the past three years, going to Five Guys or Chick-Fil-A after practice or working out together on the weekends. “These are kids I will always be able to talk to. We’ve created a strong bond.” The first game of the 2019-2020 school year brought some added pressure to Henry’s athletic career—he knew that college recruiters would be attending games, but he was also determined to have a winning season. He could feel the spotlight beginning to zero in on him after winning the first game, in the form of attention and interviews. After the first game of the season, Henry experienced a loss he continues to feel to this day. His friend, role model, teacher, and coach,Ted Jameson, passed away. “Nothing in life should be taken for granted,” Henry realized. “I played every game after that like it was my last.” At subsequent games, Henry wore Coach Ted’s name on his wrist tape and thought of him with each touchdown he made. He even broke a high school record for the number of yards run in the last game of the season. This year’s pre-season was cut short due to COVID-19. Not being able to practice as a team, says Henry, has been difficult for him and his teammates. Overcoming adversity, though, is one of the lessons he has learned through playing football, and he faces this obstacle with strength and dignity. “I’ve learned to be persistent and determined,
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August 2020
Sandra, Henry, Lance and Lilly — Go Bulldogs!
Hopewell Valley Neighbors
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Resident Feature
“As long as you can believe it, you” t. can achieve i Henry
Biggest fan, little sister Lily wears #15 — Henry’s number in honor of his grandmother who passed away in 2015.
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August 2020
Resident Feature no matter how big something is. As long as you can believe it, you can achieve it.”
off the field will have a different impact than what happens on the field.”
Henry’s mother, Sandra, expresses admiration for her son’s determination, maturity, and kindness. “Henry is really driven,” she says. “We support him, but he is the one driving. I admire him and everyone who has influenced him, including coaches he has met along the way and friends he has made. Football is a team sport—every player has to be fully invested. The whole team supports each other both on and off the field.” Henry’s decency is undoubtedly due to how he was raised, but Sandra attributes football, too, as a learning tool that has shaped him into a caring and courteous young man.
This idea of brotherhood, of a loyal union between people who are from different backgrounds and walks of life, who look, speak, and act differently from each other, is perhaps at the center of what football has taught Henry. He demonstrates through his actions on a daily basis his deeply-rooted moral values of respect, graciousness, and acceptance, traits for which his parents could not feel more pride. With the support of his high school coach Dave Caldwell and 7 on 7 coach Darvin Henderson, Henry hopes to earn a position playing football at the collegiate level.
Lance, Henry’s father, feels deep pride for his son. “Early on, we knew that our son was an athlete. He played ice hockey, soccer, track, lacrosse, you name it. He was an athlete,” he says. “It was interesting to see his development with each type of sport, and to find that his passion was football. He is obviously very good at sports, but what he has taken from football goes much further than what happens on the field. Family and brotherhood are things that he takes seriously. The football community extends beyond Hopewell—he has brotherhood with people who are much different from him. They find a commonality. Henry recognizes that what he does
Today, Henry continues to play and love football, grateful
for the lessons both the sport and his compassionate coaches have taught him and the intersecting ways it has shaped his life and person. During this uncertain time where everything has paused, he reflects on how football has extended far beyond his life here in Hopewell Valley, teaching him that being part of a team, a brotherhood, is less about blood or backdrop and more about sharing a common goal, working together to achieve it.
Bulldog teammates — Henry with Terrance Peterson and Devon Higgins
Do you know a neighbor who has a story to share? Nominate your neighbor to be featured in one of our upcoming issues! Contact Rachel Donington at rdonington@bestversionmedia.com.
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In The Arts Annual Hopewell Valley Arts Council Member Show Features Area Artists By Carol Lipson | Hopewell Valley Arts Council Board of Trustees The show will go on! Join the Hopewell Valley Arts Council for This Too Shall Pass, its annual members show featuring 40+ pieces created during the health crisis. This Too Shall Pass highlights local artists’ dive into creativity and reflection during these difficult times. It’s an opportunity for the community to come out of their homes, be rejuvenated by artwork, and safely break bread together in support of one of our local restaurants. Artwork will be on display from Friday, July 17 to Thursday, October 29 at the Hopewell Valley Bistro & Inn in Hopewell Borough during restaurant hours. Social distancing and state-mandated safety practices will be in place. For hours and dining inquiries go hopewellbistro.com. For more information about the Hopewell Valley Arts Council, please visit our website hvartscouncil.org. “Spriha Gupta, MyHappyPlace”
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August 2020
Community Spotlight
The Impact of Deer in Hopewell Valley By Lisa Wolff | Executive Director, FoHVOS If you live in Hopewell Valley, you have often seen deer. While deer are beautiful creatures to observe, their overabundance has a very detrimental ecological impact to which there is no simple solution. Deer naturally thrive in the Garden State of New Jersey, where they can heartily feed on our delicious plants, flowers, and forest understory. Other than humans, they have very few predators. Our Valley has 105 deer per square mile. This is over ten times the recommended 10 per square for herd balance. The Problem Deer Vehicle Collisions account for tens of thousands of accidents in New Jersey annual. The risk is highest during mating season which runs from late October to mid-December. Lyme disease – Infected ticks use deer as their host. A dense population of deer contributes overall to more cases of Lyme disease. Agricultural losses – According to surveys done by Rutgers, NJ growers reported 70% of their crop losses from wildlife were due to deer.
more copious and nutritious than a native forest. Further, hunting has not been tremendously effective. 40% of Hopewell Valley lacks hunting access. When hunting does occur, it is often “trophy hunting” rather than “management hunting.” Trophy hunters kill mature male deer, or bucks (with large antlers) which does not help population control and some studies indicate it may actually result in increased populations. Management hunting requires time and money to be very productive. There are deer management groups run by Mercer County and FoHVOS but more needs to be done. What You can do In order to increase awareness of the complicated issue of deer overabundance for all stakeholders, Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space (FoHVOS) created visual representations of the various priorities, obstacles, and decision involved. Stakeholders include Landowners (public and private), agricultural community, Government, Car Insurance Industry, Animal Welfare Advocates, Hunters and members of the public. We categorized behaviors by their impact on deer overpopulation. Each either relieves or sustains deer overabundance. Too see the impact of each visit fohvos.org. In the meantime, if you are a private landowner, consider what you can do: Native plant gardening - Garden to protect native plants to replace those eaten by deer. According to Audubon.org, “Because native plants are adapted to local environmental conditions, they require far less water, saving time, money, and perhaps the most valuable natural resource, water. In addition to providing vital habitat for birds, many other species of wildlife benefits as well.” Education - Learn about deer impacts and management of deer overabundance. Research management hunting options for your property. Contact FoHVOS to check for safety zones and receive contact information of safe and effective hunters.
Deer at Thompson Reserve. Photo by Kathryn Dunham Landscape planting losses – Planting deer resistant landscape is a huge challenge as the deer change their eating patterns. Ecological degradation - The layer of trees that grows beneath the forest canopy but above the forest floor is called “understory.” For a forest to be healthy, it needs a healthy understory. Unfortunately, without fencing to keep deer away, it is almost impossible to grow new trees in our forests. Native shrubs, small trees and wildflowers have declined by nearly 80%. In the past, native plants accounted for > 95% of all plant cover and now the balance has shifted to invasive species making up > 50% of plant cover. With the increase in deer over the last 50 years, native plants have declined and invasive plants have increased. No easy solution We’ve made perfect habitat for deer with forest edges, farm fields and homes that protects deer from hunters and feeds them a diet much
Hopewell Valley Neighbors
Advocacy – Work with your local municipality to support local and statewide deer management efforts. Support – Organizations, such as FoHVOS that engage in deer management, and programs that encourage venison donation efforts, like the New Jersey based Hunters Helping the Hungry (HHH) that have provided over 2,000,000 meals by subsidizing hunters to donate venison to local food banks. All of us have created the deer overpopulation problem in how we live and utilize the land. It is our hope that all stakeholders will do their share.
vvv Lisa Wolff is the executive director of Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space (FoHVOS). She can be reached by email at lwoff@fohvos.org.
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ecause We Care.
We extend our thoughts, prayers and concerns to all who are affected by this global crisis. Blackwell Memorial Home is here to continuously provide service and support to those that are experiencing a loss throughout this time.
Kevin R. Latham
Manager/Lic. Director NJ #4625 / PA #000714
Elizabeth Blackwell Davis
Owner/Lic. Director NJ #2475
21 North Main Street, Pennington, NJ 08534
(609) 737-2900
www.blackwellmh.com
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Continuous family service since 1881 • Please contact us in your time of need to review options available
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RWJ-107 Welcome Back_7.5x5_SVC_LINES_HAM.indd 1
If you’ve put off any medical care due to COVID-19, please don’t delay it any longer. As a high reliability organization, we’ve taken every precaution and continue to provide health care services in adherence to all public health guidance and regulatory policies. This includes stringent cleaning and disinfection throughout our facilities and screening everyone for symptoms and temperature upon entry. Learn more at rwjbh.org/WelcomeBack
August 2020
6/22/20 3:57 PM
Recipe
Feeling Blue Blueberries and Cream Cobbler By Samira Shrivastav
Dessert just had to be blueberry cobbler—it just had to be. The thing was, I really wanted a biscuit-dough crust, but didn’t want to do the extra effort. Yet, I still wanted to infuse the cobbler with some added richness, to make something a bit more decadent than normal. Then I had an idea—I would make my usual cobbler recipe, using heavy cream in place of the milk. The result was not all that different in consistency, but still had a very special quality of its own. I would definitely make it again, and encourage you to make it, too! INSTRUCTIONS
INGREDIENTS
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter a 9x13-inch baking dish and add blueberries in an even-ish layer on the bottom. Set aside.
• 1 cup granulated sugar
In a medium bowl, stir together sugar, flour, baking powder and salt until combined, breaking up any lumps as you go. Add heavy cream and mix until smooth and no dry pockets are left (the batter will be fairly thick). Dollop large spoonfuls on top of the blueberries and spread roughly to cover—it won’t be perfect, but the batter will smooth out as it heats in the oven. Bake for about 40-45 minutes, or until the cobbler is golden, bubbly, and the batter is completely cooked in the center. Serve warm or at room temperature. Note: The batter is so rich, you almost don’t need to serve this cobbler with ice cream—but after all, it is dessert! Definitely substitute other fresh berries, stone fruits, or a combination of your favorites for the blueberries. I used vanilla sugar, but simply add a splash of vanilla extract to your batter if using regular sugar.
Pennington Montessori School
• 1 cup all-purpose flour • 2 teaspoons baking powder • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt • 1 cup heavy cream • 2 pints fresh blueberries, washed and spread out on a towel to dry (it’s okay if some moisture remains)
Samira Shrivastav works in marketing by day, but doubles as a writer and blogger in the early morning and evening hours. You can find more of her recipes, gardening tips, and inspiration for living the quiet life at www.the-house-mouse.com.
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Now Accepting Applications Hopewell Valley Neighbors
CALL TODAY TO SCHEDULE YOUR PERSONAL TOUR (609) 730-9553 OR VISIT WWW.THECAMBRIDGESCHOOL.ORG
15
Hopewell 1925